Search Results (9)

Osteosarcoma is a primary malignant tumor found in the bones of children and adolescents. Unfortunately, many patients do not respond well to treatment and succumb to the illness. Therefore, it is necessary to discover novel bioactive compounds to overcome therapeutic limitations. Liriope platyphylla Wang et Tang is a well-known herb used in oriental medicine. Studies have shown that metabolic diseases can be clinically treated using the roots of L. platyphylla. Recent studies have demonstrated the anticarcinoma potential of root extracts; however, the exact mechanism remains unclear. The aim of this study was to examine the anti-osteosarcoma activity of a single compound extracted from the dried roots of L. platyphylla. We purified Spicatoside A (SpiA) from the dried roots of L. platyphylla. SpiA significantly inhibited the proliferation of human osteosarcoma MG63 cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner. SpiA also regulated the expression of various downstream proteins that mediate apoptosis (PARP, Bcl-2, and Bax), cell growth (cyclin D1, Cdk4, and Cdk6), angiogenesis (VEGF), and metastasis (MMP13). The Proteome Profiler Human Phospho-Kinase Array Kit showed that the AKT signaling protein was a target of SpiA in osteosarcoma cells. We also found that SpiA suppressed the constitutive activation of the PI3K-AKT-mTOR-p70S6K1 signaling pathway. We further validated the effects of SpiA on the AKT signaling pathway. SpiA induced autophagosome formation and suppressed necroptosis (a form of programmed cell death). SpiA increased the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and led to the loss of mitochondrial membrane potential. N-acetylcysteine (NAC)-induced inhibition of ROS generation reduced SpiA-induced AKT inhibition, apoptotic cell death, and anti-metastatic effects by suppressing cell migration and invasion. Overall, these results highlight the anti-osteosarcoma effect of SpiA by inhibiting the AKT signaling pathway through ROS generation, suggesting that SpiA may be a promising compound for the treatment of human osteosarcoma. Full article

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic inflammatory skin disease influenced by a complex interplay of genetic and environmental factors. The activation of the JAK-STAT pathway increases the expression of inflammatory cytokines such as IL-4 and IL-13, further deteriorating AD. Therefore, for the treatment of AD, the JAK-STAT pathway is emerging as a significant target, alongside inflammatory cytokines. This study investigates the potential therapeutic effects of a novel herbal complex, LK5, composed of Scutellaria baicalensis, Liriope platyphylla, Sophora flavescens, Dictammus dasycarpus, and Phellodendron schneider, known for their anti-inflammatory and immune-modulating properties. We examined the anti-inflammatory and anti-AD effects of the LK5 herbal complex in HaCaT cells stimulated by LPS and IL-4/IL-13, as well as in a mouse model of AD induced by DNCB. In HaCaT cells stimulated with LPS or IL-4/IL-13, the LK5 herbal complex demonstrated anti-inflammatory effects by inhibiting the expression of inflammatory cytokines including TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β, and downregulating the phosphorylation of STAT proteins. In a murine AD-like model induced by DNCB, administration of the LK5 herbal complex significantly ameliorated clinical symptoms, including dermatitis, ear thickness, and TEWL. Histological analysis revealed a reduction in epidermal thickness and mast cell infiltration. The LK5 herbal complex also inhibited pruritus induced by compound 48/80. Furthermore, the LK5 herbal complex treatment significantly decreased the levels of inflammatory cytokines such as TSLP, IL-6, and IgE in plasma and ear tissue of AD-induced mice. These findings suggest that the LK5 herbal complex may modulate the immune response and alleviate AD symptoms by inhibiting STAT pathways. Full article

Complement component 3 (C3) deficiency has recently been known as a cause of constipation, without studies on the therapeutic efficacy. To evaluate the therapeutic agents against C3-deficiency-induced constipation, improvements in the constipation-related parameters and the associated molecular mechanisms were examined in FVB/N-C3^em1Hlee/Korl knockout (C3 KO) mice treated with uridine (Urd) and the aqueous extract of Liriope platyphylla L. (AEtLP) with laxative activity. The stool parameters and gastrointestinal (GI) transit were increased in Urd- and AEtLP-treated C3 KO mice compared with the vehicle (Veh)-treated C3 KO mice. Urd and AEtLP treatment improved the histological structure, junctional complexes of the intestinal epithelial barrier (IEB), mucin secretion ability, and water retention capacity. Also, an improvement in the composition of neuronal cells, the regulation of excitatory function mediated via the 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) receptors and muscarinic acetylcholine receptors (mAChRs), and the regulation of the inhibitory function mediated via the neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) and inducible NOS (iNOS) were detected in the enteric nervous system (ENS) of Urd- and AEtLP-treated C3 KO mice. Therefore, the results of the present study suggest that C3-deficiency-induced constipation can improve with treatment with Urd and AEtLP via the regulation of the mucin secretion ability, water retention capacity, and ENS function. Full article

Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory mechanisms counteract the pathogenesis of chronic diseases, such as diabetes, aging, and cancer. Therefore, enhancing antioxidant and anti-inflammatory functions may help manage these pathological conditions. This study aimed to assess the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory potentials of lipophilic fraction of Liriope platyphylla seeds (LLPS) using network pharmacology, molecular docking, and in vitro experiments. Here GC–MS analysis tentatively identified forty-three lipophilic compounds in LLPS. LLPS exhibited powerful antioxidant activity, according to the results from chemical-based antioxidant assays on DPPH, ABTS⁺, superoxide anion, hydrogen peroxide, nitric oxide, and hydroxyl radicals scavenging, lipid peroxidation, reducing antioxidant powers, and total antioxidant capacity. Additionally, LLPS enhanced cellular antioxidant capacity by inhibiting reactive oxygen species formation and elevating antioxidant enzyme levels, including catalase and heme oxygenase-1. Moreover, LLPS attenuated inflammatory response by reducing nitric oxide secretion and downregulating the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase, cyclooxygenase-2, and interleukin-1β in lipopolysaccharide-treated macrophages. Network pharmacology and molecular docking analyses showed that key compounds in LPPS, particularly phytosterols and fatty acid esters, exerted antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties through regulating NFKB1, PTGS1, PTGS2, TLR4, PRKCA, PRKCD, KEAP1, NFE2L2, and NR1l2. Overall, these data suggest that LLPS may be a potential antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent for developing functional foods. Full article

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a common metabolic disorder that causes excess lipid accumulation in the liver and is the leading cause of end-stage liver disease. Liriope platyphylla is a medicinal herb that has long been used to treat cough, obesity, and diabetes. However, the effect of Liriope platyphylla on NAFLD has not been studied. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of Liriope platyphylla root ethanolic extract (LPE) on hepatic lipid accumulation in high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obese mice. Six-week-old C57BL/6 male mice were fed a HFD for 8 weeks and then treated with LPE (100 or 250 mg/kg/day) by oral gavage for another 8 weeks. Body weight gain and liver weight were significantly lower in the 250 mg/kg LPE-treated HFD group than in the vehicle-treated HFD group. Histological analysis of liver sections demonstrated that LPE treatment reduced lipid accumulation compared to the vehicle treatment. The serum total cholesterol, AST, and ALT levels significantly decreased in the LPE-treated HFD group compared to those in the vehicle-treated HFD group. The LPE significantly decreases the protein expression levels of SREBP1, ACC, p-ACC, FAS, and SCD1, which are involved in lipogenesis, and PPARγ, CD36/FAT, and FATP5, which are involved in fatty acid uptake, both in vivo and in vitro. Thus, LPE may attenuate HFD-induced NAFLD by decreasing lipid accumulation by inhibiting lipogenesis and fatty acid uptake. Full article

In this study we investigated the mitigating effects of Liriope platyphylla Wang et Tang extract on behavioral sensitization and the quantification of its major compounds. The extract of L. platyphylla reduces the expression of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) protein, which is increased by nicotine, back to normal levels, and increases the expression of dopamine transporter (DAT) protein, which is reduced by nicotine, back to normal levels in PC12 cells. In this study, rats received nicotine (0.4 mg/kg, subcutaneously) only for seven days and then received extract of L. platyphylla (200 or 400 mg/kg, oral) 1 h prior to nicotine administration for an additional seven days. The extract of L. platyphylla reduced locomotor activity compared to the nicotine control group in rats. The extract of L. platyphylla significantly attenuated the repeated nicotine-induced DAT protein expression in the nucleus accumbens (NAc), but there was no effect on increased TH protein expression in the dorsal striatum. These findings suggest that L. platyphylla extract has a mitigating effect on nicotine-induced behavioral sensitization by modulating DAT protein expression in the NAc. For quality control of L. plathyphylla, spicatoside A and D, which are saponin compounds, were quantified in the L. platyphylla extract. The amounts of spicatoside A and D in L. platyphylla extract obtained from ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry were 0.148 and 0.272 mg/g, respectively. The identification of these compounds in L. platyphylla, which can be used for quality control, provides important information for the development of drugs to treat nicotine dependence. Full article

