Preparation of Carotenoids and Chlorophylls from Gynostemma pentaphyllum (Thunb.) Makino and Their Antiproliferation Effect on Hepatoma Cell

Abstract

A preparative column chromatographic method for isolation of carotenoids and chlorophylls from Gynostemma pentaphyllum, a traditional Chinese herb, was developed to evaluate their antiproliferative effects on the hepatoma cell Hep3B. An open column containing 70 g of magnesium oxide-diatomaceous earth (1:2.5, wt/wt) was used to elute carotenoid with 2% ethanol in ethyl acetate and chlorophyll with 50% ethanol in acetone. After high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis, the carotenoid fraction was composed of all-trans- and cis-isomers of lutein, α-carotene, and β-carotene as well as epoxy-containing carotenoids, while the chlorophyll fraction consisted of chlorophylls a and b and their derivatives. Both carotenoid and chlorophyll fractions as well as lutein and chlorophyll a standards at 50-100 μg/mL were effective against Hep3B cells with a dose-dependent response with the following order: carotenoid fraction > chlorophyll fraction > lutein > chlorophyll a. For all treatments, the cell cycle was arrested in the G₀/G₁ phase, with Hep3B cells undergoing necrosis or apoptosis.

Traditional Chinese medicine for prevention and treatment of hepatocarcinoma: From bench to bedside

“…Some herbs are demonstrated to be potent to arrest cell cycle. Among tonic herbs, extracts of JiaoGuLan (Gynostemma pentaphyllum) can inhibit proliferation and arrest cell cycle at G0/G1 phase in Hep3B cells [134,135] . Triterpeneenriched extracts from LingZhi (Ganoderma lucidum) could suppress protein kinase C, activate JNK and p38 mitogenactivated protein kinases (MAPK) to prolong G2 cell cycle phase and inhibit cell growth in Huh7 cells [136] .…”

Flavonoids from Gynostemma pentaphyllum Exhibit Differential Induction of Cell Cycle Arrest in H460 and A549 Cancer Cells

“…Gynostemma pentaphyllum ( G. pentaphyllum ), also known as “Jiaogulan”, is commonly referred to the poor’s ginseng and is widely used as a folk medicine and herbal tea in Asian countries, including Taiwan, China, Japan, and Korea. Several vital biological activities including anti-cancer [3,4,5,6,7,8,9] anti-inflammation [10,11,12], anti-oxidation [13,14], anti-hyperglycemic [15,16,17] and anti-atherosclerosis effects [15,18,19,20] have been associated with intake of G. pentaphyllum . The major bioactive components of G. pentaphyllum in order of abundance include saponins, flavonoids, chlorophylls, and carotenoids.…”

Anti-invasion and apoptosis induction of chlorella (Chlorella sorokiniana) in Hep G2 human hepatocellular carcinoma cells

“…These microorganisms are a potentially great source of natural compounds that could be used as functional ingredients (Plaza, Herrero, Cifuentes, & Iban~ez, 2009). Chlorophylls and carotenoids are present abundantly in green plants and possess important biological activities including antioxidant (Tsai, Wu, & Chen, 2010), antitumour (Tsai et al, 2010) and anti-invasion (Kozuki, Miura, & Yagasaki, 2000). According to Wu, Wu, and Shi (2007) Chlorella contained 2-4 mg/g dry cell weight of lutein.…”

“…Cha, Koo, and Lee (2008) reported that the bioactive carotenoid, xanthophylls of Chlorella ellipsoidea exerted strong antiproliferative effects on human colon cancer cells. Tsai et al (2010) reported that carotenoids and chlorophylls isolated from Gynostemma pentaphyllum had antiproliferative effect on hepatoma cells. In this study, GPE contain lutein, chlorophyll a, and chlorophyll b and they may have contributed, in a substantial part at least, to the antitumour and anti-invasion activities of GPE.…”