- Andrographolide, the major active component from Andrographis paniculata, has shown to possess anti-inflammatory activity. Andrographolide inhibits the expression of several proinflammatory proteins that exhibit a nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) binding site in their gene.
- In the present study, we analyzed the effect of andrographolide on the activation of NF-κB induced by platelet-activating factor (PAF) and N-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (fMLP) in HL-60 cells differentiated to neutrophils.
- PAF (100
nM) and fMLP (100nM) induced activation of NF-κB as determined by degradation of inhibitory factor B α (IκBα) using Western blotting in cytosolic extracts and by binding to DNA using electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA) in nuclear extracts. - Andrographolide (5 and 50μM) inhibited the NF-κB-luciferase activity induced by PAF. However, andrographolide did not reduce phosphorylation of p38 MAPK or ERK1/2 and did not change IκBα degradation induced by PAF and fMLP.
- Andrographolide reduced the DNA binding of NF-κB in whole cells and in nuclear extracts induced by PAF and fMLP.
- Andrographolide reduced cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression induced by PAF and fMLP in HL-60/neutrophils.
- It is concluded that andrographolide exerts its anti-inflammatory effects by inhibiting NF-κB binding to DNA, and thus reducing the expression of proinflammatory proteins, such as COX-2.
Andrographolide interferes with binding of nuclear factor-κB to DNA in HL-60-derived neutrophilic cells
Medicinal plants used by traditional healers in Kancheepuram District of Tamil Nadu, India
An ethnobotanical survey was undertaken to collect information from traditional healers on the use of medicinal plants in Kancheepuram district of Tamil Nadu during October 2003 to April 2004. The indigenous knowledge of local traditional healers and the native plants used for medicinal purposes were collected through questionnaire and personal interviews during field trips.
The investigation revealed that, the traditional healers used 85 species of plants distributed in 76 genera belonging to 41 families to treat various diseases. The documented medicinal plants were mostly used to cure skin diseases, poison bites, stomachache and nervous disorders. In this study the most dominant family was Euphorbiaceae and leaves were most frequently used for the treatment of diseases.
This study showed that many people in the studied parts of Kancheepuram district still continue to depend on medicinal plants at least for the treatment of primary healthcare. The traditional healers are dwindling in number and there is a grave danger of traditional knowledge disappearing soon since the younger generation is not interested to carry on this tradition.
J Ethnobiol Ethnomed. 2006; 2: 43.
The investigation revealed that, the traditional healers used 85 species of plants distributed in 76 genera belonging to 41 families to treat various diseases. The documented medicinal plants were mostly used to cure skin diseases, poison bites, stomachache and nervous disorders. In this study the most dominant family was Euphorbiaceae and leaves were most frequently used for the treatment of diseases.
This study showed that many people in the studied parts of Kancheepuram district still continue to depend on medicinal plants at least for the treatment of primary healthcare. The traditional healers are dwindling in number and there is a grave danger of traditional knowledge disappearing soon since the younger generation is not interested to carry on this tradition.
J Ethnobiol Ethnomed. 2006; 2: 43.
Chemopreventive Herbal Anti-Oxidants: Current Status and Future Perspectives
Cancer chemoprevention is fast becoming a lucrative approach for controlling cancer. Carcinogenesis being a complex multi-step, multi-factorial process, a number of chemopreventive interventions can be employed. These strategies are generally directed against two broad events of carcinogenesis viz., initiation and promotion/progression. Anti-initiation interventions principally involve inhibition of carcinogen activation, scavenging of free radicals and reactive carcinogen metabolites along with enhanced detoxification of carcinogens by modulating cellular metabolism. Anti-promotion strategies involve attenuation of enhanced cellular proliferation along with induction of cellular apoptosis and differentiation. Dietary agents or herbal anti-oxidants due to low toxicity and relative safety are promising chemopreventive agents. These agents after emerging successful through a series of in vitro and in vivo assays enter clinical trials. Many dietary compounds have emerged as promising chemopreventive agents in empirical experiments. However, in clinical trials these compounds have met with limited success. This emphasizes the need for further detailed research on the mechanisms of observed chemoprevention and choice, dose, duration and bioavailability of chemopreventive agent used. Complex issues such as choice and nutritional status of target population, genetic variation, gene-environment interactions and relevance of biomarkers analyzed also warrant further research and analyses.
J Clin Biochem Nutr. 2007 March; 40(2): 82–91.
J Clin Biochem Nutr. 2007 March; 40(2): 82–91.
