Chinese Medicine最新文献

{"title":"β-elemene promotes microglial M2-like polarization against ischemic stroke via AKT/mTOR signaling axis-mediated autophagy.","authors":"Qiong Zhao, Lu Chen, Xin Zhang, Hua Yang, Yi Li, Ping Li","doi":"10.1186/s13020-024-00946-6","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s13020-024-00946-6","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Resident microglia- and peripheric macrophage-mediated neuroinflammation plays a predominant role in the occurrence and development of ischemic stroke. Microglia undergo polarization to M1/M2-like phenotype under stress stimulation, which mediates intracellular inflammatory response. β-elemene is a natural sesquiterpene and possesses potent anti-inflammatory activity. This study aimed to investigate the anti-inflammatory efficacy and mechanism of β-elemene in ischemic stroke from the perspective of balancing microglia M1/M2-like polarization.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>The middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) model and photothrombotic stroke model were established to explore the regulation effect of β-elemene on the cerebral ischemic injury. The LPS and IFN-γ stimulated BV-2 cells were used to demonstrate the anti-inflammatory effects and potential mechanism of β-elemene regulating M1/M2-like polarization in vitro.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>In C57BL/6 J mice subjected to MCAO model and photothrombotic stroke model, β-elemene attenuated neurological deficit, reduced the infarction volume and neuroinflammation, thus improving ischemic stroke injury. β-elemene promoted the phenotype transformation of microglia from M1-like to M2-like, which prevented neurons from oxygen and glucose deprivation/reoxygenation (OGD/R) injury by inhibiting inflammatory factor release, thereby reducing neuronal apoptosis. Mechanically, β-elemene prevented the activation of TLR4/NF-κΒ and MAPK signaling pathway and increased AKT/mTOR mediated-autophagy, thereby promoting M2-like polarization of microglia.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>These results indicated that β-elemene improved cerebral ischemic injury and promoted the transformation of microglia phenotype from M1-like to M2-like, at least in part, through AKT/mTOR-mediated autophagy. This study demonstrated that β-elemene might serve as a promising drug for alleviating ischemic stroke injury.</p>","PeriodicalId":10266,"journal":{"name":"Chinese Medicine","volume":"19 1","pages":"86"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2024-06-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11179363/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141327274","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Liguzinediol potentiates the metabolic remodeling by activating the AMPK/SIRT3 pathway and represses Caspase-3/GSDME-mediated pyroptosis to ameliorate cardiotoxicity.","authors":"Weijie Zhu, Naqi Lian, Jia Wang, Fengming Zhao, Bowen Liu, Jiaxing Sheng, Chenyan Zhang, Xuan Zhou, Wenbai Gao, Chen Xie, Haoyu Gu, Yuxin Zhang, Mianli Bian, Miao Jiang, Yu Li","doi":"10.1186/s13020-024-00955-5","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s13020-024-00955-5","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Liguzinediol (Lig) has emerged as a promising candidate for mitigating Doxorubicin (DOX)-induced cardiotoxicity, a significant limitation in the clinical application of this widely used antineoplastic drug known for its efficacy. This study aimed to explore the effects and potential mechanisms underlying Lig's protective role against DOX-induced cardiotoxicity.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>C57BL/6 mice were treated with DOX. Cardiac function changes were observed by echocardiography. Cardiac structure changes were observed by HE and Masson staining. Immunofluorescence was applied to visualize the cardiomyocyte apoptosis. Western blotting was used to detect the expression levels of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), sirtuin 3 (SIRT3), Caspase-3 and gasdermin E N-terminal fragment (GSDME-N). These experiments confirmed that Lig had an ameliorative effect on DOX-induced cardiotoxicity in mice.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The results demonstrated that Lig effectively countered myocardial oxidative stress by modulating intracellular levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS), malondialdehyde (MDA), and superoxide dismutase (SOD). Lig reduced levels of creatine kinase (CK) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), while ameliorating histopathological changes and improving electrocardiogram profiles in vivo. Furthermore, the study revealed that Lig activated the AMPK/SIRT3 pathway, thereby enhancing mitochondrial function and attenuating myocardial cell apoptosis. In experiments with H9C2 cells treated with DOX, co-administration of the AMPK inhibitor compound C (CC) led to a significant increase in intracellular ROS levels. Lig intervention reversed these effects, along with the downregulation of GSDME-N, interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and interleukin-6 (IL-6), suggesting a potential role of Lig in mitigating Caspase-3/GSDME-mediated pyroptosis.