Evodiamine Alleviates 2,4-Dinitro-1-Chloro-Benzene-Induced Atopic Dermatitis-like Symptoms in BALB/c Mice

Evodiamine is an alkaloid found in Evodia fruits, a traditional Chinese medicine. Preclinical studies have demonstrated its anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective properties. The 2,4-dinitro-1-chloro-benzene (DNCB) was used to test the effects of evodiamine on a chemically induced atopic dermatitis-like model in BALB/c mice. Evodiamine significantly lowered serum immunoglobulin E levels, which increased as an immune response to the long-term application of DNCB. Several atopic dermatitis-like skin symptoms induced by DNCB, including skin thickening and mast cell accumulation, were suppressed by evodiamine therapy. DNCB induced higher levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines in type 2 helper T (Th2) cells (IL-4 and IL-13), Th1 cells (IFN-γ and IL-12A), Th17 cells (IL-17A), Th22 cells (IL-22), and chemokines (IL-6 and IL-8). These increases were suppressed in the lymph nodes and skin following evodiamine treatment. The results of our study indicate that evodiamine suppresses atopic dermatitis-like responses in mice and may therefore be useful in treating these conditions.

KIT-SNAP-tag/cell membrane chromatography model coupled with liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry for anti-GIST compound screening from Evodia rutaecarpa

Gastrointestinal mesenchymal tumors, as the most common mesenchymal tumors in the gastrointestinal tract, are adjuvantly treated with multi-targeted tyrosine kinase inhibitors, such as imatinib and sunitinib, but there are problems of drug resistance and complex methods of monitoring therapeutic agents. The pathogenesis of this disease is related to mutations in tyrosine kinase (KIT) or platelet-derived growth factor receptor α, an important target for drug therapy. In recent years, the screening of relevant tyrosine kinase inhibitors from traditional Chinese medicine has become a hotspot in antitumor drug research. In the current study, the KIT-SNAP-tag cell membrane chromatography (KIT-SNAP-tag/CMC) column was prepared with satisfying specificity, selectivity, and reproducibility by chemically bonding high KIT expression cell membranes to the silica gel surface using the SNAP-tag technology. The KIT-SNAP-tag/CMC-HPLC-MS two-dimensional coupling system was investigated using the positive drug imatinib, and the results showed that the system was a reliable model for screening potential antitumor compounds from complex systems. This system screened and identified three potential active compounds of evodiamine (EVO), rutaecarpin (RUT), and dehydroevodiamine (DEVO), which possibly target the KIT receptor, from the alcoholic extract of the traditional Chinese medicine Evodia rutaecarpa. Then, the KD values of the interaction of EVO, RUT, and DEVO with KIT receptors measured using nonlinear chromatography were 7.75 (±4.93) × 10-6, 1.42 (±0.71) × 10-6, and 2.34 (±1.86) × 10-6 mol/L, respectively. In addition, the methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium assay validated the active effects of EVO and RUT in inhibiting the proliferation of high KIT-expressing cells in the ranges of 0.1-10 µmol/L and 0.1-50 µmol/L, respectively. In conclusion, the KIT-SNAP-tag/CMC could be a reliable model for screening antitumor components from complex systems.

Network pharmacology-based strategy to investigate the bioactive ingredients and molecular mechanism of Evodia rutaecarpa in colorectal cancer

BACKGROUND

Evodia rutaecarpa, a traditional herbal drug, is widely used as an analgesic and antiemetic. Many studies have confirmed that Evodia rutaecarpa has an anticancer effect. Here, our study explored the bioactive ingredients in Evodia rutaecarpa acting on colorectal cancer (CRC) by utilizing network pharmacology.

METHODS

We clarified the effective ingredients and corresponding targets of Evodia rutaecarpa. CRC-related genes were obtained from several public databases to extract candidate targets. Candidate targets were used to construct a protein-protein interaction (PPI) network for screening out core targets with topological analysis, and then we selected the core targets and corresponding ingredients for molecular docking. Cell proliferation experiments and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) verified the anticancer effect of the bioactive ingredients and the results of molecular docking.

RESULTS

Our study obtained a total of 24 bioactive ingredients and 100 candidate targets after intersecting ingredient-related targets and CRC-related genes, and finally, 10 genes-TNF, MAPK1, TP53, AKT1, RELA, RB1, ESR1, JUN, CCND1 and MYC-were screened out as core targets. In vitro experiments suggested that rutaecarpine excelled isorhamnetin, evodiamine and quercetin in the inhibition of CRC cells and the release of TNF-α was altered with the concentrations of rutaecarpine. Molecular docking showed that rutaecarpine could effectively bind with TNF-α.

