A new antiplatelet diarylheptanoid from Alpinia blepharocalyx

Changes in the Proteome Profile of A549 Cells Following Helichrysetin-Induced Apoptosis Suggest the Involvement of DNA Damage Response and Cell Cycle Arrest-Associated Proteins

Our previous findings demonstrated that Helichrysetin possessed promising anti-cancer activity. It was able to induce apoptosis in the A549 cell line. However, its mechanism of action is unknown. The present study aimed to unravel possible underlying molecular mechanisms of helichrysetin-induced apoptosis in A549 (human lung carcinoma) cells using comparative quantitative proteomics (iTRAQ labeled), followed by an exhaustive bioinformatics analysis. Our results suggested that DNA damage response (DDR) and cell cycle arrest were responsible for lung cancer cell death with helichrysetin treatment. Among proteins that changed in abundance were Nrf2 and HMOX1. They are oxidative stress-related proteins and were increased in abundance. BRAT1 was also increased in abundance, suggesting an increase in DNA damage repair, indicating the occurrence of DNA damage due to oxidative stress. However, several essential DDR downstream proteins such as p-ATM, BRCA1, FANCD2, and Rb1 that would further increase DNA damage were found to be dramatically decreased in relative abundance. Cell cycle-related proteins, p53, p21, and cyclin D1, were increased while cyclin A, cyclin E, and cdk2 were decreased. This is predicted to facilitate S-phase arrest. Furthermore, excessive DNA damage and prolonged arrest would in turn result in the induction of mitochondrial-mediated apoptosis. Based on these observations, we postulate that the effects of helichrysetin were in part via the suppression of DNA damage response which led to DNA damage and prolonged cell cycle arrest. Subsequently, this event initiated mitochondrial-mediated apoptosis in A549 lung cancer cells.

Metabolomics and Transcriptomics Reveal that Diarylheptanoids Vary in Amomum tsao-ko Fruit Development

Amomum tsao-ko is an important spice and medicinal plant that has received extensive attention in recent years for its high content of bioactive constituents with the potential for food additives and drug development. Diarylheptanoids are major and characteristic compounds in A. tsao-ko; however, the biochemical and molecular foundation of diarylheptanoids in fruit is unknown. We performed comparative metabolomics and transcriptomics studies in the ripening stages of A. tsao-ko fruit. The chemical constituents of fruit vary in different harvest periods, and the diarylheptanoids have a trend to decrease or increase with fruit development. GO enrichment analysis revealed that plant hormone signaling pathways including the ethylene-activated signaling pathway, salicylic acid, jasmonic acid, abscisic acid, and response to hydrogen peroxide were associated with fruit ripening. The biosynthetic pathways including phenylpropanoid, flavonoids, and diarylheptanoids biosynthesis were displayed in high enrichment levels in ripening fruit. The molecular networking and phytochemistry investigation of A. tsao-ko fruit has isolated and identified 10 diarylheptanoids including three new compounds. The candidate genes related to diarylheptanoids were obtained by coexpression network analysis and phylogenetic analysis. Two key genes have been verified to biosynthesize linear diarylheptanoids. This integrative approach provides gene regulation and networking associated with the biosynthesis of characteristic diarylheptanoids, which can be used to improve the quality of A. tsao-ko as food and medicine.

Cardamonin as a p38 MAPK Signaling Pathway Activator Inhibits Human Coronavirus OC43 Infection in Human Lung Cells

A natural chalcone, cardamonin (2′,4′-dihydroxy-6′-methoxychalcone; CDN) was isolated from the seeds of Alpinia katsumadai Hayata, which has been traditionally used to treat stomach aches. CDN has been reported to possess various pharmacological properties, including anticancer and anti-inflammatory effects. This study evaluated the antiviral activity of CDN against human coronavirus HCoV-OC43 and determined the mode of action in HCoV-OC43-infected human lung cell lines (MRC-5 and A549 cells). CDN significantly inhibited HCoV-OC43-induced cytopathic effects with an IC50 of 3.62 μM and a CC50 of >50 μM, resulting in a selectivity index of >13.81. CDN treatment reduced the level of viral RNA and the expression of spike and nucleocapsid proteins in HCoV-OC43-infected cells as determine through qRT-PCR and Western blot analysis. Additionally, the activation of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) by anisomycin decreased viral protein expression, whereas an inhibitor of p38 MAPK signaling, SB202190, increased viral protein expression. CDN also amplified and extended the p38 MAPK signaling pathway in HCoV-OC43-infected cells. In conclusion, CDN inhibited HCoV-OC43 infection by activating the p38 MAPK signaling pathway and has potential as a therapeutic agent against human coronavirus.

Dihydroflavonoid glycosides from Viscum album and their inhibitory effects on hepatic lipid accumulation and target identification

Five undescribed dihydroflavonoid glycoside derivatives, namely albvisosides A‒E, together with two known compounds were isolated from the roots and stem leaves of Viscum album L. var. album. (European mistletoe). Their structures were determined by HRESIMS, 1D and 2D NMR, and ECD analysis. Albvisoside B exhibits significant inhibitory effect on hepatic lipid accumulation in HepG2 cells at very low concentrations (EC50: 0.7 nM). Using proteome integral solubility alteration assay, the direct targets or downstream effectors of albvisoside B were elucidated. As a result, 97 proteins were identified based on ligand-induced alterations in the protein thermal stability. Bioinformatics analysis indicated that albvisoside B primarily ameliorated oleic acid-induced lipid accumulation by regulating the selenoamino acids metabolism signaling pathway. RPL3, ADAM17, and RPL14 were likely to be involved in mediating the lipid-lowering effect of albvisoside B.

An overview of the chemical composition and biological activities of essential oils from Alpinia genus (Zingiberaceae)

Alpinia Roxb. is the largest genus of the Zingiberaceae family. A large number of Alpinia species has been used as food and traditional medicines. Alpinia essential oils have been studied for their chemical profiles, in which 1,8-cineole, β-pinene, α-pinene, β-myrcene, camphor, γ-terpinene, p-cymene, geraniol, α-fenchyl acetate, ocimene, methyl cinnamate, and β-caryophyllene have been found to be the major compounds. Essential oils isolated from Alpinia plants have been reported to have antimicrobial, cytotoxic, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-asthmatic, tyrosinase inhibitory, insecticidal, and larvicidal activities and slimming aromatherapy. In this review, the comprehensive information regarding the volatile components of various Alpinia plants, the bioactivities of Alpinia essential oils and their major compounds are provided.

