Picfeltarraenin IA

Picfeltarraenin IA inhibits lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammatory cytokine production by the nuclear factor-κB pathway in human pulmonary epithelial A549 cells.[Pubmed: 26893718 ]

Oncol Lett. 2016 Feb;11(2):1195-1200.

The present study aimed to investigate the effect of Picfeltarraenin IA (IA) on respiratory inflammation by analyzing its effect on interleukin (IL)-8 and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) production. The expression of cyclooxygenase 2 (COX2) in human pulmonary adenocarcinoma epithelial A549 cells in culture was also examined.
METHODS AND RESULTS:
Human pulmonary epithelial A549 cells and the human monocytic leukemia THP-1 cell line were used in the current study. Cell viability was measured using a methylthiazol tetrazolium assay. The production of IL-8 and PGE2 was investigated using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The expression of COX2 and nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB)-p65 was examined using western blot analysis. Treatment with lipopolysaccharide (LPS; 10 μg/ml) resulted in the increased production of IL-8 and PGE2, and the increased expression of COX2 in the A549 cells. Furthermore, IA (0.1-10 μmol/l) significantly inhibited PGE2 production and COX2 expression in cells with LPS-induced IL-8, in a concentration-dependent manner. The results suggested that IA downregulates LPS-induced COX2 expression, and inhibits IL-8 and PGE2 production in pulmonary epithelial cells. Additionally, IA was observed to suppress the expression of COX2 in THP-1 cells, and also to regulate the expression of COX2 via the NF-κB pathway in the A549 cells, but not in the THP-1 cells.
CONCLUSIONS:
These results indicate that IA regulates LPS-induced cytokine release in A549 cells via the NF-κB pathway.

In Silico Analysis of Picfeltarraenin IA and IB as Potential PI3K and EGFR Inhibitor.[Reference: WebLink]

Der PharmaChemica, 2016, 8(19):666-670.

Picfeltarraenin IA and IB are the steroid glycoside from Picria fel-terrae Lour., Have been traditionally used in medication. Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) plays a critical role in the initiation and progression of a variety of human cancers, including breast cancer. An important signaling pathway downstream of EGFR is the PI3K/AKt pathway, which regulates cellular processes as diverse as cell growth, survival, proliferation and migration. In silico docking using PLANTS program and visualized by Yasara program.
METHODS AND RESULTS:
The model of three dimension enzyme structures used in this research were EGFR and Phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K), binding pocket with the Protein Data Bank (PDB) code 1M17 and 3DBS . Two and three dimension of Picfeltarraenin IA, IB and ZSTK474 as the standard were generated using Marvin Sketch program.
CONCLUSIONS:
Both compounds and ZSTK474 inhibited EGFR and PI3K with docking score -101.7930; -104.6410, -91.7920 and -90.6176 -87.7705; -94.7491 respectively.

Pharmacogn Mag. 2013 Oct;9(Suppl 1):S25-31.

Bioassay- and liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry-guided acetylcholinesterase inhibitors from Picriafel-terrae.[Pubmed: 24143041]

Picria fel-terrae is a traditional Chinese medicine.
METHODS AND RESULTS:
: A new approach to the search for acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitors from Picria fel-terrae is presented. RESULTS: Bioassay- and LC-MS-guided fractionation of the ethyl acetate extract was from traditional Chinese medicine P.fel-terrae. Following primary extraction, the ethyl acetate extracts fraction of P.fel-terrae showed strong AChE inhibitory activities. So the sample was separated using highperformance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The effluent was split towards two identical 96-well fraction collectors, and the presence of the biologically interesting portion and chromatographic fractions could be readily detected by analyzing selected ion chromatograms through an electrophoresis-electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESIMS) system for accurate mass measurement. One 96-well plate was used for a bioassay (AChE-inhibitory assay) and detected the bioactivity and position of the relevant peak in the chromatogram. The positive well in the second 96-well plate was used for identification by LC-(+) ESIMS.
CONCLUSIONS:
As abovementioned, the AChE inhibitory constituents from P.fel-terrae by LC-bioassay-ESIMS were rapid identified. Liquid chromatography/ mass spectrometry (LC-MS) screening detected the presence of six active compounds, identified as Picfeltarraenin IA (1), picfeltarraenin IB (2), picfeltarraenin IV (3), picfeltarraenin X (4), picfeltarraenin XI (5), and one unknown compound. The structures were further determined by 13C NMR. The six compounds expressed stronger AChE inhibition than the known AChE inhibitorTacrine. Above all, the value of this LC-bioassay-ESIMS methodology is highlighted by the finding and structure elucidation of the active constituents from many other structural families of natural products.