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Bioorganic Chemistry Apr 2024Historically, Astragalus membranaceus Bunge has been used as a beneficial medicinal plant, particularly in the Asian traditional medical systems, for the treatment of...
Historically, Astragalus membranaceus Bunge has been used as a beneficial medicinal plant, particularly in the Asian traditional medical systems, for the treatment of various human diseases such as stomach ulcers, diarrhea, and respiratory issues associated with phlegm. In this study, a phytochemical characterization of the aerial parts of A. membranaceusled to the isolation of 29 oleanane-type triterpenoid saponins, including 11 new compounds named astraoleanosides E-P (6-9, 13, 14, 18-22), as well as 18 known ones. The structures of these compounds were elucidated using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy and high-resolution mass spectrometry. Among them, astraoleanoside H (9) and cloversaponin III (15) demonstrated the most potent β-glucuronidase inhibitory activities, with IC values of 21.20 ± 0.75 and 9.05 ± 0.47 µM, respectively, compared to the positive control d-saccharic acid 1,4-lactone (IC = 20.62 ± 1.61 µM). Enzyme kinetics studies were then conducted to investigate the type of inhibition exhibited by these active compounds. In addition, the binding mechanism, key interactions, binding stability, and dynamic behavior of protein-ligand complexes were investigated through in silico approaches, such as molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulations. These findings highlight the promising potential of triterpenoid saponins from A. membranaceus as lead compounds for β-glucuronidase inhibitors, offering new possibilities for the development of therapeutic agents targeting various diseases where β-glucuronidase plays a crucial role.
Topics: Humans; Molecular Structure; Astragalus propinquus; Molecular Docking Simulation; Saponins; Oleanolic Acid; Plant Components, Aerial; Triterpenes
PubMed: 38387397
DOI: 10.1016/j.bioorg.2024.107230 -
Food Chemistry: X Mar 2024Pericarpium citri reticulatae (PCR) is the dried mature fruit peel of Blanco and its cultivated varieties in the Brassicaceae family. It can be used as both food and...
Pericarpium citri reticulatae (PCR) is the dried mature fruit peel of Blanco and its cultivated varieties in the Brassicaceae family. It can be used as both food and medicine, and has the effect of relieving cough and phlegm, and promoting digestion. The smell and medicinal properties of PCR are aged over the years; only varieties with aging value can be called "Chenpi". That is to say, the storage year of PCR has a great influence on its quality. As the color and smell of PCR of different storage years are similar, some unscrupulous merchants often use PCRs of low years to pretend to be PCRs of high years, and make huge profits. Therefore, we did this study with the aim of establishing a rapid and nondestructive method to identify the counterfeiting of PCR storage year, so as to protect the legitimate rights and interests of consumers. In this study, a classification model of PCR was established by e-eye, flash GC e-nose, and Fourier transform near-infrared (FT-NIR) combined with machine learning algorithms, which can quickly and accurately distinguish PCRs of different storage years. DFA and PLS-DA models were established by flash GC e-nose to distinguish PCRs of different ages, and 8 odor components were identified, among which (+)-limonene and γ-terpinene were the key components to distinguish PCRs of different ages. In addition, the classification and calibration model of PCRs were established by the combination of FT-NIR and machine learning algorithms. The classification models included SVM, KNN, LSTM, and CNN-LSTM, while the calibration models included PLSR, LSTM, and CNN-LSTM. Among them, the CNN-LSTM model built by internal capsule had significantly better classification and calibration performance than the other models. The accuracy of the classification model was 98.21 %. The R of age, (+)-limonene and γ-terpinene was 0.9912, 0.9875 and 0.9891, respectively. These results showed that the combination of flash GC e-nose and FT-NIR combined with deep learning algorithm could quickly and accurately distinguish PCRs of different ages. It also provided an effective and reliable method to monitor the quality of PCR in the market.
