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BACKGROUND: The invasion of viruses and fungi can cause pathological changes in the normal growth of plants and is an important factor in causing plant infectious diseases. These pathogenic microorganisms can also secrete toxic metabolites, affecting crop quality and posing a threat to human health. In this work, we selected the natural product rutaecarpine as the lead compound to achieve the total synthesis and structural derivation. The antiphytoviral activities of these compounds were systematically studied using tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) as the tested strain, and the structure–activity relationships were summarized. RESULT: The anti TMV activities of compounds 5a, 5n, 6b, and 7c are significantly higher than that of commercial antiviral agent ningnanmycin. We chose 5n for further antiviral mechanism research, and the results showed that it can directly act on viral particles. The molecular docking results further confirmed the interaction of compound 5n and coat protein (CP). These compounds also exhibited broad‐spectrum fungicidal activities against eight plant pathogens. Especially compounds 5j and 5p have significant anti‐fungal activities (EC50: 5j, 1.76 μg mL−1; 5p, 1.59 μg mL−1) and can be further studied as leads for plant‐based anti‐fungal agents. CONCLUSION: The natural product rutaecarpine and its derivatives were synthesized, and evaluated for their anti‐TMV and fungicidal activities. Compounds 5n and 5p with good activities emerged as new antiviral and anti‐fungal candidates, respectively. This study provides important information for the research and development of the novel antiviral and fungicidal agents based on rutaecarpine derivatives. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Chronic atrophic gastritis (CAG) is a complex and burdensome disease. However, side effects and compliance issues cannot be ignored due to the long treatment cycle. Numerous studies have confirmed the effectiveness of rutaecarpine (RUT) for treating digestive dysfunction. However, the potential mechanism of action of RUT in the context of CAG treatment remains unclear. This study aimed to explore the therapeutic effects and mechanisms of RUT in 1-methyl-3-nitro-1-nitrosoguanidine-induced CAG using network pharmacology, metabolomics, and traditional pharmacological approaches. Materials and Methods: Pathological tests and ELISA assays were used to observe the therapeutic effects of RUT treatment on CAG. Differential metabolites were identified using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry, and metabolism-related target genes were enriched. The same target genes were identified between RUT and CAG diseases. The intersectional target genes were uploaded to Cytoscape for enrichment, and the nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain (NOD)-like receptor signaling pathway was selected to validate the mechanisms of the study. Finally, cell pyroptosis status was evaluated using the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling assay, and the expressions of associated proteins of the NOD-like receptor signaling pathway were assessed by Western blotting and immunohistochemistry. Results: RUT alleviated gastric mucosal damage and significantly downregulated indicators associated with inflammation and gastric atrophy. A total of 29 intersection target genes was identified, and core pathways were obtained. The NOD-like receptor signaling pathway and pyroptosis status were selected to validate the mechanisms of RUT treatment in CAG rats. The expression of NOD-related proteins and downstream factors was downregulated in the RUT group. Conclusions: RUT exerts a pharmacological effect on relieving gastric damage in CAG rats by inhibiting NOD-like receptors and inflammasomes.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a chronic lung inflammatory disease that causes restricted airflow and breathing difficulties. In this work, we attempted to explore the salutary effects of rutaecarpine on COPD-induced rats. Healthy Wistar rats were employed in this study and exposed to cigarette smoke to initiate COPD. The rutaecarpine was given to the rats at 20 and 30 mg/kg dosages, respectively, for 12 weeks. Body weight gain, food uptake, and food efficiency were assessed after treatment completion. The grip strength test was performed to assess muscle strength. The C-reactive protein (CRP), leptin, inflammatory cytokines, and oxidative stress markers were assessed using the corresponding assay kits. The inflammatory cells on the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were counted using Wright-Giemsa staining. The respiratory functions of the experimental rats were measured. The histopathological analysis was done on the lung tissues. The rutaecarpine treatment effectively increased body weight gain, food uptake, and food efficiency in the COPD rats. The levels of leptin were increased, and CRP was reduced by the rutaecarpine. The rutaecarpine regulated the respiratory functions and reduced the inflammatory cell counts and pro-inflammatory markers in the COPD rats. The levels of antioxidants were increased by the rutaecarpine treatment in the COPD rats. The findings of the lung histopathological study also demonstrated the therapeutic effects of rutaecarpine. Overall, the findings of the current study witness the salutary role of rutaecarpine against cigarette smoke–induced COPD in rats. Therefore, it was clear that rutaecarpine could be a promising salutary candidate to treat COPD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Indole alkaloids, a class of plant-derived nitrogen-containing compounds, have emerged as promising candidates for osteoporosis treatment. Their favorable biocompatibility profile demonstrated efficacy in preclinical models, and low reported toxicity make them attractive alternatives to existing therapies. This review focuses on the therapeutic potential of specific indole alkaloids, including vindoline, rutaecarpine, harmine, and its derivatives, in promoting bone health and managing osteoporosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we investigated whether rutaecarpine could aggravate acetaminophen-induced acute liver damage in vivo and in vitro. CCK-8 and apoptosis assays were performed to verify the cytotoxicity of acetaminophen to L02 cells with or without rutaecarpine. The expression levels of the target proteins and genes were determined using Western blotting and qRT-PCR. The liver pathological changes were evaluated with hematoxylin and eosin staining, while the aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (AST) levels in plasma were measured to assess the liver damage. Our results revealed that pretreatment of the cell and mice with rutaecarpine significantly aggravated the acetaminophen-induced liver damage. Mechanistically, rutaecarpine induces the CYP1A2 protein, which accelerates the metabolism of acetaminophen to produce a toxic intermediate, N-acetyl-p-benzoquinone imine (NAPQI), leading to severe liver inflammation. Rutaecarpine exacerbated the liver damage by upregulating CYP1A2 and proinflammatory factors. These findings highlight the importance of carefully considering the dosage of rutaecarpine when combined with acetaminophen in drug design and preclinical trials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

COVID-19 continues to spread around the world. This is mainly because new variants of the SARS-CoV-2 virus emerge due to genomic mutations, evade the immune system and result in the effectiveness of current therapeutics being reduced. We previously established a series of detection platforms, comprising computational docking analysis, S-protein-based ELISA, pseudovirus entry, and 3CL protease activity assays, which allow us to screen a large library of phytochemicals from natural products and to determine their potential in blocking the entry of SARS-CoV-2. In this new screen, rutaecarpine (an alkaloid from Evodia rutaecarpa) was identified as exhibiting anti-SARS-CoV-2 activity. Therefore, we conducted multiple rounds of structure-activity-relationship (SAR) studies around this phytochemical and generated several rutaecarpine analogs that were subjected to in vitro evaluations. Among these derivatives, RU-75 and RU-184 displayed remarkable inhibitory activity when tested in the 3CL protease assay, S-protein-based ELISA, and pseudovirus entry assay (for both wild-type and omicron variants), and they attenuated the inflammatory response induced by SARS-CoV-2. Interestingly, RU-75 and RU-184 both appeared to be more potent than rutaecarpine itself, and this suggests that they might be considered as lead candidates for future pharmacological elaboration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the synthesis of thiazole-fused tricyclic quinazolinone alkaloids and their derivatives, focusing on compounds found in traditional Chinese and Indian herbal medicine. The authors describe their synthetic program and the successful synthesis of various thiazole-fused tricyclic quinazolinones. The article provides information on the physical and chemical properties of the synthesized compounds, including melting points, yields, and spectral analysis results. This information can be useful for researchers studying these compounds and their potential applications. [Extracted from the article]

Subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), a specific subtype of cerebrovascular accident, is characterized by the extravasation of blood into the interstice between the brain and its enveloping delicate tissues. This pathophysiological phenomenon can precipitate an early brain injury (EBI), which is characterized by inflammation and neuronal death. Rutaecarpine (Rut), a flavonoid compound discovered in various plants, has been shown to have protective effects against SAH-induced cerebral insult in rodent models. In our study, we used a rodent SAH model to evaluate the effect of Rut on EBI and investigated the effect of Rut on the inflammatory response and its regulation of SIRT6 expression in vitro. We found that Rut exerts a protective effect on EBI in SAH rats, which is partly due to its ability to inhibit the inflammatory response. Notably, Rut up-regulated Sirtuin 6 (SIRT6) expression, leading to an increase in H3K9 deacetylation and inhibition of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF- κ B) transcriptional activation, thereby mediating the inflammatory response. In addition, further data showed that SIRT6 was proven to mediate the regulation of Rut on the microglial inflammatory response. These findings highlight the importance of SIRT6 in the regulation of inflammation and suggest a potential mechanism for the protective effect of Rut on EBI. In summary, Rut may have the potential to prevent and treat SAH-induced brain injury by interacting with SIRT6. Our findings may provide a new therapeutic strategy for the treatment of SAH-induced EBI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Evodia rutaecarpa, a traditional herbal drug, is widely used as an analgesic and antiemetic. Many studies have confirmed that Evodia rutaecarpa has an anticancer effect. Here, our study explored the bioactive ingredients in Evodia rutaecarpa acting on colorectal cancer (CRC) by utilizing network pharmacology. Methods We clarified the effective ingredients and corresponding targets of Evodia rutaecarpa. CRC-related genes were obtained from several public databases to extract candidate targets. Candidate targets were used to construct a protein–protein interaction (PPI) network for screening out core targets with topological analysis, and then we selected the core targets and corresponding ingredients for molecular docking. Cell proliferation experiments and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) verified the anticancer effect of the bioactive ingredients and the results of molecular docking. Results Our study obtained a total of 24 bioactive ingredients and 100 candidate targets after intersecting ingredient-related targets and CRC-related genes, and finally, 10 genes—TNF, MAPK1, TP53, AKT1, RELA, RB1, ESR1, JUN, CCND1 and MYC—were screened out as core targets. In vitro experiments suggested that rutaecarpine excelled isorhamnetin, evodiamine and quercetin in the inhibition of CRC cells and the release of TNF-α was altered with the concentrations of rutaecarpine. Molecular docking showed that rutaecarpine could effectively bind with TNF-α. Conclusion The pairs of ingredients-targets in Evodia rutaecarpa acted on CRC were excavated. Rutaecarpine as a bioactive ingredient of Evodia rutaecarpamight effectively inhibit the proliferation of CRC cells by suppressing TNF-α.

Indole alkaloids, a class of plant-derived nitrogen-containing compounds, have emerged as promising candidates for osteoporosis treatment. Their favorable biocompatibility profile demonstrated efficacy in preclinical models, and low reported toxicity make them attractive alternatives to existing therapies. This review focuses on the therapeutic potential of specific indole alkaloids, including vindoline, rutaecarpine, harmine, and its derivatives, in promoting bone health and managing osteoporosis.

Yu Z, Chan S, Wang X, et al. Drug Des Devel Ther. 2023;17:993–1006. At the authors request, the Editor and Publisher of the journal Drug Design, Development and Therapy have retracted the published article. Following publication of the article, the authors raised concerns about the duplication of images from Figure 4. Specifically, The images for Figure 4G, HCT116, RUT and 5-FU, have been duplicated. The authors wished to apologize for this error and no longer have confidence in the data and corresponding findings. To maintain academic standards, the authors requested to retract the article and the Editor and Publisher agreed with this decision. We have been informed in our decision-making by our editorial policies and COPE guidelines. The retracted article will remain online to maintain the scholarly record, but it will be digitally watermarked on each page as “Retracted”.

Abstract Background Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is one of the most aggressive human cancers and has poor prognosis. Approximately 80% of TNBC cases belong to the molecular basal-like subtype, which can be exploited therapeutically by inducing differentiation. However, the strategies for inducing the differentiation of TNBC remain underexplored. Methods A three-dimensional (3D) morphological screening model based on a natural compound library was used to identify possible candidate compounds that can induce TNBC cell differentiation. The efficacy of rutaecarpine was verified using assays: RT-qPCR, RNA-seq, flow cytometry, immunofluorescence, SCENITH and label-free LC–MS/MS. The direct targets of rutaecarpine were identified through drug affinity responsive target stability (DARTS) assay. A xenograft mice model was also constructed to confirm the effect of rutaecarpine in vivo. Results We identified that rutaecarpine, an indolopyridoquinazolinone, induces luminal differentiation of basal TNBC cells in both 3D spheroids and in vivo mice models. Mechanistically, rutaecarpine treatment leads to global metabolic stress and elevated ROS in 3D cultured TNBC cells. Moreover, NAC, a scavenger of ROS, impedes rutaecarpine-induced differentiation of TNBC cells in 3D culture. Finally, we identified fumarate hydratase (FH) as the direct interacting target of rutaecarpine. The inhibition of FH and the knockdown of FH consistently induced the differentiation of TNBC cells in 3D culture. Conclusions Our results provide a platform for differentiation therapy drug discovery using 3D culture models and identify rutaecarpine as a potential compound for TNBC treatment.