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The findings of this study suggest that Lig effectively alleviates DOX-induced cardiotoxicity through the activation of the AMPK/SIRT3 pathway, thereby presenting itself as a natural product with therapeutic potential for preventing DOX-associated cardiotoxicity. This novel approach may pave the way for the development of alternative strategies in the clinical management of DOX-induced cardiac complications.</p>","PeriodicalId":10266,"journal":{"name":"Chinese Medicine","volume":"19 1","pages":"85"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2024-06-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11179277/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141320667","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The effect of modified Qiyuan paste on mice with low immunity and sleep deprivation by regulating GABA nerve and immune system.","authors":"Mei Rong, Jiu-Jie Jia, Min-Qiu Lin, Xing-Li-Shang He, Zhi-Yi Xie, Ning Wang, Ze-Hua Zhang, Ying-Jie Dong, Wan-Feng Xu, Jia-Hui Huang, Bo Li, Ning-Hua Jiang, Gui-Yuan Lv, Su-Hong Chen","doi":"10.1186/s13020-024-00939-5","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s13020-024-00939-5","url":null,"abstract":"&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Background: &lt;/strong&gt;Low immunity and sleep disorders are prevalent suboptimal health conditions in contemporary populations, which render them susceptible to the infiltration of pathogenic factors. LJC, which has a long history in traditional Chinese medicine for nourishing the Yin and blood and calming the mind, is obtained by modifying Qiyuan paste. Dendrobium officinale Kimura et Migo has been shown to improve the immune function in sleep-deprived mice. In this study, based on the traditional Chinese medicine theory, LJC was prepared by adding D. officinale Kimura et Migo to Qiyuan paste decoction.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Methods: &lt;/strong&gt;Indicators of Yin deficiency syndrome, such as back temperature and grip strength, were measured in each group of mice; furthermore, behavioral tests and pentobarbital sodium-induced sleep tests were performed. An automatic biochemical analyzer, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit, and other methods were used to determine routine blood parameters, serum immunoglobulin (IgG, IgA, and IgM), cont (C3, C4), acid phosphatase (ACP) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels in the spleen, serum hemolysin, and delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) levels. In addition, serum levels of γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and glutamate (Glu) were detected using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Hematoxylin-eosin staining and Nissl staining were used to assess the histological alterations in the hypothalamus tissue. Western blot and immunohistochemistry were used to detect the expressions of the GABA pathway proteins GABRA1, GAD, GAT1, and GABAT1 and those of CD&lt;sup&gt;4+&lt;/sup&gt; and CD&lt;sup&gt;8+&lt;/sup&gt; proteins in the thymus and spleen tissues.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Results: &lt;/strong&gt;The findings indicated that LJC prolonged the sleep duration, improved the pathological changes in the hippocampus, effectively upregulated the GABA content in the serum of mice, downregulated the Glu content and Glu/GABA ratio, enhanced the expressions of GABRA1, GAT1, and GAD, and decreased the expression of GABAT1 to assuage sleep disorders. Importantly, LJC alleviated the damage to the thymus and spleen tissues in the model mice and enhanced the activities of ACP and LDH in the spleen of the immunocompromised mice. Moreover, serum hemolysin levels and serum IgG, IgA, and IgM levels increased after LJC administration, which manifested as increased CD&lt;sup&gt;4+&lt;/sup&gt; content, decreased CD&lt;sup&gt;8+&lt;/sup&gt; content, and enhanced DTH response. In addition, LJC significantly increased the levels of complement C3 and C4, increased the number of white blood cells and lymphocytes, and decreased the percentage of neutrophils in the blood.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Conclusions: &lt;/strong&gt;LJC can lead to improvements in immunocompromised mice models with insufficient sleep. The underlying mechanism may involve regulation of the GABA/Glu content and the expression levels of GABA metabolism pathway-related proteins in the brain of mice, enhancing their specific and nonspecific immun","PeriodicalId":10266,"journal":{"name":"Chinese Medicine","volume":"19 1","pages":"84"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2024-06-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11167779/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141310204","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Improvement effects of a novel Chinese herbal formula in imiquimod and IL-23-stimulated mouse models of psoriasis.","authors":"Lan Wang, Yao-Xing Dou, Qiu-Xia Yu, Zhen Hu, Siu-Po Ip, Yan-Fang Xian, Zhi-Xiu Lin","doi":"10.1186/s13020-024-00951-9","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s13020-024-00951-9","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Psoriasis is a long-term inflammatory skin disease. A novel herbal formula containing nine Chinese herbal medicines, named Inflammation Skin Disease Formula (ISDF), has been prescribed in clinics for decades.</p><p><strong>Aims: </strong>To investigate the efficacy and action mechanisms of ISDF on psoriasis using imiquimod (IMQ) and Interleukin-23 (IL-23)-induced models in mice and reveal the pharmacokinetics profile of ISDF in rats.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Topical administration of IMQ and intradermal injection with IL-23 respectively induced skin lesions like psoriasis on the dorsal area of Balb/c and C57 mice. The mice's body weight, skin thickness, and psoriasis area and severity index (PASI) were assessed weekly. SD rats were used in the pharmacokinetics study and the contents of berberine and baicalin were determined.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The PASI scores and epidermal thickness of mice were markedly decreased after ISDF treatment in both models. ISDF treatment significantly decreased the contents of IL-17A and IL-22 in the serum of IMQ- and IL-23-treated mice. Importantly, ISDF markedly downregulated IL-4, IL-6, IL-1β, and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) gene expression, and the phosphorylation of NF-κB p65, JNK, ERKs and MAPK p38 in IMQ-treated mice. The protein phosphorylation of Jak1, Jak2, Tyk2 and Stat3 was significantly mitigated in the ISDF-treated groups. The absorption of baicalin and berberine of ISDF through the gastrointestinal tract of rats was limited, and their distribution and metabolism in rats were also very slow, which suggested ISDF could be used in the long-term application.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>ISDF has a strong anti-psoriatic therapeutic effect on mouse models induced with psoriasis through IMQ and IL-23, which is achieved by inhibiting the activation of the Jak/Stat3-activated IL-23/Th17 axis and the downstream NF-κB signalling and MAPK signalling pathways. ISDF holds great potential to be a therapy for psoriasis and should be further developed for this purpose.</p>","PeriodicalId":10266,"journal":{"name":"Chinese Medicine","volume":"19 1","pages":"81"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2024-06-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11165727/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141300168","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Zedoary turmeric oil injection ameliorates lung inflammation via platelet factor 4 and regulates gut microbiota disorder in respiratory syncytial virus-infected young mice.","authors":"Yu-Zhuo Wu, Qian Zhang, Hua Li, Cheng-Xi Jiang, Xiao-Kun Li, Hong-Cai Shang, Sheng Lin","doi":"10.1186/s13020-024-00954-6","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s13020-024-00954-6","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)-induced lung inflammation is one of the main causes of hospitalization and easily causes disruption of intestinal homeostasis in infants, thereby resulting in a negative impact on their development. However, the current clinical drugs are not satisfactory. Zedoary turmeric oil injection (ZTOI), a patented traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), has been used for clinical management of inflammatory diseases. However, its in vivo efficacy against RSV-induced lung inflammation and the underlying mechanism remain unclear.</p><p><strong>Purpose: </strong>The present study was designed to confirm the in vivo efficacy of ZTOI against lung inflammation and intestinal disorders in RSV-infected young mice and to explore the potential mechanism.</p><p><strong>Study design and methods: </strong>Lung inflammation was induced by RSV, and cytokine antibody arrays were used to clarify the effectiveness of ZTOI in RSV pneumonia. Subsequently, key therapeutic targets of ZTOI against RSV pneumonia were identified through multi-factor detection and further confirmed. The potential therapeutic material basis of ZTOI in target tissues was determined by non-target mass spectrometry. After confirming that the pharmacological substances of ZTOI can reach the intestine, we used 16S rRNA-sequencing technology to study the effect of ZTOI on the intestinal bacteria.