CONCLUSION

The pairs of ingredients-targets in Evodia rutaecarpa acted on CRC were excavated. Rutaecarpine as a bioactive ingredient of Evodia rutaecarpamight effectively inhibit the proliferation of CRC cells by suppressing TNF-α.

Major Indole Alkaloids in Evodia Rutaecarpa: The Latest Insights and Review of Their Impact on Gastrointestinal Diseases

Evodia rutaecarpa, the near-ripe fruit of Euodia rutaecarpa (Juss.) Benth, Euodia rutaecarpa (Juss.) Benth. var. officinalis (Dode) Huang, or Euodia rutaecarpa (Juss.) Benth. var. bodinieri (Dode) Huang, is a famous herbal medicine with several biological activities and therapeutic values, which has been applied for abdominalgia, abdominal distension, vomiting, and diarrhea as a complementary and alternative therapy in clinic. Indole alkaloids, particularly evodiamine (EVO), rutaecarpine (RUT), and dedhydroevodiamine (DHE), are received rising attention as the major bioactivity compounds in Evodia rutaecarpa. Therefore, this review summarizes the physicochemical properties, pharmacological activities, pharmacokinetics, and therapeutic effects on gastrointestinal diseases of these three indole alkaloids with original literature collected by PubMed, Web of Science Core Collection, and CNKI up to June 2023. Despite sharing the same parent nucleus, EVO, RUT, and DHE have different structural and chemical properties, which result in different advantages of biological effects. In their wide range of pharmacological activities, the anti-migratory activity of RUT is less effective than that of EVO, and the neuroprotection of DHE is significant. Additionally, although DHE has a higher bioavailability, EVO and RUT display better permeabilities within blood-brain barrier. These three indole alkaloids can alleviate gastrointestinal inflammatory in particular, and EVO also has outstanding anti-cancer effect, although clinical trials are still required to further support their therapeutic potential.

The study of therapeutic efficacy and mechanisms of Schisandra chinensis and Evodia rutaecarpa combined treatment in a rat model of Alzheimer's disease

Schisandra chinensis and Evodia rutaecarpa are traditional Chinese herbs used to treat neurodegenerative diseases. This study investigates the combined effects of SC and ER on learning and memory in an Alzheimer's disease rat model and their underlying mechanisms.

Methods

High-performance liquid chromatography was employed to analyze the primary active constituents of Schisandra and Evodia. The effects of the combined treatment of Schisandra and Evodia on learning and memory in an Alzheimer's disease rat model were evaluated through Morris water maze and Hematoxylin-Eosin staining experiments. Immunohistochemical analysis was conducted to investigate the impact of S-E on Aβ1-42 and P-tau proteins. Western blotting and real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction were utilized to quantify the expression of pivotal proteins and genes within the BDNF/TRKB/CREB and GSK-3β/Tau pathways.

Results

The treatment group exhibited significant neuroprotective effects, ameliorating learning and memory impairments in the Alzheimer's disease rat model. The treatment regimen modulated the activity of the BDNF/TRKB/CREB and GSK-3β/Tau pathways by influencing the expression of relevant genes, thereby reducing the generation of Aβ1-42 and P-Tau proteins and inhibiting the deposition of senile plaques. Furthermore, among the three treatment groups, the combined treatment demonstrated notably superior therapeutic effects on Alzheimer's disease compared to the single-drug treatment groups.

Different ratios of Schisandra chinensis and Evodia rutaecarpa combination for treating Alzheimer's disease

