Antiviral activity of methyl helicterate isolated from Helicteres angustifolia (Sterculiaceae) against hepatitis B virus
Authors: Shujuan Lv
Xing Lin
Ling Wei
Yongxing Chen
Hongtao Li
Quanfang Huang
Xuerong Zhang
Fujiang Yin
Renbin Huang
Lang Zhuo
Chunhong Liang
Journal: Antiviral Research (2013)
Discipline: PHARMACOLOGY & TOXICOLOGY
Keywords: Antiviral activity; Helicteres angustifolia; Hepatitis B virus; Methyl helicterate.
Affiliations: The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine, Nanning 530023, China.

Abstract:  The anti-HBV effect of methyl helicterate (MH), a triterpenoid isolated from the Chinese herb Helicteres angustifolia, was explored both in vitro and in vivo. In the HBV-transfected cell line HepG2.2.15, the secretion of HBsAg/HBeAg, the levels of HBV DNA and cccDNA, and the amount of viral RNA were significantly decreased after treatment with MH for 144h. In addition, MH had no inhibitory effect on the mitochondrial DNA content. In DHBV-infected ducklings, MH significantly reduced the serum DHBV DNA, liver total viral DNA, and cccDNA levels. Furthermore, analysis of the liver pathological changes confirmed the hepatoprotective effect of MH. These results indicate that MH efficiently inhibits HBV replication both in vitro and in vivo and that MH may be a major bioactive ingredient in H. angustifolia. 

