Journal of ethnopharmacology最新文献

{"title":"Nelumbinis Plumula attenuates high-fat-induced inflammation in non-alcoholic fatty liver through the NOX/NF-κB pathway","authors":"Xiaoxue Zhao ,&nbsp;Shan Lin ,&nbsp;Jing Wang ,&nbsp;Shiying Wu ,&nbsp;Chenxi Ren ,&nbsp;Xu Sun ,&nbsp;Dawei Lian ,&nbsp;Xinlan Xu ,&nbsp;Jingjing Wu ,&nbsp;Shujuan Zhang ,&nbsp;Jianwei Zeng ,&nbsp;Yulong Zhang ,&nbsp;Chunjiang Tan ,&nbsp;Daxin Chen","doi":"10.1016/j.jep.2025.120663","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jep.2025.120663","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Ethnopharmacological relevance</h3><div>Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a prevalent chronic hepatic metabolic disorder and represents a major public health concern worldwide. <em>Nelumbinis Plumula</em>, a traditional Chinese herbal medicine, has attracted significant interest given its high concentration of alkaloids and flavonoids, known to modulate lipid metabolism (LM) and exert antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. Although its extract ENP has been reported to govern LM, the mechanism remains unclear.</div></div><div><h3>Aim of the study</h3><div>To investigate whether ENP could ameliorate hepatic inflammation and free fatty acid (FFA)-induced lipid deposition in NAFLD models and to explore the mechanisms underlying its therapeutic effects.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was used to identify the major constituents of ENP. NAFLD was modeled <em>in vivo</em> by feeding mice a high-fat diet (HFD) for 20 weeks and <em>in vitro</em> by exposing AML12 cells to FFA. ENP was administered at various doses to evaluate its pharmacodynamic effects. Network pharmacology combined with metabolomics was applied to identify potential targets and signaling pathways, and these findings were further validated in the above NAFLD models to assess ENP's efficacy in regulating LM.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Four alkaloids and eight flavonoids were identified as the primary active compounds of ENP. In mice, ENP administration significantly attenuated HFD-induced increases in body weight, epididymal fat, liver hypertrophy, and histopathological damage, while improving LM and liver function. Integrated network pharmacology and metabolomics analyses revealed that the modulation of oxidative stress and inflammatory pathways, particularly through the NF-κB signaling cascade, was central to ENP's therapeutic effects. Consistently, <em>ex vivo</em> experiments revealed that ENP restored lipid metabolic balance in NAFLD models by suppressing inflammation via the NOX/NF-κB signaling pathway.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>ENP attenuates NAFLD-associated inflammatory responses by inhibiting NOX/NF-κB signaling, providing a theoretical foundation for the therapeutic application of <em>Nelumbinis Plumula</em>.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":15761,"journal":{"name":"Journal of ethnopharmacology","volume":"355 ","pages":"Article 120663"},"PeriodicalIF":5.4,"publicationDate":"2025-10-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145238734","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":"Harnessing the application of artificial intelligence in identification of traditional Chinese medicines","authors":"Shunjiang Jia ,&nbsp;Huanling Lai ,&nbsp;Hailong Bai ,&nbsp;Mengzhi Li ,&nbsp;Qiao Zhang ,&nbsp;Peng Zhao ,&nbsp;Yuwei Wang ,&nbsp;Yuping Tang ,&nbsp;Elaine Lai-Han Leung","doi":"10.1016/j.jep.2025.120704","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jep.2025.120704","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Ethnopharmacological relevance</h3><div>The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into pharmaceutical practice represents a paradigm shift, offering innovative solutions to long-standing challenges in the authentication and quality control of Chinese herbal medicine (CHM).</div></div><div><h3>Aim of the study</h3><div>This study aims to review the current applications and limitations of AI in the image identification, quality control, active ingredient and toxicity assessment, and origin identification of CHM, providing reference and guidance for the future development of AI-assisted traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) research and practice.</div></div><div><h3>Materials and methods</h3><div>A comprehensive literature search was conducted in PubMed, Google Scholar, and CNKI to identify studies on the application of AI in TCM, covering image recognition, quality control, origin identification, phytochemical analysis, and toxicity assessment.