Extracts from Huangqi(Radix Astragali Mongoliciplus) and Ezhu(Rhizoma Curcumae Phaeocaulis) inhibit Lewis lung carcinoma cell growth in a xenograft mouse model by impairing mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling, vascular endothelial growth factor prod

OBJECTIVE: To study the anti-tumor effects of the extracts from Huangqi(Radix Astragali Mongolici)and Ezhu(Rhizoma Curcumae Phaeocaulis) on the growth of Lewis lung carcinoma(LLC) in a xenograft mouse model and to investigate the possible underlying mechanism.METHODS: LLC tumor-bearing C57 BL/6 mice were treated with normal saline, cisplatin(2 mg/kg intraperitoneally every other day), or Huangqi(Radix Astragali Mongolici) and Ezhu(Rhizoma Curcumae Phaeocaulis)(1∶1, 2∶1, or 3∶1 ratio;5, 8, or 11 g/kg crude drug intragastrically every day) for 15 d.Body weights and tumor volumes were measured every other day. Tumors were excised on day 15 and analyzed. Tumor microvessel density(MVD)was assessed by immunohistochemical staining of CD34;and expression of vascular endothelial cell growth factor(VEGF), the mitogen-activated protein kinases p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase(MAPK), extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1 and 2(ERK1/2), and Jun N-terminal kinase(JNK)and their phosphorylated forms were assessed by Western blotting.RESULTS: Treatment with cisplatin caused a significant loss of body weight compared with controls,whereas Huangqi(Radix Astragali Mongolici) and Ezhu(Rhizoma Curcumae Phaeocaulis) extract combinations had no effect. Extracts from Huangqi(Radix Astragali Mongolici) and Ezhu(Rhizoma Curcumae Phaeocaulis) significantly decreased tumor weight and tumor MVD compared with controls,and at the 3∶1 treatment group had similar efficacy to cisplatin in reducing MVD. Tumors from Huangqi(Radix Astragali Mongolici) and Ezhu(Rhizoma Curcumae Phaeocaulis) treatments also showed decreased p38 MAPK, p-p38 MAPK, ERK1/2, p-ERK1/2,JNK, and p-JNK expression compared with the control group(all P < 0.01). VEGF protein expression was significantly reduced in the 2∶1 and 3∶1 treatment groups compared with the control group(P < 0.01).CONCLUSION: Extracts from Huangqi(Radix Astragali Mongolici) and Ezhu(Rhizoma Curcumae Phaeocaulis) hindered LLC growth in the xenograft mouse model, possibly via inhibition of the MAPK signaling pathway, VEGF production, and tumor angiogenesis.

Effect of optimal combination of Huangqi(Radix Astragali Mongolici) and Ezhu(Rhizoma Curcumae Phaeocaulis) on proliferation and apoptosis of A549 lung cancer cells

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of optimal combination(E) of Huangqi(Radix Astragali Mongolici) and Ezhu(Rhizoma Curcumae Phaeocaulis) on proliferation and apoptosis of A549 lung cancer cells and the possible mechanism underpinning the action.METHODS: A uniform design method was used to optimize the E of Huangqi(Radix Astragali Mongolici) and Ezhu(Rhizoma Curcumae Phaeocaulis) in A549 lung cancer cells. MTS assay was applied to analyze the effect of the component formula ofHuangqi(Radix Astragali Mongolici) and Ezhu(Rhizoma Curcumae Phaeocaulis) on A549 cells viability in various uniform design groups. A549 cells with exponential growth in routine culture were exposed to Co Cl_2(200 μmol/L) to mimic hypoxic conditions. Group 0 was treated with RPMI-1640, the group Co Cl_2 was treated with Co Cl_2(200 μmol/L),the group DDP + Co Cl_2 was treated with 4 mg/L Cisplatin injection(DDP) + Co Cl_2(200 μmol/L), and the drug group was treated with various dose of E(0.5 E, 1 E, 2 E) + Co Cl_2(200 μmol/L). All groups were cultured for 24 h. Cell apoptosis was measured by Annexin V-FITC/propidium iodide double staining and flow cytometry. Western blot assay and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction(q RT-PCR) were employed to detect the protein and m RNA expression of B-celllymphoma-2(Bcl-2),Bcl-2-associated X protein(Bax) and cysteinyl aspartate specific proteinase-3(caspase-3).RESULTS: The E obtained by the uniform design was comprise of 200 mg/L Astragalus polysaccharide(X1) and 32 mg/L Curcumin(X3). Group DDP+Co Cl_2, group 1 E + Co Cl_2 and group 2 E + Co Cl_2 promoted the apoptosis of A549 cells(P < 0.05). Group1 E + Co Cl_2 and group 2 E + Co Cl_2 had no statistically significant differences compared with the group DDP + Co Cl_2(P > 0.05). Compared with group 0, various doses of E + Co Cl_2 could up-regulate the expression of Bax and caspase-3 and down-regulate the expression of Bcl-2 at protein and m RNA levels(P < 0.05).CONCLUSION: Astragalus polysaccharide and Curcumin was the optimal combination of Huangqi(Radix Astragali Mongolici) and Ezhu(Rhizoma Cur-cumae Phaeocaulis). E promoted the apoptosis of A549 cells. Combination of Astragalus polysaccharide and Curcumin increased the expression of Bax and caspase-3, and decreased the expression of Bcl-2 to initiate apoptosis in A549 cells under chemical-induced hypoxia.

