Exploring the mechanism and phytochemicals in Psoraleae Fructus-induced hepatotoxicity based on RNA-seq, in vitro screening and molecular docking

Psoraleae Fructus (PF) is a widely-used herb with diverse pharmacological activities, while its related hepatic injuries have aroused public concerns. In this work, a systematic approach based on RNA sequencing (RNA-seq), high-content screening (HCS) and molecular docking was developed to investigate the potential mechanism and identify major phytochemicals contributed to PF-induced hepatotoxicity. Animal experiments proved oral administration of PF water extracts disturbed lipid metabolism and promoted hepatic injuries by suppressing fatty acid and cholesterol catabolism. RNA-seq combined with KEGG enrichment analysis identified mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) as the potential key pathway. Further experiments validated PF caused mitochondrial structure damage, mtDNA depletion and inhibited expressions of genes engaged in OXPHOS. By detecting mitochondrial membrane potential and mitochondrial superoxide, HCS identified bavachin, isobavachalcone, bakuchiol and psoralidin as most potent mitotoxic compounds in PF. Moreover, molecular docking confirmed the potential binding patterns and strong binding affinity of the critical compounds with mitochondrial respiratory complex. This study unveiled the underlying mechanism and phytochemicals in PF-induced liver injuries from the view of mitochondrial dysfunction.

New monoterpene phenol dimers from the fruits of Psoralea corylifolia

Three new monoterpene phenol dimers, bisbakuchiols V-X (1-3), and two bakuchiol ethers (4 and 5), along with four known compounds (6-9) were isolated from the fruits of Psoralea corylifolia. Their structures were elucidated based on extensive spectral analysis. The absolute configurations of 1, 2, 4, and 5 were specified by quantum chemical calculations of ECD spectra.

Bakuchiol, a natural constituent and its pharmacological benefits

Background and aims

Natural compounds extracted from medicinal plants have recently gained attention in therapeutics as they are considered to have lower Toxicity and higher tolerability relative to chemically synthesized compounds. Bakuchiol from Psoralea corylifolia L. is one such compound; it is a type of meroterpene derived from the leaves and seeds of Psoralea corylifolia plants. Natural sources of bakuchiol have been used in traditional Chinese and Indian medicine for centuries due to its preventive benefits against tumors and inflammation. It plays a strong potential role as an antioxidant with impressive abilities to remove Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS). This review has focused on bakuchiol's extraction, therapeutic applications, and pharmacological benefits.

Methods

A search strategy has been followed to retrieve the relevant newly published literature on the pharmacological benefits of bakuchiol. After an extensive study of the retrieved articles and maintaining the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 110 articles were finally selected for this review.

Results

Strong support of primary research on the protective effects via antitumorigenic, anti-inflammatory, antioxidative, antimicrobial, and antiviral activities are delineated.

Conclusions

From ancient to modern life, medicinal plants have always been drawing the attention of human beings to alleviate ailments for a healthy and balanced lifestyle. This review is a comprehensive approach to highlighting bona fide essential pharmacological benefits and mechanisms underlying their therapeutic applications.

Antiobesity Potential of Bioactive Constituents from Dichloromethane Extract of Psoralea corylifolia L. Seeds

Purpose

Effectively controlling the accumulation of adipose tissue can be a therapeutic strategy for treating obesity, which is a global problem. The present study was designed for comparative assessment of in vitro antiobesity activities of the Psoralea corylifolia-dichloromethane seed extract (DCME) and the isolated phytochemicals, bakuchiol, isopsoralen, and psoralen, through antiadipogenesis and pancreatic lipase (PL) inhibition assays. Material and Methods. In vitro pancreatic lipase activity was determined spectrophotometrically by measuring the hydrolysis of p-nitrophenyl butyrate (p-NPB) to p-nitrophenol at 405 nm, and adipogenesis was assayed in 3 T3-L1 adipocytes (by using Oil Red O staining) using P. corylifolia-dichloromethane seed extract (DCME) and individual compounds, isolated from the extract.

Result

Antilipase as well as antiadipogenesis activity was displayed by both the DCME and the compounds. Maximum antilipase property was recorded in DCME (26.02 ± .041%) at 100 μg/ml, while, among the isolated compounds, bakuchiol exhibited a higher activity (24.2 ± 0.037%) at 100 μg/ml concentration, compared to other isolates. DCME was found to exhibit antiadipogenesis property, 75 ± 0.003% lipid accumulation, compared to the control at 100 μg/ml dose. Bakuchiol, isopsoralen, and psoralen inhibited the lipid accumulation in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes, 78.06 ± 0.002%, 80.91 ± 0.004%, and 80.91 ± 0.001%, respectively, lipid accumulation in comparison to control at 25 μM dose.

Conclusion

The present study highlights the antiobesity potential of P. corylifolia and its active constituents. Thus, it can be concluded that P. corylifolia has the potential to treat obesity and related diseases; however, further research on dose standardization and clinical trials are required.

[Hypoglycemic mechanism of Psoraleae Fructus and its main chemical constituents]

With the rise of incidence, fatality rate, and number of young cases, diabetes mellitus has been one of the seven major diseases threatening human health. Although many antidiabetic drugs(oral or for injection) are available, the majority have serious side effects during the long-term use. Thus, it is of particularly vital to develop new drugs with low risk and definite effect. Psoraleae Fructus, a traditional medicinal widely used in the folk, has hypoglycemic, anti-osteoporosis, antitumor, estrogen-like, and anti-inflammatory effects. Thus, it has great clinical application potential. Chinese medicine and the active ingredients, characterized by multiple targets, multiple pathways, and multiple effects in the treatment of diabetes mellitus, have distinct advantages in clinical application. However, the safety of Chinese medicine remains to be a challenge, and one of keys is to clarifying the mechanism of a single Chinese medicinal and its active ingredients. With the method of literature research, this study summarized and analyzed the hypoglycemic mechanisms of Psoraleae Fructus and its main active ingredients over the last decade: regulating glucose metabolism, improving insulin resistance, and directly acting on pancreatic β-cells. The result is expected to serve as a reference for further research on the effects of Psoraleae Fructus and its main chemical constituents in lowering blood glucose and preventing diabetes mellitus and the clinical application.

Combination of molecular docking and liver transcription sequencing analysis for the evaluation of salt-processed psoraleae fructus-induced hepatotoxicity in ovariectomized mice

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Salt-processed Psoraleae fructus (SPF) is widely used as a phytoestrogen-like agent in the treatment of osteoporosis. However, SPF-associated hepatotoxicity is a known health hazard. Cholestasis is often associated with SPF-induced hepatotoxicity. Notably, clinical liver injury is a common side effect of SPF in the treatment of osteoporosis; however, the exact mechanism underlying this phenomenon is unclear.

AIM OF THE STUDY

To evaluate SPF-induced hepatotoxicity in an ovariectomized murine model of estrogen deficiency and examine the mechanisms underlying this process.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

To explore the molecular mechanism of SPF-induced cholestatic liver injury, different concentrations of SPF (5 and 10 g/kg) were intragastrically administered to ovariectomized and non-ovariectomized female ICR mice for 30 days.

RESULTS

SPF-treated mice showed noticeably swollen hepatocytes, dilated bile ducts, and elevated levels of serum biochemical markers. Compared to ovariectomized mice, these changes were more prominent in non-ovariectomized mice. According to the sequence data, a total of 6689 mRNAs were identified. Compared with the control group, 1814 differentially expressed mRNAs were identified in the group treated with high SPF doses (SPHD), including 939 upregulated and 875 downregulated mRNAs. Molecular docking and Western blot experiments showed that liver injury was closely related to the estrogen levels. Compared with the negative control group, the expression levels of FXR, Mrp2, CYP7a1, BSEP, SULT1E1, HNF4a, and Nrf2 decreased in the estradiol-treated (E2), low-dose SPF-treated (SPLD), and SPHD groups. Interestingly, the expression levels of FXR, CYP7a1, SULT1E1, and HNF4α were significantly higher in the ovariectomized groups than in the non-ovariectomized groups (#P < 0.05; ###P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Overall, this study demonstrates that SPF downregulates key enzymes involved in cholesterol and bile acid biosyntheses, posing a risk for cholestatic liver injury. SPF also regulates the FXR-SULT1E signaling pathway via HNF4α, which is an important causative factor of cholestasis. Moreover, the severity of liver damage was significantly lower in the ovariectomized groups than in the non-ovariectomized group. These results suggest that the estrogen level is the most critical factor determining liver injury.

