Displaying publications 1 - 20 of 91 in total

Abstract:
Sort:
  1. Mohamad K, Martin MT, Najdar H, Gaspard C, Sévenet T, Awang K, et al.
    J Nat Prod, 1999 Jun;62(6):868-72.
    PMID: 10395505
    Nine 3,4-secoapotirucallanes, argentinic acids A-I, were isolated from the bark of Aglaia argentea and transformed to their methyl esters 1-9. The structures were determined by spectral and chemical means. Compounds 1-8 showed moderate cytotoxic activity against KB cells (IC50 1.0-3.5 microg/mL).
    Matched MeSH terms: Triterpenes/pharmacology
  2. Coldren CD, Hashim P, Ali JM, Oh SK, Sinskey AJ, Rha C
    Planta Med, 2003 Aug;69(8):725-32.
    PMID: 14531023
    The molecular pathways underlying the diverse biological activity of the triterpeniod compounds isolated from the tropical medicinal plant Centella asiatica were studied with gene microarrays and real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (real-time RT-PCR) to quantify the expression of 1053 human genes in human fibroblasts. Fibroblast cells grown in culture were used as a model system to evaluate the stimulation of wound healing by titrated extract from Centella asiatica (TECA) as well as by the four principal triterpenoid components of Centella. TECA treatment effects the expression of genes involved in angiogenesis and the remodeling of extracellular matrix, as well as diverse growth factor genes. The extent of expression change of TNFAIP6, an extracellular hyaluronan binding protein, was found to be largely dose-dependent, to respond most strongly to the free acids asiatic acid and madecassic acid, and to increase in expression over 48 hours of treatment. These results show that Centella triterpenes evoke a gene-expression response consistent with their prevailing medical uses in the treatment of connective tissue disorders such as wound healing and microangiopathy. The identification of genes modulated by these compounds provides the basis for a molecular understanding of Centella's bioactivity, and opportunities for the quantitative correlation of this activity with clinical effectiveness at a molecular level.
    Matched MeSH terms: Triterpenes/pharmacology*
  3. Gadahad MR, Rao M, Rao G
    J Chin Med Assoc, 2008 Jan;71(1):6-13.
    PMID: 18218554
    BACKGROUND: Centella asiatica (CeA) is a creeper, growing in moist places in India and other Asian countries. Leaves of CeA are used for memory enhancement in the Ayurvedic system of medicine, an alternate system of medicine in India. In the present study, we investigated the role of CeA fresh leaf extract treatment on the dendritic morphology of hippocampal CA3 neurons, one of the regions concerned with learning and memory, in adult rats.

    METHODS: In the present study, adult rats (2.5 months old) were fed with 2, 4 and 6 mL/kg body weight of fresh leaf extract of CeA for 2, 4 and 6 weeks, respectively. After the treatment period, the rats were killed, brains were removed and hippocampal neurons were impregnated with silver nitrate (Golgi staining). Hippocampal CA3 neurons were traced using camera lucida, and dendritic branching points (a measure of dendritic arborization) and intersections (a measure of dendritic length) were quantified. These data were compared with those of age-matched control rats.

    RESULTS: The results showed a significant increase in the dendritic length (intersections) and dendritic branching points along the length of both apical and basal dendrites in rats treated with 6 mL/kg body weight/day of CeA for 6 weeks. However, the rats treated with 2 and 4 mL/kg body weight/day for 2 and 4 weeks did not show any significant change in hippocampal CA3 neuronal dendritic arborization.

    CONCLUSION: We conclude that constituents present in Centella asiatica fresh leaf extract has neuronal dendritic growth-stimulating properties.

