title: Clarification of the phenotypic characteristics and anti-tumor activity of Hedyotis diffusa.
abstract: Hedyotis diffusa Willd. (Rubiaceae) is an important folk herb used to prevent and cure hepatitis and liver cancer in Taiwan. For differentiation of H. diffusa from counterfeits, macroscopic and microscopic characters of H. diffusa, H. corymbosa and H. tenelliflora were examined in this study. According to Trypan blue exclusion assay and Western blot analysis, H. diffusa had a significant inhibition of cell growth and induction of cell apoptosis in COLO 205 (colon cancer), Hep 3B (hepatocellular carcinoma) and H460 (lung cancer) cell lines. This study also used high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) to determine the quality control of H. diffusa. The HPLC data showed that ursolic and oleanolic acid are the components of the H. diffusa, consisting of approximately 4.66-4.80% and 1.86-1.96%, respectively. Our study also demonstrated that ursolic acid has significant anti-tumor activity in COLO 205, Hep 3B and H460 cancer cells.
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmacy, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan. hong@mail.cmu.edu.tw
authors.forename: Hong-Zin
authors.initials: HZ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Da-Tian
authors.initials: DT
authors.lastname: Bau
authors.forename: Chao-Lin
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Kuo
authors.forename: Ru-Yin
authors.initials: RY
authors.lastname: Tsai
authors.forename: Yu-Chang
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Yu-Hao
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Chang
mesh_terms: D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000032:analysis / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D004340:Drug Contamination / Q000517:prevention & control*; D032064:Hedyotis / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000145:classification; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D009828:Oleanolic Acid / Q000032:analysis; D010641:Phenotype; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011786:Quality Control; D013045:Species Specificity; D014315:Triterpenes / Q000032:analysis / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000097245:Ursolic Acid
chemical_list: D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D009828:Oleanolic Acid; D010936:Plant Extracts; D014315:Triterpenes; D000097245:Ursolic Acid