Fangchinoline

The vines of Cocculus orbiculatus (L.) DC.

Fangchinoline inhibits human immunodeficiency virus type 1 replication by interfering with gp160 proteolytic processing.[Pubmed:22720080]

PLoS One. 2012;7(6):e39225.

The introduction of highly active antiretroviral therapy has led to a significant reduction in the morbidity and mortality of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome patients. However, the emergence of drug resistance has resulted in the failure of treatments in large numbers of patients and thus necessitates the development of new classes of anti-HIV drugs. In this study, more than 200 plant-derived small-molecule compounds were evaluated in a cell-based HIV-1 antiviral screen, resulting in the identification of a novel HIV-1 inhibitor (Fangchinoline). Fangchinoline, a bisbenzylisoquinoline alkaloid isolated from Radix Stephaniae tetrandrae, exhibited antiviral activity against HIV-1 laboratory strains NL4-3, LAI and BaL in MT-4 and PM1 cells with a 50% effective concentration ranging from 0.8 to 1.7 microM. Mechanism-of-action studies showed that Fangchinoline did not exhibit measurable antiviral activity in TZM-b1 cells but did inhibit the production of infectious virions in HIV-1 cDNA transfected 293T cells, which suggests that the compound targets a late event in infection cycle. Furthermore, the antiviral effect of Fangchinoline seems to be HIV-1 envelope-dependent, as the production of infectious HIV-1 particles packaged with a heterologous envelope, the vesicular stomatitis virus G glycoprotein, was unaffected by Fangchinoline. Western blot analysis of HIV envelope proteins expressed in transfected 293T cells and in isolated virions showed that Fangchinoline inhibited HIV-1 gp160 processing, resulting in reduced envelope glycoprotein incorporation into nascent virions. Collectively, our results demonstrate that Fangchinoline inhibits HIV-1 replication by interfering with gp160 proteolytic processing. Fangchinoline may serve as a starting point for developing a new HIV-1 therapeutic approach.

Fangchinoline inhibits cell proliferation via Akt/GSK-3beta/ cyclin D1 signaling and induces apoptosis in MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells.[Pubmed:24568493]

Asian Pac J Cancer Prev. 2014;15(2):769-73.

Fangchinoline (Fan) inhibits cell proliferation and induces apoptosis in several cancer cell lines. The effects of Fan on cell growth and proliferation in breast cancer cells remain to be elucidated. Here, we show that Fan inhibited cell proliferation in the MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cell line through suppression of the AKT/Gsk- 3beta/cyclin D1 signaling pathway. Furthermore, Fan induced apoptosis by increasing the expression of Bax (relative to Bcl-2), active caspase 3 and cytochrome-c. Fan significantly inhibited cell proliferation of MDA- MB-231 cells in a concentration and time dependent manner as determined by MTT assay. Flow cytometry analysis demonstrated that Fan treatment of MDA-MB-231 cells resulted in cell cycle arrest at the G1 phase, which correlated with apparent downregulation of both mRNA and protein levels of both PCNA and cyclin D1. Further analysis demonstrated that Fan decreased the phosphorylation of AKT and GSK-3beta. In addition, Fan up-regulated active caspase3, cytochrome-c protein levels and the ratio of Bax/Bcl-2, accompanied by apoptosis. Taken together, these results suggest that Fan is a potential natural product for the treatment of breast cancer.

Protective effects of fangchinoline and tetrandrine on hydrogen peroxide-induced oxidative neuronal cell damage in cultured rat cerebellar granule cells.[Pubmed:12865967]

Planta Med. 2003 Jun;69(6):506-12.

