Cell experiment:

Cell Proliferation Assay[2]Cell Cycle Analysis[2]MCF-7 and T47D cells50 μM, 200 μM, 500 μM and 1000 μM24 and 48 hoursCCK-8 cell counting assay is used to detect proliferation of MCF-7 and T47D cells when treated with Stachydrine hydrochloride at four different concentrations (50 μM, 200 μM, 500 μM and 1000 μM) for 24 and 48 hours. Cell cycle analysis of MCF-7 and T47D cells is determined by flow cytometry. Experiments are performed in triplicates and representative images are presented. Note: Inhibited proliferation and induced G1 phase arrest in MCF-7 and T47D cells.

Stachydrine is an anti-metastatic agent.

Stachydrine, a pyrrolidine betaine, was first isolated from seed husk and the pulp of the fruit of C. Leonurus, and many other Asian plants and fruits.

In vitro: The aim of a previous study was to investigate the effects of stachydrine (STA) on norepinephrine (NE) induced hypertrophy and the changes of calcium transients in neonatal rat cardiomyocytes. Results showed that NE treatment could increase protein synthesis, cell surface area, the expression level of β-MHC and β/α-MHC ratio and these effects were attenuated by STA treatment. In addition, NE-induced hypertrophy was associated with accelerated decay of Ca2+-transient, increased phospholamban expression, increased Ca2+-transient amplitude, hyper-phosphorylation, increased intracellular cAMP level, as well as PKA overactivation. All of these effects could be inhibited by STA treatment significantly [1].

In vivo: Previous study evaluated the effect of stachydrine on the expression of caspase-9 and 12 in rats with unilateral ureteral obstruction. Results showed that degree of renal interstitial fibrosis, serum creatinine, blood urea nitrogen, the renal tubular interstitial damage index, and expression of caspase-9 and 12 in the stachydrine-treatment groups were significantly decreased [2].

Clinical trial: So far, no clinical study has been conducted.

References:
[1] Zhang, C. ,Shan, X.-L.,Liao, Y.-L., et al. Effects of stachydrine on norepinephrine-induced neonatal rat cardiac myocytes hypertrophy and intracellular calcium transients. BMC Complement. Altern. Med. 14, 474 (2014).
[2] Zhang C, Lu Y, Zhou YJ, Tong QQ, Qu C, Kang TJ.  The effect of stachydrine on the expression of caspase-12 in rats with unilateral ureteral obstruction. J Urol. 2014 Nov;192(5):1549-54.