PubMed: 38384686
DOI: 10.1016/j.fochx.2024.101220 -
Heliyon Feb 2024is one of the biggest and complex genera of the Acanthaceae family. is commonly known as 'Adosa'. It is an ayurvedic medicine with a medicinal history of more than a... (Review)
Review
is one of the biggest and complex genera of the Acanthaceae family. is commonly known as 'Adosa'. It is an ayurvedic medicine with a medicinal history of more than a thousand years in India. Traditionally, it is used to treat cough, asthma, phlegm, bleeding hemorrhoids, for both adults and youth. This plant possesses antiarthritis, antiseptic, antimicrobial, anti-tuberculosis, anti-inflammatory and abortifacient properties. Alkaloids are the major phytoconstituents present in the plant in the form of pyrrolo-quinazoline derivatives vasicine, vasicinone, vasicinol, adhatodine, adhatodinine, adhavasinone and anisotine etc. The asserted objectives are to conduct a systematic review on the phytochemistry, pharmacology and traditional uses of , as well as highlighting the challenges found in the research. This will promote the utilization of at extract level and further development of new drug leads based on the compounds isolated and used for treatment of various ailments. The present review covers the literature survey from 1888 to 2023. The relevant data has been collected from various peer-reviwed journals, and books Sci-Finder, PubMed, Science Direct, Google Scholar, EBSCO, online electronic journals, SpringerLink and Wiley. This paper aims to present a systematic review of known traditional applications, pharmacological and chemical aspects in .
PubMed: 38379997
DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e25727 -
Zhongguo Zhen Jiu = Chinese Acupuncture... Feb 2024The study aims to identifying and exploring the methods and rules of the syndrome/pattern differentiation and treatment of headache through collating...
Exploration of the methods and rules of syndrome/pattern differentiation and treatment of headache from the acupuncture-moxibustion prescriptions of ancient literature based on the data mining technology.
The study aims to identifying and exploring the methods and rules of the syndrome/pattern differentiation and treatment of headache through collating acupuncture-moxibustion prescriptions recorded earliest in ancient literature. Using Excel2016 software, the structural data table was prepared with "name of disease", "location of disease", "etiology and pathogenesis", "complicated symptoms", "sites for acupuncture and moxibustion" and "techniques of acupuncture and moxibustion" included. The normative approach was conduced on "name of disease", "etiology and pathogenesis", "complicated symptoms" and "nomenclature of acupoint". Using conventional literature statistical method, combined with Apriori algorithm of association rule, the implicit multi-dimensional correlation rules were explored among various elements of syndrome/pattern differentiation of headache and corresponding therapeutic methods. Based on the findings of the study, the regularity was distinct regarding the treatment at "distal acupoints along the affected meridian and the local acupoints at the affected area" after identifying the location of headache; the strong association was presented between "etiology and pathogenesis" and "acupoint selection", and between "etiology and pathogenesis" and "therapeutic methods", including 9 and 12 rules, respectively. Guanyuan (CV 4) selected in treatment of headache was associated with kidney deficiency, the combination of Zhongwan (CV 12) and Zusanli (ST 36) was with phlegm, Fengfu (GV 16), Fengchi (GB 20), Xinghui (GV 22) and Baihui (GV 20) was with wind, and Hegu (LI 4) was with cold. Moxibustion was dominant in treatment if headache was caused by pathogenic cold or related to deficiency syndrome; acupuncture was used specially for the case caused by phlegm, or interaction of wind and phlegm or wind and heat. For heat syndrome, either acupuncture or moxibustion was applicable, in general, acupuncture was more commonly used in comparison with moxibustion for headache. There were 6 association rules regarding the acupoint selection and the techniques of acupuncture and moxibustion. Moxibustion was generally applied to Xinghui (GV 22), Shangxing (GV 23) and Baihui (GV 20) ; and acupuncture was to Fengfu (GV 16), Hegu (LI 4) and Zusanli (ST 36). There were few association rules between the complicated symptoms and acupoint selection. Among nearly 100 complications, there were only 3 feature associations. Zhongwan (CV 12) was selected for the case with poor appetite, Chengjiang (CV 24) was with neck stiffness, and Fengchic (GB 20) combined with Fenglong (ST 40) or Jiexi (ST 41) was used if vertigo was present. In the ancient time, regarding the treatment of headache, acupuncture and moxibustion are delivered based on the three aspects, i.e. the location of illness, the etiology and pathogenesis, and the complicated symptoms. For acupoint selection, in line with the courses of affected meridians, the adjacent and distal acupoints are combined according to the location of headache. The acupoint prescription is composed in terms of the etiology and pathogenesis. The techniques of acupuncture and moxibustion are optimized in consideration of the sites where acupuncture and moxibustion are operated.
