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Zhu D, Li B, Wang C, Jiang P, Tang F, Li Y. Echinocystic acid induces the apoptosis, and inhibits the migration and invasion of non-small cell lung cancer cells. Med Oncol 2023; 40:182. [PMID: 37202561 DOI: 10.1007/s12032-023-02029-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2022] [Accepted: 05/09/2022] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
An increasing amount of evidence has demonstrated the anticancer activity of triterpenes extracted from traditional medicines. Echinocystic acid (EA), a natural triterpene isolated from Eclipta prostrata (L.) L., has previously been shown to exhibit anticancer activity in HepG2 and HL-60 cells. The aim of the present study was to investigate the anticancer activity of EA in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells. For this purpose, the viability and proliferation of A549 cells were determined using a Cell Counting Kit-8 and 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine staining. The migratory and invasive ability of the A549 cells were measured using wound healing and Transwell assays. Hoechst staining was also performed to detect the apoptosis of A549 cells. The proliferation of A549 cells and the distributions of different growth phases were determined using a flow cytometer. Western blot analysis was used to detect the expression levels of cyclin D, partitioning defective 3 homolog (Par3), PI3K, Akt, mTOR, Bax, Bcl-2 and caspase-3. EA inhibited the proliferation, and the migratory and invasive abilities of cultured lung carcinoma cells (A549 cells), and induced cell cycle arrest in the G1 phase of the cell cycle. Treatment with EA upregulated Par3 expression and inhibited the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway in vitro. In addition, EA treatment inhibited tumor growth, suppressed proliferation and induced the apoptosis of tumor cells in NSCLC tumor xenografts in mice. On the whole, these results suggest that EA may represent a potential therapeutic agent for NSCLC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Duojie Zhu
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Lanzhou University Second Hospital, Lanzhou, 730000, Gansu, People's Republic of China
| | - Bin Li
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Lanzhou University Second Hospital, Lanzhou, 730000, Gansu, People's Republic of China
| | - Cheng Wang
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Lanzhou University Second Hospital, Lanzhou, 730000, Gansu, People's Republic of China
| | - Peng Jiang
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Lanzhou University Second Hospital, Lanzhou, 730000, Gansu, People's Republic of China
| | - Futian Tang
- Key Laboratory of Digestive System Tumors of Gansu Province, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, Gansu, People's Republic of China
| | - Yumin Li
- Key Laboratory of Digestive System Tumors of Gansu Province, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, Gansu, People's Republic of China.
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Kang YM, Kim HM, Lee M, An HJ. Effects of Echinocystic Acid on Atopic Dermatitis and Allergic Inflammation of the Skin and Lungs. Phytomedicine 2022; 104:154211. [PMID: 35717808 DOI: 10.1016/j.phymed.2022.154211] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2021] [Revised: 05/22/2022] [Accepted: 05/25/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Echinocystic acid (ECA), a pentacyclic triterpene enriched in various herbs, promotes anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activity; however, its therapeutic effects on atopic dermatitis (AD) or atopic march and the underlying mechanisms of action have not yet been fully elucidated. PURPOSE This study aimed to elucidate the effects and molecular mechanisms of ECA on AD and allergic inflammation. METHODS We evaluated the inhibitory effects of ECA using a house dust mite (HDM)-induced AD mouse model and human keratinocytes. RESULTS The results revealed that ECA improved AD symptoms by decreasing epidermal/dermal thickness, immune cell infiltration, and restoring skin barrier function, as well as an imbalanced immune response. In addition, repeated epicutaneous HDM challenges aggravated allergic inflammation in mice lungs, which was caused by the infiltration of immune cells and collagen deposition, whereas ECA alleviated these symptoms. Moreover, ECA suppressed the expression of T helper cell-derived cytokines, phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase, and signal transducer and activator of transcription 1 in the skin and lungs of mice with HDM-induced AD, as well as inhibited the translocation of nuclear factor-κB in HaCaT keratinocytes. CONCLUSION This is the meaningful study to demonstrate that ECA improves allergic inflammation of the skin and lungs through recovery of the skin barrier, regulation of immune balance, and alleviation of lung inflammation, suggesting that ECA has therapeutic potential as an antiatopic and antiallergic agent that blocks the progression of AD to atopic march.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yun-Mi Kang
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Korean Medicine, Sangji University, Wonju, Gangwon-do, 26339, Republic of Korea; Korean Medicine (KM)-Application Center, Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine (KIOM), 70 Cheomdan-ro, Dong-gu, Daegu 41062, Republic of Korea
| | - Hye-Min Kim
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Korean Medicine, Sangji University, Wonju, Gangwon-do, 26339, Republic of Korea
| | - Minho Lee
- Department of Life Science, Dongguk University-Seoul, Ilsandong-gu, Goyang-si, Gyeonggi-do, 10326, Republic of Korea.