Current Status of Herbal Drugs in India: An Overview
Herbal drugs constitute a major share of all the officially recognised systems of health in India viz. Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Siddha, Homeopathy and Naturopathy, except Allopathy. More than 70% of India’s 1.1 billion population still use these non-allopathic systems of medicine. Currently, there is no separate category of herbal drugs or dietary supplements, as per the Indian Drugs Act. However, there is a vast experiential-evidence base for many of the natural drugs. This offers immense opportunities for Observational Therapeutics and Reverse Pharmacology. Evidence-based herbals are widely used in the diverse systems and manufactured, as per the pharmacopoeial guidelines, by a well-organised industry. Significant basic and clinical research has been carried out on the medicinal plants and their formulations, with the state-of-the-art methods in a number of Institutes/Universities. There are some good examples. Indian medicinal plants also provide a rich source for antioxidants that are known to prevent/delay different diseased states. The antioxidant protection is observed at different levels. The medicinal plants also contain other beneficial compounds like ingredients for functional foods. Hence, the global knowledge about Ayurveda and Indian herbals will hopefully be enhanced by information on the evidence-base of these plants. This will yield rich dividends in the coming years.
J Clin Biochem Nutr. 2007 July; 41(1): 1–11.
J Clin Biochem Nutr. 2007 July; 41(1): 1–11.
A Small-Molecule Furin Inhibitor Inhibits Cancer Cell Motility and Invasiveness
Furin, a member the proprotein convertase (PC) family, processes inactive precursor proteins to functional proteins within the Golgi/trans-Golgi network secretory pathway. Furin and other PC family members (furin/PCs) activate proteins vital to proper physiological functioning, including growth factors and hormones, receptors, plasma proteins, and matrix metalloproteases (MMPs). Additionally, the expression and activity of furin/PC are necessary for processing substrates important for cell transformation and tumor progression, metastasis, and angiogenesis. Furin processing of the remodeling protease membrane type-1 matrix metalloproteinase (MT1-MMP) enhances cellular motility and invasiveness, contributing to aggression and metastatic potential cancer cells. Whereas overexpression and activity of furin/PC exacerbate the cancer phenotype, inhibition of its activity decreases or nullifies furin/PC-mediated effects, and thus, inhibition of furin may be a viable route to cancer therapy. Recently, we identified a small-molecule inhibitor of furin, named B3, by high-throughput screening with a Ki and IC50 of 12µM. Here, we show that this cell-permeable, small-molecule compound inhibits furin-mediated cleavage of proMT1-MMP, resulting in decreased MMP-2 activation and cell motility in CHO cells expressing proMT1-MMP. Additionally, this molecule inhibited proMT1-MMP processing, complete MMP-2 maturation, and invasiveness of human fibrosarcoma cells (HT1080).
Neoplasia. 2008 April; 10(4): 363–370.
Neoplasia. 2008 April; 10(4): 363–370.
NCBI updates on Taxonomy of Andrographis paniculata
| Entrez records | |
| Database name | Direct links |
| Nucleotide | 67 |
| Nucleotide Core | 26 |
| Nucleotide EST | 41 |
| Protein | 13 |
| Popset | 2 |
| UniSTS | 4 |
| PubMed Central | 24 |
| Taxonomy | 1 |
Taxonomy ID: 175694
Rank: species
Genetic code: Translation table 1 (Standard)
Mitochondrial genetic code: Translation table 1 (Standard)
Other names:
| synonym: | Andrographis paniculata (Burm.f.) Nees |
- Lineage( full )
- cellular organisms; Eukaryota; Viridiplantae; Streptophyta; Streptophytina; Embryophyta; Tracheophyta; Euphyllophyta; Spermatophyta; Magnoliophyta; eudicotyledons; core eudicotyledons; asterids; lamiids; Lamiales; Acanthaceae; Acanthoideae; Ruellieae; Andrographinae; Andrographis
External Information Resources (NCBI LinkOut)
| LinkOut | Subject | LinkOut Provider |
| Andrographis paniculata (Burm. f.) Wall. ex Nees | taxonomy/phylogenetic | Global Biodiversity Information Facility |
| Andrographis paniculata (Burm. f.) Wall. ex Nees | taxonomy/phylogenetic | Integrated Taxonomic Information System |
| Andrographis paniculata | taxonomy/phylogenetic | The International Plant Names Index |
| Andrographis paniculata (Burm. f.) Wall. ex Nees | taxonomy/phylogenetic | USDA-ARS GRIN Taxonomy |
| search W3TROPICOS | taxonomy/phylogenetic | Vascular Tropicos |
| Andrographis paniculata | taxonomy/phylogenetic | electronic Plant Information Centre |
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