Sophora Alopecuroides Research Articles

Sophocarpine attenuates toll‐like receptor 4 in steatotic hepatocytes to suppress pro‐inflammatory cytokines synthesis

Sophocarpine, a tetracyclic quinolizidine alkaloid derived from Sophora alopecuroides L., has been documented that it can suppress pro-inflammatory cytokines synthesis in alleviating nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) in vivo. Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) is a pattern recognition receptor whose activation results in the production of several pro-inflammatory cytokines. It has been reported that TLR4 is upregulated in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and plays an important role in the pathogenesis of NASH. This study aimed to examine the changes of TLR4 and its signaling pathways in sophocarpine's anti-inflammatory process on experimental NASH in vitro. Primary hepatocytes were isolated, and oleic acid-induced steatosis model was established. Cell Counting Kit-8 assay was used to detect the number of metabolically active mitochondria and viable cells. Immunocytochemistry analysis was applied to evaluating pro-inflammatory cytokines synthesis. Total RNA and protein were extracted for real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blot detection. Enhanced expression of TLR4 was observed in oleic acid-induced steatotic hepatocytes. Sophocarpine suppressed pro-inflammatory cytokines synthesis and reduced the expression of TLR4 in steatotic hepatocytes. Expression of TLR4 and pro-inflammatory cytokines recovered after sophocarpine was removed. Moreover, sophocarpine restrained the activation of nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-κB), c-Jun-N-terminal kinase (JNK), and Extracellular regulated protein kinases (ERK) signaling pathways in the anti-inflammatory process. Sophocarpine could decrease the expression of TLR4 in steatotic hepatocytes and suppress pro-inflammatory cytokines synthesis. NF-κB, JNK, and ERK signaling pathways were important workable downstream pathways.

Evaluation of Some Plant Origin Commercial Biopesticides against Red Spider Mite, <i>Oligonychus coffeae</i> Nietner (Acarina: Tetranychydae) in Tea

An experiment was conducted to evaluate some plant origin commercial biopesticides against red spider mite in tea under both in the Entomology Laboratory and main farm of Bangladesh Tea Research Institute (BTRI), Srimangal, Moulvibazar during the period from March 2013 to December 2014. Bio-Cawach ( Pongamia pinnata ), Karanza ( Azadirachta indica + Pongamia pinnata ), Miticon (Various herbs, alkaloids and salt of fatty acids), Neemakar (Neem, Karanja & Tulsi), Rescue ( Vitex negundu + Clerodendron infortunatum ) and Torpedo ( Sophora alopecuroides + Stemona sessilifolia ) were considered as treatments and dosages were @ 0.8 ml, 1.0 ml, 1.0 ml, 1.0 ml, 0.5 ml and 0.5 ml, respectively. Data were collected at 24 HAT, 48HAT, 72HAT (Hours after Treatment) in the laboratory and at weekly interval in field condition. Results indicated that all the biopesticides showed the toxic effect on red spider mite in tea and significantly reduced mite population both in laboratory and field conditions. In laboratory condition, Miticon showed the highest (93.28%) toxic effect at 72HAT followed by Karanza (92.55%) against red spider mite where as Bio-Cawach, Neemakar, Rescue and Torpedo exhibited pronounced acaricidal action (89.78%~91.67%) at 72HAT. Similar trend of toxicity was found at 24HAT & 48HAT. The mortality was in a linear trend i.e. increasing with increasing of time. From the field evaluation, it was found that the highest (81.34%) reduction in mite population was observed in Miticon treated plot followed by Rescue treated plot (81.01%). The lowest (74.07%) reduction in mite population was observed in Bio-Cawach treated plot. The order of toxicity of the six plant origin commercial biopesticides on adult red spider mite in both laboratory and field condition was: Miticon>Rescue>Neemakar>Karanza>Torpedo>Bio-Cawach. Application of the tested biopesticides did not affect the natural predators such as Stethorus gilvifrons and Oxyopes sp. Tea samples made from biopesticide-treated shoots were found taint free when subjected to organoleptic evaluation. These eco-friendly low cost plant products can therefore be incorporated in the strategy of integrated pest management (IPM) to reduce the load of chemical pesticides in tea.