| | - Hyo-Jin An
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Korean Medicine, Sangji University, Wonju, Gangwon-do, 26339, Republic of Korea.
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Yu H, Li W, Cao X, Wang X, Zhao Y, Song L, Chen J, Wang S, Chen B, Xu Y. Echinocystic acid, a natural plant extract, alleviates cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury via inhibiting the JNK signaling pathway. Eur J Pharmacol 2019; 861:172610. [PMID: 31425684 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2019.172610] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2019] [Revised: 08/09/2019] [Accepted: 08/14/2019] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
Echinocystic acid (EA) was found to possess antiviral, anti-inflammatory and antioxidation activities. A recent study showed the antiapoptotic effects of EA on acute myocardial infarction. In this study, we demonstrated the potential neuroprotective effects of EA on cerebral ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury in mice. Intraperitoneal injection of EA 1 h before ischemia significantly reduced the cerebral infarct volume and neurological deficit after 60 min of ischemia and 24 h of reperfusion. The neuroprotective effects of EA occurred in a dose-dependent manner. Then, we explored the mechanisms of neuroprotection by EA. This compound exerted antiapoptotic activity by upregulating the level of Bcl-2 and simultaneously downregulating the levels of cleaved caspase-3 and Bax. Furthermore, EA also possessed anti-inflammatory activity and prevented the excessive phosphorylation of NF-κB (p-P65) and the increase in IL-1β and IL-6 levels. Finally, our data indicated that EA treatment decreased the level of phosphorylated JNK in vivo, and the JNK activator anisomycin (AN) reversed the neuroprotective effects of EA, indicating that the JNK pathway is involved in the antiapoptotic and anti-inflammatory mechanisms of EA. In summary, our findings suggest that EA provides neuroprotective effects through its antiapoptotic and anti-inflammatory activities by inhibiting the JNK signaling pathway in cerebral I/R injury. Due to its safety and lack of toxicity, EA is a potential candidate for the treatment of ischemic stroke in future clinical trials.
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Fu S, Feng X, Sun DA. Microbe-mediate transformation of echinocystic acid by whole cells of filamentous fungus Cunninghamella blakesleana CGMCC 3.910. Mol Biol Rep 2018; 45:2795-800. [PMID: 30194559 DOI: 10.1007/s11033-018-4357-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2018] [Accepted: 09/03/2018] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
Abstract
Structural modification of echinocystic acid (EA), a pentacyclic triterpenoid with wide spread biological activities was investigated by microbial transformation. Microbe-mediate transformation of EA was carried out by filamentous fungus Cunninghamella blakesleana CGMCC 3.910. Four metabolites 3β, 7β, 16α-trihydroxy-olean-12-en-28-oic acid (EA-2); 3β, 7β, 16β,19β-tetrahydroxy-olean-12-en-28-oic acid (EA-3); 3β, 7β, 16α, 21β-tetrahydroxy-olean-12-en-28-oic acid (EA-4); 3β, 7β, 16α-trihydroxy-olean-11, 13(18)-dien-28-oic acid (EA-5) were produced. Structures of transformed products were elucidated by 1D and 2D NMR and HR-MS data. EA-3 and EA-4 were new compounds.
