•A large amount of natural polysaccharides have anti-diabetic activities.•Polysaccharides show their effects by different ways.•The anti-diabetic polysaccharides in the past 5 years were ...summarized.•The chemical characters of these polysaccharides were also summarized.
Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a metabolic disease attracted worldwide concerns, which severely impairs peoples’ quality of life and is attributed to several life-threatening complications, including atherosclerosis, nephropathy and retinopathy. The current therapies for DM include mainly oral anti-diabetic drugs and insulin. However, continuous use of these causes insulin resistance and side-effects, and the demand of effective, nontoxic and affordable drugs for DM patients is eager. Several previous studies have shown that non-toxic biological macromolecules, mainly polysaccharides, possess prominent efficacies on DM. Based on these encouraging observations, a great deal of efforts have been focused on discovering anti-diabetic polysaccharides for the development of effective therapeutics for DM. This review focuses on the advancements in the anti-diabetic efficacy of various natural polysaccharides and polysaccharide complexes from 2010 to 2015.
Lung cancer is a malignant tumor characterized by a rapid proliferation rate, less survivability, high mortality, and metastatic potential. This review focuses on updated research about the clinical ...application of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) as an adjuvant therapy to lung cancer treatment and the mechanisms of TCM effect on lung cancer in vitro and in vivo. We summarized the recent 5 years of different research progress on clinical applications and antitumor mechanisms of TCM in the treatment of lung cancer. As a potent adjuvant therapy, TCM could enhance conventional treatments (chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and epidermal growth factor receptors EGFRs tyrosine kinase inhibitors TKIs) effects as well as provide synergistic effects, enhance chemotherapy drugs chemosensitivity, reverse drug resistance, reduce adverse reactions and toxicity, relieve patients' pain and improve quality of life (QOL). After treating with TCM, lung cancer cells will induce apoptosis and/or autophagy, suppress metastasis, impact immune reaction, and therapeutic effect of EGFR-TKIs. Therefore, TCM is a promisingly potent adjuvant therapy in the treatment of lung cancer and its multiple mechanisms are worthy of an in-depth study.
Phytochemistry and pharmacology of genus Ephedra ZHANG, Ben-Mei; WANG, Zhi-Bin; XIN, Ping ...
Chinese journal of natural medicines,
November 2018, 2018-Nov, 2018-11-00, 20181101, Volume:
16, Issue:
11
Journal Article
The genus Ephedra of the Ephedraceae family contains more than 60 species of nonflowering seed plants distributed throughout Asia, America, Europe, and North Africa. These Ephedra species have ...medicinal, ecological, and economic value. This review aims to summarize the chemical constituents and pharmacological activities of the Ephedra species to unveil opportunities for future research. Comprehensive information on the Ephedra species was collected by electronic search (e.g., GoogleScholar, Pubmed, SciFinder, and Web of Science) and phytochemical books. The chemical compounds isolated from the Ephedra species include alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, polysaccharides, and others. The in vitro and in vivo pharmacological studies on the crude extracts, fractions and few isolated compounds of Ephedra species showed anti-inflammatory, anticancer, antibacterial, antioxidant, hepatoprotective, anti-obesity, antiviral, and diuretic activities. After chemical and pharmacological profiling, current research is focused on the antibacterial and antifungal effects of the phenolic acid compounds, the immunosuppressive activity of the polysaccharides, and the antitumor activity of flavonoids.
Summary
Objective
Vigabatrin (VGB) is the first‐line treatment for infantile spasms (IS). Previous studies have shown that VGB exposure may cause vigabatrin‐associated brain abnormalities on magnetic ...resonance imaging (MRI) (VABAM). Based on previous studies, this study aimed to go further to explore the possible risk factors and the incidence of VABAM. In addition, diffusion‐weighted imaging (DWI) and T2‐weighted imaging (T2WI) were compared to explore whether DWI should be used as a routine examination sequence when MRI is performed in children receiving VGB.
