Combination of Shengmai San and Radix puerariae ameliorates depression-like symptoms in diabetic rats at the nexus of PI3K/BDNF/SYN protein expression

Background:Hyperglycemia is a characteristic feature of diabetes that often results in neuropsychological complications such as depression.Diabetic individuals are more vulnerable to experience depression compared to the normal population.Thus,novel treatment approaches are required to reduce depressive symptoms among diabetic individuals.Traditional Chinese medicines(TCMs)such as Shengmai San(SMS)and Radix puerariae(R)are usually widely used to treat ailments such as neurological com-plications since ancient time.Methods:In this study,SMS was combined with R to prepare an R-SMS formulation and screened for their antidepressant activity in diabetic rats.The antidepressant po-tential of the prepared combination was evaluated behaviorally using open field test,novelty-induced hypophagia,and forced swim test in diabetic rats with biochemical and protein expression(PI3K,BDNF[brain-derived neurotrophic factor],and SYN[pr-esynaptic vesicle protein])analysis.Results:Diabetic rats(streptozotocin,45 mg/kg)showed elevated fasting blood glu-cose(FBG)>12 mM with depressive symptoms throughout the study.Treatment with R-SMS(0.5,1.5,and 4.5 g/kg)significantly reverted depressive symptoms in diabetic rats as evinced by significantly(p<0.05)reduced immobility time with an increased tendency to eat food in a novel environment.Treatment with R-SMS also significantly increased the protein expression of PI3K,BDNF,and SYN protein,which play a crucial role in depression.Conclusion:This study showed that R-SMS formulation antagonized depressive symptoms in diabetic rats;thus,this formulation might be studied further to develop as an antidepressant.

PTEN inhibitor bisperoxovanadium protects against noise-induced hearing loss

Studies have shown that phosphatase and tensin homolog deleted on chromosome ten(PTEN)participates in the regulation of cochlear hair cell survival.Bisperoxovanadium protects against neurodegeneration by inhibiting PTEN expression.However,whether bisperoxovanadium can protect against noise-induced hearing loss and the underlying mechanism remains unclear.In this study,we established a mouse model of noise-induced hearing loss by exposure to 105 dB sound for 2 hours.We found that PTEN expression was increased in the organ of Corti,including outer hair cells,inner hair cells,and lateral wall tissues.Intraperitoneal administration of bisperoxovanadium decreased the auditory threshold and the loss of cochlear hair cells and inner hair cell ribbons.In addition,noise exposure decreased p-PI3K and p-Akt levels.Bisperoxovanadium preconditioning or PTEN knockdown upregulated the activity of PI3K-Akt.Bisperoxovanadium also prevented H_(2)O_(2)-induced hair cell death by reducing mitochondrial reactive oxygen species generation in cochlear explants.These findings suggest that bisperoxovanadium reduces noise-induced hearing injury and reduces cochlear hair cell loss.

Advances in Researches on Chemical Composition and Functions of Hemerocallis Plants

The genus Hemerocallis is a kind of perennial herbaceous plants of Liliaceae and consists of about 15 species in the world,11 of which can be found in China. Some species of Hemerocallis are widely cultivated for medicinal,edible and ornamental application. Considerable progress had been made in researches on chemical composition and functions of Hemerocallis plants. Previous phytochemical studies on Hemerocallis plants have demonstrated the presence of flavonoids,anthraquinones,alkaloids,terpenoids,triterpenes and triterpenoid saponins,caffeoylquinic acid derivatives,naphthalene glycosides,steroid and steroidal saponins,phenylethanoid glycosides,and lignans. Functional activities of Hemerocallis plants are mainly manifested in sedative hypnotic,antidepressant,antioxidant,anti-tumor,hepatoprotective,antibacterial and insecticidal activities. Chemical composition of Hemerocallis plants is various,and structural type is rich,and has a variety of significant functional activities,so it is worth further study.

GC-MS Analysis on Form and Content of Phytosterol in the Beans from Different Producing Areas

This paper established the GC-MS method to analyze phytosterol in beans and study the content and distribution of phytosterol in green beans,red beans,black beans and soybeans in 5 main producing areas of China(Inner Mongolia,Heilongjiang,Jilin,Hebei,Shandong).This paper used GC-MS method to analyze the content and distribution of campesterol,stigmasterol,sitostanol,brassicasterol,ergosterol,cycloartanol,cycloartenol,2,4-methylenecycloartanol,spinasterol,cholesterol and cholestanol in the beans from different producing areas.Results showed that the content of sterol in green beans was higher than in three other kinds of beans,and the content of sterol in red beans was the lowest.Different producing areas had a significant impact on the content of sterol in beans,and the dominant producing areas included Inner Mongolia and Heilongjiang.The study provided a basis for quality assessment and nutritional evaluation of beans and provided a reference for traceability and variety distinction study of other edible beans.

Advances in Researches about Immunoregulatory Functions of Dendrobium Sw.