Helichrysetin and TNF‑α synergistically promote apoptosis by inhibiting overactivation of the NF‑κB and EGFR signaling pathways in HeLa and T98G cells

Tumor necrosis factor‑α (TNF‑α) has different effects on apoptosis depending on activation or inactivation of the nuclear factor‑κB (NF‑κB) and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) signaling pathways. Helichrysetin, a natural chalcone, inhibits NF‑κB nuclear translocation in mouse pancreatic β cells. The present study aimed to identify the effect of helichrysetin on activation of the NF‑κB and EGFR signaling pathways induced by TNF‑α, and the synergistic effect of helichrysetin and TNF‑α on apoptosis of HeLa and T98G cells. Cell proliferation was measured by Cell Counting Kit‑8 assay, while apoptosis was measured by Hoechst 33258 and Annexin V/PI staining. NF‑κB activity was detected by luciferase assay, protein expression was measured by western blotting and mRNA expression was detected by quantitative PCR assay. The results revealed that in HeLa and T98G cells helichrysetin blocked the increased phosphorylation of NF‑κB p65 induced by TNF‑α. Although helichrysetin alone decreased cell viability, helichrysetin and TNF‑α synergistically decreased cell viability. Helichrysetin, not TNF‑α, promoted apoptosis, while the combination of helichrysetin and TNF‑α synergistically increased apoptosis. In addition, helichrysetin and TNF‑α synergistically enhanced the activation of caspase‑3 and poly‑(ADP‑ribose)‑polymerase compared with helichrysetin alone. Helichrysetin inhibited the phosphorylation of transforming growth factor‑β activated kinase (TAK1), IκB kinase‑α/β (IKK‑α/β), NF‑κB p65 and EGFR induced by TNF‑α. Consistent with the inhibition of NF‑κB activation, the increased TNF‑α‑induced mRNA expression levels of TNF‑α, IL‑1β, CCL2, CCL5 and CXCL10 were significantly downregulated by helichrysetin. Therefore, helichrysetin and TNF‑α synergistically promoted apoptosis by inhibiting TAK1/IKK/NF‑κB and TAK1/EGFR signaling pathways in HeLa and T98G cells, indicating a potential therapeutic strategy for cancer.

A Bioinspired Strategy for the Enantioselective Synthesis of Bicyclic Oxygen Heterocycles

A new strategy is described for the direct conversion of unsaturated 3,5-dihydroxy-diarylheptanoids to dimeric products assembled on trans-2,8-dioxabicyclo[4.4.0]decane frameworks. The key atom-economical acid-mediated coupling creates 2 rings and 4 new stereocenters in a single-pot process. Oxygen-18 labeling studies are in accord with reactions proceeding via a cascade mechanism involving carbocationic intermediates. This approach enabled the concise total syntheses of analogues of the natural product blepharocalyxin D in 4 steps from simple starting materials.

Cardamonin: A new player to fight cancer via multiple cancer signaling pathways

Nature's pharmacy has undoubtedly served humans as an affordable and safer health-care regime for a long times. Cardamonin, a chalconoid present in several plants has been known for a longtime to have beneficial properties towards human health. In this review, we aimed to highlight the recent advances achieved in discovering the pharmacological properties of cardamonin. Cardamonin is cardamom-derived chalcone, which plays a role in cancer treatment, immune system modulation, inflammation and pathogens killing. Through the modulation of cellular signaling pathways, cardamonin activates cell death signal to induce apoptosis in malignant cells that results in the inhibition of cancer development. Moreover, cardamonin arrests cell cycle by altering the expression of regulatory proteins during malignant cells division. Due to its relatively selective cytotoxic potential against host malignant cells, cardamonin is emerging as a promising novel experimental anticancer agent. The potential of cardamonin to target various signaling molecules, transcriptional factors, cytokines and enzymes, such as mTOR, NF-κB, Akt, STAT3, Wnt/β-catenin and COX-2 enhances the opportunity to explore it as a new multi-target therapeutic agent. The pharmacokinetic and biosafety profile of cardamonin favor it as a potentially safe biomolecule for pharmaceutical drug development.

Alpinoid c analog inhibits angiogenesis and induces apoptosis in COLO205 cell line

Diarylheptanoids display an array of biological and pharmacological properties. We previously reported the synthesis of a diarylheptanoid Alpinoid c and a series of its derivatives, evaluated their cytotoxicity against various human cancer cells. We found some of these derivatives were significantly more potent than Alpinoid c in preventing the proliferation of various cancer cell lines. Among these, (S, E)-1-(3, 4 dimethoxyphenyl)-6-hydroxy-7-phenylhept-4-en-3-one (DPHP) showed most potent cytotoxicity against COLO205 cells, however, the mechanism by which DPHP prevents the growth of these colon cancer cells remains unknown. In the current study, we investigated the molecular mechanism of DPHP on colon cancer cells. DPHP inhibited the proliferation of COLO205 (IC₅₀ 7.01 ± 0.62 μM) and A549 (IC₅₀ 20.03 ± 3.11 μM) cells more specifically than normal human colon epithelial cell line NCM460 (IC₅₀ 55.6 ± 4.02 μM). In COLO205 cells, DPHP induced cell shrinkage, membrane blebbing, chromatin condensation, phosphatidylserine externalization, and an accumulation of cells at sub-G1 phase. Further analysis these cells treated with DPHP revealed a decrease in mitochondrial membrane potential, an increase in Bax/Bcl2 ratio, the release of cytochrome c, activation of caspases -9, -3/7, and cleavage of the poly-ADP-ribose polymerase. DPHP treatment resulted in inhibition of hypoxia induced VEGF downstream signaling pathway in COLO205 cells is concurrent with inhibition of angiogenesis in CAM. Based on these data we suggest that DPHP significantly induced apoptosis possibly via intrinsic mitochondrial apoptosis pathway and inhibited angiogenesis. Our study suggests DPHP could be a therapeutic agent in treating colon cancer.

