Is there anyone working on molecular biology of herb plants?

[Guest guest]

There is a company here in San Diego, Aviva Biosciences, that is doing

so.

 

 

On Wednesday, June 11, 2003, at 03:16 PM, youchen7227 wrote:

 

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[Guest guest]

 

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Wednesday, June 11, 2003 9:59 PM

Re: Is there anyone working on molecular biology of herb plants?

There is a company here in San Diego, Aviva Biosciences, that is doing so.On Wednesday, June 11, 2003, at 03:16 PM, youchen7227 wrote:>>>>>

[Guest guest]

Hi Z'ev,

 

My research was in molecular biology, and I'm avidly interested in this work ... largely for theoretical and philosophy of science reasons. I've never heard of an application for CM herbs, so I looked up your lead to Aviva Biosciences. I couldn't find any sort of research on herbs. What are they doing? Here is their statement below. I've turned up that they are most famous for monoclonal antibodies for biomedical research.

 

With its proprietary active multiple-force biochip technology, AVIVA

Biosciences Corporation aims to establish itself as the leading

company providing cell manipulation and screening systems to the

pharmaceutical, diagnostics, and life sciences industries. Established

in 1999 in San Diego, AVIVA Biosciences has made substantial

progress in all areas of research and development, establishing its

core technology and filing seventeen patents worldwide.

 

 

There's certainly companies testing HPLC markers of Chinese herbs for use in treatment of disease. Hence, Merck's development of statins. But that's biochemistry and pharmacology, not molecular biology. Molecular biology research usually indicates manipulations of cells or their genome.

 

Emmanuel Segmen

 

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Wednesday, June 11, 2003 9:59 PM

Re: Is there anyone working on molecular biology of herb plants?

There is a company here in San Diego, Aviva Biosciences, that is doing so.On Wednesday, June 11, 2003, at 03:16 PM, youchen7227 wrote:

[Guest guest]

Hi, Z'ev, My research was in pharmacology and molecular biology. I have a few years experience in herbal medicine, too. I agree it’s a good tool to use those molecular biology technique to assist the evaluation of effects of herb plants. I would like to know whether there is an opportunity to participate the current project in Aviva Biosciences. Your referral will be greatly appreciated.

 

Thanks

 

 

Rong <zrosenbe wrote:

There is a company here in San Diego, Aviva Biosciences, that is doing so.On Wednesday, June 11, 2003, at 03:16 PM, youchen7227 wrote:>>>>>

[Guest guest]

While I haven't attended his lectures, my friends tell me that John

Chen of Lotus Herbs uses molecular biology to explain the action of

his herbal formulas. His background is said to be in pharmacology.

 

There is also a company called MediTalent that synthesizes a

component of ginseng---their product called 9405---that stimulates

the immune system. I've been using it for cancer patients, after

hearing it recommended by Miki Shima several years ago.

 

 

Jim Ramholz

[Guest guest]

John Chen's Company is now called Evergreen Herbs and Medical Supplies, and

he is indeed a Pharm. D. as well as an L.Ac.

 

He has a book coming out that explains herbal actions from a pharmacological

perspective.

 

Julie Chambers

 

James wrote:

 

> While I haven't attended his lectures, my friends tell me that John

> Chen of Lotus Herbs uses molecular biology to explain the action of

> his herbal formulas. His background is said to be in pharmacology.

[Guest guest]

Hi Julie, Jim and Kindred Colleagues,

 

Yes, John Chen's a good pharmacologist and biochemist and does a good deal of lab work from my brief interactions with him on line and at seminars. As a small point of information, John is not a molecular biologist that I know of, though I sense he may have some interests in that area. He like Dr. Charles Chiang (also a pharmacologist) of Min Tong Herbs are both concerned with HPLC biochemical markers and fingerprints as a method to properly standardize factory work in their respective operations. They both tend to point out that such markers do not equate to herbal efficacy. An important point, and one that I strongly support. John notes that the "full fingerprint" of perhaps hundreds of chemicals, both known and mostly unknown, represents the biochemical standard of efficacy. This still does not have any thing to do with bio-assay or clinical trials which represents the Western science standard of medicinal efficacy. In CM herbal medicine the final clinical test of efficacy is by the pulse and tongue diagnosis of your patients.

