Antidiabetic potential of the ethyl acetate extract of Physalis alkekengi and chemical constituents identified by HPLC-ESI-QTOF-MS.[Pubmed: 29981847]

The edible plant Physalis alkekengi (PA) is used in traditional medicine to treat diabetes. However, the anti-diabetic effects and constituents of the fruit and aerial parts of this plant have not been studied extensively.

Physakengose G induces apoptosis via EGFR/mTOR signaling and inhibits autophagic flux in human osteosarcoma cells.[Pubmed: 29655686]

Physakengose G (PG) is a new compound first isolated from Physalis alkekengi var. franchetii, an anticarcinogenic traditional Chinese medicine. PG has shown promising anti-tumor effects, but its underlying mechanisms remain unknown.

Physalin B induces cell cycle arrest and triggers apoptosis in breast cancer cells through modulating p53-dependent apoptotic pathway.[Pubmed: 29499407]

Physalin B (PB), one of the major active steroidal constituents of Cape gooseberry (Physalis alkekengi L.), possesses a wide spectrum of biological activities. Although the anticancer activity of PB was reported in previous studies, the underlying mechanisms are still not well stated. In this study, the anticancer effect and the underlying mechanisms of PB were investigated in breast cancer cells. PB significantly reduced the viability of three human breast cancer cell lines, MCF-7, MDA-MB-231 and T-47D, in a concentration- and time-dependent manner. PB induced cell cycle arrest at G2/M phase and promoted cleavage of PARP (poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase), caspases 3, caspase 7 and caspase 9 to stimulate cell apoptosis. Further studies showed that PB induced breast cancer cells apoptosis in a p53-dependent manner in MCF-7 cells. PB also suppressed the phosphorylation of Akt (protein kinase B) and PI3K (phosphoinositide 3-kinase), and increased the phosphorylation of GSK-3β (glycogen synthase kinase 3β). Taken together, our results indicated that PB might serve as a potential therapeutic agent for breast cancer.

Evaluation of in vitro/in vivo anti-diabetic effects and identification of compounds from Physalis alkekengi.[Pubmed: 29447981]

The aims of the present study were to assess the anti-diabetic effects of Physalis alkekengi L. (PA) in 3T3-L1 pre-adipocyte cells and HepG2-GFP-CYP2E1 (E47) cells and in a pre-diabetic rat model, as well as to identify the active chemical constituents. The in vitro results showed that PA has a strong anti-diabetic capacity to relieve oxidative stress and inhibit α-glucosidase activity. Mechanistic analysis also showed that ethyl acetate extracts of aerial parts and fruit of PA (PAG-EA and PAF-EA) enhanced glucose transporter 4 expression and function as well as enhanced insulin sensitivity by inhibiting the expression of cytochrome P450-2E1 (CYP2E1) mRNA and protein. In vivo, PAG-EA and PAF-EA significantly decreased the levels of fasting blood glucose and fasting insulin, as well as total cholesterol and triglyceride, in the pre-diabetic rats. The results from insulin sensitivity index and homeostasis model assessment-insulin resistance index along with an oral glucose tolerance test also showed that PAG-EA and PAF-EA could significantly enhance the insulin sensitivity, which confirmed the in vitro findings. Moreover, HPLC-ESI-QTOF-MS analysis identified flavonoids, physalins and phenolic acids as the main plant constituents. Our findings support the ethnopharmacological use of PA fruit, along with its aerial parts, as a strong anti-diabetic agent. The EA fraction, especially the constituent polyphenols and flavonoids, may have a good potential to treat diabetes.

High performance thin-layer chromatography-mass spectrometry enables reliable analysis of physalins in different plant parts of Physalis alkekengi L.[Pubmed: 29096922]

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Identification of absorbed constituents and in vivo metabolites in rats after oral administration of Physalis alkekengi var. franchetii by ultra-high-pressure liquid chromatography quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry.[Pubmed: 29055030]

The calyces of Physalis alkekengi var. franchetii (Chinese Lantern, JDL) are well-known as traditional Chinese medicine owing to its various therapeutic effects. However, the bioactive constituents responsible for the pharmacological effects of JDL and their metabolites in vivo are still unclear to date. In this paper, an ultra-high-pressure liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UHPLC/Q-TOF-MS/MS) method was established to identify absorbed constituents and in vivo metabolites in rat biological fluids after oral administration of JDL. Based on the proposed strategy, 33 compounds were observed in dosed rat biosamples. Twelve of 33 compounds were indicated as prototype components of JDL, and 21 compounds were predicted to be metabolites of JDL. Finally, the metabolic pathways were proposed, which were glucuronidation, sulfation, methylation and dehydroxylation for flavonoid constituents and sulfonation and hydroxylation for physalin consitituents. This is the first systematic study on the absorbed constituents and metabolic profiling of JDL and will provide a useful template for screening and characterizing the ingredients and metabolites of traditional Chinese medicine.

Anti-ulcer and anti-Helicobacter pylori potentials of the ethyl acetate fraction of Physalis alkekengi L. var. franchetii (Solanaceae) in rodent.[Pubmed: 28964871]

Physalis alkekengi L. var. franchetii (Solanaceae) has been widely used in Chinese folk medicine due to its wide distribution throughout the country, for the treatment of a wide range of diseases including heat and cold, sore throat, fever, fungal infection, inflammation, toothache, rheumatism, burn, analgesic, ulcer and urinary diseases. However, the effect of P. alkekengi var. franchetii on ulcer and Helicobacter pylori infection has not been reported to date.

[Oligopeptides in plant medicines cited in Chinese Pharmacopoeia].[Pubmed: 28920330]

In total, 23 plant plant medicined containing oligopeptides were cited in Chinese Pharmacopoeia (1 part) of 2015 version including Rubia cordifolia, Linum usitatissimum, Aster tataricus, Psammosilene tunicoides, Pseudostellaria heterophylla, Stellaria dichotoma, Vaccaria segetalis, Dianthus superbus, Celosia argentea, Lycii Cortex, Citrus medica, C. aurantium, Panax ginseng, Parmx notoginseng, Schisandra chinensis, Sparganium stoloniferum, Euryale ferox, Ophiopogon japonicas, Pinellia ternate, Achyranthes bidentata, Physalis alkekengi, Polygonatum odoratum, and Leonuri Fructus. There were 187 oligopeptides in plant medicines above as reported. Oligopeptides consisted mainly of linear peptides and cyclic peptides. The linear peptides included dipeptides, tripeptides and pentapeptides, and cyclic peptides included cyclic, bicyclic and tricyclic peptides. The number of residues of single cyclic peptides ranged from two to twelve. Bicyclic peptides were isolated mainly from R. cordifolia and C. argentea. Modern pharmacological study showed that oligopeptides had many pharmacological effects, including antitumor, anticoagulant, antibacterial, immune suppression and so on.