Screening hepatoprotective effective components of Lonicerae japonica Flos based on the spectrum-effect relationship and its mechanism exploring

Lonicerae japonicae Flos(LF)is a kind of healthcare food with hepatoprotective function.This study was designed to explore the spectrum-effect relationships between UPLC fingerprints and the hepatoprotective effects of LF.Fingerprints of ten batches of LF were established by UPLC-PDA.The inhibitory levels of AST and ALT were used as pharmacological indexes,and secoxyloganin,isochlorogenic acid A and isochlorogenic acid C were screened as hepatoprotective active compounds by grey relational analysis(GRA)and partial least squares regression analysis(PLSR).Caspase-3 was obtained by network pharmacology as a key target of hepatoprotective active compounds.Molecular docking is used to explore the interaction between small molecules and proteins.This work provided a general model of the combination of UPLC-PDA and hepatoprotective effect to study the spectrum-effect relationship of LF,which can be used to considerable methods and insight for the fundamental research of the material basis of similar healthcare food.

Identification of Two Cold Water-Soluble Polysaccharides from the Stems of Ephedra sinica Stapf

Two polysaccharides (ESP-A1 and ESP-A2) were isolated from the cold water extract of Ephedra sinica Stapf and purified through ethanol precipitation, deproteinization and by ion exchange and gel-filtration chromatography. Their molecular weight was determined using high performance size exclusion chromatog-raphy and evaporative light scattering detector (HPSEC-ELSD) and their monosaccharide composition was analyzed by high performance capillary electrophoresis (HPCE) based on pre-column derivatization with 1-phenyl-3-methyl-5-pyrazolone (PMP). It was shown that ESP-A1 consisted of xylose, arabinose, glucose, mannose and galactose and ESP-A2 consisted of xylose, arabinose, rhamnose and galactose, in a molar ratio (%) of 3.2: 61.1: 11.1: 12.9: 11.6 and 20.6: 67.7: 5.0: 6.7, respectively. The molecular weights (Mw) of ESP-A1 and ESP-A2 were 5.83 × 104 Da and more than 200 × 104 Da, respectively. To the best of our knowledge, two neutral polysaccharides are now being reported for the first time in this study.

Therapeutic Effect and Mechanism of Caulophyllum robustum Maxim Extract on Adjuvant Arthritis Rats

[Objectives]To study the anti-inflammation and anti-swelling effect of Caulophyllum robustum Maxim( CRM) extract on secondary lesions of adjuvant arthritis( AA),associated inflammatory factors of AA rats and mice immune function. [Methods]Rats were divided into high,middle and low dose CRM extract groups( 69. 23,34. 61,17. 31 mg/kg),methotrexate group( 0. 68 mg/kg),triptolide group( 7. 88 mg/kg),model group and normal control group. The AA rat model was induced by intradermal injection of Freund's complete adjuvant( FCA). After the AA model was established successfully,the paw swelling of AA rats was observed and recorded. The levels of interleukin-1β( IL-1β),interleukin-4( IL-4),interleukin-10( IL-10),Tumor Necrosis Factor-α( TNF-α),interleukin 17( IL-17),interferon( IFN-γ),granulocyte colony-stimulating factor( G-CSF) and transforming growth factor( TGF-β) in the serum of AA rats were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay( ELISA). The spleen was removed and weighed for detecting the drug influence on the immune organs.Impacts were observed by gavage administration at different dosages of 25 mg/kg,50 mg/kg,100 mg/kg for seven days,adopting carbon granules clearance test,delayed-type hypersensitivity induced by dinitrofluorobenzene( DNFB) coupled with flow cytometry evaluating lymphocytes( CD3^+,CD4^+,CD8^+) activation and serolysin test. [Results] Compared with the model group,the joint swelling,spleen index and inflammatory cytokines( IL-1β,IL-4,IL-10,TNF-α,IL-17,IFN-γ,G-CSF,TGF-β) were reduced significantly( P < 0. 05,P < 0. 01). And the activity of CRM was significantly superior to methotrexate and triptergium. Moreover,the results indicated that different dosages of 25 mg/kg,50 mg/kg,100 mg/kg of CRM could significantly reduce the carbon granules clearance index( K) and phagocytic index( a),inhibit the phagocytosis of mononuclear macrophages,reduce the mice swelling extent and inhibit DTH in mice induced by DNFB,decrease the quantity of serum hemolysin. Percentage of CD3^+,CD4^+,and the ratio of CD4^+,CD8^+ notably decreased,whereas CD8^+ obviously increased. Intragastrica dose of 50 mg/kg,100 mg/kg were acknowledged as more objective inhibiting effect compared with a dosage of 25 mg/kg.[Conclusions] Decreasing inflammatory cytokines content,non-specific immune,humoral immune and cellular immune function may be the therapeutic mechanism for rheumatoid arthritis( RA).

Nortriterpenoids from the fruit stalk of Schisandra chinensis (Turcz.) Baill.

