Induction of Apoptosis by in Human Hepatoma Cells.

Background: Traditional Chinese herb , belonging to the Compositae family, has long been applied for the treatment of liver diseases. In recent years, many reports also indicated that it possesses hepato-protective, anti-inflammatory, and anti-cancer activities.

Objective: In this study, we evaluated whether is an effective therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Induction of apoptosis and differentiation by atractylenolide-1 isolated from Atractylodes macrocephala in human leukemia cells.

Atractylodes macrocephula Koidz (A. macrocephula, also known as Baizhu) is an important ingredient in several traditional Chinese herb complexes for the treatment of abdominal pain and gastroenterology diseases for thousands of years. We previously demonstrated the induction of ROS-mediated apoptosis by methanol extract of A.

Dicentrine Analogue-Induced G2/M Arrest and Apoptosis through Inhibition of Topoisomerase II Activity in Human Cancer Cells.

Lindera megaphylla has been traditionally used as an antineoplastic and wound healing remedy. We previously demonstrated the antitumor effects of D-dicentrine, a natural aporphine alkaloid from the root of L. megaphylla.

Synthesis and the biological evaluation of arylnaphthalene lignans as anti-hepatitis B virus agents.

We have previously shown that helioxanthin can suppress human hepatitis B virus gene expression. A series of helioxanthin analogues were synthesized and evaluated for their anti-hepatitis B virus activity. Modifications at the lactone rings and methylenedioxy unit of helioxanthin can modulate the antiviral activity.

Antihepatitis activity (anti-HBsAg and anti-HBeAg) of C19 homolignans and six novel C18 dibenzocyclooctadiene lignans from Kadsura japonica.

Bioassay-directed fractionation of the EtOAc extract of Kadsura japonica has led to the isolation of six new C18 dibenzocyclooctadiene lignans, schizanrins I, J, K, L, M, N, along with four known C19 homolignans, taiwanschirins A, B, C, and heteroclitin F. The elucidations of the new structures were based on spectral analysis. Bioassay evaluation against human type B hepatitis revealed that taiwanschirins A and B showed strong activity for anti-HBsAg and a medium effect for anti-HBeAg at 25 microg/mL (12.

Induction of apoptosis by three marine algae through generation of reactive oxygen species in human leukemic cell lines.

In this study, we examined the antitumor effect of marine algae extracts on human hepatoma and leukemia cells. Ethyl acetate extracts from Colpomenia sinuosa (Cs-EA), Halimeda discoidae (Hd-EA), and Galaxaura oblongata (Go-EA) directly inhibited the growth of human hepatoma HuH-7 cells and leukemia U937 and HL-60 cells in a time- and dose-dependent manner. Specifically, these algae extracts induced apoptosis of U937 and HL-60 cells as evaluated by detection of hypodiploid cells using flow cytometry and observation of condensed and fragmented nuclei in algae extract-treated cells.

Syntheses of C(18) dibenzocyclooctadiene lignan derivatives as anti-HBsAg and anti-HBeAg agents.

(+)-Gomisin K(3) (1) and kadsurarin (2) were isolated from Schizandra arisanensis and Kadsura matsudai, respectively, and a series of C(18) dibenzocyclooctadiene lignan analogues (5-20) derived from 1 and 2 were synthesized. Esterified derivatives of 1 and 2 were evaluated for inhibitory activity against human type B hepatitis with surface antigen (HBsAg) and e antigen (HBeAg). Most of the analogues (5-8, 10, 12-13) derived from 1 exhibited higher anti-HBsAg effects and lower toxicity, and 6, 7, 8 and 12 also showed higher anti-HBeAg activity.

Reactive oxygen species mediation of baizhu-induced apoptosis in human leukemia cells.

Baizhu (Atractylodes macrocephala Koidz) has traditionally been used as an important ingredient of several Chinese herbal medicines, which have been used for abdominal pain and gastroenterology diseases for thousands of years. Despite its popularity in herbal therapies, little is known about the anticancer effect of Baizhu. In this study, the anticancer potential of Baizhu on human hepatoma and leukemia cell lines was evaluated.

