Pinus Massoniana Bark Extract Research Articles

Antioxidant effects of a polyphenol-rich dietary supplement containing Pinus massoniana bark extract in healthy older adults: a two-arm, parallel group, randomized placebo-controlled trial

Antioxidant effects of a polyphenol-rich dietary supplement containing Pinus massoniana bark extract in healthy older adults: a two-arm, parallel group, randomized placebo-controlled trial - Volume 82 Issue OCE2

Effect of a polyphenol-rich dietary supplement containing Pinus massoniana bark extract on blood pressure in healthy adults: A parallel, randomized placebo-controlled trial

ObjectivesHigh blood pressure (BP) is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease and prevalence rates continue to rise with ageing populations. Polypharmacy remains a burden among the ageing, thus alternative effective strategies are warranted. This study investigated the effects of a polyphenols rich dietary supplement containing Pinus massoniana bark extract (PMBE) for modulating BP in healthy Australian adults. DesignThis study is a secondary analysis of data from a double-blinded, placebo-controlled clinical trial. MethodsSixty-two healthy adults aged 55–75 years were randomized to receive 50 mL dietary supplement containing placebo (0 mg PMBE) or PMBE (1322 mg PMBE) daily for 12 weeks. Seated systolic BP (SBP) and diastolic (DBP) were measured at baseline, 6 weeks and 12 weeks. Effects of PMBE on modulating BP was also explored in this study stratified for SBP status (optimal v high) as well as by SBP medication status. Mixed effect regression modelling was employed involving fixed categorical effects for elapsed time, treatment assignment and their interaction as well as random subject-level intercept to account for within-subject correlations resulting from repeated measurements. Significant models were further examined by addition of covariates and power calculations were performed since this study was a secondary analysis. ResultsSBP significantly reduced (−3.29 mmHg, p = 0.028) after PMBE at 12 weeks compared to baseline. SBP in individuals with normal-high SBP (>120 mmHg) in the PMBE group reduced by − 6.46 mmHg (p = 0.001) at 12 weeks compared to baseline. No significant changes were reported for individuals with optimal (≤120 mmHg) SBP nor did DBP significantly change in either study groups. In individuals with non-medicated normal-high SBP, SBP significantly reduced by − 7.49 mmHg (p = 0.001) and DBP by − 3.06 mmHg (p = 0.011) at 12 weeks compared to baseline after PMBE. Cross-group comparisons were not statistically different. ConclusionsA polyphenol-rich dietary supplement derived from PMBE led to a clinically and statistically significant reduction in SBP in adults. Future studies to investigate the effects of PMBE-polyphenol supplementation on BP are warranted to confirm and explore optimal dose and impact on hypertension.

Antioxidant Effects of a Polyphenol-Rich Dietary Supplement Incorporating Pinus massoniana Bark Extract in Healthy Older Adults: A Two-Arm, Parallel Group, Randomized Placebo-Controlled Trial.

Oxidative stress is a key physiological phenomenon underpinning the ageing process and plays a major developmental role in age-associated chronic diseases. This study investigated the antioxidant effects of a polyphenol-rich dietary supplement containing Pinus massoniana bark extract (PMBE) in healthy older adults. In a double-blinded, placebo-controlled clinical trial, participants were randomised (in a 1:1 ratio) to receive a 50 mL/day dietary supplement containing placebo (0 mg PMBE) or PMBE (1322 mg PMBE) for 12 weeks. The primary outcome was fasting plasma malondialdehyde (MDA) concentrations and secondary outcomes were plasma inflammatory markers. MDA concentrations significantly reduced following PMBE for 6 weeks (−1.19 nmol/mL, 95%CI −1.62, −0.75, p < 0.001) and 12 weeks (−1.35 nmol/mL, 95%CI −1.74, −0.96, p < 0.001) compared to baseline. MDA did not significantly change after the placebo. MDA levels at 6 and 12 weeks were significantly lower following PMBE compared to placebo (p < 0.001). At 12 weeks in the PMBE group, fibrinogen concentrations significantly reduced (−0.25 g/L, 95%CI −0.39, −0.11; p < 0.0001) and interleukin-6 significantly increased compared to placebo (0.30 pg/mL, 95%CI 0.02, 0.59; p < 0.05). PMBE in a polyphenol-rich dietary supplement reduced oxidative stress in healthy older adults. Further studies are warranted to investigate the antioxidant capacity of PMBE in conditions with heightened oxidative stress, such as osteoarthritis, hypertension, type 2 diabetes, or other lifestyle related diseases.