Background: Evodia rutaecarpa, a traditional herbal drug, is widely used as an analgesic and antiemetic. Many studies have confirmed that Evodia rutaecarpa has an anticancer effect. Here, our study explored the bioactive ingredients in Evodia rutaecarpa acting on colorectal cancer (CRC) by utilizing network pharmacology. Methods: We clarified the effective ingredients and corresponding targets of Evodia rutaecarpa. CRC-related genes were obtained from several public databases to extract candidate targets. Candidate targets were used to construct a protein–protein interaction (PPI) network for screening out core targets with topological analysis, and then we selected the core targets and corresponding ingredients for molecular docking. Cell proliferation experiments and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) verified the anticancer effect of the bioactive ingredients and the results of molecular docking. Results: Our study obtained a total of 24 bioactive ingredients and 100 candidate targets after intersecting ingredient-related targets and CRC-related genes, and finally, 10 genes—TNF, MAPK1, TP53, AKT1, RELA, RB1, ESR1, JUN, CCND1 and MYC—were screened out as core targets. In vitro experiments suggested that rutaecarpine excelled isorhamnetin, evodiamine and quercetin in the inhibition of CRC cells and the release of TNF-α was altered with the concentrations of rutaecarpine. Molecular docking showed that rutaecarpine could effectively bind with TNF-α. Conclusion: The pairs of ingredients-targets in Evodia rutaecarpa acted on CRC were excavated. Rutaecarpine as a bioactive ingredient of Evodia rutaecarpamight effectively inhibit the proliferation of CRC cells by suppressing TNF-α. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mitochondrial dysfunction plays a fundamental role in the pathogenesis of cognitive deficit. Rutaecarpine (Rut) is a natural alkaloid with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. This study explored whether Rut treatment could enhance cognitive function by improving mitochondrial function and examined the potential mechanisms underlying this ameliorative effect. We used the Morris water maze and Y-maze tests to evaluate the behavioral effects of Rut in a mouse model of cognitive impairment induced by subcutaneous injection of D-galactose (D-gal). Furthermore, we assessed the effects of Rut on mitochondrial function using cell viability assays, flow cytometry, western blotting, biochemical analysis, and immunochemical techniques in vivo and in vitro. The results indicated Rut treatment attenuated cognitive deficits and mitochondrial dysfunction in the mouse model. Similarly, it maintained the balance of mitochondrial dynamics in neurocytes and reduced oxidative stress and mitochondrial apoptosis in the HT22 cell model. Moreover, we found that these protective effects were dependent on the activation of the AMP-activated protein kinase/proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator 1-alpha (AMPK/PGC1α) signaling pathway. Our data indicate that Rut treatment are sensitive to reversal cognitive deficits and mitochondrial dysfunction induced by D-gal; this suggests that Rut is a promising mitochondria-targeted therapeutic agent for treating cognitive impairment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we investigated whether rutaecarpine could aggravate acetaminophen-induced acute liver damage in vivo and in vitro. CCK-8 and apoptosis assays were performed to verify the cytotoxicity of acetaminophen to L02 cells with or without rutaecarpine. The expression levels of the target proteins and genes were determined using Western blotting and qRT-PCR. The liver pathological changes were evaluated with hematoxylin and eosin staining, while the aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (AST) levels in plasma were measured to assess the liver damage. Our results revealed that pretreatment of the cell and mice with rutaecarpine significantly aggravated the acetaminophen-induced liver damage. Mechanistically, rutaecarpine induces the CYP1A2 protein, which accelerates the metabolism of acetaminophen to produce a toxic intermediate, N-acetyl-p-benzoquinone imine (NAPQI), leading to severe liver inflammation. Rutaecarpine exacerbated the liver damage by upregulating CYP1A2 and proinflammatory factors. These findings highlight the importance of carefully considering the dosage of rutaecarpine when combined with acetaminophen in drug design and preclinical trials.

COVID-19 continues to spread around the world. This is mainly because new variants of the SARS-CoV-2 virus emerge due to genomic mutations, evade the immune system and result in the effectiveness of current therapeutics being reduced. We previously established a series of detection platforms, comprising computational docking analysis, S-protein-based ELISA, pseudovirus entry, and 3CL protease activity assays, which allow us to screen a large library of phytochemicals from natural products and to determine their potential in blocking the entry of SARS-CoV-2. In this new screen, rutaecarpine (an alkaloid from Evodia rutaecarpa) was identified as exhibiting anti-SARS-CoV-2 activity. Therefore, we conducted multiple rounds of structure-activity-relationship (SAR) studies around this phytochemical and generated several rutaecarpine analogs that were subjected to in vitro evaluations. Among these derivatives, RU-75 and RU-184 displayed remarkable inhibitory activity when tested in the 3CL protease assay, S-protein-based ELISA, and pseudovirus entry assay (for both wild-type and omicron variants), and they attenuated the inflammatory response induced by SARS-CoV-2. Interestingly, RU-75 and RU-184 both appeared to be more potent than rutaecarpine itself, and this suggests that they might be considered as lead candidates for future pharmacological elaboration.

Rutaecarpine (RUT) is a natural pentacyclic indolopyridoquinazolinone alkaloid first isolated from one of the most famous traditional Chinese herbs, Evodia rutaecarpa, which is used for treating a variety of ailments, including headaches, gastrointestinal disorders, postpartum hemorrhage, amenorrhea, difficult menstruation, and other diseases. Accumulating pharmacological studies showed that RUT possesses a wide range of pharmacological effects through different mechanisms. However, its poor physicochemical properties and moderate biological activities have hampered its clinical application. In this regard, the modification of RUT aimed at seeking its derivatives with better physicochemical properties and more potency has been extensively studied. These derivatives exhibit diverse pharmacological activities, including anti-inflammatory, anti-atherogenic, anti-Alzheimer’s disease, antitumor, and antifungal activities via a variety of mechanisms, such as inhibiting cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), acetylcholine (AChE), phosphodiesterase 4B (PDE4B), phosphodiesterase 5 (PDE5), or topoisomerases (Topos). From this perspective, this paper provides a comprehensive description of RUT derivatives by focusing on their diverse biological activities. This review aims to give an insight into the biological activities of RUT derivatives and encourage further exploration of RUT.

A short and expeditious total and diverted total synthesis of luotonin, vasicinone, and their analogues has been achieved from the key tricyclic quinazolinone intermediate which was accessed from simple substituted anthranilamide obtained from the coupling of β‐alanate with isatoic anhydride followed by Dieckmann condensation chemistry of the resulting diester. The tricyclic ketone exhibited interesting chemical properties, e. g. keto‐enol tautomerism. Friedlander condensation and Fischer‐Indolization were employed for further annulations to access polycyclic alkaloids and their analogues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AIM: Diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM) is a dominant factor contributing to diabetic death. Rutaecarpine has many cardiovascular biological effects and anti-high-glucose activity. Therefore, this paper aimed to investigate the impact of rutaecarpine on high glucose (HG)-elicited cardiomyocyte injury. METHOD: Cell counting kit 8 (CCK-8) and 5-ethynyl-2’-deoxyuridine (EdU), TdT-mediated dUTP Nick-End Labeling (TUNEL) assays judged H9c2 cell activity and apoptosis, and oxidative stress was assessed by corresponding assay kits. The expression of apoptosis, oxidative stress, autophagy-associated factors and TRPV1 were examined with western blot. IF assay tested GFP-LC3 expression. RESULTS: As a result, rutaecarpine had no obvious effect on the viability of H9c2 cells while elevated HGexposed H9c2 cell viability. Rutaecarpine inhibited the apoptosis and oxidative stress of H9c2 cells induced by HG. In addition, rutaecarpine activated TRPV1 to induce autophagy. However, inhibition of TRPV1 inactivated the autophagy, which drove HG-evoked H9c2 apoptosis and oxidative stress. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, rutaecarpine suppressed HG-stimulated H9c2 cell viability injury, apoptosis as well as oxidative stress via promoting TRPV1-mediated autophagy (Fig. 6, Ref. 40). Text in PDF www.elis.sk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

