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Cell metabonomics focuses on discovering metabolic biomarkers and pathway changes in cells from biological systems to obtain the cell properties and functional information under different conditions. Baicalin possesses various pharmacological activities, and plays a vital role in the oncology research field. However, the detailed mechanism of its action is still unclear. In this work, we employed ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS) based non-targeted metabolomics method associated with chemometrics analysis to explore metabolic pathways and biomarkers for investigating the efficacy and pharmacological targets of baicalin against thyroid cancer cells. In addition, morphological observation, parameter calculation of cell proliferation and apoptosis were carried out, which assisted in elucidation of pharmacological activity of baicalin on the human thyroid cancer cells. The results showed that baicalin possesses an intense stimulative apoptosis and inhibits proliferation activity on SW579 human thyroid cancer cells, and partially reversed the cell metabolite abnormalities. A total of nineteen differentiated metabolites in SW579 cells were identified and deemed as potential biomarkers after the baicalin treatment, involving nine metabolic pathways, such as taurine and hypotaurine metabolism, pyrimidine metabolism, fructose and mannose metabolism, steroid hormone biosynthesis and sphingolipid metabolism. High-throughput non-targeted metabolomics provide an insight into specialized mechanism of baicalin against thyroid cancer and contributes to novel drug discovery and thyroid cancer management in clinical practice.

Vegetative but not reproductive stage of Saposhnikovia divaricate (Turxz.) schischk possesses pharmacological activities. However, our recent study showed that reproductive S. divaricate supplemented with polysaccharide showed evidently elevated pharmacological activities and increased cimifugin content in rat serum. The aims of present study were to assess the influence of polysaccharides on the chromones pharmacological activities in Radix Saposhnikoviae (RS), the dried root of vegetative stage of S. divaricate, and to explore the underlying mechanisms. Only cimifugin was detected in the plasma of chromone treated animals and RS polysaccharide significantly increased the plasma content of cimifugin. It was shown that neither cimifugin absorption nor glycoside components transformation in simulated digestive fluid was affected by RS polysaccharide. However, a significant promotion of transformation of cimifugin to more stable prime-O-glucosylcimifugin (PGCN) by RS polysaccharide, and a protective effect of polysaccharide on chromone components were observed in small intestine solutions. Meanwhile, RS polysaccharide produced a significant elevation of cimifugin and PGCN concentration in vivo. Based on these findings, we concluded that RS polysaccharide could greatly increase the content of cimifugin, which might be related to its degradation-proof effect on cimifugin, via transforming cimifugin to comparatively more stable PGCN and spatial structure protection.

The Nano-HA powder was prepared by chemical precipitation. Magnesium powders were used to make porous ultramicron HA ceramic, and the biological properties of which were investigated by hemolysis rate and cytotoxicity tests. The experimental results shows that the hemolysis rate of the nano-HA powder and porous ultramicron HA ceramic were all less than 5% and none of them showed cytotoxicity. The results indicated that nano-HA and porous ultramicron HA ceramic were provided with good biocompatibility.

Porous hydroxyapatite (HA) bioceramic matrix with interconnected ducts was obtained using a porogen burnout technique at 1200°C. The HA/silk fibroin (SF) composite scaffolds were developed with the SF sponges formed inside the pores and ducts of the bioceramics by first introducing HA/SF slurries into the pores and ducts followed by a freeze-drying process. Phase components and morphology of materials were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), respectively. Porosity was measured by Archimedean method. Compressive strength was also measured. The simulated body fluids (SBF) experiments were conducted to evaluate bioactivity. The results show that hydroxyapatite is the main phase compositions after sintering at 1200°C. The porosity of composite scaffolds reaches 70%~80%. The sizes of pores and ducts of HA matrix range from 150μm to 400μm and the pore sizes of SF sponges formed inside the macroporous structure of bioceramics are approximately 100μm,a structure favorable for bone tissue in-growth. The compressive strength of the composite scaffolds is greatly improved in comparison with that of HA matrix. In the SBF tests, a layer of randomly oriented apatite crystals form on the scaffold surface after sample immersion in SBF. The cell culture experiments show that the osteoblast cells are attached and proliferated on the surface of the composite scaffold, which suggest good bioactivity and cellular compatibility of the composite material.

The purpose of this study is to examine the inhibitory effects of nano-HA on the caries-inducing properties of a four-organism bacterial consortium in vitro. A series of in vitro anticarious experiments have been carried out by using a continuous culture system. Streptococcus mutans, Streptococcus sanguis, Actinomyces viscosus, Lactobacillus rhamnosus have been chosen as the experimental bacteria. After 48 hours, the dental plaque surface structure is observed with the scan electron microscope and the bacterial colonization was evaluated on dental plaque. The results show that Spherical nano-HA and mixed nano-HA are proved to be effective in anticarious experiments, and especially spherical nano-HA is more striking. It is able to damage the formation of biofilms (dental plaque), postpone or end the process of acid generation of bacteria metabolism. After 7 days, the demineralization of the enamel has been detected by using TEM. The spherical nano-HA might have a remineralization to early caries to prevent and decrease caries.

Porous composites composed of hydroxyapatite (HA), herb epimedium (EP), and chitosan (CS) were used to improve the repair of rabbit bone defects. The in vivo implantation of the HA/CS-EP showed that homogeneous bone formation occurred after 12 weeks' implantation and possessed good osteogenesis. The osteogenic process of the HA/CS-EP group was different from that of the HA/CS group. Direct bone formation of osteoblasts with HA/CS-EP as the matrix could be observed. Compared with the group filled with HA/CS, the group filled with HA/CS-EP showed significant increases in the number of osteoblasts and the bone formation area, and the areas of new bone formation in the HA/CS-EP group after 4 or 12 weeks' implantation reached 33% and 87%, respectively. The novel repair system of HA/CS-EP can induce bone formation, increase osteoblast quantity and improve osteogenesis, for EP can significantly promote the proliferation and activity of osteoblasts in the early stage and accelerate bone remodeling in the later stage. Composites containing EP could be a promising material with multifunctions of osteoinduction, osteoconduction and medication for bone repair, and herb medicine EP could be used as an osteoinduction material for bone tissue engineering.