Withanolides isolated from Nicandra physaloides protect liver cells against oxidative stress-induced damage

Exploring the safety parameters of Athenaea velutina ethanolic extract: a step towards harnessing its medicinal potential

Athenaea velutina (Sendtn.) D'Arcy, a native plant of the Brazilian Atlantic Forest, has exhibited potential pharmacological effects due to the presence of withanolides with anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory activities. However, there is a lack of research on the safety and toxicity of this plant species. This study aimed to assess the safety of the ethanolic extract of A. velutina leaves (Av-E) through toxicity and phytochemical analysis. Acute [1000 mg kg-1 body weight (BW)] and subacute (250, 500, and 1000 mg kg-1 BW) toxicity tests were conducted on female Wistar rats, along with an evaluation of the toxic reversal effect. HPLC-HRMS revealed the presence of withanolide steroids in Av-E. Reduced alanine aminotransferase (ALT), bilirubin levels, and increased calcium concentrations were observed after the acute toxicity test. Subacute toxicity demonstrated lowered ALT (250 and 1000 mg kg-1 BW) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) (250 and 500 mg kg-1 BW) levels and increased sodium concentration (250 mg kg-1 BW). No fatalities or clinical signs of toxicity occurred, and histological and biochemical analysis revealed no apparent liver or kidney toxicity. In conclusion, Av-E exhibited no toxicity in the experiments, encouraging further research to develop new herbal medicines.

Multi-immunometabolomics mining: NP prevents hyperimmune in ALI by inhibiting Leucine/PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway

Acute lung injury (ALI) is currently a global health concern. Nicandra physalodes (L.) Gaertn. (NP) holds an important position in traditional Chinese medicine and nutrition. The potential protective mechanisms of NP against ALI remain unknown. The purpose of this study was to investigate the protective effects and molecular mechanisms of NP extract (NPE) on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced ALI in mice. By utilizing network pharmacology to forecast the active ingredients in NP as well as possible signaling pathways. The composition of the NPE was analyzed using UPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS. In addition, 1H-NMR immunometabolomics was employed to identify alterations in primary metabolic pathways and metabolites in the lung, serum, and fecal tissues. Finally, the protein and gene expression of key pathways were verified by IHC, IF, RT-qPCR, and ELISA. It was found that the main ingredients of NPE were revealed to be nicandrenone, withanolide A, and baicalin. NPE significantly improved lung injury, pulmonary edema, and inflammatory cell infiltration in mice with ALI. In addition, NPE improved autophagic activity and alleviated Th1 and Th17 cell-induced lung inflammation by suppressing the PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway. Importantly, immunometabolomic analysis of fecal, serum, and lung tissues revealed that NPE reversed ALI-induced leucine resistance by remodeling immunometabolism. We confirmed NPE prevents ALI by remodeling immunometabolism, regulating the Leucine/PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway, inhibiting Th1/Th17 cell differentiation, and providing a scientific immunological basis for the clinical application of NPE.

Withaferin A suppressed hepatocellular carcinoma progression through inducing IGF2BP3/FOXO1/JAK2/STAT3 pathway-mediated ROS production

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to investigate the underlying molecular mechanisms of Withaferin A (WA) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The gene and protein expression were analyzed using RT-qPCR and western blot, respectively. The proliferation of HCC cells was evaluated by CCK-8 assays. The migrative ability of HCC cells was measured by transwell assays.

RESULTS

We revealed that WA suppressed the proliferation and migration of HCC cells and inhibited IGF2BP3 (insulin like growth factor 2 mRNA binding protein 3) expression. IGF2BP3 abundance reversed the reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation and suppression of HCC cell proliferation and migration induced by WA. Besides, IGF2BP3 suppressed ROS production to promote the growth and migration of HCC cells. Furthermore, we found that IGF2BP3 exerted its tumor-promotive and ROS-suppressive effect on HCC cells by regulating the expression of FOXO1 (forkhead box O1). In addition, IGF2BP3-stimulated activation of JAK2 (Janus kinase 2)/STAT3 (signal transducer and activator of transcription 3) phosphorylation effectively decreased the transcription of FOXO1. FOXO1 abundance decreased the phosphorylation of JAK2 and STAT3 by increasing ROS level, forming a feedback loop for the inhibition of JAK2/STAT3 signaling activated by IGF2BP3.

CONCLUSIONS

WA-induced ROS inhibited HCC cell growth and migration through the inhibition of IGF2BP3 to deactivate JAK2/STAT3 signaling, resulting in increased FOXO1 expression to further stimulate ROS production and inhibit JAK2/STAT3 signaling.