Topics: Humans; Moxibustion; Acupuncture Therapy; Meridians; Acupuncture Points; Data Mining; Syndrome; Technology; Headache
PubMed: 38373772
DOI: 10.13703/j.0255-2930.20230629-k0001 -
Zhongguo Zhen Jiu = Chinese Acupuncture... Feb 2024The paper introduces professor 's clinical experience in treatment of cyclomastopathy. In pathogenesis, cyclomastopathy is relevant with dysfunction of the thoroughfare...
The paper introduces professor 's clinical experience in treatment of cyclomastopathy. In pathogenesis, cyclomastopathy is relevant with dysfunction of the thoroughfare vessel and the conception vessel, the stagnation of blood and phlegm and the stagnation of liver . The principle of treatment prefers to unblocking the circulation of and blood and adjusting the balance between and . In diagnosis, the unique meridian palpation is adopted. Regarding the treatment of cyclomastopathy, the accompanied needling at Tianchi (PC 1) is recommended in combination with the external application of herbal medicines, presenting the specific characteristics of traditional Chinese medicine.
Topics: Percutaneous Collagen Induction; Medicine, Chinese Traditional; Meridians; Acupuncture Therapy
PubMed: 38373764
DOI: 10.13703/j.0255-2930.20230504-0003 -
International Journal of Biological... Apr 2024Hippophae rhamnoides L. (sea buckthorn) is a type of traditional Chinese medicine with a long history of clinical application. It is used in the improvement and... (Review)
Review
Hippophae rhamnoides L. (sea buckthorn) is a type of traditional Chinese medicine with a long history of clinical application. It is used in the improvement and treatment of various diseases as medicine and food to strengthen the stomach and digestion, relieving cough and resolving phlegm, promoting blood circulation, and resolving blood stasis in traditional Chinese medicine. Emerging evidence has shown that H. rhamnoides polysaccharides (HRPs) are vital bioactive macromolecules responsible for its various health benefits. HRPs possess the huge potential to develop a drug improving or treating different diseases. In this review, we comprehensively and systematically summarize the recent information on extraction and purification methods, structural features, biological activities, structure-activity relationships, and potential industry applications of HRPs and further highlight the therapeutic potential and sanitarian functions of HRPs in the fields of therapeutic agents and functional food development. Additionally, this paper also lists a variety of biological activities of HRPs in vitro and in vivo roundly. Finally, this paper also discusses the structure-activity relationships and potential applications of HRPs. Overall, this work will help to have a better in-depth understanding of HRPs and provide a scientific basis and direct reference for more scientific and rational applications.
Topics: Hippophae; Fruit; Polysaccharides
PubMed: 38373568
DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.130206 -
Journal of Alzheimer's Disease : JAD 2024Alzheimer's disease (AD), the most common form of dementia, is characterized by memory loss and the abnormal accumulation of senile plaques composed of amyloid-β (Aβ)...
BACKGROUND
Alzheimer's disease (AD), the most common form of dementia, is characterized by memory loss and the abnormal accumulation of senile plaques composed of amyloid-β (Aβ) protein. Trichosanthis Semen (TS) is a traditional herbal medicine used to treat phlegm-related conditions. While TS is recognized for various bioactivities, including anti-neuroinflammatory effects, its ability to attenuate AD remains unknown.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effects of TS extract (TSE) on neuronal damage, Aβ accumulation, and neuroinflammation in AD models.
METHODS
Thioflavin T and western blot assays were used to assess effects on Aβ aggregation in vitro. TS was treated to PC12 cells with Aβ to assess the neuroprotective effects. Memory functions and histological brain features were investigated in TSE-treated 5×FAD transgenic mice and mice with intracerebroventricularly injected Aβ.
