21种中草药抗Trp—P—1的致突变活性

本文采用Ａｍｅｓ系统对２１种中草药６０％乙醇提取试样抗３－ａｍｉｎｏ－１，４－ｄｉｍｅｔｈｙｌ－５Ｈ－ｐｙｒｉｄｏ「４，３－ｂ」ｉｎｄｏｌｅ（Ｔｒｐ－Ｐ－１）致突变活性进行检测。实验结果表明，其中七种中草药：猫人参、黄药子、关木通、山偏柏、半支莲、五加皮、花椒具有较强的抗Ｔｒｐ－Ｐ－１致突变活性。川牛膝、莪惭醇提取物没有抗Ｔｒｐ－１致变活性，但是川牛膝、莪术的水提取物有抗Ｔｒｐ－Ｐ－１的致突变活性     

Effect of Aloe vera leaf pulp extract on Ehrlich ascites tumours in mice.

Among the various known therapeutic effects of Aloe vera (L.) Burm. fil., a few recent studies have shown that preparations of the plant leaves can prevent or regress the growth of certain tumours. In this study, undertaken with A. vera leaf pulp extract against Ehrlich ascites tumours in mice, the animals were separated into five groups: I - healthy control, II - tumour control, III - experiment 1 (extract given before tumour inoculation), IV - experiment 2 (extract given with tumour inoculation) and V - experiment 3 (extract given after tumour inoculation). Ehrlich ascites tumours (0.33 ml) were injected subcutaneously into groups II-V. Aloe extract was injected at 55 mg protein/kg, twice a week for 21 days. Tumour size, thymus and spleen weights were measured, as well as leucocyte count, tumour necrosis factor-alpha and sialic acid as tumour markers. The best inhibitory effect on tumour growth was obtained with the extract given prophylactically before tumour implantation (experiment 1), although Aloe extract also regressed tumour sizes when given simultaneously with (experiment 2), or therapeutically after (experiment 3), tumour implantation. Accordingly, serum sialic acid and tumour necrosis factor-alpha levels, chosen as tumour markers, which were raised in the tumour control group, were significantly decreased by the prophylactic administration of the extract. The increase in leucocyte count seen in experiment 1 and 2 groups, along with lymphoid hyperplasia observed in spleen and thymus necroscopy, lead us to think that the tumour preventive effect of Aloe could be due to its immunomodulatory activity. According to our results, A. vera could be proposed as a prophylactic for cancer prevention.     

High correlation between lipid peroxide radical and tumor-promoter effect: suppression of tumor promotion in the Epstein-Barr virus/B-lymphocyte system and scavenging of alkyl peroxide radicals by various vegetable extracts.

We examined the ability of hot-water extracts of 66 vegetables and plants to suppress tumor promotion, as well as to scavenge lipid peroxide radicals in vitro. To assess the effect against tumor promotion (transformation) in vitro, we used the phorbol myristate acetate/Epstein-Barr virus/B-lymphocyte system. To assess the lipid radical-scavenging effect, the luminol-enhanced chemiluminescence method using the tert-butyl hydroperoxide/heme system was used, which generates more alkyl peroxide radical (ROO.) than alkyl (R.) and alkoxyl (RO.) radicals. The results showed a significant correlation between the anti-tumor-promoting effect and the lipid radical-scavenging effect (r = 0.82). We found that boiled extracts of green leaves of carrot, crucifers, and beans (black bean, red bean, mung bean, and soybean) had the greatest anti-tumor-promoter and radical-scavenging activities. Cold-water extracts of vegetables generally exhibited only about 10% or less of the activity of the hot-water extracts.     

An investigation on the anticandidal activity of some traditional medicinal plants in Turkey

Methanol and chloroform extracts obtained from eight plant species belonging to six families, which were selected depending on their use in Turkish folk medicine, including Mentha longifolia L . (Labiatae), Mentha piperita L . Hudson (Labiatae), Prongos ferulaceae (Umbelliferae), Galium verum L . (Rubiaceae), Salvia limbata C. A Meyer (Labiatae), Artemisia austriaca Jacq. (Artemiceae), Plantago lanceolata L. (Plantaginaceae) and Urtica dioica L. (Urticaceae) were evaluated for their in vitro anticandidal activity. The anticandidal activity of extracts against 99 human pathogenic clinical isolates belonging to 35 Candida albicans , 33 Candida tropicalis and 31 Candida glabrata and standard strains of Candida spp. ( C. albicans ATCC 10231, C. glabrata ATCC 80030 and C. tropicalis ATCC 22019) were tested by disc diffusion method and the active extracts were assayed for the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC). Chloroform extracts of plants have no inhibitory effect against both clinical and standard strains of Candida spp., whereas methanol extracts exhibited good activity. Among the plants tested, M. piperita showed the highest anticandidal activity with 12.3 mm inhibition zone and 1.25 mg ml⁻¹ MIC value against C. albicans , M. longifolia , P. lanceolata and A. austriaca also displayed activity against C. albicans and C. tropicalis .     

