Boschniakia Rossica Polysaccharide Triggers Laryngeal Carcinoma Cell Apoptosis by Regulating Expression of Bcl-2, Caspase-3, and P53.[Pubmed: 28455995]

BACKGROUND Laryngeal cancer is a malignant head and neck tumor with high morbidity and high mortality in humans. Recently, treatments with Chinese medicines and their extracts have gradually received great attention, and studies suggest that Boschniakia rossica polysaccharide (BRP) has potential anti-tumor activity. Therefore, this study investigating the role of BRP in inducing apoptosis in human laryngeal carcinoma cells. MATERIAL AND METHODS The BRP was extracted with organic solvent and HR column. We treated Hep2 laryngeal carcinoma cells with different concentrations of BRP, then assessed cell growth inhibition rate by flow cytometry and apoptosis index by TUNEL staining. The protein expression of p53, Bcl-2, Bax, and caspase-3 were analyzed by Western blot. RESULTS Flow cytometry results showed that BRP inhibited Hep2 cell proliferation in a dose-dependent manner (p<0.05), and TUNEL staining indicated that BRP significantly increased Hep2 apoptosis index (p<0.05). Western blot results showed that the expression levels of p53 and activation of caspase-3 in Hep2 cells were significantly up-regulated (p<0.05), while the expression of Bcl-2 was significantly down-regulated (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS BRP might induce cell apoptosis by regulating the expression level of cell apoptosis-associated proteins, suggesting strong anti-laryngeal cancer activity.

The genus Boschniakia in China: An ethnopharmacological and phytochemical review.[Pubmed: 27773803]

As a group of important medicine plants, Boschniakia rossica (Cham. et Schltdl) Fedtsch. and B. himalaica Hook．f．et Thoms, which are the only two species in the genus Boschniakia (Orobanchaceae), have long been used in traditional Chinese medicine for their multiple therapeutic uses related to enhanced renal function, erectile dysfunction, defaecate and hepatoprotective. Additionally, the two species are also used as dietary supplements in wine, cosmetics, and other healthy food.

BRP, a polysaccharide fraction isolated from Boschniakia rossica, protects against galactosamine and lipopolysaccharide induced hepatic failure in mice.[Pubmed: 24895481]

The aim of this study was to investigate the hepatoprotective effect of BRP, a polysaccharide fraction isolated from Boschniakia rossica, against galactosamine and lipopolysaccharide induced fulminant hepatic failure. Mice were injected with a single dose of galactosamine/lipopolysaccharide with or without pretreatment of BRP. Results showed marked reduction of hepatic necrosis, serum marker enzymes and levels of tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin-6 in BRP pretreated mice when compared with galactosamine/lipopolysaccharide-challenged mice. Mice pretreated with BRP decreased the activation of caspases-3 and caspase-8, and showed a reduced level of DNA fragmentation of liver cells. BRP also reduced hepatic lipid peroxidation, increased potential of hepatic antioxidative defense system, and reduced hepatic nitric oxide level which was elevated by galactosamine/lipopolysaccharide injection. Immunoblot analysis showed down-regulation of inducible nitric oxide synthase and cyclooxygenase-2 proteins of liver tissues in BRP pretreated group when compared with galactosamine/lipopolysaccharide-challenged group. Furthermore, treatment with galactosamine/lipopolysaccharide markedly increased toll-like receptor 4, nuclear level of nuclear factor-κB, and phosphorylation of both extracellular signal-regulated kinase and c-Jun N-terminal kinase in liver tissues. However, these increases were attenuated by pretreatment with BRP. The results suggest that BRP alleviates galactosamine/lipopolysaccharide-induced liver injury by enhancing antioxidative defense system, suppressing inflammatory responses and reducing apoptotic signaling.

Polysaccharide of Boschniakia rossica induces apoptosis on laryngeal carcinoma Hep2 cells.[Pubmed: 24334128]

The aim of this study was to explore the anti-tumor potential of a polysaccharide isolated from Boschniakia rossica (BRP) in Hep2 human larynx squamous carcinoma cells. High performance size-exclusion chromatography analysis showed that BRP was a homogeneous polysaccharide and had a molecular weight of 22 kDa. Total carbohydrate content in BRP was determined to be 96.9%, without the presence of protein and nucleic acid. BRP suppressed the proliferation of Hep2 cells in a time- and dose-dependent manner. Cell cycle analysis revealed that exposure to BRP (200 μg/ml) caused a G0/G1 cell cycle arrest in Hep2 cells. Moreover, treatment with BRP at 100-400 μg/ml for 24h induced a significant apoptosis Hep2 cells compared to untreated control cells, as determined by flow cytometry with annexin-V/propidium iodide double staining. Additionally, BRP treatment promoted the cleavage of pro-caspase-3, pro-caspase-8, and pro-caspase-9, coupled with increased expression of death receptor DR5 and Bax and reduced expression of Bcl-2. Taken together, our data demonstrate that BRP shows potent anti-tumor activity in human larynx squamous carcinoma, largely through induction of G0/G1 cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. Activation of both mitochondria-mediated and death receptor-mediated apoptosis pathways is involved in the cytotoxicity of BRP.

[Intervention effect of aqueous fractions from Boschniakia rossica on hepatic oxidative stress in mice with liver injury induced by carbon tetrachloride].[Pubmed: 23717971]

To investigate the intervention effect of aqueous fractions from Boschniakia rossica (BRAF) on hepatic oxidative stress in mice with liver injury induced by carbon tetrachloride (CCl4).

