• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.349-362
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• 2017

Objectives : We investigated whether the components of Ailanthus altissima induced apoptotic cell death in Jurkat acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) cells. Methods : Regulation of cell proliferation is a complex process involving the regulated expression and/or modification of discrete gene products, which control transition between different stages of the cell cycle. Results : Upon treatments with Ailanthus altissima, the concentration-dependent inhibitions of cell viability were observed as compared to untreated control group. The capability of Ailanthus altissima to induce apoptosis was associated with proteolytic cleavage of specific target proteins such as poly(ADP-ribose)polymerase (PARP) and beta-catenin proteins suggesting the possible involvement of caspases. Ailanthus altissima also caused apoptosis as measured by cell morphology and DNA fragmentation. Conclusions : These results indicate that the increase of apoptotic cell death by Ailanthus altissima may be due to the inhibition of cell cycle in human Jurkat lymphocytes. Conclusively, these current and further findings will provide novel approaches to understanding and treating major diseases.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.913-921
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• 2005

In this study, we investigated gene expression patterns induced by Ailanthus altissima extract and compared it with Gleevec, a well-known anti-leukemia drug, in K562 chromic leukemia cells. Ailanthus altissima extract(100 ug/ml) and Gleevec(50 ug/ml) were treated to cells for 1h, 2h, 4h, and 16h and total RNA was extracted. Gene expressions were evaluated using cDMA microarray, in which 24,000 genes were spotted. Hierarchical clustering analysis showed that expression of genes included in two clusters were increased or decreased time dependently by both Ailanthus altissima extract and Gleevec. Genes included in another cluster were induced by Ailanthus altissima extract but not by Gleevec. In biological process analysis, expression of genes involved in apoptosis, growth arrest and DNA-damage were increased, but genes stimulating cell cycle were decreased. This study provides comprehensive comparison of the patterns of gene expression changes induced by Ailanthus altissima extract and Gleevec in K-562 leukemia cells.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.46 no.1
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• pp.18-23
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• 2002

Ailanthus altissima has been used to settle an upset stomach, to alleviate a fever and as an insecticide. We reported that the water extract of A. altissima induced apoptotic cell death in Jurkat T-acute Iymphoblastic leukemia cells. Here, we showed the dose-dependent inhibitions of cell viability by the extract, as measured by cell morphology. The cell cycle control genes are considered to play important roles in tumorigenesis. The purpose of the present study is also to investigate the effect of A. altissima on cell cycle progression and its molecular mechanism in the cells. The level of p21 protein was increased after treatment of the extract, whereas both Bcl-2 and Bax protein levels were not changed. These results suggest that A. altissima induces apoptotic cell death via p21-dependent signaling pathway in Jurkat cells which delete wild type p53. Gl checkpoint related gene products tested (cyclin D3, cyclin dependent kinase 4, retinoblastoma, E2Fl) were decreased in their protein levels in a dose-dependent manner after treatment of the extract Taken together, these results indicate that the increase of apoptotic cell death by A. altissima may be due to the inhibition of cell cycle in Jurkat cells.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.4 no.3
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• pp.153-157
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• 1998

The aqueous ethanolic leaf extract of Ailanthus altissima was found to contain the new natural product, $luteolin\;7-O-{\beta}-(6"-galloylglucopyranoside)$, 13, along with fourteen known phenolic metabolites (1-12, 14 and 15). Structures of all compounds (1-15) were established by conventional methods of analysis and confirmed by FAB-MS, $^1H-\;and\;^{13}C-NMR$ spectral analysis.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.28 no.10
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• pp.1147-1151
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• 2005

A new naturally occurring sterol, compound 5, and six known stigmasterols were isolated from fruits of Ailanthus altissima Swingle by repeated column chromatography and RP-HPLC. Their structures were identified as, 5${\alpha}$-stigmastane-3,6-dione (1), 3${\beta}$-hydroxystigmast-5-en-7-one (2), stigmast-5-ene-3${\beta}$, 7${\alpha}$-diol (3), 6${\alpha}$-hydroxystigmast-4-en-3-one (4), 5${\alpha}$-stigmastane-3${\beta}$, 6${\beta}$-diol (5), stigmast-4-ene-3${\beta}$, 6${\alpha}$-diol (6), stigmast-5-ene-3${\beta}$, 7${\alpha}$, 20$\xi$-triol (7) by spectral analysis and comparison with the published data. These compounds have not been reported from genus Ailanthus, whereas compound 7 was identified by NMR for the first time. In addition, the $95\%$ ethanol extract and compounds from the fruits of Ailanthus altissima SWINGLE were assayed for in vitro antimicrobial activity. The extract was potent active against the assayed bacteria while compounds 3 and 7 exhibited moderate activity.