Supplementation of cryoprotectant with Pinus massoniana bark extract improves human sperm vitality and fertility potential

AbstractBackgroundSperm cryopreservation is commonly used to preserve fertility but often decreases sperm quality by inducing oxidative stress. Pinus massoniana bark extract (Pinus massoniana, PMBE) exhibits strong antioxidant activity and has been used in traditional Chinese medicine.ObjectivesThe objective was to determine whether adding PMBE to cryoprotectant could improve human sperm quality after cryo‐resuscitation and to investigate the potential regulatory mechanisms.MethodsPMBE was used as a cryoprotectant supplement. Hydrogen peroxide was applied to generate oxidative stress. The changes in sperm quality upon cryo‐resuscitation and hydrogen peroxide treatment were measured by computer‐aided sperm analysis and fluorescein isothiocyanate‐labeled peanut (Pisum sativum) agglutinin staining. Oxidative stress was evaluated by dichlorofluorescein diacetate staining and the malondialdehyde content. The antioxidant capacity was determined by the glutathione peroxidase activity and the reduced glutathione content. Mass spectrometry was utilized to screen factors potentially regulated by PMBE, and the screened factors were evaluated by Western blot. Mouse in vitro fertilization was used to assess the effectiveness and safety of PMBE on the fertilization outcome of damaged spermatozoa.ResultsPMBE addition to cryoprotectant could effectively promote post‐thaw vitality and acrosome reaction rates, reduce intracellular reactive oxygen species, and preserve antioxidant capacity and mitochondrial function in the presence of cryo‐resuscitation and hydrogen peroxide treatment. Decreased in the expression of critical proteins such as inositol‐3‐phosphate synthase 1 (ISYNA1) and AKT1 upon resuscitation was rescued by PMBE supplementation, further reducing the cytoplasmic Nrf2 protein level and markedly increasing the nuclear level. PMBE dramatically enhanced the mRNA and protein expression of superoxide dismutase (SOD2). PMBE effectively alleviated the hydrogen peroxide‐induced decline in the two‐cell embryo rates.ConclusionSupplementing cryoprotectant with PMBE improves human sperm quality after cryo‐resuscitation by reducing oxidative stress and stabilizing the functional proteins ISYNA1 and AKT1. PMBE addition improves the fertilization outcome of oxidative stress‐damaged spermatozoa.

Primary investigation on effects of Pinus massoniana bark extract inducing senescence of hepatoma HepG2 cells

Pinus massoniana bark extract (PMBE) is a traditional Chinese medicine used for the treatment of various health disorders. Previous studies have demonstrated that PMBE may induce the apoptosis of hepatoma and colon cancer cells, and one of the potential mechanisms is by activating p53 to up-regulate the expression of p21. The P53/P21 signaling pathway is also one of the main mechanisms to regulate cell senescence. Therefore, we wonder if PMBE is able to induce hepatoma cells into senescence by inhibiting their growth. In the current study, the effects of PMBE on the viability of human hepatoma HepG2 cells were detected using an MTT assay. The phenotypes of HepG2 cells with PMBE treatment were detected with β-Galactosidase staining assay. The results revealed that the growth of HepG2 cells was inhibited by PMBE at dose-dependent manner when PMBE concentration is above 50 µg/ml, furthermore, PMBE could induce HepG2 cells into senescence at concentration of 40 µg/ml. These findings indicated that PMBE significantly inhibited the growth of HepG2 cells and induced them into senescence, while the potential mechanism and its safety in normal cells require further investigation.

Effects of Pinus massoniana bark extract on the size of HeLa cells via Nesprin-2 pathway

Proanthocyanidins (PAs) is the main constituent of Pinus massoniana bark extract (PMBE). PMBE was reported to induce cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in HeLa cells. During cell division, cells synthesize protein in G1 and G2 phases and replicate chromatin in S phase during interphase, which increases cell mass. Nesprins, a kind of protein encoded by syne gene, is a vital part of cytoskeleton and plays a role in cell cycle progress and cell division. HeLa cells were used as a model to examine effects of PMBE on cell growth and Nesprins expression with MTT assay and RT- PCR analysis, respectively. The cell size was evaluated by counting the cell number in a fixed area under microscope. The results showed that the size of survival HeLa cells in PMBE-treated group was obviously larger than that of those in control group (p = 0.00223, &lt; 0.01), while the mRNA expression level of Nesprin-2 decreased significantly in PMBE-treated group (p = 0.0201, &lt; 0.05). On this account, we put forward a hypothesis that PMBE inhibits the expression of syne-2, which leads to the decrease of Nesprin-2 and further results in the size increase of HeLa cells.

