Background: Alpinia officinarum Hance is valued as an edible medicinal plant. The rhizome is widely reported to have anticancer activity whereas little information is available on the aerial part. This study investiga...Background: Alpinia officinarum Hance is valued as an edible medicinal plant. The rhizome is widely reported to have anticancer activity whereas little information is available on the aerial part. This study investigates chemical composition, proapoptotic and anti-osteoporosis activities of essential oil from aerial parts of A. officinarum (APEO). Methods: In this study, APEO was extracted by hydrodistillation and analyzed using GC-MS. The inhibitive activity of 0 - 2.5 μL/mL. APEO was investigated using MTT assay, while in vivo effect was evaluated in nude mice. The cell cycle, apoptosis, Δψm and expression of proteins analyses influenced by 0 - 0.313 μL/mL APEO were detected by PI, Annexin V/PI, JC-1, and Western blot, respectively. Alkaline phosphatase activity and mineralized nodules formation of rat osteoblasts with 0 - 0.156 μL/mL APEO were assayed using colorimetric method and alizarin red staining, respectively. Results: Total 45 constituents were identified accounting for 91.1% of APEO (sesquiterpene hydrocarbons for 44.4%). APEO significantly inhibited cancer cells growth in a dose-dependent manner. APEO also inhibited cancer growth in vivo. The percentage of S phase cells is up to 64.846% with 0.313 μL/mL APEO. The proportion of total apoptotic cells significantly increased to 79.6% at 0.313 μL/mL concentration. APEO treated cells accompanied with Bcl-2 and Δψm decrease, and caspase-3 and p53 upregulation. Furthermore, addition of APEO in rat osteoblasts led to a dose-dependent increase in ALP activity and formation of mineralized bone nodules. Conclusions: Our data suggest that APEO could be developed as an agent against human lung cancer and osteoporosis, especially cancer-induced bone loss.展开更多
Background: Acetylshikonin, a major constituent isolated from Arnebia euchroma, is a potential candidate for anti-colorectal cancer drugs. However, the potential activity and underlying mechanism of Acetylshikonin aga...Background: Acetylshikonin, a major constituent isolated from Arnebia euchroma, is a potential candidate for anti-colorectal cancer drugs. However, the potential activity and underlying mechanism of Acetylshikonin against colorectal cancer remain unclear. Methods: In this study, Acetylshikonin was isolated from the active CHCl3 extract of Arnebia euchroma using activity-guided screening, and elucidated by the extensive spectroscopic analysis and comparison with literature data. Human colorectal cancer cells HT29, DLD-1, HCT116 or Caco-2 were exposed to different concentrations of Acetylshikonin (6.25 - 100 μg/mL) for 24 or 48 h. Cell viability, cell apoptosis and cell cycle distribution were detected. The activity of Acetylshikonin and potential mechanism of the phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway were evaluated in vitro and vivo. Results: We found that Acetylshikonin exhibited remarkable anti-proliferative activity in a dose-dependent manner against HT29 cells with the IC50 values of 60.82 μg/ml and 30.78 μg/ml at 24, 48 h, respectively. Moreover, Acetylshikonin induced cell cycle arrest at G0/G1 phase and early apoptosis through inhibition of PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway. Furthermore, the assays of cell inhibition, early apoptosis and G0/G1 phase distribution showed that suppression of the PI3K/Akt pathway using LY294002 enhanced the anti-cancer effect of Acetylshikonin. Similarly, Acetylshikonin also decreased the growth of tumour in colorectal cancer xenografts in mice through PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway. Conclusions: To sum up, these new findings provided a framework for further exploration of Acetylshikonin which possessed the potential antitumor activity by inhibiting PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway.展开更多
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD)is a condition involving the accumulation of liver fat in excess of 5–10%of its weight after excluding excessive alcohol intake and any other causes of liver disease or steatos...Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD)is a condition involving the accumulation of liver fat in excess of 5–10%of its weight after excluding excessive alcohol intake and any other causes of liver disease or steatosis.1 NAFLD has increased with the occurrence of obesity,diabetes,and metabolic syndrome,due to which an international consensus of experts proposed renaming it metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease(MAFLD).展开更多
Cancer therapies based on energy conversion,such as photothermal therapy(PTT,light-to-thermal energy conversion)and photodynamic therapy(PDT,light-to-chemical energy conversion)have attracted extensive attention in pr...Cancer therapies based on energy conversion,such as photothermal therapy(PTT,light-to-thermal energy conversion)and photodynamic therapy(PDT,light-to-chemical energy conversion)have attracted extensive attention in preclinical research.However,the PTT-related hyperthermia damage to surrounding tissues and shallow penetration of PDT-applied light prevent further advanced clinical practices.Here,we developed a thermoelectric therapy(TET)based on thermoelectric materials constructed p-n heterojunction(SrTiO_(3)/Cu_(2)Se nanoplates)on the principle of light-thermal-electricity-chemical energy conversion.Upon irradiation and natural cooling-induced the temperature gradient(35-45℃),a self-build-in electric field was constructed and thereby facilitated charges separation in bulk SrTiO_(3)and Cu_(2)Se.Importantly,the contact between SrTiO_(3)(n type)and Cu_(2)Se(p type)constructed another interfacial electric field,further guiding the separated charges to re-locate onto the surfaces of SrTiO_(3)and Cu_(2)Se.The formation of two electric fields minimized probability of charges recombination.Of note,high-performance superoxide radicals and hydroxyl radicals’generation from O_(2)and H_(2)O under catalyzation by separated electrons and holes,led to intracellular ROS burst and cancer cells apoptosis without apparent damage to surrounding tissues.Construction of bulk and interfacial electric fields in heterojunction for improving charges separation and transfer is also expected to provide a robust strategy for diverse applications.展开更多