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>The results show that AI offers significant advantages in the identification of CHM, improving both accuracy and efficiency. In quality control, the combination of AI with spectroscopic and sensory detection enables more objective analyses. When integrated with chromatographic and multi-technique approaches, AI supports the evaluation of complex components and toxicity. In origin identification, models such as support vector machines (SVM) performed well, though their generalizability remains limited by small sample sizes and regional differences. Persistent challenges in data quality, interpretability, and regulatory approval highlight the need for enhanced standardization, rigorous validation, and closer interdisciplinary collaboration.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>This review explores the applications and limitations of AI in TCM, covering image identification, quality identification, active ingredient detection, origin identification, and toxicity evaluation, providing new directions for the development of AI in TCM.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":15761,"journal":{"name":"Journal of ethnopharmacology","volume":"355 ","pages":"Article 120704"},"PeriodicalIF":5.4,"publicationDate":"2025-10-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145238779","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":"Research progress of bioactive compounds of Traditional Chinese medicine in the treatment of myocardial fibrosis-related signaling pathways","authors":"Qianrong Li ,&nbsp;Ai Liu ,&nbsp;Chunzhen Ren ,&nbsp;Xiaodong Zhi ,&nbsp;Xuehan Wang ,&nbsp;Weijie Lu ,&nbsp;Xiaoying Guo ,&nbsp;Linchan Li ,&nbsp;Xinke Zhao ,&nbsp;Yingdong Li","doi":"10.1016/j.jep.2025.120694","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jep.2025.120694","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Ethnopharmacological relevance</h3><div>Myocardial fibrosis (MF),characterized by excessive extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling, represents a central pathological process in progressive cardiovascular diseases and drives cardiac functional impairment.Contemporary anti-fibrotic therapies face limitations due to inadequate target specificity and systemic toxicity, whereas bioactive compounds derived from traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) offer novel multi-target therapeutic strategies for MF reversal.</div></div><div><h3>Aim of the study</h3><div>This review synthesizes evidence on molecular mechanisms by which TCM compounds modulate fibrotic signaling networks, providing translational insights for precision anti-fibrotic interventions.</div></div><div><h3>Materials and methods</h3><div>Following PRISMA guidelines,we systematically searched major scientific databases (PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, Cochrane Library, CNKI) from January 2000 to September 2025 using predefined keywords: myocardial fibrosis, traditional Chinese medicine, bioactive compounds, and herbal pharma cology. Eligible experimental studies elucidating mechanistic pathways were analyzed to map chemical constituents, pharmacological actions, and pathway interactions.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>TCM-derived compounds including tanshinone IIA and astragaloside IV demonstrate anti-MF efficacy by suppressing fibroblast activation and collagen deposition through coordinated modulation of TGF-β1/Smad, MAPK, and NF-κB pathways, correlating with reduced MF severity and improved cardiac function.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>TCM bioactives exhibit unique therapeutic potential by remodeling the fibrotic microenvironment through multi-modal signaling pathways, overcoming limitations of single-target approaches.Current constraints include insufficient validation in dynamic disease models and interspecies pharmacokinetic variability.Future research should prioritize integrating organ-on-a-chip systems with spatial metabolomics. To bridge current translational gaps, future studies must converge cutting-edge technologies: (1) Organ-on-a-chip platforms simulating human cardiac microenvironments; (2) Spatial metabolomics mapping compound distribution; and (3) AI-driven screening to construct predictive compound-pathway-phenotype networks. Such integration, aligned with ICH guidelines, could propel TCM from empirical practice to precision cardiology.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":15761,"journal":{"name":"Journal of ethnopharmacology","volume":"355 ","pages":"Article 120694"},"PeriodicalIF":5.4,"publicationDate":"2025-10-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145232687","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":"Honghua Xiaoyao tablets ameliorate premenstrual syndrome by modulating HPA axis and restoring ovarian estrogen synthesis to attenuate hippocampal neuroinflammation","authors":"Kedian Chen,&nbsp;Shuangrong Gao,&nbsp;Bingbing Cai,&nbsp;Zhaochen Ma,&nbsp;Xueting Liu,&nbsp;Wenjia Chen,&nbsp;Na Lin,&nbsp;Yanqiong Zhang","doi":"10.1016/j.jep.2025.120688","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jep.2025.120688","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Ethnopharmacological relevance</h3><div>Premenstrual syndrome (PMS), a prevalent neuroendocrine disorder in reproductive-age women, is characterized by emotional disturbances and hormonal imbalances. Honghua Xiaoyao Tablets (HXTs) exhibit clinical promise in PMS therapy. Nevertheless, the therapeutic mechanisms and active constituents underlying its efficacy have not been fully elucidated.