Gut microbiota axis:potential target of phytochemicals from plant-based foods

Food-microbiota-host interactions provide an overarching framework for understanding the function of the gut microbiota axis.Diet is a major modulator of gut microbiota.Plant-based foods are rich in phytochemicals;therefore,it is essential to assess such foods and elucidate the mechanisms underlying their action.In this review,we summarize the role of gut microbiota in the communication between the gut and the brain,liver,lung,kidney,and joints,as well as the role of the gut microbiota axis in diseases involving these organs.In addition,we assess the effects of phytochemicals from plant-based foods on the gut microbiota axis via different pathways.

Network pharmacology-based screening of the active ingredients and mechanisms of Cymbaria daurica against diabetes mellitus

Cymbaria daurica L.has a long history as a folk medicine and tea for the treatment of diabetes.However,the biological activity and mechanism of its hypoglycemic effect have not been fully elucidated.In this study,the potential mechanism of C.daurica against type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM)was postulated via pharmacological network analysis.Based on data mining techniques involving topological parameters,gene ontology,and pathway enrichment,we established a compound-target,protein-protein interaction,and target-pathway network to identify central targets and pathways.Pathway enrichment analysis revealed that the most important pathway associated with C.daurica in treating T2DM is the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway.Molecular docking was performed to validate the predicted results.Then,a HepG2 cell insulin resistance model and a high-fat,high-glucose diet combined with a streptozotocin-induced T2DM rat model was established to assess the fasting glucose changes and lipid profile after C.daurica treatment,respectively.Finally,real-time PCR and western blotting were used to verify changes in key targets.The anti-diabetic mechanism of the active ingredient in C.daurica may involve the regulation of IRS-2,Akt1,GLUT4,and GSK3β.

Effects of Feixinning Capsules on BODE Index,CRP and Quality of Life in AECOPD Patients with Right Heart Failure

[Objectives]To investigate the therapeutic effect of Feixinning Capsules on acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(AECOPD)complicated with right heart failure.[Methods]A total of 60 cases of AECOPD patients with right heart failure and phlegm-heat syndrome were randomly selected as the study subjects,and were divided into the Feixinning group(n=30)and the control group(n=30).The Feixinning group was treated with Feixinning Capsules combined with conventional western medicine,and the control group was treated with conventional western medicine.The pulmonary function,CRP,CAT score,BODE index item index,and EQ-5D index were compared between the two groups before and after treatment.[Results]After treatment,the pulmonary function,CRP,CAT score,6MWD,mMRC,BODE score and EQ-5D index in the Feixinning group were significantly improved compared with the control group(P<0.05),and there was no statistical difference in the change of BMI index(P>0.05).[Conclusions]Feixinning Capsules can effectively improve the clinical symptoms and quality of life of patients with AECOPD complicated with right heart failure and phlegm-heat syndrome.

Future development of Good Agricultural Practice in China under globalization of traditional herbal medicine trade

Traditional herbal medicine(THM)is an important part of the traditional Chinese medicine culture.Due to its high medicinal potential,it should not only serve for the Chinese people’s medical use,but also contribute to the world medicine,THM for the international market must be standardized and large-scale,and produced according to the"Good Agriculture Practice"(GAP).The quality of THM directly affects the patient’s treatment status and safety of use.Therefore,the quality assurance of THM runs through the entire process of research and development,production and clinical practice.The standardized production and cultivation of THM is the starting point of the THM industry chain and plays a decisive role in the economic development of the THM industry.This article summarizes the development history,limitations and future development of GAP,and clarifies the opportunities for THM in the rapid development of the international and domestic Chinese medicine industry.In addition,analyzing the deficiencies that were existing in the former GAP implementation process and by suggesting science-based quality measures,it is hoped to stipulate improved GAP guidelines in the future and to lay the foundation for a modern THM international trade.

Transcriptome analysis of Saposhnikovia divaricata and mining of bolting and fowering genes

Objective: Early bolting of Saposhnikovia divaricata has seriously hindered its medicinal value and sustainable development of resources. The molecular mechanism of bolting and fowering of S. divaricata is still unclear and worth of research. In our study, we explored the transcriptome of the genes related to the bolting and fowering of S. divaricata.Methods: The transcriptome library was constructed, sequenced, assembled and annotated from the bolting and unbolting leaves of S. divaricata by high-throughput sequencing at the bud and fowering stage.Focus on the pathways related to bolting and fowering in plants, and exploring genes. The expression of seven candidate genes was verified by real-time fuorescence quantitative PCR(qRT-PCR).Results: Transcriptome results showed that 249 889 422 high-quality clean reads were obtained. A total of 67 866 unigenes were assembled with an average length of 948.1 bp. Trinity de Novo assembly produced 67 866 unigenes with an average length of 948.1 bp. Among 993 differentially expressed genes,484 genes were significantly up-regulated and 509 genes were down-regulated in the SdM group. A total of 79 GO terms were significantly enriched for differentially expressed genes. KEGG results showed that 11 154 unigenes were enriched in 89 pathways. And 21 candidate genes related to bolting and fowering of S. divaricata were excavated. The qRT-PCR results showed that expression trends of HDA9, PHYB, AP2,TIR1, Hsp90, CaM, and IAA7 were consistent with transcriptomic sequencing results. In addition, RNA-seq had identified 10 740 transcription factors and classified them into 58 families by their conserved domains. Further studies showed that the transcription factors regulating the fowering of S. divaricata were mainly distributed in the NAC, MYB_related, HB-other, ARF, and AP2 families.Conclusion: Based on the results of this study, it was found that the plant hormone signal transduction pathway was one of the decisive factors to control bolting and fowering. Among them, auxin related genes IAA and TIR1 are the key genes in the bolting and fowering process of S. divaricata.

