Hu (ZS), as a "medicinal and food-homologous" plant, has been used for a long history. The study was to assess the sedative and hypnotic effects among various parts of ZS. The model, diazepam (DZP), ...ZS kernel (ZSS), ZS flesh (ZSF), and ZS husk (ZSKS) group occurred subsequent to the successful establishment of the para-chlorophenylalanine induced insomnia model via intraperitoneal injection. The latency and duration of sleep in mice in each group were recorded. The substance basis of various parts of ZS was analyzed by the UPLC-QTOF-MS technique. The results showed that relative to the model group, DZP, ZSS, ZSF, and ZSKS groups demonstrated shortened sleep latency (
< 0.05) and extended sleep duration (
< 0.01). The GABA, 5-HT, and BDNF levels were significantly upregulated in the brain tissues of the mice in the DZP, ZSF, and ZSS groups (
< 0.01). However, the improvement in ZSKS was non-significant. Additionally, the mRNA and protein expression levels of 5-HT1AR, GABAARα1, and BDNF in mice in the DZP, ZSS, and ZSF groups were significantly enhanced (
< 0.01). However, the improvement in the ZSKS group was insignificant (
< 0.05). The examination of the substance composition across different parts revealed that the shared chemical basis contributing to the sedative and hypnotic potency of different parts of ZS may involve the presence of compounds such as (
) magnoflorine, (
) betulinic acid, (
) ceanothic acid, and (
) alphitolic acid. It provides a basis for further elucidation of the substance basis responsible for the functional and medicinal effects of ZS.
Current treatments for ischemic stroke are insufficient. The lack of effective pharmacological approaches can be mainly attributed to the difficulty in overcoming the blood–brain barrier. Here, we ...report a simple strategy to synthesize protease-responsive, brain-targeting nanoparticles for the improved treatment of stroke. The resulting nanoparticles respond to proteases enriched in the ischemic microenvironment, including thrombin or matrix metalloproteinase-9, by shrinking or expanding their size. Targeted delivery was achieved using surface conjugation of ligands that bind to proteins that were identified to enrich in the ischemic brain using protein arrays. By screening a variety of formulations, we found that AMD3100-conjugated, size-shrinkable nanoparticles (ASNPs) exhibited the greatest delivery efficiency. The brain targeting effect is mainly mediated by AMD3100, which interacts with CXCR4 that is enriched in the ischemic brain tissue. We showed that ASNPs significantly enhanced the efficacy of glyburide, a promising stroke therapeutic drug whose efficacy is limited by its toxicity. Due to their high efficiency in penetrating the ischemic brain and low toxicity, we anticipate that ASNPs have the potential to be translated into clinical applications for the improved treatment of stroke patients.
Ulcerative colitis (UC), often known as UC, is an inflammatory disease of the intestines that has frequent and long-lasting flare-ups. It is unknown precisely how the traditional Chinese drug
(IN) ...heals inflammatory bowel disease, despite its long-standing use in China and Japan. Finding new metabolite biomarkers linked to UC could improve our understanding of the disease, speed up the diagnostic process, and provide insight into how certain drugs work to treat the condition. Our work is designed to use a metabolomic method to analyze potential alterations in endogenous substances and their impact on metabolic pathways in a mouse model of UC. To determine which biomarkers and metabolisms are more frequently connected with IN's effects on UC, liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry analysis of the serum metabolomics of UC mice and normal mice was performed. The outcomes demonstrated that IN boosted the health of UC mice and reduced the severity of their metabolic dysfunction. In the UC model, it was also found that IN changed the way 17 biomarkers and 3 metabolisms functioned.
Background:
Earthworm, also called dilong (Chinese language), has been used as a traditional Chinese medicine for thousands of years. Recently, some scientists believe that earthworm extracts (EE) ...can promote wound healing. However, its effectiveness remains controversial. We conducted a meta-analysis to evaluate the effect of EE on wound healing based on the healing rate.
Methods:
We comprehensively reviewed literature that mentioned EE for wound healing in the PubMed, Cochrane Library, Embase, Web of Science, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), VIP database for Chinese Technical Periodicals, and WanFang database that have been published until January 2021. We computed weighted mean difference (WMD) for analysis with RevMan 5.3 software in animal and human models groups. Two researchers independently selected studies and evaluated the risk of bias with the Cochrane Collaboration tool. The quality of the evidence was assessed with the Cochrane risk of bias tool. This study is registered on PROSPERO (CRD42020168400).
Results:
From 2,486 articles, we selected 16 studies for analysis. EE treatment was associated with improvements in wound healing performance based on wound healing rate (mouse model: weighted mean difference (WMD) = 3.55, 95% confidence interval (CI): 2.34–4.77,
p
< 0.00001; rat model: WMD = 17.29, 95% CI: 5.75–28.82,
p
= 0.003; rabbit model: WMD = 19.29, 95% CI: 9.95–28.64,
p
< 0.0001). Clinical studies also confirmed that EE could reduce healing time in hospital (WMD = −8.94, 95% CI: −17.75 to −0.14,
p
= 0.05).