CAG is a burdensome and progressive disease. Numerous studies have shown the effectiveness of RUT in digestive system diseases. The therapeutic effects of RUT on MNNG-induced CAG and the potential mechanisms were probed. MNNG administration was employed to establish a CAG model. The HE and ELISA methods were applied to detect the treatment effects. WB, qRT-PCR, immunohistochemistry, TUNEL, and GES-1 cell flow cytometry approaches were employed to probe the mechanisms. The CAG model was successfully established. The ELISA and HE staining data showed that the RUT treatment effects on CAG rats were reflected by the amelioration of histological damage. The qRT-PCR and WB analyses indicated that the protective effect of RUT is related to the upregulation of the SHH pathway and downregulation of the downstream of apoptosis to improve gastric cellular survival. Our data suggest that RUT induces a gastroprotective effect by upregulating the SHH signaling pathway and stimulating anti-apoptosis downstream. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diabetic cardiomyopathy is a common diabetic complication, resulting in heart failure. Rutaecarpine is an active compound with cardiovascular protective effects. However, the function of rutaecarpine in diabetic cardiomyopathy is largely unknown. The aim of this research was to study the effect and action mechanism of rutaecarpine in high glucose (HG)‐induced cardiomyocyte damage. The overlapping genes of diabetic cardiomyopathy and rutaecarpine were analyzed according to GeneCards, DisGeNet, and SwissTargetPrediction. Cell damage was investigated by determining apoptosis, oxidative stress, and inflammatory response in HG‐stimulated AC16 cells. The expression of proteins involved in the mitogen‐activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling was measured using Western blotting. Totally seven overlapping genes of diabetic cardiomyopathy and rutaecarpine were screened out and predicted to be associated with the MAPK signaling. Rutaecarpine protected against HG‐induced cardiomyocyte damage by enhancing cell viability and reducing cell apoptosis, caspase‐3 activity, and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release. Rutaecarpine mitigated HG‐induced oxidative stress in cardiomyocytes through decreasing reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation and malondialdehyde (MDA) level and elevating superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and glutathione peroxidase (GSH‐Px) level. Rutaecarpine alleviated HG‐induced inflammatory response via reducing the level of interleukin (IL)‐1β, IL‐6, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)‐α, and IL‐8. Moreover, rutaecarpine inhibited HG‐induced activation of the MAPK pathway. Treatment with MAPK signaling agonist reversed the suppressive effect of rutaecarpine on HG‐induced damage. In conclusion, rutaecarpine alleviated HG‐induced cardiomyocyte damage through decreasing apoptosis, oxidative stress, and inflammatory response by inactivating the MAPK pathway. The aim of this research was to investigate the pharmacological activity and potential mechanism of rutaecarpine in high glucose‐induced cardiomyocyte damage. We showed that rutaecarpine alleviated high glucose‐induced cardiomyocyte damage through decreasing apoptosis, oxidative stress, and inflammatory response by inactivating the mitogen‐activated protein kinase pathway. This research provided a new insight in the pharmacological function of rutaecarpine in prevention and treatment of diabetic cardiomyopathy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is one of the most aggressive human cancers and has poor prognosis. Approximately 80% of TNBC cases belong to the molecular basal-like subtype, which can be exploited therapeutically by inducing differentiation. However, the strategies for inducing the differentiation of TNBC remain underexplored. Methods: A three-dimensional (3D) morphological screening model based on a natural compound library was used to identify possible candidate compounds that can induce TNBC cell differentiation. The efficacy of rutaecarpine was verified using assays: RT-qPCR, RNA-seq, flow cytometry, immunofluorescence, SCENITH and label-free LC–MS/MS. The direct targets of rutaecarpine were identified through drug affinity responsive target stability (DARTS) assay. A xenograft mice model was also constructed to confirm the effect of rutaecarpine in vivo. Results: We identified that rutaecarpine, an indolopyridoquinazolinone, induces luminal differentiation of basal TNBC cells in both 3D spheroids and in vivo mice models. Mechanistically, rutaecarpine treatment leads to global metabolic stress and elevated ROS in 3D cultured TNBC cells. Moreover, NAC, a scavenger of ROS, impedes rutaecarpine-induced differentiation of TNBC cells in 3D culture. Finally, we identified fumarate hydratase (FH) as the direct interacting target of rutaecarpine. The inhibition of FH and the knockdown of FH consistently induced the differentiation of TNBC cells in 3D culture. Conclusions: Our results provide a platform for differentiation therapy drug discovery using 3D culture models and identify rutaecarpine as a potential compound for TNBC treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zhen Yu,1,* Shixin Chan,2,* Xu Wang,2 Rui Sun,2 Ming Wang,1 Zhenglin Wang,2 Xiaomin Zuo,2 Jiajie Chen,3 Huabing Zhang,4 Wei Chen1,2,5 1Department of General Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230022, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230022, People’s Republic of China; 3Department of Dermatology, First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230022, People’s Republic of China; 4Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medicine, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230032, People’s Republic of China; 5Anhui Provincial Institute of Translational Medicine, Hefei, 230022, People’s Republic of China*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Huabing Zhang, Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medicine, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230032, People’s Republic of China, Email slzhang1977@163.com; huabingzhang@ahmu.edu.cn Wei Chen, Department of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, 230022, People’s Republic of China, Tel +86 13966711566, Fax +86 0551-63633742, Email chenwei366@126.com; chenwei366@ahmu.edu.cnPurpose: To evaluate the effect of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) combined with rutaecarpine (RUT) on the antiproliferative, anti-migratory, and apoptosis-promoting ability of colorectal cancer (CRC) cells and explore the underlying mechanism.Methods: The antiproliferative effects of RUT and 5-FU on CRC cells were evaluated using MTT and colony formation assays. Anti-migration was assessed by cell scratch and transwell tests. The synergistic effect of RUT and 5-FU was assessed by isobologram and combination index analysis using CompuSyn software. The effects of RUT and 5-FU on cell apoptosis were detected by flow cytometry. Differences in protein expression levels with or without RUT and/or 5-FU treatment were assessed by Western blot. Moreover, a mouse xenograft model of CRC was established to investigate the antitumor effect of RUT and 5-FU in vivo, and Ki67 and cleaved caspase-3 expression was detected by immunofluorescence.Results: In this study, we found that 5-FU combined with RUT can inhibit the proliferative, migratory, and antiapoptotic abilities of CRC cells to a significantly greater extent than either RUT or 5-FU alone both in vivo and in vitro. Western blot analysis showed that the level of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) phosphorylation in CRC cells was significantly reduced after combination therapy compared with that seen with the respective monotherapies. In addition, combination therapy influenced the STAT3 signaling pathway, namely, it inhibited the expression of c-Myc, CDK4, and Bcl-2 while enhancing that of the proapoptotic protein cleaved caspase-3. Immunofluorescence staining further showed that the expression of Ki67 and cleaved caspase-3 was significantly downregulated and upregulated, respectively, in tumor tissues of mice treated with combination therapy compared with that observed with 5-FU treatment alone.Conclusion: Combined therapy with 5-FU and RUT exerted a superior curative effect in CRC than treatment with either single drug alone and has potential as a novel therapeutic modality for the treatment of CRC.Keywords: 5-fluorouracil, colorectal cancer, rutaecarpine, signal transducer and activator of transcription 3, synergistic therapy