Effects of herbal preparation Equiguard on hormone-responsive and hormone-refractory prostate carcinoma cells: mechanistic studies

The Equiguard is a dietary supplement comprised of standardized extracts from nine herbs, respectively, Herba epimedium brevicornum Maxim (stem and leaves), Radix morindae officinalis (root), Fructus rosa laevigatae michx (fruit), Rubus chingii Hu (fruit), Schisandra chinensis (Turz.) Baill (fruit), Ligustrum lucidum Ait (fruit), Cuscuta chinensis Lam (seed), Psoralea corylifolia L. (fruit), and Astragalus membranaceus (Fisch.) Bge (root). This proprietary product, formulated according to Chinese traditional medicinal concepts, is aimed at restoring harmony in the of the kidney, an organ which Chinese medicinal principles consider to be vital for invigorating as well as maintaining balance of the entire urological system. As the prostate is an integral component of the urological system, we performed in vitro studies to test the effects of ethanol extracts of Equiguard to modulate prostate growth and gene expression. These studies used prostate cancer cells mimicking the androgen-dependent (AD) and androgen-independent (AI) states of prostate carcinogenesis. Results show that Equiguard significantly reduced cancer cell growth, induced apoptosis, suppressed expression of the androgen receptor (AR) and lowered intracellular and secreted prostate specific antigen (PSA), and almost completely abolished colony forming abilities of prostate cancer cells. These data support the interpretation that this herbal formulation contains ingredients that collectively may be efficacious in preventing or treating AD and AI prostate carcinoma. The anti-prostatic activities of Equiguard may stem from its complex composition capable of targeting multiple signal transduction/metabolic pathways, to effectively correct, counteract or circumvent the impaired or dysfunctional mechanisms accompanying different stages of prostate carcinogenesis.     

Effects of crude aqueous medicinal plant extracts on growth and invasion of breast cancer cells

Plants used in folklore medicine continue to be an important source of discovery and development of novel therapeutic agents. In the present study, we determined the effects of crude aqueous extracts of a panel of medicinal plants on the growth and invasion of cancer cells. Our results showed that extracts of L. tridentata (Creosote Bush) and J. communis L. (Juniper Berry) significantly decreased the growth of MCF-7/AZ breast cancer cells. The latter as well as A. californica (Yerba Mansa) inhibited invasion into the collagen type I gel layer. Furthermore, the phosphorylation levels of extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1 and 2 (ERK1/2) decreased when the cells were exposed to aqueous extracts of L. tridentata, J. communis L. and A. californica. This study provides original scientific data on the anticancer activity of selected aqueous medicinal plant extracts used in traditional medicine.     

Anti-proliferative activity of essential oil extracted from Thai medicinal plants on KB and P388 cell lines

Anti-proliferative activity of essential oil from 17 Thai medicinal plants on human mouth epidermal carcinoma (KB) and murine leukemia (P388) cell lines using MTT assay were investigated. An amount of 1 x 10(4)cells/well of KB cell line and 1 x 10(5) cells/well of P388 cell line were treated with the oil samples at different concentrations ranging from 0.019 to 4.962 mg/ml. In KB cell line, Guava (Psidium guajava L.) leaf oil showed the highest anti-proliferative activity with the IC(50) value of 0.0379 mg/ml (4.37 times more potent than vincristine) whereas Sweet Basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) oil gave the highest anti-proliferative activity with the IC(50) value of 0.0362 mg/ml (12.7 times less potent than 5-FU) in P388 cell line. The results demonstrated the potential of essential oil from Thai medicinal plants for cancer treatment.     

