phenanthrenes and Myocardial-Ischemia

Cinnamoyl, p-coumaroyl, feruloyl, caffeoyl aloesin, and related compounds were isolated from Aloe species. The antiinflammatory and antioxidative activities of these compounds were examined based on the structure-activity relationship. It was suggested that the bioactivities may link to acyl ester groups in aloesin, together with those of aloesin-related compounds. However, investigations using the contact hypersensitivity response indicated a preventive effect of aloesin on the UV-B-induced immune suppression. Furthermore, aloesin inhibited tyrosine hydroxylase and dihydroxyphenylalanine (DOPA) oxidase activities of tyrosinase from normal human melanocyte cell lysates. These results show that aloesin prevents not only UV-B-induced immune suppression, but also could be a positive pigment-altering agent for cosmetic application. In preclinical study, aloe extract was investigated using phagocytosis and nitroblue tetrazolium chloride (NBT) reduction in adult bronchial asthma, and high molecular-weight materials, such as polysaccharide and glycoprotein fractions, were identified as active ingredients. The neutral polysaccharides, aloemannan and acemannan showed antitumor, antiinflammatory and immunosuppressive activities, and glycoprotein fractions with bradykinindegrading and cell proliferation-stimulating activities were identified from the nondialysate fraction of the gel part of Aloe species. Verectin fractionated from Aloe vera gel was examined biochemically and immunochemically, and verectin antibody was used in the appraisal of commercial Aloe vera gel products. It was reported that aloesin stimulates the proliferation of cultured human hepatoma SK-Hep 1 cells. Thus aloesin, related compounds, and high molecular-weight materials, such as aloemannan and verectin, may act in concert to exert therapeutic properties for wounds, burns and inflammation. The biodisposition of fluoresceinylisothiocyanate (FITC)--labeled aloemannan (FITC-AM) with the homogenate from some organs in mice was demonstrated, and FITC-AM was metabolized to a smaller molecule (MW 3000) by the large intestinal microflora in feces. The modified aloe polysaccharide (MW: 80000) with cellulase under restricted conditions, immunologically stimulated the recovery of UV-B-induced tissue in jury. Thus the modified polysaccharides of aloemannan, together with acemannan (MW: about 600000), are expected to participate in biological activity following oral administration. The effects of tanshinon

Topics: Aloe; Animals; Anti-Inflammatory Agents; Chromones; Energy Metabolism; Free Radical Scavengers; Glucosides; Humans; Mannans; Myocardial Ischemia; Myocardial Reperfusion Injury; Phenanthrenes; Salvia miltiorrhiza; Ventricular Remodeling

Guanxin Shutong capsule is a traditional Chinese medicine for the treatment of myocardial ischemia (MI). Previous studies have shown that the formula has four main active ingredients (FMAI), protocatechuic acid, cryptotanshinone, borneol, and eugenol. However, the mechanisms of action of these FMAI against MI injury are still not well known. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the protective effects of the FMAI on MI in vitro and in vivo. In vitro, rat neonatal cardiomyocytes were isolated, the cell viability and apoptosis rate were, respectively, measured by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) method and fluorescence activating cell sorter, and the intracellular calcium concentration ([Ca

Topics: Animals; Animals, Newborn; Antioxidants; Calcium; Calcium Signaling; Camphanes; Capsules; Cardiotonic Agents; Cells, Cultured; Drugs, Chinese Herbal; Eugenol; Hydroxybenzoates; Male; Myocardial Ischemia; Myocardial Reperfusion Injury; Myocytes, Cardiac; Phenanthrenes; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

The activation of NOD-like receptor (NLR) family, pyrin-domain containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome has now been proven to have a close connection with myocardial ischemia (MI) during acute phase, but the mechanisms are not completely clear. This study investigated the role of NLRP3 inflammasome in pathogenesis of MI injury including inflammation and lipid accumulation, as well as the effects of sodium tanshinone IIA sulfonate (STS) and diltiazem hydrochloride (DI).. Occlusion of left anterior descending (LAD) in canines was employed to induce MI. STS and DI were given intravenously 15 min after LAD occlusion. Cardiac function, inflammation and lipid levels, as well as related signaling pathways were determined.. MI induced in Beagle dog was characterized by elevated ST-segment and increased CK-MB level in serum. Cardiac NLRP3 inflammasome was activated with elevated myocardial IL-1β and IL-18 concentrations mediated by ROS over-production and TXNIP over-expression in MI dogs. Additionally, pro-inflammatory cytokines induced impairment of cardiac JAK2-STAT3 inflammatory pathway and insulin signaling pathway in this model, resulting in down-regulation of cardiac PPAR-α expression, subsequently causing lipid metabolism disorders characterized by elevation of myocardial lipid concentrations. These abnormalities were attenuated by the treatment of STS and DI.. These data firstly demonstrated that cardiac NLRP3 inflammasome activation driven by cardiac ROS over-production and TXNIP up-expression resulted in impairment of the JAK2-STAT3 and insulin signaling pathways, leading to disorder of lipid metabolism in myocardial ischemic dogs through PPAR-α over-expression. STS and DI might target cardiac NLRP3 inflammasome in preventing MI injury.

