Simultaneous determination and pharmacokinetics of four triterpenoids by ultra high performance liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry after the oral administration ofAcanthopanax sessiliflorus(Rupr. et Maxim) Seem extract : Liquid Chromatography

Aberrant angiogenesis is an essential step for the progression of solid tumors. Thus anti-angiogenic therapy is one of the most promising approaches to control tumor growth. In this study, we examined the ability of 20(R)-ginsenoside Rg3 (Rg3), one of the active compounds present in ginseng root, to interfere with the various steps of angiogenesis. Rg3 was found to inhibit the proliferation of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) with an IC50 of 10 nM in Trypan blue exclusion assay. Rg3 (1-10(3) nM) also dose dependently suppressed the capillary tube formation of HUVEC on the Matrigel in the presence or absence of 20 ng/ml vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). The VEGF-induced chemoinvasion of HUVEC and ex vivo microvascular sprouting in rat aortic ring assay were both significantly attenuated by Rg3. In addition, Rg3 (150 and 600 nM) remarkably abolished the basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF)-induced angiogenesis in an in vivo Matrigel plug assay. The Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), such as MMP-2 and MMP-9, which play an important role in the degradation of basement membrane in angiogenesis and tumor metastasis present in the culture supernatant of Rg3-treated aortic ring culture were found to decrease in their gelatinolytic activities. Taken together, these data underpin the anti-tumor property of Rg3 through its angiosuppressive activity.

Semen Cassiae, called Juemingzi in China, is the seed of the annual Cassia obtusifolia L., of the leguminosae family. It has been used as healthy drinks to alleviate constipation and improve eyesight for many years in China.

To find the antiinflammtory constituents of Acanthopanax chiisanensis (Araliaceae) leaves, phytochemical isolation procedures were performed by activity-guided fractionation in carrageenan- and Freund's complete adjuvant (FCA) reagent-induced rat models, respectively. In the two assay system, the MeOH extract (100 and 250 mg/kg, p.o.) showed significant antiinflammtory effects. Since BuOH extract among the fractionated extracts exhibited the most potent effect, it was subjected to column chromatography to yield a main triterpene glycoside, chiisanoside (1). This compound was hydrolyzed in alkaline solution to find the biological activity of produced aglycone, chiisanogenin (1a). Oral treatment with compounds 1 and 1a produced significant antiinflammtory effects at 10 and 30 mg/kg dose, and 1a was more potent than 1. The antiiflammtory effects of the two compounds were supported by the reduction of carrageenan-induced lipid peroxidation and hydroxy radical in serum. Furthermore, treatment with 1 and 1a significantly reduced rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and C-reactive protein (CRP) factors in the rat induced by Freund's complete adjuvant reagent. Compounds, 1 and 1a, inhibited xanthine oxidase activity and increased superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase and catalase indicating that both compounds scavenged reactive oxygen species (ROS).