Constituents promoting osteogenesis from the fruits of Psoralea corylifolia and their structure-activity relationship study

The mature fruit of Psoralea corylifolia L. is a common traditional Chinese medicine used to tonify the kidney and yang, and as well as to treat osteoporosis. Systematic phytochemical investigations have established the most comprehensive constituent library to date, covering over 180 compounds. In this study, 109 chemical constituents containing 37 undescribed compounds were reported and incorrect structures of four known coumarins were corrected. The structures of these undescribed compounds were elucidated using spectroscopic methods, single-crystal X-ray diffraction, Rh₂(OCOCF₃)₄ and Mo₂(OAc)₄-induced circular dichroism spectra. To identify potentially active compounds and investigate their structure-activity relationship (SAR), 89 constituents in the library were evaluated for their osteogenic differentiation and mineralisation activities in MC3T3-E1 cells. We found that coumarins, isoflavones, flavonones, and meroterpenoids were the material basis for Psoralea corylifolia-based treatment of osteoporosis, with some compounds exhibiting excellent activities. These compounds function via the estrogen receptor (ER) pathway and were natural phytoestrogen. Further SAR analysis showed that compounds with an intact isopentenyl replacement possessed superior activities, which was explained by their improved affinity with the ER.

Identification and pharmacokinetics of bioavailable anti-resorptive phytochemicals after oral administration of Psoralea corylifolia L

Osteoporosis and resulting bone fractures are the major health issues associated with morbidity in the aging population; however, there is no effective treatment that does not cause severe side effects. In East Asia, dried seeds of Psoralea corylifolia L. (PC) have traditionally been used as an herbal medicine to manage urinary tract, cutaneous, and gastrointestinal disorders, as well as bone health. However, the mechanism of action and active biocomponents of PC are unclear. Here, we adopted a pharmacokinetic (PK) study aiming to identify the bioavailable phytochemicals in aqueous and ethanolic extracts of PC (APC) and (EPC), respectively. In addition, we aimed to determine anti-resorptive constituents of PC, which accounted for its beneficial effects on bone health. To this end, we used ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS). A rapid, sensitive, and reliable UPLC-MS/MS method was developed and determined the 17 PC ingredients. In the PK study, nine components (two chalcones, two coumarins, one coumestan, two flavonoids, and two isoflavonoids) were observed between 36 and 48 h after oral administration of APC or EPC. Among the bioavailable ingredients, four PC constituents (psoralidin, isobavachin, corylifol A, and neobavaisoflavone) inhibited M-CSF-and RANKL-induced osteoclast differentiation in bone marrow-derived macrophages. In addition, two chalcones and two isoflavonoids markedly inhibited cathepsin K activity, and their binding modes to cathepsin K were determined by molecular docking. In summary, our data suggest that bioavailable multicomponents of PC could contribute to the management of bone health.

Isobavachalcone as an Active Membrane Perturbing Agent and Inhibitor of ABCB1 Multidrug Transporter

Isobavachalcone (IBC) is an active substance from the medicinal plant Psoralea corylifolia. This prenylated chalcone was reported to possess antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and anticancer activities. Multidrug resistance (MDR) associated with the over-expression of the transporters of vast substrate specificity such as ABCB1 (P-glycoprotein) belongs to the main causes of cancer chemotherapy failure. The cytotoxic, MDR reversing, and ABCB1-inhibiting potency of isobavachalcone was studied in two cellular models: human colorectal adenocarcinoma HT29 cell line and its resistant counterpart HT29/Dx in which doxorubicin resistance was induced by prolonged drug treatment, and the variant of MDCK cells transfected with the human gene encoding ABCB1. Because MDR modulators are frequently membrane-active substances, the interaction of isobavachalcone with model phosphatidylcholine bilayers was studied by means of differential scanning calorimetry. Molecular modeling was employed to characterize the process of membrane permeation by isobavachalcone. IBC interacted with ABCB1 transporter, being a substrate and/or competitive inhibitor of ABCB1. Moreover, IBC intercalated into model membranes, significantly affecting the parameters of their main phospholipid phase transition. It was concluded that isobavachalcone interfered both with the lipid phase of cellular membrane and with ABCB1 transporter, and for this reason, its activity in MDR cancer cells was presumptively beneficial.

Psoralea corylifolia L. extract ameliorates benign prostatic hyperplasia by regulating prostate cell proliferation and apoptosis

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Psoralea corylifolia L. seed (PCL), commonly known as "Poguzhi" or "BuguZhi", has been widely used to treat kidney yang deficiency in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) where tonifying the yang deficiency is a representative understanding for treatment of hormonal deficiency disorders such as enuresis, oliguria, and prostatic diseases. Although PCL has been commonly used to treat problems of the urinary system, its efficacy against benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) has not yet been reported.

AIM OF THE STUDY

In the present study, we aimed to assess the in vitro and in vivo efficacy of PCL against BPH, a condition which negatively impacts quality of life in men.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Normal human prostate cell lines, RWPE-1 and WPMY-1 cells, were stimulated with 10 nM dihydrotestosterone (DHT) to establish an in vitro BPH model. Subsequently, cells were treated with 100 or 200 μg/ml PCL, which inhibited cell proliferation without cytotoxicity, to evaluate the anti-BPH effect of PCL. Eight-week-old male Wistar rats were castrated, except for those in the control group (Con), and BPH was induced by subcutaneous injection of 10 mg/kg testosterone propionate (TP). Concurrent with daily TP injections, 5 mg/kg of finasteride (Fina) and 50 or 100 mg/kg PCL were orally administrated daily for four weeks, excluding the weekends.

RESULTS

In DHT-stimulated RWPE-1 and WPMY-1 cells, expression of androgen receptor (AR) androgen signaling-related markers such as 5α-reductase 2 (5AR2), AR, and prostate-specific antigen (PSA) was upregulated, whereas 100 or 200 μg/ml of PCL treatment downregulated these markers. Furthermore, PCL significantly reduced the mRNA expression of anti-apoptotic genes and increased the mRNA expression of pro-apoptotic gene. In vivo, administration of PCL reduced prostate size and weight in TP-induced BPH rats. Moreover, histological alterations in epithelium thickness were significantly restored by the administration of PCL. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed increased expression of AR and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) in TP-induced BPH prostates; these changes were suppressed by administration of 50 or 100 mg/kg PCL.

CONCLUSIONS

We demonstrated the effect of PCL against BPH, mediated by the regulation of prostate cell proliferation and apoptosis, in DHT-stimulated normal human prostate cell lines and TP-induced BPH rats. These findings suggest that PCL could be a potential therapeutic agent against BPH.

Correlation analysis between extracts and endogenous metabolites to characterise the influence of salt-processing on compatibility mechanism of 'Psoraleae Fructus & Foeniculi Fructus'

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

'Salt-processed Psoraleae Fructus & salt-processed Foeniculi Fructus' (sPF&sFF) is a common Chinese medicinal combination for treating diarrhoea. However, it is not clear how sPF and sFF work together, and why salt-processing is necessary.

AIM OF THE STUDY

To investigate the compatibility mechanism of sPF&sFF and the influence of salt-processing on it.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Firstly, the metabolomics approach was appliedto screen the differential components between four (s)PF&(s)FF extracts, i.e., sPF&sFF, sPF&FF, PF&sFF, and PF&FF extracts. Then, an in vivo metabolomics study was carried out to filter critical metabolites reflecting the curative effects of (s)PF&(s)FF, and construct a metabolic network. Finally, a correlation analysis between chemical components in extracts and critical metabolites in vivo was performed to find out the synergistic and/or antagonistic effects between herbs as well as the influence of salt-processing.