 

All that said, this is not molecular biology which has to do with gene (DNA & RNA) manipulation and such things as cell fusions to create "immortal" cell lines, monoconal antibodies and so on. I don't mean to put a really hard edge on this. Just making a point of information. Okie dokie? Biochemistry, pharmacology, molecular biology ... each a little different ... yet somewhat understandable to each other. I have degrees in biochemistry (bachelors), molecular biology (masters), cell biology (masters), physiology (masters), immunology (masters), but alas no degree in pharmacology and no doctorate in anything. I'm a family embarrassment as my brother and most of my cousins in Europe have doctorates. My cousin Rossitza who I'm very close with is at the other end of the embarrassment index. She's a full professor of the Genetics Institute of Sofia, and a lead scientist in molecular biology at the International Atomic Energy Agency in Vienna, Austria. Her Ph.D. is from the University of Moscow. She is currently the "mother" of hundreds of cell lines which she nurtures in her well appointed laboratory.

 

I've had a few years of very good times working with Dr. Charles Chiang who is a Ph.D. in pharmacology (Univ. of Tokyo) who specializes the effects of CM herbal formulas on human and animal physiological systems. I still can't imagine why a molecular biologist would want to genetically engineer an herbal plant. Of course, I can't imagine why anyone wants to genetically engineer anything. Another one of my personal failings. I simply enjoy the science, and I only like a few limited applications like production of monoclonal antibodies and cell lines for tissue culture.

 

Thanks for your patient consideration of this minor point of information.

 

In gratitude,

Emmanuel Segmen

 

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Julie Chambers

Saturday, June 14, 2003 9:17 AM

Re: Re: Is there anyone working on molecular biology of herb plants?

John Chen's Company is now called Evergreen Herbs and Medical Supplies, andhe is indeed a Pharm. D. as well as an L.Ac.He has a book coming out that explains herbal actions from a pharmacologicalperspective.Julie ChambersJames wrote:> While I haven't attended his lectures, my friends tell me that John> Chen of Lotus Herbs uses molecular biology to explain the action of> his herbal formulas. His background is said to be in pharmacology.

[Guest guest]

Dear Emmanuel,

 

Thank you for all the information. Of course I didn't think that John Chen's being a pharmacist was the same thing as a molecular biologist! I just wanted to clarify and confirm James' remark.

 

Julie

 

 

Hi Julie, Jim and Kindred Colleagues,

 

Yes, John Chen's a good pharmacologist and biochemist and does a good deal of lab work from my brief interactions with him on line and at seminars. As a small point of information, John is not a molecular biologist that I know of, though I sense he may have some interests in that area.

 

[Guest guest]

, " Emmanuel Segmen "

<susegmen@i...> wrote:

 

 

 

Emmanuel:

 

Doing a Google search yeilds a lot of hits on molecular biology and

Chinese herbs. Are you looking for anything in particular?

 

 

Jim Ramholz

[Guest guest]

> In , " Emmanuel Segmen " wrote:

 

Genetics & Molecular Biology Topics Related to Ginseng:

 

Ginsenoside Rh2 generated apoptosis involves caspase & radicals

but not cleavage of PARP into 85 kd in rat glioma cells Kim 1999

 

Tyrosine hydroxylase is inhibited by Ginsenoside-Rb1, Rc, Re and

Rg, 51.5, 25.4, 31.3, 44.3 and 43.3%, respectively, at 80 microg/ml

Kim 1999

 

Acyl-CoA:cholesterol acyltransferase is inhibited mildly by

Ginseng saponins Kwon 1999

 

Tyrosinase is inhibited by p-coumaric acid from Ginseng leaves,

with oxidation of L-tyrosine more affected than L-DOPA Lim 1999

 

MADS box cDNA (GAG2) codes a protein in seedlings with 71%

identity with AG in flowers of Arabidopsis thaliana. Temporal and

spatial differences imply different functions Kim 1998

 

G-Rh2 and G-Rh3 induced differentiation of HL-60 cells into

morphologically and functionally granulocytes but G-Rh1 and G-Rh4

did not. G-Rh2 and G-Rh3 arrested the cell cycle at the G1/S phase;

Ca2+/phospholipid-dependent PKC activity was increased Kim 1998

 

Bovine adrenal tyrosine hydroxylase (catalyzes Tyr to DOPA) is

inhibited 42% by 40 microgm/ml Ginseng total saponin; IC50=77

microgm/ml; Ki=155 microgm/ml Kim 1998

 

p21WAF1/CIP1 was cleaved to a p14 fragment in ginsenoside Rh2-

treated or staurosporine-treated cells. This is prevented by Ac-DEVD-

CHO, a specific caspase-3 inhibitor Park 1998

 

PKC, DAG and fibroblast proliferation were inhibited by

ginsenosides Rh1 and Rh2 from Panax ginseng root Byun 1997

 

Trilinolein, a triacylglycerol with three linoleic-acid residues,

from Panax pseudo-ginseng at 10(-7) mol/L increased Cu.Zn-SOD in

hypoxia/reperfusion of rat hearts Chan 1997

 