Diarylheptanoids as nutraceutical: A review

Phenolic compounds are naturally occurring compounds present ubiquitously in plants. They have potential health benefits and substantiate evidence for their nutraceutical applications. Diarylheptanoids are part of the broad class of plant phenolics with structurally divergent compounds. They have been used in traditional medicines and homemade remedies to treat various ailments, as organoleptic additives in foods, and also for aesthetic purposes. With their potential therapeutic and organoleptic characteristics, diarylhepatanoids can be rightly termed as nutraceuticals. This review summarizes the wide range of pharmacological activities of diarylhepatanoids and nutraceutical formulations, with relevance to human health.

Isolation and structural elucidation of antifungal compounds from Ryudai gold (Curcuma longa) against Fusarium solani sensu lato isolated from American manatee

In a previous study, we reported that Curcuma longa strain Ryudai gold (RD) showed antifungal activity against Fusarium solani sensu lato (FSSL) among the different species and varieties of turmeric. The present study focused on isolation, identification and structural elucidation of antifungal compounds in RD. The ethyl acetate (EtOAc) fraction was eluted with n-hexane and EtOAc with gradually increasing the concentration of EtOAc (n-hexane:EtOAc; 100:0; 80:20; 60:40, 40:60, 20:80 and 0:100). The antifungal compounds were isolated from the most effective fraction by using silica gel, TOYOPEARL® HW-40F column, and high-performance liquid chromatography. Structural identification of the antifungal compounds was conducted using ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. The MeOH extract of the rhizome of RD inhibited the growth of FSSL in a concentration-dependent manner. The EtOAc fraction of the MeOH extract of RD demonstrated the highest antifungal activity against FSSL. The purified antifungal compounds were turmeronol B (1), turmeronol A (2), (E)-α-atlantone (3), dihydrobisdemethoxycurcumin (4), demethoxycurcumin (5) and curcumin (6). These six compounds showed concentration-dependent antifungal activity against FSSL. The concentration required for 50% growth inhibition (IC₅₀) of the four isolates of FSSL ranged from 116 to172, 127 to 185, 88 to 109, 90 to 112, 74 to 80 and 63 to 68 μM/L for turmeronol B, turmeronol A, (E)-α-atlantone, dihydrobisdemethoxycurcumin, demethoxycurcumin and curcumin, respectively. These results suggested that RD contained potential antifungal compounds that could be useful to control FSSL. The isolated compounds of RD can be a good source of natural antifungal agents or the lead compounds for the development of new synthetic drugs.

Inhibition of Pro-Inflammatory Functions of Human Neutrophils by Constituents of Melodorum fruticosum Leaves

In an initial screening, the dichloromethane extract from the leaves of Melodorum fruticosum showed distinct inhibitory effects on the release of interleukin-8 (IL-8) in human neutrophils. Therefore, the aim of the present study was the phytochemical and pharmacological investigation of this extract, to better understand which compounds might be responsible for the anti-inflammatory effect. Phytochemical analysis led to the isolation of 12 known compounds and two new natural products, 5-hydroxy-6-(2-hydroxybenzyl)-4',7-dimethoxyflavanone (13) and 2',4'-dihydroxy-3'-(2-hydroxybenzyl)-4,6'-dimethoxychalcone (14). The influence of the isolated compounds on the production and release of the pro-inflammatory factors IL-8, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), reactive oxygen species (ROS), and adhesion molecules (CD62L and CD11b) in human neutrophils was evaluated. Three constituents, melodamide A, 2',4'-dihydroxy-4,6'-dimethoxychalcone, and 2',6'-dihydroxy-4'-methoxychalcone, showed significant inhibition of IL-8 release (IC₅₀ =6.6, 8.6, and 11.6 μm, respectively) and TNF-α production (IC₅₀ =4.5, 13.3, and 6.2 μm, respectively).

A review on the ethnomedicinal uses, phytochemistry and pharmacology of Alpinia officinarum Hance

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Alpinia officinarum Hance is a perennial plant that has been traditionally used for many decades to treat several ailments including inflammation, pain, stomach-ache, cold, amongst others. Pharmacological studies over the years have demonstrated remarkable bioactivities that could be further explored for development of new therapeutic agents against various ailments.

AIM OF THE STUDY

The paper critically reviewed the ethno-medicinal uses, pharmacology, and phytochemistry of A. officinarum.

METHODS

Keywords including A. officinarum and its synonyms were searched using electronic databases including ISI web of knowledge, Science direct, Scopus, PubMed, Google scholar and relevant database for Masters and Doctoral theses.

RESULTS

A. officinarum is prepared in Asia, Turkey, Morocco and Iran as a decoction, infusion or juice as a single preparation or in combination with other herbs, food or drinks for the treatment of general health problems including cold, inflammation, digestive disorders, etc. Pharmacological studies revealed the potent in vitro and in vivo bioactivities of various parts of A. officinarum that include anti-inflammatory, cytotoxicity, homeostasis, lipid regulation, antioxidant, antiviral, antimicrobial, antiosteoporosis, etc. Over 90 phytochemical constituents have been identified and isolated from A. officinarum comprising vastly of phenolic compounds especially diarylheptanoids isolated from the rhizome and considered the most active bioactive components.

CONCLUSION

In vitro and in vivo studies have confirmed the potency of A. officinarum. However, further studies are required to establish the mechanisms mediating its bioactivities in relation to the medicinal uses as well as investigating any potential toxicity for future clinical studies.

New Biflavonoids with α-Glucosidase and Pancreatic Lipase Inhibitory Activities from Boesenbergia rotunda

Roots of Boesenbergia rotunda (L.) Mansf. are prominent ingredients in the cuisine of several Asian countries, including Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, India, and China. An extract prepared from the roots of this plant showed strong inhibitory activity against enzymes α-glucosidase and pancreatic lipase and was subjected to chromatographic separation to identify the active components. Three new biflavonoids of the flavanone-chalcone type (9, 12, and 13) were isolated, along with 12 known compounds. Among the 15 isolates, the three new compounds showed stronger inhibitory activity against α-glucosidase than the drug acarbose but displayed lower pancreatic lipase inhibitory effect than the drug orlistat. The results indicated the potential of B. rotunda roots as a functional food for controlling after-meal blood glucose levels.