Herein, we reported an effective one‐pot protocol to synthesize quinazolinone fused N‐heterocyclic scaffold, structurally similar to the natural product Luotonin and Rutaecarpine by Pd(OAc)2/Ag(OAc)‐promoted intramolecular dehydrogenative cross‐coupling (DCC). The structure of all the compounds has been confirmed unambiguously by NMR, mass, and XRD. The electronic effect of the substituents attached to the backbone of the starting material was thoroughly investigated. The outcome of the reaction is highly dependent on the substrate structure and pH of the medium. Based on the experimental observation, a probable mechanism has been proposed. To see the anti‐cancer properties, we have studied concentration‐dependent cell viability assay of one compound on SiHa cell, a human cervical cancer cell line. The observed IC50 value was 23 μM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein, an eco‐friendly and atom‐economical electrochemical methodology with isatins and 1,2,3,4‐tetrahydroisoquinolines through NHPI/O2‐mediated intermolecular oxidation/annulation is disclosed, leading to a variety of polycyclic quinazolinones in 46–82% yields. This oxidative cyclization proceeded in transition metal‐ and strong oxidant‐free conditions and generated H2 and CO2 as byproducts. Additionally, late‐stage functionalization and broad substrate scope demonstrated the synthetic usefulness of this protocol. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inflammation is a hallmark of esophagitis. Rutaecarpine or rutecarpine is an alkaloid compound with both anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative activity. Here, we sought to evaluate potential protective effects of Rutaecarpine on reflux esophagitis in a murine model of the disease, which was treated with different doses of Rutaecarpine (5, 10 and 20 mg/kg) and Omeprazole (20 mg/kg) for 6h, the results of which were compared with a non-esophagitis control group. Biochemical markers were measured based on tissue and serum samples collected from esophagitis-positive and control animals. Rutaecarpine significantly reduced macrophage cell viability, while negatively regulating nitric oxide (NO) and inducible NO synthase (iNOS), interleukin-1beta (IL-1β), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2). Rutaecarpine treatment was associated with marked reversal of esophageal lesions, reduced gastric secretion and activity (P<0.001), increased gastric pH and SH groups, as well as reduced levels of H2O2, free iron, calcium (P<0.001). Additionally, Rutaecarpine treatment negatively regulated the expression of H+K+ATPase and histamine, while markedly altering the levels of lactoperoxidase (LPO), catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD) glutathione (GSH) and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) (P<0.001). Rutaecarpine was found to confer protective effects against esophagitis in rats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Pulmonary arterial hypertension presents with obliterative remodeling of the pulmonary arteries and progressive elevation of pulmonary vascular resistance, which increase the risk of right ventricular failure and death. It has been reported in previous studies that rutaecarpine plays a crucial role in anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities, which may help regulate cell apoptosis and cell proliferation. The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of rutaecarpine in the rat model of monocrotaline-induced pulmonary hypertension. Methods: We induced pulmonary arterial hypertension in adult Sprague-Dawley rats by injecting monocrotaline (60 mg/kg) and then treated with rutaecarpine (40 mg/kg·d) or sildenafil (30 mg/kg·d) (positive control). Subsequently, pulmonary function, inflammation, cytokines and pulmonary vascular remodeling or proliferation were assessed. Results: Rutaecarpine was found to improve monocrotaline-induced mean pulmonary artery pressure, cardiac index, right heart index, right ventricular hypertrophy index, pulmonary artery remodeling and pulmonary function. reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction demonstrated a decrease in tumor necrosis factor-a, interleukin-6 and interleukin-1ß, whereas western blots a significantly decrease in the expression of nuclear factor kappa-B, endothelin-1, extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1/2, B cell lymphoma-2, Beclin1 and microtubuleassociated protein1 light chain 3-II protein, and increase in the expression of Bax, caspase-3 and p62 protein. Conclusion: Rutaecarpine attenuated pulmonary arterial hypertension by inhibiting inflammation, oxidative stress, cell proliferation and autophagy, while promoting apoptosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

CAG is a burdensome and progressive disease. Numerous studies have shown the effectiveness of RUT in digestive system diseases. The therapeutic effects of RUT on MNNG-induced CAG and the potential mechanisms were probed. MNNG administration was employed to establish a CAG model. The HE and ELISA methods were applied to detect the treatment effects. WB, qRT-PCR, immunohistochemistry, TUNEL, and GES-1 cell flow cytometry approaches were employed to probe the mechanisms. The CAG model was successfully established. The ELISA and HE staining data showed that the RUT treatment effects on CAG rats were reflected by the amelioration of histological damage. The qRT-PCR and WB analyses indicated that the protective effect of RUT is related to the upregulation of the SHH pathway and downregulation of the downstream of apoptosis to improve gastric cellular survival. Our data suggest that RUT induces a gastroprotective effect by upregulating the SHH signaling pathway and stimulating anti-apoptosis downstream.

