Promising Anticancer Activities of Alismatis rhizome and Its Triterpenes via p38 and PI3K/Akt/mTOR Signaling Pathways

The safety evaluation of Shenze Shugan capsule and mechanism of apoptosis induced by five potentially nephrotoxic components

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Shenze Shugan capsule is a prescription of traditional Chinese medicine for nonalcoholic steatohepatitis treatment. It includes Rhei Radix et Rhizoma (RR), Cassiae Semen (CS) and Alismatis Rhizoma(AR), which widely contains rhein, emodin, aurantio-obtusin, alisol A and alisol B 23-monoacetate.

AIM OF THE STUDY

In this study, we aimed to explore the safety of the medicine, and further elucidate the mechanism of apoptosis induction in HK-2 cells by five components, including rhein, emodin, aurantio-obtusin, alisol A and alisol B 23-monoacetate.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We investigated the nephrotoxicity of Shenze Shugan capsule, including RR, CS, AR and mixed herbs given for two months in rats. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) in kidney tissues, urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine (CRE) in serum were detected, and renal pathology analysis was performed. In cell experiments, the apoptotic rate and cell cycle distribution of HK-2 cells were tested by flow cytometry. The levels of mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm) and related protein expression in mitochondrial pathway were measured as well.

RESULTS

We confirmed that two months of administering high doses(60 times the dose for clinical use in adults) of RR, CS or mixed herbs upregulated the levels of CRE and RUN, inhibited SOD activity, and increased the degree of tubular degeneration and glomerular dilatation, but Shenze Shugan capsule has no significant differences in renal structure or renal function. In addition, we found that five components all concentration-dependently inhibited HK-2 cells proliferation and induced apoptosis, especially aurantio-obtusin as the novel nephrotoxic component. Rhein and emodin significantly induced S/M accumulation, but aurantio-obtusin, alisol A and alisol B 23-monoacetate significantly induced G1/M accumulation in HK-2 cells. Similarly, they could induce Caspase3 activation, loss of mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm), and down-regulation of Bcl-2 and up-regulation of Bax.

CONCLUSIONS

Through a two-month subchronic toxicity study in rats, our preliminary determination is that this formulation is safe and reliable for long-term use. Interestingly, the potentially toxic herbs such as RR, CS, AR can reduce toxicity by drug compatibility. When further exploring the mechanism of action of toxic herbs, we found that mitochondrial pathway is involved in the apoptosis of HK -2 cells induced by rhein, emodin, aurantio-obtusin, alisol A and alisol B 23-monoacetate. Our findings provide new ideas for safety studies of Shenze Shugan capsule.

Alisol A inhibits the circ_0001831/miR-346/LIN28B pathway to ameliorate high glucose-induced injury of human renal mesangial cells

BACKGROUND

Alisol A can ameliorate glucose metabolism disorders, however, there is no data regarding its role in diabetic nephropathy (DN). The present work evaluates the role of Alisol A in DN and the underlying mechanism.

METHODS

RNA expression of circ_0001831, miR-346, and lin-28 homolog B (LIN28B) was detected by qRT-PCR. Cell viability and proliferation were investigated by MTT assay and EdU assay, respectively. The inflammatory cytokines were examined by ELISAs. Oxidative stress was evaluated by the commercial kits. Protein expression was detected by western blotting. The interactions among circ_0001831, miR-346, and LIN28B were identified by dual-luciferase reporter assay and RIP assay. DN mouse model assay was used to analyse the effect of Alisol A on renal injury of diabetic mice.

RESULTS

HG treatment promoted HRMC proliferation, fibrosis, inflammation, and oxidative stress; however, these effects were reversed after Alisol A treatment. Alisol A treatment ameliorated STZ-induced renal injury of diabetic mice. Additionally, circ_0001831 or LIN28B overexpression or miR-346 downregulation relieved Alisol A-induced effects under HG conditions. Mechanistically, circ_0001831 acted as a miR-346 sponge, and LIN28B was identified as a target gene of miR-346. Further, the regulation of circ_0001831 in HG-induced HRMC dysfunction involved LIN28B.

CONCLUSION

Alisol A ameliorated HG-induced HRMC fibrosis, inflammation, and oxidative stress and STZ-induced renal injury of diabetic mice by regulating the circ_0001831/miR-346/LIN28B pathway.

Alcohol extracts from Anemone flaccida Fr. Schmidt treat rheumatoid arthritis via inhibition of synovial hyperplasia and angiogenesis

Anemone flaccida Fr. Schmidt, a Traditional Chinese Medicine, has been used in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) for numerous years. However, the specific mechanisms remain to be elucidated. Thus, the present study aimed to investigate the main chemical constituents and potential mechanisms of Anemone flaccida Fr. Schmidt. The ethanol extract obtained from Anemone flaccida Fr. Schmidt (EAF) was analyzed using mass spectrometry to determine the main components and the therapeutic effects of EAF on RA were verified using a collagen‑induced arthritis (CIA) rat model. Results of the present study demonstrated that synovial hyperplasia and pannus of the model rats were significantly improved following EAF treatment. Moreover, the protein expression levels of VEGF and CD31‑labeled neovascularization were significantly reduced in the synovium of CIA rats following treatment with EAF, compared with those of the untreated model group. Subsequently, in vitro experiments were carried out to verify the impact of EAF on synovial proliferation and angiogenesis. Results of the western blot analysis revealed that EAF inhibited the PI3K signaling pathway in endothelial cells, which is associated with anti‑angiogenesis. In conclusion, results of the present study demonstrated the therapeutic effects of Anemone flaccida Fr. Schmidt on RA and preliminarily revealed the mechanisms of this drug in the treatment of RA.

