Anti-tumor Effect of Paclitaxel Enhanced by Psoralen at the Cellular Level

[Objectives]To explore the effect of psoralen combined with paclitaxel on the apoptosis of MCF-7 cells.[Methods]The effects of different concentrations of psoralen,paclitaxel,or the combination of psoralen and paclitaxel on cell viability were detected using CCK-8 assay kit.Cell cycle distribution and apoptosis after 24 h of psoralen(0.16,0.32,0.64 mmol/L),paclitaxel(0.1μmol/L),combined action of psoralen(0.32 mmol/L)and paclitaxel(0.1μmol/L)were detected using flow cytometry.[Results]Lower concentration of psoralen(0.04-0.32 mmol/L)showed no significant inhibitory effect on cells.After combined with paclitaxel,the inhibitory effect on MCF-7 cell proliferation was significantly higher than that of the group treated alone.Compared with the paclitaxel group,the cell apoptosis rate in the drug combination group was significantly increased.Different low concentrations of psoralen can block the cell cycle of MCF-7 at G 0/G 1 phase,while paclitaxel can block the cell cycle at G 2/M phase.After combined action,the number of cells blocked at G 2/M phase decreased.[Conclusions]Overall,the combined effect of psoralen and paclitaxel can enhance anti-tumor ability by inhibiting cell proliferation,inducing apoptosis,and blocking cell cycle.

Effects of psoralens as anti-tumoral agents in breast cancer cells

This review examines the biological properties of coumarins, widely distributed at the highest levels in the fruit, followed by the roots, stems and leaves, by considering their beneficial effects in the prevention of some diseases and as anti-cancer agents. These compounds are well known photosensitizing drugs which have been used as pharmaceuticals for a broad number of therapeutic applications requiring cell division inhibitors. Despite this, even in the absence of ultraviolet rays they are active. The current paper mainly focuses on the effects of psoralens on human breast cancer as they are able to influence many aspects of cell behavior, such as cell growth, survival and apoptosis. In addition, analytical and pharmacological data have demonstrated that psoralens antagonize some metabolizing enzymes, affect estrogen receptor stability and counteract cell invasiveness as well as cancer drug resistance. The scientific findings summarized highlight the pleiotropic functions of phytochemical drugs, given that recently their target signals and how these are modified in thecells have been identified. The encouraging results in this field suggest that multiple modulating strategies based on coumarin drugs in combination with canonical chemotherapeutic agents or radiotherapy could be a useful approach to address the treatment of many types of cancer.

Formulation optimization, in situ intestinal absorption and permeability of psoralen and isopsoralen

Objective: To optimize a self-emulsifying drug delivery system(SEDDS) formulation for psoralen and isopsoralen(PSO and IPSO) isolated from Psoraleae Fructus.Methods: A D-optimal design was used to investigate the influence of oil percentage, surfactant percentage and cosurfactant percentage on several properties of SEDDS including particle size, polydispersity,equilibrium solubility, in situ intestine absorption rate and intestinal permeability. Furthermore, the desirability function approach was applied to obtain the optimal formulation for the system.Results: The oil percentage, surfactant percentage and cosurfactant percentage were optimized to be53.6%, 35.7% and 10.7%, respectively, which means the model is available.Conclusions: The D-optimal design is valuable to optimize the SEDDS formulation and understand formulation compositions’ functions on SEDDS properties.

Theoretical Study of Stability and Electronic Characteristics in Various Complexes of Psoralen as an Anticancer Drug in Gas Phase,Water and CCl_(4) Solutions

The present research employs density functional theory(DFT)computations to analyze the structure and energy of complexes formed by psoralen drug with alkali(Li^(+),Na^(+),K^(+))and alkaline earth(Be^(2+),Mg^(2+),Ca^(2+))metal cations.The computations are conducted on M06-2X/aug-cc-pVTZ level of theory in the gas phase and solution.The Atoms in Molecules(AIM)and natural bond orbital(NBO)analyses are applied to evaluating the characterization of bonds and the atomic charge distribution,respectively.The results show that the absolute values of binding energies decrease with going from the gas phase to the solution.Furthermore,the considered complexes in the water(as a polar solvent)are more stable than the CCl_(4)(as a non-polar solvent).The DFT based chemical reactivity indices,such as molecular orbital energies,chemical potential,hardness and softness are also investigated.The outcomes show that the considered complexes have high chemical stability and low reactivity from the gas phase to the solution.Finally,charge density distributions and chemical reactive sites of a typical complex explored in this study are obtained by molecular electrostatic potential surface.

