benzoylaconine and aconine

The traditional Chinese medicine "Fuzi" (Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata) and its three representative alkaloids, aconitine (AC), benzoylaconine (BAC), and aconine, have been shown to increase mitochondrial mass. Whether Fuzi has effect on mitochondrial biogenesis and the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. In the present study, we focused on the effect of BAC on mitochondrial biogenesis and the underlying mechanisms. We demonstrated that Fuzi extract and its three components AC, BAC, and aconine at a concentration of 50 μM significantly increased mitochondrial mass in HepG2 cells. BAC (25, 50, 75 μM) dose-dependently promoted mitochondrial mass, mtDNA copy number, cellular ATP production, and the expression of proteins related to the oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) complexes in HepG2 cells. Moreover, BAC dose-dependently increased the expression of proteins involved in AMPK signaling cascade; blocking AMPK signaling abolished BAC-induced mitochondrial biogenesis. We further revealed that BAC treatment increased the cell viability but not the cell proliferation in HepG2 cells. These in vitro results were verified in mice treated with BAC (10 mg/kg per day, ip) for 7 days. We showed that BAC administration increased oxygen consumption rate in mice, but had no significant effect on intrascapular temperature. Meanwhile, BAC administration increased mtDNA copy number and OXPHOS-related protein expression and activated AMPK signaling in the heart, liver, and muscle. These results suggest that BAC induces mitochondrial biogenesis in mice through activating AMPK signaling cascade. BAC may have the potential to be developed as a novel remedy for some diseases associated with mitochondrial dysfunction.

Topics: Aconitine; AMP-Activated Protein Kinases; Animals; Cell Survival; Diterpenes; Drugs, Chinese Herbal; Hep G2 Cells; Humans; Male; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Mitochondria; Organelle Biogenesis; Oxygen; Plant Extracts; Signal Transduction

Aconitum alkaloids from Aconitum species are often used to treat arthritis and rheumatic diseases but have the drawback of high toxicity. Identifying their pharmacokinetic behaviour is important for the safe clinical application of Aconitum species. Efflux transporters (ETs), including P-glycoprotein (P-gp), multidrug resistance-associated protein 2 (MRP2), and breast cancer resistance protein (BCRP), have important functions in regulating the pharmacokinetic behaviours of drugs and in herb-herb or herb-drug interactions (HDIs). The Aconitum alkaloids regulate P-gp expression and function, but their effects on MRP2 and BCRP expression remain unknown.. To determine the effects of three Aconitum alkaloids, aconitine (AC), benzoylaconine (BAC), and aconine, on MRP2 and BCRP.. The levels of the protein and mRNA expression of MRP2 and BCRP in vivo and in vitro were measured via Western blotting and real-time PCR, respectively. Fluorescence signals of MRP2 and BCRP were detected via confocal fluorescence microscopy. A reporter assay using HepG2-C8 cells, which were generated by transfecting plasmids containing the antioxidant response element (ARE)-luciferin gene into HepG2 cells, was used to examine the ARE-luciferin activity. The transport activities of MRP2 and BCRP were tested via flow cytometry using substrate probes.. The Aconitum alkaloids significantly up-regulated MRP2 and BCRP expression, accompanied by a marked increase in nuclear factor E2-related factor-2 (Nrf2) expression in the jejunum, ileum, and colon of FVB mice, in the order AC < BAC < aconine. In the in vitro model, the Aconitum alkaloids increased MRP2 and BCRP expression in Caco-2 and LS174T cells, in the order AC < BAC < aconine. Additionally, these alkaloids promoted the translocation of Nrf2 from the cytoplasm to the nucleus and significantly increased ARE-luciferin activity in HepG2-C8 cells. Luteolin, a potent inhibitor of Nrf2, markedly prevented MRP2 and BCRP expression from being induced by the three Aconitum alkaloids. The efflux activity of MRP2 was also significantly increased in cells receiving the same treatment.. The tested Aconitum alkaloids significantly increased the expression of MRP2 and BCRP by activating the Nrf2-mediated signalling pathway and enhanced the efflux activity of MRP2. The potential for herb-herb interactions or HDIs exists when Aconitum species are co-administered with substrate drugs that are transported via MRP2 and BCRP. Therefore, the Aconitum alkaloids may be used as quality indicators for the herbs of Aconitum species.