荒漠草原不同植物根际与非根际土壤养分及微生物量分布特征

PDF HTML阅读 XML下载 导出引用 引用提醒 荒漠草原不同植物根际与非根际土壤养分及微生物量分布特征 DOI: 10.5846/stxb201403130440 作者: 作者单位: 宁夏大学 西北退化生态系统恢复与重建教育部重点实验室,宁夏大学西北退化生态系统恢复与重建教育部重点实验室,1,宁夏大学西北退化生态系统恢复与重建教育部重点实验室 作者简介: 通讯作者: 中图分类号: S154.1 基金项目: 宁夏自然科学基金项目(NZ14015) Distribution of soil nutrient and microbial biomass in rhizosphere versus non-rhizosphere area of different plant species in desertified steppe Author: Affiliation: Key Lab of Restoration and Reconstruction of Degraded Ecosystem in Northwest China of Ministry of Education, Ningxia University,Key Lab of Restoration and Reconstruction of Degraded Ecosystem in Northwest China of Ministry of Education,, Fund Project: 摘要 | 图/表 | 访问统计 | 参考文献 | 相似文献 | 引证文献 | 资源附件 | 文章评论 摘要:通过对宁夏荒漠草原6种地带性优势物种长芒草、蒙古冰草、甘草、牛心朴子、黑沙蒿和苦豆子植物根际与非根际土壤养分和微生物量分布特征进行研究,探讨不同植物根际养分的富集的相关性和差异性.研究结果表明:6种植物根际土壤养分和微生物量均表现出明显的富集效应,根际富集率大小依次为菊科(黑沙蒿) > 豆科(苦豆子、甘草) > 禾本科(长芒草、蒙古冰草) > 萝藦科(牛心朴子);全磷(TP)在根际和非根际中无显著差异(P > 0.05),其它土壤养分及理化指标在根际中均表现出显著富集(P < 0.05),土壤养分中以有机碳(SOC)的富集作用最为明显;土壤有效态养分较全量养分对植物根际微小的变化响应更为灵敏;不同荒漠植物根际与非根际SOC与全氮(TN)呈极显著线性关系(P < 0. 01),TN与碱解氮之间呈极显著线性关系(P < 0.01),TP与有效磷(AP)没有显著的相关性(P > 0.05).荒漠植物土壤有效养分在根际存在一定的富集,灌木和豆科植物的根际效应的大于禾本科植物,它们通过降低根际pH值可以提高根际养分,有利于在脆弱环境下对土壤养分的有效利用. Abstract:Six plant species, Stipa bungeana, Agropyron mongolicum Keng, Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch., Cynanchum komarovii Al., Artemisia ordosica, and Sophora alopecuroides dominate the desertified steppe ecosystems in Ningxia, northern China. However, the distribution of soil nutrients and microbial biomass in the rhizosphere and non-rhizosphere areas of these six plant species in this region has been largely unknown. This study investigated soil nutrients, microbial biomass, and soil physicochemical properties in the rhizosphere and non-rhizosphere areas of these six desert plant species, together with soil physicochemical properties. The results showed that rhizosphere enrichment followed the order shrub (A. ordosica) > Leguminosae (S. alopecuroides, G. uralensis Fisch.) > Gramineae (S. bungeana, A. mongolicum) > Compositae(C. komarovii Al.). In the rhizosphere area, a significant enrichment effect (P < 0.05) was found on the soil nutrients and microbial biomass, but not on the total phosphorus (TP) (P > 0.05). The rhizosphere enrichment effect on soil organic carbon (SOC) was more pronounced than the other indices (i.e., soil nutrients and physicochemical properties), and soil nutrient availability was more sensitive to the changes in the rhizosphere among plant species. In the rhizosphere and non-rhizosphere soil of different desert plant species, a significant linear correlation was observed (P < 0.01) between SOC and total nitrogen (TN) and a significant linear correlation between TN and alkaline hydrolysis nitrogen (P < 0.01), but no significant correlation was observed between TP and available phosphorus (AP) (P > 0.05). The results suggested that the rhizosphere enrichment effect occurred for many desert plant species. Shrubs and leguminous plants had a significantly higher rhizosphere effect than the other herbaceous species. Rhizosphere enrichment effect was found to increase soil nutrients by reducing soil pH, and this was beneficial for the efficient utilization of soil nutrients in the susceptible desertified steppe ecosystems. 参考文献 相似文献 引证文献