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>In the RSV-induced mouse lung inflammation model, ZTOI significantly reduced the levels of serum myeloperoxidase, serum amyloid A, C-reactive protein, and thymic stromal lymphoprotein; inhibited the mRNA expression of IL-10 and IL-6; and decreased pathological changes in the lungs. Immunofluorescence and qPCR experiments showed that ZTOI reduced RSV load in the lungs. According to cytokine antibody arrays, platelet factor 4 (PF4), a weak chemotactic factor mainly synthesized by megakaryocytes, showed a concentration-dependent change in lung tissues affected by ZTOI, which could be the key target for ZTOI to exert anti-inflammatory effects. Additionally, sesquiterpenes were enriched in the lungs and intestines, thereby exerting anti-inflammatory and regulatory effects on gut microbiota.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>ZTOI can protect from lung inflammation via PF4 and regulate gut microbiota disorder in RSV-infected young mice by sesquiterpenes, which provides reference for its clinical application in RSV-induced lung diseases.</p>","PeriodicalId":10266,"journal":{"name":"Chinese Medicine","volume":"19 1","pages":"83"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2024-06-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11165741/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141305575","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Xinbao Pill ameliorates heart failure via regulating the SGLT1/AMPK/PPARα axis to improve myocardial fatty acid energy metabolism.","authors":"Linjie Pan, Zhanchi Xu, Min Wen, Minghui Li, Dongxin Lyu, Haiming Xiao, Zhuoming Li, Junhui Xiao, Yuanyuan Cheng, Heqing Huang","doi":"10.1186/s13020-024-00959-1","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s13020-024-00959-1","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Heart failure (HF) is characterized by a disorder of cardiomyocyte energy metabolism. Xinbao Pill (XBW), a traditional Chinese medicine formulation integrating \"Liushen Pill\" and \"Shenfu Decoction,\" has been approved by China Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of HF for many years. The present study reveals a novel mechanism of XBW in HF through modulation of cardiac energy metabolism.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>In vivo, XBW (60, 90, 120 mg/kg/d) and fenofibrate (100 mg/kg/d) were treated for six weeks in Sprague-Dawley rats that were stimulated by isoproterenol to induce HF. Cardiac function parameters were measured by echocardiography, and cardiac pathological changes were assessed using H&E, Masson, and WGA staining. In vitro, primary cultured neonatal rat cardiomyocytes (NRCMs) were induced by isoproterenol to investigate the effects of XBW on myocardial cell damage, mitochondrial function and fatty acid energy metabolism. The involvement of the SGLT1/AMPK/PPARα signalling axis was investigated.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>In both in vitro and in vivo models of ISO-induced HF, XBW significantly ameliorated cardiac hypertrophy cardiac fibrosis, and improved cardiac function. Significantly, XBW improved cardiac fatty acid metabolism and mitigated mitochondrial damage. Mechanistically, XBW effectively suppressed the expression of SGLT1 protein while upregulating the phosphorylation level of AMPK, ultimately facilitating the nuclear translocation of PPARα and enhancing its transcriptional activity. Knockdown of SGLT1 further enhanced cardiac energy metabolism by XBW, while overexpression of SGLT1 reversed the cardio-protective effect of XBW, highlighting that SGLT1 is probably a critical target of XBW in the regulation of cardiac fatty acid metabolism.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>XBW improves cardiac fatty acid energy metabolism to alleviate HF via SGLT1/AMPK/PPARα signalling axis.</p>","PeriodicalId":10266,"journal":{"name":"Chinese Medicine","volume":"19 1","pages":"82"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2024-06-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11165817/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141305574","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Lab-on-a-chip: an advanced technology for the modernization of traditional Chinese medicine.","authors":"Zenghui Lu, Yue Yuan, Qiang Han, Yu Wang, Qionglin Liang","doi":"10.1186/s13020-024-00956-4","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s13020-024-00956-4","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Benefiting from the complex system composed of various constituents, medicament portions, species, and places of origin, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) possesses numerous customizable and adaptable efficacies in clinical practice guided by its theories. However, these unique features are also present challenges in areas such as quality control, screening active ingredients, studying cell and organ pharmacology, and characterizing the compatibility between different Chinese medicines. Drawing inspiration