Hepatoprotective effect of polysaccharides from Boschniakia rossica on carbon tetrachloride-induced toxicity in mice.[Pubmed: 23704815]

The purpose of this study was to investigate the protective effect of polysaccharides from Boschniakia rossica against hepatotoxicity induced by carbon tetrachloride (CCl4). Boschniakia rossica polysaccharides was administered intragastrically once daily for 7 days. One hour after the final treatment, mice were treated intraperitoneally with 80 mg/kg of CCl4. CCl4-induced hepatotoxicity was manifested by increased levels of serum marker enzymes and hepatic lipid peroxidation, and by decreased potential of hepatic antioxidative defense system. CCl4 challenge also resulted in elevated serum tumor necrosis factor-α and hepatic nitric oxide level, and up-regulation of inducible nitric oxide synthase and cyclooxygenase-2 proteins of liver tissue. Pretreatment of mice with Boschniakia rossica polysaccharides reversed these altered parameters of mice with liver injury induced by CCl4. Furthermore, caspase-3 cleavage and activities, and DNA fragmentation of liver in mice treated with Boschniakia rossica polysaccharides were decreased than mice treated with CCl4 alone. Hepatoprotective effect of Boschniakia rossica polysaccharides was further demonstrated by histopathological examination of liver sections. The results indicate that Boschniakia rossica polysaccharides play a protective role in CCl4-induced acute liver injury and the hepatoprotective effect of Boschniakia rossica polysaccharides may be due to elevated antioxidative defense potentials, suppressed inflammatory responses and apoptosis of liver tissue.

Triglyceride accumulation inhibitory effects of phenylpropanoid glycosides from Boschniakia rossica Fedtsch et Flerov.[Pubmed: 23313269]

Bioassay-guided fractionation led to isolation of five new phenylpropanol glycosides, rossicasides G (1), H (2), I (3), J (4), and K (5), together with seven known compounds (6-12) from Boschniakia rossica. Their structures were elucidated by chemical and spectroscopic methods (UV, IR, HRESI-TOF-MS, 1D and 2D NMR). Activity screening results showed that some isolates had TG accumulation inhibitory effects in HepG2 cells. Furthermore, the structure-activity relationship was partly clarified.

Purification of a polysaccharide from Boschniakia rossica and its synergistic antitumor effect combined with 5-Fluorouracil.[Pubmed: 24750599]

Current study we purified a polysaccharide (BRP) from Boschniakia rossica and the antitumor effects of BRP alone or combined with 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) was examined in S180 tumor bearing mice by intragastric administration. The high performance size-exclusion chromatography (HPGEC) analysis showed that BRP was a homogeneous polysaccharide and had a molecular weight of 2.2 × 10(4) Da. Total carbohydrate content in BRP was determined to be 96.9%, without the presence of protein and nucleic acid. BRP alone or combined with 5-FU could significantly inhibit Sarcoma-180 (S180) tumor growth and increase the spleen index in a dose-dependent manner. Meanwhile a synergistic effect was observed in boosting various immunity functions when the tumor bearing mice receiving BRP plus 5-FU administration, such as stimulating lymphocytes proliferation, increasing NK cell cytotoxicity, enhancing serum interleukin-2 (IL-2) and interferon-gamma (TNF-γ) secretion, as well as augmenting CD4+ and CD8+ spleen T lymphocytes subsets. The results showed that BRP combined with 5-FU presented synergistic effects on antitumor activity in tumor bearing mice. In conclusion, the combination of BRP may boost the suppressed immunity in tumor bearing mice subject to 5-FU chemotherapy, and could serve as a new, promising approach for cancer treatment.

Purification and physicochemical properties of different polysaccharide fractions from the water extract of Boschniakia rossica and their effect on macrophages activation.[Pubmed: 21893087]

Today more and more attentions had been attracted by many nutritionists and pharmacologists on polysaccharides from natural plants or animals due to their significant biological activities. In this research three polysaccharides (BRR-W1, BRR-WA1 and BRR-WA2) were isolated and purified from the water extract of Boschniakia rossica by DEAE Sepharose Fast Flow and Sepharose 6 Fast Flow column chromatography. Chemical and physical characteristics of three polysaccharides were investigated by a combination of chemical and instrumental analysis methods. The assays of their effect on macrophages activation were also investigated in vitro, including phagocytosis of macrophages, detections for NO production and TNF-α secretion. The results indicated that the effect of polysaccharides on macrophages activation was influenced by their respective physicochemical properties.

Identification of Cistanche species (Orobanchaceae) based on sequences of the plastid psbA-trnH intergenic region.[Pubmed: 21348418]

The dried succulent stems of Cistanche (Cistanche deserticola Y. C. Ma and Cistanche tubulosa Wight.) are one of the most widely used components of traditional Chinese medicines. However, it is often confused and substituted with the roots of Orobanche pycnostachya, Boschniakia rossica (Cham. & Schltdl.) Standl., Cistanche sinensis Beck, and Cistanche salsa (C. A. Mey.) Beck. In this study, we identified psbA-trnH regions from species and tested their suitable for the identification of the above mentioned taxa. The psbA-trnH sequences showed considerable variations between species and thus were revealed as a promising candidate for barcoding of Cistanche species. Additionally, the average genetic distance of psbA-trnH ranging from 0.077% to 0.743%. In contrast, the intra-specific variation among Cistanche species was found to be significantly different from those of other species, with percentages of variation studied ranged from 0% to 0.007%. The sequence difference between the psbA-trnH sequences of Cistanche species and Orobanche pycnostachya ranged from 0.979% to 1.149%. The distance between the Cistanche species and Boschniakia rossica ranged from 1.066% to 1.224%. Our results suggest that the psbA-trnH intergenic spacer region represent a barcode that can be used to identify Cistanche species and other morphologically undistinguishable species.