Inhibitory Effects of Triterpenes Isolated from Chuling (Polyporus umbellatus FRIES) on Free Radical-Induced Lysis of Red Blood Cells

A chemically characterized ethanolic extract of Thai Perilla frutescens (L.) Britton fruits (nutlets) reduces oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation in human hepatoma (HuH7) cells

Perilla frutescens is cultivated in East Asian countries including Thailand, and the nutlets (single-seeded fruits) are used as traditional and medicinal food. Perilla nutlets extracted by ethyl acetate (EA), 80% ethanol (Eth), and hot water (HW) sequentially were chemically characterized using high-resolution accurate liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry with the main compounds detected assigned as rosmarinic acid and derivatives of the flavones apigenin and luteolin, with the more diverse chemical composition observed with the Eth extract. All extracts showed dose-dependent free-radical scavenging activity, with the Eth extract the most potent (IC₅₀  = 3.43 mg/ml for ABTS^• scavenging and 0.27 mg/ml for DPPH^• scavenging). The Eth extract also inhibited AAPH-induced hemolysis (IC₅₀  = 0.07 mg/ml) more potently than did the HW (IC₅₀  = 0.38 mg/ml) and EA extracts (IC₅₀  = 1.63 mg/ml). An MTT test revealed all the extracts were noncytotoxic at concentrations up to 200 μg/ml. Only the Eth and EA extracts showed protective effects against the generation of reactive oxygen species and lipid peroxidation in FeCl₃ -induced HuH7 cells in a dose-dependent manner. Our findings suggest the Eth extract of Thai perilla nutlets, containing rosmarinic acid and flavones and their derivatives, may have potential to provide protection against oxidative stress in hepatic disorders.

Water decoction of coptidis rhizoma prevents oxidative damage in erythrocytes of mice

Coptidis Rhizoma (Coptis chinensis) has been reported to have antioxidative effect on hemolysis of erythrocytes induced by acetylphenylhydrazine in mice and rats. However, the ability of Coptidis Rhizoma to protect structure and function of erythrocytes membrane and morphology of erythrocytes against oxidative damage remains unknown. In this study, we undertook a characterization of antioxidative activity in erythrocytes membrane of Coptidis Rhizoma using an in vivo model of acetylphenylhydrazine-induced mice together with in vitro studies with 2,2-azo-bis (2-amidinopropane) dihydrochloride-induced erythrocytes for further morphology characterization. Acetylphenylhydrazine-induced mice were treated intragastrically with Coptidis Rhizoma at doses of 0.3, 0.6, and 1.2 g/kg per day for 3 days and at the dose of 0.6 and 1.2 g/kg it showed that there was an increasing trend in membranes cytoskeletal proteins of band I-IV, especially a significant upregulation in band II. Significant increase in phosphatidylserine and phosphatidylcholine content at the dose of 1.2 g/kg Coptidis Rhizoma was obsereved. At all doses of Coptidis Rhizoma, the declined membrane fluidity of acetylphenylhydrazine-induced mice was significantly increased. In addition, at the dose of 1.2 g/kg Coptidis Rhizoma treatment showed a significant increase in Ca²⁺/Mg²⁺-ATPase activity and there was an increasing trend in the activity of Na⁺/K⁺-ATPase. In vitro, Coptidis Rhizoma protected erythrocytes from 2,2-azo-bis (2-amidinopropane) dihydrochloride-induced hemolysis in a dose-dependent manner at concentrations of 0.25-1.5 mg/ml, and also significantly inhibited the 2,2-azo-bis (2-amidinopropane) dihydrochloride-induced morphological alterations in mice erythrocytes. These results demonstrate that Coptidis Rhizoma is capable of protecting erythrocytes against oxidative damage probably by acting as an antioxidant and maintaining membrane integrity.

Traditional uses, phytochemistry, pharmacology, pharmacokinetics and quality control of Polyporus umbellatus (Pers.) Fries: a review

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Polyporus umbellatus (Pers.) Fries (Polyporaceae, Zhuling ) has been commonly used in medicine for a wide range of ailments related to the edema, scanty urine, vaginal discharge, urinary dysfunction, as well as jaundice and diarrhea.

AIM OF THE REVIEW

The present paper reviewed the traditional uses, propagation, phytochemistry, pharmacology, pharmacokinetics and quality control of Polyporus umbellatus.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

All the available information on Polyporus umbellatus was collected via a library and electronic search (using Web of Science, Pubmed, ScienceDirect, Splinker, Google Scholar, etc.).