from the holistic concept, an integrated strategy and pattern more aligned with TCM research emerges, necessitating the integration of novel technology into TCM modernization. The microfluidic chip serves as a powerful platform for integrating technologies in chemistry, biology, and biophysics. Microfluidics has given rise to innovative patterns like lab-on-a-chip and organoids-on-a-chip, effectively challenging the conventional research paradigms of TCM. This review provides a systematic summary of the nature and advanced utilization of microfluidic chips in TCM, focusing on quality control, active ingredient screening/separation, pharmaceutical analysis, and pharmacological/toxicological assays. Drawing on these remarkable references, the challenges, opportunities, and future trends of microfluidic chips in TCM are also comprehensively discussed, providing valuable insights into the development of TCM.</p>","PeriodicalId":10266,"journal":{"name":"Chinese Medicine","volume":"19 1","pages":"80"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2024-06-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11163804/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141295607","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Si-Wu-Tang alleviates metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease by inhibiting ACSL4-mediated arachidonic acid metabolism and ferroptosis in MCD diet-fed mice.","authors":"Xiaoyong Xue, Le Wang, Ruiyu Wu, Yufei Li, Runping Liu, Zhi Ma, Kexin Jia, Yinhao Zhang, Xiaojiaoyang Li","doi":"10.1186/s13020-024-00953-7","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s13020-024-00953-7","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) is a prevalent chronic liver disease worldwide. Si-Wu-Tang (SWT), a traditional Chinese medicine decoction has shown therapeutic effects on various liver diseases. However, the hepatoprotective effects and underlying mechanism of SWT on MAFLD remain unclear.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>First, a methionine-choline-deficient (MCD) diet-fed mice model was used and lipidomic analysis and transcriptomic analysis were performed. The contents of total iron ions, ferrous ions, and lipid peroxidation were detected and Prussian blue staining was performed to confirm the protective effects of SWT against ferroptosis. Finally, chemical characterization and network pharmacological analysis were employed to identify the potential active ingredients.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Serological and hepatic histopathological findings indicated SWT's discernible therapeutic impact on MCD diet-induced MAFLD. Lipidomic analysis revealed that SWT improved intrahepatic lipid accumulation by inhibiting TG synthesis and promoting TG transport. Transcriptomic analysis suggested that SWT ameliorated abnormal FA metabolism by inhibiting FA synthesis and promoting FA β-oxidation. Then, ferroptosis phenotype experiments revealed that SWT could effectively impede hepatocyte ferroptosis, which was induced by long-chain acyl-CoA synthetase 4 (ACSL4)-mediated esterification of arachidonic acid (AA). Finally, chemical characterization and network pharmacological analysis identified that paeoniflorin and other active ingredients might be responsible for the regulative effects against ferroptosis and MAFLD.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>In conclusion, our study revealed the intricate mechanism through which SWT improved MCD diet-induced MAFLD by targeting FA metabolism and ferroptosis in hepatocytes, thus offering a novel therapeutic approach for the treatment of MAFLD and its complications.</p>","PeriodicalId":10266,"journal":{"name":"Chinese Medicine","volume":"19 1","pages":"79"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2024-06-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11157816/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141283159","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Chrysanthemum morifolium Ramat extract and probiotics combination ameliorates metabolic disorders through regulating gut microbiota and PPARα subcellular localization.","authors":"Xinxin Gao, Zhigang Zhu, Yiyang Bao, Yifan Li, Weize Zhu, Xiaofang He, Xinyu Ge, Wenjin Huang, Hao Wang, Wenjing Wei, Jun Du, Liang Chen, Houkai Li, Lili Sheng","doi":"10.1186/s13020-024-00950-w","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s13020-024-00950-w","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Chrysanthemum morifolium Ramat, a traditional Chinese medicine, has the effects on liver clearing, vision improving, and anti-inflammation. C. morifolium and probiotics have been individually studied for their beneficial effects on metabolic diseases. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms were not completely elucidated. This study aims to elucidate the potential molecular mechanisms of C. morifolium and probiotics combination (CP) on alleviating nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and the dysregulation of glucose metabolism in high-fat diet (HFD)-fed mice.