Journal of ethnopharmacology最新文献

{"title":"Longan Arillus: A comprehensive review of botany, traditional uses, phytochemistry, pharmacologic activities, pharmacokinetics, quality control, toxicity, and clinical applications","authors":"Zhong-Qiao Zhao, Fu-Hui Luo, Yong He, Xu Ren, Fen-Fen Zeng, Xia Yang, Feng-Xiang Zhang, Wei Shi","doi":"10.1016/j.jep.2025.120131","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jep.2025.120131","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Ethnopharmacological relevance</h3><div><em>Longan Arillus</em> (LA) is the aril of <em>Dimocarpus longan</em> Lour. of the Sapindaceae family, commonly known as Guiyuan, whose first documentation can be traced back to the ancient book “Shen Nong's herbal classic”. Since ancient times, LA has been commonly used in combination with other herbs or ingredients to make a variety of formulas and medicinal products, which were used to treat diseases such as insomnia, forgetfulness, neurasthenia, overthinking, fatigue, and deficiency of qi and blood, e.g., “Gui Spleen Tang”, “Yu Ling Cream”, “An Shen Ding Zhi Pill”, <em>etc</em>.</div></div><div><h3>Aim of the review</h3><div>This paper presents a comprehensive review encompassing LA's traditional usage, quality control, botany, phytochemical constituents, pharmacological activities, toxicological profiles, pharmacokinetic properties, and clinical applications. The aim is to provide an extensive overview of the current research landscape, facilitating further exploration and utilization of LA resources.</div></div><div><h3>Materials and methods</h3><div>This article uses “<em>Dimocarpus longan</em> Lour.” and “<em>Longan Arillus</em>” as the keywords and collects relevant information on LA from different databases, including PubMed, Web of Science, X-mol, Sci-finder, SCI-HUB, CNKI, Chinese Masters and Doctoral Dissertations, Wanfang Data, Baidu Scholar, Google Scholar, ancient material medica and the Pharmacopoeia of the People's Republic of China (2020).</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>To date, a total of 378 compounds have been identified in LA, including 12 sugars, 28 polyphenols, 234 volatile components, 12 terpenes and steroids, 28 organic acids, 15 lipids, 11 nucleosides, 32 amino acids and 6 others compounds. Among them, polysaccharides and polyphenols are its main active ingredients. LA has a variety of biological activities, such as immunoregulatory activity, inhibition of Alzheimer's disease, anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, antioxidant, and inhibition of osteoporosis. In particular, immunomodulatory effects have received much attention. Pharmacological studies have shown that LA enhances immunomodulatory activity through signaling pathways such as MAPK, PI3K/Akt, NF-<em>κ</em>B, and MyD88/TRAF6. In addition, this paper reveals the shortcomings of current LA research and its possible future research directions.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>This paper provides a comprehensive review of LA and highlights its multiple pharmacological activities, particularly immunomodulatory effects. However, the current <em>in vivo</em> and clinical studies of LA are relatively limited. Consequently, the scope of <em>in vivo</em> and clinical studies should be expanded in the future. In addition, it is highly recommended that further research efforts be directed towards pharmacokinetics and quality control of LA, and a reference for future studies on clinical application and new product d","PeriodicalId":15761,"journal":{"name":"Journal of ethnopharmacology","volume":"351 ","pages":"Article 120131"},"PeriodicalIF":4.8,"publicationDate":"2025-06-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144284911","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Integrating metabolomics and network pharmacology analysis provides new insights into the lipid metabolism disorder of Abrus mollis","authors":"Mingjuan Huang ,&nbsp;Xue Wang ,&nbsp;Yixiang Lu ,&nbsp;Qiaowen Zhou ,&nbsp;Jiemei Liang ,&nbsp;Quanxin Li ,&nbsp;Liangbo Li ,&nbsp;Lanlan Fan","doi":"10.1016/j.jep.2025.120127","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jep.2025.120127","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Ethnopharmacological relevance</h3><div><em>Abrus mollis</em> Hance (AM), a traditional medicinal used for hepatoprotection in the south of China, has demonstrated potential in ameliorating lipid metabolism disorders (LMD). However, the underlying mechanisms remain elusive.</div></div><div><h3>Aim of the study</h3><div>To explore the mechanisms by which AM regulates lipid metabolism in mice on a high-fat diet through integrated metabolomics and network pharmacology.