Alteration of anti-inflammatory activity of Harpagophytum procumbens (devil's claw) extract after external metabolic activation with S9 mix.

Objectives: Extracts of the tubers of Harpagophytum procumbens (devil's claw, DC) inhibit different proinflammatory mediators important in the pathophysiology of osteoarthritis. Many plant-derived preparations interfere with cytochrome P450 liver enzymes, which influence their different biological activities. Therefore, the present study was designed to investigate the influence of an external metabolic activation of a DC extract on the cytotoxicity and the release of proinflammatory cytokines.

Effects of Lipophilic Extract of Viscum album L. and Oleanolic Acid on Migratory Activity of NIH/3T3 Fibroblasts and on HaCat Keratinocytes.

Viscum album L. lipophilic extract (VALE) contains pharmacologically active pentacyclic triterpenes that are known to exhibit immunomodulatory, antitumor, and wound healing activity. Preliminary clinical observations indicate that VALE was able to influence cutaneous wound healing in vivo.

A homeopathic remedy from arnica, marigold, St. John's wort and comfrey accelerates in vitro wound scratch closure of NIH 3T3 fibroblasts.

Background: Drugs of plant origin such as Arnica montana, Calendula officinalis or Hypericum perforatum have been frequently used to promote wound healing. While their effect on wound healing using preparations at pharmacological concentrations was supported by several in vitro and clinical studies, investigations of herbal homeopathic remedies on wound healing process are rare. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of a commercial low potency homeopathic remedy Similasan® Arnica plus Spray on wound closure in a controlled, blind trial in vitro.

Suppression of interleukin (IL)-8 and human beta defensin-2 secretion in LPS-and/or IL-1β-stimulated airway epithelial A549 cells by a herbal formulation against respiratory infections (BNO 1030).

Aim Of The Study: A special ethanolic-aqueous extract from seven traditional medicinal plants (BNO 1030) has been used for several decades to treat recurrent infections of the respiratory tract. Considering the potential role of interleukin-8 (IL-8) and human beta defensin-2 (hBD-2) in inflammation, we investigated the effect of BNO 1030 on lipopolysaccharide (LPS) from Pseudomonas aeruginosa or IL-1β-induced inflammatory mediators in A549 human type II alveolar epithelial cells.

Materials And Methods: A549 cells were stimulated with LPS (100 μg/ml) or IL-1β (50 ng/ml) in the presence of the preparation and the secretion of IL-8 and hBD-2 were measured after 18 h and 24h in cell free supernatants using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA).

Efficacy and safety of mistletoe preparations (Viscum album) for patients with cancer diseases. A systematic review.

Background: Mistletoe is often used as a complementary approach in oncology. Despite experimental anti-tumour effects and several reviews there remains controversy about its clinical role.

Patients And Methods: Potentially relevant trials were identified to perform a systematic review (databases: e.

Evaluation of cell death caused by an ethanolic extract of Serenoae repentis fructus (Prostasan) on human carcinoma cell lines.

Background: Phytotherapy is a third approach for treating lower urinary tract symptoms associated with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). The lipido-sterolic extract of the fruit of Serenoa repens is one of the more widely used phytotherapeutic agents in this regard.

Materials And Methods: The effect of an ethanolic extract of S.

Inhibitory effect of an isopropanolic extract of black cohosh on the invasiveness of MDA-mB 231 human breast cancer cells.

Background: The isopropanolic extract of black cohosh (iCR)b has recently been reported to exert antiproliferative and apoptosis-inducing effects on estrogen receptor-positive MCF-7, as well as estrogen receptor-negative MDA-MB 231 human breast cancer cells. To broaden observations, the anti-invasive effects of iCR and its two major fractions triterpene glycosides (TTG) and cinnamic acid esters (CAE) were tested in highly invasive MDA-MB 231 cells.

Materials And Methods: The effect of drugs upon the invasive potential of MDA-MB231 cells was studied in BD Biocoat Matrigel invasion chambers over a period of 24 h.

Willow bark extract (BNO1455) and its fractions suppress growth and induce apoptosis in human colon and lung cancer cells.

Background: Recently, there have been extensive efforts to evaluate the chemopreventive role of substances present in natural products. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of the main groups of compounds (salicylalcohol derivates, flavonoids, proanthocyanidins), and salicin isolated from willow bark extract BNO 1455 on proliferation and apoptosis in human colon and cancer cells.

