Background:Pulmonary arterial hypertension presents with obliterative remodeling of the pulmonary arteries and progressive elevation of pulmonary vascular resistance,which increase the risk of right ventricular failure and death.It has been reported in previous studies that rutaecarpine plays a crucial role in anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities,which may help regulate cell apoptosis and cell proliferation.The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of rutaecarpine in the rat model of monocrotaline-induced pulmonary hypertension.Methods:We induced pulmonary arterial hypertension in adult Sprague-Dawley rats by injecting monocrotaline(60 mg/kg)and then treated with rutaecarpine(40 mg/kg·d)or sildenafil(30 mg/kg·d)(positive control).Subsequently,pulmonary function,inflammation,cytokines and pulmonary vascular remodeling or proliferation were assessed.Results:Rutaecarpine was found to improve monocrotaline-induced mean pulmonary artery pressure,cardiac index,right heart index,right ventricular hypertrophy index,pulmonary artery remodeling and pulmonary function.reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction demonstrated a decrease in tumor necrosis factor-α,interleukin-6 and interleukin-1β,whereas western blots a significantly decrease in the expression of nuclear factor kappa-B,endothelin-1,extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1/2,B cell lymphoma-2,Beclin1 and microtubule-associated protein1 light chain 3-II protein,and increase in the expression of Bax,caspase-3 and p62 protein.Conclusion:Rutaecarpine attenuated pulmonary arterial hypertension by inhibiting inflammation,oxidative stress,cell proliferation and autophagy,while promoting apoptosis.
Inspired by the indolopyridoquinazoline scaffold of natural products evodiamine and rutaecarpine, novel triple G4 and Top1/2 ligands were rationally designed and synthesized. Systematic structure–activity relationship(SAR) studies led to the discovery of compound 15g, which effectively induced and stabilized G4 and inhibited Top1/2 with potent antitumor activity. Compound 15g represents a valuable chemical tool or lead compound for antitumor drug discovery. This proof-of-concept study also validated the feasibility of using planar natural products scaffold as templates to design new G4 ligands.
Evodiamine,rutaecarpine,and dehydroevodiamine have been demonstrated as the major alkaloids in the fruits of Euodia rutaecarpa,a well-known traditional Chinese medicine with central nervous system activities.To study their cerebrospinal fluid pharmacokinetics and cerebral nuclei distribution,the alkaloids were mixed at the weight ratio of 1:1:1 and orally administered via gavage to the rats at each dose of 15 mg/kg.A quick and reliable ultra-performance liquid chromatographic-tandem mass spectrometry method was developed and applied for the simultaneous analysis of the alkaloids in rat cerebrospinal fluid and cerebral nuclei collected at different time points.Non-compartmental pharmacokinetic profiles were calculated,and the distribution in cerebral nuclei was compared.All the tested compounds were absorbed into rat cerebrospinal fluid and distributed to the brain nuclei quickly.Their distribution in different nuclei varied,as evodiamine mainly in cerebellum and brainstem,rutaecarpine with its maximum in the brainstem,and dehydroevodiamine mostly in the cerebellum and hippocampus.They were eliminated from the brain rapidly without long-time accumulation.In summary,this study revealed the targeting discrepancy of evodiamine,rutaecarpine,and dehydroevodiamine in the brain,and highlighted the possibility for drug candidates in the encephalopathy treatment of the fruits of E.rutaecarpa.