Restriction enzyme mapping of chloroplast DNA indicates it to be

154 kb and circular Choi 1997

 

PCR-RFLP identification of ginseng based on 18S ribosomal RNA

sequence Fushimi 1997

 

Cholesterol acyltransferase inhibitors from hairy roots of Panax

ginseng were identified as panaxynol, panaxydol, panaxydiol, and

panaxytriol; with IC50 values of 94, 80, 45 and 79 microM,

respectively Kwon 1997

 

Choline acetyltransferase and trkA mRNAs in the basal forebrain

and nerve growth factor mRNA in the hippocampus are increased by

ginsenoside Rb1 Salim 1997

 

Na+, K(+)-ATPase is inhibited by gypenoside, IC50=55 mg/L [Article

in Chinese] Han 1996

 

Cu,Zn-superoxide dismutase gene transcription is induced by

panaxadiol, especially the Rb2 fraction, and not panaxatriol nor

total saponins. Specific binding of the AP2 transcription factor was

increased by ginsenoside Rb2 Kim 1996

 

Cholesteryl ester transfer protein inhibitors from the extract of

Korean Panax ginseng roots are polyacetylene analogs with IC50=20-35

mg/ml Kwon 1996

 

Lipoprotein lipase activity of adipocytes was increased by

oleanolic acid glycoside or 20(S)-protopanaxatriol glycoside.

Ginsenosides Ro, Re, Rg1, and Rh1 increased the secretion of lipase

activity by 119, 107, 56, and 32%, respectively Masuno 1996

 

Phylogenic tree of 12 Panax species based on sequences of the

internal transcribed spacers and the 5.8S coding region of the

nuclear ribosomal DNA repeat indicates P. quinquefolius is more

closely related to Asian species than P. trifolius Wen 1996

 

DNA polymerase delta activity is doubled by ginsenosides.

Ginsenosides also activated the proofreading ability of 3'- to 5'-

exonuclease activity supporting the view that polymerase and

exonuclease activities are on the same protein molecule Cho 1995

 

ATPase is inhibited by Rb1 and somewhat by Rg1 Chen 1994

 

Tyrosine aminotransferase EC(2.6.1.5) mRNA level was increased 9.3-

fold by Rg1 in hepatocyte cultures. This effect was inhibited by

RU486, a specific glucocorticoid antagonist or Rp-cAMPs, a specific

competitive inhibitor of protein kinase A Kang 1994

 

Tyrosine aminotransferase induction by Rg1 follows a time course

similar to dexamethasone in rat hepatocyte cultures. The additive

effect of G-Rg1 and dexamethasone was inhibited as well by RU486, a

specific glucocorticoid antagonist Kim 1994

 

Mitosis in cultured human lymphocytes activated by PHA or Con A is

promoted by Rg1 at 300-500 ng/ml Tong 1980

 

DNA synthesis in bone marrow cells was increased by a of 5-10

mg/kg single i.p. of ginsenosides Rb2, Rc, Re and Rg1. DNA synthesis

is enhanced by Rb1, Rb2 and Rc mixture. cAMP is decreased Rb2, Rc

and Rg1. CGMP is increased by Rb2, Re and Rg1 Yamamoto 1978

 

Jim Ramholz

[Guest guest]

It seems to me that some time ago the pharmaceuticals ID'd Hypercium as " the

active ingredient " of St John's Wort (Tian Ji Huang / Tienchi Huang). They

standardized it to an expedient pharmaceutical level and set about promoting

it as natural. Recently there are claims that it is not Hypercium that plays

the role they thought of but something else. There are known side affects

of the standardized versions but not from the plant M.O. as TCM. Of course

the scare tactics are that its the plants that are unsafe!

 

anyway, just another fly in the ointment.

Ed Kasper LAc, Santa Cruz

 

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[Guest guest]

Hi Ed,

 

Just a little clarification; it is hypericin (primarily) that has been

standardized and there is a group of chemicals called hypericum xanthones

present in the plant and these have also been standardized and used,

primarily in Europe I believe.

Hypericum is the Latin name for the genus containing ~350 plants worldwide.

Hypericum perforatum (due to the small perforation in the leaves) is the

species used here in the West but I have see other species mentioned in

Chinese literature, don't have them handy right now and I don't remember the

species name but I remember thinking that the plants must be different by

the functions and indications.

 

BTW, does anyone have a monograph either in Chinese or English for

Hypericum. I am finishing a book on the subject of using Western herbs in

Chinese medicine and have struggled a little with parts of this monograph

and would love to see another's analysis.