Methods
Children with IS receiving VGB were selected as the study subjects. Whether VABAM occurred or not was categorized as the VABAM group and the non‐VABAM group, respectively. Their general clinical data and medication exposure were collected. The possible risk factors of VABAM and different MRI sequences were compared and statistically analyzed.
Results
A total of 77 children with IS were enrolled in the study, of which 25 (32.5%) developed VABAM. Twenty‐three of the 25 VABAM cases have a peak dosage of VGB between 50 and 150 mg/kg/day. The earliest observation time of VABAM was 30 days. Regression analysis of relevant risk factors showed that the peak dosage of VGB was the risk factor for VABAM. Comparison between different MRI sequences showed that DWI is more sensitive than T2WI to the evaluation of VABAM.
Significance
In our study, the occurrence of VABAM was 32.5%, indicating a higher incidence than in most previous reports. In addition, we once again verified that the peak dosage of VGB was the risk factor of VABAM. Caution should be exercised that our data also suggest that VABAM may occur even using the conventional dosage of VGB (ie, 50–150 mg/kg/day). Therefore, even when using the conventional dosage of VGB, regular MRI examination should be required. Furthermore, DWI sequence should be used as a routine examination sequence when MRI is performed in children with IS who are receiving VGB.
Immunotherapy has shown tremendous promise for improving cancer treatment. Unfortunately, antigen‐presenting cells (APCs) in cancer patients cannot effectively recognize and process tumor antigens to ...activate host immune responses. In this study, an approach is developed to improve cancer immunotherapy that utilizes endogenous antigen‐carrying nanoparticles (EAC‐NPs), which encompasses a set of antigens isolated from solid tumors and adjuvants. The EAC‐NPs specifically target APCs and subsequently result in enhanced T cell responses and improved antitumor efficacy. Mechanistic studies reveal that the EAC‐NPs enhance and prolong the presence of immune compounds in APCs, which ensure persistent antigen loading and stimulation, induce a rapid proliferation of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, and significantly increase the ratios of intratumoral CD4+ T/Treg and CD8+ T/Treg. The work using nanotechnology provides a promising strategy in improving antitumor immunity by enhancing the immunogenicity and presentation of tumor self‐antigens for cancer immunotherapy.
Endogenous antigen‐carrying nanoparticles are phagocytosed by antigen‐presenting cells (APCs) triggering antigen and Toll‐like receptor signaling. Then the APCs induce highly efficient differentiation of T cells toward helper T (CD4+) cells and cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CD8+) to finally generate potent antitumor immune responses. A promising strategy is established for cancer immunotherapy by enhancing the immunogenicity and presentation of tumor self‐antigens.
X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy (ALD) is a rare peroxisome disease with phenotypic heterogeneity. There is a lack of suitable in vitro models to study its pathogenesis. We established two strains of ...iPSCs from skin fibroblasts of patients with childhood cerebral ALD and Addison's disease, respectively. CytoTune™2.0 Sendai reprogramming kit was used. The iPSC lines showed typical stem cell morphology, normal karyotype, and carrying ABCD1 variation. The iPSC lines express pluripotency markers, and have the capacity to differentiate into three germ layers. iPSCs can be used as an alternative cell source for ALD in vitro model to study its pathogenesis and therapeutic strategies.
Polygonum hydropiper L. (Polygonaceae) (PH) is a traditional Chinese traditional medicine with a pungent flavor and mild drug properties. PH is mainly distributed in the channel tropism in the ...stomach and large intestine. PH has multiple uses and can be used to treat a variety of diseases for a long time.
This review summarizes the phytochemical and pharmacological activities, and applications of PH from 1980 to 2022. We also provide suggestions for promoting further research and developing additional applications of PH.