The stabilizing effect of an oligomeric proanthocyanidin on red blood cell membrane structure of poorly controlled Type II diabetes

Type II diabetes (T2D) is a pandemic characterized by pathological circulating inflammatory markers, high-glucose levels and oxidative stress. The hematological system is especially vulnerable to these aberrant circulating molecules, and erythrocytes (RBCs) show aberrant rheology properties, owing to the direct contact with these molecules. Pathological levels of circulating inflammatory markers in T2D therefore have a direct effect on the molecular and cellular structure of RBCs. Previous research has suggested that antioxidants may reduce oxidative stress that results from the pathological inflammatory markers. Particularly, polyphenol antioxidants like oligomeric proanthocyanidins (OPCs) may act as a hydroxyl mopping agent, and may have a positive effect on the deformability and membrane protein structure of RBCs from T2D. In this paper, we look at the effect of one such agent, Pinus massoniana bark extract (standardized to 95% oligomeric proanthicyanidins), on the RBC membrane structures and RBC shape changes of T2D, after laboratory exposure at physiological levels. Our methods of choice were atomic force microscopy and scanning electron microscopy to study RBC elasticity and ultrastructure. Results showed that in our hands, this OPC could change both the eryptotic nature of the RBCs, as viewed with scanning electron microscopy, as well as the elasticity. We found a significant difference in variation between the elasticity measurement values between the RBCs before and after OPC exposure (P-value <0.0001). In conclusion, the data from both these techniques therefore suggest that OPC usage might contribute to the improvement of RBC functioning.

Oligomeric proanthocyanidins released from dentin induce regenerative dental pulp cell response.

Pine bark extract is a renewable source of structurally diverse proanthocyanidins (PACs), multifunctional compounds whose interaction with collagen can be tailored to specific purposes by enrichment of selected PACs from the complex mixture. Oligomeric PACs were enriched from the extract and were shown here to sustain desired tissue modification and were thus assessed for cellular response in a model of the dentin-pulp interface. This model was developed to mimic leaching of potentially reactive compounds into pulp tissue. Dental pulp cells exposed to PAC-treated dentin showed increased proliferation and expression of genes necessary for extracellular matrix deposition and biomineralization, processes crucial for forming new dentin. Thus, collagen-interactive PACs may also enhance tissue regeneration and have broad impact in tissue engineering.

Efficacy of a formulation containing Serenoa repens, Crocus sativus and Pinus massoniana extracts in men with concomitant LUTS and erectile dysfunction.

The relationship between lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) and erectile dysfunction (ED) has received increased attention recently. This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of IDIProst® Gold, a product containing Serenoa repens, Crocus sativus and Pinus massoniana bark extract (PMBE), in improving sexual function, urinary symptoms and quality of life in patients with concomitant LUTS and ED. A total 140 men (mean age 48 years) were enrolled and treated in this study. All patients were administered IDIProst® Gold (Crocus sativus, PMBE, Serenoa repens) once daily for three months. At visit (T0) and after ninety days of treatment (T90), the patients were evaluated and asked to complete two self-administered questionnaires: International Prostate Symptoms Score (IPSS), International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-5). The main outcomes were the improved IIEF-5 and IPSS scores in the 40-60 age group. The secondary outcome was the improved quality of life score among treated patients. The baseline mean scores at T0 were 17.29 and 15.12 for the IPSS and IIEF-5 respectively. After three months of treatment (T90), the questionnaire results were as follows: 10.21 and 20.53 for IPSS and IIEF-5 respectively. Statistically significant differences (P<0.001) were reported between the two visits in terms of IPSS and IIEF-5 for all the groups treated, but particularly the 40-60 age group. There was also a statistically significant improvement (P<0.001) in quality of life between T0 and T90 (3.82 vs. 1.45). Compliance with the study protocol was 100%. 140 patients were enrolled out of a population of 164. No adverse events were reported. Treatment once daily with IDIProst® Gold (Serenoa repens, Crocus sativus and PMBE) for three months significantly improved sexual function, urinary symptoms and quality of life in patients with concomitant LUTS and ED, especially in the 40-60 age group.

Pinus massoniana bark extract inhibits migration of the lung cancer A549 cell line.

