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Ligusticum chuanxiong Hort. is considered an important medicinal herb with extremely high economic value and medicinal value due to its various effects, including anti-oxidation, sedative action, hepatoprotection, and invigorating blood circulation. However, L. chuanxiong cultivation is hampered by various plant diseases, especially the root rot caused by Fusarium solani, hindering the sustainable development of the L. chuanxiong industry. The occurrence of soil-borne diseases is closely linked to imbalances in the microbial community structure. Here, we studied the yields, rhizosphere microbiota, and soil physiochemical characteristics of healthy and diseased L. chuanxiong plants affected by root rot with high-throughput sequencing and microbial network analysis, aiming to explore the relationships between soil environmental factors, microbiomes, and plant health of L. chuanxiong. According to the results, L. chuanxiong root rot significantly decreased the yields, altered microbial community diversity and composition, enriched more pathogenic fungi, recruited some beneficial bacteria, and reduced microbial interaction network stability. The Mantel test showed that soil organic matter and pH were the major environmental factors modulating plant microbiome assembly. The root rot severity was significantly affected by soil physiochemical properties, including organic matter, cation exchange capacity, available nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and pH. Furthermore, two differential microbes that have great potential in the biocontrol of L. chuanxiong root rot were dug out in the obtained results, which were the genera Trichoderma and Bacillus. This study provided a theoretical basis for further studies revealing the microecological mechanism of L. chuanxiong root rot and the ecological prevention and control of L. chuanxiong root rot from a microbial ecology perspective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND RESULTS CONCLUSIONS Ligusticum chuanxiong Hort., with over 2000 years of medicinal use and cultivation history, is extensively used in clinical settings for treating heart disease, headache, dysmenorrhea, and amenorrhea. Constructing the geographic distribution pattern of L. chuanxiong and identifying the environmental factors limiting its range, as well as clarifying the effects of key environmental factors on the content of major active constituents and transcription regulation, could provide a scientific foundation for the conservation and effective management of this valuable medicinal resource.The results reveal that the predominant environmental factors influencing the distribution were the minimum temperature of the coldest month (Bio6) and solar radiation (Srad), with cumulative account for 87.46% of the importance. Correlation analysis further reveals significant negative correlations between Bio6 and the content of major active constituents in L. chuanxiong, with Srad exhibiting a negative correlation with these constituents. The gene differential expression analysis indicated that the expression levels of some genes associated with growth and active constituent biosynthesis pathways, such as RPT2_13888, UVR8_16871, CLPB3_3155, and 4CLL5_116, varied significantly among locations influenced by differing key environmental factors. Consequently, alterations in the environment were found to influence the gene expression levels within these pathways, resulting in variations in the content of active constituents.These findings contribute to an enhanced understanding of how environmental factors impact the distribution and quality of medicinal plants and offer a theoretical reference for the introduction, cultivation, quality improvement, resource utilization and management of L. chuanxiong. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Szechwan lovage rhizome (SLR, the rhizome of Ligusticum chuanxiong Hort., Chuanxiong in Chinese transliteration) is one Chinese materia medica (CMM) commonly used to activate blood circulation and remove blood stasis. SLR is applicable to most blood stasis syndromes. It has significant clinical efficacy in relation to human diseases of the cardiocerebrovascular system, nervous system, respiratory system, digestive system, urinary system, etc. Apart from China, SLR is also used in Singapore, Malaysia, the European Union, and the United States of America. However, the current chemical markers in pharmacopeia or monography for the quality assessment of SLR are not well characterized or specifically characterized, nor do they fully reflect the medicinal efficacy of SLR, resulting in the quality of SLR not being effectively controlled. CMM can only have medicinal efficacy when they are applied in vivo to an organism. The intensity of their pharmaceutical activities can more directly represent the quality of CMM. Therefore, the chemical constituents and pharmacological actions of SLR are reviewed in this paper. In order to demonstrate the medicinal efficacy of SLR in promoting blood circulation and removing blood stasis, bioassay methods are put forward to evaluate the pharmaceutical activities of SLR to improve hemorheology, hemodynamics, and vascular microcirculation, as well as its anti-platelet aggregation and anticoagulation properties. Through comprehensive analyses of these pharmaceutical properties, the quality and therapeutic value of SLR are ascertained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this research is to study the optimization of the extraction process of total flavonoids from Ligusticum chuanxiong and its biological activity. The flavonoid components of Chuanxiong (LCTF) were extracted by ultrasonic assisted method and optimized by response surface methodology to determine the best extraction process. The obtained total flavonoid extracts were purified by AB-8 macroporous resin, and their hypoglycaemic levels and antioxidant levels were determined. The optimal conditions were as follows: ethanol concentration of 72%, extraction time of 61 min, liquid–solid ratio of 28 mL/g, extraction temperature of 40 ℃ and ultrasonic power of 320 W. The yield was (3.07 ± 0.03) mg/g, compared with (2.22 ± 0.05) mg/g obtained by conventional water extraction. The purity of total flavonoids of Ligusticum chuanxiong after purification (LCPTF) was 6.36%, which was 2.3 times higher than that of LCTF. The IC50 values of LCPTF for α-glucosidase, α-amylase, DPPH and ABTS assays were 0.024 mg/mL, 0.677 mg/mL, 0.232 mg/mL and 0.317 mg/mL, respectively. and the overall inhibition rates were positively correlated with the concentrations. The total flavonoids of Ligusticum chuanxiong exhibited high levels of inhibition of α-glucosidase, α-amylase, DPPH radicals and ABTS radicals, and the activity levels were further increased after purification, which had certain reference significance for the development and application of products related to the total flavonoids of Ligusticum chuanxiong. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ligusticum chuanxiong Hort. is considered an important medicinal herb with extremely high economic value and medicinal value due to its various effects, including anti-oxidation, sedative action, hepatoprotection, and invigorating blood circulation. However, L. chuanxiong cultivation is hampered by various plant diseases, especially the root rot caused by Fusarium solani, hindering the sustainable development of the L. chuanxiong industry. The occurrence of soil-borne diseases is closely linked to imbalances in the microbial community structure. Here, we studied the yields, rhizosphere microbiota, and soil physiochemical characteristics of healthy and diseased L. chuanxiong plants affected by root rot with high-throughput sequencing and microbial network analysis, aiming to explore the relationships between soil environmental factors, microbiomes, and plant health of L. chuanxiong. According to the results, L. chuanxiong root rot significantly decreased the yields, altered microbial community diversity and composition, enriched more pathogenic fungi, recruited some beneficial bacteria, and reduced microbial interaction network stability. The Mantel test showed that soil organic matter and pH were the major environmental factors modulating plant microbiome assembly. The root rot severity was significantly affected by soil physiochemical properties, including organic matter, cation exchange capacity, available nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and pH. Furthermore, two differential microbes that have great potential in the biocontrol of L. chuanxiong root rot were dug out in the obtained results, which were the genera Trichoderma and Bacillus. This study provided a theoretical basis for further studies revealing the microecological mechanism of L. chuanxiong root rot and the ecological prevention and control of L. chuanxiong root rot from a microbial ecology perspective.