The data and information on PH from 1980 to 2022 reviewed in this article were obtained from scientific databases, including Science Direct, PubMed, Science Citation Index, SciFinder Scholar (SciFinder), Springer, American Chemical Society (ACS) Publications, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), etc. Some information was obtained from classic literature on traditional Chinese medicines. The search terms were Polygonum hydropiper, phytochemistry compositions of Polygonum hydropiper, pharmacological activities of Polygonum hydropiper, and applications of Polygonum hydropiper.
The comprehensive analysis of the literature resulted in 324 compounds being isolated, identified, and reported from PH. Regarding traditional uses, the majority of phytochemical and pharmacological studies have indicated the diverse bioactivities of PH extracts, flavonoids, and volatile oil elements, including antibacterial, antifungal, insecticidal, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory.
PH has a long history of diversified medicinal uses, some of which have been verified in modern pharmacological studies. Further detailed studies are required to establish scientific and reasonable quality evaluation standards and action mechanisms of active constituents from PH.
Display omitted
•Nine new and six know withanolides were isolated from the leaves of D. metel L.•Structures were elucidated by analyses of 1D, 2D NMR and HR-ESI-MS.•All compounds were evaluated for ...anti-inflammatory activity.
Nine new withanolides, named daturafolisides A–I (1–9), along with six known compounds (22R)-27-hydroxy-7α-methoxy-1-oxowitha-3,5,24-trienolide-27-O-β-d-glucopyranoside, daturataturin A, daturametelin J, daturataurin B, baimantuoluoside B, 12-deoxywithastramonolide (10–15), were isolated from the leaves of Datura metel L. The structures and absolute stereochemistry of these compounds were elucidated by means of spectroscopic methods including 1D and 2D NMR techniques, mass spectrometry and circular dichroism (CD) analyses. All isolates were evaluated for in vitro anti-inflammatory potential using LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 murine macrophages. Among them, compounds 1, 2, 14, and 15 exhibited significant inhibition of nitrite production with values of IC50 at 20.9, 17.7, 17.8, and 18.4μM. Compounds 3, 4, 6, and 13 presented moderate inhibitory activities with values of IC50 at 59.0, 52.8, 71.2, and 53.1μM, while the rest compounds displayed weak suppressive effect.
A simple and sensitive analysis using ultra high performance liquid chromatography with a tandem mass spectrometric system operated in selected reaction monitoring mode was developed for the ...determination of 11 phenolic acids, atractyloside, and carboxyatractyloside in rat plasma. The two classes of analytes were then separated on a Waters ACQUITY™ UPLC HSS T3 column (50 mm × 2.1 mm, 1.8 µm) using gradient elution with a mobile phase of 0.2% formic acid in water containing 10 mM ammonium acetate and methanol. Detection was accomplished by selected reaction monitoring scanning via an electrospray source operating in negative ionization mode. The calibration curve was linear (R2 = 0.990) over a concentration range of 1.20–3500 ng/mL, while the validated lower limit of quantification was 1.20 ng/mL. The precision varied from 0.84 to 4.62%, and the accuracy varied within ±5%. The method proved robust with sample freezing and thawing and with short‐ and long‐term sample storage. The established method was used for simultaneous quantification and was successfully used for the first time for the pharmacokinetic evaluation of 13 compounds after the intragastric administration of raw and processed Fructus Xanthii in rats. The results indicated that processing affects the absorption and metabolism of Fructus Xanthii extract. Importantly, the results also indicated the importance of processing for the clinical application of traditional Chinese medicine.
With an increase in aging populations worldwide, age-related diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD) have become a global concern. At present, a cure for neurodegenerative disease is lacking. There ...is an urgent need for a biomarker that can facilitate the diagnosis, classification, prognosis, and treatment response of AD. The recent emergence of highly sensitive mass-spectrometry platforms and high-throughput technology can be employed to discover and catalog vast datasets of small metabolites, which respond to changed status in the body. Metabolomics analysis provides hope for a better understanding of AD as well as the subsequent identification and analysis of metabolites. Here, we review the state-of-the-art emerging candidate biomarkers for AD.
PDF