The bark of Pinus massoniana is a traditional Chinese medicine for the treatment of various health disorders. Previous studies have demonstrated that P. massoniana bark extract (PMBE) may induce the apoptosis of hepatoma and cervical cancer cells. However, whether PMBE is able to inhibit the migration of lung cancer cells requires further investigation. In the current study, the effects of PMBE on the viability of human lung cancer A549 cells were detected using an MTT assay. The migration of lung cancer cells following exposure to PMBE were quantified using wound healing and Transwell assays, respectively. The expression levels of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9 were determined using western blotting. The results revealed that PMBE significantly inhibited the growth of the lung cancer cells. In addition, the wound closure rate and the migration of the lung cancer cells were suppressed by PMBE. Furthermore, the expression levels of MMP-9 were reduced. These findings indicated that PMBE is able to restrict the migration and invasion of lung cancer cells, and that PMBE may serve as a novel therapeutic agent for patients with metastatic lung cancer in the future.

Effects of Pinus massoniana bark extract on the invasion capability of HeLa cells

Pinus massoniana bark extract (PMBE) is a natural product developed in China, with flavonoids, especially proanthocyanidins, as its main components. Flavonoids are shown to inhibit the abnormally high expression of cathepsin B (CatB) in some tumour cells. CatB is normally located in lysosomes and plays a role in the autophagy process. However, if the cells turn malignant, CatB may secrete and take part in the metastasis of cancer cells. Some researchers have reported that PMBE can inhibit the migration of HeLa cells. Thus, this research aimed to examine whether PMBE inhibits the invasion of HeLa cells. We first confirmed the metastasis capability of HeLa cells and then explored the effects of PMBE on the expression of CatB. Our results proved that HeLa cells can metastasise across a Matrigel® matrix and this invasion capability can be significantly inhibited by PMBE, possibly by down-regulating the expression of CatB, mainly at the transcriptional level.

Pinus massoniana Bark Extract: Structure-Activity Relationship and Biomedical Potentials.

Proanthocyanidins (PAs) belong to the condensed tannin subfamily of natural flavonoids. Recent studies have shown that the main bioactive compounds of Pinus massoniana bark extract (PMBE) are PAs, especially the proanthocyanidins B series, which play important roles in cell cycle arrest, apoptosis induction and migration inhibition of cancer cells in vivo and in vitro. PA-Bs are mixtures of oligomers and polymers composed of flavan-3-ol, and the relationship between their structure and corresponding biomedical potentials is summarized in this paper. The hydroxyl at certain positions or the linkage between different carbon atoms of different rings determines or affects their anti-oxidant and free radical scavenging bioactivities. The degree of polymerization and the water solubility of the reaction system also influence their biomedical potential. Taken together, PMBE has a promising future in clinical drug development as a candidate anticancer drug and as a food additive to prevent tumorigenesis. We hope this review will encourage interested researchers to conduct further preclinical and clinical studies to evaluate the anticancer activities of PMBE, its active constituents and their derivatives.

Inhibitory effects of Pinus massoniana bark extract on hepatitis C virus in vitro

Context: Given that Pinus massoniana Lamb (Pinaceae) bark extract (PMBE) is a safe and non-toxic flavonoid found abundantly in nature, it was considered a promising novel candidate agent in the treatment of virus infection.Object: Experiments were conducted to assay the antiviral character of PMBE against Hepatitis C virus (HCV).Materials and methods: Assay of PMBE cytotoxicity, HCV replication, infectious HCV production, and its potential influence on the pathways for IFN-ISRE and NS3 protease were conducted.Results: HCV replication was suppressed when the concentration of PMBE raised greater than 5 μg/mL and its EC50 was 9.58 μg/mL. In the 10 μg/mL group, HCV replication was suppressed for 48 h. When the concentration increased to 40 μg/mL, HCV replication was significantly suppressed (luciferase activity was only 10% at 96 h). PMBE could inhibit HCV virus production efficiently (PMBE group was 5 FFU). Cell viability was affected by 40 μg/mL of PMBE. The F/R ratio ranged from 98% to 101%. The rate of OD450 ranged from 96% to 102%. NS3 catalytic activity ranged from 5% (40 μg/mL PMBE) to 45% (5 μg/mL PMBE). Even when used in a low amount (5 μg/mL), NS3 catalytic activity was significantly inhibited (p < 0.01).Conclusions: The results suggest that PMBE is effective for use in the stabilization of HCV replication and active liver inflammation.