Evodiamine (EVO) and rutaecarpine (RUT) are the main active compounds of the traditional Chinese medicinal herb Evodia rutaecarpa. Here, we fully optimized the molecular geometries of EVO and RUT at the B3LYP/6-311++G (d, p) level of density functional theory. The natural population analysis (NPA) charges, frontier molecular orbitals, molecular electrostatic potentials, and the chemical reactivity descriptors for EVO and RUT were also investigated. Furthermore, molecular docking, molecular dynamics simulations, and the analysis of the binding free energies of EVO and RUT were carried out against the anticancer target topoisomerase 1 (TOP1) to clarify their anticancer mechanisms. The docking results indicated that they could inhibit TOP1 by intercalating into the cleaved DNA-binding site to form a TOP1–DNA–ligand ternary complex, suggesting that they may be potential TOP1 inhibitors. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations evaluated the binding stability of the TOP1–DNA–ligand ternary complex. The calculation of binding free energy showed that the binding ability of EVO with TOP1 was stronger than that of RUT. These results elucidated the structure–activity relationship and the antitumor mechanism of EVO and RUT at the molecular level. It is suggested that EVO and RUT may be potential compounds for the development of new anticancer drugs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lipoteichoic acid (LTA) is a key cell wall component and virulence factor of Gram-positive bacteria. LTA contributes a major role in infection and it mediates inflammatory responses in the host. Rutaecarpine, an indolopyridoquinazolinone alkaloid isolated from Evodia rutaecarpa, has shown a variety of fascinating biological properties such as anti-thrombotic, anticancer, anti-obesity and thermoregulatory, vasorelaxing activity. It has also potent effects on the cardiovascular and endocrine systems. Herein, we investigated rutaecarpine's (Rut) anti-inflammatory effects in LTA-stimulated RAW macrophage cells. The Western blot and spectrophotometric results revealed that Rut inhibited the production of nitric oxide (NO) and the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), and interleukin (IL)-1β in the LTA-induced macrophage cells. Successively, our mechanistic studies publicized that Rut inhibited LTA-induced phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) including the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), and p38, but not c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase (JNK). In addition, the respective Western blot and confocal image analyses exhibited that Rut reserved nuclear transcription factor kappa-B (NF-κB) by hindering inhibitor of nuclear factor κB-α (IκBα) and NF-κB p65 phosphorylation and p65 nuclear translocation. These results indicate that Rut exhibits its anti-inflammatory effects mainly through attenuating NF-κB and ERK/p38 signaling pathways. Overall, this result suggests that Rut could be a potential therapeutic agent for the treatment of Gram-positive bacteria induced inflammatory diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The oxidative stress response caused by traumatic brain injury (TBI) leads to secondary damage in the form of tissue damage and cell death. Nuclear transcription-related factor 2 (NRF2) is a key factor in the body against oxidative stress and has an important role in combating oxidative damage in TBI neurons. In the present study, we investigated whether rutaecarpine could activate the PGK1/KEAP1/NRF2 pathway to antagonize oxidative damage in TBI neurons. We performed controlled cortical impact (CCI) surgery on mice and taken H2O2 treatment on PC12 cells to construct TBI models. The results of western blot showed that the expression of PGK1, KEAP and NRF2 was regulated and accompanied by altered levels of oxidative stress, and the use of rutaecarpine in the TBI model mice significantly improved cognitive dysfunction, increased antioxidant capacity and reduced apoptosis in brain tissue. Similar antioxidant damage results were obtained using rutaecarpine in a PC12 cell model. Furthermore, through the use of the protein synthesis inhibitor CHX and the proteasome synthesis inhibitor MG-132, rutaecarpine was found to promote the expreesions of PGK1 and NRF2 by accelerating PGK1 ubiquitination to reduce PGK1 expression. Therefore, rutaecarpine may be a promising therapeutic agent for the treatment of TBI-related neuro-oxidative damage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pharmacological activation of adaptive thermogenesis to increase energy expenditure is considered to be a novel strategy for obesity. Peroxisome-proliferator-activated receptor γ co-activator-1α (PGC-1α), which serves as an inducible co-activator in energy expenditure, is highly expressed in brown adipose tissues (BAT). In this study, we found a PGC-1α transcriptional activator, natural compound rutaecarpine (Rut), which promoted brown adipocytes mitochondrial biogenesis and thermogenesis in vitro. Chronic Rut treatment reduced the body weight gain and mitigated insulin sensitivity through brown and beige adipocyte thermogenesis. Mechanistic study showed that Rut activated the energy metabolic pathway AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK)/PGC-1α axis, and deficiency of AMPK abolished the beneficial metabolic phenotype of the Rut treatment in vitro and in vivo. In summary, a PGC-1α transcriptional activator Rut was found to activate brown and beige adipose thermogenesis to resist diet-induced obesity through AMPK pathway. Our findings serve as a further understanding of the natural compound in adipose tissue and provides a possible strategy to combat obesity and related metabolic disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prostate cancer with an increased incidence in the world is one of the public health-threatening malignancy. Metastatic prostate cancer is an important cause of death in men despite of the combined use of more than one chemotherapeutic drug as well as radiotherapy and supportive treatments. Therefore, there is a need to de velop novel treatment strategies in metastatic prostate cancer patients. The aim of this study was to investigate the potential therapeutic effects of Rutaecarpine (RUT) on metastatic prostate cancer cells. RUT induced cytotoxicity and apoptotic cell death were evaluated by WST-1, Annexin V, AO staining and ELISA assays in PC-3 human metastatic prostate cancer cell line. The viability percentage of PC-3 cells after exposing to different concentrations of RUT treatment signif icantly decreased in a time and dose dependent manner and the most effective concentrations of RUT was determined as 20 and 40 μM for 48 hours (p<0.05). Annexin V and AO staining revealed that the early and late apoptosis rate significantly increased compared to the control group (p <0.05). Additionally, the caspase -3 levels significantly increased after RUT treatment in PC-3 cells in a dose dependent manner (p<0.05). In this study, RUT exhibited a cytotoxic and apoptotic effects on PC-3 cells and therefore RUT could be a potential new therapeutic agent for the treatment of metastatic prostate cancer. However, the underlying mechanism of the apoptotic death caused by RUT in PC-3 cells should be further investigated through advanced analysis at molecular level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A variety of pseudorutaecarpine derivatives were prepared in good to excellent yields through a gold(I)‐catalyzed selective cyclization and 1,2‐shift of N‐alkynyl quinazolinone‐tethered indoles. Mechanistic study revealed that spiroindolenines generated in situ by cyclization at the the indole C3 position underwent an alkenyl 1,2‐shift to generate pseudorutaecarpine. The reaction proceeds under mild reaction conditions, has a broad substrate scope, good functional group tolerance, and gram‐scalable application. Furthermore, biological evaluation showed that most of the pseudorutaecarpine scaffolds prepared exhibit anti‐inflammatory activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rutaecarpine, an indolopyridoquinazoline alkaloid, attracted attentions because of possessing various biological activities. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of rutaecarpine on glucose and lipid metabolism in high fat diet–multiple low dose streptozotocin induced type 2 diabetic (HFD-db) mice and to understand the mechanism of action. HFD-db mice showed impaired glucose metabolism and lipid profile. Oral administration of rutaecarpine reduced the blood glucose levels, decreased blood hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels, improved glucose tolerance and restored insulin sensitivity in HFD-db mice. Rutaecarpine also decreased body weight gain, water intake and visceral fat gain in HFD-db mice. Total cholesterol, triglycerides, very low density lipoprotein and low density lipoprotein were reduced and high density lipoprotein level was augmented in rutaecarpine treated HFD-db mice. Rutaecarpine also reduced the elevated levels of serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase, serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase, urea and creatinine in HFD-db mice. Rutaecarpine significantly promoted the rate of glucose consumption, glucose uptake and glycolysis in C2C12 myotubes. Western blotting results showed that rutaecarpine augmented p-GSK-3β and p-AMPK expression, and suppressed G6Pase expression in HepG2 cells. These results suggest that rutaecarpine might be having therapeutic importance to fight against type 2 diabetes mellitus associated with dyslipidemia.

The oxidative stress response caused by traumatic brain injury (TBI) leads to secondary damage in the form of tissue damage and cell death. Nuclear transcription-related factor 2 (NRF2) is a key factor in the body against oxidative stress and has an important role in combating oxidative damage in TBI neurons. In the present study, we investigated whether rutaecarpine could activate the PGK1/KEAP1/NRF2 pathway to antagonize oxidative damage in TBI neurons. We performed controlled cortical impact (CCI) surgery on mice and taken H2O2 treatment on PC12 cells to construct TBI models. The results of western blot showed that the expression of PGK1, KEAP and NRF2 was regulated and accompanied by altered levels of oxidative stress, and the use of rutaecarpine in the TBI model mice significantly improved cognitive dysfunction, increased antioxidant capacity and reduced apoptosis in brain tissue. Similar antioxidant damage results were obtained using rutaecarpine in a PC12 cell model. Furthermore, through the use of the protein synthesis inhibitor CHX and the proteasome synthesis inhibitor MG-132, rutaecarpine was found to promote the expreesions of PGK1 and NRF2 by accelerating PGK1 ubiquitination to reduce PGK1 expression. Therefore, rutaecarpine may be a promising therapeutic agent for the treatment of TBI-related neuro-oxidative damage.

Patients with cancer who receive doxorubicin (DOX) treatment can experience cardiac dysfunction, which can finally develop into heart failure. Oxidative stress is considered the most important mechanism for DOX-mediated cardiotoxicity. Rutaecarpine (Rut), a quinazolinocarboline alkaloid extracted from Evodia rutaecarpa was shown to have a protective effect on cardiac disease. The purpose of this study is to investigate the role of Rut in DOX-induced cardiotoxicity and explore the underlying mechanism. Intravenous injection of DOX (5 mg/kg, once a week) in mice for 4 weeks was used to establish the cardiotoxic model. Echocardiography and pathological staining analysis were used to detect the changes in structure and function in the heart. Western blot and real-time PCR analysis were used to detect the molecular changes. In this study, we found that DOX time-dependently decreased cardiac function with few systemic side effects. Rut inhibited DOX-induced cardiac fibrosis, reduction in heart size, and decrease in heart function. DOX-induced reduction in superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione (GSH), enhancement of malondialdehyde (MDA) was inhibited by Rut administration. Meanwhile, Rut inhibited DOX-induced apoptosis in the heart. Importantly, we further found that Rut activated AKT or nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf-2) which further upregulated the antioxidant enzymes such as heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) and GSH cysteine ligase modulatory subunit (GCLM) expression. AKT inhibitor (AKTi) partially inhibited Nrf-2, HO-1, and GCLM expression and abolished the protective role of Rut in DOX-induced cardiotoxicity. In conclusion, this study identified Rut as a potential therapeutic agent for treating DOX-induced cardiotoxicity by activating AKT.

Evodiamine, rutaecarpine, and dehydroevodiamine have been demonstrated as the major alkaloids in the fruits of Euodia rutaecarpa, a well-known traditional Chinese medicine with central nervous system activities. To study their cerebrospinal fluid pharmacokinetics and cerebral nuclei distribution, the alkaloids were mixed at the weight ratio of 1:1:1 and orally administered via gavage to the rats at each dose of 15 mg/kg. A quick and reliable ultra-performance liquid chromatographic-tandem mass spectrometry method was developed and applied for the simultaneous analysis of the alkaloids in rat cerebrospinal fluid and cerebral nuclei collected at different time points. Non-compartmental pharmacokinetic profiles were calculated, and the distribution in cerebral nuclei was compared. All the tested compounds were absorbed into rat cerebrospinal fluid and distributed to the brain nuclei quickly. Their distribution in different nuclei varied, as evodiamine mainly in cerebellum and brainstem, rutaecarpine with its maximum in the brainstem, and dehydroevodiamine mostly in the cerebellum and hippocampus. They were eliminated from the brain rapidly without long-time accumulation. In summary, this study revealed the targeting discrepancy of evodiamine, rutaecarpine, and dehydroevodiamine in the brain, and highlighted the possibility for drug candidates in the encephalopathy treatment of the fruits of E. rutaecarpa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Glioblastoma is the most frequent and aggressive primary astrocytoma in adults. The high migration ability of the tumor cells is an important reason for the high recurrence rate and poor prognosis of glioblastoma. Recently, emerging evidence has shown that the migration ability of glioblastoma cells was inhibited upon the activation of aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR), suggesting potential anti-tumor effects of AhR agonists. Rutaecarpine is a natural compound with potential tumor therapeutic effects which can possibly bind to AhR. However, its effect on the migration of glioblastoma is unclear. Therefore, we aim to explore the effects of rutaecarpine on the migration of human glioblastoma cells U87 and the involvement of the AhR signaling pathway. The results showed that: (i) compared with other structural related alkaloids, like evodiamine and dehydroevodiamine, rutaecarpine was a more potent AhR activator, and has a stronger inhibitory effect on the glioblastoma cell migration; (ii) rutaecarpine decreased the migration ability of U87 cells in an AhR-dependent manner; (iii) AhR mediated the expression of a tumor suppressor interleukin 24 (IL24) induced by rutaecarpine, and AhR-IL24 axis was involved in the anti-migratory effects of rutaecarpine on the glioblastoma. Besides IL24, other candidates AhR downstream genes both associated with cancer and migration were proposed to participate in the migration regulation of rutaecarpine by RNA-Seq and bioinformatic analysis. These data indicate that rutaecarpine is a naturally-derived AhR agonist that could inhibit the migration of U87 human glioblastoma cells mostly via the AhR-IL24 axis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chronic compression injury elevates oxidative stress and inflammation leading to neuropathic pain that is alleviated by rutaecarpine in a dose-dependent manner. To understand the mechanism(s) underlying rutaecarpine effects on this process, changes in the expressions of the proteins and messenger ribonucleic acids for tumor necrosis factor-a, interlukin-6, and interleukin-1ß were assessed. Also, the pathology of the sciatic nerve tissue was examined histologically. Furthermore, the expression of the levels of malondialdehyde, superoxide dismutase, and glutathione proteins were evaluated as markers of oxidative stress. Studies aimed at the understanding the mechanisms underlying actions of rutaecarpine suggested it to exert a protective effect on neuropathic pain in a chronic compression injury rat via activating nuclear-factor erythroid 2-related factor 2/Heme oxygenase-1 and inhibiting 6-phosphofructo-2-kinase/fructose-2,6-biphosphatase 3 gene pathways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acute pancreatitis (AP) is an acute inflammatory condition of the pancreas. Previous studies have shown that rutaecarpine (RUT), an important alkaloid component of Evodia rutaecarpa, exhibits certain protective effects against AP in rats by upregulating calcitonin gene‐related peptide (CGRP). However, the molecular mechanism of RUT in AP remains unknown. This study aimed to investigate the effects of RUT on cerulein‐induced AP in vivo and in vitro, and to explore the underlying molecular mechanisms. In cerulein/LPS‐treated wild‐type mice, but not CGRP gene knock‐out mice, RUT significantly ameliorated pancreatic inflammation by alleviating histopathological changes, reducing IL‐6 and TNF‐α levels, and increasing in IL‐10 levels. Moreover, RUT improved AP by suppressing the MAPK and NF‐κB signaling pathways. These effects were mostly mediated through CGRP. Cell‐based studies revealed that RUT significantly improved cell viability while suppressing the apoptosis of AR42J cells with cerulein‐induced AP, downregulating IL‐6 and TNF‐α, stimulating IL‐10 release, and inhibiting MAPK, NF‐κB, and STAT3 signaling activation, all in a CGRP‐dependent manner. RUT ameliorated cerulein/LPS‐induced AP inflammatory responses in mice and AR42J cells in a CGRP‐dependent manner and thus may represent a potential therapeutic option for AP patients. Our study provides valuable insights for AP drug development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rutaecarpine is reported as a potent inducer of CYP1A2 enzyme in rats. There are natural herbal supplements containing rutaecarpine that are designed to enhance the CYP1A2-dependent removal of caffeine from blood so that people can have coffee later in the day without causing sleep interference. This study aimed to determine the minimum amount of time needed from oral rutaecarpine administration until the observed effect of rutaecarpine on caffeine pharmacokinetics (PK) in 15 male Sprague-Dawley rats. PK parameters for caffeine and its metabolites in the control and rutaecarpine groups were calculated using WinNonlin®. Results showed that orally administered rutaecarpine at 100 mg/kg dose as early as 3 h before oral caffeine administration significantly decreased the oral systemic exposure and mean residence time of caffeine and its metabolites due to decreased caffeine bioavailability (by up to 75%) and increased clearance. The systemic exposure of caffeine and its metabolites were also decreased when caffeine was given intravenously, though this effect was less pronounced than when caffeine was given orally. Although plasma level of rutaecarpine was undetectable (less than 10 ng/mL), rutaecarpine still induced hepatic CYP1A2 activity. Results from 7-methoxyresorufin O-demethylation activity, which is specific to CYP1A2, showed that 3 h after one rutaecarpine oral dose, CYP1A2 activity in rat liver tissue was increased by 3- fold. This finding suggested that rutaecarpine effectively induced CYP1A2 activity in the liver.