</div></div><div><h3>Materials and methods</h3><div>An HFD-induced dyslipidemia mice model was established to evaluate the therapeutic effectiveness of AM. Untargeted metabolomics identified hepatic endogenous metabolites and associated pathways. Ultra-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-TOF/MS) characterized bioactive compounds and blood-absorbed components in AM. Network pharmacology analysis of blood-absorbed components, combined with molecular docking, predicted potential active constituents targeting lipid metabolism disorders, identified critical targets, and mapped metabolic pathways. Core regulatory mechanisms were elucidated through integrative analysis of network pharmacology predictions and metabolomics data. Transcriptional levels and protein expression of related genes were analyzed in murine hepatic tissues using real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) and Western blotting.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Animal experiments had confirmed the efficacy of AM in alleviating lipid abnormalities induced by HFD. Twenty-one hepatic endogenous metabolites were identified, with major pathways encompassing arachidonic acid metabolism, linoleic acid metabolism, among others. UPLC-Q-TOF/MS analysis characterized 50 bioactive compounds in AM, 24 of which were detected in plasma. Network pharmacology prioritized schaftoside, hyperoside, protocatechuic acid, and vitexin as core components targeting TP53, SRC, ESR1, and PIK3CA, while molecular docking validated their strong binding affinities. KEGG analyses indicated that the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway acts as the core regulatory pathway which was further confirmed by integrated of metabolomics and network pharmacology analyses. Subsequent RT-qPCR and WB further evidenced AM-mediated downregulation of PI3K/Akt pathways-associated transcription factors and proteins.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>This study elucidated the multi-target mechanisms of AM via the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway and highlighted its therapeutic potential in modulating lipid metabolism disorders.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":15761,"journal":{"name":"Journal of ethnopharmacology","volume":"351 ","pages":"Article 120127"},"PeriodicalIF":4.8,"publicationDate":"2025-06-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144284909","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Piper kadsura (Choisy) Ohwi: A comprehensive review of botany, traditional uses, phytochemistry, pharmacology, and quality control","authors":"Hao Pan ,&nbsp;Changfu Wang ,&nbsp;Ying Qin ,&nbsp;Ning Zhang ,&nbsp;Zhenhua Bian ,&nbsp;Tongtong Chen ,&nbsp;Yuxin Liu ,&nbsp;Xia Lei ,&nbsp;Xiaoliang Li","doi":"10.1016/j.jep.2025.120134","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jep.2025.120134","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Ethnopharmacological relevance</h3><div><em>Piper kadsura</em> (Choisy) Ohwi (<em>P. kadsura</em>), locally known as “Haifengteng”, is a traditional East Asian herb with over 2000 years of ethnomedicinal use. It exhibits traditional therapeutic effects, including dispelling rheumatism, dredging meridians, and alleviating arthralgia, and is primarily used to prevent and treat rheumatic diseases.</div></div><div><h3>Aim of the study</h3><div>This paper reviews the research progress on the botany, traditional uses, phytochemistry, pharmacology, and quality control of <em>P. kadsura</em> to provide a scientific basis for its rational utilization and further research.</div></div><div><h3>Materials and methods</h3><div>The information on <em>P. kadsura</em> was obtained from books related to traditional Chinese medicine and electronic databases, including Web of Science, PubMed, Google Scholar, and CNKI.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div><em>P. kadsura</em> has shown significant efficacy in preventing and treating rheumatic diseases when used alone, in herbal formulations, or in traditional Chinese medicated diets. To date, 208 compounds, including phenylpropanoids, alkaloids, terpenoids, steroids, flavonoids, and others, as well as 379 essential oils, have been identified in <em>P. kadsura</em>. Pharmacological studies have confirmed that its extracts and compounds exhibit diverse activities, including anti-platelet activating factor, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antioxidant, neuroprotective effects against Alzheimer's disease, anticancer, antiviral, and harmful biological control effects.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div><em>P. kadsura</em> exhibits a diverse chemical composition and a wide range of pharmacological activities. Despite recent research progress, there are still some deficiencies, including limited isolation studies of new compounds, incomplete elucidation of some pharmacological mechanisms, significant gaps in pharmacokinetic research, and the need for standardized quality control measures. Future research should address these issues to fully realize its medicinal potential and value.