An improvement in sexual function is related to better quality of life, regardless of urinary function improvement: Results from the IDIProst® Gold Study

The relationship between lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) and erectile dysfunction (ED) has recently received increased attention. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of the Alfa-5® association of Serenoa repens, Pinus massoniana Bark Extract (PMBE) and Crocus sativus (IDIProst® Gold) in improvement of patient's quality of life, when compared with Serenoa repens alone. All patients with clinical and instrumental diagnosis of LUTS due to Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) and ED, attending 5 Italians Urological Institutions from May to December 2012 were enrolled in this prospective, multicentre, phase 3 study. Participants were assigned to receive oral capsules of IDIProst® Gold (one capsule q24 h) or Serenoa repens 320 mg (one capsule q24h) for 3 months. Clinical and instrumental analyses were carried out at the enrollment and at the end of therapy. IPSS, IIEF-5 and SF-36 questionnaires have been used. The main outcome measure was the improvement of quality of life at the end of the whole study period. 129 (mean age 45-71 ± 4.36) men were randomly allocated to IDIProst® Gold (n = 83) or Serenoa repens (n = 46). The baseline questionnaire mean scores were 17.1 ± 6.4, 14.9 ± 3.7, 96.3 ± 1.2 for IPSS, IIEF-5 and SF-36, respectively. At the follow-up examination, statistically significant differences have been reported in terms of IPSS (11.9 vs 13.8; p < 0.001), IIEF-5 and SF-36 mean scores (19.3 vs 16.1; 99.7 vs 96.3; p < 0.003; p < 0.001). Moreover, statistically significant differences were then reported between the two visits, in terms of IPSS, IIEF-5 and SF-36 scores (p < 0.003; p < 0.001; p < 0.001), only in the IDIProst® Gold group. In conclusions, we found that IDIProst® Gold significantly improve the quality of life of patients affected by LUTS due to BPH and ED, specifically in terms of sexual function, highlighting that a better sexual quality of life is correlated with an higher overall quality of life regardless of the urinary function.

Antitumor Effects of Pinus massoniana Bark Extract in Murine Sarcoma S180 Both in Vitro and in Vivo

Pinus massoniana bark extract (PMBE) is a mixture of flavonoids, and showed a capability of inducing cell apoptosis; however, its properties have not yet been fully investigated. This paper evaluates the antitumor effects of PMBE in murine sarcoma S180 both in vitro and in vivo. In vitro, the growth inhibition of S180 cells was concentration dependent on PMBE as shown by the CCK-8 assay. The AO/EB staining and flow cytometry assay showed that PMBE induced S180 cell apoptosis. Cell cycle analysis revealed that the cells in the S phase were decreased by treatment with PMBE. In vivo, the treatment of 100, 200, and 300 mg/kg PMBE reduced the tumor weight and volume of S180-bearing NIH mice by 9%-67% and 13%-68%, respectively. Peripheral leukocyte count and lymphoproliferation were increased significantly after treatment with PMBE. Our results suggest that PMBE inhibits the tumor cell growth by inducing cell apoptosis and improving lymphoproliferation.

Effects of Pinus massoniana bark extract on the adhesion and migration capabilities of HeLa cells

Pinus massoniana Lamb is a Chinese red pine species used in traditional medicine for the treatment of a variety of human health disorders. Recent studies have shown that P. massoniana bark extract (PMBE) has an anti-proliferation effect on cancer cells. However, it is not clear if PMBE affects cancer cell migration and/or invasion. We tested the effect of PMBE, which has B-type procyanidin as its main constituent, on the adhesion and migration capabilities of HeLa cells, a human cervical cancer cell line, cultured in vitro. Our results showed that PMBE has no significant effect on the adhesion capability of HeLa cells, but strongly inhibits their migration. This finding suggests that PMBE could be a potential therapeutic agent for metastatic cancer.

Pinus massoniana bark extract selectively induces apoptosis in human hepatoma cells, possibly through caspase-dependent pathways

Pinus massoniana bark extract (PMBE) is a mixture of flavonoids, whose antioxidant and apoptosis-inducing properties have been confirmed in vitro. In this study, the apoptotic effect and mechanism of PMBE in HepG2 human hepatoma cells were evaluated. PMBE exerted dose- and time-dependent cell growth inhibition on HepG2 cells, and selectively induced apoptosis without impact on normal liver L-02 cells. Apoptosis induced by PMBE in HepG2 cells was also confirmed by annexin-V/PI staining, transmission electron microscopy and sub-G1 phase accumulation. Moreover, PMBE also slightly blocked the cell cycle in the G2/M and S phases in HepG2 cells. The investigation of the mechanism by which PMBE induced apoptosis in HepG2 cells indicated that activation of extrinsic and intrinsic caspase, inhibition of NF-kappaB activation and decrease of the antiapoptotic protein Bcl-2 and the intact Bid protein were involved. Furthermore, the antitumor activity of PBME was demonstrated in vivo by a 42.88-69.94% reduction rate of tumor weight in H22 tumor-implanted mice. Taken together, these data indicate that PMBE selectively induces apoptosis in HepG2 cells through caspase-dependent pathways, and inhibits tumor growth in vivo, making it a potential candidate for anticancer therapeutics.