Study on inhibition effect of alkaloid monomers from Sophora alopecuroides on in vitro cultured lung cancer cells

Objective To investigate in vitro anti-tumor activity and the related mechanism of four alkaloid monomers from Sophora alopecuroides,and to evaluate their toxicity on normal cells,thereby to screen the drugs with high efficiency and low toxicity anti-tumor effects.Methods Methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) assay was employed to determine the effects of four alkaloid monomers on the proliferation activity of human lung cancer cells and hamster lung cells.Morphology of apoptotic lung cancer cell nucleus was observed by laser scanning confocal microscopy with Hochest33342 staining.Cell apoptosis and necrosis were measured by Annexin Ⅴ-FITC/PI double staining.Results The four alkaloid monomers showed different degree of proliferation inhibition on lung cancer cells with dose dependent manner.Oxysophoridine had the strongest inhibition effect on lung cancer cells and the minimun toxicity on normal lung cells.Hochest33342 staining and flow cytometry analysis demonstrated that oxysophoridine could induce the apoptosis and necrosis of A549 cells.Conclusions All four alkaloid monomers have certain anti-tumor effect on lung cancer cells.Oxysophoridine is the most active one with high efficiency and low toxicity characteristics,which is suitable for use as anti-tumor drug candidate for further development. Key words: Alkaloid monoers; Lung cancer cells; Anti-tumor activity; Action mechanism

Multi-gene analysis of Pseudocercospora spp. from Iran

Species of Pseudocercospora have gained much attention in recent years owing to their phytopathogenic relevance, and worldwide occurrence on a wide range of economically important hosts. Although these fungi are common in Iran, they have generally been poorly studied and no cultures have been preserved for molecular analyses. The present paper represents the first study of Pseudocercospora species from Iran evaluated by employing the Consolidated Species Concept. Nineteen isolates were obtained from seven host plant families in the northern zone of Iran. A phylogenetic analysis based on a combination of LSU, ITS, TEF1-α and ACT loci clustered these isolates into eight clades, of which five are phylogenetically new, delineating two novel species, viz. P. mazandaranensis on Nerium oleander and P. sophoricola on Sophora alopecuroides. Furthermore, P. punicae is recorded on a wild-grown cultivar of Punica granatum, and two additional species reported, namely Pseudocercospora sp. A on Phaseolus vulgaris and Pseudocercospora sp. B on Diospyros lotus. Pseudocercospora norchiensis is recorded for the first time in Asia, where it occurs on a wide host range, contrary to most other species of Pseudocercospora, which appear to be highly host specific.

Oxysophoridine attenuates the injury caused by acute myocardial infarction in rats through anti-oxidative, anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic pathways.

Oxysophoridine (OSR), a natural alkaloid derived from the traditional Chinese medicinal plant sophora alopecuroides, can perform a variety of pharmacological actions. The aim of the present study was to assess the cardioprotective effect of OSR against acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in rats. OSR markedly reduced infarction size and levels of specific myocardial enzymes, including creatine kinase, the MB isoenzyme of creatine kinase, lactate dehydrogenase and cardiac troponin T. A reduced level of malondialdehyde was observed, and elevated catalase, Cu/Zn-superoxide dismutase (SOD), Mn-SOD, non-enzymatic scavenger glutathione and glutathione peroxidase activity were also identified in the OSR-treated rats. Additionally, OSR inhibited the activities of various inflammatory cytokines in a dose-dependent manner. These included nuclear factor-κB p65, tumor necrosis factor-α, and interleukin-1β, -6 and -10. Furthermore, OSR treatment suppressed caspase-3 activity in a dose-dependent manner. These results demonstrate that OSR ameliorates cardiac damage in a rat model of AMI and that this cardioprotection may be linked with its anti-oxidative, anti-apoptotic and anti-inflammatory properties.