Topics: Animals; Biomarkers; Carrier Proteins; Coronary Occlusion; Coronary Vessels; Creatine Kinase, MB Form; Disease Models, Animal; Dogs; Drugs, Chinese Herbal; Electrocardiography; Inflammasomes; Janus Kinase 2; Lipid Metabolism; Male; Myocardial Ischemia; Phenanthrenes; PPAR alpha; Reactive Oxygen Species; Signal Transduction; STAT3 Transcription Factor

Diabetes Mellitus (DM) is widely acknowledged to increase the risk of cardiovascular death, which warrants the use of aggressive primary prevention strategies. The aim of the present study was to investigate the pretreatment effects of tanshinone IIA (TSN), a traditional Chinese medicine, on myocardial infarct size, apoptosis, inflammation and cardiac functional recovery in diabetic rats subjected to myocardial ischaemia/reperfusion (I/R).. Streptozocin (STZ) induced diabetic rats (n = 80) were randomized to receive TSN, TSN plus wortmannin [a phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) inhibitor] or saline. They were exposed to a 30-min ischaemia by ligation of the left coronary artery except for the sham group. Haemodynamics, infarct size and myocardial apoptosis were examined 3 h after reperfusion. The effects of TSN on Akt and NF-kappaB phosphorylation and the expression of tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in cardiac tissues were examined.. Our results revealed that TSN administration significantly reduced myocardial infarct size (0.252 +/- 0.038 vs. 0.327 +/- 0.027, p < 0.05), improved left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) (0.774 +/- 0.058 vs. 0.716 +/- 0.054, p < 0.05), decreased myocardial apoptotic death (0.114 +/- 0.026 vs. 0.191 +/- 0.023, p < 0.05) compared with I/R group. Western blot analysis showed that TSN treatment enhanced Akt phosphorylation and inhibited NF-kappaB phosphorylation in cardiac tissues. Moreover, pretreatment with wortmannin abolished the beneficial effects of TSN: a reduction of infarct size, a decrease in LVEF, inhibition of myocardial apoptosis and Akt phosphorylation, enhancement of NF-kappaB phosphorylation and an increase of cytokine production including TNF-alpha and IL-6 after I/R injury in diabetic rats.. This study indicates that TSN pretreatment reduces infarct size and improves cardiac dysfunction after I/R injury in diabetic rats. This was accompanied with decreased cardiac apoptosis and inflammation. The possible mechanism responsible for the effects of TSN is associated with the PI3K/Akt-dependent pathway.

Topics: Abietanes; Androstadienes; Animals; Anticoagulants; Apoptosis; Blotting, Western; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental; Male; Myocardial Infarction; Myocardial Ischemia; Myocardial Reperfusion Injury; Myocytes, Cardiac; Phenanthrenes; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinase; Phosphorylation; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt; Random Allocation; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Signal Transduction; Wortmannin

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the protective effect of cryptotanshinone (CTS), one of active ingredients of Salvia miltiorrhiza root, on myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury in rat due to inhibition of some inflammatory events that occur by NF-kappaB-activation during ischemia and reperfusion. Myocardial ischemia and reperfusion injury was induced by occluding the left anterior descending coronary artery for 30 min followed by either 2 h (biochemical analysis) or 24 h (myocardial function and infarct size measurement) reperfusion. CTS injected (i.v.) 10 min before ischemia and reperfusion insult. CTS significantly reduced the infarct size and improved ischemia and reperfusion-induced myocardial contractile dysfunction. Furthermore, CTS inhibited NF-kappaB translocation, expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-alpha, IL-1beta, IL-6), neutrophil infiltration and MPO activity in ischemic myocardial tissues. CTS also significantly reduced plasma levels of TNF-alpha, IL-1beta due to ischemia and reperfusion. Interestingly, H(2)O(2)-stimulated NF-kappaB-luciferase activity and TNF-alpha-induced expression of vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) and intracellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) expressions in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) were significantly inhibited by CTS. Taken together, it is concluded that CTS may attenuate ischemia and reperfusion-induced microcirculatory disturbances by inhibition of proinflammatory cytokine production, reduction of neutrophil infiltration and possibly inhibition of adhesion molecules through inhibition of NF-kappaB-activation during ischemia and reperfusion.

