Effect of Elephantopus scaber L.Extract on Acute Pleurisy in Rats

[Objectives]To study the anti-inflammatory effect of Elephantopus scaber L.extract on acute pleurisy induced by carrageenan in rats,and to explore its anti-inflammatory mechanism.[Methods]The active sites of E.scaber L.were extracted by ethanol reflux method.The extracts of different concentrations of E.scaber L.were used as the study object,and dexamethasone was used as the positive control drug.The anti-inflammatory effects of E.scaber L.extracts were studied by measuring the levels of malondialdehyde(MDA),prostaglandin E_(2)(PGE_(2)),tumor necrosis factor(TNF-α),interleukin-1β(IL-1β)in pleural fluid and serum nitric oxide(NO),MDA,PEG_(2),TNF-α,IL-1βin rats with acute pleurisy induced by carrageenan.[Results]E.scaber L.extracts in three doses could reduce the levels of inflammatory factors in pleural fluid and serum,and inhibit acute pleurisy in rats.It was speculated that the anti-inflammatory mechanism was related to the inhibition of the release of inflammatory factors and the antioxidant effect of extracts of three doses of E.scaber L.[Conclusions]This experiment provides a basis for the development and application of E.scaber L.

Sesquiterpene Lactones from Elephantopus scaber

A new germacranolide sesquiterpene lactone, isoscabertopin, was isolated from Elephantopus scaber together with the known scabertopin. Their structures were determined by spectroscopic methods.

Effect of Elephantopus scaber Linn on community acquired pneumonia through TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway

Objective:To observe the effect of Elephantopus scaber Linn on community-acquired pneumonia and its relationship with the expression of TLR4/NF-κB pathway and the downstream inflammatory cytokines IL-6,IL-8,TNF-α.and to explore its molecular mechanism for the treatment of community-acquired pneumonia,so as to provide new ideas and theoretical basis for the treatment of community-acquired pneumonia.Methods:140 patients with community-acquired pneumonia were randomly divided into observation group and control group,with 70 cases in each group.Observation group:Elephantopus scaber Linn+NS atomized inhalation+intravenous injection of ceftazidine;Control group:intravenous injection of ceftazidine;Meanwhile,70 healthy subjects were selected as the healthy control group.The expressions of TLR4,NF-kB,IL-6,IL-8 and TNF-αin serum of observation group,control group before and after treatment and healthy control group were detected by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA),and the efficacy of Elephantopus scaber Linn in the treatment of community acquired pneumonia was observed.Results:Compared with the control group,the observation group was significantly better than the control group in recovery rate,total effective rate,number of days for the disappearance of symptoms such as fever,cough,expectoration,with statistical significance(P<0.05);Compared with the healthy control group,the serum TLR4,NF-κB,IL-6,IL-8,TNF-αwere significantly different(P<0.05)between the observation group and the control group;Serum TLR4,NF-κB,IL-6,IL-8,TNF-αwere significantly different(P<0.05)in the observation group before and after treatment with Elephantopus scaber Linn;Compared with the control group after treatment,there were significantly different(P<0.05)in serum TLR4,NF-κB,IL-6,IL-8 and TNF-αin the observation group after treatment.Conclusion:Serum TLR4,NF-κB,IL-6,IL-8,TNF-αwere highly expressed in patients with community-acquired pneumonia,Elephantopus scaber Linn can decreased the expression of TLR4 and NF-κB in blood,and its downstream inflammatory factors also decreased significantly.There were significantly different(P<0.05)in blood TLR4 and NF-κB between the observation group and the control group after treatment.It is suggested that Elephantopus scaber Linn may inhibit TLR4/NF-kB signal pathway to exert anti-inflammatory effect.Elephantopus scaber Linn has a definite effect and can significantly improve the clinical symptoms,and effectively shorten the treatment cycle.

Isolation and identification of chemical constituents from Elephantopus scaber Linn.

Elephantopus scaber L.,as a popular Chinese medicinal herb of the Compositae family,is widely distributed in America,Africa and Asia.In the present study,five compounds were isolated from the 70%EtOH extract of the whole herb from Elephantopus scaber L.,including two lignans and three flavones.Their chemical structures were identified based on NMR spectroscopic analysis and comparison with the data reported in literature.It is noteworthy that compounds 1-5 were isolated from Elephantopus scaber L.for the first time and their chemotaxonomic significance was discussed.

Phenolic compounds from Elephantopus scaber L.

Eight compounds,(+)-syringaresinol(1),apigenin(2),3,5-dimethoxy-4-hydxyphenylpropanol(3),3,4,5-trimethoxy benzoic acid,(4)ferulaic acid(5),trans-p-hydroxycinnamic methyl ester(6),4-hydroxy-3-methoxybenz-oic acid(7)and p-methoxy benzoic acid(8)were isolated from the 70%ethanol extract of the whole herb of Elephantopus scaber L.The structures of all compounds were identified by spectral data analysis.All compounds were obtained for the first time from Elephantopus scaber L..