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":15761,"journal":{"name":"Journal of ethnopharmacology","volume":"351 ","pages":"Article 120134"},"PeriodicalIF":4.8,"publicationDate":"2025-06-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144284913","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Traditional Chinese medicine treatment for epilepsy: Focusing on voltage-gated ion channels","authors":"Jialin Zhong ,&nbsp;Maofu Zhang ,&nbsp;Shuang Huang ,&nbsp;Jingxi Yao ,&nbsp;Bing Jiang ,&nbsp;Lv Gao ,&nbsp;Zhenggang Shi","doi":"10.1016/j.jep.2025.120129","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jep.2025.120129","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Ethnopharmacological relevance</h3><div>Epilepsy (EP) is a chronic neurological disease, and the clinical treatment of EP is dominated by modern drugs, but one-third of the patients have drug-resistant reactions, which seriously affects the quality of patients' survival. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), however, as a promising resource, plays a unique advantage in improving the clinical symptoms of EP and alleviating the adverse effects of modern drug therapy. A large number of studies in recent years have reported that TCM plays an important role in EP treatment by regulating voltage-gated ion channels (VGICs).</div></div><div><h3>Aim of study</h3><div>This study aims to examine the mechanisms by which VGICs influence EP, providing further elucidate the potential targets of TCM in treating EP by regulating VGICs, including traditional herbal formulas and active compounds. The objective is to offer fresh insights and strategies for the research and management of EP.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Literature information was obtained from the scientific databases PubMed, Web of Science, EMBASE, Cochrane library, and CNKI, built until June 2024, with search terms including “epilepsy”, “voltage-gated ion channels “, “Chinese medicine” or “herbal medicine”, “medicinal plants”, “natural plants “and “herbal medicine”.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>The results suggest that TCM can affect VGICs by influencing the opening of these channels, thereby regulating the currents and concentrations of sodium (Na⁺), potassium (K⁺), and calcium (Ca²⁺). Additionally, TCM modulates the expression of VGIC-related proteins, which in turn affects the release of neurotransmitters, including inflammatory mediators, oxidative stress markers, and glutamate. This process ultimately decreases neuronal excitability and helps inhibit the onset of EP.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>By modulating key VGICs such as VGSCs, VGKCs, and VGCCs, TCM plays an important role in the treatment of EP, providing a novel therapeutic strategy based on traditional practices and modern science.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":15761,"journal":{"name":"Journal of ethnopharmacology","volume":"351 ","pages":"Article 120129"},"PeriodicalIF":4.8,"publicationDate":"2025-06-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144284915","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Corrigendum to \"Yinchen Gongying Decoction mitigates CCl4-induced chronic liver injury and fibrosis in mice implicated in inhibition of the FoxO1/TGF-β1/ Smad2/3 and YAP signaling pathways\" [J. Ethnopharmacol. 327 (2024) 117975].","authors":"Xinyi Feng, Hengxu Liu, Yifei Sheng, Jiaqi Li, Jiyuan Guo, Wenxuan Song, Sha Li, Zixuan Liu, Haoyu Zhou, Naijun Wu, Rui Wang, Jinxiu Chu, Xiaolei Han, Baofeng Hu, Yajuan Qi","doi":"10.1016/j.jep.2025.120101","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2025.120101","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":15761,"journal":{"name":"Journal of ethnopharmacology","volume":" ","pages":"120101"},"PeriodicalIF":4.8,"publicationDate":"2025-06-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144266396","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Investigation of the effect and mechanism of Fei Re Pu Qing powder in treating acute lung injury (ALI) by modulating macrophage polarization via serum pharmacology and network pharmacology","authors":"Yumeng Ye ,&nbsp;Mingfeng Xie ,&nbsp;Heyun Nie ,&nbsp;Guosong Zhang ,&nbsp;Liangxin Tu ,&nbsp;Meiying Ao ,&nbsp;Xinli Liang ,&nbsp;Chao Yang ,&nbsp;Xuetao Huang ,&nbsp;Zicheng Mei ,&nbsp;Yanfei Xie ,&nbsp;Qian Liu","doi":"10.1016/j.jep.2025.120089","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jep.2025.120089","url":null,"abstract":"&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Ethnopharmacological relevance&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;Acute lung injury (ALI) is a clinical critical illness characterized by progressive pulmonary inflammatory response and high mortality. An increasing number of studies have confirmed that traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and compound prescriptions hold considerable promise in the prevention and treatment of respiratory inflammatory diseases. Fei Re Pu Qing Powder (FRPQ) is an efficacious prescription used in clinical treatment of pneumonia in Tibet, China. Its potential effects and mechanisms on ALI are worthy of further study.