Alismatis Rhizoma methanolic extract—Effects on metabolic syndrome and mechanisms of triterpenoids using a metabolomic and lipidomic approach

Alismatis rhizoma is a traditional Chinese medicine. Studies have demonstrated that Alismatis rhizoma also has therapeutic effects on metabolic syndrome. However, the pharmacodynamic material basis and mechanism are still unclear. First, UHPLC/Q-Orbitrap MS was used to detect the chemical components of the Alismatis rhizoma extract, and 31 triterpenoids and 2 sesquiterpenes were preliminarily identified. Then, to investigate the mechanism of the Alismatis rhizoma extract on metabolic syndrome, a mouse model of metabolic syndrome induced by high-fructose drinks was established. The results of serum biochemical analysis showed that the levels of TG, TC, LDL-C, and UA after the Alismatis rhizoma extract treatment were markedly decreased. ¹H-NMR was used to conduct non-targeted metabolomics studies. A total of 20 differential metabolites were associated with high-fructose–induced metabolic syndrome, which were mainly correlated with 11 metabolic pathways. Moreover, UHPLC/Q-Orbitrap MS lipidomics analysis found that a total of 53 differential lipids were screened out. The results showed that Alismatis rhizoma extract mainly reduces the synthesis of glycerophospholipid and ceramide and improves the secretion of bile acid. This study shows that the Alismatis rhizoma extract can treat metabolic syndrome mainly by inhibiting energy metabolism, amino acid metabolism, and regulating bile acid to reduce phospholipid content.

Pharmacological Properties and Molecular Targets of Alisol Triterpenoids from Alismatis Rhizoma

More than 100 protostane triterpenoids have been isolated from the dried rhizomes of Alisma species, designated Alismatis rhizoma (AR), commonly used in Asian traditional medicine to treat inflammatory and vascular diseases. The main products are the alisols, with the lead compounds alisol-A/-B and their acetate derivatives being the most abundant products in the plant and the best-known bioactive products. The pharmacological effects of Ali-A, Ali-A 24-acetate, Ali-B, Ali-B 23-acetate, and derivatives have been analyzed to provide an overview of the medicinal properties, signaling pathways, and molecular targets at the origin of those activities. Diverse protein targets have been proposed for these natural products, including the farnesoid X receptor, soluble epoxide hydrolase, and other enzymes (AMPK, HCE-2) and functional proteins (YAP, LXR) at the origin of the anti-atherosclerosis, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-fibrotic, and anti-proliferative activities. Activities were classified in two groups. The lipid-lowering and anti-atherosclerosis effects benefit from robust in vitro and in vivo data (group 1). The anticancer effects of alisols have been largely reported, but, essentially, studies using tumor cell lines and solid in vivo data are lacking (group 2). The survey shed light on the pharmacological properties of alisol triterpenoids frequently found in traditional phytomedicines.

Recent Advances Regarding the Molecular Mechanisms of Triterpenic Acids: A Review (Part I)

Triterpenic acids are phytocompounds with a widespread range of biological activities that have been the subject of numerous in vitro and in vivo studies. However, their underlying mechanisms of action in various pathologies are not completely elucidated. The current review aims to summarize the most recent literature, published in the last five years, regarding the mechanism of action of three triterpenic acids (asiatic acid, oleanolic acid, and ursolic acid), corelated with different biological activities such as anticancer, anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, cardioprotective, neuroprotective, hepatoprotective, and antimicrobial. All three discussed compounds share several mechanisms of action, such as the targeted modulation of the PI3K/AKT, Nrf2, NF-kB, EMT, and JAK/STAT3 signaling pathways, while other mechanisms that proved to only be specific for a part of the triterpenic acids discussed, such as the modulation of Notch, Hippo, and MALAT1/miR-206/PTGS1 signaling pathway, were highlighted as well. This paper stands as the first part in our literature study on the topic, which will be followed by a second part focusing on other triterpenic acids of therapeutic value.