    Matched MeSH terms: Triterpenes/pharmacology*
  4. Lim SH, Mahmood K, Komiyama K, Kam TS
    J Nat Prod, 2008 Jun;71(6):1104-6.
    PMID: 18462006 DOI: 10.1021/np800123g
    A new cycloartane, monocarpinine (1), incorporating a fused tetrahydrofuranyl ring, and a cytotoxic tetracyclic lactam, monomarginine (2), were isolated from a stem bark extract of the Malayan species Monocarpia marginalis. The structures of these compounds were determined using NMR and MS analysis. Monomarginine (2) showed appreciable cytotoxicity toward human KB (both drug-sensitive and drug-resistant) and Jurkat cells.
    Matched MeSH terms: Triterpenes/pharmacology*
  5. Ponnusamy K, Mohan M, Nagaraja HS
    Med J Malaysia, 2008 Jul;63 Suppl A:102.
    PMID: 19025005
    Lead (Pb) is a neurotoxic heavy metal and children in the developmental stage are particularly susceptible to toxic effects of lead exposure. The brain is the key organ involved in interpreting and responding to potential stressors. Epidemiological investigations have established the relationship between chronic lead exposure and cognitive impairments in young children. Excessive production of radical species plays an important role in neuronal pathology resulting from excitotoxic insults, therefore one plausible neuroprotective mechanism of bioflavonoids is partly relevant to their metal chelating and antioxidant properties. Centella asiatica (CA) is a tropical medicinal plant enriched with bioflavonoids and triterpenes and selenium, reported to rejuvenate the cells and promote physical and mental health. Bioflavonoids are claimed to be exert antimutagenic, neurotrophic and xenobiotics ameliorating and membrane molecular stabilizing effects. The objective of the present work is to study the protective antioxidant effect of pretreatment of CA extract (CAE) on lead acetate induced changes in oxidative biomarkers in the central nervous system (CNS) of mice.
    Matched MeSH terms: Triterpenes/pharmacology*
  6. Haleagrahara N, Ponnusamy K
    J Toxicol Sci, 2010 Feb;35(1):41-7.
    PMID: 20118623
    Reactive oxygen species (ROS) play an important role in ageing and age-related neurodegenerative changes including Parkinson's disease (PD). PD is characterized by signs of major oxidative stress and mitochondrial damage in the pars compacta of the substantia nigra. Present study was designed to investigate whether the Centella asiatica extract (CAE) would prevent 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP)-induced neurotoxicity in aged Sprague-Dawley rats. Adult, male Sprague-dawley rats of 300-350 g were divided into control, C. asiatica alone, MPTP alone (20 mg/kg, for 21 days) and MPTP with C. asiatica (300 mg/kg for 21 days) groups. Effect of aqueous extract of C. asiatica on oxidative biomarker levels in corpus striatum and hippocampus homogenate was examined. MPTP-challenged rats elicited a significant increase in lipid hydroperoxides (LPO) (p < 0.01), protein-carbonyl-content (PCC) (p < 0.01) and xanthine oxidase (XO) (p < 0.01) when compared with control rats. There was a significant decrease in total antioxidants (TA) (p < 0.001), superoxide dismutase (SOD) (p < 0.001), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) (p < 0.01) and catalase (CAT) (p < 0.001) levels with MPTP treatment. Supplementation of CAE reduced LPO and PCC and significantly increased (p < 0.01) TA and antioxidant enzyme levels (p < 0.01) in corpus striatum and hippocampus. These results show that administration of C. asiatica was effective in protecting the brain against neurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinsonism.
    Matched MeSH terms: Triterpenes/pharmacology*
  7. Mooi LY, Wahab NA, Lajis NH, Ali AM
    Chem Biodivers, 2010 May;7(5):1267-75.
    PMID: 20491082 DOI: 10.1002/cbdv.200900193
    Bioassay-guided fractionation of a MeOH extract of tubers of Coleus tuberosus afforded the active anti-tumor-promoting compounds identified as the triterpenoid 2alpha,3beta-dihydroxyolean-12-en-28-oic acid (maslinic acid; CT2) and a phytosterol mixture (CT1). CT1 consists of stigmasterol (32%), beta-sitosterol (40.3%), and campesterol (27.7%) as determined by capillary gas chromatography. CT1 and CT2 showed very strong anti-tumor-promoting activities at IC(50) 0.7 microg/ml and 0.1 microg/ml, respectively, in a convenient, short-term in vitro assay, i.e., the inhibition of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) activation induced by phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) and sodium butyrate. We report for the first time the anti-tumor-promoting activity of 2alpha,3beta-dihydroxyolean-12-en-28-oic acid and show that a mixture of stigmasterol, beta-sitosterol, and campesterol is more potent than the individual components in inhibiting tumor-promoting activity.
    Matched MeSH terms: Triterpenes/pharmacology
  8. Pan Y, Abd-Rashid BA, Ismail Z, Ismail R, Mak JW, Pook PC, et al.
    J Ethnopharmacol, 2010 Jul 20;130(2):275-83.
    PMID: 20457244 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2010.05.002
    ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Centella asiatica (CA) has been widely cultivated as a vegetable or spice in China, Southeast Asia, India, Sri Lanka, Africa, and Oceanic countries and traditionally used for wound healing and maintaining normal blood pressure.