Cancer pain, especially the moderate-to-severe pain experienced by patients with advanced cancer, is still one of the most challenging clinical problems. The current mainstream pharmacological treatment for cancer pain involves applying opioid medications and other pain-killing drugs. However, analgesic drugs have many adverse effects such as addiction, tolerance, and other formidable clinical and social issues. Thus, finding a new therapeutic approach to treat cancer pain is essential. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has been increasingly applied in clinical practice because of its good efficacy and few side effects. However, its mechanisms of action in treating pain are still under investigation. The most important mechanism of cancer pain is that a large amount of pain-causing substances are secreted from cancer cells and promote their growth and invasion. The physical and chemical stimulations of these substances exist along with the cancer growth, leading to constantly increased pain sensation. Whether cancer pain can be alleviated by inhibiting cancer cells from releasing the substances and changing the microenvironment around the cancer mass, or even by eliminating pain-causing substances, is largely unknown. Based on TCM theory, this study reported that the aforementioned approach could effectively manage different cancer pains by tonifying qi, clearing and activating channels and meridians, and strengthening body resistance. The TCM therapies activate blood circulation, remove blood stasis, and nourish the heart. Commonly used Chinese herbal drugs include Corydalis yanhusuo, Angelica dahurica, and Ligusticum chuanxiong. Instead of using conventional analgesics to reduce pain, we should focus on using TCM modalities to alleviate cancer pain and increase the quality of life in patients suffering from cancer pain. TCM should provide us with a new strategy for managing cancer pain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Szechwan lovage rhizome (SLR, the rhizome of Ligusticum chuanxiong Hort., Chuanxiong in Chinese transliteration) is one Chinese materia medica (CMM) commonly used to activate blood circulation and remove blood stasis. SLR is applicable to most blood stasis syndromes. It has significant clinical efficacy in relation to human diseases of the cardiocerebrovascular system, nervous system, respiratory system, digestive system, urinary system, etc. Apart from China, SLR is also used in Singapore, Malaysia, the European Union, and the United States of America. However, the current chemical markers in pharmacopeia or monography for the quality assessment of SLR are not well characterized or specifically characterized, nor do they fully reflect the medicinal efficacy of SLR, resulting in the quality of SLR not being effectively controlled. CMM can only have medicinal efficacy when they are applied in vivo to an organism. The intensity of their pharmaceutical activities can more directly represent the quality of CMM. Therefore, the chemical constituents and pharmacological actions of SLR are reviewed in this paper. In order to demonstrate the medicinal efficacy of SLR in promoting blood circulation and removing blood stasis, bioassay methods are put forward to evaluate the pharmaceutical activities of SLR to improve hemorheology, hemodynamics, and vascular microcirculation, as well as its anti-platelet aggregation and anticoagulation properties. Through comprehensive analyses of these pharmaceutical properties, the quality and therapeutic value of SLR are ascertained.

Butylphthalide, a prescription medicine recognized for its efficacy in treating ischemic strokes approved by the State Food and Drug Administration of China in 2005, is sourced from the traditional botanical remedy Ligusticum chuanxiong. While chemical synthesis offers a viable route, limitations in the production of isomeric variants with compromised bioactivity necessitate alternative strategies. Addressing this issue, biosynthesis offers a promising solution. However, the intricate in vivo pathway for butylphthalide biosynthesis remains elusive. In this study, we examined the distribution of butylphthalide across various tissues of L. chuanxiong and found a significant accumulation in the rhizome. By searching transcriptome data from different tissues of L. chuanxiong, we identified four rhizome-specific genes annotated as 2-oxoglutarate-dependent dioxygenase (2-OGDs) that emerged as promising candidates involved in butylphthalide biosynthesis. Among them, LcSAO1 demonstrates the ability to catalyze the desaturation of senkyunolide A at the C-4 and C-5 positions, yielding the production of butylphthalide. Experimental validation through transient expression assays in Nicotiana benthamiana corroborates this transformative enzymatic activity. Notably, phylogenetic analysis of LcSAO1 revealed that it belongs to the DOXB clade, which typically encompasses genes with hydroxylation activity, rather than desaturation. Further structure modelling and site-directed mutagenesis highlighted the critical roles of three amino acid residues, T98, S176, and T178, in substrate binding and enzyme activity. By unraveling the intricacies of the senkyunolide A desaturase, the penultimate step in the butylphthalide biosynthesis cascade, our findings illuminate novel avenues for advancing synthetic biology research in the realm of medicinal natural products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acute ankle sprain is one of the most common lower limb injuries particularly in athletes and it accounts for 16-40% of all sports-related injuries. A significant proportion of patients experience persistent residual symptoms and recurrence. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) offers effective treatment in terms of pain relief, swelling reduction, functional improvement, and shorter disease duration. This study provides a comprehensive analysis of the active ingredients, molecular targets, signaling pathways, and Longji Xiaozhong ointment's clinical efficacy for treating acute ankle sprains. We followed network pharmacology approach to identify the molecular targets and mechanism of action of Longji Xiaozhong ointment in treating acute ankle sprain and to validate its clinical value using relevant clinical data. Initially, Longji Xiaozhong Ointment's active ingredients were screened using the TCMSP platform based on drug properties similar to DLP =0.18 and oral bioavailability OB =30%. The molecular targets were identified from the ETCM database, followed by constructing protein-protein interaction (PPI) network diagrams and GO and pathway enrichment analysis on key genes. Furthermore, the UniProt database was used to investigate the 3D structures of these key genes. Finally, the clinical data of 111 patients with acute ankle sprains were retrospectively analyzed and further explored by comparing the different curative effects of Longji Xiaozhong ointment with Celebrex and Shexiang Analgesic ointment to check the clinical value of Longji Xiaozhong ointment in treating acute ankle sprain. In the TCMSP database, we found that there were 42 active ingredients in Longji Xiaozhong ointment, including 13 kinds of Strychnosnux-vomica L., 7 kinds of Ligusticum chuanxiong, and 22 kinds of Safflowers (Carthamus tinctorius), and a total of 3206 target genes were obtained. After applying the OB =50% criteriaand DL =0.5, 19 key target genes were selected based on their correspondence to the active ingredients. Protein mutual aid network construction and module analysis yielded two high-scoring Clusters and identified seven key proteins, including SLC6A4, ADRB2, ADRA1B, CHRM1, F2, OPRM1, and OPRD1. Functional enrichment analysis (FEA) of candidate target genes of Strychnosnux-vomica, Ligusticum chuanxiongand Safflowers in Longji Xiaozhong ointment in ETCM database showed SUMOylation of intracellular receptors, blockade of NMDA receptors, and activation of GABA A receptors, lipid metabolism regulationby peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPARa). PPARA activates aspects of gene expression and transcriptional activation of mitochondrial biogenesis. On retrospective analysis, all patients were divided into Group A: Celebrex combined with brace immobilization group (36 cases); Group B: Shexiang Jietong ointment combined with brace immobilization group (37 cases); and Group C: Longji Xiaozhong ointment combined with brace immobilization group (38 cases). After treatment, the VAS score, swelling degree and scope score of Longji Xiaozhong ointment combined with brace immobilization group were significantly lower than those of the other two groups, and the effect was significantly better in terms of daily activities, sports, quality of life and occurrence of re-sprain than the other two groups. Our findings, supported by clinical data, demonstrate that Longji Xiaozhong ointment effectively alleviates swelling and pain, accelerates the repair of ankle ligaments, enhances ankle joint function, and improves ankle joint stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Peanut stem rot caused by Sclerotium rolfsii is an epidemic disastrous soil‐borne disease. Recently, natural products tend to be safe alternative antifungal agents to combat pathogens. RESULTS: This work determined the preliminary antifungal activity of 29 essential oils against S. rolfsii and found that Ligusticum chuanxiong essential oil (LCEO) showed the best antifungal activity, with an EC50 value of 81.79 mg L−1. Sixteen components (98.78%) were identified in LCEO by gas chromatography‐mass spectrometry analysis, the majority by volume comprising five phthalides (93.14%). Among these five phthalides, butylidenephthalide was the most effective compound against S. rolfsii. Butylidenephthalide not only exhibited favorable in vitro antifungal activity against the mycelial growth, sclerotia production and germination of S. rolfsi, but also presented efficient in vivo efficacy in the control of peanut stem rot. Seven days after application in the glasshouse, the protective and curative efficacy of butylidenephthalide at 300 mg L−1 (52.02%, 44.88%) and LCEO at 1000 mg L−1 (49.60%, 44.29%) against S. rolfsii were similar to that of the reference fungicide polyoxin at 300 mg L−1 (54.61%, 48.28%). Butylidenephthalide also significantly decreased the oxalic acid and polygalacturonase content of S. rolfsii, suggesting a decreased infection ability on plants. Results of biochemical actions indicated that butylidenephthalide did not have any effect on the cell membrane integrity and permeability but significantly decreased nutrient contents, disrupted the mitochondrial membrane, inhibited energy metabolism and induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation of S. rolfsii. CONCLUSION: Our results could provide an important reference for understanding the application potential and mechanisms of butylidenephthalide in the control of S. rolfsii. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Ligusticum chuanxiong ('chuanxiong') is a traditional Chinese medicine for promoting blood circulation and removing blood stasis, which is often used to treat thrombotic diseases. However, its potential anticoagulant active ingredients have been unexplored. Objectives: The study aims to establish an affinity ultrafiltration mass spectrometry (AUF‐MS) method for rapid screening of anti‐thrombin active components of chuanxiong and to verify it in vitro. Method: In this study, the chemical constituents of different parts of chuanxiong were determined. A method for rapid screening of anticoagulant active ingredients by AUF‐MS was established using thrombin as an affinity receptor target. Subsequently, the anticoagulant effect of such ligands was verified by in vitro anticoagulation experiments such as chromogenic substrate method and in vitro coagulation assay. Then the possible interaction mechanism between these ligands and thrombin was further studied by molecular docking. Results: Twenty‐one components were detected from different parts of chuanxiong. And three potential anti‐thrombin active components were screened: ferulic acid, chlorogenic acid, isochlorogenic acid A by AUF coupled with high‐performance liquid chromatography‐quadrupole‐Orbitrap mass spectrometry (HPLC‐Q‐Orbitrap‐MSn). The in vitro activity experiments and molecular docking revealed that these potential ligands exhibited strong binding ability and inhibitory activities on thrombin. Conclusion: The present study revealed that chuanxiong is a traditional Chinese medicine with excellent anticoagulation effects. Meanwhile, the integrated strategy based on AUF‐MS, in vitro experiments and molecular docking also provided a powerful tool for further exploration of active ingredients responsible for the anticoagulant activity in chuanxiong. In this experiment, the active components in different polar parts of chuanxiong were qualitatively analyzed, and 21 components were detected. Three anticoagulant active components, ferulic acid, chlorogenic acid and isochlorogenic acid A were screened by affinity ultrafiltration mass spectrometry. The in vitro activity experiments and molecular docking revealed that these potential ligands exhibited strong binding ability and inhibitory activities on thrombin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ligusticum chuanxiong is a common traditional edible-medicinal herb that has various pharmacological activities. However, its effects on Saccharomyces cerevisiae (S. cerevisiae) remains unknown. In this study, we found that water extract of Ligusticum chuanxiong (abbreviated as WEL) exhibited excellent free radical scavenging ability in-vitro. Moreover, WEL treatment could delay the aging of S. cerevisiae, an important food microorganism sensitive to reactive oxygen species (ROS) stress. Biochemical analyses revealed that WEL significantly increased the activity of antioxidant enzymes in S. cerevisiae, including superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione reductase (GR), as well as their gene expression. As a result, ROS level was significantly decreased and accompanied with the decline of malondialdehyde (MDA), which represented a state of low oxidative stress. The reduction of oxidative stress could elevate S. cerevisiae's ethanol fermentation efficiency. Taken together, WEL plays a protective role against S. cerevisiae aging via improving antioxidant activity.

Three pairs of new enantiomeric adenine alkaloids, (+)/(−)-liguadenines A–C [(+)/(−)-1–3], were isolated from the rhizome of Ligusticum chuanxiong Hort. The structures and absolute configurations of these compounds were determined using spectroscopic data, single-crystal X-ray diffraction, and electronic circular dichroism analyses. To the best of our knowledge, compounds (+)-1 and (−)-1 are the first hybrid phthalide–adenines to be ever reported. The linkage between the phthalide and adenine units in these compounds forms a rare 5-oxa-1-azaspiro[3,4]octane moiety. Analyses of the anti-inflammatory activities of the isolated compounds show that (+)/(−)-1 and (+)-3 exhibit significant inhibitory activity against LPS-induced TNF-α and IL-6 production in RAW264.7 cells. RT-qPCR analysis confirms that the most active compound, (+)-3, exerts anti-inflammatory activity by downregulating the mRNA expressions of TNF-α and IL-6 in the cells.

Chuanxiong (CX, Ligusticum chuanxiong), Japanese Chuanxiong (JCX, Cnidium officinale), Fuxiong (FX, Ligusticum sinense 'Fuxiong'), and Jinxiong (JX, Ligusticum sinense 'Jinxiong') are aromatic herbs used in China, Japan, and other regions. Their morphology and aromatic odor are similar, resulting in confused and mixed uses. This study compares the volatile compositions of these herbs for defining their medical uses. Headspace solid-phase microextraction–gas chromatography–triple quadrupole–mass spectrometry was employed to separate, identify, and quantify the compounds in the volatile gas of the four herbs. A total of 128 volatile compounds were identified and quantified in 23 these herbal samples. The sums of 106, 115, 116, and 120 compounds were detected in the volatile gas of CX, JCX, FX, and JX, with the mean contents of 4.80, 7.12, 7.67, and 12.0 μg/g, respectively. Types and contents of the main compounds were found to be different in the volatile gas of these herbs. The orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis and hierarchical clustering analysis showed the four herbs located in different confined areas or clusters. It is concluded that the volatile compositions in the four herbs are generally similar, but the contents of main volatile compounds are different. These herbs should be clearly differentiated in medical use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rhizosphere microbiomes influence the secondary metabolism of plants, but the mechanism has not been analyzed. This study aimed to explore relationship between abiotic environments, microbiomes and secondary metabolites of Ligusticum chuanxiong. By combining metagenomic, metatranscriptomic, and high-performance liquid chromatography, the microbial community structure and key microbiomes in Ligusticum chuanxiong were identified. Furthermore, the relationship between root-associated microbiomes and the secondary metabolites in Ligusticum chuanxiong was revealed. The microbial community structures of L. chuanxiong differed in each individual. The key microbiome related to secondary metabolism were similar, while there were significant differences in relative abundance across all samples. Four families (Burkholderiaceae, Comamonadaceae, Pseudomonadaceae, and Streptomycetaceae) and four species (Gemmatirosa kalamazoonesis , Luteitalea pratensis , Candidatus Solibacter usitatus , and Sorangium cellulosum) were identified as conservative core microbes, and Chloroflexi was the main biomarker. Functional annotation results showed that the metabolic function strength of the microbial community was positively correlated with the secondary metabolite content. According to correlation results, rhizosphere microbiomes related with secondary metabolites in two aspects including community diversity and microbial abundance. In conclusion, environmental factors might affect secondary metabolites of Ligusticum chuanxiong Hort. by influencing microbial diversity and the abundance of key microbes. This study can provide references for improving the artificial cultivation of Ligusticum chuanxiong , further developing and utilizing this medicinal resource. [Display omitted] • Microbial community structures were different, but dominant species were similar. • Four core families and four core species were identified as conservative microbes. • Chloroflexi was the main biomarker among microbial community of different regions. • The microbial functional strength positively correlated with chemical content. • Abiotic environments affect secondary metabolites via the rhizosphere microbiome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein, we established the fingerprint of Ligusticum chuanxiong, and the effects of different 60Co-γ irradiation doses on the eight active components of Ligusticum chuanxiong were investigated. A stock solution of the eight standard reference substances in Ligusticum chuanxiong were analyzed using a SHIMADZU Shim-pack GIST C18 chromatographic column (250 mm × 4.6 mm, 5 μm). Different doses (3 kGy, 6 kGy,10 kGy and 15 kGy) of 60Co-γ irradiation were used to treat Ligusticum chuanxiong. After these treatments, the fingerprint of Ligusticum chuanxiong was obtained via liquid chromatography. The similarity was evaluated using the Similarity Evaluation System for Chromatographic Fingerprint of Traditional Chinese Medicine (2004 A edition), and the results indicated that the similarity of each component in Ligusticum chuanxiong was >0.988. After irradiation at

Ligusticum chuanxiong Hort. as an important Chinese medicinal herb clinically used as anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and hepatoprotective agents, is widely planted in China. However, related studies on L. chuanxiong’s distribution and significant environmental factors that affect its growth are insufficient. Based on climatic, topographic and soil factors, this study predicted current and future distributions of L. chuanxiong and analyzed the distribution transformation under different scenarios. Moreover, the most important environmental factors for modeling were explored using maximum entropy models, chemical analysis and molecular analysis. Results suggested that the predicted distribution of L. chuanxiong was wider than previously reported. Among these environmental variables, climate factors, especially the minimum temperature of the coldest month (Bio6, 46.7%) and solar radiation (SRAD, 43.4%) contributed more than others to L. chuanxiong’s distribution with optimum values of 0–1.5 °C and 5000–11,000 kJ/m2 per day. Total and highly suitable areas respectively increased by 26,788–943,820 km2 and 34,757–340,417 km2 in the future (2061–2080, 2081–2100). The distribution centers of suitable zones were predicted to migrate north in the future, and the migration distance was 135.74–479.77 km from current center. Results of chemical content determination suggested that L. chuanxiong should be cultivated in high-suitable places to improve medicinal quality by evaluating contents of ferulic acids and Z-ligustilide. Correlation analysis suggested that both chemical contents and gene expression levels decreased with decreasing habitat suitability, suggesting a strong link between environments, chemical constituents, and gene expression. These findings improve the comprehension of the effects of environments on the distribution patterns of L. chuanxiong, as well the relation between environmental suitability and medicinal quality. These findings provide a useful foundation for the planting, cultivation and conservation of L. chuanxiong.

ABSTRACT: Ligusticum chuanxiong (CX) is a traditional Chinese medicine that is widely planted throughout the world. CX is one of the most important and commonly used drugs to enhance blood circulation. The preovulatory follicles in laying hens have a large number of blood arteries and meridians that feed the follicles’ growth and maturation with nutrients, hormones, and cytokines. With the extension of laying time, preovulatory follicles angiogenesis decreased gradually. In this study, we studied the mechanism of CX on preovulatory follicles angiogenesis in late-phase laying hens. The results show that CX extract can increase the angiogenesis of preovulatory follicles (F1–F3) of late-phase laying hens. CX extract can promote vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR2) phosphorylation in preovulatory follicles theca layers, promote the proliferation, invasion and migration through PI3K/AKT and RAS/ERK signaling pathways in primary follicle microvascular endothelial-like cells (FMECs). In addition, CX extract can up-regulate the expression of hypoxia inducible factor α (HIF1α) in granulosa cells (GCs) and granulosa layers through PI3K/AKT and RAS/ERK signaling pathways, thereby promoting the secretion of vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA). In conclusion, the current study confirmed the promoting effect of CX extract on the preovulatory follicles angiogenesis, which sets the stage for the design of functional animal feed for late-phase laying hens.

Ligusticum chuanxiong Hort. (CX) is a medicinal and edible plant including a variety of active substances, which may be an available resource for the treatment of related diseases. To expand the medicinal uses of CX, this study aims to explore the antioxidant, anti-aging and neuroprotective effects of the Ligusticum chuanxiong leaves (CXL) and rhizome (CXR) extracts. We first characterize CX phytochemical spectrum by LC-MS as well as antioxidant capacity. Acute toxicity, anti-oxidative stress capacity, lifespan and healthspan was evaluated in C elegans N2. Neuroprotective effect was evaluated in vitro and in vivo (C elegans CL4176 and CL2355). In this study, we detected 74 and 78 compounds from CXR and CXL, respectively, including phthalides, alkaloids, organic acids, terpenes, polyphenols and others. Furthermore, we found that CXs not only protect against oxidative stress, but also prolong the lifespan, alleviate lipofuscin, malondialdehyde (MDA) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation, and improve movement level, antioxidant enzyme activity in C elegans N2. However, only CXR reduced the β-amyloid peptide (Aβ)-induced paralysis phenotype in CL4176s and alleviated chemosensory behavior dysfunction in CL2355s. In addition, CXR treatment reduced the production of Aβ and ROS, enhanced SOD activity in CL4176s. The possible mechanism of anti-aging of CXL and CXR is to promote the expression of related antioxidant pathway genes, increase the activity of antioxidant enzymes, and reduce the accumulation of ROS, which is dependent on DAF-16 and HSF-1 (only in CXR). CXR was able to activate antioxidase-related (sod-3 and sod-5) and heat shock protein genes (hsp-16.1 and hsp-70) expression, consequently ameliorating proteotoxicity related to Aβ aggregation. In summary, these findings demonstrate the antioxidant, anti-aging and neuroprotective (only in CXR) activities of the CX, which provide an important pharmacological basis for developing functional foods and drugs to relieve the symptoms of aging and AD. However, the material basis of neuroprotective activity and antiaging effects need to be elucidated, and the relationship between these activities should also be clarified in future studies.

Echinochloa crus-galli (Barnyard grass) seriously damages crops in China. It has become resistant to many herbicides, hence, new and effective control measures need to be found. We did bioassay to find the herbicidal potential of 11-plant species essential oils on barnyard grass. The essential oils ofArtemisia argyi Lévl. et Van. (Green Wormwood oil), Curcuma zedoaria (Christm.) Rosc. (Turmeric oil) and Pogostemon cablin (Blanco) Benth. (Patchouli oil) effectively inhibited the growth of barnyard grass. The green wormwood oil had the most potent herbicidal effects (EC50=0.0107 g/mL). After treatment with green wormwood oil, the activities of defence enzymes [catalase (CAT), peroxidase (POD) and superoxide dismutase (SOD)], dramatically increased 8 h after-treatment, and then decreased to initial levels within 72 h. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) results revealed that borneol and eudesmol are two major components of green wormwood oil. The herbicidal activity assays revealed that eudesmol was more potent than borneol (Borneol, EC50=0.0865 g/mL; Eudesmol, EC50=0.0134 g/mL). The experiments indicate that green wormwood oil is a valuable raw material for developing new eco-friendly herbicides for agriculture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Migraines are a common neurological disorder characterized by desperate throbbing unilateral headaches and are related to phonophobia, photophobia, nausea, and vomiting. The Angelica dahurica Radix and Ligusticum chuanxiong Rhizoma herb pair (ALHP) has been used to treat migraines for centuries in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). However, the physiological mechanisms of migraine treatment have not yet been elucidated. In this study, a total of 50 hub targets related to the effect of 28 bioactive compounds in ALHP on anti-migraine were obtained through network pharmacology analysis. GO and KEGG analyses of the hub targets demonstrated that ALHP treatment of migraines significantly involved the G-protein-coupled receptor signaling pathway, chemical synaptic transmission, inflammatory response, and other biological processes. According to the degree of gene targets in the network, ACE, SLC3A6, NR3CI, MAPK1, PTGS2, PIK3CA, RELA, GRIN1, GRM5, IL1B, and DRD2 were found to be the core gene targets. The docking results showed a high affinity for docked conformations between compounds and predicted targets. The results of this study suggest that ALHP could treat migraines by regulating immunological functions, diminishing inflammation, and improving immunity through different physiological pathways, which contributes to the scientific base for more in-depth research as well as for a more widespread clinical application of ALHP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The separation of chemical components from wild plants to develop new pesticides is a hot topic in current research. To evaluate the antimicrobial effects of metabolites of Ligusticum chuanxiong (CX), we systematically studied the antimicrobial activity of extracts of CX, and the active compounds were isolated, purified and structurally identified. The results of toxicity measurement showed that the extracts of CX had good biological activities against Botrytis cinerea, Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, Alternaria alternata and Pythium aphanidermatum, and the value of EC50 were 130.95, 242.36, 332.73 and 307.29 mg/L, respectively. The results of in vivo determination showed that under the concentration of 1000 mg/L, the control effect of CX extract on Blumeria graminis was more than 40%, and the control effect on Botrytis cinerea was 100%. The antifungal active components of CX were identified as Senkyunolide A and Ligustilide by mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance. The MIC (minimum inhibitory concentration) value of Senkyunolide A and Ligustilide against Fusarium graminearum were 7.81 and 62.25 mg/L, respectively. As a new botanical fungicide with a brightly exploitative prospect, CX extract has potential research value in the prevention and control of plant diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE: To explore the mechanism of astragalus membranaceus-ligusticum Chuanxiong in the treatment of spinal cord injury (SCI) by network pharmacology and molecular docking technology. METHODS: The main active ingredients and corresponding targets of astragalus membranaceus-ligusticum Chuanxiong were searched on Ttraditional Chinese medicine systems pharmacology database and analysis platform, the main targets of SCI were screened in GeneCard database, and the common targets were obtained by drawing Venn diagram. Protein-protein interaction network was constructed by using STRING data platform. R 3. 6. 0 software was used for gene ontology (GO) functional enrichment analysis and Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis. Cytoscape 3. 8. 2 software was used to construct the active ingredient-target network, and the network topology analysis was carried out to screen out the key targets and ingredients, and then PyMol 2. 5. 0 and AotoDock software was used for molecular. RESULTS: There were 26 active ingredients of astragalus membranaceus-ligusticum Chuanxiong, 97 corresponding targets, 690 SCI disease targets and 38 common targets showed by Venn diagram were obtained. GO analysis showed 619 biological processes, 35 molecular functions and 13 cellular ingredients (adjust P< 0. 01), and KEGG pathway enrichment showed 88 entries (adjust P<0. 01). Molecular docking showed that PTGS1 protein was stably bound to quercetin, kaempferol, 7-O-methylisoxylitol, mandenol and myricetone. CONCLUSIONS: The mechanism of astragalus membranaceus-ligusticum Chuanxiong in the treatment of SCI may be related to antiinflammatory, anti oxidative stress, anti neuronal apoptosis and regulation of phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase / protein kinase B signaling pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ligusticum Chuanxiong is an essential medicinal and edible plant, but it is highly susceptible to the enrichment of soil Cadmium (Cd), which seriously affects its medical safety. However, the control of Cd uptake by Ligusticum Chuanxiong is little reported. In this study, we reported that a green Mercapto-functionalized palygorskite (MPAL) effectively promoted Ligusticum Chuanxiong growth, and restrained the Cd uptake by Ligusticum Chuanxiong both in the mildly contaminated soil (M-Soil) and severely contaminated soil (S-Soil). The experimental results demonstrated that the application of MPAL significantly increased the biomass and antioxidant enzyme activity of Ligusticum Chuanxiong. In the M-Soil, the Cd content in the roots, stems, and leaves of Ligusticum Chuanxiong decreased markedly by 82.46–86.66%, 64.17–71.73%, and 64.94–76.66%, respectively, after the MPAL treatment. In the S-Soil, MPAL application decreased the Cd content in roots, stems, and leaves by 89.43–98.92%, 24.19–86.22%, and 67.14–77.90%, respectively. Based on Diethylenetriamine Pentaacetic Acid (DTPA) extraction, the immobilization efficiency of MPAL for Cd in soils ranged from 22.01% to 77.04%. Additionally, the HOAc extractable Cd was transformed into reducible and oxidizable fractions. Furthermore, MPAL enhanced the activities of soil alkaline phosphatase, and urease, but decreased sucrase activity. Environmental toxicological analysis indicated that MPAL reduced the potential ecological risk of Cd in the soil. These findings revealed that MPAL can effectively reduce Cd accumulation in Ligusticum Chuanxiong and promote plant growth, suggesting its potential as a viable amendment for remediating Cd-contaminated soils. [Display omitted] • MPAL significantly reduced the enrichment of Cd by Ligusticum Chuanxiong. • MPAL significantly changed the biochemical properties of Ligusticum Chuanxiong. • MPAL reduced the available Cd in soil but increased stable states. • MPAL significantly improved the enzyme activity in Cd contaminated soil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Osteoarthritis (OA) is a degenerative disease which serious affects patients. Ligusticum chuanxiong (CX) has been shown to have a certain curative effect on osteoarthritis in traditional Chinese medicine therapy. This study is based on network pharmacology and molecular docking technology to explore the potential mechanism of CX. Methods: Components of CX to treat osteoarthritis were screened in the TCMSP database and targets were predicted by the PharmMapper database, the osteoarthritis targets were collected from the GeneCards database, and intersection genes were found to be the possible targets of CX anti-OA. The STRING database and Cytoscape software were utilized for protein-protein interaction analysis and further screening of core targets. The Metascape database was used for KEGG and GO enrichment analyses. Then, the top 10 pathways were selected to construct "drug-compound-target-pathway-disease" network analysis. Finally, molecular docking was used to analyze the binding affinity of seven compounds with core targets and TNF-α. Results: Seven compounds with 253 non-repetitive targets of CX were screened from the TCMSP database and 60 potential intersection targets of CX anti-OA were found. PPI network analysis showed that the core targets were ALB, AKT1, IGF1, CASP3, MAPK1, ANXA5, and MAPK14, while GO and KEGG pathway enrichment analyses showed that the relevant biological processes involved in the treatment of osteoarthritis by CX might include the MAPK cascade and reactive oxygen species metabolic process. The KEGG pathway analysis result was mainly associated with the MAPK signaling pathway and PI3K-AKT signaling pathway. We further docked seven ingredients with MAPK1 and MAPK14 enriched in the MAPK pathway, and TNF-α as the typical inflammatory cytokine. The results also showed good binding affinity, especially FA, which may be the most important component of CX anti-OA. Conclusion: Our research revealed the potential mechanism of CX in the treatment of OA, and our findings can also pave the way for subsequent basic experimental verification and a new research direction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Osteoarthritis (OA) is a degenerative disease which serious affects patients. Ligusticum chuanxiong (CX) has been shown to have a certain curative effect on osteoarthritis in traditional Chinese medicine therapy. This study is based on network pharmacology and molecular docking technology to explore the potential mechanism of CX.Methods: Components of CX to treat osteoarthritis were screened in the TCMSP database and targets were predicted by the PharmMapper database, the osteoarthritis targets were collected from the GeneCards database, and intersection genes were found to be the possible targets of CX anti-OA. The STRING database and Cytoscape software were utilized for protein-protein interaction analysis and further screening of core targets. The Metascape database was used for KEGG and GO enrichment analyses. Then, the top 10 pathways were selected to construct “drug-compound-target-pathway-disease” network analysis. Finally, molecular docking was used to analyze the binding affinity of seven compounds with core targets and TNF-α.Results: Seven compounds with 253 non-repetitive targets of CX were screened from the TCMSP database and 60 potential intersection targets of CX anti-OA were found. PPI network analysis showed that the core targets were ALB, AKT1, IGF1, CASP3, MAPK1, ANXA5, and MAPK14, while GO and KEGG pathway enrichment analyses showed that the relevant biological processes involved in the treatment of osteoarthritis by CX might include the MAPK cascade and reactive oxygen species metabolic process. The KEGG pathway analysis result was mainly associated with the MAPK signaling pathway and PI3K-AKT signaling pathway. We further docked seven ingredients with MAPK1 and MAPK14 enriched in the MAPK pathway, and TNF-α as the typical inflammatory cytokine. The results also showed good binding affinity, especially FA, which may be the most important component of CX anti-OA.Conclusion: Our research revealed the potential mechanism of CX in the treatment of OA, and our findings can also pave the way for subsequent basic experimental verification and a new research direction.

As part of our search for compounds with cytotoxicity from endophytes of traditional Chinese medicines, two novel nor-sesquiterpenoids (1–2) with a new skeleton containing a tetrahydrofuran moiety were isolated form a rice medium of Fusarium tricinctum, an endophytic fungus isolated from the root of Ligusticum chuanxiong. The structures of these two previously undescribed compounds were elucidated by interpretation of the spectroscopic evidences including NMR correlations as well as MS data. The absolute configurations of these two compounds were confirmed by TD-DFT-ECD calculations. An MTT assay indicated that compound 1 exhibited moderate cytotoxic activity against MV4-11 with an IC50 value of 22.29 μM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Falonolide A (1) and B (2), two novel polyyne hybrid phthalides resulting from unprecedented carbon skeleton polymerized by Z -ligustilide and falcarindiol, along with six new related phthalides (3 – 8), were isolated from Ligusticum chuanxiong Hort. Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic analysis, computer-assisted structure elucidation (CASE) analysis, DP4+ probability analysis and electronic circular dichroism (ECD) calculations. A plausible biosynthetic pathway for 1 – 8 was proposed, and the production mechanism of 2 was revealed by density functional theory (DFT) method. Compounds 4 and 6 exhibited significant vasodilatory activity with EC 50 of 8.00 ± 0.86 and 6.92 ± 1.02 μM, respectively. Compound 4 also displayed significant inhibitory effect of NO production with EC 50 value of 8.82 ± 0.30 μM. Based on the established compounds library, structure-activity relationship analysis of phthalides was explored to provide insights into the drug development of vasodilators and anti-flammatory [Display omitted] • Unprecedented polyyne hybrid skeletons formed by Alder-Rickert reaction discovered in Ligusticum chuanxiong Hort. • Compounds 4 and 6 exhibited significant vasodilatory and anti-inflammatory activities. • Structural-activity analysis of phthalides informed vasodilator and anti-inflammatory drug design. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Migraines are a common neurological disorder characterized by desperate throbbing unilateral headaches and are related to phonophobia, photophobia, nausea, and vomiting. The Angelica dahurica Radix and Ligusticum chuanxiong Rhizoma herb pair (ALHP) has been used to treat migraines for centuries in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). However, the physiological mechanisms of migraine treatment have not yet been elucidated. In this study, a total of 50 hub targets related to the effect of 28 bioactive compounds in ALHP on anti-migraine were obtained through network pharmacology analysis. GO and KEGG analyses of the hub targets demonstrated that ALHP treatment of migraines significantly involved the G-protein-coupled receptor signaling pathway, chemical synaptic transmission, inflammatory response, and other biological processes. According to the degree of gene targets in the network, ACE, SLC3A6, NR3CI, MAPK1, PTGS2, PIK3CA, RELA, GRIN1, GRM5, IL1B, and DRD2 were found to be the core gene targets. The docking results showed a high affinity for docked conformations between compounds and predicted targets. The results of this study suggest that ALHP could treat migraines by regulating immunological functions, diminishing inflammation, and improving immunity through different physiological pathways, which contributes to the scientific base for more in-depth research as well as for a more widespread clinical application of ALHP.

The separation of chemical components from wild plants to develop new pesticides is a hot topic in current research. To evaluate the antimicrobial effects of metabolites of Ligusticum chuanxiong (CX), we systematically studied the antimicrobial activity of extracts of CX, and the active compounds were isolated, purified and structurally identified. The results of toxicity measurement showed that the extracts of CX had good biological activities against Botrytis cinerea, Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, Alternaria alternata and Pythium aphanidermatum, and the value of EC50 were 130.95, 242.36, 332.73 and 307.29 mg/L, respectively. The results of in vivo determination showed that under the concentration of 1000 mg/L, the control effect of CX extract on Blumeria graminis was more than 40%, and the control effect on Botrytis cinerea was 100%. The antifungal active components of CX were identified as Senkyunolide A and Ligustilide by mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance. The MIC (minimum inhibitory concentration) value of Senkyunolide A and Ligustilide against Fusarium graminearum were 7.81 and 62.25 mg/L, respectively. As a new botanical fungicide with a brightly exploitative prospect, CX extract has potential research value in the prevention and control of plant diseases.

Objective: To study the intervention effect of Angelica Ligusticum chuanxiong on the tissues of allergic dermatitis from the perspective of subcutaneous blood rheology and inflammatory factor expression. Methods: 60 male pure white guinea pigs were randomly divided into control group, model group, Angelica dahurica group, Ligusticum chuanxiong group, Angelica combined Ligusticum chuanxiong group and positive drug group. Except for the normal group, the allergic contact subcutaneous inflammation model was established by 2.4-dinitrochlorobenzene method in all experimental groups except the normal group. After successful modeling, each group was designed to smear each group of drugs at inflammation sites. Four hours after the last administration, the blood flow changes in the affected ear of guinea pigs in each group were detected by laser Doppler flow imaging system. The ear tissues of guinea pigs in each experimental group were taken and pathological sections stained with HE were prepared. The inflammatory indicators IL-1beta, TNF-alpha, LTB4, LTD4, PGE in ear tissues were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results: Compared with the normal group, the blood flow of the ear branch trunk and terminal vessels of the sensitized model group increased sharply, and the blood flow of the ear vessels of each administration group was significantly lower than that of the model group. in which the combination of Ligusticum Chuanxiong and Angelica dahuricae had the most significant effect on the blood flow of inflamed tissue branches and trunks; the level of related inflammatory factors in the model is significantly increased, the inflammatory factor indexes of each administration group are significantly decreased, and the levels of LTB4, LTD4, PGD2, and PGE2 are decreased. Compared with the Angelicae group, the Ligusticum chuanxiong group had more significant effects on inhibiting the leukotriene indicators LTB4 and LTD4, and the Angelicae had more obvious effects on IL-1茁and IL-8. The combined use of Ligusticum chuanxiong and Angelicae group had better effects than the chuanxiong and Angelicae single-use group. Conclusion: Ligusticum chuanxiong Angelica has a therapeutic effect on the acute subcutaneous inflammation model. It can inhibit the inflammation in the tissue, reduce the release of prostaglandins and leukotrienes, and improve the hemorheological response caused by inflammation. The mechanism of action of Chuanxiong Angelica on acute subcutaneous inflammation is different, and it has a synergistic effect in inhibiting inflammatory mediators of leukotrienes and interleukins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present study, an immunological arabinan, LCP70-2A, was isolated from Ligusticum chuanxiong for the first time. The absolute molecular weight of LCP70-2A was determined to be 6.46 × 104 g/mol using the HPSEC-MALLS-RID method. The absolute configuration of arabinose in LCP70-2A was determined to be L-configuration. Physicochemical characterization revealed that LCP70-2A was a homogeneous polysaccharide and had a backbone of (1 → 5)-linked α -L-Ara f with terminal α -L-arabinose residues at position O -2 and O -3. Molecular conformation analysis showed that LCP70-2A was a branching polysaccharide with a compact coil chain conformation in 0.1 M NaCl solution. In addition, in vitro cell assays showed that LCP70-2A can activate macrophages by enhancing the phagocytosis and potentiating the secretion of immunoregulatory factors including NO, TNF- α , IL-6, and IL-1 β. Furthermore, LCP70-2A was proved to promote the production of ROS and NO using the zebrafish model, suggesting that LCP70-2A can be further developed as a candidate supplement for immunological enhancement. Unlabelled Image • A novel polysaccharide (LCP70-2A) was isolated from the rhizome of L. chuanxiong. • LCP70-2A was determined to be an arabinan. • LCP70-2A increased the levels of NO, IL-6, IL-1 β , and TNF- α in RAW264.7 cells. • LCP70-2A was proven to enhance the immunoregulatory activity of zebrafish. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phytochemical investigation of the rhizome of Ligusticum chuanxiong Hort led to the isolation and identification of three new compounds, chuanxiongoside A, (2E,4E)-8-(6-O-inositolyl)-8-oxo-2,7-dimethyl-octadienoic acid (2), chuanxiongoside C (3). The structures of these compounds were unambiguously established by HR-ESI-MS, UV, IR, CD, NMR spectral data and comparison to reported data. All the isolated compounds (1–3) were investigated for their inhibitory effects on nitric oxide (NO) production in LPS-induced RAW 264.7 cells. All compounds showed excellent inhibition of NO production stronger than curcumin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Pain is an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience in many diseases and is often caused by intense or damaging stimuli. Pain negatively affects the quality of life and increases high health expenditures. Drugs with analgesic properties are commonly used to relieve pain, but these Western medications could be overwhelmed by side effects including tolerance and addiction. Herbal medicines may provide alternative measures for pain management. In this review paper, after introduction of Chinese medicine theory and treatment modality, emphasis is placed on the application of Chinese herbs and herbal formulations in pain management. Three of the most commonly used herbs, i.e., Corydalis yanhusuo, Ligusticum chuanxiong, and Aconitum carmichaeli, are reviewed. Subsequently, using this ancient medical remedy, Chinese herbal formulation in treating common medical conditions associated with pain, such as headache/migraine, chest pain, abdominal pain, low back pain, neuropathic pain, osteoarthritis, and cancer pain, is presented. Chinese herbal medicines could be considered as a complementary and integrative approach in the modern armamentarium in combating pain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In many famous formulas of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), the rhizome of Ligusticum chuanxiong (L. chuanxiong) is commonly used as an ingredient for promoting blood circulation and resolving blood stasis to treat diabetic nephropathy. However, its material basis and mechanism of action are still needed to be explored. The aim of this work is to elucidate the potential effective parts (phthalides) of L. chuanxiong responsible for renal protection and to explore the possible mechanism of renal protection. A method based on column chromatography of macroporous resin was established to enrich an effective part (LCE70), and the composition of LCE70 was identified by HPLC-UV and UPLC-MS/MS methods. Mice model was induced by streptozotocin (STZ) to evaluate the protective effect of LCE70 on diabetic nephropathy (DN). In vitro , the suppressive effect of LCE70 on oxidative damage, inflammation and its mechanism were tested using immunoblot analysis, ELISA, etc. Cellular thermal shift assay (CETSA) was adopted to verify the interaction between the phthalides and the key targets involved in renal injury. LCE70 displayed therapeutic potential against metabolic disorders, renal dysfunction, and fibrosis in a DN model induced by STZ in mice. Furthermore, it markedly reduced oxidative stress of the kidney in DN mice by activating Nrf2 pathway. Z -ligustilide, the main component of LCE70, reacted with Keap1, and thus promoted Nrf2 dissociating from Keap1 to activate Nrf2 pathway. LCE70 improved hyperglycemia-induced renal function by enhancing the Nrf2 activation, reducing collagen deposition, and alleviating inflammation and oxidative stress, which suggested its potential as a therapeutic agent for DN. [Display omitted] • A method to enrich the bioactive phthalide part (LCE70) from the rhizome of Ligusticum chuanxiong has been established. • LCE70 alleviates streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic nephropathy in mice via regulating Nrf2. • Z -ligustilide, the main component of LCE70, reacts with cysteine residue of Keap1, and promotes the Nrf2 translocation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Five new compounds called Pestalotis A–E (1–5), comprising three monoterpene-lactone compounds (1–3), one tetrahydrobenzofuran derivative (4), and one sesquiterpene (5), were isolated from the EtOAc extract of Pestalotiopsis sp. The structures of the new compounds were elucidated by analysis of their NMR, HRMS, and ECD spectra, and the absolute configurations were established through the comparison of experimental and calculated ECD spectra. All compounds were tested for antitumor activity against SW-480, LoVo, HuH-7, and MCF-7. The results showed that compounds 2 and 4 exhibited potent antitumor activity against SW-480, LoVo, and HuH-7 cell lines. Furthermore, compound 4 was assessed against HuH-7, and the results indicated that the rate of apoptosis was dose-dependent.

Chuanxiong Rhizoma is a well-known Sichuan-specific herbal medicine. Its original plant, Ligusticum chuanxiong, has been cultivated asexually for a long time. L. chuanxiong has sexual reproductive disorders, which restricts its germplasm innovation. However, there is little research on the reproductive system of L. chuanxiong. This study is based on a comparative anatomical research approach, using morphological dissection, paraffin sectioning, staining and compression, and combined with scanning electron microscopy technology, to observe and compare the flowers, fruits, and seeds at various stages of reproductive growth of L. chuanxiong and its wild relative L. sinense. The results showed that the meiosis of pollen mother cells is abnormal in L. chuanxiong anthers, and the size and number of microspores are uneven and inconsistent in the tetrad stage. tapetum cells are not completely degenerated during anther development. During the pollen ripening stage, there are fine cracks in the anther wall, while most anthers could not release pollen normally. The surface of mature pollen grains is concave and partially deformed, and the pollens are all inactive and cannot germinate in vitro. The starch, polysaccharides, and lipids in the pollen were insufficient. The filaments of L. chuanxiong are short at the flowering stage and recurved downward. Double-hanging fruits were observed in the fruiting stage, being wrinkled; with shriveled seeds. Compared with L. sinense at the same stage, the anthers of L. sinense developed normally, and the pollen grains are vigorous and can germinate in vitro. The double-hanging fruits of L. sinense are full and normal; at the flowering period, the filaments are long and erect, significantly higher than the stigma. Mature blastocysts are visible in the ovary of both L. chuanxiong and L. sinense, and there is no significant difference in stigmas. The conclusion is that during the development of L. chuanxiong stamens, the meiosis of pollen mother cells is abnormal, and tetrad, tapetum, filament and other pollen structures develop abnormally. L. chuanxiong has the characteristic of male infertility, which is an important reason for its sexual reproductive disorders.

• Four new phenolic acid derivatives were isolated from the rhizome of Ligusticum chuanxiong Hort. • Compounds 3a and 3b are enantiomers and possess unusual scaffolds. • Compounds 1 showed moderate hepatoprotective activity. Four new phenolic acid derivatives, namely, 2,3-bis(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)cyclopent-2-enone (1), 4,5-di- O -caffeoyldaucic acid methyl ester (2), (+)-ligusticumtone (3a), and (‒)-ligusticumtone (3b), and two known compounds were isolated from the rhizome of Ligusticum chuanxiong Hort. Among of them, compound 1 is an unusual norlignan. Additionally, compounds 3a and 3b are enantiomers that were obtained by chiral separation. Their structures were established using UV, IR, HRESIMS, NMR analysis. The absolute configurations of 3a and 3b were determined via quantum ECD calculations. All the isolates were evaluated for their hepatoprotective activity against N -acetyl- p -aminophenol-induced HepG2 cell injury. Compound 1 showed moderate hepatoprotective activity at a concentration of 10 μ M (p < 0.05). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphical abstract Highlights • Seven new butylphthalide derivatives were isolated from an ethanol extract of Ligusticum chuanxiong Hort. • The hepatoprotective activities of all isolated compounds were evaluated in vitro. • Compounds 4 , 5 , and 7 – 9 showed significant hepatoprotective activity. Abstract Seven new butylphthalide derivatives, ligusticumolide A-G (1 – 7), together with two known butylphthalide derivatives (8 – 9) were isolated from an ethanol extract of Ligusticum chuanxiong Hort. The structures of these derivatives were elucidated from analysis of 1D/2D NMR, UV, IR and HRESIMS data. The absolute configurations of these derivatives were determined by electronic circular dichroism (ECD) calculations and Mosher′s method. Ligusticumolide A (1) and ligusticumolide B (2) are enantiomers that were obtained by chiral separation. Ligusticumolide C (3) and ligusticumolide D (4) are diastereomers. All of the compounds were evaluated for their hepatoprotective activity against N -acetyl- p -aminophenol-induced HepG2 cell injury. Compounds 4 , 5 , and 7 – 9 showed more significant hepatoprotective activity than that of the positive control drug (bicyclol) at a concentration of 10 μM (p < 0.01). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As an effective medicinal plant, Ligusticum chuanxiong (L. chuanxiong) is traditionally used in China to treat various kinds of dysesthesia caused by liver qi stagnation, chest paralysis and heart pain caused by liver blood stagnation, and bruises and injuries caused by blood stasis. Recent research has confirmed the efficacy of L. chuanxiong in treating liver injury. L. chuanxiong has significant hepatoprotective effects, but its material basis and mechanism of action are still ambiguous. This work was to reveal the potential active ingredients (parts) of L. chuanxiong for liver protection and to investigate the pharmacological mechanism of its liver protection. The hepatoprotective substance basis and mechanism of L. chuanxiong were investigated using network pharmacology, and the active components of L. chuanxiong extract were studied using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) analytical techniques. Molecular docking was adopted to verify the interaction between the active ingredients in L. chuanxiong and the key targets involved in liver injury. To confirm the hepatoprotective effects of the effective part in L. chuanxiong , a carbon tetrachloride (CCl 4)-induced acute liver injury model in mice was used. As a result, network pharmacological analysis techniques were used to screen out potential active ingredients such as ferulic acid, caffeic acid, and p-coumaric acid, which were concentrated in the organic acid site and acted on 19 key targets related to liver protection. The biological process involved the positive regulation of nitric oxide biosynthesis, and various signaling pathways were implicated, including the Toll-like receptor signaling pathway, the NOD-like receptor signaling pathway, the TNF signaling pathway, and others. LC-MS and GC-MS qualitatively analyzed the effective components from L. chuanxiong extract, and 50 active components were identified. The molecular docking of key components with the core targets showed good activity, which validated the predicted results. In the final analysis, a mouse model of acute liver injury induced by CCl 4 further verified the greater protective effect of the organic acid fraction of L. chuanxiong on liver injury in mice compared with other parts. The results reveal that L. chuanxiong may relieve liver damage, and the organic acids were the main active part in it. Its mechanism of alleviating liver injury is related to positive regulation of nitric oxide biosynthesis, the Toll-like receptor signaling pathway, the NOD-like receptor signaling pathway, the TNF signaling pathway, and so on. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A series of butylphthalide derivatives (BPDs) 1–8 were isolated from the extract of the dried rhizome of Ligusticum chuanxiong Hort. (Umbelliferae). The cytotoxic activities of BPDs 1–8 were evaluated using a panel of human cancer cell lines. In addition, the SAR analysis and potential anti-invasion activities were investigated. The sp2 carbons at C-7 and C-7a appeared to be essential for the cytotoxic activities of BPDs. BPDs 5 and 6 remarkably inhibited the migration and invasion of cancer cells. The anti-invasion activity of dimer 6 was demonstrated to be significantly higher than monomer 5.

