Mitogenic and tumor necrosis factor producing activities of Pseudostellaria heterophylla.
Separation of mitogenic fraction (PH-I) from Pseudostellaria heterophylla and characterization of its biological activities were investigated. PH-I was isolated as an alcohol-insoluble fraction from the hot water extract obtained by heating the roots of P. heterophylla in water at 80 degrees C for 4 h. It is a water-soluble substance consisting of mainly carbohydrates (56.8%) and a small amount of proteins (7.6%). The incorporation of tritiated thymidine into the DNA of murine spleen lymphocytes could be stimulated by PH-I in a dose-dependent manner. PH-I could act as a priming agent for the release of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) in mice. Moreover, PH-I exhibited potent anti-tumor activities against Ehrlich ascites tumor (EAT) cells in vivo but not in vitro.
Wong
C K
CK
Department of Biochemistry, Chinese University of Hong Kong, New Territories.
Leung
K N
KN
Fung
K P
KP
Pang
P K
PK
Choy
Y M
YM
D000818:Animals; D002286:Carcinoma, Ehrlich Tumor / Q000188:drug therapy; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008934:Mitogens / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D015054:Zymosan / Q000494:pharmacology
D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D008934:Mitogens; D010936:Plant Extracts; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D015054:Zymosan