Qualitative Identification and Content Determination of Psoralen in Ficus Pandurata Hance

[Objectives]This study aimed to establish a qualitative identification and content determination method for psoralen in Ficus pandurata Hance and compare the psoralen contents in roots,stems and leaves of F.pandurate Hance and Ficus pandurata Hance var.holophylla Migo.[Methods]Thin-layer chromatography(TLC)was used for qualitative identification,and the content of psoralen was determined by high-performance liquid chromatography.The chromatographic conditions were as follows:column,Agilent ZORBAX Eclipse Plus C18(250 mm×4.6 mm,5μm);mobile phase,methanol-water(55∶45);flow rate,1 mL/min;detection wavelength,246 nm;column temperature,30℃;and injection volume,10μL.[Results]The TLC chromatogram of F.pandurate Hance showed clear spots and good separation.The concentration of psoralen detected in the range of 2.06-41.20μg/mL had a good linear relationship with the peak area(r=0.9999).The RSD values of the precision,stability and reproducibility tests were all less than 2%.The average recovery rate was 100.2%(RSD=1.13%,n=6).[Conclusions]The established method is simple,easy,accurate and reproducible.It can be used for quality control of F.pandurate Hance.

Comparative Study on Management of Vitiligo with Psoralen plus Steroid (Oxabet Formula) Alone VS Psoralen Formula plus Narrow Band of Ultraviolet B 311 nm in Khartoum Teaching Hospital of Dermatology and Venereology (KTHDV)

A comparative study and management has been conducted in (KTHDV). For some patients who attend the out patients clinic concern on treatment of the vitiligo with a new formula (Oxabet) alone VS Oxabet (oxpsolaren plus betamethasone) formula plus NB. UVB311 is during a period from (Jan 2011-Jan 2013). The study sample includes different age groups of both sexes. The study revealed that the formula alone gives good results. The localized vitiligo has a good response to the formula than generalized one. The early lesions have good responses than the old ones. The continuations of applying the treatment and the follow up of the patients enhance the efficacy of the treatment.

补骨脂素(Psoralen)的合成

补骨脂素是中药补骨脂的主要成分。临床用于治疗由于口服长效避孕药(甾体激素)引起的子宫出血。初步说明它具有类似止血灵(中药补骨脂制剂)的止血效果。作者介绍了由间苯二酚出发合成补骨脂素的方法。此方法与已报道的合成路线收率相似,但步骤简化了,成本降低了三分之一。

Psoraleae induces hepatotoxicity by affecting bile acid balance

Buguzhi(Psoraleae fructus),the seed of Psoralea corylifolia Linn,is used to treat osteoporosis,nephritis,vitiligo and other diseases.However,long-term routine or overdose of Psoraleae fructus may lead to hepatotoxicity and become a major obstacle of its clinical usage.Psoralen was a key active component of Psoraleae fructus,and a main cause of Psoraleae fructus toxicity.This research was to investigate the hepatotoxicity of psoralen and whether it’s related with bile acid imbalance.Methods:C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into 4 groups(n=10).Psoralen(20 mg/kg,40 mg/kg and 80 mg/kg)was administrated intragastrically once every day and control group with equivalent water until 4 weeks.Results:The results showed that psoralen caused an increase in liver coefficient and the injury of hepatocytes microstructure of mice.It also inhibited cell viability of HepG2 cells.Mice treated with psoralen exerted liver total bile acid increased while serum total bile acid decreased,which indicated that psoralen-induced liver injury may partly associate with cholestasis.For further study of liver transporters,high dose of psoralen inhibited the expression of some important hepatic efflux transporters(including BSEP,p-gp and ABCG5)in vivo and in vitro.Conclusion:We provide evidence for the first time that psoralen may induce cholestatic hepatotoxicity for the bile acid retention by inhibition on bile acid export pumps.