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Aim of the study&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;This study aims to characterize the bioactive constituents of FRPQ and elucidate its potential target sites and underlying mechanisms of action in ALI.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Materials and methods&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;Firstly, the pharmacodynamic effects of FRPQ were assessed using an LPS-induced rat model of ALI. Subsequently, the optimal pharmacodynamic dose was determined for a time-course study to evaluate the onset and duration of FRPQ's pharmacological actions. Based on the identification of potential active components in FRPQ-containing serum using UHPLC-Q Exactive HFX, core components, key targets, and signaling pathways were systematically screened via network pharmacology approaches. Subsequently, molecular docking analysis was performed on the identified core components and key targets to validate their binding activity and affinity. Finally, the potential mechanism underlying its effect on ALI was further verified using the ALI rat model and the M1/M2 polarization model of NR8383 cells.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Results&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;FRPQ exerts rapid and long-lasting effects on ALI rats. 63 prototype components of FRPQ were identified in the drug-containing serum, among which 25 have potential activity. An active components - intersection targets - ALI network was constructed, and 6 core components (Kaempferol, Piperine, Phloretin, etc.) were selected. PPI analysis identified 9 targets closely related to the therapeutic effect of ALI. GO/KEGG analysis indicated that FRPQ treatment of ALI is closely related to multiple inflammatory signaling pathways. Molecular docking showed that the binding energy of the 6 core components with the 9 core targets was ≤ −5.4 kcal/mol, indicating strong binding affinity. In vivo experiments showed that FRPQ could significantly reduce macrophage infiltration in the lung tissue of ALI rats, effectively down-regulate the expression of NF-κB/p65 protein, and the changes in the transcriptional levels of inflammatory mediators in lung tissue and the content of inflammatory factors in alveolar lavage fluid further verified the regulatory effect of FRPQ on the NF-κB signaling pathway. In vitro experiments showed that the drug-containing serum significantly inhibited the polarization of NR833 cells to the M1 phenotype and promoted their polarization to the M2 phenotype. The inhibition of M1 polarization may be achieve","PeriodicalId":15761,"journal":{"name":"Journal of ethnopharmacology","volume":"351 ","pages":"Article 120089"},"PeriodicalIF":4.8,"publicationDate":"2025-06-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144262062","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Shizhifang alleviates hyperuricemia -induced renal injury by inhibiting Drp1 and maintaining mitochondrial homeostasis in renal tubular epithelial cells","authors":"Zhiyuan Wu ,&nbsp;Yi Zhou ,&nbsp;Feng Yang ,&nbsp;Luobing Wang ,&nbsp;Feng Wu ,&nbsp;Weiwei Liu ,&nbsp;Jiandong Gao","doi":"10.1016/j.jep.2025.120084","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jep.2025.120084","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Ethnopharmacological relevance</h3><div>Shizhifang (SZF), a traditional Chinese herbal formula used at Shanghai Shuguang Hospital for over 20 years, has shown clinical efficacy in lowering serum uric acid (SUA) and protecting renal function.</div></div><div><h3>Aim of the study</h3><div>To explore the mechanism by which SZF protects against hyperuricemia (HUA)-induced renal tubular epithelial cell injury, focusing on mitochondrial dysfunction mediated by Drp1.</div></div><div><h3>Materials and methods</h3><div>RNA-seq was performed on HK2 cells to identify affected pathways. HUA rat and mouse models were used to assess renal function, oxidative stress, inflammation, and mitophagy. Key interventions included SZF, a Drp1 inhibitor, and autophagy modulators. In vitro, Drp1 knockdown HK2 cells were used to evaluate ROS, mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), and proteins involved in mitochondrial dynamics and mitophagy.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>SZF significantly reduced SUA, improved renal function, suppressed ROS and inflammation, and alleviated mitochondrial damage. RNA-seq revealed enrichment of ROS and mitophagy pathways. SZF and Drp1 inhibition restored MMP, reduced fission and mitophagy, and enhanced mitochondrial fusion. Combined SZF and Drp1 siRNA treatment showed superior efficacy.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>SZF mitigates HUA-induced renal injury by inhibiting Drp1-mediated mitochondrial fission and mitophagy, promoting mitochondrial fusion, and reducing oxidative stress. These findings reveal a novel mitochondrial mechanism for SZF's reno-protective effect.