Homeopathic mother tincture of Phytolacca decandra induces apoptosis in skin melanoma cells by activating caspase-mediated signaling via reactive oxygen species elevation

OBJECTIVE： Preventive measures against skin melanoma like chemotherapy are useful but suffer from chronic side effects and drug resistance. Ethanolic extract of Phytolacca decandra （PD）, used in homeopathy for the treatment of various ailments like chronic rheumatism, regular conjunctivitis, psoriasis, and in some skin diseases was tested for its possible anticancer potential. METHODS： Cytotoxicity of the drug was tested by conducting 3-（4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl）-2,5- diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay on both normal （peripheral blood mononuclear cells） and A375 cells. Fluorescence microscopic study of 4＇,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole dihydrochloride-stained cells was conducted for DNA fragmentation assay, and changes in cellular morphology, if any, were also recorded. Lactate dehydrogenase activity assay was done to evaluate the percentages of apoptosis and necrosis. Reactive oxygen species （ROS） accumulation, if any, and expression study of apoptotic genes also were evaluated to pin-point the actual events of apoptosis. RESULTS： Results showed that PD administration caused a remarkable reduction in proliferation of A375 cells, without showing much cytotoxicity on peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Generation of ROS and DNA damage, which made the cancer cells prone to apoptosis, were found to be enhanced in PD-treated cells. These results were duly supported by the analytical data on expression of different cellular and nuclear proteins, as for example, by down- regulation of Akt and Bcl-2, up-regulation of p53, Bax and caspase 3, and an increase in number of cell deaths by apoptosis in A375 cells. CONCLUSION： Overall results demonstrate anticancer potentials of PD on A375 cells through activation of caspase-mediated signaling and ROS generation.

商陆营养器官中蛋白质量与生长龄动态变化关系研究

目的为商陆的开发和利用提供依据。方法利用光学显微技术、组织化学定位方法对美洲商陆Phytolacca decandra不同生长龄的根、茎和叶进行解剖结构研究。结果除幼根外,不同生长龄的营养器官中均有活性蛋白质分布,薄壁细胞是活性蛋白质分布的场所。结论幼茎中蛋白质的量最为丰富,颗粒也较大,与老叶、幼叶、老茎和老根中蛋白质的数量及大小差异极显著;二年生的贮藏根中不含蛋白质,额外形成层中几乎不含蛋白质。

使用顺势疗法药物商陆的母酊剂从硝酸银中快速绿色合成纳米银颗粒(英文)

目的:研究顺势疗法药物商陆的母酊剂是否能够从硝酸银沉淀出纳米银颗粒,并通过检测这些纳米银颗粒的生物学活性确定其生物学特征。方法:将100mg硝酸银加入20mL超纯水中,并用力搅动使其混匀,再加入5mL顺势疗法药物商陆的母酊剂(商陆根的乙醇提取物),再用力搅动使其混匀。300K温度下沉降迅速开始,10min后溶液中出现呈浅黄绿色的纳米银颗粒的胶质。胶质溶液经5 000×g离心后分离出纳米银颗粒。对这些纳米银颗粒进行光谱学分析、颗粒测量、电动电位测量,并使用原子力显微镜对其进行形态学观察。使用圆二色光谱分光光度法以小牛胸腺 DNA 作为靶点检测药物-DNA 相互作用和熔化温度。纳米银颗粒的生物活性以人肺癌 A549细胞株、大肠杆菌和酵母菌为实验模型进行检测。结果:顺势疗法药物商陆的母酊剂能够依据环境条件沉淀纳米银颗粒。纳米银颗粒的大小为91nm,多分散性系数为0.119,电动电位为-15.6mV。这种纳米银颗粒具有抗肿瘤和抗细菌活性,但没有显示出抗真菌活性。结论:本研究所采用的生物合成纳米银颗粒的方法无毒且具有良好的成本效益,可以作为一种有益于环境保护的新方法加以开发利用。而顺势疗法药物的母酊剂之所以具有治疗某些疾病或缓解疾病症状的作用,可能也是因为其具有纳米颗粒沉降的作用。