title: New biological activity of Rhinacanthus nasutus extracts.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The MeOH extracts from aerial part and roots of Rhinacanthus nasutus were investigated for new biological activities.
  
  
  METHODS
  The MeOH extract of the root was stepwise separated by organic solvents into n-hexane, EtOAc, n-BuOH and H(2)O layer fractions. Cytotoxic activity against human tumor and normal cells was determined by the MTT method. Nitric oxide (NO) was determined by the Griess method. Osteoclastogenesis was monitored by tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) activity.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The MeOH extract of the root showed much higher tumor-specific cytotoxicity than that of the aerial part. The EtOAc fraction of the root showed the highest tumor-specific cytotoxicity, followed by the n-BuOH, n-hexane and H(2)O fractions. None of the four fractions protected the cells from the cytotoxicity of UV irradiation. The n-BuOH fraction not only stimulated NO production by mouse macrophage-like RAW264.7 cells, but also inhibited the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated NO production. The EtOAc fraction inhibited the receptor activator for nuclear factor-κB ligand (RANKL)-stimulated osteoclastogenesis of the RAW264.7 cells most potently, followed by the n-hexane, n-BuOH and H(2)O fractions. The n-BuOH fraction slightly, but significantly stimulated osteoclastogenesis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Antitumor and macrophage/osteoclast-modulating substances are enriched in EtOAc and n-BuOH fractions of MeOH extract of R. nasutus roots.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Josai University, 1-1 Keyakidai, Sakado, Saitama 350-0295, Japan.
authors.forename: Haruka
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Horii
authors.forename: Jun-Ya
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Ueda
authors.forename: Masafumi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tamura
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sakagami
authors.forename: Mineko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tomomura
authors.forename: Akito
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tomomura
authors.forename: Yoshiaki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Shirataki
mesh_terms: D027901:Acanthaceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000633:toxicity; D001862:Bone Resorption / Q000378:metabolism; D002460:Cell Line; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects; D018922:HL-60 Cells; D006801:Humans; D008264:Macrophages / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism; D035261:Plant Components, Aerial / Q000737:chemistry; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000633:toxicity; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000737:chemistry; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts; D009569:Nitric Oxide