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Background and Aim: Gefitinib resistance is an urgent problem to be solved in the treatment of non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Tanshinone IIA (Tan IIA) is one of the main active components of Salvia miltiorrhiza, which exhibits significant antitumor effects. The aim of this study is to explore the reversal effect of Tan IIA on gefitinib resistance in the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)‐mutant NSCLC and the underlying mechanism. Experimental Procedure: CCK‐8, colony formation assay, and flow cytometry were applied to detect the cytotoxicity, proliferation, and apoptosis, respectively. The changes in lipid profiles were measured by electrospray ionization–mass spectrometry (MS)/MS. Western blot, real‐time q‐PCR, and immunohistochemical were used to detect the protein and the corresponding mRNA levels. The in vivo antitumor effect was validated by the xenograft mouse model. Key Results: Co‐treatment of Tan IIA enhanced the sensitivity of resistant NSCLC cells to gefitinib. Mechanistically, Tan IIA could downregulate the expression of sterol regulatory element binding protein 1 (SREBP1) and its downstream target genes, causing changes in lipid profiles, thereby reversing the gefitinib‐resistance in EGFR‐mutant NSCLC cells in vitro and in vivo. Conclusions and Implications: Tan IIA improved gefitinib sensitivity via SREBP1‐mediated lipogenesis. Tan IIA could be a potential candidate to enhance sensitivity for gefitinib‐resistant NSCLC patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Salvia miltiorrhiza is one of the most commonly used traditional Chinese medicines in the treatment of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. Cryptotanshinone (CTS), tanshinone IIA (Tan IIA), dihydrotanshinone I (diTan I), and tanshinone I (Tan I) are the main active compounds in the liposoluble extract of Salvia miltiorrhiza. The differences in the pharmacokinetic and tissue distribution behaviors of the four tanshinones after oral administration of the liposoluble extract of Salvia miltiorrhiza and pure compounds are not clear. This study aims to compare the pharmacokinetics and tissue distribution of the four tanshinones after oral administration of pure tanshinone monomers and the liposoluble extract of Salvia miltiorrhiza. An ultra‐performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC–MS/MS) analysis method was developed for the determination of the four tanshinones. The results showed that the AUC and Cmax of tanshinones in rats receiving the extract of Salvia miltiorrhiza were significantly increased compared with those receiving the pure tanshinones. In the tissue distribution experiments, the AUC of the four tanshinones in the extract was much greater than the AUC of the monomers in the lung, heart, kidney, liver, and brain, and the coexisting constituents particularly promoted the distribution of tanshinones into tissues that the drug cannot sufficiently penetrate. These findings suggested that the coexisting constituents in the liposoluble extract of Salvia miltiorrhiza play an important role in the alteration of plasma concentration and tissue distribution of the four tanshinones. Understanding these differences could be of significance for the development and application of Salvia miltiorrhiza extract and tanshinone components. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Triptolide (TP) is one of the major components of Tripterygium wilfordii , which is a traditional Chinese medicine widely used in the treatment of various autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. However, the cardiotoxicity induced by TP greatly limits its widespread clinical application. In view of the role of ROS-mediated oxidative stress in TP-induced cardiotoxicity, mitoQ, a mitochondria-targeted ROS scavenger, was used in this study to investigate its protective effect against TP-induced cardiomyocyte toxicity and its possible underlying mechanism. Here we demonstrated that mitoQ could significantly attenuate TP-induced cardiotoxicity in cardiomyocyte H9c2 cells, with a remarkable improvement in cell viability and reduction in ROS levels. P62-Nrf2 signaling pathway has been reported to play a critical role in regulating oxidative stress and protecting cells from harmful stimuli. In this study, we found that mitoQ significantly activated p62-Nrf2 signaling pathway in H9c2 cells with or without TP treatment. Moreover, knockdown of p62 or Nrf2 could block the protective effect of mitoQ against TP in H9c2 cells. Taken together, our study demonstrates that mitoQ can alleviate TP-induced cardiotoxicity via the activation of p62-Nrf2 signaling pathway, which provides new potential strategies to combat TP-induced cardiomyocyte toxicity. • MitoQ alleviated triptolide-induced toxicity in cardiomyocyte H9c2 cells. • MitoQ reduced ROS accumulation induced by triptolide in H9c2 cells. • MitoQ activated p62-Nrf2 axis in H9c2 cells. • Knockdown of p62 or Nrf2 blocked the protective effects of mitoQ. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]