Effect of cardamonin on hepatic ischemia reperfusion induced in rats: Role of nitric oxide

Ischemia reperfusion (I/R) injury is a cellular damage in a hypoxic organ following the restoration of oxygen delivery. It may occur during organ transplantation, trauma and hepatectomies. Nitric oxide (NO) effects during hepatic I/R are complicated. The iNOS-derived NO has a deleterious effect, whereas eNOS-derived NO has a protective effect in liver I/R. Cardamonin (CDN) is an anti-inflammatory molecule and a novel iNOS inhibitor, and Nω-Nitro-L-arginine (L-NNA) is a NOS inhibitor. L-Arginine is a precursor of NOS. This study was designed to investigate the possible protective effects of CDN on hepatic I/R and the role of NO. Wistar rats were randomly divided into 5 groups (Sham, I/R, CDN, L-NNA and L-arginine). Liver ischemia was induced for 45min then reperfusion was allowed for 1h. L-Arginine and CDN ameliorated the deleterious effects of I/R through reducing the oxidative stress and hepatocyte degeneration. Both molecules decreased the elevated inflammatory cytokines and increased the antiapoptotic marker, Bcl2. Both agents increased NO and eNOS expression and decreased iNOS expression. In conclusion, increased NO/eNOS and suppression of iNOS expression have protective effects on I/R injury. While inhibition of eNOS and reduction of NO have deleterious effects on I/R injury. For the first time, we demonstrated that cardamonin improved functional and structural abnormalities of the liver following I/R by improving oxidative stress and inflammation and increasing the availability of NO produced by eNOS. Treatment with cardamonin could be a promising strategy in patients with hepatic I/R injury in different clinical situations.

From common to rare Zingiberaceae plants - A metabolomics study using GC-MS

Zingiberaceae plants, commonly known as gingers, have been popular for their medicinal and culinary uses since time immemorial. In spite of their numerous health-promoting applications, many Zingiberaceae plants still receive no scientific attention. Moreover, existing reports mostly focused only on the Zingiberaceae rhizomes. Here, untargeted metabolite profiling using Gas Chromatography - Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) was used to compare the metabolic composition of leaves and rhizomes of the more common gingers, Zingiber officinale Rosc. (ZO), Curcuma longa L. (CL), and Etlingera elatior (Jack) R.M. Smith (EE), and the rare gingers, Amomum muricarpum Elmer (AM), Etlingera philippinensis (Ridl.) R.M. Smith (EP), and Hornstedtia conoidea Ridl. (HC). Principal component analysis (PCA) demonstrated that different species show substantial chemical differentiation and revealed potential markers among the different Zingiberaceae plants. Interestingly, the leaves of AM, CL, EE, EP, and HC had significantly higher levels of chlorogenic acid than ZO. Moreover, rhizomes of EP and HC were found to contain significantly higher levels of amino acids than ZO. Sugars and organic acids were generally less abundant in ZO leaves and rhizomes than in the other gingers. The leaves of EP and rhizomes of AM were found most similar to the leaves and rhizomes of common gingers, respectively. Results of this study provide significant baseline information on assessing the possible usage of the leaves of common gingers and further propagation and exploration of EP and AM. This study, being the first metabolomics report on rare plants such as AM, EP and HC, affirms the usefulness of untargeted metabolite profiling in exploring under-investigated plants.

Chemical constituents from Curcuma longa L. and their inhibitory effects of nitric oxide production

A new bisabolane-type sesquiterpenoid, turmerone Q (1), along with six known compounds (2-7), were isolated from the rhizomes of Curcuma longa L. The structural elucidation of the new compound was conducted using ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, HSQC, HMBC and NOESY spectroscopic analyses. The absolute configuration of 1 was elucidated by comparison of the experimental and calculated ECD spectra. The anti-inflammatory effects of 1-7 were evaluated through lipopolysaccharide-induced nitric oxide (NO) production in RAW 264.7 macrophages assays, and compounds 6 and 7 showed potent inhibitory activity against NO production.

An overview of chemical constituents from Alpinia species in the last six decades

Alpinia species is one of the most important genera of the Zingiberaceae family. Up to 2015, 544 compounds with various bioactivities were isolated, the major components are diarylheptanoids (143) and sesquiterpenoids (132).

A Base-Catalyzed, Domino Aldol/hetero-Diels-Alder Synthesis of Tricyclic Pyrano[3,4-c]chromenes in Glycerol

The domino aldol/hetero-Diels-Alder synthesis of some new tricyclic pyrano[3,4-c]chromene derivatives has been achieved successfully after assembling a variety of acyclic or cyclic monoketones with prenyl ether-tethered aldehydes in the presence of 1,8-diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec-7-ene in glycerol at 120 °C. The hitherto unreported stereochemical outcome of this synthetic sequence was studied and established on the basis of single-crystal X-ray diffraction data and 2D NMR NOESY spectroscopy along with the isolation and characterization of the intermediate Aldol condensation product.

Gender-related pharmacokinetics and bioavailability of a novel anticancer chalcone, cardamonin, in rats determined by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry

A reversed phase liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry method was developed and validated for quantification of cardamonin, a potential anticancer chalcone, in rat serum. Curcumin was used as an internal standard. Following liquid-liquid extraction using n-hexane and ethyl acetate (60:40, v/v), the processed samples were chromatographed on a C18 column using acetonitrile and ammonium acetate buffer (0.01 M, pH 4.5) (85:15, v/v) as mobile phase at a flow rate of 0.6 mL min(-1). Mass spectrometric detection was performed in the negative electrospray ionization mode by multiple reaction monitoring (m/z 269→122 and 367→217 for cardamonin and curcumin, respectively). The method was validated in terms of selectivity, accuracy, precision, sensitivity, reproducibility, dilution integrity and stability. The linearity was established in the range of 1-200 ng mL(-1) (r≥0.999). The recovery of cardamonin from spiked serum was always >90%. The intra- and inter-day precision (%RSD) and accuracy (%bias) were well within the acceptable limits. The method was applied for single oral and intravenous dose pharmacokinetics in male and female Sprague Dawley rats. Following oral dose, cardamonin showed peak serum concentration that occurred at ∼2 h with very low bioavailability in both male (0.6%) and female (4.8%) rats. Cardamonin exhibited a significant gender influence on pharmacokinetics and bioavailability in rats.