Molecular cloning, expression, and characterization of a &amp;lt;italic&amp;gt;Sophora alopecuroides&amp;lt;/italic&amp;gt; lectin from &amp;lt;italic&amp;gt;Escherichia coli&amp;lt;/italic&amp;gt;

Sophora alopecuroides lectin (SAL) has been isolated from the seeds and confirmed to have antifungal and antitumor activities, and presently the preparation of the natural lectin was cumbersome, time-consuming, and the yield was relatively low for further analysis. In this study, the signal peptide of lectin, the modification sites, and the secondary structure were analyzed, and the three-dimensional structures of SAL were modeled. The gene of SAL was amplified by the reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, and cloned into the pET-30a vector and expressed in Escherichia coli BL21(DE3) by the induction of isopropyl-beta-d-thiogalactopyranoside. Totally, 400 mg of recombinant SAL (rSAL) was purified from 1 l of bacterial culture through Ni-NTA agarose column and the purity reached 95%. The recombinant protein was further confirmed by western blot using rSAL-specific antibody. The biological activity analysis results showed that rSAL exclusively bound to d-galactose and had universal hemagglutinating activities to human A, B, O, and AB, and rabbit and mouse erythrocytes. rSAL also inhibited the growth of fungi, the proliferation of cancer cells, and the HIV-I reverse transcriptase activity. In conclusion, this study indicates that rSAL can be produced in large quantities in the prokaryotic expression system and the recombinant protein still retains the various biological activities, which will make the large-scale production of SAL recombinant protein at dramatically reduced cost possible.

A preliminary study of water use strategy of desert plants in Dunhuang, China

Water is a restrictive factor for plant growth and ecosystem stability in arid and semiarid areas. The dynamics of water availability in soils and water use by plants are consequently critical to ecosystem functions, e.g. maintaining a high resistance to the changing climate. Plant water use strategies, including water-use efficiency (WUE) and the main water source that a plant species utilizes, play an important role in the evaluation of stability and sustainability of a plantation. The water use strategies of desert plants (Tamarix chinensis, Alhagi sparsifolia, Elaeagnus angustifolia, Sophora alopecuroides, Bassia dasyphylla and Nitraria sphaerocarpa) in three different habitats (saline land, sandy land and Gobi) in Dunhuang (located in the typical arid area of northwestern China) were studied. The stable isotope of oxygen was used to determine the main water source and leaf carbon isotope discrimination was used to estimate the long-term WUE of plant species in the summer of 2010. The results suggest that: 1) the studied desert plants took up soil water below the depth of 80 cm; 2) T. chinensis in the three habitats used deeper soil water and T. chinensis in the Gobi site had higher WUE than those in the saline land and the sandy land. The results indicated that desert plants in Dunhuang depended on stable water source and maintained high WUE to survive in water limited environments.

Extraction and isolation of alkaloids of Sophora alopecuroides and their anti-tumor effects in H22 tumor-bearing mice.

Alkaloids of Sophora alopecuroides have good biological activity, and are widely used in clinical settings, which not only have pharmacological activities of anti-cancer, cancer suppression, as well as the inhibition, and killing of various microorganisms; but also possess extensive pharmacological effects on immune system, nervous system and cardiovascular system. The objective of this paper was to extract and isolate total alkaloids of Sophora alopecuroides (TASA), and to study their anti-tumor effects in H22 tumor-bearing mice. TASA were extracted and isolated using thin-layer chromatography, and column chromatography; and the isolated compounds were analyzed using nuclear magnetic resonance. The inhibitory effects of TASA on tumor in H22-bearing mice were determined by MTT assay. Three compounds were isolated from Sophora alopecuroides L., which were matrine, oxymatrine and sophoridine, respectively. Meanwhile, mouse H22 sarcoma model was established and different doses of TASA apparently inhibited solid H22-tumor in mice; it inhibited the thymus, and spleen to some extent; the degree of inhibition was more obvious for the spleen. TASA has an anti-tumor effect in H22 tumor-bearing mice.