Effecacy of Biejia(Carapax Trionycis) and Ezhu(Rhizoma Curcumae Phaeocaulis) couplet medicine on epithelial-mesenchymal transition, invasion and migration of MDA-MB-231 triple negative breast cancer cells via PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway

OBJECTIVE:To investigate the efficacy of Biejia(Carapax Trionycis)and Ezhu(Rhizoma Curcumae Phaeocaulis)couplet medicine on epithelial-mesenchymal transition(EMT),invasion and migration of MDA-MB-231 triple negative breast cancer(TNBC)cells based on PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway.METHODS:MDA-MB-231 cells were treated with different medicated serum as Biejia-,Ezhu-,Biejia-Ezhu(BJ-,EZ-,BJ-EZ-)groups,intervened with no drug rat serum and paclitaxel with final concentration of 33 nM(IC50)as negative and positive control(NC and PC)groups.CCK-8 assay,scratch test,and Transwell assay were used to examine cell proliferation,invasion,and migration.The expression of E-cadherin,N-cadherin,Vimentin,MMP-2,MMP-9,PI3K,Akt,p-Akt,mTOR,and p-mTOR was determined by Western blot,and the m RNA expression of PI3K,Akt and mTOR was determined by real-time polymerase chain reaction.RESULTS:BJ-EZ group inhibited proliferation after 24,48,and 72 h compared with the NC group(P<0.05,<0.01 or<0.001)and reduced the invasion and migration of MDA-MB-231 cells(P<0.01 or<0.001).In addition,BJ-EZ group upregulated the expression of E-cadherin,downregulated the expression of N-cadherin,Vimentin,MMP-2,and MMP-9(P<0.05,P<0.01 or P<0.001),and inhibited the m RNA and protein expression of PI3K,Akt(p-Akt),mTOR(p-mTOR)(P<0.05,<0.01 or<0.001).CONCLUSION:Biejia(Carapax Trionycis)and Ezhu(Rhizoma Curcumae Phaeocaulis)couplet medicine can inhibit the proliferation,invasion,migration and EMT of MDA-MB-231 cells through PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway,and the effect is better than that of Biejia(Carapax Trionycis)or Ezhu(Rhizoma Curcumae Phaeocaulis)alone.

SESQUITERPENES FROM CURCUMA PHAEOCAULIS AND THEIR INHIBITORY ACTIVITIES ON NITRIC OXIDE PRODUCTION IN RAW 264.7 CELLS

Curcumfa phaeocaulis Valeton is used in traditional Chinese medicines for the treatment of blood-related disorders such as blood stasis and inflammation.Our previous studies have found that sesquiterpenes were mainly isolated from C.wenyujin and C.phaeocaulis,while diarylheptanoids were the major compounds from C.kwangsiensis.And most of the isolated compounds exhibited remarkable

川产莪术植株产量与品质特性的调查研究

[目的]调查川产莪术植株各部位生物学产量,初步研究其资源品质特性,为茎叶资源的开发利用提供科学依据。[方法]在主产区随机采集川产莪术代表性植株,以植株不同部位为试验研究材料,应用《中华人民共和国药典》及文献中的品质检测方法,调研川产莪术植株产量并检测品质特性。[结果]植株每窝二母姜(莪术)干品平均产量为224.44g,其中茎叶光合产物、脂溶性组分、蛋白质积累量分别占植株资源总量的40.61%4、2.05%、38.06%,以叶片的脂溶性组分含量(2.897%)最高;川产莪术植株的灰分含量均符合《中华人民共和国药典》(2010版,二部)莪术、郁金要求。[结论]川产莪术植株茎叶为可利用的优良资源,建议在主产区川产莪术植株枯萎前采收,对茎叶加以回收利用,以提高川产莪术植株的产油率或用作饲料。