Efficacy and effect on related brain-gut peptides of acupoint sticking therapy for functional dyspepsia

Objective:To observe the efficacy of acupoint sticking with Jianpi Tongjing Zhitong ointmerrt in the treatment of functional dyspepsia due to liver-qi stagnation and spleen deficiency and its effect on serum 5-hydroxytryptamine(5-HT)and ghrelin con tents.Methods:One hun dred patients with functi onal dyspepsia due to liver-qi stag nation and spleen deficiency were divided into a treatment group and a control group by the random number table method,with 50 cases in each group.The treatment group received acupoint sticking with Jianpi Tongjing Zhitong ointment and the control group was treated with mosapride citrate orally.Patients were treated for 4 weeks as a course.The therapeutic efficacy was compared after one-course treatment and the differences in gastric emptying rate,and serum 5-HT and ghrelin contents between groups were compared before and after treatment.Results:The total effective rate was 79.6%in the control group and 89.4%in the treatment group,showing significantly differe nt between groups(P<0.05).After treatme nt,the gastric empt ying rate and serum ghreli n con tent of the two groups in creased significantly,and the serum 5-HT content decreased significantly,the intra-group differe nces were significant(all P<0.01).After treatment,the gastric emptying rate and serum ghrelin content were significantly higher in the treatment group than those in the control group,while the serum 5-HT was significant lower in the treatment group,the inter-group differences were significant(all P<0.05).A negative correlation(r=-0.59)was observed between serum 5-HT content and gastric emptying rate,and a positive correlation(r=0.64)was observed between serum ghrelin content and gastric emptying rate,showing statistical significance(all P<0.01).Conclusion:Acupoint sticking with Jianpi Tongjing Zhitong ointment has a remarkable ciinical efficacy in treating patie nts with functional dyspepsia due to liver-qi stagnation and spleen deficiency and is able to in fluence the secretion of serum 5-HT and ghrelin-1 mproving the gastrointestinal motility through the regulation of related brain-gut peptides is suggested as an underlying mechanism for this therapy.

Xiaoke Decoction in treatment of type Ⅱ diabetes:A Meta-analysis

Objective:To systematically evaluate the clinical effect of Xiaoke Decoction in the treatment of type 2 diabetes.Methods:Chinese databases such as CNKI,Wanfang,Weipu Chinese Biomedical Journal Database,and Chinese Medical Biological Literature Database,Pub Med,Cochrane Library,Embase,and Web of Science were searched for English language literature from their inception until November 2019.A Meta-analysis was performed using Rev Man 5.3 and Stata 12.0.Results:Thirty-eight studies were included in this study,with a total of 3757 patients.It was found that adding Xiaoke Decoction could improve total efficiency.The Xiaoke Decoction groups surpassed the western medicine groups regarding improvement in total efficiency(OR = 3.49;95% CI:2.78–4.39,P < 0.00001).Adding Xiaoke Decoction could lower the fasting plasma glucose(FPG) level.The Xiaoke Decoction groups surpassed the western medicine groups regarding reduction in FPG levels(MD =-1.14;95% CI:-1.36 to 0.92,P < 0.00001).Adding Xiaoke Decoction could lower the 2 h postprandial blood glucose(2 h PG) level.The Xiaoke Decoction groups surpassed the western medicine groups regarding reduction in 2 h PG(MD =-1.40;95% CI:-1.61 to 1.19,P < 0.00001).Adding Xiaoke Decoction could lower glycated hemoglobin(Hb A1 c).The Xiaoke Decoction groups surpassed the western medicine groups regarding reduction in Hb A1 c(MD =-0.77;95% CI:-0.95 to 0.58,P < 0.00001).It was found that adding Xiaoke Decoction could lower the traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) syndrome score.The TCM syndrome scores among patients in the Xiaoke Decoction group were lower than those among patients in the control group after treatment(MD =-4.90;95% CI:-7.22 to 2.57,P < 0.0001).At the same time,we conducted a subgroup and sensitivity analysis of age and intervention duration on the heterogeneity of total efficiency,FPG,2 h PG,Hb Alc,and TCM syndrome score outcome indicators.For detecting publication bias,an egger test was conducted.Conclusion:Compared with western medicine alone,Xiaoke Decoction has more advantages for the treatment of type 2 diabetes with respect to total efficiency,FPG,2 h PG,Hb Alc,and TCM syndrome score.