</div></div><div><h3>Aim of the study</h3><div>This study aimed to investigate the underlying mechanisms of HXT in ameliorating PMS-associated depressive behaviors through modulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and ovarian-hippocampal signaling.</div></div><div><h3>Materials and methods</h3><div>A progesterone-withdrawal rat model mimicking PMS symptoms was established to evaluate behavioral, hormonal, and histological changes with and without the treatment of HXT. Network pharmacology identified potential targets of HXT against PMS. Molecular docking and surface plasmon resonance (SPR) were employed to validate interactions between HXT constituents and key targets. Experimental validation included Western blot, immunoprecipitation, immunohistochemistry, and enzyme activity assays to dissect molecular mechanisms using ovarian and hippocampal tissues.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>HXT administration significantly alleviated depressive behaviors in PMS rats, evidenced by improved exploratory activity in open-field tests, reduced immobility time in forced swim tests, and restored sucrose preference in sucrose preference tests. It also normalized serum levels of adrenocorticotropic hormone, corticosterone, corticotropin-releasing hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone/luteinizing hormone and norepinephrine, while increasing estradiol, prolactin and 5-hydroxytryptamine. Mechanistically, HXT enhanced ovarian estrogen synthesis by upregulating CYP19A1, thereby rebalancing glucocorticoid and estrogen receptor signaling, inhibited GSK3β overactivation, consequently attenuating neuroinflammation. Molecular docking and SPR analyses confirmed direct binding of key HXT constituents—saikosaponins A/D, gallic acid, benzoylpaeoniflorin, and ononin—to targets along the neuroendocrine-ovarian axis, with dissociation constants ranging from 2.52 to 950.10 μM.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>HXT alleviates PMS-associated depression through the major effective constituents via multi-dimensional regulation of neuroendocrine-ovarian circuits, combining HPA axis normalization with SENP1/UBE2I-NR5A1-CYP19A1-mediated estrogen recovery and hippocampal GSK3β/NLRP3-pyroptosis inhibition. This study provides molecular evidence supporting HXT as a multitarget therapeutic agent for PMS-related depressive behaviors, bridging traditional herbal medicine with modern systems pharmacology approaches.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":15761,"journal":{"name":"Journal of ethnopharmacology","volume":"355 ","pages":"Article 120688"},"PeriodicalIF":5.4,"publicationDate":"2025-10-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145232682","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":"Network pharmacology and experimental validation uncover how Shoutai pills improve ovarian function in postpartum depression following a secondary birth","authors":"Cheng-Liang Zhou ,&nbsp;Si-Mei Dong ,&nbsp;Yi-Piao Zhang ,&nbsp;Zhi-Yuan Li ,&nbsp;Shun-Xia Jiang ,&nbsp;Wan-Feng Xu ,&nbsp;Bo Li ,&nbsp;Sheng-Qiang Tong ,&nbsp;Gui-Yuan Lv ,&nbsp;Su-Hong Chen","doi":"10.1016/j.jep.2025.120668","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jep.2025.120668","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Ethnopharmacological relevance</h3><div>Maternal fertility may be impacted by postpartum depression (PPD), the most common mental illness during the puerperium. Shoutai pills (STW) are extensively applied to strengthen the kidneys and prevent miscarriage, with potential applications in treating depression and improving reproductive function. However, the underlying mechanisms are yet unclear.</div></div><div><h3>Aim of the study</h3><div>This study aims to investigate the mechanisms and curative effects of STW in improving ovarian function in secondary-birth postpartum depression (SBPPD).</div></div><div><h3>Materials and methods</h3><div>Active compounds were screened using TCMSP, literature review, and SwissADME. Swiss TargetPrediction and PharmMapper helped in predicting potential targets, while disease targets were identified using GeneCards, DrugBank, OMIM, and DisGeNET. GO and KEGG enrichment analyses were performed using Metascape, and molecular docking validation was then carried out. For animal experiments, a SBPPD model was established through sleep deprivation (SD) and secondary childbirth. The therapeutic effects and mechanisms were investigated based on: behavioral tests, neurotransmitter and hormone level assays, expression analysis of PI3K-AKT pathway-related genes (Immunohistochemistry, Western blot).