RESULTS
TSE disrupted Aβ aggregation and increased the viability of cells and phosphorylation of both protein kinase B (Akt) and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) in vitro. TSE treatment also suppressed the accumulation of Aβ plaques in the brain of 5×FAD mice, protected neuronal cells in both the subiculum and medial septum, and upregulated Akt/ERK phosphorylation in the hippocampus. Moreover, TSE ameliorated the memory decline and glial overactivation observed in 5×FAD mice. As assessing whether TS affect Aβ-induced neurotoxicity in the Aβ-injected mice, the effects of TS on memory improvement and neuroinflammatory inhibition were confirmed.
CONCLUSIONS
TSE disrupted Aβ aggregation, protected neurons against Aβ-induced toxicity, and suppressed neuroinflammation, suggesting that it can suppress the development of AD.
Topics: Rats; Mice; Animals; Alzheimer Disease; Neuroprotective Agents; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt; Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases; Semen; Neuroinflammatory Diseases; Amyloid beta-Peptides; Mice, Transgenic; Signal Transduction; Disease Models, Animal
PubMed: 38363611
DOI: 10.3233/JAD-231124 -
Journal of Ethnopharmacology May 2024Kai Xin San (KXS), first proposed by Sun Simiao during the Tang Dynasty, has been utilized to treat dementia by tonifying qi and dispersing phlegm.
Exploring the anti-ferroptosis mechanism of Kai-Xin-San against Alzheimer's disease through integrating network pharmacology, bioinformatics, and experimental validation strategy in vivo and in vitro.
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE
Kai Xin San (KXS), first proposed by Sun Simiao during the Tang Dynasty, has been utilized to treat dementia by tonifying qi and dispersing phlegm.
AIM OF THE STUDY
This study aimed to elucidate the mechanism by which KXS exerts its therapeutic effects on Alzheimer's disease (AD) by targeting ferroptosis, using a combination of network pharmacology, bioinformatics, and experimental validation strategies.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
The active target sites and the further potential mechanisms of KXS in protecting against AD were investigated through molecular docking, molecular dynamics simulation, and network pharmacology, and combined with the validation of animal experiments.
RESULTS
Computational and experimental findings provide the first indication that KXS significantly improves learning and memory defects and inhibits neuronal ferroptosis by repairing mitochondria damage and upregulating the protein expression of ferroptosis suppressor protein 1 (FSP1) in vivo APP/PS1 mice AD model. According to bioinformatics analysis, the mechanism by which KXS inhibits ferroptosis may involve SIRT1. KXS notably upregulated the mRNA and protein expression of SIRT1 in both vivo APP/PS1 mice and in vitro APP-overexpressed HT22 cells. Additionally, KXS inhibited ferroptosis induced by APP-overexpression in HT22 cells through activating the SIRT1-FSP1 signal pathway.
CONCLUSIONS
Collectively, our findings suggest that KXS may inhibit neuronal ferroptosis through activating the SIRT1/FSP1 signaling pathway. This study reveals the scientific basis and underlying modern theory of replenishing qi and eliminating phlegm, which involves the inhibition of ferroptosis. Moreover, it highlights the potential application of SIRT1 or FSP1 activators in the treatment of AD and other ferroptosis-related diseases.
Topics: Mice; Animals; Alzheimer Disease; Sirtuin 1; Ferroptosis; Molecular Docking Simulation; Network Pharmacology; Computational Biology; Drugs, Chinese Herbal
PubMed: 38360383
DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2024.117915 -
Frontiers in Pharmacology 2024Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is effective for the treatment of acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD); however, there is no...
Exploration of biomarkers for efficacy evaluation of traditional Chinese medicine syndromes of acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease based on metabolomics.
Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is effective for the treatment of acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD); however, there is no objective index for the evaluation of TCM syndrome efficacy. This study aimed to screen biomarkers related to the efficacy of TCM syndrome using metabolomics. We recruited AECOPD patients with phlegm-heat congesting lung (PH)/phlegm-damp amassing lung (PD) syndrome and treated them with Chinese herbal medicine (Qingre Huatan or Zaoshi Huatan granules) in addition to conventional medicine for 7 days. Data on clinical symptoms and sign scores, modified British Medical Research Council (mMRC), COPD assessment test (CAT), and inflammation indicators, including white blood cell (WBC) count, percentage of neutrophil count (NEU%), and C-reactive protein (CRP), were collected before and after treatment to evaluate the therapeutic effect. Serum samples were collected before and after treatment for metabolomic analysis to screen differential metabolites. A total of 69 patients with AECOPD were enrolled, including 41 and 28 patients in the PH and PD groups, respectively. The clinical symptoms and sign scores, CAT, mMRC, NEU%, and CRP levels after treatment were lower than those before treatment in both groups ( < 0.05). Serum metabolomics analysis showed that there were 13 differential metabolites in the PH group and 16 differential metabolites in the PD group before and after treatment ( < 0.05, variable importance projection (VIP) ≥ 1.00). In the PH group, lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC) (16:0), LPC (17:1), LPC (18:3), LPC (18:2), and LPC (17:0) negatively correlated with clinical symptoms and sign scores ( < 0.05); LPC (16:0), LPC (17:1), LPC (16:1), and LPC (17:0) negatively correlated with WBC ( < 0.05) and NEU% ( < 0.05); and LPC (16:0) negatively correlated with CRP levels. In the PD group, L-phenylalanine positively correlated with CRP levels ( < 0.05), and 2-methylbutyroylcarnitine positively correlated with clinical symptoms and sign ( < 0.05) and CAT scores ( < 0.05). DL-carnitine positively correlated with clinical symptoms and sign scores ( < 0.05). Serum metabolites may be potential indicators to objectively evaluate the efficacy of TCM syndromes; however, further large controlled trials are required to verify these findings.
PubMed: 38344179
DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2024.1302950 -
International Journal of General... 2024This study was to investigate the mechanism of action and clinical efficacy of fire-needle therapy in improving neurological function in patients with acute cerebral...
OBJECTIVE
This study was to investigate the mechanism of action and clinical efficacy of fire-needle therapy in improving neurological function in patients with acute cerebral infarction (identified as a wind-phlegm-blood stasis syndrome in traditional Chinese medicine).
METHODS
We included patients diagnosed with acute cerebral infarction (wind-phlegm-blood stasis syndrome) admitted to the Encephalopathy and Acupuncture Center of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Tianjin University of Chinese Medicine. We randomly allocated them into the treatment and control groups, with 45 cases in each group. Acupuncture treatments that focused on regulating the mind and dredging the collaterals were used in the control group, while the treatment group additionally received fire-needle therapy. Our indicators included the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) scores, the Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA) scale, peripheral blood tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-17 (IL-17), hypersensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), and intestinal metabolites short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs). We measured these indicators before treatment and 14 days after treatment.
RESULTS
The post-treatment NIHSS scores of the two groups were significantly reduced ( < 0.05), and the treatment group showed a more significant decline in the score when compared to the control group ( < 0.05). The treatment group showing significant improvement in the domains of reflex activity, mobility, cooperative movement, and finger movement ( < 0.05). Both groups showed a significant decrease in the IL-17 and hs-CRP levels ( < 0.05), with the treatment group demonstrating a significant declining trend when compared to the control group ( < 0.05). The levels of acetic acid, propionic acid, butyric acid, and valeric acid all increased significantly in the two groups ( < 0.05), with acetic acid and butyric acid increasing significantly in the treatment group when compared to the control group ( < 0.05). Clinical efficacy rate: 78.6% of patients in the treatment group had an excellent rate, whereas it was 30.0% in the control group, and the difference was statistically significant ( < 0.001).
CONCLUSION
Fire-needle therapy was effective in upregulating the SCFA content in patients with acute cerebral infarction (wind-phlegm-blood stasis syndrome), inhibiting the level of the inflammatory response, and improving the recovery of neurological functions.
CLINICAL REGISTRATION NUMBER
Registration website link: https://www.chictr.org.cn. Registration date: 2022/9/27. Registration number: ChiCTR2200064122.
PubMed: 38333018
DOI: 10.2147/IJGM.S450027