This study evaluated the anti-ascites effect of total diterpenoids extracted from Euphorbiae Ebracteolatae Radix (TDEE) on malignant ascitic mice and elucidated its underlying mechanism. TDEE was extracted by dichloromethane and subjected to column chromatography. The purity of six diterpenoids isolated from TDEE was determined to be 77.18% by HPLC. TDEE (3 and 0.6 g raw herbs/kg, p.o.) reduced ascites and increased urine output. Meanwhile, analysis of tumor cell viability, cycle and apoptosis indicated that TDEE had no antitumor activity. In addition, the expression levels of aquaporins (AQPs) and the membrane translocation levels of protein kinase C (PKC) α and PKCβ in kidney and cells were measured. TDEE reduced the levels of AQP1-4, and inhibited PKCβ expression in membrane fraction. Four main diterpenoids, except compound 2, reduced AQP1 level in human kidney-2 cells. Compounds 4 and 5 inhibited AQP2-4 expression in murine inner medullary collecting duct cells. The diterpenoid-induced inhibition of AQP1-4 expression was blocked by phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate (PMA; agonist of PKC). The diterpenoids from TDEE are the main anti-ascites components. The anti-ascites effect of diterpenoids may be associated with alterations in AQPs in the kidneys to promote diuresis. The inhibition of AQP1-4 expression by TDEE is related to the inhibition of PKCβ activation.
Keywords: Euphorbia ebracteolata Hayata; PKC inhibitor; bioactive components; diuresis; kidney cells; terpenoids.