Furanolabdane diterpenes from Hypoestes purpurea.

Four new furanolabdane diterpenes, hypopurin A (1), hypopurin B (2), hypopurin C (3), and hypopurin D (4), together with eight lignans, alpha-O-methylcubebin, beta-O-methylcubebin, hinoquinin, helioxanthin, 7-hydroxyhinokinin, dehydroxycubebin, justicidine E, and (-)-hibalactone, as well as two triterpenes, lupeol and betulin, were isolated from the dried aerial part of Hypoestes purpurea. The structures of 1-4 were elucidated mainly on the basis of NMR and MS. Compound 1 was found to be moderately cytotoxic toward the KB cell line with an IC(50) value of 9.

New phenolic principles from Hypericum sampsonii.

Using the anti-hepatitis B virus (HBV)-producing cell line MS-G2 in vitro cultural system-guided screening was performed, and two new benzophenones, 2,6-dihydroxy-4-[(E)-5-hydroxy-3,7-dimethylocta-2,7-dienyloxy]benzophenone (1) and 2,6-dihydroxy-4-[(E)-7-hydroxy-3,7-dimethylocta-2-enyloxy]benzophenone (2), a new xanthone, hyperxanthone (3), a new bisanthraquinone glycoside, R-(-)-skyrin-6-O-beta-D-xylopyranoside (4), and 2-caffeoyloxy-3-hydroxy-3-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)propyl alcohol (5), and 16 known compounds were isolated from the anti-HBV active fraction of the whole herbs of Hypericum sampsonii. Their structures were elucidated using spectroscopic methods, mainly 2D NMR and MS spectrometry. Circular dichroism was used to determine the stereochemistry of bisanthraquinone glycosides.

Biotransformation of imperatorin by Aspergillus flavus.

Imperatorin (1) was metabolized by Aspergillus flavus, in growth media, to give five metabolites. On the basis of their physical data, the structures of the five metabolites were elucidated as xanthotoxol (2), E-trichoclin (3), Z-trichoclin (4), E-imperatorin acid (5), and Z-imperatorin acid (6); among these, 4, 5, and 6 were characterized as new coumarins. The five metabolites 2-6 were tested for anti-hepatitis B virus activity in vitro and found to be less active than the parent compound 1.

The anti-HBsAg (human type B hepatitis, surface antigen) and anti-HBeAg (human type B hepatitis, e antigen) C18 dibenzocyclooctadiene lignans from Kadsura matsudai and Schizandra arisanensis.

The C(18) dibenzocyclooctadiene lignans including three novel schizanrin F (1), G (2), H (3), along with the known kadsurarin (4), were isolated from Kadsura matsudai. A new C(19) homolignan named schiarisanrin E (5), together with the known C(18) lignans, gomisin B (6), G (7) and (+)-gomisin K(3) (8) were obtained from Schizandra arisanensis. Gomisin B, G and (+)-gomisin K(3) showed moderate to strong activity for antihepatitis in anti-HBsAg (human type B hepatitis, surface antigen) and/or anti-HBeAg (human type B hepatitis, e antigen) tests.

Screening of 25 compounds isolated from Phyllanthus species for anti-human hepatitis B virus in vitro.

Using an HBV-producing cell line and inhibition of the expression of the HBsAg and HBeAg as antiviral indicators, a study was conducted on 25 compounds isolated from four Phyllanthus (Euphorbiaceae) plants, including P. amarus Schum. & Thonn.

Antrodia camphorata polysaccharides exhibit anti-hepatitis B virus effects.

Polysaccharides were extracted from fruiting bodies and cultured mycelia from five Antrodia camphorata strains. Polysaccharide profiles of the five strains, as determined by high-performance anion-exchange chromatography, showed varying yields and composition of neutral sugars. A.