Aloe vera Inhibits Proliferation of Human Breast and Cervical Cancer Cells and Acts Synergistically with Cisplatin

Many of the anti-cancer agents currently used have an origin in natural sources including plants. Aloe vera isone such plant being studied extensively for its diverse health benefits, including cancer prevention. In this study,the cytotoxic potential of Aloe vera crude extract (ACE) alone or in combination with cisplatin in human breast(MCF-7) and cervical (HeLa) cancer cells was studied by cell viability assay, nuclear morphological examinationand cell cycle analysis. Effects were correlated with modulation of expression of genes involved in cell cycleregulation, apoptosis and drug metabolism by RT-PCR. Exposure of cells to ACE resulted in considerable lossof cell viability in a dose- and time-dependent fashion, which was found to be mediated by through the apoptoticpathway as evidenced by changes in the nuclear morphology and the distribution of cells in the different phasesof the cell cycle. Interestingly, ACE did not have any significant cytotoxicity towards normal cells, thus placingit in the category of safe chemopreventive agent. Further, the effects were correlated with the downregulation ofcyclin D1, CYP 1A1, CYP 1A2 and increased expression of bax and p21 in MCF-7 and HeLa cells. In addition,low dose combination of ACE and cisplatin showed a combination index less than 1, indicating synergisticgrowth inhibition compared to the agents applied individually. In conclusion, these results signify that Aloe veramay be an effective anti-neoplastic agent to inhibit cancer cell growth and increase the therapeutic efficacy ofconventional drugs like cispolatin. Thus promoting the development of plant-derived therapeutic agents appearswarranted for novel cancer treatment strategies.     

Effects of Six Weeks Endurance Training and Aloe Vera Supplementation on COX-2 and VEGF Levels in Mice with Breast Cancer

The aim of this study was to determine effects of six weeks endurance training and Aloe Vera supplementation on COX-2 and VEGF levels in mice with breast cancer. For this purpose, 35 rats were randomly divided into 5 groups: control (healthy) and 4 cancer groups: control (cancer only), training, Aloe Vera and Aloe Vera + training. Breast cancer tumors were generated in mice by implantind. The training program comprised six weeks of swimming training accomplished in three sessions per week. Training time started with 10 minutes on the first day and increased to 60 minutes in the second week and the water flow rate was increased from 7 to 15 liters per minute at a constant rate. Aloe Vera extract at a dose of 300 mg/kg BW was administrated to rats by intraperitoneal injection. At the end of the study period, rats were anesthetized and blood samples were taken. Significant differences were concluded at pCOX-2 and VEGF levels in the cancer group compared with the healthy group. Administration of Aloe Vera extract caused significant decrease in the COX-2 level in the cancer group. Also, in the training (swimming exercise) and Aloe Vera + training cancer groups, we observed significant decrease in the VEGF level as compared to controls. Our results suggest that Aloe Vera and training inhibit the COX pathway and cause decrease production of prostaglandin E2. Hence administration of Aloe Vera in combination with endurance training might synergistically improve the host milieu in mice bearing breast cancers.     

Effects of extracts from two Native American plants on proliferation of human breast and colon cancer cell lines in vitro

Native American medicinal plants are traditionally used to prevent and treat a variety of diseases, including cancer. These herbal preparations are alleged to have many biological activities, such as stimulation or suppression of immune responses and antiproliferative effects on cancer cells. In the present study, we investigated the effects of aqueous and ethanol extracts from two Native American plants, Ligusticum porteri (Osha) and Anemopsis californica (Yerba Manza), on the growth of human MCF-7/AZ breast and HCT8/E11 colon cancer cells. The aqueous and ethanol extracts from A. californica potently inhibited growth of MCF-7/AZ in a concentration-dependent manner, whereas the growth of HCT8/E11 was unaltered. Extracts from L. porteri showed no activity on either cell line. In addition, we observed that the extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase 1 and 2 (ERK1/2) activities were markedly decreased when exposed to both extracts from A. californica. These results suggest that the growth inhibitory effect of A. californica in breast cancer cells is ERK-mediated.     