RESULTS

Salt-processing had a direct influence on the contents of chemical components in sPF and sFF extracts, and there existed positive/negative correlations between the content change of chemical components and the effects of critical metabolites. Therefore, salt-processing indirectly affected on these correlations and was (i) conducive to the positive effects of sPF and sFF on bile acids, making sFF play a synergistic role, thereby, sPF&sFF could perform better than sPF and other three combinations and effectively relieve the symptoms of fatty diarrhoea, osmotic diuresis, malnutrition, and weight loss; (ii) conducive to the positive effects of sPF on triacylglycerol, 12(S)-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid, cholesterol, and arachidonic acid, and adverse to that of sFF, making sFF play an antagonistic role, thereby, sPF&sFF could prevent a series of side effects caused by over-regulation and suitably relieve the symptoms of osmotic diuresis, polyuria, malnutrition, and weight loss; and (iii) adverse to the positive effects of sPF and sFF on thromboxane A2, sphinganine and sphingosine, making sFF play a synergistic role, thereby, sPF&sFF could prevent a series of side effects and moderately relieve the symptoms of metabolic diarrhoea and polyuria.

CONCLUSIONS

Salt-processing indirectly affected on the correlations between chemical components in extracts and critical metabolites in vivo, and exhibited both conducive and adverse effects on the efficacy, making sPF and sFF cooperate with each other to moderately repair the metabolic disorders. Thereby, sPF&sFF could suitably relieve the diarrhoea and polyuria symptoms in the model and exert the most appropriate efficacy. Moreover, this novel strategy provided a feasible approach for further studying the compatibility mechanism of herbs.

Bioactive monoterpene phenol dimers from the fruits of Psoralea corylifolia L

Nine undescribed monoterpene phenol dimers, bisbakuchiols D-L (1-9), were isolated from the fruits of Psoralea corylifolia L. Their structures were elucidated based on extensive spectral analysis. The absolute configurations of 1-9 were specified by experimental and quantum chemical calculations of ECD spectra, and that of 1 was further established by X-ray diffraction analysis using Cu Kα radiation. Bisbakuchiols (1-4) were composed of two bakuchiols, one of which was cyclized via a C-7'/ C-12' single bond to form a six-member ring, and connect to each other by C-4-O-C-13' bonds. Bisbakuchiols (7-9) had a pyran ring by linkage of C-8-O-C-12. In the enzyme assay, compounds 5 and 9 exhibited significant PTP1B inhibitory activities with IC₅₀ values of 0.69 and 0.73 μM, and compounds 1 and 3 showed moderate PTP1B inhibitory activities. Furthermore, a molecular docking simulation of PTP1B and active compounds 5 and 9 showed that these active compounds possess low binding affinities ranging from -6.9 to -7.1 kcal/mol.

Psoralidin, a major component of Psoraleae Fructus, induces inflammasome activation and idiosyncratic liver injury

Idiosyncratic drug-induced liver injury (IDILI) is a rare but potentially fatal disease that is unpredictable and independent of the dose of the drug. Increasing evidence suggests that the majority of IDILI cases are immune-mediated, and the aberrant activation of inflammasome plays a vital role in progression. Psoraleae Fructus (PF), a tonic Chinese medicine, has been able to cause IDILI, but the precise mechanism of hepatotoxicity remains unclear. In this study, eight bioactive compounds involved in PF-induced inflammasome activation were investigated. The results demonstrated that psoralidin activated the inflammasomes followed by secreting caspase-1 and interleukin 1β (IL-1β) in a dose-dependent manner. Interestingly, MCC950, a potent inhibitor of the NOD-like receptor family pyrin domain-containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome, could not entirely suppress the psoralidin-induced inflammasome activation. Moreover, psoralidin significantly induced IL-1β maturation and caspase-1 activation in NLRP3-knockout bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDMs), suggesting that psoralidin not only activates the NLRP3 inflammasome but also activates other types of inflammasomes. The results also demonstrated that psoralidin activated the inflammasomes by promoting the C-terminal caspase recruitment domain (ASC) oligomerization, and the production of mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (mtROS) is a decisive factor in psoralidin-induced inflammasome activation. Importantly, in vivo data revealed that psoralidin induced hepatic inflammation, increased aminotransferase activity and increased the production of IL-1β and tumor necrosis factor(TNF-α) in a susceptible mouse model of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-mediated IDILI. In summary, these results confirmed that psoralidin causes IDILI by inducing inflammasome activation. The study suggests that psoralidin is a possible risk factor and is responsible for PF-induced IDILI.

Ultrasonic-enhanced surface-active ionic liquid-based extraction and defoaming for the extraction of psoralen and isopsoralen from Psoralea corylifolia seeds

Recently, integrated and sustainable methods for extracting active substances from plant materials using green solvents, i.e., ionic liquids, have gained increasing attention. Ionic liquids showsuperiority over conventional organic solvents; however, they also exhibit negative factors and problems, such as high viscosity, poor water intermiscibility, intensive foaming and poor affinity for fat-soluble substances. The proposed method utilizes ultrasonic-enhanced surface-active ionic liquid-based extraction and defoaming (UESILED) to improve the extraction efficiency of ionic liquids. Single-factor experiments and a Box-Behnken design (BBD) were utilized to optimize the extraction procedure. The optimal conditions were as follows: extraction solvent, [C₁₀MIM]Br; ultrasonic treatment time, 28 min; ultrasonic irradiation power, 437 W; liquid-solid ratio, 10 mL/g; particle size, 60 ~ 80 mesh; ultrasonication temperature, 313 K; and [C₁₀MIM]Br solution concentration, 0.5 mol/L. In comparison with those of other reference extraction methods, the proposed method exhibited higher yields of two furocoumarins and operational feasibility. Moreover, the mechanism of UESILED was elaborated in terms of accelerating infiltration, dissolution and defoaming. The feasible and efficient ultrasonic-enhanced ionic liquid-based extraction established in this study strongly contributes to overcoming the limitations of ionic liquid solvents. The present research indicates that this improved process will be beneficial for the extraction of other fat-soluble substances and provides promising concepts and experimental data.

Paracetamol (acetaminophen) hepatotoxicity increases in the presence of an added herbal compound

Hepatotoxicity from paracetamol/acetaminophen has occasionally been reported at lower than expected doses. As herbal preparations may interact with pharmaceutical drugs the following in vitro study was undertaken to determine whether the toxic effects of paracetamol on liver cell growth in culture would be exacerbated by the addition of psoralen, a furanocoumarin compound that is present in Psoralea corylifolia, a common Chinese herb. The following study utilising a liver carcinoma cell line (HepG2) showed that Psoralea corylifolia was significantly toxic from 0.3 mg/ml to 5 mg/ml (p < 0.05), whereas paracetamol was not toxic below 50 mM (p = 0.0026). Interactions between previously non-toxic levels of 0.1 mg/ml of Psoralea corylifolia and increasing concentrations of paracetamol (0-50 mM), however, were observed, with a significant increase in toxicity compared to paracetamol alone (30% cell death vs. 72% cell death with Psoralea corylifolia). A significant synergistic interaction was observed at 40 mM paracetamol with 0.1 mg/ml of Psoralea (p = 0.038). This study has, therefore, shown significantly increased hepatotoxicity in cell cultures exposed to paracetamol when herbal compounds containing furanocoumarins were added. Fulminant acute liver failure occurring after the ingestion of low doses of paracetamol may not, therefore, always be due to an occult idiosyncratic response to paracetamol, but instead possibly to the combined effects of paracetamol and herbal preparations. Given the widespread use of both paracetamol and herbal preparations this possibility should be considered in cases of unexplained hepatic necrosis and liver failure that present for medicolegal investigation.

Quality Control of Psoralea corylifolia L. Based on High-Speed Countercurrent Chromatographic Fingerprinting

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM)has played an important role in promoting the health of Chinese people. The TCM Psoralea corylifolia L. has been used in the treatment of various kinds of diseases including enuresis, vitiligo, and calvities. However, therapeutic effects of P. corylifolia L. have often influenced by the quality of plants. So, it is very important to control the quality of P. corylifolia L. In this study, analytical high-speed countercurrent chromatography (HSCCC) was successfully used to fingerprint P. corylifolia L. Samples of P. corylifolia L. were extracted by ultrasonic extraction. n-hexane-ethyl acetate–methanol–water at a ratio of 5:5.5:6.5:5 (v/v) was selected as a two-phase solvent system and the condition of HSCCC were optimized in order to good separation. And the method of HSCCC was verified (reproducibility, precision, and stability). HSCCC chromatograms exhibited six common peaks, which were selected as indicator compounds for the quality control of P. corylifolia L. Within 20 types of medicinal materials, chemical components are similar, but the levels of components are quite different in HSCCC fingerprint. The present results demonstrate that the HSCCC method provides a reliable basis for the quality control of P. corylifolia L. and can also be applied to confirm the authenticity of plant materials.