Comparative Assessment of the Antioxidant and Anticancer Activities of Plicosepalus acacia and Plicosepalus curviflorus: Metabolomic Profiling and In Silico Studies

This study presents a comparison between two mistletoe plants—P. acacia and P. curviflorus—regarding their total phenolic contents and antioxidant and anticancer activities. P. curviflorus exhibited a higher total phenolics content (340.62 ± 19.46 mg GAE/g extract), and demonstrated higher DPPH free radical scavenging activity (IC₅₀ = 48.28 ± 3.41µg/mL), stronger reducing power (1.43 ± 0.54 mMol Fe⁺²/g) for ferric ions, and a greater total antioxidant capacity (41.89 ± 3.15 mg GAE/g) compared to P. acacia. The cytotoxic effects of P. acacia and P. curviflorus methanol extracts were examined on lung (A549), prostate (PC-3), ovarian (A2780) and breast (MDA-MB-231) cancer cells. The highest anticancer potential for the two extracts was observed on PC-3 prostate cancer cells, where P. curviflorus exhibited more pronounced antiproliferative activity (IC₅₀ = 25.83 μg/mL) than P. acacia (IC₅₀ = 34.12 μg/mL). In addition, both of the tested extracts arrested the cell cycle at the Pre-G1 and G1 phases, and induced apoptosis. However, P. curviflorus extract possessed the highest apoptotic effect, mediated by the upregulation of p53, Bax, and caspase-3, 8 and 9, and the downregulation of Bcl-2 expression. In the pursuit to link the chemical diversity of P. curviflorus with the exhibited bioactivities, its metabolomic profiling was achieved by the LC-ESI-TOF-MS/MS technique. This permitted the tentative identification of several phenolics—chiefly flavonoid derivatives, beside some triterpenes and sterols—in the P. curviflorus extract. Furthermore, all of the metabolites in P. curviflorus and P. acacia were inspected for their binding modes towards both CDK-2 and EGFR proteins using molecular docking studies in an attempt to understand the superiority of P. curviflorus over P. acacia regarding their antiproliferative effect on PC-3 cancer cells. Docking studies supported our experimental results; with all of this taken together, P. curviflorus could be regarded as a potential prospect for the development of chemotherapeutics for prostate cancer.

Alisol B 23-Acetate Ameliorates Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Intestinal Barrier Dysfunction by Inhibiting TLR4-NOX1/ROS Signaling Pathway in Caco-2 Cells

Alisol B 23-Acetate (AB23A) is a naturally occurring triterpenoid, which can be indicated in the rhizome of medicinal and dietary plants from Alisma species. Previous studies have demonstrated that AB23A could inhibit intestinal permeability by regulating tight junction (TJ)-related proteins. Even so, the AB23A protective mechanism against intestinal barrier dysfunction remains poorly understood. This investigation seeks to evaluate the AB23A protective effects on intestinal barrier dysfunction and determine the mechanisms for restoring intestinal barrier dysfunction in LPS-stimulated Caco-2 monolayers. According to our findings, AB23A attenuated the inflammation by reducing pro-inflammatory cytokines production like IL-6, TNF-α, IL-1β, and prevented the paracellular permeability by inhibiting the disruption of TJ in LPS-induced Caco-2 monolayers after treated with LPS. AB23A also inhibited LPS-induced TLR4, NOX1 overexpression and subsequent ROS generation in Caco-2 monolayers. Transfected with NOX1-specific shRNA diminished the up-regulating AB23A effect on ZO-1 and occludin expression. Moreover, transfected with shRNA of TLR4 not only enhanced ZO-1 and occludin expression but attenuated NOX1 expression and ROS generation. Therefore, AB23A ameliorates LPS-induced intestinal barrier dysfunction by inhibiting TLR4-NOX1/ROS signaling pathway in Caco-2 monolayers, suggesting that AB23A may have positive impact on maintaining the intestinal barrier’s integrity.

Beneficial Activities of Alisma orientale Extract in a Western Diet-Induced Murine Non-Alcoholic Steatohepatitis and Related Fibrosis Model via Regulation of the Hepatic Adiponectin and Farnesoid X Receptor Pathways

The hepatic adiponectin and farnesoid X receptor (FXR) signaling pathways play multiple roles in modulating lipid and glucose metabolism, reducing hepatic inflammation and fibrosis, and altering various metabolic targets for the management of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Alisma orientale (AO, Ze xie in Chinese and Taeksa in Korean) is an herbal plant whose tubers are enriched with triterpenoids, which have been reported to exhibit various bioactive properties associated with NAFLD. Here, the present study provides a preclinical evaluation of the biological functions and related signaling pathways of AO extract for the treatment of NAFLD in a Western diet (WD)-induced mouse model. The findings showed that AO extract significantly reversed serum markers (liver function, lipid profile, and glucose) and improved histological features in the liver sections of mice fed WD for 52 weeks. In addition, it also reduced hepatic expression of fibrogenic markers in liver tissue and decreased the extent of collagen-positive areas, as well as inhibited F4/80 macrophage aggregation and inflammatory cytokine secretion. The activation of adiponectin and FXR expression in hepatic tissue may be a major mechanistic signaling cascade supporting the promising role of AO in NAFLD pharmacotherapy. Collectively, our results demonstrated that AO extract improves non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) resolution, particularly with respect to NASH-related fibrosis, along with the regulation of liver enzymes, postprandial hyperglycemia, hyperlipidemia, and weight loss, probably through the modulation of the hepatic adiponectin and FXR pathways.