Topics: Aconitine; Aconitum; Alkaloids; Animals; Antioxidant Response Elements; ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily G, Member 2; Caco-2 Cells; Hep G2 Cells; Humans; Male; Mice, Inbred Strains; Multidrug Resistance-Associated Protein 2; Multidrug Resistance-Associated Proteins; Neoplasm Proteins; NF-E2-Related Factor 2; Signal Transduction

Aconitum alkaloid poisoning is a type of poisoning caused by accidental ingestion and clinical use of herbal drugs in many countries. In this study, we developed an in-syringe dispersive micro solid-phase extraction (DMSPE) method for selective extraction of aconitine, benzoylaconine and aconine from human urine using a type of polymer material. All of the parameters influencing the extraction efficiency such as the type and amount of sorbent, the extraction time and the desorption solvent and volume in DMSPE were carefully investigated and optimized. Using DMSPE method, the absence of evaporation and centrifugation steps reduced the consuming time of sample preparation. Samples were analyzed by ultra high-performance liquid chromatography-high-resolution mass spectrometry on an HSS T3 analytical column. The results showed that the DMSPE method yielded fewer relative and absolute matrix effects, which reduced the sample to sample variability in human urine. The limits of detection and limits of quantitation of this method were determined to be 0.08-0.1 and 0.2-0.3 μg/L, respectively. The average recoveries of the analytes were between 88.6% and 107.2% with the intra- and interday precisions ranging from 2.1% to 6.4% and from 5.9% to 13.9%, respectively. The method presented here is an efficient, low-cost and selective extraction of aconitine, benzoylaconine and aconine from human urine.

Topics: Aconitine; Aconitum; Alkaloids; Humans; Solid Phase Microextraction

Aconitine (AC), benzoylaconine (BAC), and aconine (ACN) are three representative alkaloids in Aconitum tubers. Knowing that the drug disposal process in vivo is closely related to the toxicity and efficacy of a drug, it is important to classify the disposal properties of these alkaloids. In this study, the pharmacokinetics of the three alkaloids was investigated. The results showed that the three alkaloids could be quickly absorbed, especially BAC, whose Tmax was 0.31 ± 0.17 h. Their Cmax was 10.99, 3.99, and 4.29 ng·mL(-1) respectively, indicating that AC had better absorption than BAC and ACN. Subsequently, we further investigated their absorption mechanism using the Caco-2 cell monolayer model in vitro. The results showed that they were poorly absorbed, and the absorption of AC and BAC was inhibited by P-gp, while the absorption of ACN was in a form of passive diffusion. The t1/2 of AC, BAC and ACN was 1.41, 9.49, and 3.32 h, respectively, indicating that the metabolic or excretion rate of AC was quicker than that of BAC and ACN. Therefore, their metabolic stability was further investigated by using rat liver microsomes in vitro, which showed that AC was easier to be metabolized than BAC and ACN. The excretion experiments showed that AC and ACN were primarily excreted in urine, while BAC was excreted in faeces. In addition, the results of tissue distribution experiments showed that the three alkaloids distributed throughout all the organs, although the distribution rate of AC was slower than that of BAC and ACN. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Topics: Aconitine; Aconitum; Adjuvants, Immunologic; Administration, Oral; Animals; Caco-2 Cells; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; Humans; Male; Microsomes, Liver; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Tandem Mass Spectrometry; Voltage-Gated Sodium Channel Agonists