First report of a ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma solani’ isolate affecting Sophora alopecuroides in Iran

Sophora alopecuroides (Sophora root) is one of several herbaceous species of Fabaceae, native to southeast Europe, southern Asia, Australasia, Pacific Islands, Western South America and Puerto Rico that possesses medicinal properties. However, in many areas of Iran it is regarded as a rather notorious weed species requiring control. In September 2012, symptoms of leaf yellowing, little leaf and stunting were observed on S. alopecuroides plants in the suburb of Firooz-kuh, Tehran province (Fig. 1). Total DNA was isolated from the leaf midrib and stem tissues of six symptom-bearing (Fig. 1a) and two symptomless plants (Fig. 1b) using the CTAB extraction method (Maixner et al., 4) and DNeasy Plant Mini kit (Qiagen, UK). Total DNA was used as template in a nested-PCR with phytoplasma universal 16S rDNA primers P1/P7 in the first PCR round, and fU5/rU3 in the nested reaction (Duduk et al., 2). PCR amplicons of expected size (approx. 850 bp) were obtained from all six samples of symptom-bearing plants but not from the symptomless plants. The PCR products were purified and directly sequenced. Sequences were compared to those of the reference phytoplasmas present in GenBank using BLAST, and subjected to phylogeny analysis using the neighbour-joining method of MEGA 5.0 software (Tamura et al., 5). The fU5/rU3 sequences (GenBank Accession No. KF263685, KF374706) were 99% identical to each other, and exhibited 99% of sequence identity with those of phytoplasmas of the 16SrXII group ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma solani’. The phytoplasma identified from S. alopecuroides in Firooz-kuh, Iran, clustered with isolates of 16SrXII, subgroup A (16SrXII-A) (Fig. 2). Previous reports of 16SrXII phytoplasma affecting Sophora species include that associated with S. japonicum yellows (Duduk et al., 3) in China. Other phytoplasmas have been identified in S. japonicum including ‘Ca. phytoplasma ziziphi’ in China, associated with witches' broom, and a 16SrI phytoplasma ‘Ca. Phytoplasma asteris’ associated with Sophora root yellows (Yu et al., 1; Chen et al., 6). These results suggest that S. alopecuroides may be a potential secondary host for the 16SrXII phytoplasma, which could rapidly spread within the Tehran province. To our knowledge this is the first report of a ‘Ca. Phytoplasma solani’ isolate affecting S. alopecuroides in Firooz-kuh, Iran.

Identification of physical dormancy and dormancy release patterns in several species (Fabaceae) of the cold desert, north-west China

AbstractA clear understanding of the mechanisms involved in releasing seed dormancy is important for effective plant conservation and regeneration of desert species. The dormancy types and dormancy release mechanisms of 19 Fabaceae species from four cold deserts in Xinjiang province, China, were studied. An imbibition experiment was performed to determine the presence or absence of physical dormancy. Other treatments included mechanical scarification, sulphuric acid scarification and simulation of summer temperatures typically encountered in the field. High summer temperature treatments included a maximum soil temperature of 80°C, 65°C and 40°C, conducted under dry and wet conditions. The results showed that all the species had orthodox seeds.Caragana korshinskii,Caragana intermedia,Caragana microphyllaandOnobrychis taneiticaseeds were not dormant.Glycyrrhiza uralensis,Ammodendron bifolium,Vicia costataandEremosparton songoricumseeds had combinational dormancy (PY+PD) whereas the other 11 species had physical dormancy. The mechanical scarification and sulphuric acid scarification treatments were significant to break dormancy (&gt;80%).Melilotus suaveolensandOxytropissp. seeds were temperature-insensitive.Sophora alopecuroides,S. salsula,E. songoricum,A. bifoliumandCassia toraseeds were wet-heat sensitive.Glycyrrhiza glabraseeds were dry-heat sensitive, while those ofHalimodendron halodendronandAstragalus lehmannianuswere sensitive to both dry and wet heat. Although high temperatures, typical of summer, promoted the breaking of physical dormancy, the proportion of seeds of which dormancy was broken differed among species. These differences were indicative of the conditions in which the species are found naturally. Species may have different adaptations that promote favourable regeneration. Given suitable temperature and moisture conditions similar to those in their natural environment, most species were capable of regeneration.

