Preliminary screening of active components in regulating autophagy in Ziziphora clinopodioide Lam

Ziziphora clinopodioide Lam, a traditional Chinese medicinal plant, has been used to treat hypertension, coronary heart disease and other cardiovascular diseases, autophagy plays an important role in these diseases. This study investigated the effects of Z. clinopodioides and its active components on autophagy using cell biology. Normal rat kidney (NRK) cells transfected with green fluorescent protein-associated microtubule-protein 1 light Chain 3 (GFP-LC3) were intervened with different doses of ethanol and water extracts of Z. clinopodioides and the active components of Z. clinopodioides. After 4 hours treatment, the autophagy spot aggregation in NRK cells was photographed and observed by laser scanning confocal microscopy. The results showed that the water and ethanol extracts of Z. clinopodioides can activate autophagy, the effect of activating autophagy was more significant, when the dose was increased. Five components including chrysin, luteolin, quercetin, oleanolic acid and ursolic acid were identified as the active principles in activating autophagy. This research may provide a reference for the further study of mechanism and material basis of Z. clinopodioides in treatment of cardiovascular diseases.