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Background: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic and relapsing disease marked by chronic tissue inflammation that alters the integrity and function of the gut, seriously impacting patient health and quality of life. Aucklandiae Radix (AR), known as Mu Xiang in Chinese, is a traditional Chinese medicine documented in Chinese Pharmacopoeia with effects of strengthening the intestine and stopping diarrhea. However, the potential of AR in treating intestinal inflammation and its underlying mechanism have yet to be further elucidated., Purpose: The objective of this study was to explore the protective effect and the potential mechanism attributable to AR for treating ulcerative colitis (UC)., Study Design and Methods: A murine model of UC was constructed using dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) to examine the therapeutic potential of AR in alleviating inflammation and modulating the immune response. Advanced techniques such as photocrosslinking target fishing technique, click chemistry, Western blot analysis, real-time quantitative PCR, flow cytometry, immunofluorescence, and immunohistochemistry were employed to unveil the therapeutic mechanism of AR for treating IBD., Results: AR decreased disease activity index (DAI) score to alleviate the course of IBD through ameliorating intestinal barrier function in DSS-induced mice. Furthermore, AR suppressed NF-κB and NLRP3 pathways to reduce the release of pro-inflammatory factors interleukin-6 and 1β (IL-6 and IL-1β) and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), allowing to alleviate the inflammatory response. Flow cytometry revealed that AR could reduce the accumulation of intestinal macrophages and neutrophils, maintaining intestinal immune balance by regulating the ratio of Treg to Th17 cells. It was worth noting that pyruvate kinase isozyme type M2 (PKM2) served as a potential target of AR using the photocrosslinking target fishing technology, which was further supported by cellular thermal shift assay (CETSA), drug affinity target stability (DARTS), and PKM2 knockdown experiments., Conclusion: AR targeted PKM2 to inhibit NF-κB and NLRP3 pathways, thereby modulating the inflammatory response and immunity to alleviate DSS-induced UC. These findings suggested the potential of AR in the treatment of UC and AR as a candidate for developing PKM2 regulators., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.)

Objective: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the potential protective mechanism of icariin against oxidative damage caused by hydrogen peroxide in MC3T3-E1 cells., Methods: MC3T3-E1 cells were treated with different concentrations of icariin to explore the optimal dose of icariin. MC3T3-E1 cells were divided into groups treated with various concentrations of hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ; 0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.5, 1, and 2 mM) for 24 h to induce oxidative damage and cell viability was assessed by Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assay. Then, cells were divided into five groups: control, H 2 O 2 (0.2 mM), icariin (0.1 μM) and H 2 O 2 (0.2 mM), + icariin (0.1 μM). Cell viability was detected by CCK-8 assay. In addition, the content of glutathione and superoxide dismutase and the activity level of malondialdehyde in these treatment groups were determined. Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and alizarin red S (ARS) staining were also performed to measure the early and late osteogenesis, respectively. Protein expression of β-catenin and cyclin D1 was measured by western blot assay. Then, we used an antagonist of Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway (DKK-1) and western blot analysis to further explore potential mechanism., Results: After 24 h of exposure to 0.2 mM H 2 O 2 , the viability of MC3T3-E1 cells was significantly decreased compared to that of the control cells. We first found that icariin can promote cell proliferation of MC3T3-E1 cells in a dose-dependent manner, with the dosage 0.1 μM showing the best pro-proliferative effect. Furthermore, icariin could promote the protein expression of OSX and RUNX2. The results showed that icariin can reverse the inhibitory osteogenic effects of MC3T3-E1 caused by H 2 O 2 . In addition, icariin could increase the Wnt-signaling related proteins. The results showed that MC3T3-E1 cells in the H 2 O 2 (0.2 mM) + icariin (0.1 μM) + Wnt-signaling antagonist (DKK-1) group had weaker ALP and ARS staining compared with that observed in the control and H 2 O 2 (0.2 mM) + icariin (0.1 μM) groups. The ALP activity and calcium content were decreased in the 0.2 mM H 2 O 2 + 0.1 μM icariin + DKK-1 group compared to that observed in the 0.2 mM H 2 O 2 + 0.1 μM icariin group., Conclusion: The results showed that icariin can increase the viability of MC3T3-E1 cells, reverse the oxidative stress induced by H 2 O 2 and protect MC3T3-E1 cells against H 2 O 2 -induced inhibition of osteogenic differentiation, which may occur through the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway., (© 2021 The Authors. Orthopaedic Surgery published by Chinese Orthopaedic Association and John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd.)