Liriope platyphylla (Liliaceae), a medical plant distributed mainly in China, Taiwan, and Korea, has been used traditionally for the treatment of cough, sputum, asthma, and neurodegenerative diseases. The present study involved the metabolic profiling of this plant and reports spicatoside A accumulation in four different varieties of L. platyphylla (Cheongyangjaerae, Seongsoo, Cheongsim, and Liriope Tuber No. 1) using HPLC and gas chromatography time-of-flight mass spectrometry (GC–TOFMS). A total of 47 metabolites were detected in the different cultivars using GC–TOFMS-based metabolic profiling. The resulting data were subjected to principal component analysis (PCA) for determining the whole experimental variation, and the different cultivars were separated by score plots. Furthermore, hierarchical clustering, Pearson’s correlation, and partial least-squares discriminant analyses (PLS-DA) were subsequently performed to determine significant differences in the various metabolites of the cultivars. The HPLC data revealed that the presence of spicatoside A was detected in all four cultivars, with the amount of spicatoside A varying among them. Among the cultivars, Liriope Tuber No. 1 contained the highest amount of spicatoside A (1.83 ± 0.13 mg/g dry weight), followed by Cheongyangjaerae (1.25 ± 0.01 mg/g dry weight), Cheongsim (1.09 ± 0.04 mg/g dry weight), and Seongsoo (1.01 ± 0.02 mg/g dry weight). The identification of spicatoside A was confirmed by comparing the retention time of the sample with the retention time of the standard. Moreover, the Cheongsim cultivar contained higher levels of phenolic compounds—including vanillic acid, quinic acid, gallic acid, chlorogenic acid, caffeic acid, and benzoic acid—than those of the other two cultivars. On the other hand, the levels of amino acids were higher in the Seongsoo cultivar. Therefore, this study may help breeders produce new varieties with improved nutraceutical and nutritional qualities. Full article

One new benzofuran, (2R)-(2',4'-dihydroxybenzyl)-6,7-methylenedioxy-2,3-dihydrobenzofuran (1), one new phenylisocoumarin, 3-(2'-hydroxyphenyl)-6,8-dihydroxy-7-methoxy-isocoumarin (2), and one new benzofuroisocoumarin, platyphyllarin C (3), were isolated from the ethanolic extract of Liriope platyphylla aerial parts, along with seventeen known compounds. The structures of the isolates were established by spectroscopic analysis and comparison with the literature data. The results indicated that structures 1–3 are uncommon in Nature. Benzofuroisocoumarin 4, flavonoids 9, 10, and 13–15, and homoisoflavonoids 19 and 20 exhibited significant binding activity to estrogen-receptor α and/or β as demonstrated by the SEAP reporter assay system in an MCF-7 cell-line. Full article

The tuber of Liriope platyphylla Wang et Tang (Liliaceae), also known as Liriopis tuber, is famous in Oriental medicine owing to its tonic, antitussive, expectorant and anti-asthmatic properties. In the present study, the effects of Liriopis tuber water extract (LP) on proinflammatory mediators secreted from lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced cultured RAW 264.7 mouse macrophages were investigated. Nitric oxide (NO), prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and intracellular calcium release were measured after 24 h incubation. Various cytokines and nuclear transcription factors (NF-κB and CREB) of LPS-induced RAW 264.7 were measured by a multiplex bead array assay based on xMAP technology. LP (up to 200 μg/mL) significantly decreased levels of nitric oxide (NO), interleukin (IL)-6, IL-10, IL-12p40, interferon-inducible protein-10, keratinocyte-derived chemokine, monocyte chemotactic protein-1, vascular endothelial growth factor, granulocyte macrophage-colony stimulating factor, platelet derived growth factor, PGE2, intracellular calcium, NF-κB and CREB in LPS-induced RAW 264.7 cells (p < 0.05). The results suggest that LP has immunomodulatory activity to reduce excessive immune reactions during the activation of macrophages by LPS. Further studies are needed to verify the precise mechanism regulating immunomodulatory activities of LP. Full article