    AIM OF THE STUDY: The present study was carried out to examine the potential modulatory effects of three commercially available active components (asiaticoside, asiatic acid and madecassic acid) and four extracts (aqueous, ethanol, dichloromethane and hexane) of CA on three major cDNA-expressed human cytochrome P450 (CYP) isoforms.

    MATERIALS AND METHODS: High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)-based enzyme assays, namely tolbutamide 4-methyhydroxylase, dextromethorphan O-demethylase and testosterone 6beta-hydroxylase assays were developed to probe activities of CYP2C9, CYP2D6 and CYP3A4, respectively. Probe substrates were incubated with or without each active component and extract for each isoform, followed by examination of the kinetics parameters, IC(50) and K(i), to characterize modulatory effects.

    RESULTS: CYP2C9 was more susceptible to inhibitory effects by CA extracts compared to CYP2D6 and CYP3A4. Moderate degree of inhibition was observed in ethanol (K(i)=39.1 microg/ml) and dichloromethane (K(i)=26.6 microg/ml) extracts implying potential risk of interaction when CYP2C9 substrates are consumed with CA products. The two extracts however showed negligible inhibition towards CYP2D6 and CYP3A4 (IC(50)'s of 123.3 microg/ml and above). Similarly CA aqueous and hexane extracts did not significantly inhibit all three isoforms investigated (IC(50)'s of 117.9 microg/ml and above). Among the active constituents investigated, asiatic acid and madecassic acid appeared to selectively inhibit CYP2C9 and CYP2D6 more than CYP3A4. Of particular interest is the potent inhibitory effect of asiatic acid on CYP2C9 (K(i)=9.1 microg/ml). This signifies potential risk of interaction when substrates for this isoform are taken together with CA products with high asiatic acid content. Inhibitions of asiatic acid with the other isoforms and that of madecassic acid with all isoforms were only moderate (K(i)'s ranged from 17.2 to 84.4 microg/ml). On the other hand, the IC(50) values for asiaticoside were high (1070.2 microg/ml or above) for all three isoforms, indicating negligible or low potential of this compound to modulate CYP enzymatic activity.

    CONCLUSION: Centella asiatica extracts and active constituents inhibited CYP2C9, CYP2D6 and CYP3A4 activities with varying potency with CYP2C9 being the most susceptible isoform to inhibition. Significant inhibition was observed for asiatic acid and CA ethanol and dichloromethane extracts, implying involvement of semipolar constituents from CA in the effect. This study suggested that CA could cause drug-herb interactions through CYP2C9 inhibition.

    Matched MeSH terms: Triterpenes/pharmacology; Pentacyclic Triterpenes/pharmacology
  9. Yunianto I, Das S, Mat Noor M
    Clin Ter, 2010;161(3):235-9.
    PMID: 20589353
    Antifertility agents with safety and effectiveness in terms of minimum side effects have always been a subject of debate. Many studies have been conducted on plants to observe the antifertility effect, but majority of them were toxic. Pegaga or Centella asiatica L. is one of the popular herb traditionally consumed raw amongst people in Malaysia. The main objective of the present study was to investigate the effects of Centella asiatica L. extract on rat testis.
    Matched MeSH terms: Triterpenes/pharmacology*
  10. Ahmad FB, Ghaffari Moghaddam M, Basri M, Abdul Rahman MB
    Biosci Biotechnol Biochem, 2010;74(5):1025-9.
    PMID: 20460723
    An easy and efficient strategy to prepare betulinic acid esters with various anhydrides was used by the enzymatic synthesis method. It involves lipase-catalyzed acylation of betulinic acid with anhydrides as acylating agents in organic solvent. Lipase from Candida antarctica immobilized on an acrylic resin (Novozym 435) was employed as a biocatalyst. Several 3-O-acyl-betulinic acid derivatives were successfully obtained by this procedure. The anticancer activity of betulinic acid and its 3-O-acylated derivatives were then evaluated in vitro against human lung carcinoma (A549) and human ovarian (CAOV3) cancer cell lines. 3-O-glutaryl-betulinic acid, 3-O-acetyl-betulinic acid, and 3-O-succinyl-betulinic acid showed IC(50)<10 microg/ml against A549 cancer cell line tested and showed better cytotoxicity than betulinic acid. In an ovarian cancer cell line, all betulinic acid derivatives prepared showed weaker cytotoxicity than betulinic acid.
    Matched MeSH terms: Triterpenes/pharmacology*
  11. Hsum YW, Yew WT, Hong PL, Soo KK, Hoon LS, Chieng YC, et al.
    Planta Med, 2011 Jan;77(2):152-7.
    PMID: 20669087 DOI: 10.1055/s-0030-1250203
    Chronic inflammation is one of the predisposing factors for neoplastic transformation. Targeting inflammation through suppression of the pro-inflammatory pathway by dietary phytochemicals provides an important strategy for cancer prevention. Maslinic acid is a novel natural triterpenoid known to inhibit proliferation and induce apoptosis in some tumor cell lines. Although maslinic acid has cytotoxic and pro-apoptotic effects on cancer cells, the underlying mechanisms of its effects on the inflammatory pathway have yet to be elucidated. It has been reported that abnormal expression of pro-inflammatory enzyme cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) causes promotion of cellular proliferation, suppression of apoptosis, enhancement of angiogenesis and invasiveness. In the present study, the suppressive effect of maslinic acid on COX-2 expression and the binding activity of upstream transcription factors NF- κB and AP-1, which are known to regulate COX-2 transcriptional activation, were assessed using Raji cells. The anti-inflammatory action of maslinic acid was benchmarked against oleanolic acid and other standard drugs. Western blot analysis and electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA) were employed to analyze COX-2 expression as well as NF- κB and AP-1 binding activity. Our results showed that maslinic acid suppresses COX-2 expression in a concentration-dependent manner. Likewise, the constitutive nuclear NF- κB (p65) activity as well as phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA)- and sodium N-butyrate (SnB)-induced AP-1 binding activity in Raji cells were significantly reduced following treatment with maslinic acid. Since maslinic acid suppresses COX-2 expression in Raji cells at concentrations that also lowered the NF- κB (p65) and AP-1 binding activity, it is possible that the suppression of COX-2 by this natural triterpenoid might be achieved, at least in part, via the NF- κB and AP-1 signaling pathways.
    Matched MeSH terms: Triterpenes/pharmacology*
  12. Pan Y, Abd-Rashid BA, Ismail Z, Ismail R, Mak JW, Pook PC, et al.
    J Ethnopharmacol, 2011 Jan 27;133(2):881-7.
