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Background: Artemisiae Scopariae Herba (ASH) has been widely used as plant medicine in East Asia with remarkable antitumor activity. However, the underlying mechanisms have not been fully elucidated. Methods: This study aimed to construct a multi-disciplinary approach to screen topoisomerase I (topo I) inhibitors from ASH extract, and explore the antitumor mechanisms. Bioaffinity ultrafiltration-UFLC-ESI-Q/TOF-MS/MS was used to identify chemical constitution of ASH extract as well as the topo I inhibitors, and in silico docking coupled with multiple complex networks was applied to interpret the molecular mechanisms. Results: Crude ASH extract exhibited toxicogenetic and antiproliferative activities on A549 cells. A series of 34 ingredients were identified from the extract, and 6 compounds were screened as potential topo I inhibitors. Docking results showed that the formation of hydrogen bond and π-π stacking contributed most to their binding with topo I. Interrelationships among the 6 compounds, related targets and pathways were analyzed by multiple complex networks model. These networks displayed power-law degree distribution and small-world property. Statistical analysis indicated that isorhamnetin and quercetin were main active ingredients, and that chemical carcinogenesis-reactive oxygen species was the critical pathway. Electrophoretic results showed a therapeutic effect of ASH extract on the conversion of supercoiled DNA to relaxed forms, as well as potential synergistic effect of isorhamnetin and quercetin. Conclusions: The results improved current understanding of Artemisiae Scopariae Herba on the treatment of tumor. Moreover, the combination of multi-disciplinary methods provided a new strategy for the study of bioactive constituents in medicinal plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Sanghuang mushrooms are medicinal fungi widely used in eastern Asia. In this study, the antioxidant and anti‐inflammatory activity of a novel extracellular polysaccharopeptide, sanghuang extracellular polysaccharopeptide (SePSP) was investigated. The SePSP was purified from the submerged fermentation broth of a sanghuang mycelium, Sanghuangporus lonicericola strain CBS17, which was isolated from a wild sanghuang fruiting body. RESULTS: The SePSP was extracted using an ethanol precipitation procedure, followed by diethylaminoethanol (DEAE) anion‐exchange and size‐exclusion chromatography. The mass ratio of the polysaccharide and peptide components in the purified SePSP was approximately 4.87:1. By determining its free radical scavenging abilities using 2,2‐diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), the hydroxyl free radical, and the superoxide anion free radical, as well as its total reducing power, SePSP was shown to have strong concentration‐dependent antioxidant activity in vitro. Further, SePSP effectively alleviated dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)‐induced ulcerative colitis (UC) in mice. Administration of 200 mg kg−1 SePSP by gavage for 7 days prevented body weight loss; significantly reduced the mRNA levels of proinflammatory cytokines, including TNF‐α and IL‐1β; increased mRNA level of the anti‐inflammatory cytokine IL‐10 in the colon, and decreased the malondialdehyde concentration from 6.42 to 4.82 μmol L−1 in the blood in UC mice. CONCLUSION: The SePSP had strong concentration‐dependent antioxidant activity in vitro and effectively alleviated DSS‐induced UC in mice. The in vivo therapeutic efficacy in DSS‐induced UC may be mediated by modulating the expression of inflammatory cytokines and inhibiting oxidative stress. The findings provide a scientific rationale for the use of bioactive nutraceuticals from sanghuang mushrooms to develop functional foods for the prevention and treatment of UC. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bombax ceiba L is a big deciduous tree found in tropical and subtropical regions of Asia, Africa and Australia. Conventional systems of medicine such as Ayurveda, Siddha and Unani have been highlighted the use of B. ceiba parts (bark, leaves and flower) for the treatment of manydiseases like hypertension, HIV infections, inflammation, catarrhal affection, ulcer, acne, gynecological disorders, fever, dysentery, algesia, hepatotoxicity, piles and urinary infections. The aim of the present study was to evaluate pharmacognostic, physicochemical, qualitative and quantitative phytochemical analysis of leaf and bark of B. ceiba collected from Bhopal region of Madhya Pradesh. The pharmacognostic studies out in terms of various investigations like organoleptic or morphological characters, microscopic or anatomical studies, physicochemical evaluations (loss on drying, ash value, extractive values and acid insoluble ash value). Qualitative analysis of various phytochemical constituents and quantitative analysis of total phenolics and flavonoids were determined by the well-known test protocol available in the literature. The detail microscopy of bark revealed the presence of cork cell, lignified fibre, calcium oxalate crystals, xylem vessels. Physiochemical parameters such as percentage of foreign matters, ash values, loss on drying swelling index, extractive values were determined. Phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of phenols, flavonoids, tannins, alkaloids and glycosides. In the procedure of quantitative analysis of flavonoids and phenolic compound was carried out by aluminium chloride Folins and Ciocalteau reagent method .In this methodthe totalflavonoids content and phenolic content of B. ceiba ethanolic and aqueous barks extracts was found to be 6.272, 3.363 and 2.607, 1.607mg /100mg respectively and total phenolic and flavonoids content of B. ceiba ethanolic, aqueous leaves extracts was found to be 7.381, 4.590 and 3.200, 1.792 mg/100mg respectively. These studies provided information for standardization and correct identification of this plant material. These information will also be helpful to differentiate B. ceiba from the closely related other species. The diverse array of phytochemicals present in the plant thus suggests its therapeutic potentials which may be explored in drug manufacturing industry as well as in traditional medicine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]