 

thomas

 

> It seems to me that some time ago the pharmaceuticals ID'd Hypercium as

" the

> active ingredient " of St John's Wort (Tian Ji Huang / Tienchi Huang). They

> standardized it to an expedient pharmaceutical level and set about

promoting

> it as natural. Recently there are claims that it is not Hypercium that

plays

> the role they thought of but something else. There are known side affects

> of the standardized versions but not from the plant M.O. as TCM. Of

course

> the scare tactics are that its the plants that are unsafe!

>

> anyway, just another fly in the ointment.

> Ed Kasper LAc, Santa Cruz

>

> ---

>

Chinese Herbology and Acupuncture

acupuncture and herbal information

 

 

 

 

phone: (541) 955-5031 fax: (541) 955-5069

" Knowing nothing, you will be aware of everything. "

Lao Tzu

[Guest guest]

Sylvia Lee-Huang, PhD from the NYU school of medicine, department of

biochemistry has done some interesting research on momordica

charantia and gelonium multiflorum...

 

 

Novel Plant Proteins with Anti-HIV and Anti-Tumor Activity

 

Principal Investigator:

Sylvia Lee-Huang, Ph.D., Department of Biochemistry

New York University School of Medicine

Extracts from medicinal plants indigenous to China have been used for

centuries to treat a variety of ailments including viral infections,

tumors, heart conditions and the termination of pregnancy. There is

new found interest in these extracts as their biological activities

have been clearly established in controlled clinical studies and

their active ingredients identified and isolated.

 

Description of the Project:

Dr. Lee-Huang and her coworkers have identified, purified, cloned and

characterized a new class of potent anti-HIV agents with multiple

therapeutic targets. Two of the lead compounds are MAP 30 (Momordica

Anti-HIV Protein, 30 KDa) from the seeds of Momordica charantia,

commonly known as the bitter melon (Lee-Huang, et al FEBS Lett 1990;

272: 12-18) and GAP 31 (Gelonium Anti-HIV Protein, 31 KDa) from the

seeds of Gelonium multiflorum (Lee-Huang, et al FEBS Lett 1991; 291:

139-144).

 

MAP30 and GAP31 are unique in that they inhibit not only de novo

infection by HIV-1 but also block the replication of the virus in

already infected cells. These compounds affect the HIV-1 at levels

that exhibit no toxic effects on normal human cells and in intact

animals. The Anti-Cancer Drug Screening Program of the National

Cancer Institute (NCI) has identified potent anti-tumor activity

(Int. J. Onc. 1994; 5: 1171-1176). Subsequent animal studies by NCI

Tumor treatment Division demonstrated that MAP30 and GAP31 are

efficacious for human breast tumor cells in vivo (Lee-Huang, S.

et.al. Anticancer Research 2000; 20: 653).

 

Dr. Lee-Huang and collaborators have identified at least three

activities that may be important to the antiviral action of MAP30 and

GAP31: The first is a DNA glycosylase/ap lyase activity that inhibits

HIV-integrase (Cell 1999; 99: 433-442, Nature Structural Biology

2000; 7: 17-18 and Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 1995; 92: 8818-8822).

The second is a DNA topological inactivation activity that renders

HIV-LTR DNA topologically inactive (Biofactors 1992; 4: 37-42 and

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 1995; 92: 8818-8822). The third is an RNA

N-glycosidase activity that inactivates the 60S ribosomal subunit and

inhibits polypeptide chain elongation.

 

To define the roles of the various activities of MAP30 and GAP31 in

antiviral and anti-tumor actions, Dr. Lee-Huang et al carried out

structure-activity mapping of these compounds by proteolytic

fragmentation, molecular modeling and bioinformatics. They identified

and isolated peptide fragments that are devoid of RNA N-glycosidase

activity (ribosome inactivation) but active against HIV-1 and human

tumors (BBRC, 1999; 262: 615-623, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 1994;

91: 12208-12212) as well as specific domains / motifs critical for

HIV-1 inhibition (Cell 1999; 99: 433-442, Nature Structural Biology

2000; 7: 17-18).

 

MAP30 and GAP31 are also effective against HSV-1, HSV-2 (BBRC 1996;

219: 923-929), CMV, and HHV8 (BBRC 2001; 287(4): 983-94). They down-

regulate the expression of viral genes vCD, vIL-6 and v-Flip as were

as modulate the expression profile of cellular genes for

proliferation and apoptosis. Thus, these compounds are also

potentially useful for combined therapy against HIV-1 and AIDS-

related tumors infected with the KS virus.

 

Applications:

NYU is seeking a partner to develop these proteins as anti-tumor,

anti-viral and anti-HIV therapeutic agents.

 

Patent Status:

 

Patent applications have been awarded.