Active Ingredient Of Chinese Medicine Research Articles

Wogonin, an active ingredient of Chinese herb medicine Scutellaria baicalensis, inhibits the mobility and invasion of human gallbladder carcinoma GBC-SD cells by inducing the expression of maspin

Ethnopharmacological relevanceA traditional Chinese medicine Scutellaria baicalensis is prescribed for the treatment of a variety of inflammatory diseases and tumors in clinic in China. However, the detailed mechanism of anti-metastasis effect of wogonin, a main active ingredient of Scutellaria baicalensis, remains elusive. Aim of the studyThe present study was designed to investigate the action and mechanism of wogonin on the mobility and invasion of human gallbladder carcinoma GBC-SD cells. Materials and methodsViability, apoptosis, mRNA and protein expression of tumor cells were analyzed by MTT, Annexin V staining, real-time PCR and Western blot, respectively. The migration and invasion assay was used to evaluate the anti-metastasis effect of wogonin. Knockdown of maspin was performed by specific small interference RNA. ResultsWogonin at the dose of 1–10μM, which did not induce apoptosis, significantly inhibited the mobility and invasion activity of human gallbladder carcinoma GBC-SD cells. In addition, the expressions of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2, MMP-9 and phosphorylated extracellular regulated protein kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) but not phosphorylated Akt were dramatically suppressed by wogonin in a concentration-dependent manner. Furthermore, the metastasis suppressor maspin was confirmed as the downstream target of wogonin. Both maspin mRNA and protein were upregulated by wogonin. Interestingly, the knockdown of maspin resulted in almost completely blocking of wogonin-induced inhibition of MMP-2, MMP-9 and phosphorylated ERK1/2 as well as the mobility and invasion activity of GBC-SD cells. ConclusionsThese findings suggest that wogonin inhibits cell mobility and invasion by upregulating the metastasis suppressor maspin. Together, these data provide novel insights into the chemoprotective effect of wogonin, a main active ingredient of Chinese medicine Scutellaria baicalensis.

Simulation Database System of the Active Ingredients in Compound Decoction of Chinese Medicine

Compound decoction is the main form of clinical application of Chinese medicine. Current research on active ingredients of Chinese medicine has commonly relied on chemical separation and extraction technology by using organic solvents, which was very different from the traditional method of water-phase boiling. Difference in preparation methods would lead to awareness discrepancy in active ingredients. The present system simulated the decoction boiling conditions of traditional Chinese medicine, and established databases of related components and their interaction, and analysed the possible active ingredients existed in compound decoction via database mining, statistical analysis and other technologies.