RESULTS

Phytochemical studies showed the presence of many valuable secondary metabolites such as steroids, polysaccharides, anthraquinones and nucleosides. Crude extracts and isolated compounds showed a wide spectrum of pharmacological activities including diuretic, nephroprotective, anti-cancer, immuno-enhancing, hepatoprotective, anti-inflammatory and antioxidative activities. The pharmacokinetic studies demonstrated that the ergosterol and ergone had a high distribution and absorption in the plasma and the two main components of Polyporus umbellatus were mainly excreted by faeces. The determination of multiple chemical components was successfully applied to the quality control of Polyporus umbellatus.

CONCLUSIONS

Modern phytochemical, pharmacological and metabonomic investigations showed that the crude extracts and isolated compounds from Polyporus umbellatus possess many kinds of biological functions, especially in the diuretic activities and the treatment of kidney diseases as well as anti-cancer, immuno-enhancing and hepatoprotective activities. The pathways of the distribution, absorption, metabolism and excretion of main steroidal compounds were clarified by pharmacokinetic studies. Most of the pharmacological studies were conducted using crude and poorly characterized extracts of Polyporus umbellatus in animals especially in case of diuretic activities and the treatment of kidney diseases. Thus, more bioactive components especially diuretic compounds should be identified using bioactivity-guided isolation strategies and the possible mechanism of action as well as potential synergistic or antagonistic effects of multi-component mixtures derived from Polyporus umbellatus need to be evaluated integrating pharmacological, pharmacokinetic, bioavailability-centered and physiological approaches. In addition, more experiments including in vitro, in vivo and clinical studies should be encouraged to identify any side effects or toxicity. These achievements will further expand the existing therapeutic potential of Polyporus umbellatus and provide a beneficial support to its future further clinical use in modern medicine.

Isoflavonoid-Rich Flemingia macrophylla Extract Attenuates UVB-Induced Skin Damage by Scavenging Reactive Oxygen Species and Inhibiting MAP Kinase and MMP Expression

In this study, we investigated the antioxidant activity and anti-photoaging properties of an extract of Flemingia macrophylla, a plant rich in isoflavonoid content. Pretreatment of fibroblasts with Flemingia macrophylla extract (FME) inhibited elastase activity, promoted the protein expression of type I procollagen, and attenuated the phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase and the protein expression of matrix-metalloproteinase- (MMP-) 1, 3, and 9. The IC₅₀ values were 2.1 μg/mL for DPPH radical scavenging ability, 366.8 μg/mL for superoxide anion scavenging ability, 178.9 μg/mL for hydrogen peroxide scavenging ability, and 230.9 μg/mL for hydroxyl radical scavenging ability. Also, exposure of erythrocytes to various concentrations of FME (50–500 μg/mL) resulted in a dose- and time-dependent inhibition of AAPH-induced hemolysis. In human fibroblasts, FME at 10 μg/mL was shown to be a potent scavenger of UV-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS). The antioxidant and anti-photoaging properties of FME make it an ideal anti-intrinsic aging and anti-photoaging agent.

Antioxidant activity of Ixora parviflora in a cell/cell-free system and in UV-exposed human fibroblasts

Polyphenols and flavonoids possess a variety of biological activities including antioxidant and anti-tumor activities. Ixora parviflora is a member of the flavonoid-rich Rubiaceae family of flowering plants and used as folk medicine in India. The aim of this study was to investigate the antioxidant activity of Ixora parviflora extract (IPE) in a cell-free system and erythrocytes, and the ability of IPE to inhibit reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation in human fibroblasts (Hs68) after ultraviolet (UV) exposure. Various in vitro antioxidant assays were employed in this study. The extraction yield of IPE was 17.4 ± 3.9%, the total phenolic content of IPE was 26.2 μg gallic acid equivalent (GAE)/mg leaves dry weight and the total flavonoids content was 54.2 ± 4.4 μg quercetin equvalent (QE)/mg extract. The content of chlorogenic acid was 9.7 ± 1.2 mg/g extract. IPE at 1000 μg/mL exhibited a reducing capacity of 90.5 ± 0.6%, a 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazy (DPPH) radical scavenging activity of 96.0 ± 0.4%, a ferrous chelating activity of 72.2 ± 3.5%, a hydroxyl radical scavenging activity of 96.8 ± 1.4%, and a hydrogen peroxide scavenging activity of 99.5 ± 3.3%. IPE at 500 μg/mL also possessed inhibitory activity against 2,2′-azobis (2-methylpropionamidine) dihydrochloride (AAPH)-induced hemolysis of erythrocytes (89.4 ± 1.8%) and resulted in a 52.9% reduction in ROS generation in UV-exposed fibroblasts. According to our findings, IPE is a potent antioxidant and a potential anti-photoaging agent.