Chantriolides F-P, Highly Oxidized Withanolides with Hepatoprotective Activity from Tacca chantrieri

Eleven highly oxidized withanolides, chantriolides F-P (1-11), together with six known analogues (12-17), were isolated from the rhizomes of Tacca chantrieri. Their structures were established on the basis of comprehensive spectroscopic data analysis and comparison with published NMR data, and their absolute configurations were further confirmed by experimental ECD data and single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. The structures of compounds 5-8 contained a chlorine atom substituted at C-3. Compounds 1 and 12 are a pair of epimers isomerized at C-24 and C-25, while compounds 9 and 16 are isomerized at C-1, C-7, C-24, and C-25. Next, the hepatoprotective effect of all the isolates was evaluated on tert-butyl hydroperoxide (t-BHP)-injured AML12 hepatocytes. Compounds 5-11 and 16 significantly enhanced cell viability. Compound 8 decreased reactive oxygen species accumulation and increased glutathione level in t-BHP injured AML12 hepatocytes through promoting nuclear translocation of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2).

Nicandra physalodes Extract Exerts Antiaging Effects in Multiple Models and Extends the Lifespan of Caenorhabditis elegans via DAF-16 and HSF-1

The development of safe and effective therapeutic interventions is an important issue for delaying aging and reducing the risk of aging-related diseases. Chinese herbal medicines for the treatment of aging and other complex diseases are desired due to their multiple components and targets. Through screening for effects on lifespan of 836 Chinese herbal medicine extracts, Nicandra physalodes extract (HL0285) was found to exhibit lifespan extension activity in Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans). In further experiments, HL0285 improved healthspan, enhanced stress resistance, and delayed the progression of neurodegenerative diseases in C. elegans. Additionally, it ameliorated senescence in human lung fibroblasts (MRC-5 cells) and reversed liver function damage and reduced senescence marker levels in doxorubicin- (Dox-) induced aging mice. In addition, the longevity effect of HL0285 in C. elegans was dependent on the DAF-16 and HSF-1 signaling pathways, as demonstrated by the results of the mutant lifespan, gene level, and GFP level assays. In summary, we discovered that HL0285 had an antiaging effect in C. elegans, MRC-5 cells, and Dox-induced aging mice and deserves to be explored in the future studies on antiaging agents.

Withaferin A in the Treatment of Liver Diseases: Progress and Pharmacokinetic Insights

Withaferin A (WA) is a natural steroidal compound used in Ayurvedic medicine in India and elsewhere. Although WA was used as an anticancer reagent for decades, its role in the treatment of liver diseases has only recently been experimentally explored. Here, the effects of WA in the treatment of liver injury, systematic inflammation, and liver cancer are reviewed, and the toxicity and metabolism of WA as well as pharmacological potentials of other extracts from Withania somnifera (W. somnifera) discussed. The pharmacokinetic behaviors of WA are summarized and pharmacokinetic insights into current progress and future opportunities are highlighted. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: This review outlines the current experimental progress of Withaferin A (WA) hepatoprotective activities and highlights gaps in the field. This work also discusses the pharmacokinetics of WA that can be used to guide future studies for the possible treatment of liver diseases with this compound.

Natural withanolides, an update

Covering: March 2010 to December 2020. Previous review: Nat. Prod. Rep., 2011, 28, 705This review summarizes the latest progress and perspectives on the structural classification, biological activities and mechanisms, metabolism and pharmacokinetic investigations, biosynthesis, chemical synthesis and structural modifications, as well as future research directions of the promising natural withanolides. The literature from March 2010 to December 2020 is reviewed, and 287 references are cited.

Three new C23 steroids from the leaves and stems of Nicandra physaloides

Nicandra physaloides is a medicinal and edible plant and has been used as traditionally herbal medicine to treat various diseases in folk. Its characteristic withanolides, a kind of ergostane-type steroids, are reported to display plentiful biological activities that many explain the effect of N. physaloides to some extent. Thus, to further find bioactive steroids, the stems and leaves of N. physaloides were investigated and three new C23 steroids, nic-physatones I-J (1-2), and nic-physatone S (3), together with a known C25 steroid, nic 17 (4), were isolated. Their structures were elucidated by extensive 1D NMR and 2D NMR (HSQC, HMBC, ¹H-¹H COSY, and ROESY), UV and MS analyses. Compounds 1-3 possess a rare C23 steroid skeleton. Among them, compound 3 represented the first example of a C23 steroid featuring a benzene ring (D ring). The isolated compounds showed no cytotoxic activity.