Effect of Agkistroden blomhoffi (mamushi) on the proliferation of human fibroblasts.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of Agkistroden blomhoffi (mamushi) aqueous extract on human patellar tendon cells in vitro, to pharmacologically explain the natural medicine's healing effect on tendon, bone and muscle injuries.


METHODS
Human patellar tendon fibroblasts (HPTF) were incubated in media containing different concentrations of mamushi aqueous extract. Cell proliferation was studied by microscopic observations and total protein, actin, collagen I, and cyclooxygenase-2 (Cox 2) expressions.


RESULTS
Mamushi aqueous extract enhanced HPTF proliferation when its concentration was lower than 333 microg/ml. Cells cultured in manushi-containing medium showed developed intercellular structure and increased protein production. However, mamushi extract higher than 500 microg/ml oppressed cell growth. At 667 microg/ml, mamushi induced Cox 2 production, a sign of cytotoxicity.


CONCLUSIONS
A. blomhoffi aqueous extract was found to directly stimulate the proliferation and protein production, particularly collagen I synthesis, of HPTF in a dose-dependent manner.
Yang
Qing
Q
Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520, USA.
Yang
Guoguang
G
Zhang
Jianying
J
Masuoka
Noriyoshi
N
Riffle
Yun Z
YZ
Wang
Zhigang
Z
Ebinuma
Hideo
H
Kodama
Hiroyuki
H
D000199:Actins / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D017836:Agkistrodon; D000818:Animals; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D003094:Collagen / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000187:drug effects; D045424:Complex Mixtures / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007527:Isoenzymes / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000187:drug effects; D008516:Medicine, Chinese Traditional; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000187:drug effects; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis; D011506:Proteins / Q000187:drug effects
D000199:Actins; D045424:Complex Mixtures; D007527:Isoenzymes; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D011506:Proteins; D003094:Collagen; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; C496540:PTGS2 protein, human; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases