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Here, we aimed to optimize the ethanol extraction technology for Yujin powder (YJP) and evaluate its safety. The ultrasonic-assisted ethanol reflux extraction method refluxing was used to extract YJP. The parameters were optimized through a combination of single-factor and response surface methodology (RSM). The comprehensive Y value score calculated using the content of 13 active ingredients in YJP ethanolic extracts (YEEs) and the yield of the dry extract were used as measuring criteria. RSM with a Box–Behnken design using three factors and three levels was adopted to optimize the ethanol extraction technology for YJP. Finally, acute and subchronic toxicity tests were performed to evaluate its safety. The results revealed the best technological parameters: a liquid–material ratio of 24:1, an ethanol concentration of 69%, assistance of ultrasound (40 °C, 50 kHZ, 30 min), reflux time of 53 min, and reflux temperature of 50 °C. In acute toxicity tests, the maximum administration dosage in mice was 28.21 g/kg, which is higher than 10 times the clinical dosage. Adverse effects in the acute and subchronic toxicity tests were not observed. All clinical indexes were normal. In conclusion, the RSM based on AHP–CRITIC weight analysis could be used to optimize the ethanol extraction technology for YJP and YEEs prepared under the above conditions and ensure high safety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Steroid hormones and receptors play important roles in female reproduction, and their expression patterns affect follicular growth and development. To examine the expression of dihydrotestosterone (DHT) synthases (5α‐reductases (5α‐red1 and 5α‐red2)) and androgen receptor (AR) during follicular development, and the regulation of DHT signalling by follicle‐stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH), we have used enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assays, quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction, immunohistochemical staining and Western blotting to examine DHT synthesis in small (≤2 mm), medium (2–5 mm) and large (≥5 mm) sheep follicles. Expression of 5α‐red1, 5α‐red2 and AR was observed in ovine ovaries, and with the development of follicles, the expressions of 5α‐red1 and 5α‐red2 mRNA and protein increased, but the levels of AR mRNA, protein and DHT level decreased. In addition, granulosa cells were treated with FSH (0.01, 0.1 and 1 international unit (IU)/ml), LH (0.01, 0.1 and 1 IU/ml) and testosterone (T, 10–7 M) to evaluate the effects of FSH and LH on DHT and oestradiol (E2) synthesis and 5α‐red1, 5α‐red2 and AR expression. We found that FSH and LH upregulated 5α‐red1 and 5α‐red2 in sheep granulosa cells, but downregulated the concentration of DHT and expression of AR. Meanwhile, FSH and LH significantly upregulated the expression of aromatase (P450arom) and secretion of E2. This result indicates that although FSH and LH promote the expression of 5α‐red1 and 5α‐red2, T is not transformed into DHT, but E2. This study reveals the reason why DHT concentration is downregulated in large follicles and lays a foundation for further exploring the synthesis mechanism of DHT during follicular development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The objective of this study was to examine the impact of Codonopsis pilosula and Astragalus membranaceus extract (CA) on the growth performance, diarrhea rate, immune function, antioxidant capacity, gut microbiota, and short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) in weaned piglets., Methods: A total of forty-eight 31-day-old weaned piglets, were divided into four groups randomly based on the treatment type: control group (CON), low dose group (LCA, 0.5% CA), medium dose group (MCA, 1.0% CA), and high dose group (HCA, 1.5% CA), and were fed for a duration of 28 days. On the morning of the 1st and 29th day, the piglets were assessed by weighing them on an empty stomach, recording their daily feed intake and diarrhea rate., Results: CA increased the average daily weight gain and reduced F/G without significant differences, and the diarrhea rate was reduced in the LCA and MCA groups. Furthermore, the levels of T-AOC, SOD, GSH-Px, and MDA were increased. The levels of T-AOC in the LCA group and the MCA group, SOD in the MCA group, and GSH-Px in the HCA group were significantly higher compared with the CON group ( p < 0.05). Additionally, CA significantly increased IgM, IgG, and IgA levels ( p < 0.05). The results of gut microbiota analysis showed that the bacterial population and diversity of faeces were changed with the addition of CA to basal diets. CA increased the abundance of the beneficial bacterial Firmicutes and Lactobacillus. Additionally, Compared with the CON group, CA significantly increased the SCFAs content of weaned piglets ( p < 0.05)., Discussion: CA can alleviate oxidative stress, improve immunity and antioxidant capacity, increase the abundance of beneficial bacteria, and the content of SCFAs for improving the intestinal barrier of piglets, thus promoting growth and reducing diarrhea rate in weaned piglets., 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 Guo, Zhang, Jiang, Niu, Chen, Yuan, Wei and Hua.)

Aim: This study aimed to investigate the anti-inflammatory effect and mechanism of Sophora alopecuroides L. (KDZ) on lipoteichoic acid (LTA)-induced inflammation in Bovine Mammary Epithelial Cells (BMEC)., Method: The KDZ active ingredient database was established by using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-QTOF-MS) to detect the chemical components of KDZ and combine it with the TCMSP database. Furthermore, potential targets of KDZ active ingredients were collected through the UniProt database, and mastitis-related targets were screened through the OMIM, Genecard, and DisGeNET databases. Furthermore, common targets were identified between ingredient targets and disease targets, and protein-protein interaction analysis was performed on them using the STRING platform. Furthermore, the protein interaction network was constructed using Cytoscape software. Core targets were screened through network topology analysis. On this basis, GO and KEGG enrichment analyses were performed on the common target, and molecular simulation docking analysis was conducted on the main active ingredients and core targets. Finally, the accuracy of the network analysis results was validated using in vitro cell experiments., Result: The results of UPLC-QTOF-MS detection and network pharmacology analysis showed that KDZ could intervene in signaling pathways, such as the IL-17 signaling pathway, TNF signaling pathway, MAPK signaling pathway, etc., by acting on 80 common targets through 15 potential active ingredients, thereby regulating biological processes, such as positive regulation of peptidyl serine physiology, apoptotic process, and inflammatory response, to treat mastitis. Besides, molecular simulation docking analysis also showed that the main active ingredients in KDZ, such as quercetin, matrine, calycosin, etc., can form stable bindings with 11 core targets (TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1β, etc.) through hydrogen bonding. Further in vitro validation experiments confirmed that KDZ intervention could inhibit the IL-17 signaling pathway by inhibiting the expression of GSK3β and subsequently inhibiting the production of downstream inflammatory cytokines IL-8, IL-6, IL-1β, and TNF-α, thereby alleviating LTA-induced BMEC inflammatory damage., Conclusion: KDZ can alleviate LTA-induced BMEC inflammatory damage by inhibiting the IL- 17 signaling pathway. This study can provide a scientific basis for the clinical application of KDZ and lay the foundation for the development of new therapeutic drugs for mastitis., (Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.net.)

Object: To investigate the effects of Shen Qi Bu Qi Powder (SQBQP) on the average daily gain, blood indexes, gastrointestinal microflora, and serum metabolites of calves., Methods: A total of 105 calves were randomly assigned to three groups (n = 35 per group): the control group (C, fed with a basal diet for 21 days) and two treatment groups (SQBQP-L and SQBQP-H, fed with the basal diet supplemented with 15 and 30 g/kg of SQBQP), respectively for 21 days. The active components of SQBQP were identified using LC-MS/MS. Serum digestive enzymes and antioxidant indices were determined by ELISA kits and biochemical kits, respectively. Serum differential metabolites were analyzed by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS), while flora in rumen fluid and fecal were analyzed by 16S rDNA sequencing. Further correlation analysis of gastrointestinal flora and serum metabolites of SQBQP-H and C groups were performed with Spearman's correlation., Results: The principal active components of SQBQP mainly includes polysaccharides, flavonoids, and organic acids. Compared to the control group (C), calves in the SQBQP-H (high dose) and SQBQP-L (low dose) groups showed a significant increase in serum amylase (AMS) levels ( P <0.001), while lipase content significantly decreased ( P <0.05). Additionally, the average daily gain, T-AOC, and cellulase content of calves in the SQBQP-H group significantly increased ( P <0.05). Proteobacteria and Succinivibrio in the rumen flora of the SQBQP-H group was significantly lower than that of the C group ( P <0.05). The relative abundance of Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, Candidatus&#95;Saccharibacteria, Deinococcus&#95;Thermus, Cyanobacteria , and Succinivibrio in the SQBQP-H group was significantly increased ( P <0.05), while the relative abundance of Tenericutes and Oscillibacter was significantly decreased ( P <0.05). Serum metabolomics analysis revealed 20 differential metabolites, mainly enriched in amino acid biosynthesis, β-alanine metabolism, tyrosine, and tryptophan biosynthesis metabolic pathways ( P <0.05). Correlation analysis results showed that Butyrivibrio in rumen flora and Oscillibacter&#95;valericigenes in intestinal flora were significantly positively correlated with average daily gain, serum biochemical indexes, and differential metabolite (-)-Epigallocatechin (R>0.58, P <0.05)., Conclusion: SQBQP can promote calves weight gain and enhance health by modulating gastrointestinal flora and metabolic processes in the body., Competing Interests: Author XZ was employed by Zhangye Wanhe Animal Husbandry Industry Technology Development Co. 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. The author(s) declared that they were an editorial board member of Frontiers, at the time of submission. This had no impact on the peer review process and the final decision., (Copyright © 2024 Yang, Ren, Ji, Zhang, Mai, Li, Zhao, Ma, Zhu, Hua and Wei.)

Objective: To establish a chemical fingerprint method for reorganizing and validating angelica different processed products., Method: A high-performance liquid chromatographic method was developed to establish the fingerprint. Principal component analysis, hierarchical cluster analysis and discriminate analysis were applied to study HPLC finger printing and chemical pattern reorganization., Result: There were difference of characteristic peaks and its relative peak area of HPLC fingerprints between different processed products. Fish's discriminate functions were generated by using six selected predictor variables, the tested samples of different processed products were classified with 100% accuracy, and discriminate analysis plots for the five groups were well-resolved., Conclusion: The developed HPLC finger print, combined with chemometrics, can accurately identify and validate angelica different processed products, the research provide theoretical basis for the processing mechanism and quality assess of angelica different processed products.

The authors propose suggestions for definition of classification position, classification standard, nomenclature and naming methods of chemotype on discussing the significance of chemotype of medicinal plants. This classification of chemotype should be established in infraspecific categories of "forma". Chemotype identification mainly has two aspects. One is that the main constituents are distinct or one or two components are half or more than half of the total chemical content. The main constituents come from the same biosynthetic pathway and have some genetic stability. The other is the chemical variation is genetic. The chemotype of medicinal plants study on the classification has important theoretical and practical value for quality assessment, resource development and the genuine medicinal research. It also can ensure the safe and effective of clinical medicine.