Preparation of total alkaloids from Sophora alopecuroides freeze-dried powders and investigation of its antitumor effects

To investigate molding technology of total alkaloids from Sophora alopecuroides freeze-dried powders and observe its inhibition effects on liver transplantation tumor in mice. With color, clarity, water-soluble and formability as indexes, single factor tests were adopted to screen type and amount of filler, the concentration of total alkaloids in drug liquid, pH in order to determine optimum prescription of total alkaloids from S. alopecuroides freeze-dried powders, the lowest melting point was determined and freeze drying curve was drafted. Mice hepatoma H22 ascites tumor strain was sterile inoculated in right axillary subcutaneous of mice, and antitumor effect of total alkaloids from S. alopecuroides freeze-dried powders on liver transplantation tumor H22 in mice. When selected 80 g x L(-1) as mannitol as filler, the concentration of total alkaloids in drug liquid was 25 g x L(-1) and pH 6.5-7.5, freeze-dried effect was optimum with fast reconstitute speed. Average inhibition rate of the big (120 mg x kg(-1)) and medium (60 mg x kg(-1)) dose group of total alkaloids from S. alopecuroides freeze-dried powders on liver transplantation tumor H22 in mice were 56.08% and 35.49%, respectively. Preparation technology was reasonable, reproducible and stable, total alkaloids from S. alopecuroides freeze-dried powders had significant antitumor effect and showed a dose-effect relationship.

Aloperine induces G2/M phase cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in HCT116 human colon cancer cells

Aloperine (ALO) is a quinolizidine alkaloid extracted from the leaves of Sophora alopecuroides (S. alopecuroides) and possesses anti-inflammatory, anti-allergenic, antitumor, and antiviral effects. In this study, when compared with seven other types of alkaloids extracted from S. alopecuroides, ALO treatment produced the most potent effects against HCT116 colon cancer cell types. ALO inhibited proliferation and induced apoptosis in HCT116 cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner as detected by MTT, clonogenic survival, and flow cytometric assays. Results of the western blot analysis and qPCR revealed that ALO increased the protein and mRNA of Bax and decreased Bcl-2 via the mitochondrial death pathway. In addition, ALO induced cell cycle arrest at the G2/M phase with a concomitant increase in p21 and p53 and a decrease in cyclin D1 and B1. ALO also inhibited phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/Akt and JAK/Stat3. Generally, ALO exerted a significant anti-proliferative effect via apoptotic and cell cycle arrest induction in HCT116 cells. These results suggested that ALO should be investigated further as an agent of chemotherapeutic activity in human colon cancer.

Oral sophocarpine protects rat heart against pressure overload-induced cardiac fibrosis

Context: Sophocarpine, a tetracyclic quinolizidine alkaloid, is one of the most abundant active ingredients in Sophora alopecuroides Linn. (Kudouzi). Sophocarpine injection was found to have significant antiviral effects against coxsackievirus B3 and therapeutic effects for viral myocarditis in the clinic.Objective: This study assessed the effects of sophocapine on overload-induced cardiac fibrosis and investigated potential mechanisms.Materials and methods: Adult male Sprague–Dawley rats were subjected to a suprarenal abdominal aorta constriction (AC) or sham to induce sustained pressure overload. Six weeks later, rats were randomly assigned to receive sophocapine (10, 20, and 40 mg/kg, gavage) or vehicle treatment for an additional 6 weeks. Six weeks after treatment, cardiac dysfunction, cardiac coefficient, cardiac fibrosis, hydroxyproline concentration, and inflammation mediators were examined.Results: When compared with the model group, the left ventricular weight/body weight decreased by 25.4% and 39.0% in 20 and 40 mg/kg sophocarpine groups, respectively. The beneficial effects were associated with amelioration of left ventricular systolic pressure (LVSP) and left ventricular enddiastolic pressure (LVEDP). Moreover, pressure overload-induced cardiac fibrosis was attenuated in sophocarpine treated groups. Importantly, sophocarpine (20 and 40 mg/kg) decreased pro-inflammatory cytokine levels (IL-6, 14.6% and 18.5%; IL-1β, 23.1% and 32.6%), collagen content (27.7% and 50.1%), as well as matrix metalloproteinases-2, 9 (MMP-2, 9) expression (MMP-2, 11.8% and 18.5%; MMP-9, 16.2% and 21.1%). Sophocarpine (40 mg/kg) inhibited IκB-α phosphorylation (19.0%).Conclusion: These findings indicated that sophocarpine potentially had antifibrotic effects. The mechanism might be due to modulation of the balance between pro-inflammatory cytokine expression and collagen content level as well as MMPs expression via the NF-κB signaling pathway.