Determination of icariside,hyperoside and psoralen in food by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry

A high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry(HPLC-MS/MS)method was built to determine icarside,hyperoside and psoralen in food.The samples were extracted with 70%methanol,the solid and semi-solid hotpot seasoning samples were purified by solid phase extraction column,and then determined by HPLC-MS/MS.Acetonitrile and 0.1%formic acid solution were used as the mobile phase,and the gradient elution was adopted for analysis.As shown in the results,the analytes had good linearity in the range of 0.05−100 ng/mL,and the correlation coeffificients(R^(2))were greater than 0.999.In this method,the limits of quantitation(LOQ)of psoralen,icariside and hyperoside in liquid samples were 1.25,25.0 and 12.5μg/L respectively;while the LOQs of psoralen,icariside and hyperoside in solid samples and hotpot seasoning samples were 1.25,25.0 and 12.5μg/kg,respectively.The liquid beverage,solid beverage,health food(in the form of oral liquid,capsule,tablet),integrated alcoholic beverage and solid hotpot seasoning were selected as representative samples and used for method validation.The average spiked recoveries at 3 levels(LOQ,2 LOQ,10 LOQ)were in the range of 83.7%−115.0%,and the relative standard deviations were in range of 0.5%−9.4%(n=6).The method is rapid,accurate and sensitive,which is suitable for the simultaneous determination of icariside,hyperoside and psoralen in different food matrices.

Psoralen inhibits hepatitis B viral replication by down-regulating the host transcriptional machinery of viral promoters

The hepatitis B virus(HBV) is a global public health challenge due to its highly contagious nature. It is estimated that almost 300 million people live with chronic HBV infection annually. Although nucleoside analogs markedly reduce the risk of liver disease progression, the analogs do not fully eradicate the virus. As such, new treatment options and drugs are urgently needed. Psoralen is a nourishing monomer of Chinese herb and is known to inhibit virus replication and inactivate viruses. In this study, we evaluated the potential of psoralen as an anti-HBV agent.Quantitative PCR and Southern blot analysis revealed that psoralen inhibited HBV replication in Hep G2.2.15 cells in a concentration-dependent manner. Moreover, psoralen was also active against the 3TC/ETV-dual-resistant HBV mutant. Further investigations revealed that psoralen suppressed both HBV RNA transcription and core protein expression. The transcription factor FOXO1, a known target for PGC1α co-activation, binds to HBV precore/core promoter enhancer II region and activates HBV RNA transcription. Co-immunoprecipitation showed that psoralen suppressed the expression of FOXO1, thereby decreasing the binding of FOXO1 co-activator PGC1αto the HBV promoter. Overall, our results demonstrate that psoralen suppresses HBV RNA transcription by downregulating the expression of FOXO1 resulting in a reduction of HBV replication.

Analysis on Volatile Constituents in Leaves and Fruits of Ficus carica by GC-MS

Objective To identify and analyze the volatile constituents in the leaves and fruits of Ficus carica. Methods Gas chromatography (GC) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) were used. Results The major components detected in volatile oil of the leaves were psoralen (10.12%), β-damascenone (10.17%), benzyl alcohol (4.56%), behenic acid (4.79%), and bergapten (1.99%), etc. The major components detected in volatile oil of the fruits were furfural (10.55%), 5-methyl-2-furaldehyde (10.1%), and benzeneacetaldehyde (6.59%), etc. Conclusion A total of 121 volatile constituents are identified in the leaves and 108 in the fruits of F. carica, among which 103 constituents are identified for the first time in the leaves and 100 in the fruits. Eighteen volatile constituents are identified in both leaves and fruits.

Synthesis and Photooxygenation of Furo[3,2-c]coumarin Derivatives as Antibacterial and DNA Intercalating Agent

Syntheses of 2,3-dimethyl-4H-furo[3,2-c]coumarin and 3-phenyl-4H-furo[3,2-c]coumarin as angular furocou- marins were carried out through Williamson reaction of 4-hydroxycoumarin with a-haloketones followed by cycli- zation. Photooxygenation of the synthesized furocoumarin derivatives was performed and the photoproducts were isolated and characterized. The affinity of 2,3-dimethyl-4H-furo[3,2-c]coumarin towards DNA and the antibacterial activity were evaluated and compared with 8-methoxypsoralen （8-MOP）.