Based on the researches on immunoregulatory functions of Dendrobium. at home and abroad in recent years,from immune organs,immune cells,and immune molecules,this paper summarized immunoregulatory functions of polysaccharides,glycosides,and alkaloids extracted from Dendrobium. on the body,including reducing the inflammation,inhibiting tumor,and slowing down aging,to provide theoretical references for in-depth researches and development of modern biotechnology for Dendrobium.

Neuroprotective effects of Longxue Tongluo Capsule on ischemic stroke rats revealed by LC-MS/MS-based metabolomics approach

Objective:The present study aimed to evaluate the therapeutic effect and explore the underlying mechanisms of Longxue Tongluo Capsule(LTC)on ischemic stroke rats.Methods:Twenty-six rats were randomly divided into four groups,including sham group,sham+LTC group,MCAO group,and MCAO+LTC group.Ischemic stroke rats were simulated by middle cerebral artery occlusion(MCAO),and LTC treatment group were orally administrated with 300 mg/kg of LTC once daily for seven consecutive days.LTC therapy was validated in terms of neurobehavioral abnormality evaluation,cerebral infarct area,and histological assessments.The plasma metabolome comparisons amongst different groups were conducted by UHPLC-Q Exactive MS in combination with subsequent multivariate statistical analysis,aiming to finding the molecules in respond to the surgery or LTC treatment.Results:Intragastric administration of LTC significantly decreased not only the neurobehavioral abnormality scores but also the cerebral infarct area of MCAO rats.The interstitial edema,atrophy,and pyknosis of glial and neuronal cells occurred in the infarcted area,core area,and marginal area of cerebral cortex were improved after LTC treatment.A total of 13 potential biomarkers were observed,and Youden index of 11 biomarkers such as LysoPC,SM,and PE were more than 0.7,which were involved in neuroprotective process.The correlation and pathway analysis showed that LTC was beneficial to ischemic stroke rats via regulating glycerophospholipid and sphingolipid metabolism,together with nicotinate and nicotinamide metabolism.Heatmap and ternary analysis indicated the synergistic effect of carbohydrates and lipids may be induced by flavonoid intake from LTC.Conclusion:The present study could provide evidence that metabolomics,as systematic approach,revealed its capacity to evaluate the holistic efficacy of TCM,and investigate the molecular mechanism underlying the clinical treatment of LTC on ischemic stroke.

黄花菜改善模拟微重力所致大鼠抑郁的尿液代谢组学研究

本研究基于代谢组学方法研究了黄花菜提取物(HCE)在模拟微重力(SMG)诱导的抑郁症大鼠模型中的抗抑郁作用。通过14天模拟微重力方法建立SMG抑郁大鼠模型,以蔗糖偏爱指数的降低值和强迫游泳试验中不动时间的增加值验证建模成功。研究结果发现HCE和阳性药物帕罗西汀可逆转某些代谢物谱。HCE的抗抑郁作用可能涉及多种代谢途径的调节,例如苯丙氨酸、谷氨酸和色氨酸代谢以及能量代谢的变化。5-羟基色氨酸、柠檬酸、苯乙酰甘氨酸、马尿酸、环腺苷酸和左旋多巴在HCE和帕罗西汀给药后被回调。此外,谷氨酸仅在HCE组中被调节,而黄嘌呤酸和脱氧尿苷水平的波动在阳性组中被回调,这表明阳性药物和HCE在改善谷氨酸代谢中的作用机制可能不同。本研究为HCE在抑郁症治疗中的应用奠定一定的理论基础。

不同栽培方式的铁皮石斛根、茎中内生细菌多样性及其抑菌活性研究

【目的】分析树干仿生栽培和大棚种植的铁皮石斛根、茎中内生细菌的组成与分布,并挖掘潜在的微生物资源及功能。【方法】利用Illumina MiSeq高通量测序技术,对不同栽培方式铁皮石斛根、茎中免培养内生细菌丰富度及多样性进行比较分析;通过传统的内生菌分离法以及16S rRNA基因测序技术对可培养内生细菌进行分离鉴定;采用滤纸片法筛选拮抗石斛病原菌的内生菌株。【结果】高通量测序分析中内生细菌以Pseudomonas(30.52%)为主,其次是Mycobacterium(10.22%)以及Brachybacterium(8.32%),树干仿生栽培石斛内生细菌组成丰富度及多样性高于大棚种植,石斛根中内生细菌组成丰富度及多样性高于石斛茎。可培养内生细菌中Bacillus(18.37%)所占比例最高,其次是Curtobacterium(8.16%),同时筛选得到8株具有抑制石斛病原菌活性的菌株。【结论】铁皮石斛中蕴含着丰富的内生细菌资源,菌群组成和分布受其不同栽培方式和组织部位的影响。此外,筛选得到8株具有抑制病原菌活性的菌株,表明铁皮石斛内生细菌代谢产物具有抗菌活性。本试验对铁皮石斛内生细菌多样性及其抑菌活性的分析研究,为石斛内生微生物资源的后续深度挖掘以及利用提供了内生细菌资源。