The present study aimed to identify the anti-inflammatory components in Sinomenii Caulis (SC) based on spectrum-effect relationship and chemometric methods. A phytochemical investigation of SC extract was performed firstly and afforded eleven potential bioactive compounds. The HPLC fingerprints of 19 batches of SC samples were evaluated by the chemometric methods such as similarity analysis (SA) and hierarchical clustering analysis (HCA). The anti-inflammatory effects of these samples were determined by inhibition of Nitric Oxide (NO) production. Partial least squares regression (PLSR) and artificial neural network (ANN) were used to explore the spectrum-effect relationship of SC. The results indicated that there was a close correlation between chemical fingerprint and anti-inflammatory activity of SC, and peaks 8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 16, 19 and 22 might be potential anti-inflammatory compounds in SC. The verification experiments by testing individual compounds and a combination of them indicated that sinomenine (P8), magnoflorine (P13), menisperine (P16) and stepharanine (P19) were the major anti-inflammatory compounds in SC. Collectively, the present study established the spectrum-effect relationship mode of SC and discovered the anti-inflammatory compounds in SC, which could be used for exploration of bioactive components and quality control of herbal medicines., (Copyright © 2019. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

With a great difference in therapeutic effects of Mahuang (MH, the stems of Ephedra sinica) and Mahuanggen (MHG, the roots of Ephedra sinica), chemical differences between MH and MHG should be investigated. In the present study, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS)-based plant metabolomics was employed to compare volatile oil profiles of MH and MHG. The antioxidant activities of volatile oils from MH and MHG were also compared. 32 differential chemical markers were identified according to the variable importance in the projection (VIP) value of orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) and P value of Mann-Whitney test. Among them, chemical markers of tetramethylpyrazine (TMP) and α-terpineol were quantified. Their contents were much higher in most MH samples compared with MHG. The antioxidant assay demonstrated that MH had significantly higher free radical-scavenging activity than MHG. Although MH and MHG derived from the same medicinal plant, there was much difference in their volatile oil profiles. MH samples had significantly higher content of two reported pharmacologically important chemical markers of TMP and α-terpineol, which may account for their different antioxidant activities., (Copyright © 2016 China Pharmaceutical University. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

A new and fast sample preparation technique based on three-phase hollow fiber liquid-phase microextraction with a magnetofluid was developed and successfully used to quantify the aristolochic acid I (AA-I) and AA-II in plasma after oral administration of Caulis akebiae extract. Analysis was accomplished by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection. Parameters that affect the hollow fiber liquid-phase microextraction processes, such as the solvent type, pH of donor and acceptor phases, content of magnetofluid, salt content, stirring speed, hollow fiber length, extraction temperature, and extraction time, were investigated and optimized. Under the optimized conditions, the preconcentration factors for AA-I and AA-II were >627. The calibration curve for two AAs was linear in the range of 0.1-10 ng/mL with the correlation coefficients >0.9997. The intraday and interday precision was <5.71% and the LODs were 11 pg/mL for AA-I and 13 pg/mL for AA-II (S/N = 3). The separation and determination of the two AAs in plasma after oral administration of C. akebiae extract were completed by the validated method., (© 2014 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.)

Taxadiene (3), a new taxane diterpenoid with an unusual hydroxy substituting at C-17, and six known compounds including two taxane diterpenoids (1 and 2) and four flavonoids (4-7) were isolated from the whole seedling of the Taxus chinensis var. mairei. Among them, compound 7 was isolated from T. chinensis var. mairei for the first time. Structures of these compounds were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic data and by comparison with reported literature data.