• Journal of agriculture & life science
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• v.45 no.5
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• pp.91-96
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• 2011

We investigated the inhibitory effects of solvent extracts from Ailanthus altissima in A549 human lung cancer cell. A. altissima has been recognized as a traditional healthy food due to its various biological activities against hypertension, strokes, fever, pain, neuralgia, inflammation, and cancer effects. Recently, it has been reported that the extracts of various wild vegetables show strong anti-cancer properties by induction of apoptosis. However, the mechanisms of their cytotoxicity in human lung cancer cells have been poorly understood. The present study was investigated the effects of solvent extracts from A. altissima on cell growth and apoptosis on A549 human lung cancer cells. A treatment of A. altissima inhibited the growth of A549 cells in a dose-dependent manner by inducing apoptosis. Especially, the chloroform fraction showed the highest anti-cancer effect among five kinds of fractions. And also, induction of apoptosis by chloroform fraction were associated with down-regulation of Bcl-2, and up-regulation of pro-apoptotic Bax expression. From these results, A. altissima may have a therapeutic potential in human lung cancer cells and as a functional food.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.34 no.1 s.132
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• pp.28-32
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• 2003

In order to search for the anti-HIV agents from natural products, eighty MeOH extracts of medicinal plants were applied to a syncytia formation inhibition assay which is based on the interaction between the HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein gp120/gp41 and the cellular membrane protein CD4 of T lymphocytes. Among them, Ailanthus altissima showed a potent virus-cell fusion inhibitory activity. Repeated column chromatoghaphy of the methylene chloride fraction of A. altissima afforded compounds 1$({\beta}-sitosterol-3-O-{\beta}-D-glucoside)$, 2(tetramethoxycoumarin), and 3(ocotillone). Virus-cell fusion inhibitory activity of compound 3(ocotillone) was $70.76{\pm}4.09%$ at the concentration of $100\;{\mu}g/ml$.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.53 no.4
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• pp.231-237
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• 2013

This study aimed to assess the attraction effect against Lycorma delicatula and antioxidant activity of hexane, chloroform, butanol and water fraction obtained from Ailanthus altissima methanol extract. The attraction effect of chloroform fraction showed the highest activity (47%) as compared to that of other fractions. In the DPPH radical scavenging activity, methanol and butanol fraction showed higher antioxidant activity than other solvent fractions. From the above results, the potential chloroform fraction was further performed by local irritation test in New Zealand white rabbits. In eye irritation test, chloroform fraction showed moderate irritant at high concentration 0.5 g/site/mL, but there was no eye irritation at low concentration (0.05 g/site/mL). In accordance with the Draize evaluation of skin irritation, the primary irritation index was calculated to 3.3 and 0.68 at high (0.5 g/site/mL) and low concentration (0.05 g/site/mL) causing moderate and mild irritation, respectively. On the basis of this study, Ailanthus altissima chloroform fraction could be safely considered to be a candidate of attractant against Lycorma delicatula.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.32 no.4 s.127
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• pp.274-279
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• 2001

Ailanthus altissima belonging to the family Simaroubaceae has been used to settle an upset stomach, to combat a fever, and as an insecticide. Apoptosis is an active process, which is a critical feature of the regulated development of multicellular organisms. We investigated whether the extract of A. altissima induced apoptotic cell death in Jurkat T-acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) cells. Upon treatments with the extract, the dose-dependent inhibitions of cell viability were observed. It also caused apoptosis as measured by cell morphology and DNA fragmentation. The capability of the extract to induce apoptosis was associated with proteolytic cleavage of specific target protein such as poly(ADP-ribose)polymerase (PARP) protein, suggesting the possible involvement of the activations of caspases. Further study showed that Bcl-2 protein levels were not changed in all treated groups compared to control group. These results suggest that A. altissima induces Bcl- 2-independent apoptosis in Jurkat T cells.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.38 no.3 s.150
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• pp.277-280
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• 2007

In our continuing effort to investigate compounds having anti-inflammatory activity from natural products, Ailanthus altissima was examined. Among six compounds isolated from Ailanthus altissima, Luteolin-7-O-glucoside (L7G) along with ethanol extract of Ailnathus altissima (EAa) were chosen to determine their inhibitory activity on secretory recombinant phospholipase $A_2s$ enzyme activity in vitro. As a results, EAa inhibited human recombinant $sPLA_2-V$ ($IC_{50}$ of about 100 ${\mu}g/ml$) and $cPLA_2$, ($IC_{50}$ of about 59 ${\mu}g/ml$), while L7G showed strong inhibitory effect on $sPLA_2-A$, V and $cPLA_2$ with an $IC_{50}$ value of approximately 40 ${\mu}M$, respectively.