Separation and enrichment of major quinolizidine type alkaloids from Sophora alopecuroides using macroporous resins

Matrine (MT), oxymatrine (OM) and sophoridine (SP) are three bioactive alkaloids in Sophora alopecuroides. In the present study, the chromatographic characteristics of six widely used macroporous resins, namely NKA, NKA-9, HPD-100, HPD-722, HPD-750, and AB-8, respectively, towards the separation and enrichment of the three alkaloids from the aqueous extract of S. alopecuroides are critically evaluated. The results indicated that AB-8 resin offered the best absorption and desorption capacity and its adsorption data fitted best to the Freundlich isotherm. Dynamic adsorption and desorption experiments on packed columns of AB-8 resin have been investigated for optimization of chromatographic parameters. The adsorption of the alkaloids on the resin was best achieved by 5 bed volume (BV) of sample solution of pH 10 with a flow rate of 2BV/h. The desorption of the compounds from the resin was effectively completed by using 5BV of 80% ethanol in water at a flow rate of 2BV/h. After one run of adsorption and desorption, the contents of MT, OM, and SP were increased from 9.30, 8.39 and 9.84% to 22.22, 21.44 and 28.02%, the recovery were 69.4, 78.3 and 72.6%, respectively. This method would provide useful information to the industrial production of the alkaloids from S. alopecuroides.

Study on the inhibitory effect of total alkaloids of &lt;i&gt;Sophora Alopecuroides&lt;/i&gt; on osteosarcoma cell growth

Ku Dou Zi is the dried whole plant, roots and seeds of Sophora alopecuroides L. in the genus Sophora of family Leguminosae. The entire plant is bitter in taste, cold in nature, and has the heat clearing, detoxifying, pathogenic wind dispelling dampness, analgesic, and insecticidal effects. Modern pharmacological studies have proved that TASA has pharmacological activities of anti-cancer. The objective of this paper was to investigate the inhibitory effect of total alkaloids of Sophora alopecuroides (TASA), on osteosarcoma cell growth and its mechanism. MTT assay and flow cytometry were used to study the inhibitory effect of TASA on human osteosarcoma cell line OS732. The results showed that the inhibition rates of different concentrations of TASA (1.5, 3, and 4.5g/kg), against human osteosarcoma cell line OS732, were: 18.4%, 27.4% and 52.8%, respectively. TASA has an inhibitory effect on osteosarcoma cell growth.

Development and validation of a hydrophilic interaction ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography with triple quadrupole MS/MS for the absolute and relative quantification of amino acids in Sophora alopecuroides L.†

Amino acids are naturally occurring compounds in many edible or medicinal plants, which possess a variety of pharmacological effects on humans. The aim of this study is to develop and validate a hydrophilic interaction LC coupled with MS/MS method for the absolute and relative quantification of amino acids without derivatization. The application of this method has been proven through 20 naturally occurring amino acids in 21 samples from different parts and phenological growth stage of Sophora alopecuroides. The method was performed on an ultra-high performance LC separation system coupled with ESI-MS on a triple quadrupole mass spectrometer. The proposed absolute quantitative method was fully validated in terms of linearity, sensitivity, precision, repeatability as well as recovery. The analysis results showed that S. alopecuroides is rich in free amino acids. In addition, relative quantitative determination of amino acids with several amino acids selected for the best accuracy was investigated. The accuracies of relative quantitative method for amino acids determinations suggest that it is feasible to quantify amino acids by the proposed relative quantitative determination method, which contributes to breaking through the choke point of lack of standards.

Protective effect of oxysophoridine on cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury in mice.