Bracken-fern Extracts Induce Cell Cycle Arrest and Apoptosis in Certain Cancer Cell Lines

Bracken fern [Pteridium aquilinem (L.) kuhn (Dennstaedtiaceae)] is one of the most common species on the planet. It has been consumed by humans and animals for centuries. Use by some human groups is because theybelieve bracken fern is good for health as plant medicine. However, it is also one of the few known plants that can cause tumors in farm animals. Many interested groups have focused their attention on bracken fern because of these interesting features. In order to evaluate the biological effects of exposure to this plant in cellular level, human cancer cell lines were treated with the fern dichloromethane extracts and the genotoxic and cytotoxic effects were studied. Anti-proliferative/cytotoxic effects were evaluated by cell count, MTT assay and flow cytometry methods with three different cancer cell lines, TCC, NTERA2, and MCF-7, and two normal cells, HDF1 and HFF3. Pro-apoptotic effects of the extracts were determined by DAPI staining and comet assay, on TCC cancercells compared to the normal control cell lines. Cellular morphology was examined by light microscopy. Our present study showed that the extract caused DNA damage and apoptosis at high concentrations (200 μg/mL)and also it may induce cell cycle arrest (G2/M phase) at mild concentrations (50 and 30 μg/mL) depending on the cell type and tumor origin. These results indicate that bracken fern extract is a potent source of anticancercompounds that could be utilized pharmaceutically.     

Organic extracts of Larrea divaricata Cav. induced apoptosis on tumoral MCF7 cells with an higher cytotoxicity than nordihydroguaiaretic acid or paclitaxel

The methanolic and methane dichloride extracts of aerial parts of Larrea divaricata Cay. (Jarilla) plants exhibited a pronounced cytotoxic effect by arresting cell viability at a level of 35% against the MCF-7 cell line, a human breast adenocarcinoma, while only a weak cytotoxic effect was observed for the aqueous extract. Apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry, using annexin V and by cytological detection with fluorescein diacetate / propidium iodide staining. The annexin V, as well as the uptake of fluorescein diacetate/propidium iodide staining, revealed that methanolic and methane dichloride extracts of L. divaricata treatment of cells resulted in a rapid plasma membrane perturbation and triggered cellular death (>70%). Methanolic extracts were submitted to further treatment by bioassay-guided purification, involving fractionation and chromatography. 0.1% (w/w) nordihydroguaiaretic acid (NDGA) was found, which displayed weak citotoxic activity.     

Ethanol but not Aqueous Extracts of Tubers of Sauromatum Giganteum(Engl.) Cusimano and Hett Inhibit Cancer Cell Proliferation

Background: Both alcohol and aqueous extracts of Sauromatum giganteum(Engl.) Cusimano and Hett, the driedroot tuber of which is named Baifuzi in Chinese, have been used for folklore treatment of cancer in Northeastof China. However, little is known about which is most suitable to the cancer therapy. Materials and Methods:Serum pharmacology and MTT assays were adopted to detect the effects of ethanol and aqueous extracts ofSauromatum giganteum(Engl.) Cusimano and Hett , prepared by heat reflux methods, on proliferation of differentcancer cells. Results: Cancer cells treated with medium supplemented with 10%, 20%, 40% serum(v/v) containingethanol extract had a decline in viability, with inhibition rates of 7.69%, 21.8%, 41.9% in MCF-7 cells, 42.8%,48.1%, 51.8% in SGC-7901 cells, 44.1%, 49.2%, 53.7% in SMMC-7721 cells, 6.8%, 15.2%, 39.8% in HepG2cells, 7.57%, 16.3%, 36.2% in HeLa cells, 6.24%, 12.5%, 27.4% in A549 cells, and 7.20%, 17.5%, 31.3% inMDA-MB-231 cells, respectively. Viability in the aqueous extract groups was no different with that of controls.Conclusions: An ethanol extract of Sauromatum giganteum(Engl.) Cusimano and Hett inhibited the proliferationof SMMC-7721, SGC-7901 and MCF-7 cells, which supports the use of alcoholic but not aqueous extracts forcontrol of sensive cancers, which might include hepatocarcinoma, gastric cancer and breast cancer.     

Application of standardized mistletoe extracts augment immune response and down regulates metastatic organ colonization in murine models.

The immunomodulatory and antimetastatic activity of standardized aqueous mistletoe extracts from plants grown on fir trees (ME-A) and pine trees (ME-P) were evaluated in BALB/c-mice. Regular subcutaneous (s.c.) and intraperitoneal (i.p.) applications (three times per week for 14 consecutive days; 5 and 50 microg per injection and mouse) upregulated thymus weight and peripheral blood leukocyte counts in tumor bearing mice. To check the influence of ME-A and ME-P treatment on growth of experimental metastases, RAW 117 H 10 lymphosarcoma cells and L-1 sarcoma cells were intravenously inoculated into BALB/c-mice to establish liver and lung colonization. ME-A and ME-P were regularly administered starting 24 h after tumor cell challenge. Organ colonization was investigated on day 14 after tumor cell inoculation and demonstrated statistically significant (P<0.05) reductions of experimental liver and lung metastases for ME-A and ME-P treated mice.     

