Immunomodulatory activity of polysaccharide from Helicteres angustifolia L. on 4T1 tumor-bearing mice.[Pubmed: 29635897]

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Purification and analysis of the composition and antioxidant activity of polysaccharides from Helicteres angustifolia L.[Pubmed: 29051093]

The antioxidant activity of polysaccharides has attracted tremendous research interest in recent years. In this study, we aimed to investigate the antioxidant properties of Helicteres angustifolia L. polysaccharides (HALP) that was acquired by water extraction and alcohol precipitation using ultrasound-assisted method with decolorization and protein removal. The polysaccharides were then successively purified using chromatography on DEAE-cellulose and Sephadex S-300 columns with two major fractions: HALPs1-1 and HALPs2-1. The physicochemical properties, structural characterization, and antioxidant activities of these fractions were investigated. The results indicated that HALPs1-1 was a glucan with an average molecular weight of 151.70kDa, and HALPs2-1 was composed of glucuronic acid with an average molecular weight of 114.81kDa. Infrared spectroscopies and iodine potassium iodide tests showed that the HALP were acid α-pyranoses. The antioxidant activities of the polysaccharide fractions (HALP, HALPs1-1, and HALPs2-1) were evaluated in vitro. The results suggested that HALPs2-1 had the highest scavenging activities for ABTS, hydroxyl and DPPH radicals than other polysaccharides. Taken together, the results of this study suggested that polysaccharides from Helicteres angustifolia L. could be used as novel potential antioxidants.

Anti-Complementary Components of Helicteres angustifolia.[Pubmed: 27834928]

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Glucose consumption and alpha-glucosidase inhibitory activities of aqueous root extract of Helicteres angustifolia.[Pubmed: 27097967]

The root of Helicteres angustifolia L. (Sterculiaceae) has been used as tea to treat diabetics effectively by local people in Laos. However, no scientific evidence is available for this ethnomedicinal usage. This study was undertaken to explore the hypoglycemic effect of aqueous extract from Helicteres angustifolia root.

Functional Characterisation of Anticancer Activity in the Aqueous Extract of Helicteres angustifolia L. Roots.[Pubmed: 27010955]

Helicteres angustifolia L. is a shrub that forms a common ingredient of several cancer treatment recipes in traditional medicine system both in China and Laos. In order to investigate molecular mechanisms of its anticancer activity, we prepared aqueous extract of Helicteres angustifolia L. Roots (AQHAR) and performed several in vitro assays using human normal fibroblasts (TIG-3) and osteosarcoma (U2OS). We found that AQHAR caused growth arrest/apoptosis of U2OS cells in a dose-dependent manner. It showed no cytotoxicity to TIG-3 cells at doses up to 50 μg/ml. Biochemical, imaging and cell cycle analyses revealed that it induces ROS signaling and DNA damage response selectively in cancer cells. The latter showed upregulation of p53, p21 and downregulation of Cyclin B1 and phospho-Rb. Furthermore, AQHAR-induced apoptosis was mediated by increase in pro-apoptotic proteins including cleaved PARP, caspases and Bax. Anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2 showed decrease in AQHAR-treated U2OS cells. In vivo xenograft tumor assays in nude mice revealed dose-dependent suppression of tumor growth and lung metastasis with no toxicity to the animals suggesting that AQHAR could be a potent and safe natural drug for cancer treatment.

Antidiabetic activity of Helicteres angustifolia root.[Pubmed: 26866383]

Context The root of Helicteres angustifolia L. (Sterculiaceae) has been used as folk herbal drug to treat cancer, bacterial infections, inflammatory, and flu in China. However, there is no report on its antidiabetic activity. Objective This study evaluates the antidiabetic activity of ethanol extract from H. angustifolia root. Materials and methods The promoting effect of H. angustifolia root ethanol extract (25, 50, and 100 μg/mL) on glucose uptake was evaluated using HepG2 cell, differentiated C2C12 myotubes, and differentiated 3T3-L1 adipocytes. The antidiabetic activity of the extract was assessed in vivo using STZ-induced diabetic rats by orally administration of the extract (200 and 400 mg/kg b.w.) once per day for 28 d. Blood glucose, TG, TC, TP, HDL-C, UA, BUN, AST, ALT, insulin, and HOMA-IR were analyzed. Results The results showed that the extract increased glucose uptake in C2C12 myotubes and 3T3-L1 adipocytes with an IC50 value of 79.95 and 135.96 μg/mL, respectively. And about 12%, 19%, and 10% (p < 0.05) in HepG2 cells when compared with the control at the concentration of 25, 50, and 100 μg/mL, respectively. After 28 days' treatment with the extract, significant reduction was observed in blood glucose, HOMA-IR, TC, TG, UA, BUN, AST, and ALT levels, while the levels of TP and HDL cholesterol increased. Discussion and conclusion These results suggest that H. angustifolia root ethanol extract possess potent antidiabetic activity, which is the first report on antidiabetic activity of this plant.

In vitro and in vivo bioactivities of aqueous and ethanol extracts from Helicteres angustifolia L. root.[Pubmed: 26087229]

Helicteres angustifolia L. (H. angustifolia L.) has been used as traditional medicine in the treatment of cancer in China and Laos. Its medical benefits, however, are still lacking of scientific evidence. Two extracts successively obtained from the root of H. angustifolia L., namely the aqueous root extract (ARE) and the ethanolic root extract (ERE), were used to evaluate the antioxidant and anticancer activities in vitro, and the antitumor efficacy of ARE was examined in vivo, respectively.

[Effect of Helicteres angustifolia on rats with ulcerative colitis].[Pubmed: 24134009]

To investigate the effect of aqueous extract of Helicteres angustifolia (AEHA) on rats with ulcerative colitis (UC) and its mechanism.

Antiviral activity of methyl helicterate isolated from Helicteres angustifolia (Sterculiaceae) against hepatitis B virus.[Pubmed: 24055834]

The anti-HBV effect of methyl helicterate (MH), a triterpenoid isolated from the Chinese herb Helicteres angustifolia, was explored both in vitro and in vivo. In the HBV-transfected cell line HepG2.2.15, the secretion of HBsAg/HBeAg, the levels of HBV DNA and cccDNA, and the amount of viral RNA were significantly decreased after treatment with MH for 144h. In addition, MH had no inhibitory effect on the mitochondrial DNA content. In DHBV-infected ducklings, MH significantly reduced the serum DHBV DNA, liver total viral DNA, and cccDNA levels. Furthermore, analysis of the liver pathological changes confirmed the hepatoprotective effect of MH. These results indicate that MH efficiently inhibits HBV replication both in vitro and in vivo and that MH may be a major bioactive ingredient in H. angustifolia.