Abstract Ethnopharmacology relevance Rhizome of Ligusticum chuanxiong Hort. (Abbreviated as LC) is a frequently prescribed component in plenty of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) formulas which are used to treat diabetic nephropathy (DN). The aims of the present study are to investigate the protective effect of the ethanol extract of LC rhizome (EEL) against DN in vivo , evaluate its potential mechanism, and find the evidence supporting its enthopharmacological use as an anti-DN agent. Materials and methods Hepa 1c1c7 murine hepatoma cells, human breast carcinoma MDA-MB-231 cells, human renal glomerular endothelial cells (HRGEC), and RAW 264.7 murine macrophages were adopted to test the effects of EEL and its active constituents on inhibitions of oxidative stress and inflammation in vitro. A streptozotocin (STZ) -induced DN C57BL/6 mice model was established and used to investigate the preventive effect of EEL against DN in vivo. Results EEL demonstrated potential inhibitory effects against oxidative stress and inflammation in vitro. Using a STZ-induced DN mice model, it has been found that EEL treatment significantly prevented STZ-induced increases of urine production, urinary albumin excretion (UAE) and urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio (UACR), and markedly attenuated STZ-induced renal damages (e.g. glomerulosclerosis and fibrosis). The predominant bioactive constituents, Z -ligustilide (LGT), ferulic acid (FA), and tetramethylpyrazine (TMP), were inhibitors of oxidative stress and inflammation through acting with Nrf2 and NF-κB pathways. Conclusions EEL attenuates structural and functional damages of kidney in STZ-induced DN model in vivo , which might be related to the functions of EEL on inhibitions of oxidative stress and inflammation. These finding definitely supports the ethnopharmacological use of LC as an anti-DN agent. Graphical abstract fx1 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Rhizome of Ligusticum chuanxiong Hort, a traditional Chinese medicine, is widely used to treat cardiovascular diseases and attenuate oxidative stress. The main bioactive compounds including tetramethylpyrazine (TMP), polyphenols, ferulic acid have been reported to be responsible for these effects. This study was to evaluate the influence of Ligusticum chuanxiong extraction (LCE) in mimic gastrointestinal tract on antioxidant activity. The effects of gastric digestion group metabolic liquid on free radical scavenging followed as DPPH > ·O 2−  > ·OH, while the clearance effects of intestine digestion group expressed as ·O 2− > ·OH > DPPH. Furthermore, the digested extraction promoted lower cellular antioxidant activity (CAA) with dose-response correlations. Gastrointestinal digestion increased the release of bound ferulic acids and polyphenols. Content of ferulic acid in gastric and intestinal metabolic solution increased from 6.07 mg/g to 9.33 mg/g and 14.17 mg/g. The free phenolic before and after digestion were 177.38 mg/g, 179.69 mg/g and 194.99 mg/g, respectively. The simulated gastrointestinal digestion of LCE promoted a significant increase in the free phenolic acids content, antioxidant activity and CAA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cnidium rhizome from Cnidium officinale Makino and Ligusticum chuanxiong Hort (Umbelliferae) is traditionally used to treat pain in East Asian countries. Senkyunolide A and Z‐ligustilide are phthalic anhydride derivatives that are the bioactive components of cnidium rhizome and chemical markers of the two species; they are also susceptible to external stimuli. In this study, we developed a method to identify two chemical markers using high‐performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with an ultraviolet detector (UVD); the contents of senkyunolide A and Z‐ligustilide in cnidium rhizome from different regions were quantified. The stabilities of the compounds were tested at two different temperatures over 12 months. An HPLC‐UVD system was used to identify and quantify senkyunolide A and Z‐ligustilide in 10 C. officinale samples and 6 L. chuanxiong samples from China and Korea. The long‐term stability of the C. officinale samples in dark conditions at 4 and 25 °C was also tested. The calibration curves for the two chemical markers showed high linearity (R2 = 1.0000), the precision was high (relative standard deviation (RSD) <4.17%), and the recoveries were within the range of 95–105%. The contents were mostly independent of the geographical origin and species, and >10% of the compounds degraded after storage at 4 and 25 °C for 6 months. A method was developed to rapidly identify two chemical markers in cnidium rhizome with good linearity, precision, and accuracy using HPLC‐UVD. These markers will be utilized for the quality control or evaluation of herbal preparations containing cnidium rhizome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Four new ferulic acid derivatives ligusticumacid A-C ( 1–3 ) and ligusticumaldehyde A ( 4 ), one new dimer ligusticumacid D ( 5 ), and two novel 8–8′ lignans ligusticumacid E-F ( 6 – 7 ) were isolated from the rhizome of Ligusticum chuanxiong Hort. In particular, compounds 1 – 2 , 5 were rarely phenylpropanoid phenolic acid dimers through different polymerization action in natural products. Their structures were established using UV, IR, HRESIMS, NMR data. The absolute configurations of 3 was determined by quantum ECD calculation and 4 , 6 – 7 were determined by the ECD exciton chirality method. In addition, all compounds were evaluated for their neuroprotective effects on human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cell injury induced by H 2 O 2 . Compound 2 had a moderate neuroprotective activity and 7 had a weak neuroprotective activity on human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cell injury induced by H 2 O 2 respectively . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ligusticum chuanxiong Hort (LCH) is a well-known traditional Chinese medicinal herb for treating coronary heart disease (CHD). This study investigated the differential preventive mechanisms of Rhizome Cortex (RC) and Rhizome Pith (RP) of LCH. Solid-phase microextraction combined with comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry analysis identified 32 differential components, and network pharmacology revealed 11 active ingredients and 191 gene targets in RC, along with 12 active ingredients and 318 gene targets in RP. Primary active ingredients in RC were carotol, epicubenol, fenipentol, and methylisoeugenol acetate, while 3-undecanone, (E)− 5-decen-1-ol acetate, linalyl acetate, and (E)− 2-Methoxy-4-(prop-1-enyl) phenol were dominant in RP. KEGG mapping analysis associated 27 pathways with RC targets and 116 pathways with RP targets. Molecular docking confirmed the efficient activation of corresponding targets by these active ingredients. This study provides valuable insights into the preventive and therapeutic effects of RC and RP in CHD. [Display omitted] ● Identification of Chuanxiong compounds via two-dimensional gas chromatography. ● Rhizome. Cortex and Pith target 27 and 116 pathways, respectively. ● Study reveals therapeutic roles of Chuanxiong's Rhiz. Cortex and Pith. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]