Conclusion:
The results of this meta-analysis demonstrated the efficacy of EE on wound healing process. As a corollary, EE can be a useful natural product for wound healing drug development.
Systematic Review Registration
:
https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/display_record.php?RecordID=168400
, identifier CRD42020168400.
In the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), rheumatoid arthritis fibroblast-like synoviocytes (RA-FLS) have tumor-like characteristics, mainly manifested by hyperproliferation and resistance to ...apoptosis and then it will erode the bone and cartilage, eventually leading to joint destruction. Paris saponin VII (PS VII) is an active compound derived from a traditional herbal medicine named
Trillium tschonoskii
Maxim, which has anti-tumor, analgesic, and immunomodulatory effects. However, its anti-RA effect has not yet been reported. This study was to investigate the effect of PS VII on two rheumatoid arthritis fibroblast-like synoviocytes lines (RA-FLS and MH7A) and adjuvant-induced arthritis (AIA) in rats.
In vitro
, the effects of PS VII on the proliferation, cell cycle, and apoptosis of RA-FLS and MH7A cells were detected by MTT, flow cytometry, and western blot analysis.
In vivo
, the effect of PS VII on the weight of the rat, paw swelling, ankle joint diameter, arthritis index, serum inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β), histopathological assessment and apoptosis proteins in the synovial tissues were evaluated in AIA rats. The
in vitro
studies showed that PS VII inhibited the proliferation of RA-FLS and MH7A cells, induced S phase arrest and triggered cell apoptosis mainly through the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway and the regulation of JNK and p38 MAPK pathways. The
in vivo
studies revealed that PS VII could improve ameliorate body weight, paw swelling, ankle joint diameter, reduce the spleen and thymus index, suppress the production of TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-1β, improve histopathological changes and regulate the expressions of apoptosis proteins in AIA Rats. In conclusion, PS VII could inhibit the proliferation and trigger apoptosis of RA-FLS and MH7A cells by regulating the mitochondrial apoptosis pathway and the JNK and p38 MAPK pathways, and alleviate the symptoms of RA, signifying it to be one of the potential anti-RA therapeutics.
Siji-kangbingdu mixture is an anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, and anti-viral herbal mixture which is frequently used by doctors to treat upper respiratory infections. It's important to establish ...an efficient and economical quality-control method to ensure the quality consistency and efficacy stability of Siji-kangbingdu mixture. In this study, an integrated multi-evaluation method was established, sequentially involving UPLC-TripleTOF-MS analysis, UPLC fingerprint analysis, and the quantitative analysis of multi-components using the single-marker (QAMS) method. With one chromatographic condition, a total of 71 compounds were identified by MS and MS/MS information, with a mass error of less than 5 ppm; 49 peaks detected in 254 nm were selected to establish the fingerprint similarity model, and 7 chemical compounds were simultaneously determined, namely, chlorogenic acid, liquiritin, rutin, isochlorogenic acid A, forsythin, forsythoside A, and glycyrrhizic acid, with forsythoside A as the reference standard. There was no significant difference in the content of the seven compounds between the QAMS method and the external standard method (ESM). The established multi-evaluation method will largely promote the quality control and standardization process of Siji-kangbingdu mixture. It also provides a reference workflow for the overall evaluation of TCM patent medicines, from chemical profiling to fingerprint and quantitative analysis.
Genus Paris has numerous bioactive constituents such as steroid saponins, flavonoids, and polysaccharose which are responsible for antitumor, hemostatic, and anthelmintic, etc. In this study, ...ultrahigh performance liquid chromatography coupled to time-of-flight mass spectrometer (UHPLC-QTOF-MS) and Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy in combination with multivariable analysis were employed to discriminate the different species of Paris including P. polyphylla var. yunnanensis (PPY), P. polyphylla var. alba, P. mairei (PM), P. vietnamensis, and P. polyphylla var. stenophylla. Partial least square discriminate analysis based on UHPLC, FT-IR, and midlevel data fusion was used to distinguish 43 batches of Paris. Chemical constituents of different species Paris were determined by UHPLC-QTOF-MS. The result indicated that midlevel data fusion had a good performance in the classification compared to a single analytical technology. A total of 47 compounds were identified in different species Paris. The similar results indicated that PM could be treated as a proposal substitute of PPY.
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•HP reversed body weight gain, dyslipidemia and hepatic steatosis in OVX rats.•HP restored gut microbial composition and metabolite profiles in OVX rats.•HP upregulated CYP7A1 and ...increased fecal TBA, which contributes to lowering cholesterol in OVX rats.•SCFAs may mediate HP’s anti-hypercholesterolemia effect in OVX rats by up-regulating GPR43 and GPR41.
