title: Dioscin and methylprotodioscin isolated from the root of Asparagus cochinchinensis suppressed the gene expression and production of airway MUC5AC mucin induced by phorbol ester and growth factor.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The root of Asparagus cochinchinensis (Lour.) Merr. has been utilized as mucoregulators and expectorants for controlling the airway inflammatory diseases in folk medicine.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We investigated whether dioscin and methylprotodioscin isolated from the root of Asparagus cochinchinensis (Lour.) Merr. suppress the gene expression and production of airway MUC5AC mucin induced by phorbol ester and growth factor.
  
  
  METHODS
  Confluent NCI-H292 cells were pretreated with dioscin or methylprotodioscin for 30 min and then stimulated with EGF or PMA for 24 h. The MUC5AC mucin gene expression was measured by RT-PCR. Production of MUC5AC mucin protein was measured by ELISA.
  
  
  RESULTS
  (1) Dioscin and methylprotodioscin suppressed the expression of MUC5AC mucin gene induced by EGF or PMA; (2) dioscin suppressed the production of MUC5AC mucin induced by either EGF at 10(-5) M (p < 0.05) and 10(-6) M (p < 0.05) or PMA at 10(-4) M (p < 0.05), 10(-5) M (p < 0.05) and 10(-6) M (p < 0.05); (3) methylprotodioscin also suppressed the production of MUC5AC mucin induced by either EGF at 10(-4) M (p < 0.05) or PMA at 10(-4) M (p < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results suggest that dioscin and methylprotodioscin isolated from the root of Asparagus cochinchinensis suppress the gene expression and production of MUC5AC mucin, by directly acting on airway epithelial cells, and the results are consistent with the traditional use of Asparagus cochinchinensis as remedy for diverse inflammatory pulmonary diseases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Chungnam National University, 6 Munhwa-Dong, Joong-Gu, Daejeon 303-131, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Hyun Jae
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic Surgery and Institute of Health Sciences, School of Medicine and Hospital, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju 660-702, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Jin Sung
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Chungnam National University, 6 Munhwa-Dong, Joong-Gu, Daejeon 303-131, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Yong Pill
authors.initials: YP
authors.lastname: Yoon
authors.affiliation: Department of Food Science and Nutrition, Andong National University, Andong 760-749, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Ye Jin
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Seoul National University, Seoul 151-742, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Sang Kook
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Seoul National University, Seoul 151-742, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Yeong Shik
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Chungnam National University, 6 Munhwa-Dong, Joong-Gu, Daejeon 303-131, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Jang-Hee
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic Surgery and Institute of Health Sciences, School of Medicine and Hospital, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju 660-702, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: sonkh@anu.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Kun Ho
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Son
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Chungnam National University, 6 Munhwa-Dong, Joong-Gu, Daejeon 303-131, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: LCJ123@cnu.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Choong Jae
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D027761:Asparagus Plant / Q000737:chemistry*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor / Q000187:drug effects; D004144:Diosgenin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D055271:Mucin 5AC / Q000378:metabolism*; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000737:chemistry; D012503:Saponins; D013755:Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate
chemical_list: C524678:MUC5AC protein, human; D055271:Mucin 5AC; D012503:Saponins; C425324:methyl protodioscin; C019357:dioscin; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor; D004144:Diosgenin; D013755:Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate
keywords: Airway; Dioscin; Mucin