西洋参和胡萝卜体细胞融合培养杂种鉴定及愈伤组织中人参皂苷Rb_1含量分析

目的 :通过采用体细胞融合技术将西洋参基因转入胡萝卜中 ,为贵重中药、生长受地理环境等限制的中药扩大药源 ,利用杂种优势为培养适于大面积栽培且有效成分人参皂苷含量较高的优良杂交品种提供理论与实验依据。方法 :用PEG法对五加科植物西洋参与伞形科植物胡萝卜进行体细胞融合 ,通过同工酶进行初步杂种鉴定并用HPLC法测定西洋参和胡萝卜体细胞融合培养愈伤组织中人参皂苷Rb1含量。结果 :体细胞融合技术成功地获得了西洋参和胡萝卜体细胞杂交愈伤组织 ;同工酶分析是鉴定杂种的有效手段之一 ;在 10个杂交体愈伤组织中有 6个杂交体愈伤组织人参皂苷Rb1含量比未融合前西洋参愈伤组织中的含量高。     

Use of in vitro assays to assess the potential antigenotoxic and cytotoxic effects of saffron (Crocus sativus L.)

Saffron is harvested from the dried, dark red stigmas of Crocus sativus L. flowers. It is used as a spice for flavoring and coloring food and as a perfume. It is often used for treating several diseases. We assessed the antimutagenic, comutagenic and cytotoxic effects of saffron and its main ingredients using the Ames/Salmonella test system, two well known mutagens (BP, 2AA), the in vitro colony formation assay and four different cultured human normal (CCD-18Lu) and malignant (HeLa, A-204 and HepG2) cells. When only using the TA98 strain in the Ames/Salmonella test system, saffron showed non-mutagenic, as well as non-antimutagenic activity against BP-induced mutagenicity, and demonstrated a dose-dependent co-mutagenic effect on 2-AA-induced mutagenicity. The saffron component responsible for this unusual comutagenic effect was safranal. In the in vitro colony formation test system, saffron displayed a dose-dependent inhibitory effect only against human malignant cells. All isolated carotenoid ingredients of saffron demonstrated cytotoxic activity against in vitro tumor cells. Saffron crocin derivatives possessed a stronger inhibitory effect on tumor cell colony formation. Overall, these results suggest that saffron itself, as well as its carotenoid components might be used as potential cancer chemopreventive agents.     

Inhibitory effect of Crocus sativus L. ethanol extract on adjuvant-induced arthritis

Saffron is a well-known spice produced from dried stigmas of Crocus sativus L. flowers. Apart from its wide use in food preparations, it also has a broad range of medical properties. We examined the potential anti-inflammatory effects of saffron ethanolic extract (SEE) using an animal model of arthritis. Adjuvant-induced arthritis was induced in Wistar rats by injection of Complete Freund's Adjuvant. The rats were then injected intraperitoneally every other day with 25–600 mg SEE/kg or dexamethasone (DEX, 2 mg/kg). Changes in body weight, paw oedema and arthritis indices were recorded over the subsequent 12 days of treatment. Results revealed that SEE particularly at the higher concentrations significantly reduced paw and tibiotarsal joint diameters and comparing with DEX caused no significant change in body weight. These observations suggest that SEE displays a considerable anti-inflammatory potency and could potentially be used as an anti-arthritic agent in control of inflammation in rheumatoid arthritis.     

Efficacy of Crocus sativus L. on reduction of cadmium‐induced toxicity on spermatogenesis in adult rats

Cadmium is a toxic heavy metal element, which probably cause infertility by impairment in spermatogenesis. The present work aimed (i) to study the toxic effect of cadmium on spermatogenesis in rat, as well as (ii) the protective effect of Crocus sativus L. on cadmium‐intoxicated rats. Cadmium chloride was administered intraperitoneally during 16 days at intervals of 48 h between subsequent treatments. Crocus sativus L. was pre‐treated in both of control and cadmium‐injected rats. Animals were sacrificed on day 17 after the first treatment. The left cauda epididymis was removed and immediately immersed into Hank's balanced salt solution for the evaluation of sperm count and viability, and left testis was fixed in 10% formalin for histological evaluation. Following contamination with cadmium, a decrease was observed in the number and viability of cauda epididymis sperm, which were increased by Crocus sativus L. pre‐treatment (P < 0.05). In addition, cadmium decreased both cell proliferation and Johnsen Scores in the seminiferous tubules, which were reversed by Crocus sativus pre‐treatment (P < 0.05). Furthermore, cadmium‐induced decrease in the amount of free serum testosterone as well as an increase in lipid peroxidation activity in the testicular tissue was reversed by Crocus sativus L. (P < 0.05). These findings may support the concept that Crocus sativus L. can improve the cadmium toxicity on spermatogenesis.     

