Effects of Kamikihito, a Traditional Chinese Medicine, on Neurotransmitter Receptor Binding in the Aged Rat Brain Determined by In Vitro Autoradiography (1): Changes in the [3H]QNB Binding

In traditional Chinese medicine, Ranunculus japonicus has been used to treat various diseases, including malaria, and the young stem of R. japonicus is consumed as a food in the Republic of Korea. However, experimental evidence of the antimalarial effect of R. japonicus has not been evaluated. Therefore, the antimalarial activity of the extract of the young stem of R. japonicus was evaluated in vitro using both chloroquine-sensitive (3D7) and chloroquine-resistant (Dd2) strains; in vivo activity was evaluated in Plasmodium berghei-infected mice via oral administration followed by a four-day suppressive test focused on biochemical and hematological parameters. Exposure to extracts of R. japonicus resulted in significant inhibition of both chloroquine-sensitive (3D7) and resistant (Dd2) strains of P. falciparum, with IC50 values of 6.29 ± 2.78 and 5.36 ± 4.93 μg/mL, respectively. Administration of R. japonicus also resulted in potent antimalarial activity against P. berghei in infected mice with no associated toxicity; treatment also resulted in improved hepatic, renal, and hematologic parameters. These results demonstrate the antimalarial effects of R. japonicus both in vitro and in vivo with no apparent toxicity.

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Phytochemistry and Pharmacology of the Genus Pedicularis Used in Traditional Chinese Medicine

The American Journal of Chinese Medicine ◽

10.1142/s0192415x14500670 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 42 (05) ◽

pp. 1071-1098 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

Mao-Xing Li ◽

Xi-Rui He ◽

Rui Tao ◽

Xinyuan Cao

Keyword(s):

Chinese Medicine ◽

Traditional Chinese Medicine ◽

Chemical Constituents ◽

Iridoid Glycosides ◽

In Vivo Studies ◽

Chemical Components ◽

Wide Range ◽

Phenylpropanoid Glycosides

In the present review, the literature data on the chemical constituents and biological investigations of the genus Pedicularis are summarized. Some species of Pedicularis have been widely applied in traditional Chinese medicine. A wide range of chemical components including iridoid glycosides, phenylpropanoid glycosides (PhGs), lignans glycosides, flavonoids, alkaloids and other compounds have been isolated and identified from the genus Pedicularis. In vitro and in vivo studies indicated some monomer compounds and extracts from the genus Pedicularis have been found to possess antitumor, hepatoprotective, anti-oxidative, antihaemolysis, antibacterial activity, fatigue relief of skeletal muscle, nootropic effect and other activities.

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Wogonin preferentially kills malignant lymphocytes and suppresses T-cell tumor growth by inducing PLCγ1- and Ca2+-dependent apoptosis

Blood ◽

10.1182/blood-2007-06-096198 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 111 (4) ◽

pp. 2354-2363 ◽

Cited By ~ 102

Author(s):

Sven Baumann ◽

Stefanie C. Fas ◽

Marco Giaisi ◽

Wolfgang W. Müller ◽

Anette Merling ◽

...

Keyword(s):

T Cells ◽

T Cell ◽

Chinese Medicine ◽

Traditional Chinese Medicine ◽

Therapeutic Potential ◽

Human T Cell ◽

Voltage Dependent ◽

Ca2 Channels ◽

Malignant T Cells

Herbs have successfully been used in traditional Chinese medicine for centuries. However, their curative mechanisms remain largely unknown. In this study, we show that Wogonin, derived from the traditional Chinese medicine Huang-Qin (Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi), induces apoptosis in malignant T cells in vitro and suppresses growth of human T-cell leukemia xenografts in vivo. Importantly, Wogonin shows almost no toxicity on T lymphocytes from healthy donors. Wogonin induces prolonged activation of PLCγ1 via H2O2 signaling in malignant T cells, which leads to sustained elevation of cytosolic Ca2+ in malignant but not normal T cells. Subsequently, a Ca2+ overload leads to disruption of the mitochondrial membrane. The selective effect of Wogonin is due to its differential regulation of the redox status of malignant versus normal T cells. In addition, we show that the L-type voltage-dependent Ca2+ channels are involved in the intracellular Ca2+ mobilization in T cells. Furthermore, we show that malignant T cells possess elevated amounts of voltage-dependent Ca2+ channels compared with normal T cells, which further enhance the cytotoxicity of Wogonin for malignant T cells. Taken together, our data show a therapeutic potential of Wogonin for the treatment of hematologic malignancies.

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