Stachydrine, a Major Constituent of the Chinese Herb Leonurus Heterophyllus Sweet, Ameliorates Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells Injury Induced by Anoxia-Reoxygenation

Abstract

Stachydrine is a major constituent of Chinese herb leonurus heterophyllus sweet, which is used in clinics to promote blood circulation and dispel blood stasis. Our study aimed to investigate the role of stachydrine in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) injury induced by anoxia-reoxygenation. Cultured HUVECs were divided randomly into control group, anoxia-reoxygenation (A/R) group and 4 A/R+stachydrine groups. HUVECs in the control group were exposed to normoxia for 5 hours, while in all A/R groups, HUVECs underwent 3 hours anoxia followed by 2 hours reoxygenation, and HUVECs in the 4 A/R+stachydrine groups were treated with 10(-8) M, 10(-7) M, 10(-6) M and 10(-5) M (final concentration) of stachydrine respectively. After anoxia-reoxygenation, tissue factor (TF) was over-expressed, cell viability and the concentrations of SOD, GSH-PX and NO were declined, while LDH, MDA and ET-1 were over-produced (p < 0.05 to 0.001 vs. the control group). However, in stachydrine treated groups, TF expression was inhibited at both mRNA and protein levels, while the declined cell viability and SOD, GSH-PX, NO as well as the enhanced LDH, MDA and ET-1 levels occurred during anoxia-reoxygenation were ameliorated and reversed effectively (p < 0.05 to 0.01 versus A/R group). Consequently, our findings indicate that TF plays an important role in the development of anoxia-reoxygenation injury of HUVECs, stachydrine ameliorates HUVECs injury induced by anoxia-reoxygenation and its putative mechanisms are related to inhibition of TF expression.

The Th1/Th2/Th17/Treg paradigm induced by stachydrine hydrochloride reduces uterine bleeding in RU486-induced abortion mice

“…We previously reported that L. sibiricus reduced the uterine bleeding volume in RU486-induced abortion efficiently (Li et al, 2011) ; however, the active constituents and the mechanism by which L. sibiricus reduces uterine bleeding are poorly understood. Stachydrine hydrochloride (C 7 H 13 NO 2 Á HCL) is the major constituent of L. sibiricus, and has low toxicity and high safety (Yin et al, 2010). Therefore, stachydrine hydrochloride is regarded as a candidate for reducing the volume of uterine bleeding in RU486-induced abortion.…”

“Wild cannabis”: A review of the traditional use and phytochemistry of Leonotis leonurus

“…This compound, which displays interesting biological activities, is a chief constituent of the Chinese herb, Leonurus heterophyllus Sweet and is used in clinics practising traditional Chinese medicine to promote blood circulation. Yin et al, 2010, report that their cell culture study indicated that stachydrine ameliorated human umbilical vein endothelial cell injury induced by anoxia-reoxygenation, with the putative mechanism being cited as related to the inhibition of tissue factor expression.…”

Active chemical compounds of traditional Chinese medicine Herba Leonuri: implications for cardiovascular diseases

“…Stachydrine exhibits low toxicity, with multiple, long-term oral doses failing to produce any toxic reactions, although intramuscular injections of solutions of the herb can cause a dry mouth and shortened sleep. 43 Stachydrine, at low doses, inhibits hydrogen peroxideinduced myometrial smooth muscle cell apoptosis by upregulating Bcl-2 expression. 44 Yin et al 43 reported that stachydrine attenuated ROS production and inflammation and subsequently reversed changes in SOD, GPx, MDA and endothelin-1, thus ameliorating the decline in the viability of human umbilical vein endothelial cells and the enhanced lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity that occurred during anoxia-re-oxygenation.…”

“…43 Stachydrine, at low doses, inhibits hydrogen peroxideinduced myometrial smooth muscle cell apoptosis by upregulating Bcl-2 expression. 44 Yin et al 43 reported that stachydrine attenuated ROS production and inflammation and subsequently reversed changes in SOD, GPx, MDA and endothelin-1, thus ameliorating the decline in the viability of human umbilical vein endothelial cells and the enhanced lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity that occurred during anoxia-re-oxygenation. Moreover, stachydrine has been shown to exert anti-oxidant effects by reducing plasma LDH activity and MDA levels in animal models of acute myocardial ischaemia.…”