Methods: We used human colon cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2)-positive HT 29 and (COX-2)-negative HCT 116 or lung COX-2 proficient A 549 and low COX-2 expressing SW2 cells.

Apoptosis of human prostate androgen-dependent and -independent carcinoma cells induced by an isopropanolic extract of black cohosh involves degradation of cytokeratin (CK) 18.

Background: The inhibitory effects of black cohosh extracts (Cimicifuga syn. Actaea racemosa L.) on the proliferation of human breast cancer cells were reported recently.

Apoptosis inducing activity of viscin, a lipophilic extract from Viscum album L.

Detection of antiproliferative activity and bioactivity-guided fractionation of viscin, a lipophilic extract from Viscum album L., led to the isolation of betulinic acid, oleanolic acid and ursolic acid as active components. Viscin, betulinic acid, oleanolic acid and ursolic acid inhibited growth and induced apoptotic cell death in Molt4, K562 and U937 leukaemia cells.

Evaluation of cell death caused by triterpene glycosides and phenolic substances from Cimicifuga racemosa extract in human MCF-7 breast cancer cells.

We previously reported that the antiproliferative effect of an isopropanolic-aqueous extract of black cohosh (iCR) on MCF-7 estrogen-responsive breast cancer cell line was due to the induction of apoptosis. Here we address the question to what extent apoptosis induction can be ascribed to one of the two major fractions of iCR, the triterpene glycosides (TTG) or the cinnamic acid esters (CAE). Furthermore, as black cohosh is routinely administered orally, we studied whether its pharmacological effects would withstand simulated liver metabolism.

Cimicifuga racemosa extract inhibits proliferation of estrogen receptor-positive and negative human breast carcinoma cell lines by induction of apoptosis.

Hormone replacement therapy is contraindicated in women with breast cancer. Extracts from the rhizomes of Cimicifuga racemosa, have gained acceptance as a natural alternative for the treatment of menopausal symptoms. In the present study we investigated the antiproliferative activity of C.

Comparison of the growth-inhibitory effect of Hypericum perforatum L. extracts, differing in the concentration of phloroglucinols and flavonoids, on leukaemia cells.

In this study we compared, simultaneously, the growth-inhibitory effect of Hypericum perforatum L. extracts, containing various amounts of hyperforin (A 3.25%; B 2.

Hyperforin a constituent of St John's wort (Hypericum perforatum L.) extract induces apoptosis by triggering activation of caspases and with hypericin synergistically exerts cytotoxicity towards human malignant cell lines.

Hyperforin (HP) is an abundant component of St John's wort with antibiotic and antidepressive activity. We report here the ability of HP and that of polyphenolic procyanidin B2 (PB-2) to inhibit the growth of leukemia K562 and U937 cells, brain glioblastoma cells LN229 and normal human astrocytes. HP inhibited the growth of cells in vitro with GI(50) values between 14.

[St. John' Wort (Hypericum perforatum L.)--multicompound preparations versus single substances].

Aqueous alcoholic extracts of St. John s wort are used for the treatment of mild to moderate depression. Recently, Hypericum extracts were also shown to inhibit the growth of various human malignant cells.

Recombinant mistletoe lectin induces p53-independent apoptosis in tumour cells and cooperates with ionising radiation.

Mistletoe extracts are used as alternative cancer treatment in addition to standard chemotherapy and radiation treatment and have an immunostimulatory and pain-relieving effect. A direct antitumour effect of mistletoe extracts against tumour cells of lymphoid origin has been linked to the D-galactoside-specific mistletoe lectin I. In this study, we investigated the cellular effect of bacterially expressed, recombinant mistletoe lectin alone or in combination with ionising radiation in a genetically defined p53-wild-type and p53-deficient E1A/ras-transformed murine tumour cells system.

Cytostatic and apoptosis-inducing activity of boswellic acids toward malignant cell lines in vitro.

Boswellic acids from frankincense were indentified as the active compounds which inhibit leukotriene biosynthesis, 5-lipoxygenase and exert antiproliferative activity toward a variety of malignant cells. Because of the relevance for the clinical application, we tested the ethanolic extract of Boswellia serrata gum resin containing a defined amount of boswellic acids for its cytotoxic, cytostatic and apoptotic activity on five leukemia (HL-60, K 562, U937, MOLT-4, THP-1) and two brain tumor (LN-18, LN-229) cell lines by WST-1 assay and flow cytometry. The Boswellia serrata extract induced dose-dependent antiproliferative effects on all human malignant cells tested with GI50 values (extract concentration producing 50% cell growth inhibition) between 57.