Cytotoxic Potential of Petroleum ether,Ethyl Acetate,Chloroform, and Ethanol Extracts of Lavandula Coronopifolia Against Human Breast Carcinoma Cell line (MDA-MB-321)

Background: Breast cancer is the most common cause of deaths in women. The search for traditionally used medicinal plants which can serve as non-toxic and affordable anticancer drugs is the need of the hour. This study aimed to investigate the anticancer potential of extracts of L. coronopifolia against human breast carcinoma cell line (MDA-MB-321). Methods: The MDA-MB-231 cells were plated in 96 well plates and exposed to 10-1,000 μg/ml of L. coronopifolia for 24 h. The cytotoxic response of different extracts was measured by MTT assay, neutral red uptake (NRU) assay and cellular morphological alterations under the microscope. Results: A concentration-dependent decrease in the cell viability of MDA-MB-231 cells was observed after the exposure of petroleum ether, ethyl acetate, chloroform, and ethanol extracts of L. coronopifolia. The cell viability was found to be 82%, 89% and 98% at 1000, 500 and 250 μg/ml, respectively in petroleum ether, 37%, 75% and 88% at 1,000, 500 and 250 μg/ml, respectively in ethyl acetate extract, 30%, 35% and 64% at 1,000, 500 and 250 μg/ml, respectively in chloroform extract and 44%, 65% and 82% at 1000, 500 and 250 μg/ml, respectively in ethanolic extract of L. coronopifolia exposed MDA-MB-231 cells. The results also exhibited morphological alterations in MDA-MB-231 cells exposed to various extracts. The cells treated with 250- 1000 μg/ml lost their original morphology and cell linkage as compared to control cells. Conclusion: These preliminary results suggest the promising anticancer potential of petroleum ether, ethyl acetate, chloroform, and ethanol extracts of L. coronopifolia against MDA-MB-321 cells. Further studies are required to know the mechanism(s) involved in the cell death.     

New developments in the study of metal carcinogenesis

Aloe barbadensis (Miller), Aloe vera, has a long history of use as a topical and oral therapeutic. The plant is the source of two products, gel and latex, which are obtained from its fleshy leaves. Aloe vera products contain multiple constituents with potential biological and toxicological activities, yet the active components elude definition. Ingestion of Aloe vera is associated with diarrhea, electrolyte imbalance, kidney dysfunction, and conventional drug interactions; episodes of contact dermatitis, erythema, and phototoxicity have been reported from topical applications. This review examines the botany, physical and chemical properties, and biological activities of the Aloe vera plant.     

Benz(a)pyrene levels in medicinal plants and the possibility of contamination of drugs of plant origin

Benz(a)pyrene (BP) levels in extracts and solvent cake obtained by alcoholic and aqueous extraction of specimens of 20 different medicinal plants were measured to explore into the possibility of its passage from these plants to drugs. Seventy percent alcoholic extracts were found to contain 40-60% of BP passed from raw material, while aqueous extracts--2-3% (in some cases 10-14%). Maximal concentrations of BP in alcoholic extracts were 0.6-0.7 micrograms/1 and 0.03-0.04 micrograms/1--in aqueous ones. A significant correlation between BP level in extracts and its content in plants was established. BP pathways in the course of solasodine manufacturing from nightshade (Solanum lacinatum) were studied. As little as 1% of BP passed to extract after primary extraction in 2%--sulfuric acid. Solasodine contained about 3 micrograms/kg of BP.     

Antitumor immunity in strain 2 guinea pigs immunized with potassium chloride extracts of L2C tumor cells.

Extracts of L2C tumor cells stimulated in vitro production of macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) in peritoneal exudate cells from guinea pigs immunized with L2C tumor cells. Guinea pigs immunized with extracts of L2C tumor cells that were active in vitro (in the MIF assay) were completely resistant to challenge with viable tumor cells given 2 weeks later. Furthermore, guinea pigs immunized with extracts of L2C tumor cells within 1 hour after challenge with viable L2C tumor cells survived substantially longer than did nonimmunized controls. The immunoprotective and immunotherapeutic effects seen in guinea pigs given injections of viable L2C tumor cells were obtained with extracts of L2C tumor cells but not with extracts of another guinea pig tumor (line 10 hepatoma) or with extracts of normal guinea pig lymphoid cells.