文摘Background: Alpinia officinarum Hance is valued as an edible medicinal plant. The rhizome is widely reported to have anticancer activity whereas little information is available on the aerial part. This study investigates chemical composition, proapoptotic and anti-osteoporosis activities of essential oil from aerial parts of A. officinarum (APEO). Methods: In this study, APEO was extracted by hydrodistillation and analyzed using GC-MS. The inhibitive activity of 0 - 2.5 μL/mL. APEO was investigated using MTT assay, while in vivo effect was evaluated in nude mice. The cell cycle, apoptosis, Δψm and expression of proteins analyses influenced by 0 - 0.313 μL/mL APEO were detected by PI, Annexin V/PI, JC-1, and Western blot, respectively. Alkaline phosphatase activity and mineralized nodules formation of rat osteoblasts with 0 - 0.156 μL/mL APEO were assayed using colorimetric method and alizarin red staining, respectively. Results: Total 45 constituents were identified accounting for 91.1% of APEO (sesquiterpene hydrocarbons for 44.4%). APEO significantly inhibited cancer cells growth in a dose-dependent manner. APEO also inhibited cancer growth in vivo. The percentage of S phase cells is up to 64.846% with 0.313 μL/mL APEO. The proportion of total apoptotic cells significantly increased to 79.6% at 0.313 μL/mL concentration. APEO treated cells accompanied with Bcl-2 and Δψm decrease, and caspase-3 and p53 upregulation. Furthermore, addition of APEO in rat osteoblasts led to a dose-dependent increase in ALP activity and formation of mineralized bone nodules. Conclusions: Our data suggest that APEO could be developed as an agent against human lung cancer and osteoporosis, especially cancer-induced bone loss.
文摘Background: Acetylshikonin, a major constituent isolated from Arnebia euchroma, is a potential candidate for anti-colorectal cancer drugs. However, the potential activity and underlying mechanism of Acetylshikonin against colorectal cancer remain unclear. Methods: In this study, Acetylshikonin was isolated from the active CHCl3 extract of Arnebia euchroma using activity-guided screening, and elucidated by the extensive spectroscopic analysis and comparison with literature data. Human colorectal cancer cells HT29, DLD-1, HCT116 or Caco-2 were exposed to different concentrations of Acetylshikonin (6.25 - 100 μg/mL) for 24 or 48 h. Cell viability, cell apoptosis and cell cycle distribution were detected. The activity of Acetylshikonin and potential mechanism of the phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway were evaluated in vitro and vivo. Results: We found that Acetylshikonin exhibited remarkable anti-proliferative activity in a dose-dependent manner against HT29 cells with the IC50 values of 60.82 μg/ml and 30.78 μg/ml at 24, 48 h, respectively. Moreover, Acetylshikonin induced cell cycle arrest at G0/G1 phase and early apoptosis through inhibition of PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway. Furthermore, the assays of cell inhibition, early apoptosis and G0/G1 phase distribution showed that suppression of the PI3K/Akt pathway using LY294002 enhanced the anti-cancer effect of Acetylshikonin. Similarly, Acetylshikonin also decreased the growth of tumour in colorectal cancer xenografts in mice through PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway. Conclusions: To sum up, these new findings provided a framework for further exploration of Acetylshikonin which possessed the potential antitumor activity by inhibiting PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway.
基金supported by the Basic and Applied Basic Research Foundation of Guangdong Province(2021A1515220185).
文摘Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD)is a condition involving the accumulation of liver fat in excess of 5–10%of its weight after excluding excessive alcohol intake and any other causes of liver disease or steatosis.1 NAFLD has increased with the occurrence of obesity,diabetes,and metabolic syndrome,due to which an international consensus of experts proposed renaming it metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease(MAFLD).
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.32122044,32071322,32000815)Science,Technology&Innovation Commission of Shenzhen Municipality(No.JCYJ20210324113004010,RCBS20200714114855313).
文摘Cancer therapies based on energy conversion,such as photothermal therapy(PTT,light-to-thermal energy conversion)and photodynamic therapy(PDT,light-to-chemical energy conversion)have attracted extensive attention in preclinical research.However,the PTT-related hyperthermia damage to surrounding tissues and shallow penetration of PDT-applied light prevent further advanced clinical practices.Here,we developed a thermoelectric therapy(TET)based on thermoelectric materials constructed p-n heterojunction(SrTiO_(3)/Cu_(2)Se nanoplates)on the principle of light-thermal-electricity-chemical energy conversion.Upon irradiation and natural cooling-induced the temperature gradient(35-45℃),a self-build-in electric field was constructed and thereby facilitated charges separation in bulk SrTiO_(3)and Cu_(2)Se.Importantly,the contact between SrTiO_(3)(n type)and Cu_(2)Se(p type)constructed another interfacial electric field,further guiding the separated charges to re-locate onto the surfaces of SrTiO_(3)and Cu_(2)Se.The formation of two electric fields minimized probability of charges recombination.Of note,high-performance superoxide radicals and hydroxyl radicals’generation from O_(2)and H_(2)O under catalyzation by separated electrons and holes,led to intracellular ROS burst and cancer cells apoptosis without apparent damage to surrounding tissues.Construction of bulk and interfacial electric fields in heterojunction for improving charges separation and transfer is also expected to provide a robust strategy for diverse applications.