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":15761,"journal":{"name":"Journal of ethnopharmacology","volume":"351 ","pages":"Article 120084"},"PeriodicalIF":4.8,"publicationDate":"2025-06-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144239937","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Characterization and evaluation of Achillea erba-rotta subsp. moschata (Wulfen) I. Richardson and Achillea millefolium L. as potential ingredients for skin applications","authors":"Arianna Marengo ,&nbsp;Cecilia Cagliero ,&nbsp;Barbara Sgorbini ,&nbsp;Giulia Menzio ,&nbsp;Pietro Fusani ,&nbsp;Ana Paula Duarte ,&nbsp;Ângelo Luís ,&nbsp;Lara R. Fonseca ,&nbsp;Mariana Feijó ,&nbsp;Sílvia Socorro ,&nbsp;Cinzia Margherita Bertea ,&nbsp;Patrizia Rubiolo","doi":"10.1016/j.jep.2025.120123","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jep.2025.120123","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Ethnopharmacological relevance</h3><div>Despite their different geographical distribution <em>Achillea millefolium</em> L. and <em>Achillea erba-rotta</em> subsp<em>. moschata</em> (Wulfen) I. Richardson are characterized by a consolidated traditional knowledge. Although this is not their first traditional use, they have also long been used as ingredients for skin healing and skin care.</div></div><div><h3>Aim of the study</h3><div>The aim of this work was to characterize the two <em>Achillea</em> species from a chemical and biomolecular point of view in order to find a simple tool for their discrimination. At the same time, the biological activity of the extracts as inhibitors of the enzymes tyrosinase and elastase and as antimicrobial agents was evaluated.</div></div><div><h3>Materials and methods</h3><div>The biomolecular analysis was performed on the DNA region <em>trnL-F</em>. The hydroalcholic (EtOH50 %) extracts were quali-quantitatively characterized by HPLC-PDA-MS/MS and tested for their inhibitory effect on the enzymes tyrosinase and elastase as well as for their antimicrobial activity. Cytotoxicity towards human fibroblasts was tested to evaluate their safety for potential applications.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (RFLP) analysis of the <em>trnL-F</em> DNA region was a useful tool for species discrimination. Both extracts are rich in polyphenols and showed moderate tyrosinase (26-5 %) and elastase (22-14 %) inhibitory activity at 17 μg/mL. They were also able to inhibit the growth of the bacteria and yeasts studied, generally exhibiting cytotoxicity to human fibroblasts at concentrations of 500 μg/mL or higher.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>The hydroalcoholic extracts from the aerial parts of <em>A. millefolium</em> and <em>A. erba-rotta</em> subsp<em>. moschata</em> can be considered good candidates for the cosmetic and health sectors, also supporting the traditional use of these species in the treatment of skin diseases.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":15761,"journal":{"name":"Journal of ethnopharmacology","volume":"351 ","pages":"Article 120123"},"PeriodicalIF":4.8,"publicationDate":"2025-06-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144275050","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Exploring the mechanism of feiyanning formula and its extract apigenin against EGFR-TKIs resistance in non-small cell lung cancer based on UPLC-HRMS and experimental validation","authors":"Yang Han ,&nbsp;Lijing Jiao ,&nbsp;Hailun Zhou ,&nbsp;Shuliu Sang ,&nbsp;Geer A ,&nbsp;Ruichao Liu ,&nbsp;Yizhao Du ,&nbsp;Mengqi Wang ,&nbsp;Xiaohong Kang ,&nbsp;Qin Wang ,&nbsp;Yabin Gong","doi":"10.1016/j.jep.2025.120120","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jep.2025.120120","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Ethnopharmacological relevance</h3><div>Drug resistance in lung cancer poses a significant challenge in clinical treatment. Feiyanning formula (FYN) is a traditional Chinese medicine formula developed through years of clinical practice. However, the specific mechanisms by which FYN and its extract inhibit drug resistance in lung cancer remain unclear.</div></div><div><h3>Aim of the study</h3><div>This study aims to elucidate the therapeutic potential and underlying molecular mechanisms of FYN and its extract in the treatment of lung cancer.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>To explore how FYN interacts with potential targets in treating non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), a comprehensive strategy was employed, including network pharmacology, ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography coupled with high-resolution mass spectrometry (UPLC-HRMS), cellular assays, animal models, and molecular docking. Protein-protein interaction (PPI) network construction and functional analysis were used to investigate how FYN and its extract, apigenin, may overcome resistance to epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR-TKIs). The molecular mechanisms were further validated using an NSCLC resistance animal model.