    PMID: 21093571 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2010.11.026
    Andrographis paniculata (AP), Centella asiatica (CA) and Orthosiphon stamineus (OS) are three popular herbs traditionally used worldwide. AP is known for the treatment of infections and diabetes and CA is good for wound healing and healthy skin while OS is usually consumed as tea to treat kidney and urinary disorders. Interaction of these herbs with human cytochrome P450 2C19 (CYP2C19), a major hepatic CYP isoform involved in metabolism of many clinical drugs has not been investigated to date.
    Matched MeSH terms: Triterpenes/pharmacology
  13. Nasir MN, Habsah M, Zamzuri I, Rammes G, Hasnan J, Abdullah J
    J Ethnopharmacol, 2011 Mar 24;134(2):203-9.
    PMID: 21167268 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2010.12.010
    Centella asiatica has a reputation to restore declining cognitive function in traditional medicine. To date, only a few compounds that show enhancing learning and memory properties are available. Therefore, the present study investigates the effects of for acute administration of asiatic acid (A-A) isolated from Centella asiatica administration on memory and learning in male Spraque-Dawley rats.
    Matched MeSH terms: Pentacyclic Triterpenes/pharmacology*
  14. Abdelwahab SI, Hassan LE, Sirat HM, Yagi SM, Koko WS, Mohan S, et al.
    Fitoterapia, 2011 Dec;82(8):1190-7.
    PMID: 21871542 DOI: 10.1016/j.fitote.2011.08.002
    The in vivo and in vitro mechanistic anti-inflammatory actions of cucurbitacin E (CE) (Citrullus lanatus var. citroides) were examined. The results showed that LPS/INF-γ increased NO production in RAW264.7 macrophages, whereas L-NAME and CE curtailed it. CE did not reveal any cytotoxicity on RAW264.7 and WRL-68 cells. CE inhibited both COX enzymes with more selectivity toward COX-2. Intraperitoneal injection of CE significantly suppressed carrageenan-induced rat's paw edema. ORAC and FRAP assays showed that CE is not a potent ROS scavenger. It could be concluded that CE is potentially useful in treating inflammation through the inhibition of COX and RNS but not ROS.
    Matched MeSH terms: Triterpenes/pharmacology
  15. Chung PY, Navaratnam P, Chung LY
    PMID: 21658242 DOI: 10.1186/1476-0711-10-25
    There has been considerable effort to discover plant-derived antibacterials against methicillin-resistant strains of Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) which have developed resistance to most existing antibiotics, including the last line of defence, vancomycin. Pentacyclic triterpenoid, a biologically diverse plant-derived natural product, has been reported to show anti-staphylococcal activities. The objective of this study is to evaluate the interaction between three pentacyclic triterpenoid and standard antibiotics (methicillin and vancomycin) against reference strains of Staphylococcus aureus.
    Matched MeSH terms: Pentacyclic Triterpenes/pharmacology*
  16. Hashim P, Sidek H, Helan MH, Sabery A, Palanisamy UD, Ilham M
    Molecules, 2011;16(2):1310-22.
    PMID: 21278681 DOI: 10.3390/molecules16021310
    Leaves of Centella asiatica (Centella) were analysed for their triterpene composition and bioactivity such as collagen enhancement, antioxidant, anticellulite and UV protection capacity properties. Triterpenes of Centella were measured using HPLC-PAD on an Excil ODS 5 mm (C18) column for the simultaneous determination of asiatic acid, madecassic acid, asiaticoside and madecassoside. Centella was found to contain significant amounts of madecassoside (3.10 ± 4.58 mg/mL) and asiaticoside (1.97 ± 2.65 mg/mL), but was low in asiatic and madecassic acid. The highest collagen synthesis was found at 50 mg/mL of Centella extracts. The antioxidant activity of Centella (84%) was compared to grape seed extract (83%) and Vitamin C (88%). Its lipolytic activity was observed by the release of glycerol (115.9 µmol/L) at 0.02% concentration. Centella extracts exhibited similar UV protection effect to OMC at 10% concentration. In view of these results, the potential application of Centella in food and pharmaceutical industries is now widely open.