Oxysophoridine, a new alkaloid extracted from Sophora alopecuroides L., has been shown to have a protective effect against ischemic brain damage. In this study, a focal cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury model was established using middle cerebral artery occlusion in mice. Both 62.5, 125, and 250 mg/kg oxysophoridine, via intraperitoneal injection, and 6 mg/kg nimodipine, via intragastric administration, were administered daily for 7 days before modeling. After 24 hours of reperfusion, mice were tested for neurological deficit, cerebral infarct size was assessed and brain tissue was collected. Results showed that oxysophoridine at 125, 250 mg/kg and 6 mg/kg nimodipine could reduce neurological deficit scores, cerebral infarct size and brain water content in mice. These results provided evidence that oxysophoridine plays a protective role in cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury. In addition, oxysophoridine at 62.5, 125, and 250 mg/kg and 6 mg/kg nimodipine increased adenosine-triphosphate content, and decreased malondialdehyde and nitric oxide content. These compounds enhanced the activities of glutathione-peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, catalase, and lactate dehydrogenase, and decreased the activity of nitric oxide synthase. Protein and mRNA expression levels of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor subunit NR1 were markedly inhibited in the presence of 250 mg/kg oxysophoridine and 6 mg/kg nimodipine. Our experimental findings indicated that oxysophoridine has a neuroprotective effect against cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury in mice, and that the effect may be due to its ability to inhibit oxidative stress and expression of the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor subunit NR1.

Molecular identification of a phytoplasma associated with Sophora Root yellows

SummaryA phytoplasma infecting Sophora Root (Sophora alopecuroides) was detected and identified in Alar, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region of China. Typical phytoplasma bodies were observed in sieve tubes of the diseased plants by transmission electron microscopy. A partial 16S rRNA gene and ribosomal protein (rp) genes containing rpl22 (rplV) and rps3 (rpsC) were amplified by direct and nested PCR. Based on the sequence similarity of the 16S rRNA and rp genes with accompanying phylogenetic analyses, the phytoplasma associated with Sophora Root yellows belongs to the 16SrI group (aster yellows group). Virtual RFLP analysis of these 16S rRNA and rp gene sequences showed distinct differences from those of reference phytoplasma strains representing previously described subgroups of the 16SrI group. Moreover, the similarity coefficient (0.92) of the RFLP profile of this phytoplasma was less than the threshold similarity coefficient (0.97) required for subgroup classification. Thus, the phytoplasma isolate of Sophora Root plants, designated as ‘SoRY’, represents a new subgroup. Furthermore, this is the first report of phytoplasma disease associated with Sophora Root plants.

Antinociceptive effects of matrine on neuropathic pain induced by chronic constriction injury

Context: Sophora alopecuroides L. (Leguminosae) is a commonly used Chinese herbal drug that possesses antipyretic, anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects. Among various alkaloids isolated from S. alopecuroides, matrine has been identified as the major bioactive component contributing to a variety of pharmacological effects, and studies have also shown that matrine has an analgesic effect.Objective: To investigate the antinociceptive effects of matrine on neuropathic pain induced by chronic constriction injury (CCI) in mice.Materials and methods: The von Frey, plantar, cold-plate, locomotor activity and rota-rod test were performed to assess the degree of mechanical, radiant, thermal, spontaneous locomotor activity and motor coordination changes respectively, at different time intervals, i.e., one day before surgery and 7, 8, 10, 12 and 14 days post surgery. Matrine was administered from the 8th day after the surgery for seven days.Results: Our present study shows that matrine at the dose of 30 mg/kg i.p. increased the paw withdrawal threshold (0.88 ± 0.16), paw withdrawal latency (7.01 ± 0.11) and the counts of paw withdrawal (19.7 ± 1.15) from the day 8 for the nerve injured paw compared to the CCI group (0.18 ± 0.04, 4.62 ± 0.18, 44.3 ± 2.99, respectively). Matrine, in a dose-dependent effect, was also found to produce a protective role in both plantar and cold-plate tests. The analysis of the effect supports the hypothesis that matrine is useful in neuropathic pain therapy.Discussion and conclusion: The results of this study suggest that matrine could be useful in the treatment of different kinds of neuropathic pains as an adjuvant to conventional medicines.