西红花与红花的抗血栓作用研究

目的比较西红花Crocus sativus水提物与红花Carthamus tinctorius水提物及其主要活性成分的抗血栓作用。方法 SD大鼠随机分为对照组、模型组、西红花酸(50 mg/kg)组、羟基红花黄色素A(50 mg/kg)组、西红花水提物(200 mg/kg)组、红花水提物(700 mg/kg)组和阿司匹林(50 mg/kg)组,大鼠sc肾上腺素建立急性血瘀模型。造模前给予药物干预7 d,观察各组大鼠凝血时间、凝血酶原片段1+2(prothrombin fragment 1+2,F1+2)、凝血酶抗凝血酶复合物(thrombin-antithrombin complex,TAT)、蛋白S(protein S,PS)、血流变相关指标、血生化相关指标、纤溶系统相关指标以及右颈动脉病理的变化情况。结果与模型组比较,各给药组凝血时间显著升高(P0.05),血清中F1+2和PS水平显著降低(P0.05、0.01);除红花水提物组,其余各给药组血清中TAT水平显著降低(P0.05);西红花酸组和羟基红花黄色素A组150 s~(-1)切边率的全血黏度和红细胞压积显著降低(P0.05);西红花酸组、羟基红花黄色素A组和西红花水提物组60 s~(-1)切边率的全血黏度显著降低(P0.05、0.01);西红花酸组、羟基红花黄色素A组和红花水提物组10 s~(-1)切边率的全血黏度显著降低(P0.05、0.01);各给药组红细胞聚集指数显著降低(P0.05);各给药组大鼠血清中三酰甘油(triglycerides,TG)、总胆固醇(total cholesterol,TC)和高密度脂蛋白胆固醇(high density lipoprotein cholesterol,HDL-C)水平显著降低(P0.05);西红花酸组和羟基红花黄色素A组血清中天冬氨酸转氨酶(aspartate aminotransferase,AST)活性显著降低(P0.05),西红花酸组、西红花水提物组和红花水提物组血清中丙氨酸转氨酶(alanine aminotransferase,ALT)活性显著降低(P0.05);各给药组血清中纤溶酶激活物抑制物(plasminogen activator inhibitor,PAI)和D-二聚体(D-dimer)水平显著降低(P0.05、0.01),西红花酸组和西红花水提物组血清中6-酮-前列腺素F1a(6-keto-PGF1a)水平显著升高(P0.05);各给药组大鼠血管内皮脱落减少。结论西红花酸的抗血栓作用优于羟基红花黄色素A,西红花水提物的抗血栓作用优于红花水提物。     

西红花及其活性成分对肝脏疾病作用及其机制的研究进展

西红花Crocus sativus是一种具有多种生理功能的传统药食两用物质,已有大量研究报道其可以预防和治疗精神类疾病、神经退行性疾病、心血管疾病以及高脂血症等疾病。研究结果表明,西红花主要通过其抗炎、抗氧化、抗凋亡和调节脂质代谢等药理作用对各种肝脏疾病产生治疗效果。对西红花及其活性成分治疗肝脏疾病的药理作用及其作用机制进行综述,为西红花在临床上发挥更广泛的治疗作用及其抗肝脏疾病作用的深入研究提供科学合理的参考。     

Proteomic screening of molecular targets of crocin

Background

Traditional drug discovery approaches are mainly relied on the observed phenotypic changes following administration of a plant extract, drug candidate or natural product. Recently, target-based approaches are becoming more popular. The present study aimed to identify the cellular targets of crocin, the bioactive dietary carotenoid present in saffron, using an affinity-based method.

Methods

Heart, kidney and brain tissues of BALB/c mice were homogenized and extracted for the experiments. Target deconvolution was carried out by first passing cell lysate through an affinity column prepared by covalently attaching crocin to agarose beads. Isolated proteins were separated on a 2D gel, trypsinized in situ and identified by MALDI-TOF/TOF mass spectrometry. MASCOT search engine was used to analyze Mass Data.

Results

Part of proteome that physically interacts with crocin was found to consist of beta-actin-like protein 2, cytochrome b-c1 complex subunit 1, ATP synthase subunit beta, tubulin beta-3 chain, tubulin beta-6 chain, 14-3-3 protein beta/alpha, V-type proton ATPase catalytic subunitA, 60 kDa heat shock protein, creatine kinase b-type, peroxiredoxin-2, cytochrome b-c1 complex subunit 2, acetyl-coA acetyltransferase, cytochrome c1, proteasome subunit alpha type-6 and proteasome subunit alpha type-4.

Conclusion

The present findings revealed that crocin physically binds to a wide range of cellular proteins such as structural proteins, membrane transporters, and enzymes involved in ATP and redox homeostasis and signal transduction.