Anti-inflammatory activity of compounds from Boesenbergia longiflora rhizomes

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

The rhizomes of Boesenbergia longiflora (Wall.) Kuntze have been traditionally used in treatment of inflammatory bowel disease, ulcerative colitis, aphthous ulcer and abscess. Our previous study indicated that CHCl3 fractions of Boesenbergia longiflora had potential on anti-inflammatory properties. In the present study, we investigated the active constituents of this plant for anti-inflammatory activity in order to support its traditional use.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The CHCl3 fraction was isolated using chromatographic techniques. Isolated compounds were tested using relevant in vitro anti-inflammatory assays against LPS-induced NO and TNF-α releases as well as their mechanisms in transcription levels in murine macrophage RAW264.7 cells.

RESULTS

The isolation of the CHCl3 fraction from Boesenbergia longiflora rhizomes led to the isolation of three new daucane sesquiterpenes, which were identified as 8-hydroxy-dauca-9, 11-diene-7-one (longiferone A; 1), dauca-8, 11-diene-7-one (longiferone B; 2) and dauca-8, 11-diene-7, 10-dione (longiferone C; 3); together with four known flavonoids, six known diarylheptanoids as well as one sterol. The longiferone B (2) and longiferone C (3) showed anti-inflammatory activity against NO release with IC50 values of 21.0 and 31.3µM, respectively. Longiferone B (2) also suppressed the iNOS and COX-2 mRNA expression. Moreover, the flavonoids and diarylheptanoids inhibited NO and TNF-α production in a dose dependent manner.

CONCLUSION

This study demonstrated that sesquiterpenes, diarylheptanoids and some methoxyflavonoids found in Boesenbergia longiflora are responsible for anti-inflammatory activity.

An overview on cardamonin

Cardamonin, as shown by the increasing number of publications, has received growing attention from the scientific community due to the expectations toward its benefits to human health. In this study, research on cardamonin is reviewed, including its natural sources, health promoting aspects, and analytical methods for its determination. Therefore, this article hopes to aid current and future researchers on the search for reliable answers concerning cardamonin's value in medicine.

Induction of apoptosis and cell cycle blockade by helichrysetin in a549 human lung adenocarcinoma cells

Researchers are looking into the potential development of natural compounds for anticancer therapy. Previous studies have postulated the cytotoxic effect of helichrysetin towards different cancer cell lines. In this study, we investigated the cytotoxic effect of helichrysetin, a naturally occurring chalcone on four selected cancer cell lines, A549, MCF-7, Ca Ski, and HT-29, and further elucidated its biochemical and molecular mechanisms in human lung adenocarcinoma, A549. Helichrysetin showed the highest cytotoxic activity against Ca Ski followed by A549. Changes in the nuclear morphology of A549 cells such as chromatin condensation and nuclear fragmentation were observed in cells treated with helichrysetin. Further evidence of apoptosis includes the externalization of phosphatidylserine and the collapse of mitochondrial membrane potential which are both early signs of apoptosis. These signs of apoptosis are related to cell cycle blockade at the S checkpoint which suggests that the alteration of the cell cycle contributes to the induction of apoptosis in A549. These results suggest that helichrysetin has great potentials for development as an anticancer agent.

Diarylheptanoids from Dioscorea villosa (Wild Yam)

A fractionation methodology aimed at the metabolomic mining of new phytoconstituents for the widely used botanical, wild yam (Dioscorea villosa), makes use of 1D qHNMR and 2D NMR profiles along the preparative fractionation pathway. This quantifiable and structural guidance led to the isolation of 14 diarylheptanoids (1-14), including five new compounds (1-5) with a tetrahydropyrano core skeleton. The structures, including the absolute configurations of both new and previously known diarylheptanoids, were assigned by a combination of HRESIMS, 1D and 2D NMR, (1)H iterative full spin analysis (HiFSA), and Mosher's ester method. The isolation yields were consistent with yields predicted by qHNMR, which confirms the (semi)quantifiable capabilities of NMR-based preparative metabolomic mining. The qHNMR-aided approach enabled the identification of new and potentially significant chemical entities from a small fraction of the plant extract and, thereby, facilitated the characterization of the residual complexity of the D. villosa secondary metabolome. LC-MS profiling of different D. villosa accessions further confirmed that the diarylheptanoids represent genuine secondary metabolites, which can serve as a new class of markers for botanical integrity analysis of D. villosa.

Naturally Occurring Diarylheptanoids

Diarylheptanoids, natural products with a 1,7-diphenylheptane structural skeleton, are mainly distributed in the roots, rhizomes and bark of Alpinia, Zingiber, Curcuma and Alnus species. They have become of interest in natural product research over the past twenty years because of their remarkable anticancer, anti-emetic, estrogenic, antimicrobial and antioxidant activity. This paper compiles all 307 naturally occurring diarylheptanoids from 46 plants as reported in 137 references with their distributions, physiological activities and 13C-NMR spectral data.

Cardamonin is a bifunctional vasodilator that inhibits Ca(v)1.2 current and stimulates K(Ca)1.1 current in rat tail artery myocytes