Glioblastoma is the most frequent and aggressive primary astrocytoma in adults. The high migration ability of the tumor cells is an important reason for the high recurrence rate and poor prognosis of glioblastoma. Recently, emerging evidence has shown that the migration ability of glioblastoma cells was inhibited upon the activation of aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR), suggesting potential anti-tumor effects of AhR agonists. Rutaecarpine is a natural compound with potential tumor therapeutic effects which can possibly bind to AhR. However, its effect on the migration of glioblastoma is unclear. Therefore, we aim to explore the effects of rutaecarpine on the migration of human glioblastoma cells U87 and the involvement of the AhR signaling pathway. The results showed that: (i) compared with other structural related alkaloids, like evodiamine and dehydroevodiamine, rutaecarpine was a more potent AhR activator, and has a stronger inhibitory effect on the glioblastoma cell migration; (ii) rutaecarpine decreased the migration ability of U87 cells in an AhR-dependent manner; (iii) AhR mediated the expression of a tumor suppressor interleukin 24 (IL24) induced by rutaecarpine, and AhR-IL24 axis was involved in the anti-migratory effects of rutaecarpine on the glioblastoma. Besides IL24, other candidates AhR downstream genes both associated with cancer and migration were proposed to participate in the migration regulation of rutaecarpine by RNA-Seq and bioinformatic analysis. These data indicate that rutaecarpine is a naturally-derived AhR agonist that could inhibit the migration of U87 human glioblastoma cells mostly via the AhR-IL24 axis.

Meiyu Han,1,* Lin Hu,2,* Yang Chen31Department of Internal Medicine, The Second People’s Hospital of Dongying City, Dongying City, Shandong Province 257335, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Critical Care Medicine ICU, Zoucheng People’s Hospital, Zoucheng, Shandong Province 273500, People’s Republic of China; 3Department of Internal Neurology, Shanghai Pudong Hospital, Fudan University Pudong Medical Center, Pudong, Shanghai 201399, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Yang ChenDepartment of Internal Neurology, Shanghai Pudong Hospital, Fudan University Pudong Medical Center, 2800 Gongwei Road, Huinan Town, Pudong, Shanghai 201399, People’s Republic of ChinaTel +86 1 356 895 4215Email l8nz03s78@sina.com*These authors contributed equally to this workBackground: Cerebral ischemia-reperfusion (CI/R) injury is a more serious brain injury caused by the recovery of blood supply after cerebral ischemia for a certain period of time. Rutaecarpine (Rut) is an alkaloid isolated from Evodia officinalis with various biological activities. Previous studies have shown that Rut has a certain protective effect on ischemic brain injury, but the specific molecular mechanism is still unknown.Methods: In this study, a rat model of CI/R was established to explore the effects and potential molecular mechanisms of Rut on CI/R injury in rats.Results: The results showed that Rut alleviated neuronal injury induced by CI/R in a dose-dependent manner. Besides, Rut inhibited neuronal apoptosis by inhibiting the activation of caspase 3 and the expression of Bax. In addition, Rut alleviated the inflammatory response and oxidative stress caused by CI/R through inhibiting the production of pro-inflammatory factors (IL-6 and IL-1β), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), malondialdehyde (MDA) and ROS, and increased the levels of anti-inflammatory factors (IL-4 and IL-10) and superoxide dismutase (SOD). Biochemically, Western blot analyses showed that Rut inhibited the phosphorylation of ERK1/2 and promoted the expression of nuclear factor-erythroid 2 related factor 2 (Nrf2) pathway-related proteins (Nrf2, heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1) and NAD (P) H-quinone oxidoreductase 1) in a dose-dependent manner. These results show that Rut may alleviate brain injury induced by CI/R by regulating the expression of ERK1/2 and the activation of Nrf2/HO-1 pathway.Conclusion: In conclusion, these results suggest that Rut may be used as an effective therapeutic agent for damage caused by CI/R.Keywords: cerebral ischemia-reperfusion, rutaecarpine, nuclear factor-erythroid 2 related factor 2, extracellular regulated protein kinases

Objective: Natural compounds have gained considerable attention in recent years due to disadvantages and properties of current chemotherapy drugs in cancer therapy. In addition, the impact of these compounds is specific for each type and/or subtypes of cancer due to different treatment response. Rutaecarpine, an alkaloid obtained from Evodia Rutaecarpa Chinese herb, has anticancer activity by inhibiting topoisomerase and/or cyclo-oxygenase-2 levels. However, the effectiveness of rutaecarpine has not been well known in breast cancer in terms of subtype. Therefore, we investigated the potential therapeutic effects of rutaecarpine on two different subtypes of breast cancer cells. Materials and Methods: The cytotoxic and apoptotic effects of rutaecarpine on MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells were analyzed by WST-1, Annexin V, cell cycle, and acridine orange staining. Results: WST-1 results indicated that rutaecarpine significantly inhibited the growth of both cancer cells for 48 h (P < 0.05). In addition, rutaecarpine treatment caused apoptotic cell death through chromatin condensation and nuclear blebbing and G0/G1 arrest in both breast cancer cells. However, the efficacy of rutaecarpine was more profound in MCF-7 cells than MDA-MB-231 cells. Conclusions: Consequently, rutaecarpine has a potential therapeutic effect on breast cancer. However, the effectiveness of rutaecarpine is dependent on the subtype of breast cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diabetes mellitus is a chronic metabolic disorder with multiple complications, patients who receive metformin may have a simultaneous intake of herbal medicine containing rutaecarpine due to cardiovascular protection and hypolipidemic effects of rutaecarpine. There might be drug interactions between metformin and rutaecarpine. This study aimed to investigate the effects of rutaecarpine on the pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics of metformin in diabetic rats. The diabetic rat model was induced with high-fat diet and low dose streptozotocin. Metformin with or without rutaecarpine was administered by oral gavage for 42 days. Pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics parameters were evaluated. The pharmacodynamics results revealed that co-administration of rutaecarpine with metformin resulted in a remarkable reduction of serum glucose and lipid profiles in diabetic rats compared to metformin treated alone. The pharmacokinetics results showed that co-treatments of rutaecarpine with metformin did not affect the systemic exposure and renal distribution of metformin, but increased metformin concentration in liver. Furthermore, rutaecarpine increased Oct1-mediated metformin uptake into hepatocytes by upregulation of Oct1 expression in the liver. The above data indicate that rutaecarpine enhanced the anti-diabetic effect of metformin, which may be associated with the increased hepatic distribution of metformin through up-regulation of Oct1 in response to rutaecarpine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]