Pinus Massoniana Bark Extract Protects Against Oxidative Damage in L-02 Hepatic Cells and Mice

The hepatoprotective activity of Pinus massoniana bark extract (PMBE) against hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-induced damage in normal human liver L-02 cells and carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced acute hepatotoxicity in mice was investigated. The L-02 cells were pre-treated with PMBE for 24 hours prior to exposure to 0.5 mM H2O2 for 3 or 24 hours. The cell viability, level of malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione (GSH), and the catalase (CAT) activity were evaluated. For in vivo experiments, mice were divided into groups and PMBE administered orally, after which each group was assigned a further treatment. Histopathological examination, the serum levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and GSH, the liver tissue levels of MDA and GSH, the activities of CAT and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), were evaluated. PMBE treatment decreased the level of MDA and increased the cell viability, GSH content and CAT activity in H2O2 treated L-02 cells treated for 3 hours. PMBE obviously decreased serum ALT, AST, ALP, and liver tissue MDA, while increasing serum GSH, and liver tissue CAT and GSH-Px activities. In conclusion, PMBE treatment prevents H2O2 and CCl4-induced liver damage, and therefore could have a potential clinical usage.

Effect of Pinus massoniana bark extract on IFN-γ-induced ICAM-1 expression in HaCaT human keratinocytes

Aims of the study Pinus massoniana bark extract (PMBE) with known anti-oxidant activity is comprised of various flavonoids including several bioactive compounds. We found that PMBE contains 1.27% taxifolin, a well-studied compound with known anti-inflammatory activity. Therefore, in the present study, we evaluated the effects of PMBE and taxifolin on intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) expression. Materials and Methods PMBE and taxifolin were prepared. After HaCaT cells were pre-treatmented with PMBE and taxifolin, HaCaT cells were treatmented with 1000 U/ml IFN-γ for 24 h. Results Treatment of HaCaT cells with 1000 U/ml IFN-γ for 24 h markedly increased ICAM-1 expression. However, PMBE pre-treatment (40 μg/ml for 24 h) significantly inhibited IFN-γ-induced ICAM-1 expression. In equal concentrations of taxifolin, PMBE-mediated inhibition of ICAM-1 mRNA and protein expression was greater than taxifolin mediated-inhibition, and the front on inhibition of ICAM-1 protein expression was 2.24–2.30-fold of the latter. When cells were treated with both compounds at a concentration of 40 μg/ml, PMBE-mediated inhibition of ICAM-1 mRNA was also greater than taxifolin-mediated inhibition and PMBE on inhibition of ICAM-1 protein expression was 2.60–3.00-fold the inhibition mediated by taxifolin. Conclusions PMBE including additional bioactive compounds may possibly synergize to inhibit transcription and translation of inducible ICAM-1expression and PMBE was greater than monomeric flavonoid taxifolin. These results indicate that PMBE exhibits great potential as a therapeutic treatment for inflammatory skin diseases.

Involvement of the Bcl‐2 Family Members in Pinus massoniana Bark Extract induced Apoptosis in HeLa Cells

Pinus massoniana bark extract (PMBE) contains a variety of flavonoids whose antioxidant properties have been confirmed in vitro. This study was undertaken to evaluate the cytotoxic effects and the mechanism of cell death on the PMBE-treated human cervical cancer cell line, HeLa. PMBE treatment led to cell growth inhibition in a dose- and time-dependent manner, and PMBE-induced apoptosis was confirmed by DAPI staining, TUNEL assays and sub-G1 phase accumulation. Cell cycle was also arrested in G2/M phase. Immunoblotting analysis showed that cytochrome c was released, the protein expression of Bax was increased, the protein expression of Bcl-2 was down-regulated and caspase-9 and -3 were activated in PMBE-treated HeLa cells. Taken together, PMBE inhibited proliferation, induces apoptosis and causes cell cycle arrest in HeLa cells, indicating that PMBE may be a potential therapeutic agent for cancer.