Hypericum perforatum L. (HP), a well-known natural medicine, has a potential effect on menopausal hypercholesterolemia. However, the effect of HP extract on gut microbiota and related metabolites, which play vital roles in metabolic disease occurrence, in the context of estrogen deficiency have not yet been reported. The aims of the present study were to investigate the effects of HP extract on gut microbial composition and related metabolite profiles in ovariectomized (OVX) rats and reveal the relationships between pathological indicators and alterations in both gut microbial composition at the genus level and metabolites. Body weight, serum parameters, liver lipids and histomorphology were determined. Microbial composition was analyzed using 16S rRNA sequencing. Fecal short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and serum bile acids were quantitatively measured. Correlations between pathological indicators and alteration in gut microbiota and metabolites were investigated using Spearman's rank correlation test. Gene expression of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase, cholesterol 7α-hydroxylase (CYP7A1) and cholesterol 27-hydroxylase (CYP27A1) in the liver and G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs; GPR43 and GPR41), ZO-1 and occludin in the cecum were determined by PCR. Microbial composition and metabolite profiles were significantly changed in OVX rats compared with sham rats. Twelve bacterial genera, 5 SCFAs and 12 bile acids were identified as differential biomarkers. Differential genera, SCFAs and bile acids were closely associated with weight, total cholesterol (TC) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C). In OVX rats, HP administration can significantly reverse the pathological symptoms of body weight gain, serum lipid disorders and hepatic steatosis, at the meanwhile, reestablish gut microbial composition and metabolite profiles. Moreover, HP administration significantly upregulated the levels of CYP7A1, GPR43 and GPR41. In conclusion, HP can ameliorate estrogen deficiency-induced hypercholesterolemia. The underlying mechanism may be associated with improvements in gut microbiota composition and the profile of related metabolites as well as increases in bile acid secretion.
Re-yan-ning mixture (RYNM) is a new national drug approved by China's State Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of colds, simple pneumonia and acute bronchitis.
To determine the mechanism ...of action of RYNM in the treatment of bacterial pneumonia.
Using the network pharmacology approach, the multiple components, component candidate targets and multiple therapeutic targets of RYNM were screened and functionally enriched. Also, we established a rat Streptococcus pneumonia model to verify the results of network pharmacology enrichment analysis. Forty male SPF Sprague Dawley rats were divided into four groups of 10 rats: control (normal saline), model (normal saline), levofloxacin-intervened and RYNM-intervened groups. IL-10, NOS2, COX-1, IL-6, TNF-α and NF-κB in serum and BALF were detected by ELISA. Western blot detected IL-17, IL-6, TNF-α, COX-2 and Bcl-2.
The network pharmacology approach successfully identified 48 bioactive components in RYNM, and 65 potential targets and 138 signal pathways involved in the treatment of Streptococcus pneumonia with RYNM. The in vivo experiments indicated that model group has visible inflammation and lesions while RYNM and levofloxacin groups have not. The RYNM exhibited its therapeutic effects on Streptococcus pneumonia mainly via the regulation of cell proliferation and survival through the IL-6/IL-10/IL-17, Bax/Bcl-2, COX-1/COX-2, NF-κB and TNF-α signalling pathways.
The present study demonstrated the protective effects of RYNM on Streptococcus pneumonia, providing a potential mechanism for the treatment of bacterial pneumonia with RYNM.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
, the dried fruit of
, has been used as Chinese medicine and food for centuries. Triterpenic acids have been found to be the major bioactive constituents in
responsible for their hepatoprotective ...activity in previous phytochemical and biological studies, while few pharmacokinetic studies have been conducted. To reveal the kinetics of the triterpenic acids under the pathological liver injury state, an established ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with a mass spectrometry method was applied for the simultaneous quantitation of seven triterpenic acids (ceanothic acid, epiceanothic acid, pomonic acid, alphitolic acid, maslinic acid, betulinic acid, and betulonic acid) in plasma samples of normal and acute liver injury rats induced by CCl₄. The results showed that there were significant differences (
< 0.05) in the pharmacokinetic parameters of seven triterpenic acids between model and normal groups. The AUC
and AUC
of epiceanothic acid (5227 ± 334 μg⋅h/L vs. 1478 ± 255 μg ⋅ h/L and 6127 ± 423 μg ⋅ h/L vs. 1482 ± 255 μg ⋅ h/L, respectively) and pomonic acid (4654 ± 349 μg ⋅ h/L vs. 1834 ± 225 μg ⋅ h/L and 4776 ± 322 μg ⋅ h/L vs. 1859 ± 230 μg ⋅ h/L, respectively) in model rats were significantly higher than those in normal rats, and the CLz/F of them were significantly decreased (0.28 ± 0.02 L/h/kg vs. 1.36 ± 0.18 L/h/kg and 19.96 ± 1.30 L/h/kg vs. 53.15 ± 5.60 L/h/kg, respectively). In contrast, the above parameters for alphitolic acid, betulinic acid and betulonic acid exhibited the quite different trend. This pharmacokinetic research might provide useful information for the clinical usage of triterpenic acids from
.