Retracted: No

PubPeer comments:
 Figure 4. A duplication is likely, after flipping one of them  , 
 #1 Possibly two lanes should be examined.  , 
 #2 Agree. Flipping two together would be more efficient. Thanks! , 
 Fig 5C.  Effect of MH on DHBV DNA levels. ... viral cccDNA (C) levels were analyzed by Southern hybridization.  Increasing the contrast reveals what appears to be a horizontal splice (around 1.8 kb), in addition to the vertical splices between lanes. Below this horizontal splice, lanes are continued with variants on two graphic elements (as shown at the bottom). Is this normal in Southern blotting? , 
 Fig 5B.  The liver total DHBV DNA (B) ... levels were analyzed by Southern hybridization . Increasing the contrast shows that above the RC band, the background appears to consist of vertical strips bearing no relationship to the lanes comprising the rest of the gel.  Some of those vertical strips repeat.  , 
 Fig 3D.  Effects of MH on the secretion of HBsAg HBeAg, the levels of viral DNA, and the expression of HBV RNA in the HepG2.2.15 cell line.... The viral RNAs were prepared from HepG2.2.15 cells and analyzed by Northern blotting with a 32P-labeled HBV-specific DNA probe (D). Contrast-enhanced version below.  Lanes 1 and 2 (control and 1 micro-M) appear to be mirror images. Lane 2 is also unexpectedly similar to lanes 5 and 7 (in the background areas between main bands), while Lanes 3 and 6 are also similar in background areas (yellow boxes). , 
 Figure 3B Two concerns. 1. Green boxes: These seem to be a pattern repeated 3 times in the background, with one appearance being a horizontal flip of the other 2. 2. Red arrow: It looks like an unusual splice for lanes 5 and 6 here. Inverted and enhanced image  Original image  , 
 #2 Fig 4 again. Please compare with Fig. 5A of [Lin et al (2014)] .  The effects of PMP on the expressions of synapse plasticity-related proteins in hippocampus. (A) The bands are a representative of the blot.  , 
 Corrigendum [February 2021] . ---------------------------------------- The authors regret the incorrect publication of Figs. 3B, 3D, 4, 5B and 5C in the original article . The authors would like to apologise for any inconvenience caused.  Fig. 3. Effects of MH on the expression of HBV RNA in the HepG2.2.15 cell line. (B) The extracellular HBV DNA level was evaluated by Southern blotting with a 32P-labeled HBV-specific DNA probe. The forms of HBV-DNA are indicated as integrated, relaxed circular (RC), and single-stranded (SS) HBV DNA. (D)The viral RNAs were prepared from HepG2.2.15 cells and analyzed by Northern blotting with a 32P-labeled HBV-specific DNA probe.  Fig. 4. Mitochondrial DNA levels in HepG2.2.15 cells repeatedly treated with MH at three-day intervals for a period of nine days.  Fig. 5. Effect of MH on DHBV DNA levels. The liver total DHBV DNA (B) and viral cccDNA (C) levels were analyzed by Southern hybridization. M, molecular standards; RC, relaxed circular DNA; L, linear DNA; SS, single-strand DNA; ccc, covalently closed circular DNA. , 
 #9 I agree with the authors that it was unfortunate that the original Figures 3, 4 and 5 were published. I feel, though, that the Corrigendum note could be longer. It appears that the authors had prepared one Figs 3 4 5 set which is genuine and features in the correction; and a second set with the appearance of collages or stamp collections; and they used the second set by mistake. I would welcome a fuller explanation of how that second set came to exist. It would also be useful to learn more of the journal editors reasoning, when they decided to accept the replacement. They are not alone in this approach to regrettable illustrations. I compiled the following list of regret, from a range of journals but involving an overlapping roster of authors: -------------------------------------------------------  The authors regret that the wrong Figures 7 and 8 were published . [Hepatoprotective effects of total saponins isolated from Taraphochlamys affinis against carbon tetrachloride induced liver injury in rats] . QuanFang Huang, ShiJun Zhang, Li Zheng, Min He, RenBin Huang, Xing Lin, *Food and chemical toxicology* (2012). -------------------------------------------  The authors regret the incorrect publication of Figs. 3B, 3D, 4, 5B and 5C in the original article . [Antiviral activity of methyl helicterate isolated from Helicteres angustifolia (Sterculiaceae) against hepatitis B virus] . Quanfang Huang , Renbin Huang , Ling Wei , Yongxing Chen , Shujuan Lv , Chunhong Liang , Xuerong Zhang , Fujiang Yin , Hongtao Li , Lang Zhuo , Xing Lin, *Antiviral Research* (2013). ----------------------------------------------  The authors regret that the wrong Fig. 4, Fig. 6, Fig. 7 were published. [Protective effect of madecassoside against cognitive impairment induced by D-galactose in mice] . Xing Lin , Shijun Zhang , Renbin Huang , Ling Wei , Shimei Tan , Chunhong Liang , Shujuan Lv , Yongxin Chen , Shuang Liang , Yuanchun Tian , Zhongpeng Lu , Quanfang Huang, *Pharmacology Biochemistry and Behavior* (2014). --------------------------------------------------  The authors regret for the incorrect publication of Fig. 2, Fig. 5A in the original article. [Protective effect of tormentic acid from Potentilla chinensis against lipopolysaccharide D-galactosamine induced fulminant hepatic failure in mice] . Xing Lin , Shijun Zhang , Renbin Huang , Shimei Tan , Shuang Liang , Xiaoyan Wu , Lang Zhuo , Quanfang Huang, *International Immunopharmacology* (2014). ------------------------------------------------------  The authors regret that the wrong Figs. 3, 6B, 8 and 9 were published. [Didymin induces apoptosis through mitochondrial dysfunction and up-regulation of RKIP in human hepatoma cells] . Jinbin Wei , Quanfang Huang , Facheng Bai , Jun Lin , Jinlan Nie , Shengjuan Lu , Chunyuang Lu , Renbin Huang , Zhongpeng Lu , Xing Lin, *Chemico-Biological Interactions* (2017). -----------------------------------------------  The authors regret the incorrect publication of Figs. 3A, 4, 7, 8B and 11 in the original article . [Methyl helicterilate ameliorates alcohol-induced hepatic fibrosis by modulating TGF-u03b21 Smads pathway and mitochondria-dependent pathway] . Shujuan Wen , Yuanyuan Wei , Xiaolin Zhang , Facheng Bai , Shimei Tan , Jinlan Nie , Jinbin Wei, Xing Lin, *International Immunopharmacology* (2019). ,