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.

Effects of dietary fiber on human health

Dietary fiber(DF)is believed to provide important health benefits and it has become a research hotspot.DF exists in most natural foods,including fruits(16.74%-91.24%),vegetables(6.53%-85.19%),grains(9.76%-69.20%)and so on.DF has different physicochemical properties such as water holding capacity(WHC)(2.01-25.03 g/g),water swelling capacity(WSC)(0.95-23.90 mL/g),oil holding capacity(OHC)(0.65-29.00 g/g),glucose adsorption capacity(GAC)(0.17-4.65 mmol/g),cholesterol adsorption capacity(CAC)(0.03-37.10 mg/g)and viscosity,which make it exhibits different physiological functions such as reducing the risk of obesity,diabetes,cancer,and intestinal diseases.On the basis of consulting related databases,the physicochemical properties of DF and its derived physiological functions are reviewed.It is found that DF has effect on the prevention and treatment of obesity due to good WHC,WSC,OHC and CAC.Good GAC can relieve the symptoms of diabetes.The physicochemical properties of WHC and WSC can reduce the risk of cancer.The WHC,WSC and viscosity are beneficial to intestinal health.

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.

姜黄素类化合物生物合成研究进展

姜黄素类化合物是植物中一类稀少的二酮类化合物,存在于姜科、天南星科植物的块根或根茎中,是姜黄等植物中主要活性成分,因具有抗氧化、抗癌等诸多药理活性而被广泛应用于食品领域和新药研发中。因其苯环侧链取代基不同,姜黄素类化合物可进一步分为姜黄素、去甲氧基姜黄素、双去甲氧基姜黄素等。目前,姜黄素类化合物主要是通过植物提取法获得,产量远远不能满足市场需求。随着合成生物学和代谢工程技术的发展,采用生物合成法生产姜黄素类化合物开始受到研究人员的广泛关注。近年来,研究人员通过基因挖掘及酶学手段鉴定了姜黄中姜黄素合成途径中的关键酶,并在大肠杆菌Escherichia coli、耶氏解酯酵母Yarrowia lipolytica、恶臭假单胞菌Pseudomonas putida和米曲霉Aspergillus oryzae中重塑其生物合成途径,成功实现了其异源生物合成。文中首先介绍了姜黄素的生物活性及其应用、总结了姜黄中的姜黄素合成途径,并且讨论了姜黄素合成酶的催化机制,进而详尽综述了其生物合成的最新研究进展,特别是代谢工程策略方面,并对其未来发展方向进行了展望。

Dissecting the role of AMP-activated protein kinase in human diseases

AMP-activated protein kinase(AMPK), known as a sensor and a master of cellular energy balance, integrates various regulatory signals including anabolic and catabolic metabolic processes.Accompanying the application of genetic methods and a plethora of AMPK agonists, rapid progress has identified AMPK as an attractive therapeutic target for several human diseases, such as cancer, type2 diabetes, atherosclerosis, myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury and neurodegenerative disease. The role of AMPK in metabolic and energetic modulation both at the intracellular and whole body levels has been reviewed elsewhere. In the present review, we summarize and update the paradoxical role of AMPK implicated in the diseases mentioned above and put forward the challenge encountered. Thus it will be expected to provide important clues for exploring rational methods of intervention in human diseases.

Structural analysis of receptor-like kinase SOBIR1 reveals mechanisms that regulate its phosphorylation-dependent activation

Plant leucine-rich repeat(LRR)receptor-like kinases(RLKs)and LRR receptor-like proteins(RLPs)comprise a large family of cell surface receptors that play critical roles in signal perception and transduction.Both LRR-RLKs and LRR-RLPs rely on regulatory LRR-RLKs to initiate downstream signaling pathways.BRASSINOSTEROID INSENSITIVE 1-ASSOCIATED KINASE 1/SOMATIC EMBRYOGENESIS RECEPTOR KINASE 3(BAK1/SERK3)and SUPPRESSOR OF BIR1-1(SOBIR1)are important and extensively studied regulatory LRR-RLKs with distinct functions.Although the regulatory mechanism of BAK1 activation has been studied in detail,the activation mechanism of SOBIR1 remains poorly understood.Here,the crystal structures of the catalytically inactive kinase domain of SOBIR1(SOBIR1-KD)from Arabidopsis thaliana were determined in complexes with AMP-PNP and Mg^(2+).The results show that SOBIR1-KD contains a uniquely long β3-αC loop and adopts an Src-like inactive conformation with an unusual architecture at the activation segment,which comprises three helices.Biochemical studies revealed that SOBIR1 is transphosphorylated by BAK1 following its autophosphorylation via an intermolecular mechanism,and the phosphorylation of Thr529 in the activation segment and the β3-αC loop are critical for SOBIR1 phosphorylation.Further functional analysis confirmed the importance of Thr529 and the β3-αC loop for the SOBIR1-induced cell death response in Nicotiana benthamiana.Taken together,these findings provide a structural basis for the regulatory mechanism of SOBIR1 and reveal the important elements and phosphorylation events in the special stepwise activation of SOBIR1-KD,the first such processes found in regulatory LRR-RLKs.