The Aconitum species, which mainly contain bioactive Aconitum alkaloids, are frequently administered concomitantly with other herbal medicines or chemical drugs in clinics. The potential risk of drug-drug interactions (DDIs) arising from co-administration of Aconitum alkaloids and other drugs against specific targets such as P-glycoprotein (P-gp) must be evaluated. This study focused on the effects of three representative Aconitum alkaloids: aconitine (AC), benzoylaconine (BAC), and aconine, on the expression and activity of P-gp. We observed that Aconitum alkaloids increased P-gp expression in LS174T and Caco-2 cells in the order AC > BAC > aconine. Nuclear receptors were involved in the induction of P-gp. AC and BAC increased the P-gp transport activity. Strikingly, intracellular ATP levels and mitochondrial mass also increased. Furthermore, exposure to AC decreased the toxicity of vincristine and doxorubicin towards the cells. In vivo, AC significantly up-regulated the P-gp protein levels in the jejunum, ileum, and colon of FVB mice, and protected them against acute AC toxicity. Taken together, the findings of our in vitro and in vivo experiments indicate that AC can induce P-gp expression, and that co-administration of AC with P-gp substrate drugs may cause DDIs. Our findings have important implications for Aconitum therapy in clinics.

Topics: Aconitine; Alkaloids; Animals; ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Member 1; Cell Line; Colon; Drug Interactions; Humans; Ileum; Jejunum; Mice; Transcriptional Activation

To find out hydrolysis regularity of aconitine.. Aconitine was air-tighted and hydrolyzed in water for 8, 12, 16, 20, 24 h. The hydrolysis products were analyzed by HPLC-MS. A major hydrolysis product was isolated by alumina oxide column chromatography, and identified by 1H and 13C-NMR spectra.. HPLC-MS analysis shows that the major hydrolysis products are benzoylaconine and aconine. The hydrolysis can mostly be completed within 20 hours.. Diester aconitum alkaloid can be changed to monoester aconitum and aconine alkaloids. Under the controled condition benzoylaconine is a major hydrolysis products.

Topics: Aconitine; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; Hydrolysis; Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization; Water

Aconitum alkaloids are well known for their acute and high toxicity, for example, in the causation of severe arrhythmias leading to death. Aconitine, one of the major Aconitum alkaloids, is a highly toxic compound from the Aconitum species. However, there has been no studies reported on the influence of the chronic administration of aconitine. Thus, this study was conducted to investigate the influence of chronic administration of aconitine in experimental animal models. A dose of 1mg/kg per day was administered to the experimental animal models. We determined the concentration of aconitine and its metabolites (benzoylaconine and aconine) in organs and blood with gas chromatography/selected ion monitoring (GC/SIM). In addition, we concurrently recorded the electrocardiogram (ECG). Fifteen minutes after administration on day 0, the early aconitine administered group (acute group) revealed peak organ and blood concentration levels of aconitine with a gradual decrease, thereafter. The concentration of aconitine in organs and blood (from days 0 to 22; 90 min after the last administration of aconitine) gradually decreased according to repeated administration, whereas benzoylaconine and aconine increased. ECG revealed various types of arrhythmias. However, the frequency of arrhythmias remarkably decreased with time and repeated administration of aconitine. These results indicate two possibilities. First, the increase in the activity of aconitine metabolism. Secondly, the decrease of effectiveness to the heart due to long-term (chronic) administration of aconitine.

Topics: Aconitine; Alkaloids; Animals; Arrhythmias, Cardiac; Drug Administration Schedule; Electrocardiography; Gagging; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; Male; Mice; Mice, Inbred ICR; Models, Animal; Plant Extracts; Tissue Distribution

To identify the main metabolites of aconitine in the urine of rabbits.. After oral administration of aconitine (5 mg.kg-1), the urine of male rabbits was collected and extracted by solid phase extraction and analyzed by liquid chromatography-ion trap mass spectrometry.. Aconitine and 4 metabolites were found in the rabbit urine. Their protonated molecular ions at m/z 632, m/z 604, m/z 590, m/z 500 and multistage fragment ions with neutral loss of 60 u, 32 u, 28 u and 18 u were monitored. Their relative concentration were M1 > Aconitine > M4 > M2 > M3.. The metabolites M1-M4 were deduced as 16-O-demethylaconitine, benzoylaconine, 16-O-demethylbenzoylaconine and aconine, respectively.

Topics: Aconitine; Alkaloids; Animals; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; Male; Rabbits; Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization

Topics: Aconitine; Aconitum; Alkaloids; Hot Temperature; Hydrolysis; Medicine, Chinese Traditional; Medicine, East Asian Traditional; Plants, Medicinal