Background: Traditional Chinese medicine has been used widely for many years in China to treat acute pancreatitis. We have investigated the effects of Dachengqi decoction on intestinal mucosal permeability and outcome in patients with severe acute pancreatitis (SAP)., Methods: Forty patients with sustained SAP that required admission to the surgical intensive care unit were enrolled prospectively in the study. All of these patients were divided randomly into the Dachengqi decoction group (n = 20) and control group (n = 20) on admission. Intestinal permeability was assessed by measuring absorption of two metabolically inert markers, lactulose (L) and mannitol (M), which were administered orally. Serum concentrations of endotoxin (lipopolysaccharide, LPS) and the ratio of lactulose to mannitol in urine (L/M) were detected in all patients., Results: Compared with those in the control group, urinary L/M ratio decreased significantly in the Dachengqi decoction group on the 7th day after admission (P = 0.001). Also, serum concentrations of LPS were reduced on the 5th and 7th day after admission (P = 0.006, P = 0.008, respectively). Incidence of multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS) and pancreatic infection was significantly lower in the Dachengqi decoction group compared with those in the control group (P = 0.038,P = 0.025, respectively)., Conclusion: Dachengqi decoction may promote the recovery of intestinal mucosal permeability and decrease the incidence of MODS and pancreatic infection in patients with SAP.

Objective: To investigate the expressions of nestin and vascular endothehal growth factor (VEGF) mRNAs in rat brain tissue after cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury and their changes in response to Tongxinluo (a traditional Chinese herbal preparation) treatment., Methods: Cerebral ischemia was induced in rats by temporary middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) followed by treatment with Tongxinluo at high and low doses. On days 3, 7, 14 and 21 after MCAO, nestin and VEGF mRNA expressions in the ependyma, subventricular zone (SVZ), and hippocampal subdentate gyrus zone (HDG) in the ischemic hemisphere were quantitatively analyzed using immunohistochemistry and RT-PCR., Results: Compared with the sham-operated group, the rats with cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury showed significantly increased nestin-positive neurons and VEGF mRNA expression in the SVZ and HDG 7, 14 and 21 days after MCAO (P<0.05). Treatment with Tongxinluo, especially at high doses, significantly increased the number of nestin-positive neurons and VEGF mRNA expression in the rats 7, 14 and 21 days after MCAO (P<0.05)., Conclusion: Focal cerebral ischemia in rats results in rapid response and proliferation of neural stem cells in the SVZ and HDG in the ischemic hemisphere possibly by increasing VEGF mRNA expression in the adjacent tissues around the ischemic focus. Tongxinluo may enhance the differentiation and proliferation capacity of the neural stem cells after MCAO by inducing the expression of VEGF mRNA.

Objective: To evaluate a proper processed method of Radix Polygoni Multiflori by pharmacodynamic action., Methods: Model of blood deficiency rats were used in this experiment. The reagents were alcohol extracts of radix polygoni multiflori and its dreferent processing drugs made without any adjuvants in the first experiment. The reagents were alcohol extracts of te processing drugs made without any adjuvants and that made with decoction of black soybean in the second experiment. Their effecacy on model blood deficiency rats was observed., Results: It was showed that some of radix polygoni multiflori praeparata could nourish the blood. The effecacy was different for alcohol extracts of variously processing drugs. Decoction of black soybean could reinforce effectiveness of radix polygoni multiflori praeparata. But it was related to the processed method., Conclusion: The processed method directly influences the pharmacodynamic action of radix polygoni multiflori praeparata.

Objective: To observe the effect of Yirong Oral Liquid (YROL) on reperfusion injury in rats with cerebral infarction undergoing thrombolysis., Methods: Clinical reperfusion under thrombolysis was simulated by applying thrombolysis on reversible local cerebral ischemic rat model. In the rat model, effect of YROL on parameters concerning anti-oxidation capability, cerebral edema and ultrastructure of brain were observed., Results: YROL could alleviate the cerebral edema after reperfusion, markedly increase the activity of superoxide dismutase in blood plasma, decrease the content of malonyldialdehyde, inhibit the post-reperfusion lipid peroxidation, and significantly reduce the ischemia/reperfusion injury of nerve cells in brain of rat., Conclusion: YROL has definite protecting effect on brain.