An in-depth analysis of the effects of cardamonin, 2',4'-dihydroxy-6'-methoxychalcone, on rat tail artery preparations was performed by means of whole-cell patch-clamp recordings of Ca(v)1.2 Ca(2+) [I(Ca(L))] or Ba(2+) [I(Ba(L))] current as well as K(Ca)1.1 currents in single myocytes and by measuring contractile responses in endothelium-denuded isolated rings. At a holding potential (V(h)) of -80 mV, cardamonin decreased both I(Ba(L)) and I(Ca(L)) in a concentration-dependent manner with similar pIC(50) values. The maximum of the I(Ba(L))-voltage relationship was shifted by 10 mV in the hyperpolarizing direction, but threshold remained unaffected. Cardamonin modified both the activation and the inactivation kinetics of I(Ba(L)) and shifted the voltage dependence of both inactivation and activation curves to more negative potentials by 19 and 7 mV, respectively, thus markedly decreasing the Ba(2+) window current. Block of I(Ba(L)) was frequency-dependent, and rate of recovery from inactivation was slowed. Cardamonin increased K(Ca)1.1 currents in a concentration-dependent manner; this stimulation was iberiotoxin- and BAPTA [1,2-bis(2-aminophenoxy)ethane-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid]-sensitive. On the contrary, iberiotoxin did not modify cardamonin-induced relaxation of rings precontracted either with phenylephrine or with (S)-(-)-methyl-1,4-dihydro-2,6-dimethyl-3-nitro-4-(2-trifluoromethylphenyl)pyridine-5-carboxylate [(S)-(-)-Bay K 8644]. The overall effects of cardamonin were incompletely reversed by washout. In conclusion, cardamonin is a naturally occurring, bifunctional vasodilator that, by simultaneously inhibiting I(Ca(L)) and stimulating K(Ca)1.1 current, may represent a scaffold for the design of novel drugs of potential interest for treatment of systemic hypertension.

Anti-inflammatory, anti-nociceptive, and anti-psychiatric effects by the rhizomes of Alpinia officinarum on complete Freund's adjuvant-induced arthritis in rats

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Alpinia officinarum Hance (Zingiberaceae) is an annual plant. Its rhizome has long been used as an anti-inflammatory, an analgesic, a stomachic and a carminative in traditional medicine.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to test the anti-inflammatory effects of Alpinia officinarum rhizomes on acute and chronic arthritis in SD rats.

METHODS

Alpinia officinarum rhizomes were extracted by refluxing using 80% ethanol. The fractions were prepared by the fractionation of ethyl acetate (EtOAc), n-butanol, and water. This extract was administrated to rats by peroral injection. Acute arthritis was induced by a subcutaneous injection of carrageenan into the hind paw of SD rats. Chronic arthritis was stimulated by a subcutaneous injection of complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA) into the hind paw of SD rats. The paw volume was measured using a plethysmometer, thermal hyperalgesia was tested using a thermal plantar tester, hyperalgesia was evaluated by ankle flexion evoked vocalizations, and the expression of c-Fos in the brain hippocampus was measured with the avidin-biotin-peroxidase technique. Nitric oxide (NO) production was evaluated on nitrite by a Griess assay in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced murine macrophage RAW 264.7 cells.

RESULTS

An 80% ethanolic extract showed acute anti-inflammatory activity that it reduced the edema volume in carrageenan-stimulated arthritis and inhibited NO generation in LPS-induced RAW 264.7 cells. In addition, this extract showed chronic anti-rheumatic and analgesic activities by suppressing the swelling volume, by recovering the paw withdrawal latency, and by inhibiting the flexion scores in CFA-induced arthritis. Particularly, this medicine had potent meaningful effects on the second signal of the left hind paw in the form of an immunological reaction compared to its effects on the first signal in the right hind paw after the CFA treatment. This also shows an anti-psychiatric effect through control of the expression of the c-Fos protein of the brain hippocampus in CFA-stimulated arthritis. On the other hand, each fraction showed acute anti-inflammatory effects; the action of the EtOAc fraction may have resulted from the suppression of NO production.

CONCLUSIONS

Alpinia officinarum rhizomes may be viable therapeutic or preventive candidates for the treatment of acute and chronic arthritis.

Characterization of cardamonin metabolism by P450 in different species via HPLC-ESI-ion trap and UPLC-ESI-quadrupole mass spectrometry

AIM

To characterize the metabolism of cardamonin by the P450 enzymes in human and animal liver microsomes.

METHODS

Cardamonin was incubated with both human and animal liver microsomal incubation systems containing P450 reaction factors. High performance liquid chromatography coupled with ion trap mass spectrometry was used to identify the metabolites. Serial cardamonin dilutions were used to perform a kinetic study in human liver microsomes. Selective inhibitors of 7 of the major P450 isozymes were used to inhibit cardamonin hydroxylation to identify the isozymes involved in cardamonin metabolism. The cardamonin hydroxylation metabolic capacities of human and various other animals were investigated using the liver microsomal incubation system.

RESULTS

Two metabolites generated by the liver microsome system were detected and identified as hydroxylated cardamonin. The Km and Vmax values for cardamonin hydroxylation were calculated as 32 micromol/L and 35 pmol x min(-1) x mg(-1), respectively. Furafylline and clomethiazole significantly inhibited cardamonin hydroxylation. Guinea pigs showed the highest similarity to humans with respect to the metabolism of cardamonin.

CONCLUSION

CYP 1A2 and 2E1 were identified as the P450 isozymes involved in the metabolism of cardamonin in human liver microsomes. Furthermore, our research suggests that guinea pigs could be used in the advanced pharmacokinetic studies of cardamonin in vivo.

Structure elucidation and NMR assignments for curcuminoids from the rhizomes of Curcuma longa

Thirteen curcuminoids (1-13) were isolated from the rhizomes of Curcuma longa. Among them, 1,5-dihydroxy-1,7-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)-4,6-heptadiene-3-one (1), 1,5-dihydroxy-1-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-7-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-4,6-heptadiene-3-one (2), 1,5-dihydroxy-1-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-7-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-4,6-heptadiene-3-one (3), and 3-hydroxy-1,7-bis-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-6-heptene-1,5-dione (4) are new compounds, and 1-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-7-(3, 4-dihydroxyphenyl)-1, 6-heptadiene-3, 5-dione (5) is isolated from natural sources for the first time. The structures of these compounds were elucidated by extensive spectroscopic analyses, especially 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy. The (13)C NMR data and complete (1)H and (13)C NMR assignments of some known compounds are reported for the first time. In addition, the errors of (1)H and (13)C assignments reported in the literature were corrected.

Diarylheptanoid phytoestrogens isolated from the medicinal plant Curcuma comosa: biologic actions in vitro and in vivo indicate estrogen receptor-dependent mechanisms

BACKGROUND

Diarylheptanoids isolated from Curcuma comosa Roxb. have been recently identified as phyto estrogens. However, the mechanism underlying their actions has not yet been identified.

OBJECTIVES

We characterized the estrogenic activity of three active naturally occurring diarylheptanoids both in vitro and in vivo.