Two Novel Polysaccharides in Psoralea corylifolia L and anti-A549 Lung Cancer Cells Activity In Vitro

Two novel water soluble heteroglycan (PCp-I and PCp-II) with anti-A549 lung cancer cells activity were isolated from Psoralea corylifolia L. Their average molecular weights were 2.721 × 104 and 2.850 × 104. PCp-I and PCp-II had the same monosaccharide composition, but their molar ratios were different. Based on methylation and NMR spectroscopy, the part structure of PCp-I was identified. The results of scanning electron microscope (SEM) showed that PCp-I had an irregular porous structure and PCp-II was flaky and irregularly curved. The results of thermogravimetry-differential scanning calorimetry (TG-DSC) showed that PCp-I and PCp-II had good thermal stability. Furthermore, PCp-I and PCp-II exhibited significant anti-A549 lung cancer cells activity (IC50 = 64.84 and 126.30 μM) in vitro.

HBX-6, Standardized Cornus officinalis and Psoralea corylifolia L. Extracts, Suppresses Benign Prostate Hyperplasia by Attenuating E2F1 Activation

Background: The aim of this study was to simplify and identify the contents of the herbal formula, HBX-5. This study was carried out to evaluate the therapeutic effects of HBX-6 in a mouse model of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Based on in vitro, we selected a candidate, reconstituted an experimental agent and investigated the effects on testosterone-induced BPH rats. Cell viability was determined by MTT assay in RWPE-1 and WPMY-1 cells. The expression of androgen receptor (AR) was measured in dihydrotestosterone-stimulated RWPE-1 and WPMY-1 cells. BPH was induced in mice by a subcutaneous injection of testosterone propionate for four weeks. Animals were divided into six groups: Group 1, control mice; Group 2, mice with BPH; Group 3, mice with BPH treated with finasteride; Group 4, mice with BPH treated with 200 mg/kg HBX-5; Group 5, mice with BPH treated with 100 mg/kg HBX-6; and Group 6, mice with BPH treated with 200 mg/kg HBX-6. Changes in prostate weight were measured after treatments, and the thickness of the epithelium was evaluated. The expression levels of proteins associated with prostatic cell proliferation and cell cycle-related proteins were determined. Based on previous reports and in vitro results, we selected Cornus officinalis and Psoralea corylifolia among HBX-5 components and reconstituted the experimental agent, and named it HBX-6. The result represented a new herbal formula, HBX-6 that suppressed the pathological alterations in BPH and showed a marked reduction in proliferation-related protein expression compared to mice with BPH. Our results indicate that HBX-6 has a better therapeutic effect in the BPH murine model than those of HBX-5 and finasteride, suggesting the role of HBX-6 as a new BPH remedial agent.

Ionic Liquid-Based Ultrasonic-Assisted Extraction to Analyze Seven Compounds in Psoralea Fructus Coupled with HPLC

Psoralea Fructus is widely used in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), and the content of psoralen, isopsoralen, neobavaisoflavone, bavachin, psoralidin, isobavachalcone, and bavachinin A is the main quality control index of Psoralea Fructus because of its clinical effects. Thus, a fast and environmentally-benign extraction method of seven compounds in Psoralea Fructus is necessary. In this work, an ionic liquid-based ultrasonic-assisted method (ILUAE) for the extraction of seven compounds from Psoralea Fructus was proposed. Several ILs of different types and parameters, including the concentration of ILs, concentration of ethanol (EtOH), solid–liquid ratio, particle size, ultrasonic time, centrifugal speed, and ultrasonic power, were optimized by the Placket–Burman (PB) design and Box–Behnken response surface analysis. Under this optimal condition, the total extraction yield of the seven compounds in Psoralea Fructus was 18.90 mg/g, and significantly greater than the conventional 75% EtOH solvent extraction.

Genus Psoralea: A review of the traditional and modern uses, phytochemistry and pharmacology

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

The genus Psoralea (Fabaceae) harbours 105 accepted species that are extensively used by local peoples and medicinal practitioners of China, India, and other countries for treatment of tooth decay, psoriasis, leucoderma, leprosy, kidney problems, tuberculosis, indigestion, constipation and impotence. Presently, pharmacological research reports are available on only few species namely Bituminaria bituminosa (Syn: P. bituminosa), P. canescens, P. corylifolia, P. esculenta, P. plicata and P. glandulosa which are valued for their chemical constituents and traditional uses.

AIM OF THE REVIEW

This review article provides explicit information on traditional uses, phytochemistry, and pharmacological activities of selected Psoralea species. The possible trends and perspectives for future research on these plants are also discussed.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

An extensive and systematic review of the extant literature was carried out, and the data under various sections were identified using a computerized bibliographic search via the PubMed, Web of Science and Google Scholar, CAB Abstracts, MEDLINE, EMBASE, INMEDPLAN, NATTS as well as several websites.

KEY FINDINGS

A total of 291 bioactive compounds from 06 species of genus Psoralea have been isolated and characterized. However, P. bituminosa alone possess nearly 150 compounds. These bioactive compounds belong to different chemical classes, including flavonoids, coumarins, furanocoumarins, chalcones, quinines, terpenoids and some others due to which these species exhibit significant anti-oxidant, anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, anti-viral, anti-helmintic, anti-diabetic, diuretic, hepatoprotective, anti-cancer and anti-tumor activities. P. corylifolia L. (Babchi), a Chinese traditional medicinal plant has been used in traditional medicine for many decades for its healing properties against numerous skin diseases such as leprosy, psoriasis and leucoderma.

CONCLUSIONS

The in vitro studies and in vivo models have provided a simple bio-scientific justification for various ethnopharmacological uses of Psoralea species. From the toxicological perspective, the root, leaf, and seed extracts and their preparations have been proven to be safe when consumed in the recommended doses. But, meticulous studies on the pharmaceutical standardization, mode of action of the active constituents, and sustainable conservation of Psoralea species are needed, to meet the growing demands of the pharmaceutical industries, and to fully exploit their preventive and therapeutic potentials.

The ethanol extraction of prepared Psoralea corylifolia induces apoptosis and autophagy and alteres genes expression assayed by cDNA microarray in human prostate cancer PC-3 cells

Prostate cancer is the most common male reproductive system cancer. The prevalence of prostate cancer in Europe and the United States is higher than that in the Asian region. However, the treatment of prostate cancer remains unsatisfactory. Psoralea corylifolia has been used to cure this disease as Chinese medicine in the Asian region. In this study, we analyzed the components of ethanol extraction of unprepared and prepared P. corylifolia by HPLC. Psoralen and isopsoralen content from the prepared P. corylifolia is twofold higher than that from unprepared, so we use the prepared extraction in this study. However, the effects of the ethanol extraction of P. corylifolia (PCE) on PC-3 human prostate cancer cells remain unclear. PC-3 cells were treated with PCE for different time periods and cells were examined for cell morphological change and total viable cells by using contrast phase microscopy and flow cytometer, respectively. Results indicated that PCE induced cell morphological changes and cytotoxic effect in PC-3 cells in dose-dependent manners. PCE induced chromatin condensation of PC-3 cells dose-dependently. PCE also induced apoptosis and autophagy in PC-3 by western blotting and acridine orange (AO) staining, respectively. Furthermore, a complementary DNA microarray analysis demonstrated that PCE treatment led to 944 genes upregulation and 872 genes downregulation. For example, the DNA damage-associated gene DNA-damage-inducible transcript 3 (DDIT 3) had a 62.1-fold upregulation and CDK1 2.68-fold downregulation. The differential genes were classified according to the Gene Ontology. Furthermore, GeneGo software was used for the key genes involved and their possible interaction pathways. Those genes were affected by P. corylifolia, which provided information for the understanding of the antiprostate cancer mechanism at the genetic level and provide additional targets for the treatments of human prostate cancer.