Topics: Animals; Cell Adhesion Molecules; Cell Line; Endothelial Cells; Gene Expression Regulation; Hemodynamics; Humans; Hydrogen Peroxide; Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions; Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1; Male; Myocardial Infarction; Myocardial Ischemia; Myocardial Reperfusion Injury; Neutrophils; NF-kappa B; Phenanthrenes; Plant Roots; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Salvia miltiorrhiza; Signal Transduction; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; Umbilical Cord; Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1

Tanshinone IIA (TSIIA) is a major active triterpenoid isolated from Salvia miltiorrhiza. The purposes of this study were to investigate various preclinical factors that determined the pharmacokinetics of TSIIA. After oral dosing at 6.7, 20, and 60 mg kg(-1), TSIIA was detected mainly as glucuronidated conjugate (TSIIAG) with only small amounts of the unchanged in the plasma. TSIIA was predominantly excreted into the bile and faeces as TSIIAG, and urine to a minor extent. The C(max) and AUC(0-)(t) of TSIIAG after i.p. administration were significantly lower than those after intragastric administration. The plasma concentration-time profiles of TSIIA following oral dosing of TSIIA showed multiple peaks. The C(max) and AUC(0-)(t) of TSIIA and its glucuronides in rats with intact bile duct were significantly lower than those of rats with bile duct cannulation. Studies from the linked-rat model and intraduodenal injection of bile containing TSIIA and its metabolites indicate that TSIIA glucuronides underwent hydrolysis and the aglycone was reabsorbed from the gut and excreted into the bile as conjugates. TSIIA had a wide tissue distribution, with a very high accumulation in the lung, but very limited penetration into the brain and testes. TSIIA was metabolized by rat CYP2C, 3A and 2D, as ticlopidine, ketoconazole and quinidine all inhibited TSIIA metabolism in rat liver microsomes. Taken collectively, these findings indicate that multiple factors play important roles in determining the pharmacokinetics of TSIIA.

Topics: Abietanes; Animals; Caco-2 Cells; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Humans; Male; Mass Spectrometry; Microsomes, Liver; Models, Animal; Myocardial Ischemia; Phenanthrenes; Plant Roots; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Salvia miltiorrhiza; Time Factors

Sodium tanshinone IIA sulfonate (STS) is a water-soluble derivative of tanshinone IIA, a well-known Chinese medicine for treating cardiovascular disorders. Cardiomyocyte apoptosis plays a major role in the development of cardiovascular diseases. The present study was designed to investigate the effects of STS on cardiomyocyte apoptosis induced by in vivo acute myocardial infarction (MI) in adult rats and by in vitro H2O2-treated neonatal rat ventricular myocytes. In MI rats, STS significantly reduced the infarct sizes, the blood lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) level, and the number of apoptotic cardiomyocytes in the infarcted hearts. In the in vitro study, STS reversed the decreased effect of cell viability induced by H2O2. In addition, STS also markedly inhibited H2O2-induced cardiomyocyte apoptosis. C-Jun N-terminal kinases/stress-activated protein kinases (JNKs/SAPKs) and p38 MAPK are classic oxidative stress-activated protein kinases. Our further mechanistic study revealed that increased JNK phosphorylation stimulated by H2O2 was abolished by STS treatment. In conclusion, inhibition of JNK activation plays a significant role in cardioprotective effects of STS.

Topics: Animals; Animals, Newborn; Apoptosis; Cardiotonic Agents; Cell Survival; Cells, Cultured; Drugs, Chinese Herbal; Enzyme Activation; Heart Ventricles; Hydrogen Peroxide; JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; Male; Myocardial Infarction; Myocardial Ischemia; Myocytes, Cardiac; Oxidative Stress; p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; Phenanthrenes; Phosphorylation; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Using low temperature electron spin resonance (ESR) technique, we found that Salvia miltiorrhiza injection could scavenge the oxygen free radicals generated from ischemia-reperfusion injury in the myocardium as effectively as SOD. Using ESR spin trapping technique we found that one of its effective components, Danshensu, could scavenge superoxide anion free radicals generated from the reaction system of xanthine and xanthine oxidase, and that lipid free radicals generated from lipid peroxidation of myocardial mitochondrial membranes could be scavenged by another effective component, Tanshinone. The membrane fluidity of the mitochondria isolated from the ischemia-reperfused hearts was studied with the ESR spin labelling technique, and the TBA-method was used to detect the lipid peroxidation. It was found that Danshensu could protect the mitochondrial membrane from the ischemia-reperfusion injury and lipid peroxidation.

Topics: Abietanes; Animals; Antioxidants; Drugs, Chinese Herbal; Electron Spin Resonance Spectroscopy; Free Radical Scavengers; Intracellular Membranes; Lactates; Lipid Metabolism; Lipid Peroxidation; Mitochondria, Heart; Myocardial Ischemia; Myocardial Reperfusion Injury; Phenanthrenes; Plant Extracts; Rabbits; Salvia miltiorrhiza; Spin Trapping; Superoxides; Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances