Pinusolide

Br J Pharmacol. 2007 Jan;150(1):65-71.

Pinusolide and 15-methoxypinusolidic acid attenuate the neurotoxic effect of staurosporine in primary cultures of rat cortical cells.[Pubmed: 17143305]

Apoptosis is a fundamental process required for neuronal development but also occurs in most of the common neurodegenerative disorders. In an attempt to obtain an anti-apoptotic neuroprotective compound from natural products, we isolated the diterpenoids, Pinusolide and 15-MPA, from B. orientalis and investigated their neuroprotective activity against staurosporine (STS) -induced neuronal apoptosis. In addition, we determined the anti-apoptotic mechanism of these compounds in rat cortical cells.
METHODS AND RESULTS:
Primary cultures of rat cortical cells injured by STS were used as an in vitro assay system. Cells were pretreated with Pinusolide or 15-MPA before exposure to STS. Anti-apoptotic activities were evaluated by the measurement of cytoplasmic condensation and nuclear fragmentation. The levels of cellular peroxide, malondialdehyde (MDA) and [Ca(2+)]i, as well as the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and caspase-3/7, were measured. Pinusolide and 15-MPA, at a concentration of 5.0 ìM, reduced the condensed nuclei and rise in [Ca(2+)]i that accompanies apoptosis induced by 100 nM STS. Pinusolide and 15-MPA also protected the cellular activity of SOD, an antioxidative enzyme reduced by STS insult. Furthermore, the overproduction of reactive oxygen species and lipid peroxidation induced by STS was significantly reduced in Pinusolide and 15-MPA treated cells. In addition, Pinusolide and 15-MPA inhibited STS-induced caspase-3/7 activation.
CONCLUSIONS:
These results show that Pinusolide and 15-MPA protect neuronal cells from STS-induced apoptosis, probably by preventing the increase in [Ca(2+)]i and cellular oxidation caused by STS, and indicate that they could be used to treat neurodegenerative diseases.

Planta Med. 1999 Feb;65(1):39-42.

Pinusolide from the leaves of Biota orientalis as potent platelet activating factor antagonist.[Pubmed: 10083843]

We investigated the effect of a new PAF antagonist Pinusolide, isolated from the leaves of Biota orientalis, on PAF-induced [3H]serotinin release from rabbit platelets, hypotension and vascular permeability.
METHODS AND RESULTS:
Pinusolide (IC50, about 5 x 10(-6) M) inhibited specifically [3H]serotinin release from rabbit platelets when stimulated with PAF (5 x 10(-8) M), but showed no effect when induced by ADP, collagen, and thrombin. It also inhibited PAF-induced hypotension in a dose-dependent manner in rats with no effect on the hypotension induced by acetylcholine, histamine and serotonin. The inhibitory effect of Pinusolide on the PAF-induced vascular permeability is less specific than the induced hypotension.
CONCLUSIONS:
These results suggest that Pinusolide may prove of therapeutic value in the treatment of hypotension and a molecular design of Pinusolide analogues may provide the possibility of a new PAF specific antagonists.

Bioorg Med Chem Lett. 2006 Aug 15;16(16):4228-32.

Gram-scale synthesis of pinusolide and evaluation of its antileukemic potential.[Pubmed: 16781150 ]

METHODS AND RESULTS:
Pinusolide (1), a known platelet-activating factor (PAF) receptor binding antagonist, was synthesized from lambertianic acid (2), a labdane-type diterpene readily accessible in multigram quantities from the Siberian pine tree.
CONCLUSIONS:
It was shown that 1 not only decreases the proliferation activity of tumor cells at relatively low concentrations but specifically induces apoptosis at 100 microM via the mitochondrial pathway in the Burkitt lymphoma cell line BJAB. Also, using primary lymphoblasts and leukemic cells from children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and acute myeloid leukemia (AML), a significant DNA fragmentation in Pinusolide-treated cells could be detected in an ex vivo apoptosis assay.

Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2013 Aug 2;437(3):374-9.

Pinusolide improves high glucose-induced insulin resistance via activation of AMP-activated protein kinase.[Pubmed: 23831466]

Adenosine monophosphate (AMP)-activated protein kinase (AMPK) plays a crucial role in the maintenance of cellular energy homeostasis, and several natural compounds that activate AMPK possibly enhance glucose uptake by muscle cells.
METHODS AND RESULTS:
In this study, we found that Pinusolide stimulated AMPK phosphorylation and glucose uptake and these effects were significantly reduced by siRNA LKB1 or compound C, suggesting that enhanced glucose uptake by Pinusolide is predominantly accomplished via an LKB1-mediated AMPK activation pathway. An insulin resistance state was induced by exposing cells to 30mM glucose, as indicated by reduced insulin-stimulated tyrosine phosphorylation of IRS-1 and glucose uptake. Under these conditions, the phosphorylation of AMPK and ACC were decreased. Surprisingly, disrupted insulin signaling and decreased AMPK activity by high glucose concentrations were prevented by Pinusolide. Moreover, this treatment increased insulin-stimulated glucose uptake via AMPK activation.
CONCLUSIONS:
Taken together, our findings suggest a link between high glucose and insulin resistance in muscle cells, and provide further evidence that Pinusolide attenuates blockade of insulin signaling by enhancing IRS-1 tyrosine phosphorylation by the activating the AMPK pathway. In addition, this study indicates the targeting of AMPK represents a new therapeutic strategy for hyperglycemia-induced insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes.

Biol Pharm Bull. 2012;35(8):1374-8.

Pinusolide isolated from Biota orientalis inhibits 5-lipoxygenase dependent leukotriene C4 generation by blocking c-Jun N-terminal kinase pathway in mast cells.[Pubmed: 22863941]

Pinusolide, an herbal medicine isolated from Biota orientalis L. (B. orientalis), inhibited 5-lipoxygenase (5-LO)-dependent leukotriene C4 (LTC4) generation in immunoglobulin E (IgE)/Ag-induced bone marrow-derived mast cells (BMMCs) in a concentration-dependent manner.
METHODS AND RESULTS:
To clarify the action mechanism of Pinusolide on the inhibition of LTC4 generation, we examined the effect of Pinusolide on phosphorylation of cytosolic phospholipase A2 (cPLA2), as well as translocation phospho-cPLA2 and 5-LO to nucleus. Inhibition of LTC4 generation by Pinusolide was accompanied by a decrease in cPLA2 phosphorylation which occurred via a decrease in intracellular Ca2+ influx and blocking the c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) pathways. However, Pinusolide had no effect on extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and p38 mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinas phosphorylation.
CONCLUSIONS:
Taken together, the present results suggest that potent inhibition of 5-LO dependent LTC4 generation by Pinusolide requires both suppression of calcium influx and JNK phosphorylation.