Highly efficient inhibition of spring viraemia of carp virus replication in vitro mediated by bavachin, a major constituent of psoralea corlifonia Lynn

As one of nine piscine viruses recognized by the International Office of Epizootics, spring viraemia of carp virus (SVCV) is an important pathogen bringing high mortality to cyprinids. Up to now, there is no approved therapy on SVCV, making them strong public health threat in aquaculture. In this study, the anti-SVCV activities of 12 plant crude extracts were investigated by using epithelioma papulosum cyprini (EPC) cells. Among these plants, Psoralea corylifolia Linn. showed the highest inhibition on SVCV replication, with an inhibitory percentage of 67.98%. Further studies demonstrated that bavachin (BVN), one of the major constituents of Psoralea corylifolia Linn., was also highly effective to SVCV infection. The half maximal inhibitory concentrations (IC₅₀) of BVN on SVCV glycoprotein and nucleoprotein expression were 0.46 (0.29-0.73) and 0.31 (0.13-0.55) mg/L, respectively. In addition, SVCV-induced apoptosis which may be negative to SVCV replication was inhibited by BVN. The apoptotic cells were decreased 21.42% for BVN compared with SVCV group. These results indicated that the inhibition of BVN on SVCV replication was, in some extent, via blocking SVCV induced apoptosis. Furthermore, cellular morphological damage induced by SVCV was also blocked by BVN treatment. Mechanistically, BVN did not affect SVCV infectivity and cannot be used for prevention of SVCV infection. Time-of-addition and viral binding assays revealed that BVN mainly inhibited the early events of SVCV replication but did not interfere with SVCV adsorption. In conclusion, BVN was considered to develop as a promising agent to treat SVCV infection.

General survey of Fructus Psoraleae from the different origins and chemical identification of the roasted from raw Fructus Psoraleae

Fructus Psoraleae, a traditional Chinese medicine, is widely used for preventing and treating various diseases such as vitiligo, osteoporosis and psoriasis. Coumarin, such as psoralenoside, isopsoralenoside, psoralen and isopsoralen, are important compounds in Fructus Psoraleae. In our study, ultra performance liquid chromatography coupled with diode array detector was employed for an excellent method validation for simultaneous quantification of psoralenoside, isopsoralenoside, psoralen and isopsoralen, which was further applied in performing general survey of Fructus Psoraleae from the different origins and chemical identification of the roasted from raw Fructus Psoraleae in the light of illuminating the transformed rule of psoralenoside and isopsoralenoside. There is a reciprocal relationship between (iso)psoralenoside and (iso)psoralen, and the total content remains balance in Fructus Psoraleae from the different origins. In addition, we found that (iso)psoralenoside in the powder of the raw Fructus Psoraleae could be easily transformed into (iso)psoralen in methanol aqueous solution, especially above 50% water, rather than the roasted one. Thus, we proposed a hypothesis that transformation between (iso)psoralenoside and (iso)psoralen was hindered by inactivation of β-glucosidase in the process of roasting Fructus Psoraleae, which was further verified by observing transformation of (iso)psoralenoside under the different conditions, such as temperature, pH and β-glucosidase. Therefore, we developed a feasible method to distinguish the roasted from raw Fructus Psoraleae by observing conversion from (iso)psoralenoside to (iso)psoralen in 50% methanol aqueous solution. In summary, these results pave the way for elevating quality standard for Fructus Psoraleae and distinguishing the salt-processed from raw Fructus Psoraleae.

Psoralea corylifolia L: Ethnobotanical, biological, and chemical aspects: A review

Psoralea corylifolia L. (Leguminosae) is a well-known traditional medicinal plant used from ancient times for treatment of various ailments. It is widely distributed and an important part of therapeutics in Ayurveda and in Chinese medicines. The aim of this review is to present comprehensive and most up to date report on its ethnobotanical, ethnopharmacological, clinical, phytochemical, and side effects. Studies on the ethnobotanical, ethnopharmacological, clinical, phytochemical, and side effects of P. corylifolia were published until year 2017 and were searched using various scientific databases. The scientific literature searched revealed that these plant species has been extensively investigated in vivo and in vitro for various biological and phytochemical studies. It has cardiotonic, vasodilator, pigmentor, antitumor, antibacterial, cytotoxic, and anti-helminthic properties and locally used for alopecia, inflammation, leukoderma, leprosy, psoriasis, and eczema. So far, about a hundred bioactive compounds have been isolated from seeds and fruits, and most important compounds identified belongs to coumarins, flavonoids, and meroterpenes groups. This review article summarized the most updated scientific literature on bioactive phytochemical and biological activities of P. corylifolia. This article will be a useful addition to providing information for future research, and more standard clinical trials are needed for the plant to be used as therapeutic agent.

Multi-Target Anti-Alzheimer Activities of Four Prenylated Compounds from Psoralea Fructus

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is an age-related neurodegenerative disease that is mediated by multiple signaling pathways. In recent years, the components of Psoralea Fructus (PF) have demonstrated some anti-Alzheimer effects both in vitro and in vivo. To further reveal the active compounds of PF and their mechanisms regulating key targets of AD, in this study, we identified four prenylated compounds from the 70% ethanolic aqueous extract of PF, namely bavachin, bavachinin, bavachalcone, and isobavachalcone. Multi-target bioactivity analysis showed that these compounds could differentially inhibit neuroinflammation, oxidative damage, and key AD-related protein targets, such as amyloid β-peptide 42, β-secretase, glycogen synthase kinase 3β, and acetylcholinesterase. These compounds may generate beneficial effects in AD prevention and treatment.

Dietary Total Prenylflavonoids from the Fruits of Psoralea corylifolia L. Prevents Age-Related Cognitive Deficits and Down-Regulates Alzheimer's Markers in SAMP8 Mice

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a serious threat for the aging society. In this study, we examined the preventive effect of the total prenylflavonoids (TPFB) prepared from the dried fruits of Psoralea corylifolia L., using an age-related AD mouse model SAMP8. We found that long-term dietary TPFB at 50 mg/kg·day significantly improved cognitive performance of the SAMP8 mice in Morris water maze tests, similar to 150 mg/kg·day of resveratrol, a popular neuro-protective compound. Furthermore, TPFB treatment showed significant improvements in various AD markers in SAMP8 brains, which were restored to near control levels of the normal mice, SAMR1. TPFB significantly reduced the level of amyloid β-peptide 42 (Aβ42), inhibited hyperphosphorylation of the microtubule-associated protein Tau, induced phosphorylation of Ser9 of the glycogen synthase kinase 3β (GSK-3β), and decreased the expression of the proinflammatory cytokines TNFα, IL-6, and IL-1β. Finally, TPFB also markedly reduced the level of serum derivatives of reactive oxygen metabolites (d-ROMs), a biomarker of oxidative stress in vivo. These results showed that dietary TPFB could effectively prevent age-related cognitive deficits and AD-like neurobiochemical changes, and may have a potential role in the prevention of Alzheimer's disease.

Isoflavones and anti-inflammatory constituents from the fruits of Psoralea corylifolia

The fruits of Psoralea corylifolia, known as Psoraleae Fructus (Buguzhi in Chinese), are traditionally used for the treatment of spermatorrhea, nephritis, asthma, pollakiuria, and various inflammatory diseases. Three previously undescribed isoflavone derivatives, 7-O-methylcorylifol A, 7-O-isoprenylcorylifol A, and 7-O-isoprenylneobavaisoflavone, have been isolated from the fruits of P. corylifolia, together with 9 known compounds. The structures of these compounds were determined through spectroscopic and MS analyses. Among the isolated compounds, 7-O-methylcorylifol A and psoralen exhibited potent inhibition (IC₅₀ values ≤ 10.89 μM) of superoxide anion generation by human neutrophils in response to N-formyl-L-methionyl-L-leucyl-L-phenylalanine/cytochalasin B (fMLP/CB). 7-O-Isoprenylcorylifol A, 7-O-isoprenylneobavaisoflavone, and 12,13-dihydro-12,13-epoxybakuchiol inhibited fMLP/CB-induced elastase release with IC₅₀ values ≤ 14.30 μM. In addition, 7-O-isoprenylcorylifol A, bakuchiol, 12,13-dihydro-12,13-epoxybakuchiol, and psoralidin showed potent inhibition with IC₅₀ values ≤ 36.65 μM, against lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced nitric oxide (NO) generation.