Aqueous ethanolic extract of St. John's wort (Hypericum perforatum L.) induces growth inhibition and apoptosis in human malignant cells in vitro.

Extracts of Hypericum perforatum (St. John's wort) are widely and effectively used in the treatment of mild to moderate depression. In addition, hypericin, a component of Hypericum p.

Mechanisms involved in spontaneous and Viscum album agglutinin-I-induced human neutrophil apoptosis: Viscum album agglutinin-I accelerates the loss of antiapoptotic Mcl-1 expression and the degradation of cytoskeletal paxillin and vimentin proteins via caspases.

Viscum album agglutinin-I (VAA-I) is a plant lectin that possesses interesting potential therapeutic properties and immunomodulatory activities. We have recently found that VAA-I is a potent inducer of human neutrophil apoptosis, but the mechanism(s) involved require further elucidation. In this study, we found that VAA-I alters mitochondrial transmembrane potential and increases intracellular levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS).

Modulation of interleukin-15-induced human neutrophil responses by the plant lectin Viscum album agglutinin-I.

The plant lectin Viscum album agglutinin-I (VAA-I) and the interleukin-15 (IL-15) cytokine are two molecules with potential therapeutic properties known to modulate neutrophil functions when used separately. This study was conducted in order to better understand the mode of action of VAA-I and to elucidate how VAA-I could modulate IL-15-induced neutrophil responses. We found that VAA-I cannot induce phosphorylation events in human neutrophils.

Activation of human neutrophils by the plant lectin Viscum album agglutinin-I: modulation of de novo protein synthesis and evidence that caspases are involved in induction of apoptosis.

The plant lectin Viscum album agglutinin-I (VAA-I) was recently found to modulate protein synthesis and to induce apoptosis in various cells of immune origin. We found that VAA-I induces de novo protein synthesis of metabolically 35S-labeled human neutrophils when used at low concentrations (< 100 ng/mL) but acts as an inhibitor at higher concentrations. Using both flow cytometry (FITC-Annexin-V/PI labeling) and cytology (Diff-Quick staining) approaches, we found that VAA-I could not modulate neutrophil apoptosis at low concentrations but could induce it in >98% of cells at 500 and 1000 ng/mL.

Selective modulation of phosphatidylserine exposure on subpopulations of human peripheral blood lymphocytes by a plant lectin, Viscum album agglutinin (VAA)-I and its recombinant form (rVAA) in vitro.

Growing evidence suggests that lectin-carbohydrate interactions are involved in the regulation of the balance between cell growth and programmed cell death. Viscum album agglutinin (VAA)-I is a galactoside-specific, type II ribosome-inactivating plant lectin. At concentrations less than 10 ng/ml, VAA-I has been shown to induce gene expression and secretion of proinflammatory cytokines as well as apoptosis in cultures of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC).

[Mistletoe therapy from the pharmacologic perspective].

Because of their cytostatic/apoptotic and immunomodulatory effects mistletoe extracts are often applied in tumour patients. Recent experimental data suggest that the mistletoe lectins Viscum album agglutinin (VAA)-I and -II are play an important role in the efficacy of mistletoe therapy. VAA-I and -II are members of the type-II ribosome-inactivating proteins.

Effect of a recombinant lectin, Viscum album agglutinin on the secretion of interleukin-12 in cultured human peripheral blood mononuclear cells and on NK-cell-mediated cytotoxicity of rat splenocytes in vitro and in vivo.

A plant lectin, Viscum album agglutinin-I (VAA-I) has been shown to increase the number and cytotoxic activity of natural killer (NK) cells in animal models, but the mechanisms underlying these effects are poorly understood. We investigated the effects of the recombinant form of this lectin (rVAA) on secretion of interleukin (IL)-12 and on NK-mediated cytotoxicity against K562 target cells in cultures of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) as well as against YAC-1 target cells in cultured rat spleen cells. In 24-hour cultures of PBMC, 10 ng/ml plant VAA-I and 50 ng/ml rVAA induced significant increases in the secretion of total IL-12.