The present study was performed to examine the neuroprotective effects of Fangchinoline (FAN) and tetrandrine (TET), bis-benzylisoquinoline alkaloids, which exhibit the characteristics of Ca 2+ channel blockers, on H2O2 -induced neurotoxicity using cultured rat cerebellar granule neurons. H2O2 produced a concentration-dependent reduction of cell viability, which was blocked by (5 R,10 S)-(+)-5-methyl-10,11-dihydro-5 H-dibenzo[ a,d]cyclohepten-5,10-imine (MK-801), an N-methyl- D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist, verapamil, an L-type Ca 2+ channel blocker, and NG-nitro- L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME), a nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibitor. Pretreatment with FAN and TET over a concentration range of 0.1 to 10 microM significantly decreased the H2O2 -induced neuronal cell death as assessed by a trypan blue exclusion test, a 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyl-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay and the number of apoptotic nuclei. In addition, FAN and TET inhibited the H2O2 -induced elevation of glutamate release into the medium, elevation of the cytosolic free Ca 2+ concentration ([Ca 2+] c ), and generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). These results suggest that FAN and TET may mitigate the harmful effects of H2O2 -induced neuronal cell death by interfering with the increase of [Ca 2+] c, and then by inhibiting glutamate release and generation of ROS. Abbreviations. AP5:D(-)-2-amino-5-phosphonopentanoic acid DMSO:dimethyl sulfoxide FAN:Fangchinoline H 2 DCF-DA:2',7'-dichlorodihydrofluorescin diacetate MK-801:(5 R,10 S)-(+)-5-methyl-10,11-dihydro-5 H-dibenzo[ a,d]cyclohepten-5,20-imine MTT:3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyl-tetrazolium bromide L-NAME: NG-Nitro- L-arginine methyl ester NMDA: N-methyl- D-aspartate TET:tetrandrine

Vasodilating and hypotensive effects of fangchinoline and tetrandrine on the rat aorta and the stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rat.[Pubmed:9406900]

J Ethnopharmacol. 1997 Oct;58(2):117-23.

Comparative studies of the effects of tetrandrine (TET) and Fangchinoline (FAN), two major components of the Radix of Stephannia tetrandrae, on vasodilations and on calcium movement in vascular smooth muscle, and studies of hypotensive effects on stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRSP) were performed in the following experiments. TET and FAN inhibited high K+ (65.4 mM) and induced sustained contraction in the rat aorta smooth muscle strips. IC50 values for TET and FAN were 0.27 +/- 0.05 microM (n = 6) and 9.53 +/- 1.57 microM (n = 6), respectively, and this inhibition was antagonized by increasing the Ca2+ concentration in the medium. The IC50 of TET for norepinephrine (NE)-induced contraction (0.86 +/- 0.04 g) was 3.08 +/- 0.05 microM (n = 4), and the IC50 of FAN for NE-induced contraction (0.88 +/- 0.07 g) was 14.20 +/- 0.40 microM (n = 4). At the molecular level, radiolabelled 45Ca2+ uptake tests revealed that TET and FAN also inhibited high K+ (65.4 mM) and 1 microM NE-stimulated Ca2+ influx in rat aorta strips at the maximal concentration was needed to inhibit the contraction. TET (3 mg/kg) and FAN (30 mg/kg) administered by intravenous (i.v.) bolus injection also lowered the mean arterial pressure (MAP) significantly during the period of observation in conscious SHRSP, respectively. These results showed that TET was more potent than FAN in blocking calcium channels and antihypertensive activity.

Fangchinoline as a kinase inhibitor targets FAK and suppresses FAK-mediated signaling pathway in A549.[Pubmed:25539072]

J Drug Target. 2015 Apr;23(3):266-74.

BACKGROUND: Fangchinoline as a novel anti-tumor agent has been paid attention in several types of cancers cells except lung cancer. Here we have investigated the effect of Fangchinoline on A549 cells and its underlying mechanism. PURPOSE: The purpose of this work was to study the effect of Fangchinoline on A549 cells. METHODS: Four lung cancer cell lines (A549, NCI-H292, NCI-H446, and NCI-H460) were exposed to varying concentrations (10-40 mumol/l) of Fangchinoline to observe the effect of Fangchinoline on the four lung cancer cell lines and to observe the changes of the lung cancer cell on proliferation, apoptosis, and invasion. RESULTS: Fangchinoline effectively suppressed proliferation and invasion of A549 cell line but not NCI-H292, NCI-H446, and NCI-H460 cell lines by inhibiting the phosphorylation of FAK (Tyr397) and its downstream pathways, due to the significant differences of Fak expression between A549 and the other three cell lines. And all FAK-paxillin/MMP2/MMP9 pathway, FAK-Akt pathway, and FAK-MEK-ERK1/2 pathway could be inhibited by Fangchinoline. DISCUSSION: Fangchinoline effectively suppressed proliferation and invasion of A549 cell line by inhibiting the phosphorylation of FAK (Tyr397) and its downstream pathways. CONCLUSION: Fangchinoline could inhibit the phosphorylation of FAK(p-Tyr397), at least partially. Fangchinoline as a kinase inhibitor targets FAK and suppresses FAK-mediated signaling pathway and inhibits the growth and the invasion in tumor cells which highly expressed FAK such as A549 cell line.