Psoralea corylifolia L. Seed Extract Attenuates Diabetic Nephropathy by Inhibiting Renal Fibrosis and Apoptosis in Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Mice

The Psoralea corylifolia L. seed (PCS) is a widely used herbal medicine, but its possible effect against diabetic nephropathy has not been studied. To investigate the anti-nephropathic effect of PCS extracts, we performed experiments using a diabetic mouse model and high glucose-treated mesangial cells. Streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic mice were orally administered PCS extract for 8 weeks (500 mg/kg/day). Increased creatinine clearance, urine volume, urine microalbumin, and mesangial expansion were observed in STZ-induced diabetic mice; these were significantly reduced by PCS extract administration. PCS extract significantly reduced fibrosis in the kidney tissue of diabetic mice as evidenced by decreased mRNA expression of collagen type IV-α2, fibronectin, PAI-1, and TGF-β1. In addition, cleaved PARP, an apoptotic gene, was upregulated in the diabetic nephropathy mice, and this was ameliorated after PCS extract treatment. Treatment of high glucose-treated MES-13 cells with isopsoralen and psoralen, major components of PCS extract, also decreased the expression of fibrosis and apoptosis marker genes and increased cell viability. PCS extract exerts protective effects against STZ-induced diabetic nephropathy via anti-fibrotic and anti-apoptotic effects. PCS extract might be a potential pharmacological agent to protect against high glucose-induced renal damage under diabetic conditions.

[Determination and pharmacokinetics of main components for Psoralea corylifolia-Myristica fragrants drug pair by using UPLC-MS/MS]

To conduct multiple-reaction monitoring(MRM) quantitative analysis with ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry method(UPLC-MS/MS), determine the concentrations of psoralen, isopsoralen, bakuchiol and dehydrodiisoeugenol in plasma under positive iron mode with chloramghenicol as internal standard, and investigate the pharmacokinetics process of the main components before and after oral administration of drug pair Psoralea corylifolia -Myristica fragrants. Thirty-six SD rats were randomly divided into three group(A, B, C) and received P. corylifolia extract, P. corylifolia-M. fragrants extract, and M. fragrants extract respectively by intragastric administration. The plasma samples were collected at different time points. In the plasma samples, psoralen, isopsoralen, bakuchiol and dehydrodiisoeugenol showed good linear relationship within concentration rages of 0.098 125 to 39.25, 0.084 37 to 33.75, 0.046 875 to 18.75, and 0.11 to 2.2 mg•L⁻¹ respectively. The precision and stability results showed that the determination method of plasma concentration for such compositions was stable and reliable. The pharmacokinetic parameters obtained by DAS 2.0 showed varying differences before and after compatibility. According to the experimental results, the compatibility of P. corylifolia and M. fragrants can significantly impact the pharmacokinetic process of main components, expand their distribution and accelerate their metabolism and elimination in vivo.

Psc-AFP from Psoralea corylifolia L. overexpressed in Pichia pastoris increases antimicrobial activity and enhances disease resistance of transgenic tobacco

Psc-AFP, isolated from the seeds of Psoralea corylifolia L., is an antimicrobial protein with trypsin inhibitor activity. Its encoding gene was cloned by 3'- rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE) combined with Y-shaped adaptor-dependent extension (YADE) method. The gene Psc-AFP encodes a protein of 203 amino acids with a deduced signal peptide of 24 residues. The growth inhibition effect exerted by the heterologously expressed Psc-AFP in Pichia pastoris revealed that the recombinant Psc-AFP inhibited mycelium growth of Aspergillus niger, Rhizoctonia solani, and Alternaria brassicae and conidial germination of Alternaria alternata. The recombinant Psc-AFP also showed protease inhibitor activity manifested by the inhibition of trypsin. The transgenic tobacco bioassays confirmed that overexpressing Psc-AFP significantly enhanced the disease resistance of tobacco and that some of the transgenic lines were almost fully tolerant to Ralstonia solanacearum and A. alternata, whereas no apparent alteration in plant growth and development was observed. Collectively, these results indicate that the recombinant Psc-AFP is an active antimicrobial protein, with protease inhibitor activity that can be successfully produced in the yeast and tobacco and, therefore, maybe a potential antimicrobial candidate for practical use.

Bavachin from Psoralea corylifolia Improves Insulin-Dependent Glucose Uptake through Insulin Signaling and AMPK Activation in 3T3-L1 Adipocytes

The fruit of Psoralea corylifolia L. (Fabaceae) (PC), known as "Bo-Gol-Zhee" in Korea has been used as traditional medicine. Ethanol and aqueous extracts of PC have an anti-hyperglycemic effect by increasing plasma insulin levels and decreasing blood glucose and total plasma cholesterol levels in type 2 diabetic rats. In this study, we purified six compounds from PC and investigated their anti-diabetic effect. Among the purified compounds, bavachin most potently accumulated lipids during adipocyte differentiation. Intracellular lipid accumulation was measured by Oil Red-O (ORO) cell staining to investigate the effect of compounds on adipogenesis. Consistently, bavachin activated gene expression of adipogenic transcriptional factors, proliferator-activated receptorγ (PPARγ) and CCAAT/enhancer binding protein-α (C/EBPα). Bavachin also increased adiponectin expression and secretion in adipocytes. Moreover, bavachin increased insulin-induced glucose uptake by differentiated adipocytes and myoblasts. In differentiated adipocytes, we found that bavachin enhanced glucose uptake via glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4) translocation by activating the Akt and 5'AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) pathway in the presence or absence of insulin. These results suggest that bavachin from Psoralea corylifolia might have therapeutic potential for type 2 diabetes by activating insulin signaling pathways.

Positive skeletal effect of two ingredients of Psoralea corylifolia L. on estrogen deficiency-induced osteoporosis and the possible mechanisms of action

Estrogen replacement therapy (ERT) is utilized as a major regime for treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis at present. However, long-term supplement of estrogen may cause uterine hyperplasia and hypertension leading to a high risk of endometrial cancer and breast cancer. Psoralea corylifolia L. has long been used as tonic and food additives in many countries. Previous studies had found two ingredients in P. corylifolia L.: bavachin and bakuchiol exhibited osteoblastic activity. The present study was designed to investigate the protective effect of bakuchiol and bavachin on ovariectomy-induced bone loss and explore the possible mechanism. In vivo, bakuchiol and bavachin could prevented estrogen deficiency-induced bone loss in ovariectomized rats without uterotrophic activity. In vitro studies suggested that bakuchiol and bavachin induced primary human osteoblast differentiation by up-regulating the Wnt signalling pathway. This study suggests that such a bone-protective role makes them a promising and safe estrogen supplement for the ERT.

HPLC Method for Simultaneous Quantification of Bakuchiol and Minor Furocoumarins in Bakuchiol Extract from Psoralea corylifolia

A simple, sensitive, and rapid HPLC method was developed to analyze bakuchiol and two furocoumarins (psoralen and angelicin) simultaneously in bakuchiol extracts from Psoralea corylifolia seeds. The analysis was performed within 30 min on a phenyl-hexyl column using gradient elution with a mobile phase composed of water and methanol with UV detection at 260 nm for bakuchiol and 246 nm for psoralen and angelicin. The method was validated with respect to linearity (r2>0.99 for all components), accuracy (>95% for all components), and precision (<2% RSD for both interday and intraday). Sensitivity of impurity detection in the sample was achieved as low as 0.36 and 0.31 μg/mL for psoralen and angelicin, respectively. Therefore, the method is suitable for QC of P. corylifolia extracts and bakuchiol related samples.

[Simultaneous Determination of Seven Chemical Markers and Preliminary Identification of Chemical Constituents in Daodi Psoraleae Fructus-Myristicae Semen Chinese Drug Pair]

OBJECTIVE

To study the simultaneous determination method of daodi Psoraleae Fructus-Myristicae Semen Chinese drug pair for the seven ingredients, and Psoraleae Fructus-Myristicae Semen Chinese drug pair on the chemical composition of initial ownership and identification.