Schisandra chinensis and Evodia rutaecarpa are traditional Chinese herbs that have been used for many years to treat neurodegenerative diseases. In Chinese medicine, multiple herbs are often used in combination to enhance their efficacy, and different combination ratios can produce different therapeutic effects, thus flexibly responding to the needs of various patients. This study aimed to investigate the effects of different ratios of Schisandra and Evodia herbs on learning and memory impairment in rats with Alzheimer's disease (AD) and their specific mechanisms of action. Morris water maze and hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining experiments were performed to evaluate the effects of different ratios of Schisandra-Evodia on learning memory in AD model rats. Immunohistochemical experiments were performed to investigate the effects of Schisandra-Evodia on the Aβ1-42 and P-Tau proteins, and protein immunoblotting (WB) was performed to determine the expression of key proteins in two pathways, BDNF/TrkB/CREB and GSK-3β/Tau. Our experimental results show that all Schisandra-Evodia groups showed significant neuroprotective effects, improved learning memory impairment, and reduced levels of Aβ1-42 and P-Tau proteins in AD model rats. Schisandra-Evodia upregulated BDNF, P-TrkB/TrkB, and P-CREB/CREB protein expression and downregulated GSK-3β and P-Tau/Tau protein expression. Among the different Schisandra-Evodia ratio groups, the 2:1 group showed the strongest therapeutic effect on AD. Our research results indicate that Schisandra-Evodia can reduce Aβ1-42 and P-Tau protein content by modulating the activity of two pathways, BDNF/TrkB/CREB and GSK-3β/Tau, thus improving neuronal cell damage and cognitive deficits caused by AD. In addition, we found that a Schisandra-Evodia ratio of 2:1 had the most profound therapeutic effect on AD.

Elucidation of Pharmacological Mechanism Underlying the Anti-Alzheimer's Disease Effects of Evodia rutaecarpa and Discovery of Novel Lead Molecules: An In Silico Study

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a brain disease with a peculiarity of multiformity and an insidious onset. Multiple-target drugs, especially Chinese traditional medicine, have achieved a measure of success in AD treatment. Evodia rutaecarpa (Juss.) Benth. (Wuzhuyu, WZY, i.e., E. rutaecarpa), a traditional Chinese herb, has been identified as an effective drug to cure migraines. To our surprise, our in silico study showed that rather than migraines, Alzheimer's disease was the primary disease to which the E. rutaecarpa active compounds were targeted. Correspondingly, a behavioral experiment showed that E. rutaecarpa extract could improve impairments in learning and memory in AD model mice. However, the mechanism underlying the way that E. rutaecarpa compounds target AD is still not clear. For this purpose, we employed methods of pharmacology networking and molecular docking to explore this mechanism. We found that E. rutaecarpa showed significant AD-targeting characteristics, and alkaloids of E. rutaecarpa played the main role in binding to the key nodes of AD. Our research detected that E. rutaecarpa affects the pathologic development of AD through the serotonergic synapse signaling pathway (SLC6A4), hormones (PTGS2, ESR1, AR), anti-neuroinflammation (SRC, TNF, NOS3), transcription regulation (NR3C1), and molecular chaperones (HSP90AA1), especially in the key nodes of PTGS2, AR, SLCA64, and SRC. Graveoline, 5-methoxy-N, N-dimethyltryptamine, dehydroevodiamine, and goshuyuamide II in E. rutaecarpa show stronger binding affinities to these key proteins than currently known preclinical and clinical drugs, showing a great potential to be developed as lead molecules for treating AD.

Potential active compounds and common mechanisms of Evodia rutaecarpa for Alzheimer's disease comorbid pain by network pharmacology analysis

Evodia rutaecarpa (Evodia) is a Chinese herbal medicine with analgesic and anti-neurodegenerative properties. However, whether Evodia compounds can be applied for the comorbid pain of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Herein, 137 common targets of Evodia between AD and pain were predicted from drug and disease target databases. Subsequently, protein-protein interaction (PPI) network, protein function module construction, and bioinformatics analyses were used to analyze the potential relationship among targets, pathways, and diseases. Evodia could simultaneously treat AD comorbid pain through multi-target, multi-component, and multi-pathway mechanisms, and inflammation was an important common phenotype of AD and pain. The relationship between important transcription factors such as RELA, NF-κB1, SP1, STAT3, and JUN on IL-17, TNF, and MAPK signaling pathways might be potential mechanisms of Evodia. Additionally, 10 candidate compounds were predicted, and evodiamine might be the effective active ingredient of Evodia in treating AD or pain. In summary, this study provided a reference for subsequent research and a novel understanding and direction for the clinical use of evodiamine to treat AD patients with comorbid pain.

Mechanism-Based Inactivation of Cytochrome P450 3A by Evodol

1. Evodol is one of the furanoids isolated from the fruits of Evodia rutaecarpa that has been widely prescribed for the treatment of gastrointestinal diseases in China. The aim of this study was to investigate the inhibitory effect of evodol on CYP3A.2. A 30-min preincubation of evodol with human liver microsomes raised an obvious left IC₅₀ shift, 3.9-fold for midazolam 1'-hydroxylation and 3.2-fold for testosterone 6β-hydroxylation. Evodol inactivated CYP3A in a time-, concentration- and NADPH-dependent manner, with K_I and k_inact of 5.1 μM and 0.028 min^-1 for midazolam 1'-hydroxylation and 3.0 μM and 0.022 min^-1 for testosterone 6β-hydroxylation.3. Co-incubation of ketoconazole attenuated the inactivation while inclusion of glutathione (GSH) and catalase/superoxide dismutase displayed no such protection.4. cis-Butene-1, 4-dial (BDA) intermediate derived from evodol were trapped by glutathione and N-acetyl-lysine in microsomes and characterized by HR-MS spectra. The BDA intermediate was believed to play a key role in CYP3A inactivation. CYP3A4 and 2C9 were the primary enzymes contributing to the bioactivation of evodol.5. To sum up, for the first time evodol was characterized as a mechanism-based inactivator of CYP3A.

Assay for evaluation of proarrhythmic effects of herbal products: Case study with 12 Evodia preparations

Guidelines for preclinical drug development reduce the occurrence of arrhythmia-related side effects. Besides ample evidence for the presence of arrhythmogenic substances in plants, there is no consensus on a research strategy for the evaluation of proarrhythmic effects of herbal products. Here, we propose a cardiac safety assay for the detection of proarrhythmic effects of plant extracts based on the experimental approaches described in the Comprehensive In vitro Proarrhythmia Assay (CiPA). Microelectrode array studies (MEAs) and voltage sensing optical technique on human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (hiPSC-CMs) were combined with ionic current measurements in mammalian cell lines, In-silico simulations of cardiac action potentials (APs) and statistic regression analysis. Proarrhythmic effects of 12 Evodia preparations, containing different amounts of the hERG inhibitors dehydroevodiamine (DHE) and hortiamine were analysed. Extracts produced different prolongation of the AP, occurrence of early after depolarisations and triangulation of the AP in hiPSC-CMs depending on the contents of the hERG inhibitors. DHE and hortiamine dose-dependently prolonged the field potential duration in hiPSC-CMs studied with MEAs. In-silico simulations of ventricular AP support a scenario where proarrhythmic effects of Evodia extracts are predominantly caused by the content of the selective hERG inhibitors. Statistic regression analysis revealed a high torsadogenic risk for both compounds that was comparable to drugs assigned to the high-risk category in a CiPA study.

Evodiamine Inhibits Helicobacter pylori Growth and Helicobacter pylori-Induced Inflammation

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) classified as a class I carcinogen by the World Health Organization (WHO) plays an important role in the progression of chronic gastritis and the development of gastric cancer. A major bioactive component of Evodia rutaecarpa, evodiamine, has been known for its anti-bacterial effect and anti-cancer effects. However, the inhibitory effect of evodiamine against H. pylori is not yet known and the inhibitory mechanisms of evodiamine against gastric cancer cells are yet to be elucidated concretely. In this study, therefore, anti-bacterial effect of evodiamine on H. pylori growth and its inhibitory mechanisms as well as anti-inflammatory effects and its mechanisms of evodiamine on H. pylori-induced inflammation were investigated in vitr. Results of this study showed the growth of the H. pylori reference strains and clinical isolates were inhibited by evodiamine. It was considered one of the inhibitory mechanisms that evodiamine downregulated both gene expressions of replication and transcription machineries of H. pylori. Treatment of evodiamine also induced downregulation of urease and diminished translocation of cytotoxin-associated antigen A (CagA) and vacuolating cytotoxin A (VacA) proteins into gastric adenocarcinoma (AGS) cells. This may be resulted from the reduction of CagA and VacA expressions as well as the type IV secretion system (T4SS) components and secretion system subunit protein A (SecA) protein which are involved in translocation of CagA and VacA into host cells, respectively. In particular, evodiamine inhibited the activation of signaling proteins such as the nuclear factor κ-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB) and the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway induced by H. pylori infection. It consequently might contribute to reduction of interleukin (IL)-8 production in AGS cells. Collectively, these results suggest anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory effects of evodiamine against H. pylori.

Unusual terpenoids from the fruits of Evodia rutaecarpa and their activation on the farnesoid X receptor

Evolides A (1) and B (2) were isolated from the fruits of Evodia rutaecarpa and characterized by various spectroscopic data analyses (NMR, HRESIMS, ECD, and X-ray crystallography) and were thought to be new unusual terpenoids possessing lactone groups. An in vitro bioassay showed that compound 1 exhibited a significant activation effect on the farnesoid X receptor (EC₅₀ 0.73 μM).

Role of limonin in anticancer effects of Evodia rutaecarpa on ovarian cancer cells

Background

Ovarian cancer therapy generally involves systemic chemotherapy with anticancer drugs; however, chemotherapy with a platinum-based drug has often been shown to cause adverse reactions and drug resistance in ovarian cancer patients. Evodia rutaecarpa (ER) reportedly shows anticancer activity against various types of cancer cells. However, the effects of ER have not yet been fully uncovered in ovarian cancer.

Methods

In the present study, we investigated the anticancer effects of an ER extract and its components against the ovarian cancer cell lines SKOV-33, A2780, RMUG-S and a cisplatin-resistant SKOV-3 cell line (Cis^R SKOV-3). Cell viability and colony formation assays along with subcellular fractionation analysis, immunoblotting, and immunofluorescence staining were performed.

Results

ER treatment led to a significant reduction in the viability of SKOV-3 cells. Moreover, limonin, a compound found in ER, reduced the viability of both serous-type (SKOV-3 and A2780) and mucinous-type (RMUG-S) ovarian cancer cells by inducing apoptosis via activation of the p53 signaling pathway. Furthermore, limonin reversed the drug resistance through activation of apoptosis in Cis^R SKOV-3.

Conclusion

Taken together, our findings suggest that limonin contributes to the anti-ovarian cancer effects of ER by inducing apoptosis via activation of the p53 signaling pathway.

Evodiamine Reduces Caffeine-Induced Sleep Disturbances and Excitation in Mice

Worldwide, caffeine is among the most commonly used stimulatory substances. Unfortunately, significant caffeine consumption is associated with several adverse effects, ranging from sleep disturbances (including insomnia) to cardiovascular problems. This study investigates whether treatment with the Evodia rutaecarpa aqueous extract (ERAE) from berries and its major molecular component, evodiamine, can reduce the adverse caffeine-induced sleep-related and excitation effects. We combined measurements from the pentobarbital-induced sleep test, the open field test, and the locomotor activity test in mice that had been dosed with caffeine. We found that ERAE and evodiamine administration reduced the degree of caffeine-induced sleep disruption during the sleep test. Additionally, we found that evodiamine significantly inhibits caffeine-induced excitation during the open field test, as well as decreasing hyperlocomotion in the locomotor activity test. Additional in vitro experiments showed that caffeine administration decreased the expression of γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA)_A receptor subunits in the mouse hypothalamus. However, evodiamine treatment significantly reversed this expression reduction. Taken together, our results demonstrate that ERAE and its major compound, evodiamine, provide an excellent candidate for the treatment or prevention of caffeine-induced sleep disturbances and excitatory states, and that the mechanism of these beneficial effects acts, at least in part, through the GABA_A-ergic system.

Flavonol glycosides from the fruits of Evodia rutaecarpa

Two new flavonol glycosides, limocitrin 3-O-β-D-xylopyranosyl(1→2)-β-D-glucopyranoside (1) and limocitrin 3-O[2-O-β-D-xylopyranosyl-6-O-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl]-β-D-glucopyranoside (2), together with eight known analogs (3-10), were isolated from the fruits of Evodia rutaecarpa. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic analyses and chemical evidences. Meanwhile, Nrf2 inducing abilities of seven isolated compounds were evaluated, and compounds 1, 2, 6, 7, and 8 exhibited moderate effect on Nrf2.

Leaves against Three Stored Product Insects

The essential oils (EOs) extracted from Evodia lenticellata Huang and Evodia rutaecarpa (Juss.) Benth. leaves are screened to evaluate their contact toxicity and repellency towards Tribolium castaneum (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae), Lasioderma serricorne (Coleoptera: Anobiidae) and Liposcelis bostrychophila (Psocoptera: Liposcelididae) adults. The EOs are obtained by hydrodistillation and analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The principal components in the E. lenticellata EO are identified to be caryophyllene oxide (28.5%), β-caryophyllene (23.1%), β-elemene (14.5%), and β-cubebene (4.7%), while the main components of the E. rutaecarpa EO are α-pinene (39.4%), β-elemene (13.5%), α-ocimene (7.6%), and α-selinene (4.0%). These two kinds of EOs and their individual compounds all showed different levels of contact toxicity and repellent activity against three stored-product insects.

Evodiamine Exerts an Anti-Hepatocellular Carcinoma Activity through a WWOX-Dependent Pathway

Evodiamine is one of the main components isolated from Evodia rutaecarpa, and it has been reported to exert inhibitory effects on cancers by anti-proliferative and apoptosis-inducing activities. Although the anti-cancer activity of evodiamine has been identified, the precise mechanisms of this action remain obscure. While previous studies indicated that evodiamine exerts anti-tumor effects through inhibiting β-catenin activity, and WW domain-containing oxidoreductase (WWOX) regulates β-catenin accumulation in cytoplasm, the effects of evodiamine on the expression of WWOX are still unknown. In this study, we provide evidence that evodiamine dose- and time-dependently inhibits both Mus musculus and Homo sapiens hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells, as well as Hepa1-6 and HepG2 cell proliferation. We further tested the therapeutic effects of evodiamine in Hepa1-6 hepatoma-bearing mice, and we found that treatment of evodiamine by oral gavage significantly decreased the tumor size of the mice. Moreover, the expressions of WWOX were dose-dependently increased in HCC cell lines as well as in Hepa1-6 hepatoma-bearing mice after the treatment with evodiamine. Knockdown of WWOX in HepG2 and Hepa1-6 cells diminished the effects of evodiamine on the inhibitory effect of cancer cell growth, indicating that evodiamine induced anti-cancer activity through a WWOX-dependent pathway. As such, evodiamine activated WWOX to exert an anti-HCC activity, and might be a potential therapeutic or preventive candidate for HCC treatment.

2-Alkylquinolone alkaloid biosynthesis in the medicinal plant Evodia rutaecarpa involves collaboration of two novel type III polyketide synthases

2-Alkylquinolone (2AQ) alkaloids are pharmaceutically and biologically important natural products produced by both bacteria and plants, with a wide range of biological effects, including antibacterial, cytotoxic, anticholinesterase, and quorum-sensing signaling activities. These diverse activities and 2AQ occurrence in vastly different phyla have raised much interest in the biosynthesis pathways leading to their production. Previous studies in plants have suggested that type III polyketide synthases (PKSs) might be involved in 2AQ biosynthesis, but this hypothesis is untested. To this end, we cloned two novel type III PKSs, alkyldiketide-CoA synthase (ADS) and alkylquinolone synthase (AQS), from the 2AQ-producing medicinal plant, Evodia rutaecarpa (Rutaceae). Functional analyses revealed that collaboration of ADS and AQS produces 2AQ via condensations of N-methylanthraniloyl-CoA, a fatty acyl-CoA, with malonyl-CoA. We show that ADS efficiently catalyzes the decarboxylative condensation of malonyl-CoA with a fatty acyl-CoA to produce an alkyldiketide-CoA, whereas AQS specifically catalyzes the decarboxylative condensation of an alkyldiketide acid with N-methylanthraniloyl-CoA to generate the 2AQ scaffold via C-C/C-N bond formations. Remarkably, the ADS and AQS crystal structures at 1.80 and 2.20 Å resolutions, respectively, indicated that the unique active-site architecture with Trp-332 and Cys-191 and the novel CoA-binding tunnel with Tyr-215 principally control the substrate and product specificities of ADS and AQS, respectively. These results provide additional insights into the catalytic versatility of the type III PKSs and their functional and evolutionary implications for 2AQ biosynthesis in plants and bacteria.

Bitterness and antibacterial activities of constituents from Evodia rutaecarpa

Background

Bitter herbs are important in Traditional Chinese Medicine and the Electronic Tongue (e-Tongue) is an instrument that can be trained to evaluate bitterness of bitter herbs and their constituents. The aim of this research was to evaluate bitterness of limonoids and alkaloids from Evodia rutaecarpa to demonstrate that they are main bitter material basic of E. rutaecarpa.

Methods

Nine compounds, including limonoids, indoloquinazoline alkaloids and quinolone alkaloids, were isolated, identified and analyzed by the e-Tongue. Additionally, the antibacterial activities of the nine compounds were evaluated against E. coli and S. aureus.

Results

All the nine compounds had bitter taste and antibacterial activities to some extent. Among them, limonoids, which were the bitterest compounds, had greater antibacterial activities than alkaloids. And there is a positive correlation between bitter taste and antibacterial activities.

Conclusions

It was confirmed in our study that limonoids, indoloquinazoline alkaloids and quinolone alkaloids are main bitter material basic of E. rutaecarpa based on two evaluation methods of e-Tongue and antibacterial experiment. In addition, the e-Tongue technique is a suitable new method to measure bitter degree in herbs.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12906-017-1701-8) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Exploration of anti-cancer effects and mechanisms of Zuo-Jin-Wan and its alkaloid components in vitro and in orthotopic HepG2 xenograft immunocompetent mice

BACKGROUND

Zuo-Jin-Wan (ZJW), a two-herb formula consisting of Coptis chinensis (CC) and Evodia rutaecarpa (ER), is commonly used in traditional Chinese medicine for the treatment of cancers. However, the efficacies and mechanisms of ZJW and its alkaloid components on cancers are still unclear.

METHODS

Here we investigated the anti-cancer effects and mechanisms of ZJW, CC, ER, berberine, and evodiamine in cells and in intrahepatic xenograft mice.

RESULTS

Treatment of HepG2 cells with ZJW, CC, ER, berberine, and evodiamine significantly displayed cytotoxic effects in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Hierarchical cluster analysis of gene expression profiles showed that CC and ZJW shared a similar mechanism for the cytotoxic effects, suggesting that CC was the active ingredient of ZJW for anti-cancer activity. Network analysis further showed that c-myc was the likely key molecule involved in the regulation of ZJW-affected gene expression. A human hepatoma xenograft model was established by intrahepatic injection of HepG2 cells containing nuclear factor-κB-driven luciferase genes in immunocompetent mice. In vivo bioluminescence imaging showed that cells had been successfully transplanted in mouse liver. Oral administration of ZJW for 28 consecutive days led to a significant decrease in the accumulation of ascites, the ratio of tumor-to-liver, and the number of transplanted cells in livers.

CONCLUSIONS

In conclusion, our findings suggested for the first time that ZJW significantly suppressed human cancer cell growth in orthotopic HepG2 xenograft-bearing immunocompetent mice. Moreover, c-myc might play a potent role in the cytotoxic mechanisms of ZJW, CC, ER, berberine, and evodiamine.

(±)-Evodiakine, A Pair of Rearranged Rutaecarpine-Type Alkaloids From Evodia rutaecarpa

(±)-Evodiakine (1a and 1b), a pair of rearranged rutaecarpine-type alkaloids with an unprecedented 6/5/5/7/6 ring system, were isolated from the nearly ripe fruits of Evodia rutaecarpa. Separation of the enantiomers have been achieved by chiral HPLC column. The structures of (±)-evodiakine were unambiguously elucidated by 1D and 2D NMR spectra, mass spectrometry, and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Their absolute configurations were determined by comparison of experimental and calculated electronic circular dichroism spectra. A hypothetical biogenetic pathway for (±)-evodiakine was also proposed. Compounds 1a, 1b, and the racemate (1) were tested for their cytotoxic and anti-inflammatory activities.

New alkaloids from the leaves of Evodia rutaecarpa

One new indole alkaloid (1) and one new indole alkaloidal glycoside (2), together with nine known alkaloids (3-11), were isolated from the leaves of Evodia rutaecarpa. Their structures were determined on the basis of spectroscopic and chemical methods. Compound 4 exhibited potent activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa with an MIC value of 7.13 μg/ml.

Therapeutic and cosmetic applications of Evodiamine and its derivatives--A patent review

Evodiamine, ((+)-(S)-8,13,13b,14-tetrahydro-14-methylindolo[2',3':3,4]pyrido[2,1-b]quinazolin-5(7H)-one) indoloquinazoline alkaloid, is the major component isolated from the fruits of Evodia rutaecarpa, family Rutaceae. Broad spectrum of pharmacological activities of Evodiamine suggests its imperative role in treating a variety of diseases influencing the function of diverse targets. A comprehensive search was carried out to collect patent information regarding Evodiamine and its derivatives using different patent databases covering priority years to till date. The patents claiming therapeutic as well as cosmetic applications of Evodiamine and its derivatives were analyzed in detail and were classified technically based on the its application such as treatment of metabolic disorders, cancer, neurological disorders, and cardiovascular disorders, etc. The analysis revealed that the use and the mode of actions of Evodiamine and its derivatives in weight management treatments are currently well established. For example the fat reducing property of this alkaloid is primarily due to its mode of actions such as prevention of muscle protein catabolism, enhancement of thermogenesis and lipid oxidation. Apart from its use for treating obesity, Evodiamine and its derivatives are also experimentally explored for their anti-cancer, anti-diabetic and anti-inflammatory properties. The possible mechanisms related to its anti-cancer activity as illustrated by different experimental studies include its potential action as modulator of specific receptors such as topoisomerase I, NF-kappa B and B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl2). The analysis hence highlights that, clinical studies pertaining to the anti-cancer, anti-diabetes as well as anti-inflammatory activities of the Evodiamine and its derivatives would possess important market potential for the development of Evodiamine based therapeutics.

