Osajin

Nat Prod Commun. 2014 Dec;9(12):1723-4.

Effect of osajin and pomiferin on antidiabetic effects from normal and streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.[Pubmed: 25632468]

The present study evaluated the antidiabetic effect of Osajin and pomiferin from the Osajin orange in normal and streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.
METHODS AND RESULTS:
Pomiferin in the streptozotocin-induced diabetic effects showed significant hypoglycemic activity for 14 days significantly decreased the serum glucose, triglyceride while it increased the serum insulin in diabetic rats but not in normal rats (p < 0.05; at doses of 100 and 300 mg/kg for 14 days). Pomiferin showed potential in anti-diabetic effects compared to Osajin. It also has no effects on C-peptide (ECLIA). Further structure-activity relationships of aromatic position 3 on ring B from Osajin and pomiferin will be reported in due course.

Biomed Pap Med Fac Univ Palacky Olomouc Czech Repub. 2006 Jul;150(1):93-100.

Effects of prenylated isoflavones osajin and pomiferin in premedication on heart ischemia-reperfusion.[Pubmed: 16936909]

METHODS AND RESULTS:
The present 15 days study was undertaken to evaluate the cardioprotective potential of the prenylated isoflavones Osajin and pomiferin isolated from the infructences of Maclura pomifera, Moraceae, against ischemia-reperfusion induced injury in rat hearts as a model of antioxidant-based composite therapy. The first treatment group received Osajin (5 mg/kg/day in 0.5% Avicel); the second treatment group received pomiferin (5 mg/kg/day in 0.5% Avicel); the placebo group received only 0.5 Avicel; the last was an untreated control group. Biochemical indicator of oxidative damage-lipid peroxidation product malondialdehyde, antioxidant enzymes - superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, total antioxidant activity in serum and myocardium were evaluated. The effect of Osajin and pomiferin on cardiac function, left ventricular end-diastolic pressure, left ventricular pressure and peak positive +dP/dt ischemia and reperfusion, also was examined.
CONCLUSIONS:
The results demonstrate that Osajin and pomiferin attenuates the myocardial dysfunction provoked by ischemiareperfusion. This was confirmed by an increase in both antioxidant enzyme values and total antioxidant activity. The cardioprotection provided by Osajin and pomiferin treatment results from the suppression of oxidative stress and this correlates with improved ventricular function.

PLoS One. 2011 Apr 12;6(4):e18308.

Activation of multiple apoptotic pathways in human nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells by the prenylated isoflavone, osajin.[Pubmed: 21532751]

Osajin is a prenylated isoflavone showing antitumor activity in different tumor cell lines. The underlying mechanism of Osajin-induced cancer cell death is not clearly understood.
METHODS AND RESULTS:
In the present study, the mechanisms of Osajin-induced cell death of human nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) cells were explored. Osajin was found to significantly induce apoptosis of NPC cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Multiple molecular effects were observed during Osajin treatment including a significant loss of mitochondrial transmembrane potential, release of cytochrome c into the cytosol, enhanced expression of Fas ligand (FasL), suppression of glucose-regulated protein 78 kDa (GRP78), and activation of caspases-9, -8, -4 and -3. In addition, up-regulation of proapoptotic Bax protein and down-regulation of antiapoptotic Bcl-2 protein were also observed.
CONCLUSIONS:
Taken together, Osajin induces apoptosis in human NPC cells through multiple apoptotic pathways, including the extrinsic death receptor pathway, and intrinsic pathways relying on mitochondria and endoplasmic reticulum stress. Thus, Osajin could be developed as a new effective and chemopreventive compound for human NPC.

Pharmazie. 2006 Jun;61(6):552-5.

Protective effects of osajin in ischemia-reperfusion of laboratory rat kidney.[Pubmed: 16826976 ]

The aim of this study was to analyze the antioxidative effect of Osajin during prophylactic administration. The pathological model for in vivo experiment was the unilateral ischemia-reperfusion of kidney of the laboratory rat.
METHODS AND RESULTS:
The animals were randomly divided into five groups. Osajin was administrated orally in doses of 5, 10 and 20 mg/kg once a day to three premedicated groups. Placebo--0.5% solution of Avicel--was given to the fourth group and the fifth group was completely intact. The premedication lasted 15 days and subsequently the ischemia of the left kidney was incited in general anaesthesia for 60 min. The reperfusion lasted 10 min and it was finished by blood collection from the left ventricle and the reperfused kidney was recovered. Selected biochemical markers were assessed in blood: superoxide dismutase, glutathion peroxidase, total antioxidative capacity and malondialdehyde. The kidney tissue samples were used for histopathological examination. Laboratory and histopathological results confirmed supposed effects of Osajine. The dependence between the effect and the applied dose of Osajin was linear.
CONCLUSIONS:
The best biochemical results were reached after administration of Osajin at the dose of 5 mg/kg. The best histopathological results were reached after administration of Osajin at the dose of 10 mg/kg.

Ceska Slov Farm. 2006 Jul;55(4):168-74.

Protective effects of the flavonoids osajin and pomiferin on heart ischemia-reperfusion.[Pubmed: 16921735]

The study was undertaken to evaluate the cardioprotective potential of the flavonoids Osajin and pomiferin against ischemia-reperfusion induced injury in rat hearts as a model of antioxidant-based composite therapy.
METHODS AND RESULTS:
Studies were performed with isolated, modified Langendorff-perfused rat hearts and ischemia of the heart was initiated by stopping the coronary flow for 30 min followed by 60 min of reperfusion (14 ml x min(-1)). Wistar rats were divided into four groups. The treated groups received Osajin or pomiferin (5 mg/kg/day in 0.5% Avicel), the placebo group received only 0.5 Avicel; the intact group was left without any applications. Biochemical indicators of oxidative damage--malondialdehyde, superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, total antioxidant activity in serum and the myocardium have been evaluated. We also examined the effect of Osajin and pomiferin on cardiac function: left ventricular end-diastolic pressure, left ventricular pressure, and peak positive dP/dt.
CONCLUSIONS:
Our results demonstrate that the flavonoids Osajin and pomiferin attenuate the myocardial dysfunction provoked by ischemia-reperfusion. This was confirmed by an increase in both the antioxidant enzyme values and the total antioxidant activity. The cardioprotection provided by Osajin and pomiferin treatment results from the suppression of oxidative stress and correlates with the improved ventricular function.