METHODS

UPLC BEH C18 column (2.1 mm x 100 mm, 1.7 µm) was used in the determination. The flow rate was kept at 0.25 mL/min, and 2 µL of standard and sample solution were injected in each run. The mobile phase was consisted of acetonitrile and water using a gradient elution. The UPLC/Q-TOF MS condition: Waters HSS T3 (100 mm x 2.1 mm,1.7 µm); capillary voltage 3.0 kV (positive ion mode) and 2.5 kV (negative ion mode); Mass spectrometric detection was carried out on a Waters Xevo G2 Q/ TOF mass spectrometer equipped with an ESI source operating in both positive and negative ion modes. The parameters of the mass spectrometer under the ESI mode were as follows: ion source temperature 110 °C, cone gas flow 50 L/h, desolvation gas temperature 450 °C, desolvation gas flow 800 L/h.

RESULTS

The seven chemical markers in the selected linear range had good linearity. The recoveries were in the range of 95.07%-98.16% and RSDs were between 1.23%-1.97%.

CONCLUSION

It is suitable for the quality control and further studies of the herb in vivo of daodi Psoraleae Fructus-Myristicae Semen Chinese drug pair.

In vitro and in vivo assessment of the effect of antiprotozoal compounds isolated from Psoralea corylifolia against Ichthyophthirius multifiliis in fish

Ichthyophthirius multifiliis, an external fish parasite, often causes significant economic damage to the aquaculture industry. Since the use of malachite green was banned, the search of alternative substance to control I. multifiliis infections becomes stringent. In present study, in vitro and in vivo anti-ich efficacies of isopsoralen and psoralidin, two active compounds isolated from methanol extract of Psoralea corylifolia by bioassay-guided fractionation based on the efficacy of anti-ich encysted tomonts, were evaluated. In vitro antiprotozoal efficacy of psoralidin is much better than that of isopsoralen. Psoralidin can kill all theronts at concentrations of 0.8 mg/L or more during 4 h exposure; and terminate reproduction of I. multifiliis post 6 h exposure of protomonts to 0.9 mg/L and encysted tomonts to 1.2 mg/L. In vivo trials showed that 5 h exposure of infected fish to 2.5 mg/L of psoralidin significantly reduced the number of theronts released from tomonts. Furthermore, we observed that a part of protomonts, collected from infected fish post treatment, presented characteristic morphological changes of apoptosis after staining with Annexin V-EGFP/propidium iodide, indicating the possible mechanism of psoralidin against I. multifiliis trophont in situ. On the basis of these results, psoralidin can be used as a potential lead compound for the development of commercial drug against I. multifiliis.

Constituents of Psoralea corylifolia Fruits and Their Effects on Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus

Two new flavonoids, bakuisoflavone (1) and bakuflavanone (2), together with 15 known compounds, were isolated from the fruits of Psoralea corylifolia, and their structures were characterized by spectroscopic data. The effects of the isolated compounds on methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus were also examined. We found that two compounds, isobavachalcone (10) and bakuchiol (12), showed noticeable antibacterial effects on the MRSA strains examined. Quantitation of the major constituents, including anti-MRSA constituents, was then performed. The results showed individual contents of 1.26%-16.49% (w/w) among the examined compounds in the ethyl acetate extract from P. corylifolia fruits.

Bioactive Metabolites from the Fruits of Psoralea corylifolia

Twenty-four metabolites, including seven new compounds (1-7), were isolated from the dried fruits of Psoralea corylifolia. On the basis of combined spectroscopic and chemical analysis, the new compounds were determined to be six flavonoids (1-6) and a meroterpenoid (7). The absolute configurations of the natural products obtained, including the previously undetermined 16 and 17, were assigned by several methods, such as NOE spectroscopy, optical rotation, and CD spectroscopy. Several of these compounds exhibited moderate inhibitory activity toward Staphylococcus mutans-derived SrtA (2, 6, and 16) and significant stimulation of SIRT1 activity (2, 3, and 15).

Psoralea glandulosa as a potential source of anticancer agents for melanoma treatment

With the aim of identifying novel agents with antigrowth and pro-apoptotic activity on melanoma cancer, the present study was undertaken to investigate the biological activity of the resinous exudate of aerial parts from Psoralea glandulosa, and its active components (bakuchiol (1), 3-hydroxy-bakuchiol (2) and 12-hydroxy-iso-bakuchiol (3)) against melanoma cells (A2058). In addition, the effect in cancer cells of bakuchiol acetate (4), a semi-synthetic derivative of bakuchiol, was examined. The results obtained show that the resinous exudate inhibited the growth of cancer cells with IC₅₀ value of 10.5 μg/mL after 48 h of treatment, while, for pure compounds, the most active was the semi-synthetic compound 4. Our data also demonstrate that resin is able to induce apoptotic cell death, which could be related to an overall action of the meroterpenes present. In addition, our data seem to indicate that the apoptosis correlated to the tested products appears, at least in part, to be associated with an increase of reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. In summary, our study provides the first evidence that P. glandulosa may be considered a source of useful molecules in the development of analogues with more potent efficacy against melanoma cells.

[Effect of Psoraleae Fructus and Myristicae Semen in "Ershen pill" on serum metabonomics in spleen-kidney Yang deficiency diarrhea rats before and after processing]

The metabonomics method was used to study the intervention effect of Psoraleae Fructus and Myristicae Semen in "Ershen pill" on the changes in serum endogenous metabolites in spleen-kidney Yang deficiency diarrhea rats before and after processing, screen out differentiated metabolites related to spleen-kidney Yang deficiency diarrhea and explore the metabolic patterns related to spleen-kidney Yang deficiency diarrhea and the processing synergy mechanism of Psoraleae Fructus and Myristicae Semen in "Ershen pill". Efforts were made to detect SOD and MDA of each group, test rat serum metabolic fingerprints in different stages by using GC-MS, analyze by PCA and PLS-DA methods and screen out potential biomarks through VIP and t test. The results revealed that "Ershen pill" could enhance the level of SOD and decrease the level of MDA and identified 10 differentiated metabolites related to spleen-kidney Yang deficiency diarrhea. Compared with the model group, all of metabolites recovered to varying levels after being intervened with "Ershen pill", with the best effect shown in the "Ershen pill" IV group (salt-processed Psoraleae Fructus + bran-roasted Myristicae Semen). It is speculated that that Psoraleae Fructus and Semen Myristicae in "Ershen pill" show a synergistic effect by inhibiting peroxide, improving aglucolipid, amino acids and energy metabolism, with multiple target sites.

Meroterpenes from Psoralea corylifolia against Pyricularia oryzae

Six new meroterpenes, namely, 13-methoxyisobakuchiol (1), 13-ethoxyisobakuchiol (2), 12,13-dihydro-13-hydroxybakuchiol (3), Δ(10)-12,13-dihydro-12-(R,S)-methoxyisobakuchiol (4 and 5), and 15-demetyl-12,13-dihydro-13-ketobakuchiol (6), together with four known ones, namely, Δ(3),2-hydroxybakuchiol (7), Δ(1),3-hydroxybakuchiol (8), bakuchiol (9), and Δ(1,3)-bakuchiol (10), were isolated from the seeds of Psoralea corylifolia. Their structures were identified based on spectral data, including those obtained via 1D and 2D NMR, and MS spectral analyses. Antifungal screening results indicated that all compounds showed moderate inhibitory activities against Pyricularia oryzae.

Effects of fructus psoraleae extract on the intestinal absorption kinetics of geniposide and geniposidic acid in rat

Cortex Eucommia has been used as a kidney-tonifying herbal medicine with a long history of compatibility with Fructus Psoraleae. Geniposide (GP) and geniposidic acid (GPA) are the two main chemical components in Cortex Eucommia. In the present study, the effects of Fructus Psoraleae extract (FPE) on intestinal absorption kinetics of GP and GPA in rat were investigated. Twenty four male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned into four groups which were treated with GP, GPA, GP mixed with FPE and GPA mixed with FPE, respectively, by in situ intestinal perfusion for 3 h. The samples of intestinal perfusion solutions were collected every 30 min, and analyzed by ultra high performance liquid chromatography (UPLC). The curves of time and residual quantities of GP and GPA (lnx) in the intestinal perfusion solution and the cumulative absorption rate were obtained. The results showed that FPE exhibited different effects on the intestinal absorption of GP and GPA in rat: it increased the intestinal absorption of GP (p<0.05), while demonstrated no significant effect on the absorption of GPA.

[Regulative effect of bakuchiol on ESF-1 cells anti-aging gene]

OBJECTIVE

To explore the mechanism of bakuchiol on anti-aging gene mRNA expression level of human skin fibroblasts (ESF-1).