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>The therapeutic effect of CP on metabolism was evaluated by liver histology and serum biochemical analysis, as well as glucose tolerance test. The impact of CP on gut microbiota was analyzed by 16S rRNA sequencing and fecal microbiota transplantation. Hepatic transcriptomic analysis was performed with the key genes and proteins validated by RT-qPCR and western blotting. In addition, whole body Pparα knockout (Pparα^-/-) mice were used to confirm the CP-mediated pathway.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>CP supplementation ameliorated metabolic disorders by reducing body weight and hepatic steatosis, and improving glucose intolerance and insulin resistance in HFD fed mice. CP intervention mitigated the HFD-induced gut microbiota dysbiosis, which contributed at least in part, to the beneficial effect of improving glucose metabolism. In addition, hepatic transcriptomic analysis showed that CP modulated the expression of genes associated with lipid metabolism. CP downregulated the mRNA level of lipid droplet-binding proteins, such as Cidea and Cidec in the liver, leading to more substrates for fatty acid oxidation (FAO). Meanwhile, the expression of CPT1α, the rate-limiting enzyme of FAO, was significantly increased upon CP treatment. Mechanistically, though CP didn't affect the total PPARα level, it promoted the nuclear localization of PPARα, which contributed to the reduced expression of Cidea and Cidec, and increased expression of CPT1α, leading to activated FAO. Moreover, whole body PPARα deficiency abolished the anti-NAFLD effect of CP, suggesting the importance of PPARα in CP-mediated beneficial effect.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>This study revealed the hypoglycemic and hepatoprotective effect of CP by regulating gut microbiota composition and PPARα subcellular localization, highlighting its potential for therapeutic candidate for metabolic disorders.</p>","PeriodicalId":10266,"journal":{"name":"Chinese Medicine","volume":"19 1","pages":"76"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2024-06-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11149226/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141237102","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Saiga antelope horn suppresses febrile seizures in rats by regulating neurotransmitters and the arachidonic acid pathway.","authors":"Wenxing Wu, Wencong Song, Jingjing Zhao, Sheng Guo, Min Hong, Jie Zheng, Yongqing Hua, Peng Cao, Rui Liu, Jin-Ao Duan","doi":"10.1186/s13020-024-00949-3","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s13020-024-00949-3","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Saiga antelope horn (SAH) is a traditional Chinese medicine for treating febrile seizure (FS) with precise efficacy, but its mechanism of action and functional substances are still unclear. Given the need for further research on SAH, our group conducted studies to elucidate its mechanisms and active substances.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>An FS rat pup model was constructed through intraperitoneal injection of LPS and hyperthermia induction. Behavioural indicators of seizures, hippocampal histopathological alterations, serum levels of inflammatory cytokines and hippocampal levels of neurotransmitters were observed and measured to investigate the effects of SAH on FS model rats. Hippocampal metabolomics and network pharmacology analyses were conducted to reveal the differential metabolites, key peptides and pathways involved in the suppression of FS by SAH.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>SAH suppressed FS, decreased the inflammatory response and regulated the Glu-GABA balance. Metabolomic analysis revealed 13 biomarkers of FS, of which SAH improved the levels of 8 differential metabolites. Combined with network pharmacology, a \"biomarker-core target-key peptide\" network was constructed. The peptides of SAH, such as YGQL and LTGGF, could exert therapeutic effects via the arachidonic acid pathway. Molecular docking and ELISA results indicated that functional peptides of SAH could bind to PTGS2 target, inhibiting the generation of AA and its metabolites in hippocampal samples.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>In summary, the functional peptides contained in SAH are the main material basis for the treatment of FS, potentially acting through neurotransmitter regulation and the arachidonic acid pathway.</p>","PeriodicalId":10266,"journal":{"name":"Chinese Medicine","volume":"19 1","pages":"78"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2024-06-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11149251/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141237108","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}