Virtual screening of active ingredients,potential targets and pathways from Elephantopus scaber L.against liver cancer based on network pharmacology

Elephantopus scaber L.,belonging to Elephantopus plant of Compositae,is widely used as the common Chinese herbal medicine in folk.According to the phytochemical investigations,E.scaber is used to treat several cancers,anemia and diarrhea on account of the property of the complex components and multi-targets.However,the underlying molecular mechanisms of herb remain unclear.In this report,network pharmacology method is used to analyze the relation among the small-molecule compounds of E.scaber,target proteins,biological pathways and liver cancer.The potential active compounds from the E.scaber,potential target proteins and the key pathways were predicted by network pharmacology models.We believe that our present study is useful to find novel lead compounds for liver cancer.

Antineoplastic effects of deoxyelephantopin,a sesquiterpene lactone from Elephantopusscaber, on lung adenocarcinoma (A549) cells

OBJECTIVE： Deoxyelephantopin, a sesquiterpene lactone from Elephantopus scaber, showed inhibition of the growth of various tumor cells in vitro. In the present study, we investigated the cytotoxicity and apoptosis-inducing capacity of deoxyelephantopin on lung adenocarcinoma （A549） cells. METHODS： The cytotoxic effect of deoxyelephantopin on A549 cells and normal lymphocytes was evaluated using 3-（4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl）-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide （MTT） assay and 50% inhibitory concentration （IC50） value was determined. The self-renewal and proliferating potential of A549 cells after treatment with deoxyelephantopin were examined by colony formation assay. Cellular morphology of deoxyelephantopin-treated cells was observed using phase- contrast microscopy. The induction of apoptosis was evaluated using acddine orange and ethidium bromide staining, Hoechst 33342 staining, terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP biotin nick end-labeling （TUNEL） assay, DNA fragmentation analysis and Annexin V-fluorescein isothiocyanate staining by flow cytometry. Activation of caspases was detected using fluorogenic substrate specific to caspases 2, 3, 8 and 9 and flow cytometric analysis. The total cellular DNA content and expression of cleaved poly （ADP-ribose） polymerase was also analyzed. RESULTS： Deoxyelephantopin exhibited cytotoxicity to A549 cells （IC50 = 12.287 μg/mL）, however, there was no toxicity towards normal human lymphocytes. Deoxyelephantopin suppressed the colony-forming ability of A549 cells in a dose-dependent manner. Acridine orange, ethidium bromide and Hoechst 33342 staining showed cell shrinkage, chromosomal condensation and nuclear fragmentation, indicating induction of apoptosis. Deoxyelephantopin increased apoptosis of A549 cells, as evidenced by more TUNEL-positive cells. DNA fragmentation and Annexin V staining revealed late-stage apoptotic cell population. Deoxyelephantopin inhibited A549 cell growth by cell cycle arrest at G2/M phase and induced apoptosis through both extrinsic and intrinsic pathways. CONCLUSION： These results suggest that deoxyelephantopin has great potential as a new chemotherapeutic agent to be developed further for the treatment of lung cancer.

Interventional study of neutrophil elastase-mediated pathway for biliary head to interfere with high secretion of airway mucus in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Objective:To observe the effect of Elephantopus scaber Linn on chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD),to investigate its effect on the MUC5AC hypersecretion of airway mucus mediated by neutrophil elastin in patients with acute exacerbation of COPD,and to observe its effect on lung function(FEV1,FEV1/FVC),so as to provide new ideas and theoretical basis for the prevention and treatment of COPD.Methods:160 patients with acute exacerbation of COPD were randomly divided into observation group and control group with 80 cases each according to the numerical table method.The observation group was treated with aerosol inhalation of Elephantopus scaber Linn on the basis of conventional treatment.Both groups were treated for 2 weeks.During the same period,80 healthy patients were selected as the healthy control group.The expression of NE and MUC5AC in serum of observation group,control group and healthy control group before and after treatment was detected by enzymelinked immunosorbent assay(ELISA).The changes of lung function(FEV1,FEV1/FVC)after treatment in the observation group and the control group were compared and analyzed,and the efficacy of Elephantopus scaber Linn in patients with acute exacerbation of copd was observed.Results:Compared with the control group,the total effective rate of the observation group was significantly better than that of the control group,with statistical significance(P<0.05).Compared with the healthy control group,there were significant differences in serum NE and MUC5AC between the observation group and the control group(P<0.05).Serum NE,MUC5AC,FEV1 and FEV1/FVC were significantly different in the observation group before and after treatment(P<0.05).Serum NE,MUC5AC,FEV1 and FEV1/FVC were significantly different in the observation group before and after treatment(P<0.05).Compared with the control group after treatment,there were significant differences in serum NE and MUC5AC in the observation group after treatment(P<0.05),and the increase of FEV1/FVC and FEV1 was significantly better than that of the control group after treatment(P<0.05).Conclusion:Elephantopus scaber Linn can significantly improve the clinical treatment effect of patients with acute exacerbation of COPD,improve lung function and airway mucus hypersecretion.It can effectively inhibit the expression of NE and MUC5AC in the blood.There were significant differences in serum NE and MUC5AC between the observation group and the control group after treatment(P<0.05),showing a positive correlation,suggesting that inhibition of MUC5AC secretion by Elephantopus scaber Linn in patients with COPD may be related to NE-mediated pathways.