METHODS

We characterized mechanisms of estrogenic action of the diarylheptanoids (3S)-1,7-diphenyl-(6E)-6-hepten-3-ol (D1), 1,7-diphenyl-(6E)-6-hepten-3-one (D2), and (3R)-1,7-diphenyl-(4E,6E)-4,6-heptadien-3-ol (D3) by using a real-time polymerase chain reaction assay, a mammalian transfection model, and a uterotrophic assay in mice.

RESULTS

All diarylheptanoids up-regulated estrogen-responsive genes in estrogen-responsive breast cancer cells (MCF-7). In HepG2 cells transfected with estrogen receptor (ER) beta or different ERalpha functional receptor mutants and the Vit-ERE-TATA-Luc reporter gene, all diarylheptanoids induced transcription through a ligand-dependent human ERalpha-ERE-driven pathway, which was abolished with ICI 182,780 (ER antagonist), whereas only D2 was active with ERbeta. An ERalpha mutant lacking the functional AF2 (activation function 2) region was not responsive to 17beta-estradiol (E(2)) or to any of the diarylheptanoids, whereas ERalpha lacking the AF1 domain exhibited wild-type-like activity. D3 markedly increased uterine weight and proliferation of the uterine epithelium in ovariectomized mice, whereas D1 and D2 were inactive. D3, like E(2), up-regulated lactoferrin (Ltf) gene expression. The responses to D3 in the uterus were inhibited by ICI 182,780. In addition, D3 stimulated both classical (Aqp5) and nonclassical (Cdkn1a) ER-mediated gene regulation.

CONCLUSIONS

The results suggest that the D3 diarylheptanoid is an agonist for ER both in vitro and in vivo, and its biological action is ERalpha selective, specifically requiring AF2 function, and involves direct binding via ER as well as ERE-independent gene regulation.

Inhibitory effect of compounds from Zingiberaceae species on human platelet aggregation

Twelve compounds isolated from Alpinia mutica Roxb., Kaempferia rotunda Linn., Curcuma xanthorhiza Roxb., Curcuma aromatica Valeton and Zingiber zerumbet Smith (Family: Zingiberaceae) and three synthesized derivatives of xanthorrhizol were evaluated for their ability to inhibit arachidonic acid- (AA), collagen- and ADP-induced platelet aggregation in human whole blood. Antiplatelet activity of the compounds was measured in vitro by the Chrono Log whole blood aggregometer using an electrical impedance method. Among the compounds tested, curcumin from C. aromatica, cardamonin, pinocembrine and 5,6-dehydrokawain from A. mutica and 3-deacetylcrotepoxide from K. rotunda showed strong inhibition on platelet aggregation induced by AA with IC(50) values of less than 84 microM. Curcumin was the most effective antiplatelet compound as it inhibited AA-, collagen- and ADP-induced platelet aggregation with IC(50) values of 37.5, 60.9 and 45.7 microM, respectively.

Diarylheptanoids from the rhizomes of Alpinia officinarum and their anticancer activity

Two new diarylheptanoids (1, 2), together with two known analogs (3, 4), were isolated from the rhizomes of Alpinia officinarum. The new compounds were elucidated to be (5S)-5-hydroxy-7-(3, 4-dihydroxyphenyl)-1-phenyl-3-heptanone (1) and (5R)-5-hydroxy-7-(3-methoxy-4, 5-dihydroxyphenyl)-1-phenyl-3-heptanone (2) based on their spectral analysis. Compound 4 showed moderate cytotoxicity against human tumor cell lines, HepG2, MCF-7 and SF-268, while no significant effect were found for compounds 1-3.

Separation and determination of alpinetin and cardamonin by reverse micelle electrokinetic capillary chromatography

A novel electokinetic capillary chromatography method, reverse sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) micelles as pseudo-stationary phase, was developed for separation and detection of alpinetin and cardamonin. In this work, reverse micelles (RMs) have been firstly introduced into background electrolyte for electrophoresis separation. The optimum reverse SDS micelle system was formed with n-butyl chloride as continuous phase, SDS (20.9%, w/v) as the surfactant, W(0) (13.0, water-surfactant molar ratio), 18.0% (v/v) 1-butanol as the co-surfactant, 8.0% (v/v) acetonitrile (ACN), 1.5% (v/v) heptane, and a 60 mol L(-1) tris-(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane (Tris) buffer, as dispersed phase. Linear relationships (correlation coefficients: 0.9961 for cardamonin and 0.9991 for alpinetin) between the peak areas and concentration of the two compounds were obtained (5.0-350.0 microg mL(-1) for cardamonin and 1.25-350.0 microg mL(-1) for alpinetin). The detection limits (S/N=3) for cardamonin and alpinetin were 0.19 and 0.14 microg mL(-1), respectively. The method was successfully applied for the quantification of alpinetin and cardamonin in Alpinia katsumadai Hayata and kuaiwei tablet with satisfactory recoveries in the range of 95.9-100.2%.

Antiplatelet activity of aporphine and phenanthrenoid alkaloids from Aromadendron elegans Blume

Six aporphine and one phenanthrenoid alkaloids isolated from Aromadendron elegans Blume were investigated for their ability to inhibit arachidonic acid (AA), collagen and ADP induced platelet aggregation in human whole blood. The antiplatelet activity of the compounds was measured in vitro by the Chrono Log whole blood aggregometer using an electrical impedance method. Of the compounds tested, (-)-N-acetylnornuciferine, (-)-N-acetylanonaine and 1-(N-acetyl-N-methylamino)ethyl-3,4,6-trimethoxy-7-hydroxyphenanthrene showed strong inhibition on platelet aggregation caused by all three inducers. (-)-N-acetylanonaine was the most effective antiplatelet compound as it inhibited both arachidonic acid, collagen and ADP-induced platelet aggregation with IC(50) values of 66.1, 95.1 and 80.6 microm, respectively.