    Matched MeSH terms: Triterpenes/pharmacology
  17. Yap WH, Khoo KS, Lim SH, Yeo CC, Lim YM
    Phytomedicine, 2012 Jan 15;19(2):183-91.
    PMID: 21893403 DOI: 10.1016/j.phymed.2011.08.058
    Maslinic acid, a natural pentacyclic triterpene has been shown to inhibit growth and induce apoptosis in some tumour cell lines. We studied the molecular response of Raji cells towards maslinic acid treatment. A proteomics approach was employed to identify the target proteins. Seventeen differentially expressed proteins including those involved in DNA replication, microtubule filament assembly, nucleo-cytoplasmic trafficking, cell signaling, energy metabolism and cytoskeletal organization were identified by MALDI TOF-TOF MS. The down-regulation of stathmin, Ran GTPase activating protein-1 (RanBP1), and microtubule associated protein RP/EB family member 1 (EB1) were confirmed by Western blotting. The study of the effect of maslinic acid on Raji cell cycle regulation showed that it induced a G1 cell cycle arrest. The differential proteomic changes in maslinic acid-treated Raji cells demonstrated that it also inhibited expression of dUTPase and stathmin which are known to induce early S and G2 cell cycle arrests. The mechanism of maslinic acid-induced cell cycle arrest may be mediated by inhibiting cyclin D1 expression and enhancing the levels of cell cycle-dependent kinase (CDK) inhibitor p21 protein. Maslinic acid suppressed nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) activity which is known to stimulate expression of anti-apoptotic and cell cycle regulatory gene products. These results suggest that maslinic acid affects multiple signaling molecules and inhibits fundamental pathways regulating cell growth and survival in Raji cells.
    Matched MeSH terms: Triterpenes/pharmacology*
  18. Nasir MN, Abdullah J, Habsah M, Ghani RI, Rammes G
    Phytomedicine, 2012 Feb 15;19(3-4):311-6.
    PMID: 22112723 DOI: 10.1016/j.phymed.2011.10.004
    The asiatic acid, a triterpenoids isolated from Centella asiatica was used to delineate its inhibitory effect on acetylcholinesterase (AChE) properties, excitatory post synaptic potential (EPSP) and locomotor activity. This study is consistent with asiatic acid having an effect on AChE, a selective GABA(B) receptor agonist and no sedative effect on locomotor.
    Matched MeSH terms: Pentacyclic Triterpenes/pharmacology*
  19. Nassar ZD, Aisha AF, Idris N, Khadeer Ahamed MB, Ismail Z, Abu-Salah KM, et al.
    Oncol Rep, 2012 Mar;27(3):727-33.
    PMID: 22134768 DOI: 10.3892/or.2011.1569
    Deregulated cell signaling pathways result in cancer development. More than one signal transduction pathway is involved in colorectal cancer pathogenesis and progression. Koetjapic acid (KA) is a naturally occurring seco-A-ring oleanene triterpene isolated from the Sandoricum koetjape stem bark. We report the cellular and molecular mechanisms of anticancer activity of KA towards human colorectal cancer. The results showed that KA induces apoptosis in HCT 116 colorectal carcinoma cells by inducing the activation of extrinsic and intrinsic caspases. We confirmed that KA-induced apoptosis was mediated by DNA fragmentation, nuclear condensation and disruption in the mitochondrial membrane potential. Further studies on the effect of KA on cancer pathways show that the compound causes down-regulation of Wnt, HIF-1α, MAP/ERK/JNK and Myc/Max signaling pathways and up-regulates the NF-κB signaling pathway. The result of this study highlights the anticancer potential of KA against colorectal cancer.
    Matched MeSH terms: Triterpenes/pharmacology*
  20. Ruszymah BH, Chowdhury SR, Manan NA, Fong OS, Adenan MI, Saim AB
    J Ethnopharmacol, 2012 Mar 27;140(2):333-8.
    PMID: 22301444 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2012.01.023
    Centella asiatica is a traditional herbal medicine that has been shown to have pharmacological effect on skin wound healing, and could be potential therapeutic agent for corneal epithelial wound healing.
    Matched MeSH terms: Triterpenes/pharmacology*
Filters
Contact Us

Please provide feedback to Administrator (afdal@afpm.org.my)

External Links