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Li S, Han J, Wang DS, Feng B, Deng YT, Wang XS, Yang Q, Zhao MG. Echinocystic acid reduces reserpine-induced pain/depression dyad in mice. Metab Brain Dis 2016; 31:455-63. [PMID: 26729203 DOI: 10.1007/s11011-015-9786-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2015] [Accepted: 12/22/2015] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Chronic pain has consistently been correlated with depression. Echinocystic acid (EA), a natural triterpone enriched in various herbs and used for medicinal purpose in many Asian countries, exhibits anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities. However, little is known the effects of EA on the depression. In present study, we investigated the anti-depression activities in the mouse model of reserpine-induced pain-depression dyad. Reserpine (1 mg/kg subcutaneously daily for 3 days) caused significant depression-like behaviors and pain sensation. Subsequent treatment of EA (5 mg/kg intragastrically daily for 5 days) attenuated the reserpine-induced pain/depression dyad as shown by the increase of pain threshold and the behaviors in forced swimming test, tail suspension test, and open field test. Furthermore, treatment of EA reversed the decrease of biogenic amines (norepinephrine, dopamine, and serotonin) in the brain region of hippocampus, a structure involved in the formation of emotional disorders. Levels of serotonin receptor 5-HT1A were decreased and levels of 5-HT2A were increased in the reserpine-injected mice. Treatment of EA could restore the alterations of serotonin receptors. At the same time, the increase in GluN2B-containing NMDA receptors, p-GluA1-Ser831, PSD-95 and CaMKII were integrated with the increase in caspase-3 and iNOS levels in the hippocampus of the reserpine-injected mice. EA significantly reversed the changes of above proteins. However, EA did not affect the levels of GluN2A-containing NMDA receptors and the total levels of GluA1 and p-GluA1-Ser845. Our study provides strong evidence that EA attenuates reserpine-induced pain/depression dyad partially through regulating the biogenic amines levels and GluN2B receptors in the hippocampus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuo Li
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, 710032, China
| | - Jing Han
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, 710032, China
| | - Dong-Sheng Wang
- Department of Orthopedics, Jinling Hospital, Clinical School of Nanjing, Second Military Medical University, Nanjing, 210002, China
| | - Bin Feng
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, 710032, China
| | - Ya-Ting Deng
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, 710032, China
| | - Xin-Shang Wang
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, 710032, China
| | - Qi Yang
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, 710032, China
| | - Ming-Gao Zhao
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, 710032, China.
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Melek FR, Kassem IAA, Miyase T, Fayad W. Caspicaosides E-K, triterpenoid saponins and cytotoxic acylated saponins from fruits of Gleditsia caspica Desf. Phytochemistry 2014; 100:110-119. [PMID: 24548556 DOI: 10.1016/j.phytochem.2014.01.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2013] [Revised: 01/22/2014] [Accepted: 01/24/2014] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
Seven bisdesmosidic triterpenoid saponins named caspicaosides E-K, were isolated from the methanolic fruit extract of Gleditsia caspica Desf. Their structures were determined by 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy as well as high resolution mass spectrometry and acid hydrolysis. The saponins comprised echinocystic acid or oleanolic acid as the aglycone and saccharide moieties at C-3 and C-28. Like most Gleditsia saponins, the oligosaccharide moiety at C-3 was identified as β-D-xylopyranosyl-(1→2)-α-L-arabinopyranosyl-(1→6)-β-D-glucopyranosyl. The common oligosaccharide moiety linked to C-28 was determined as β-D-xylopyranosyl-(1→3)-β-D-xylopyranosyl-(1→4)-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→2)-β-D-glucopyranosyl with the presence of additional β-D-galactopyranose unit and/or another α-L-rhamnopyranose moiety. The C-28 saccharide moiety was acylated with a monoterpenic acid unit or a monoterpenic acid linked to a monoterpene-arabinoside unit at the ester-β-D-glucopyranose C-6. Esterification of C-2 and C-3 hydroxyl groups of the terminal α-L-rhamnopyranose unit with a monoterpenic acid and epoxy-monoterpenic acid units, respectively, or with two identical monoterpenic acid units, was also shown. The acylated saponins caspicaosides G-K were assayed for their in vitro cytotoxicities against the three cell lines HCT116, HepG2 and MCF7. The tested saponins showed moderate to strong activities.
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Affiliation(s)
- F R Melek
- Chemistry of Natural Compound Department, National Research Center, Dokki 12622, Giza, Egypt.
| | - I A A Kassem
- Chemistry of Natural Compound Department, National Research Center, Dokki 12622, Giza, Egypt
| | - Toshio Miyase
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Shizuoka, Shizuoka 422-8526, Japan
| | - Walid Fayad
- Pharmacognosy Department, National Research Center, Dokki 12622, Giza, Egypt
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