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Ulcerative colitis (UC), characterized by disrupted intestinal barrier integrity and chronic inflammation, was modeled in mice via dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) induction. This study explored the therapeutic potential of berberine-evodiamine (BBR-EVO), bioactive components of the traditional Chinese medicine Yulian decoction, in DSS colitis. BBR-EVO intervention ameliorated weight loss, diarrhea, colonic shortening, and histopathological damage in colitic mice. The substance increased antioxidant activity while reducing high levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines in the colon, including as TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6. BBR-EVO inhibited the DSS-induced decrease in the tight junction proteins ZO-1 and occludin, according to immunohistochemistry. 16S rRNA sequencing demonstrated BBR-EVO partially attenuated DSS-elicited intestinal dysbiosis, reducing opportunistic pathogens and restoring diminished beneficial taxa. Critically, BBR-EVO alleviated secondary hepatic injury in colitic mice, mitigating immune cell infiltration, oxidative stress, cytokine production, and ultrastructural damage, likely by beneficially modulating gut-liver crosstalk. This study reveals BBR-EVO, derived from a traditional Chinese medicine, confers multi-target protective effects in experimental colitis and associated hepatic pathology, warranting further evaluation as a potential therapy for inflammatory bowel diseases like UC. The mechanisms may involve simultaneous augmentation of intestinal barrier integrity, inhibition of inflammation, microbiota regulation, and gut-liver axis optimization., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Wang, Han, Yin, Wang, Wu and Du.)

Objective: The study aims to investigate the protective effect of Mingjing granule (MG) in a fibrovascular membrane rat model of neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) and explore the underlying mechanism., Methods: The nAMD fibrovascular membrane model was established by two-stage laser photocoagulation. BN rats were randomly divided into four groups: the model group was gavaged with distilled water, the anti-VEGF group was given an intravitreous injection of ranibizumab, the MG + anti-VEGF group was gavaged with MG combined with an intravitreous injection of ranibizumab, and the normal group not modeled only fed conventionally. Lesions were evaluated by color fundus photograph, optical coherence tomography, fundus fluorescein angiography, and retinal pigment epithelial-choroid-sclera flat mount. The changes in the retinal structure were observed by histopathology. The expression of inflammatory cell markers F4/80, Iba-1, and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP); the fibrosis-related factors collagen-1, fibronectin, α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), and transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β); and the complement system-related factors C3a and C3aR in the retina were detected by immunofluorescence or qRT-PCR., Results: The current study revealed that MG + anti-VEGF administration more significantly reduced the thickness of fibrovascular lesions, suppressed vascular leakage (exudation area and mean density value), inhibited the area of fibrovascular lesions, and restrained the formation of the fibrovascular membrane than the anti-VEGF agent alone in the two-stage laser-induced rat model. The fluorescence intensities of F4/80, Iba-1, collagen-1, fibronectin, TGF-β, and C3aR showed more significant inhibition in MG + anti-VEGF-treated rats than the anti-VEGF agent alone. The mRNA expression levels of F4/80, Iba-1, GFAP, collagen-1, fibronectin, α-SMA, TGF-β, and C3a showed lower levels in rats treated with MG + anti-VEGF than the anti-VEGF agent alone., Conclusion: Combining MG with anti-VEGF treatment inhibits the growth of the fibrovascular membrane more effectively than using anti-VEGF treatment alone. The mechanism underlying this effect may involve limiting inflammatory cell aggregation, controlling complement system activation, and decreasing the expression of the fibrotic protein., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Li, Li, Zeng, Wang, Du, Liang and Gao.)

Objective: To compare the pharmcoknetic parameters of six major alkaloids in the two drug delivery system of Zuojin Wan, by LC-MS assaying the six major alkaloids plasma concentration., Method: The blood samples were collected at different time after transdermal administration. The plasma concentration of six major alkaloids were detected by LC-MS, then the concentration-time data are modulated by software WinNonlin., Result: Took the six alkaloids (berberine palmatine coptisine jateorhizine evodiamine rutecarpine) as index components, the relative bioavailability were 131%, 127%, 108%, 121%, 92%, 109%, respectively, the ratio of Ka were 10.5, 5.1, 3.7, 0.8, 1.8, 1.5, respectively., Conclusion: The LC-MS can be applied in the determination of six major alkaloids plasma concentration. The pharmcoknetic parameters indicated that Zuojin Wan microemulsion gel delivery system can accelerate the transdermal absorption rate of Zuojin Wan, compared with the hydrogel drug delivery system.

Objective: To optimize the matrix formulation of cataplasm., Method: Face-centered design was used in the experimental design, and response surface was produced in quadratic polynomial after data fitting in order to explore the impacts of Sodium Polyacrylate, Carbomer and the cross-linking agent on stickiness of cataplasm, optimize the prescription of the cataplasm matrix and perform the evaluation analysis., Result: The multiple correlation coefficient (R2) and adjusted R2 in the fitting method using quadratic polynomial were 0.970 and 0. 952 (F = 53.953, P = 0.0001), respectively, and the model was significant different. The ratio of optimum proportion of Sodium Polyacrylate, Carbomer and the cross-linking agent in the matrix of cataplasm was determined, which was proved efficaciously., Conclusion: Face-centered design-response surface method is a simple method with good prediction result for the optimization of cataplasm matrix.

Objective: To investigate the regularity of Yulian Cataplasm in vitro release and transdermal behaviors., Method: Improved Franz diffusion devices was used with four index ingredients as evodiamine, rutaecarpine, palmatine and berberine that were determined by HPLC in one mobile phase., Result: The release rates of evodiamine, rutaecarpine, palmatine and berberine were 0.0239, 0.0156, 0.0725, 0.8191 mg x cm(-2) x h(-1/2), respectivley. The transdermal rates of evodiamine, rutaecarpine, palmatine and berberine were 1.256, 1.0302, 2.8029, 20.919 microg x cm(-2) x h(-1), respectively., Conclusion: The releasing process of all index is in accordance with Higuchi equation and the transdermal proccess is in accordance with zero-level equation.