Objective:The fruit stalk of Schisandra chinensis(Turcz.)Baill.(S.chinensis)has been found to contain bioactive components similar to the fruit of S.chinensis.Here,we report a recent discovery about new nortriterpenoids with a novel skeleton and anti-gastric cancer activity,which were isolated from the fruit stalk of S.chinensis.Methods:The chemical components of ethyl acetate extract from 70%ethanol extract from S.chinensis fruit stalk were separated,purified,and identified by liquid chromatography methods(silica gel,ODS,HPLC)and extensive spectroscopic analyses(NMR,IR,UV,MS,CD).Results:Two new nortriterpenoids,schilancitrilactone M and 25-hydroxyl schindilactone D(1 and 2),along with ten known nortriterpenoids(3-12)were isolated from the fruit stalk of S.chinensis.The isolated compounds were tested for their cytotoxic activities against MGC-803 cells,and the results showed that compounds 6-8 possessed significant activities with IC50 of 9.01,11.77,and 2.74μmol/L,respectively.Conclusion:Twelve nortriterpenoids including two new compounds were isolated from the fruit stalk of S.chinensis for the first time.Among them,compounds 6-8 showed significant anti-gastric cancer activities.We postulated that the fruit stalk of S.chinensis could be used as an anti-gastric cancer drug.

Clinical Teleacupuncture between China and Austria Using Heart Rate Variability in Patients with Depression

In previous studies by the same research group it has been shown in post-stroke patients that the autonomic system can be affected by acupuncture. Within this study, teleacupuncture between China and Austria is used for quantifying the effects of heart rate variability (HRV) in Chinese patients suffering from depression. In 22 Chinese depression patients (17 f, 5 m;mean age ± SD 52.3 ± 10.6 years;range 31 - 70 years) electrocardiographic signals before, during and after acupuncture at the acupoint Jianshi (PC 5) were recorded in Harbin and analyzed in Graz using teleacupuncture via internet. HRV data were analyzed in the time and frequency domain and a protocol from Austria was sent to the team in China immediately after the treatment and recording session. Mean heart rate decreased significantly (p < 0.001) during and after acupuncture, whereas total HRV increased significantly during (p < 0.034) and after (p < 0.001) acupuncture, always immediately following manual needle stimulation. Furthermore, there is a marked decrease in balance between sympathetic and parasympathetic activity (low frequency/high frequency HRV ratio) during treatment. This study shows that HRV could be a useful parameter for quantifying clinical effects of acupuncture on the autonomic nervous system. Teleacupuncture between China and Austria over a distance of more than 8,500 km has been successfully used.

Curcumin’s prevention of inflammation-driven early gastric cancer and its molecular mechanism

Worldwide,gastric cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths and the fifth most common malignant tumor.Gastric cancer is believed to be caused by a variety of factors,such as genetics,epigenetics,and environmental influences.Among the pathogenic factors,inflammation has been considered as one of the main risk factors for gastric cancer.There are currently limited ways to prevent gastric cancer.Although the combined application of aspirin and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can reduce the risk,it has great side effects and can easily cause gastric perforation or gastric bleeding.Therefore,an alternative plan is urgently needed.Curcumin is the yellow pigment in the rhizome of the plant turmeric.Current studies have found that curcumin has a protective effect on gastric mucosal damage caused by non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs,gastric mucosal damage in rats,and gastric mucosal damage caused by stress bleeding and Helicobacter pylori infection.Curcumin shows significant antiinflammatory and anti-cancer activities by regulating DNA methylation,histone modification,nuclear factor erythrocyte 2 related factor 2 and other related signal pathways.In this article,the latest evidence of curcumin for epigenetic changes in gastric cancer and its potential contribution to gastric cancer were discussed.

A bibliometrics visualization analysis and hotspots prediction for natural product on osteoporosis research from 2000 to 2021

Aim The purpose of this study was to explore the application status of natural products in osteoporosis research and explore its research hotspots and future research directions by analyzing the literature in the field of natural products therapy for osteoporosis from 2000 to 2021.Method Publications on natural products in osteoporosis research were extracted from the Web of Science core collection database.Bibliometrics package in R language,VOSviewer and CiteSpace software were used for visualization analysis.Result From 2000 to 2021,the number of articles on natural products in osteoporosis research was 1596,and the total number of articles increased rapidly.China was the driving force in this field,and the top-contributing institution was Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine.Most publications were published in the Journal of Ethnopharmacology.While J.K.Xu and Y.Zhang were the most cited and co-cited author.Countries,research institutions and authors in different regions cooperate closely.The hot topics included osteoporosis,differentiation,expression,in vitro,cell,osteogenesis and osteogenesis were the research frontiers in recent years.Conclusion This study conducted a bibliometric visualization analysis on the research status,research hotspots and development trend of natural products in osteoporosis for the first time.In addition,this paper also puts forward suggestions and prospects for the future development of this field,which will help researchers to open up new directions for future research in this field.

A NEW ALKALOID FROM THE ROOTS OF REHMANNIA GLUTINOSA

The present phytochenucal study was undertaken to investigate the chemical constituents of the 95%EtOH extract of the dried roots of Rehmannia glutinosa.The compounds were isolated and purified by Diaion HP-20,Toyopearl HW-40,silica gel column chromatography and preparative HPLC,and the structures were identified on