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>The study confirmed that FYN and its extract inhibit the proliferation, migration, and invasion of H1975OR cells. Using network pharmacology and UPLC-HRMS, shared components between the FYN formula and drug-containing serum were identified, and a potential target network related to NSCLC resistance was constructed. Gene enrichment analysis indicated that FYN targets the IGF1R-PI3K-Akt signaling pathway in combating NSCLC resistance. Molecular docking revealed interactions between FYN's extract and key pathway-related genes. Cell phenotype assays showed that FYN not only suppresses proliferation, migration, and invasion of resistant NSCLC cells but also induces apoptosis and promotes cell cycle arrest. Additionally, animal experiments demonstrated that FYN significantly inhibits the growth of H1975OR xenografts in nude mice. Western blot analysis suggested that FYN may suppress the IGF1R-PI3K-Akt pathway in vivo.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>This study explores the pharmacological effects and underlying mechanisms of FYN and its extract, apigenin, in the treatment of drug-resistant NSCLC. The findings support the therapeutic efficacy of FYN as a potential clinical treatment for lung cancer and provide robust scientific evidence for further investigation into the mechanisms of osimertinib resistance and the action of FYN.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":15761,"journal":{"name":"Journal of ethnopharmacology","volume":"351 ","pages":"Article 120120"},"PeriodicalIF":4.8,"publicationDate":"2025-06-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144275051","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Cornus officinalis loganin attenuates acute lung injury in mice via regulating the PI3K/AKT/NLRP3 axis","authors":"Yiran Liu ,&nbsp;Changli Wang ,&nbsp;Teng Hui ,&nbsp;Yue Yuan ,&nbsp;Shirong Chen ,&nbsp;Yan Li ,&nbsp;Gan Wang ,&nbsp;Jiefang Kang ,&nbsp;Xiaochang Xue","doi":"10.1016/j.jep.2025.120104","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jep.2025.120104","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Ethnopharmacological relevance</h3><div>Cornus o<em>fficinalis</em> (CO), a pharmaceutical and food product, can reduce inflammation, alleviate oxidative stress and lower blood sugar levels. In particular, CO has been used to treat severe COVID-19 patients during the pandemic, revealing its protective effects against pneumonia.</div></div><div><h3>Aim</h3><div>In this study, the mitigating effects of CO ethanol extract (COEE) on acute lung injury (ALI) and the molecular mechanism were investigated and the main active components of COEE were screened.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>The anti-inflammatory effects of CO on model animals assessed by evaluating the levels of proinflammatory factors and inflammasome components by H&amp;E staining technique, ELISA, RT‒qPCR and immunofluorescence assays. Moreover, CCK8, LDH, and RT‒qPCR assays were also performed to assess the effect of CO on cell viability and its anti-inflammatory efficacy <em>in vitro</em>. The mRNA expression of inflammatory factors (IL-1β and TNF-α), and the protein expression of NLRP3 inflammasome members was evaluated. In addition, the molecular mechanisms and core pharmacodynamic components of CO were inferred by network pharmacology, and the relevant pathway targets were analyzed and verified by immunohistochemistry, Western blotting and RT‒qPCR. <em>In vivo</em> and <em>in vitro</em> models were also established to verify the effects of the main active ingredient Loganin (LOG) on ALI and the related molecular mechanisms.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>COEE significantly suppressed inflammation, mitigated lung tissue damage, and inhibited NLRP3 inflammasome activation in an LPS-induced murine ALI model and an inflammatory cell model. Network pharmacology screening and experimental data revealed that the PI3K/AKT signalling pathway is the direct target of CO, as COEE administration potently inhibited the activation of the PI3K/AKT/NLRP3 signalling pathway <em>in vitro</em> and <em>in vivo</em>, whereas the PI3K/AKT pathway agonist YS-49 apparently impaired the effects of COEE. Further studies revealed that LOG, a core ingredient in CO, mediated the effects of COEE via direct targeting of AKT1, and different doses of LOG had consistent and strong protective effects on ALI model mice.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>COEE exerts therapeutic effects on LPS-induced ALI model mice by inhibiting the activation of the PI3K/AKT pathway and preventing the overactivation of the NLRP3 inflammasome, and LOG is the core medicinal substance. These findings also provide supporting evidence for the development of new nutraceuticals for the prevention and treatment of <span>ALI</span>.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":15761,"journal":{"name":"Journal of ethnopharmacology","volume":"351 ","pages":"Article 120104"},"PeriodicalIF":4.8,"publicationDate":"2025-06-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144258195","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}