Cyclic diarylheptanoids inhibit cell-mediated low-density lipoprotein oxidation

Two cyclic diarylheptanoids, garugamblin-3 (1) and acerogenin L (2), isolated from the MeOH extract of the fruits of Alnus japonica Steud., inhibited human low-density lipoprotein (LDL) oxidation in the thiobarbituric acid-reactive substance assay with IC50 values of 2.9 and 1.7 microM, respectively, and they also inhibited cell-mediated LDL oxidation more than five times more strongly than that of a well-known antioxidant, probucol, at a concentration of 10 microM. 1 had no effect on the anti-atherogenesis in low-density lipoprotein receptor- deficient mice.

The effects of cardamonin on lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammatory protein production and MAP kinase and NFkappaB signalling pathways in monocytes/macrophages

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

In this study we examined the effect of the natural product cardamonin, upon lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammatory gene expression in order to attempt to pinpoint the mechanism of action.

EXPERIMENTAL APPROACHES

Cardamonin was isolated from the Greek plant A. absinthium L. Its effects were assessed on LPS-induced nitrite release and iNOS and COX-2 protein expression in two macrophage cell lines. Western blotting was used to investigate its effects on phosphorylation of the mitogen activated protein (MAP) kinases, ERK, JNK and p38 MAP kinase, and activation of the NFkappaB pathway, at the level of IkappaBalpha degradation and phosphorylation of NFkappaB. Also its effects on NFkappaB and GAS/GAF-DNA binding were assessed by EMSA.

KEY RESULTS

Cardamonin concentration-dependently inhibited both NO release and iNOS expression but had no effect on COX-2 expression. It did not affect phosphorylation of the MAP kinases, degradation of IkappaBalpha or phosphorylation of NFkappaB. However, it inhibited NFkappaB DNA-binding in both LPS-stimulated cells and nuclear extracts of the cells (in vitro). It also inhibited IFNgamma-stimulated iNOS induction and GAS/GAF-DNA binding.

CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS

These results show that the inhibitory effect of cardamonin on LPS-induced iNOS induction is not mediated via effects on the initial activation of the NFkappaB or MAP kinase pathways but is due to a direct effect on transcription factor binding to DNA. However, although some selectivity in cardamonin's action is implicated by its inability to affect COX-2 expression, its exact mechanism(s) of action has yet to be identified.

Cyclic diarylheptanoids inhibit cell mediated low-density lipoprotein oxidation

Two cyclic diarylheptanoids, garugamblin-3 (1) and acerogenin L (2), isolated from the MeOH extract of the fruits of Alnus japonica Steud., inhibited human low-density lipoprotein (LDL) oxidation in the thiobarbituric acid-reactive substance assay with IC(50) values of 2.9 and 1.7 microM, respectively, and they also inhibited cell-mediated LDL oxidation more than 5 times more strongly than that of a well-known antioxidant, probucol, at a concentration of 10 microM. Compound (1) had no effect on the anti-atherogenesis in low-density lipoprotein receptor-deficient mice.

Determination of cardamonin using a chemiluminescent flow-injection method

A sensitive and selective flow injection chemiluminescence method for the determination of cardamonin over the range 1.0 x 10(-8) to 8.0 x 10(-6) g/mL is described. The method is based on the enhancement by cardamonin of the chemiluminescence of the reaction between cerium (IV) and rhodamine 6G in sulphuric acid medium. The optimised flow injection procedure yielded a detection limit for cardamonin of 8.8 x 10(-9) g/mL, whilst the relative standard deviations of intraday and inter-day precision were below 2.5%. The method has the advantages of high sensitivity and a wide linear range. It was successfully applied to the determination of cardamonin in Alpinia katsumadai Hayata. The mechanism of the chemiluminescence reaction is proposed.

Inhibitory Activity of Diarylheptanoids on Farnesyl Protein Transferase

Diarylheptanoids [curcumin (1), demethoxycurcumin (2), bisdemethoxycurcumin (3), bisdimethoxymethylcurcumin (4), and 1,2-dihydrobis(de-O-methyl)curcumin (5)] were isolated from the methanolic extract of Curcuma longa L. and a new cyclic diarylheptanoid (6) and a known Compound 7 were isolated from fruits of Alnus japonica Steud. Diarylheptanoids (1-3) inhibited farnesyl protein transferase (FPTase) with an IC50 of 29-50 microM. The other compounds very mildly inhibited FPTase, therefore, the inhibitory activity on FPTase very much depends on the structure of diarylheptanoids.

Augmentation of macrophage antitumor activities and nitric oxide production by oregonin

Oregonin, a diarylheptanoid derivative from Alnus hirsuta Turcz, Betulaceae, was evaluated for its antitumor activity. Oregonin, known to have an antitumor function, and is a novel immunomodulator, which may augment macrophage activity. MTT assays and NO production tests were performed in order to investigate the cytotoxicity of oregonin in tumor cells and to examine its influence on macrophage in detail. In this study, the tumoricidal activity was also evaluated by a MTT assay. The cytotoxicity measurements in the oregonin-treated group both in vitro and in vivo showed a significant difference from that of the control group. In vivo, oregonin significantly increased NO production in a dose-dependent manner, and in vitro, the thioglycolate-induced inflammatory macrophages increased NO production in a dose-dependent manner after incubation. These results suggest that oregonin reacts with both the inflammatory and non-inflammatory macrophages in a similar way.

Enhancement of NK cytotoxicity, antimetastasis and elongation effect of survival time in B16-F10 melanoma cells by oregonin

We investigated the antitumor activity of oregonin, a diarylheptanoid derivative purified from Alnus hirsuta Turcz, Betulaceae. Oregonin is a potential novel immunomodulator, which augments the activation of natural killer (NK) cells, and thereby leads to a powerful antitumor activity. To evaluate the cytotoxicity of oregonin against tumor cells, we examined the effectiveness of NK cells and determined that oregonin could increase NK cell cytotoxicity. This was confirmed by MTT assay. In addition, the survival time of C57BL/6 mice were measured by inoculating B16-F10 melanoma cells to mice via intra muscular (i.m.) injection. Oregonin treatment after 10 hours of inoculation at 10 mg/kg dosage showed a significant extension of survival time by up to 51.32%, when compared to the control group. Moreover, oregonin significantly reduced the incidence of pulmonary metastasis, which may be developed from B16-F10 melanoma cells. These findings suggest that oregonin may be classified as a new and novel immunomodulator due to its potential antitumor activity.