Fangchinoline inhibits rat aortic vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation and cell cycle progression through inhibition of ERK1/2 activation and c-fos expression.[Pubmed:14563495]

Biochem Pharmacol. 2003 Nov 1;66(9):1853-60.

Fangchinoline (FAN; a plant alkaloid isolated from Stephania tetrandrae) is a nonspecific Ca(2+) channel blocker. The objective of the present study was to investigate the effect of FAN on the growth factor-induced proliferation of primary cultured rat aortic smooth muscle cells (RASMCs). FAN significantly inhibited both 5% fetal bovine serum (FBS)- and 50ng/mL platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-BB-induced proliferation, [3H]thymidine incorporation into DNA and phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2. In accordance with these findings, FAN revealed blocking of the FBS-inducible progression through G(0)/G(1) to S phase of the cell cycle in synchronized cells and caused a 62% decrease in the early elevation of c-fos expression induced after 5% FBS addition. Furthermore, significant antiproliferative activity of FAN is observed at concentrations below those required to achieve significant inhibition of Ca(2+) channels by FAN. These results suggest that FAN reduced both FBS- and PDGF-BB-induced RASMCs proliferation by perturbing cell cycle progression. This antiproliferative effect of FAN is dependent on the MAP kinase pathway, but cannot be limited to its Ca(2+) modulation.

Anti-inflammatory effects of fangchinoline and tetrandrine.[Pubmed:10687873]

J Ethnopharmacol. 2000 Feb;69(2):173-9.

Fangchinoline and tetrandrine are the major alkaloids from Stephania tetrandrae S. Moore which has been used traditionally for the treatment of inflammatory diseases in oriental countries including Korea. Both Fangchinoline and tetrandrine showed anti-inflammatory effects on mouse ear edema induced by croton oil. In addition, the effects of Fangchinoline and tetrandrine on cyclooxygenase, murine interleukin-5 (mIL-5) and human interleukin-6 (hIL-6) were examined in vitro to investigate the anti-inflammatory action mechanisms. One hundred micromolar of Fangchinoline showed 35% of inhibition on cyclooxygenase, but the same concentration of tetrandrine did not show any inhibition. On the other hand, 12.5 microM of tetrandrine exhibited 95% of inhibition on mIL-5 activity, while Fangchinoline did not show any effects. However, 4 microM of Fangchinoline and 6 microM of tetrandrine showed 63 and 86% of inhibitions on hIL-6 activity, respectively. These results suggest that biochemical mechanisms of Fangchinoline and tetrandrine on anti-inflammation are significantly different even though they are similar in chemical structure.

Fangchinoline induces G1 arrest in breast cancer cells through cell-cycle regulation.[Pubmed:23401195]

Phytother Res. 2013 Dec;27(12):1790-4.

Fangchinoline, an alkaloid derived from the dry roots of Stephaniae tetrandrine S. Moore (Menispermaceae), has been shown to possess cytotoxic, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties. In this study, we used Fangchinoline to inhibit breast cancer cell proliferation and to investigate its underlying molecular mechanisms. Human breast cancer cell lines, MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231, were both used in this study. We found that Fangchinoline significantly decreased cell proliferation in a dose-dependent manner and induced G1-phase arrest in both cell lines. In addition, upon analysis of expression of cell cycle-related proteins, we found that Fangchinoline reduced expression of cyclin D1, cyclin D3, and cyclin E, and increased expression of the cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) inhibitors, p21/WAF1, and p27/KIP1. Moreover, Fangchinoline also inhibited the kinase activities of CDK2, CDK4, and CDK6. These results suggest that Fangchinoline can inhibit human breast cancer cell proliferation and thus may have potential applications in cancer therapy.

Fangchinoline is isolated from Stephania tetrandra with extensive biological activities, such as enhancing immunity, anti-inflammatory sterilization and anti-atherosclerosis. Fangchinoline, a novel HIV-1 inhibitor, inhibits HIV-1 replication by impairing gp160 proteolytic processing. Fangchinoline targets Focal adhesion kinase (FAK) and suppresses FAK-mediated signaling pathway in tumor cells which highly expressed FAK. Fangchinoline induces apoptosis and adaptive autophagy in bladder cancer.

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