Characteristics of evodiamine-exerted stimulatory effects on rat jejunal contractility

This study was designed to characterise the effects of evodiamine on intestinal contractility and reveal the correlated mechanisms. Evodiamine (2.5-80.0 μM) increased normal jejunal contractility and jejunal hypocontractility established under a variety of experimental conditions. Evodiamine-exerted stimulatory effects were blocked by the L-type Ca(2+) channel blocker nifedipine or abolished in the Ca(2+)-free assay condition. The stimulatory effects of evodiamine on jejunal contractility were partially blocked in the presence of neurotoxin tetrodotoxin or endogenous acetylcholine synthesis blocker hemicholinium-3 or muscarinic receptor antagonist atropine, respectively. Evodiamine-exerted stimulatory effects were blocked by c-kit receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor imatinib. Evodiamine increased myosin phosphorylation in jejunal smooth muscle of constipation-prominent rats. These results showed that evodiamine-exerted stimulatory effects on jejunal segments are Ca(2+)-dependent, need the presence of interstitial cell of Cajal, requirement of cholinergic neuron and correlate with increased myosin phosphorylation, implicating the potential value of evodiamine in relieving hypo-motility disorders.

Gram-scale purification of dehydroevodiamine from Evodia rutaecarpa fruits, and a procedure for selective removal of quaternary indoloquinazoline alkaloids from Evodia extracts

Dehydroevodiamine (DHE) is a major bioactive constituent in the traditional Chinese herbal drug Evodiae fructus (Wu zhu yu). The compound has been shown to possess pronounced cardiovascular and neuropharmacological activities in vitro and in vivo. For quality control purposes and follow-up studies assessing potential safety risks of DHE, we developed a simple and efficient two-step protocol for gram-scale purification of DHE. An alkaloidal fraction was obtained by cation-exchange solid phase extraction, and DHE and the minor alkaloid hortiamine were purified by isocratic preparative RP-HPLC. The DHE content in different commercial batches of Evodiae fructus, and in a series of commercially available Evodia-containing TCM products was assessed. A daily intake of up to mg amounts of DHE was calculated from recommended doses of these products. A method for the selective removal of quaternary indoloquinazoline alkaloids from Evodia extracts was developed.

Antinociceptive activity of aqueous and alcohol extract of evodia rutaecarpa

Water, methanol and ethanol extracts of Evodia rutaecarpa were tested for antinociceptive activity, which were correlated with the contents of evodiamine, rutaecarpine and evodine. Determination of contents was achieved by chromatographic techniques. Extracts were evaluated for antinociceptive activities using hot-plate test; acetic acid-induced writhing test and formalin test. All three extracts of Evodia rutaecarpa showed antinociceptive activities but the ethanol extract exhibited better effect. The better antinociceptive activity appeared to be related to higher contents of evodiamine, rutaecarpine and evodine in ethanol extract of Evodia rutaecarpa.

Quinolone alkaloids with antibacterial and cytotoxic activities from the fruits of Evodia rutaecarpa

Five new quinolone alkaloids, euocarpines A-E (16-20), four new natural products (1, 4, 12, and 14), and eleven known natural products were isolated from the fruits of Evodia rutaecarpa (Juss.) Benth. The structures of the new compounds were elucidated based on spectroscopic evidence. All compounds were evaluated for their antibacterial activity against three strains and for their cytotoxic activity against four human tumor cell lines. The results revealed that 5, 7-11, 13, 14, and 16-20 exhibited moderate antibacterial activities (MIC values: 4-128 μg/mL), and 9, 11, 14, and 17 exhibited moderate cytotoxic activities against HepG-2, Hela, BEL7402, and BEL7403 (IC50 values: 15.85-56.36 μM).