METHODS

The potential of cell proliferation which was divided into blank group,positive control estradiol group, and bakuchiol high, medium and low dose groups was detected by MTT. The expression levels of Col I, Col III, TIMP-1, TIMP-2 and MMP-1 mRNA were detected with RT-PCR.

RESULTS

ESF-1 vitality and the expression levels of Col I, Col III, TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 mRNA were significantly increased by bakuchiol and E2. However, the expression of MMP-1 mRNA was reduced by bakuchiol and E2.

CONCLUSION

The bakuchiol can enhance ESF-1 cell activity, promote collagen and matrix metalloproteinase inhibitors mRNA expression level and inhibit mRNA expression of matrix metalloproteinases in order to postpone skin aging.

Osteoblasts proliferation and differentiation stimulating activities of the main components of Fructus Psoraleae corylifoliae

Osteoporosis is a disease of bones that leads to an increased risk of fracture. Fructus of Psoralea corylifolia L. (scurfpea fruit) is commonly utilized for treating bone fractures and joint diseases for thousands of years in China. This study was aimed to screen active principles, which might have the potency to stimulate osteoblasts proliferation and differentiation from scurfpea fruit. A HPLC method was established to analyze the main components in scurfpea fruit. Totally 11 compounds have been identified by comparing their retention time with correspondent standard substances. The MTT and ALP methods were utilized for the assay of osteoblasts proliferation and differentiation activity. Icariin, a prenylated flavonoid glycoside was treated as the positive control. Bavachin and isobavachin significantly stimulated cell proliferation, while bakuchiol exhibited stronger effect to enhance osteoblasts differentiation. All these compounds were found with a characterized structure that in each of their molecule backbones, a prenylated side chain was attached. These results lead to a hypothesis that prenyl group might be crucial to exhibit the activity. The structure-effect relationship of these compounds with prenyl group in mouse primary calvarial osteoblasts needs to be explored in further research.

Synthetic approach to the psoracorylifols

Core analogs of the psoracorylifols were generated by a five-step route from 2,2-dimethyl-4-cyanobutanal.

A UPLC-MS/MS method for in vivo and in vitro pharmacokinetic studies of psoralenoside, isopsoralenoside, psoralen and isopsoralen from Psoralea corylifolia extract

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

The dried fruit of Psoralea corylifolia L. has been used to prevent and treat vitiligo, osteoporosis, arthralgia and asthma in Traditional Chinese Medicine for some 1600 years. Psoralen (P), isopsoralen (IP), psoralenoside (PO) and isopsoralenoside (IPO) are the major coumarins and coumarin-related benzofuran glycosides in Psoraleae Fructus, which have been reported to show estrogen-like activity, osteoblastic proliferation accelerating activity, antitumor effects and antibacterial activity. The first aim of this study is to develop a rapid, sensitive and selective ultra performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) approach for simultaneous determination of PO, IPO, P and IP in rat plasma and samples collected from in vitro incubation experiments. The second aim is to investigate the pharmacokinetic properties of PO, IPO, P and IP after oral administration of Psoralea corylifolia extract (PCE) to rats. The third aim is to confirm the biotransformation of PO to P or IPO to IP under gastrointestinal conditions.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A UPLC-MS/MS method with a C18 column and a mobile phase of methanol-0.1% aqueous formic acid was validated according to the criteria in FDA guidelines about bioanalytical method, which was developed to investigate the pharmacokinetic behavior of PO, IPO, P and IP from PCE and the metabolic pathways of PO to P or IPO to IP.

RESULTS

The criteria for establishment of a new UPLC-MS/MS method including selectivity, linearity, accuracy, precision, extraction recovery, matrix effect and stability were validated. This method was successfully applied to the quantitative determination of PO, IPO, P and IP in biological samples collected from both in vitro incubations and in vivo rat experiments. After oral administration of PCE to rat, pharmacokinetic parameters of these four compounds indicated that in vivo biotransformation may occur between PO and P or IPO and IP. Purified benzofuran glycosides fraction (PBGF), containing only PO and IPO, was orally administered to rats to further confirm the biotransformation of PO to P or IPO to IP under gastrointestinal conditions. An in vitro incubation study elucidated that PO and IPO were metabolized to P and IP by intestinal microflora through de-glucosylation.

CONCLUSIONS

This paper developed a rapid, sensitive and selective UPLC-MS/MS method for simultaneous determination of PO, IPO, P and IP from PCE in biological samples, and investigated on their comprehensive in vivo and in vitro pharmacokinetic studies. These obtained results showed that the metabolism by intestinal bacteria plays an important role in pharmacological effects of orally administered PCE.

[Chemical constituents from Psoralea corylifolia and their antioxidant alpha-glucosidase inhibitory and antimicrobial activities]

Twelve compounds were isolated from Psoralea corylifolia and their structures were identified as isopsoralen (1), psoralen (2), 8-methoxypsoralen (3), psoralidin (4), corylin (5), bavachin (6), daidzein (7), corylifolinin (8), bavachinin (9), neobavaisoflavone (10), daidzin (11) and astragalin (12). The results showed that psoralidin had the activity of scavenging DPPH free radicals activity (IC50 43.85 mg x L(-1)). Psoralidin (IC50 1.32 mg x L(-1))c, oryfolin (IC50 4.97 mg x L(-1)), daidzin (IC50 10.47 mg x S(-1)), daidzein (IC50 34.22 mg) x L(-1)) and astragalin (IC50 31.27 mg x L(-1)) had the activity of scavenging ABTS free radical. Psoralidin (IC50 40.74 mg x L(-1)), coryfolin (IC50 45.73 mg x L(-1)) and daidzein (IC50 49.44 mg x L(-1)) had alpha-glucosidase inhibitory activity. Corylifolinin and neobavaisoflavone had significantly effect of inhibiting SA, MRSA and ESBLs-SA (MIC 0. 781 3, 1.562, 5, 0.781 25 microg x disc(-1) and 6.25, 6.25, 6.25 microg x disc(-1).

Cytotoxic constituents from Psoralea corylifolia

Bioassay directed isolation of the EtOAc extract from a traditional Chinese medicine Psoralea corylifolia resulted in the purification of two isoflavonoids, corylifols D (1) and E (2), along with four known ones. The structures of 1 and 2 were determined by extensive 1D and 2D NMR and MS data analyses. When tested against HepG2 and Hep3B hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines, corylifol A (4) displayed IC50 values of 4.6 and 13.5 μg/ml, respectively.

[Study on tissue distribution of psoraleae fructus decoction in rats]

Advanced technologies are used to clarify the meridian tropism theory of traditional Chinese medicine is an important part of theoretical studies of traditional Chinese medicine. In this article, modern pharmacokinetic method was used to investigate tissue distribution characteristics of psoralen and isopsoralen of Psoraleae Fructus decoction in rats, in order to provide research ideas and experimental basis for the meridian tropism theory. In this study, various tissue samples such as heart, liver, spleen, lung, kidney, brain and spermary were collected at different times after oral administration with FP decoction, in order to determine concentration of psoralen and isopsoralen by HPLC. Pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated by DAS 2.0 software. The study results showed that HPLC indexes of psoralen and isopsoralen in various tissues of rats met the determination requirements of biological samples. Both components were distributed in all of the tissues, with AUC(0-t) order of liver > lung approximately kidney > heart > brain approximately spleen > spermary. There was significant difference between liver, kidney, lung and other tissues (P < 0.05). MRT(0-t) of both psoralen and isopsoralen were about 10 h. Therefore, psoralen and isopsoralen showed stronger targeting selection in liver, kidney and lung.

[Optimization of preparation of salt-processed psoraleae fructus medicines with multi-index orthogonal method]

OBJECTIVE

To optimize the preparation of salt-processed Psoraleae Fructus by the orthogonal test method.

METHOD

With the 12 components such as coumarin, flavone and phenolics as study indexes, a L9 (3(4)) orthogonal test was adopted to compare the effect of different factors on salt-processed Psoraleae Fructus.

RESULT

According to the finalized optimal process, 100 g Psoraleae Fructus was added with 2 g salt, moistened for 2 hours, and then fried for 10 min at 150 degrees.

CONCLUSION

The orthogonal test is so reasonable and reliable that it can provide basis for the preparation of salt-processed Psoraleae Fructus.