</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Network pharmacology analysis identified 35 active components in STW, with 81 overlapping targets related to PPD. The top-ranked targets included ALB, IL6, TNF, AKT1, IL1B, and ESR1. Based on the findings from KEGG analysis and molecular docking studies, it is highly probable that STW exerts its effects via the PI3K-AKT signaling pathway. <em>In vivo</em> experiments demonstrated that STW effectively ameliorated ovarian and neuronal damage induced by PPD. It alleviated depressive-like behaviors, upregulated the expression of proteins linked to the ERs-PI3K-AKT pathway in the ovaries and hippocampal regions, and restored serum levels of CRH, ACTH, CORT, GnRH, FSH, LH, E2, 5-HT, and DA.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>STW applys therapeutic effects on SBPPD mice via multiple targets, and its mechanism may be related to modulating the functions of the HPA and HPO axes, with the ERs-PI3K-AKT pathway being a key player in this process.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":15761,"journal":{"name":"Journal of ethnopharmacology","volume":"355 ","pages":"Article 120668"},"PeriodicalIF":5.4,"publicationDate":"2025-10-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145232619","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 Mongolian medicine Batri-7 exhibits chemopreventive activity in colitis-associated colorectal cancer through microbiota modulation and NLRP3 inflammasome targeting","authors":"Jiaxin Sun ,&nbsp;Jialin Shi ,&nbsp;Jie Zhang ,&nbsp;Xuemeng Sun ,&nbsp;Shengyao Du ,&nbsp;Xianjue Wang ,&nbsp;Gang Liu ,&nbsp;Xian Li ,&nbsp;Xuemin Feng ,&nbsp;Jia Wang ,&nbsp;Mingxing Hou ,&nbsp;Ying Wei ,&nbsp;Liya Su","doi":"10.1016/j.jep.2025.120696","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jep.2025.120696","url":null,"abstract":"&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Ethnopharmacological relevance&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;Batri-7 (BT-7) is a compound herbal remedy rooted in traditional Mongolian medicine (TMM), composed of seven medicinal plants. Historically, it has been prescribed to treat various gastrointestinal conditions, including chronic enteritis and ulcerative colitis. However, despite this long-standing use in managing inflammatory disorders of the gut, the preventive effects of BT-7 on colitis-associated colorectal cancer (CAC), as well as its underlying molecular mechanisms, remains incompletely elucidated.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Aim of the study&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;This study aimed to assess the therapeutic efficacy of BT-7 in an AOM/DSS-induced murine model of CAC, while also investigating its modulatory effects on systemic inflammation, intestinal barrier function, gut microbiota dynamics, and inflammation-related molecular signaling pathways.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Materials and methods&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;A chemically induced CAC model was established in C57BL/6 mice using azoxymethane (AOM) and dextran sodium sulfate (DSS). BT-7 was then administered orally at three dosage levels, and therapeutic outcomes were evaluated through a range of methods:clinical scoring, serum biochemical analysis, histological analysis, immunohistochemistry, and gut microbial profiling via 16S rRNA sequencing. To explore the underlying mechanistic pathways, with a particular focus on inflammasome regulation, transcriptome sequencing, quantitative PCR, and Western blotting were employed.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Results&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;BT-7 treatment was well-tolerated, with no evidence of liver or kidney toxicity. Mice receiving BT-7 exhibited improved body weight maintenance, lower disease activity scores, and preserved colon length. Histologically, there was substantial restoration of mucosal architecture and reduced epithelial hyperplasia, alongside significant suppression of tumor formation. Systemically, BT-7 reduced levels of key pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, and KC/GRO) and enhanced intestinal barrier integrity, as evidenced by the elevation of Occludin and ZO-1. Additionally, BT-7 decreased the abundance of pro-inflammatory taxa, such as &lt;em&gt;Bacteroidota&lt;/em&gt;, and enriched beneficial genera like &lt;em&gt;Lactobacillus&lt;/em&gt; and &lt;em&gt;Dubosiella&lt;/em&gt;. The increased relative abundance of &lt;em&gt;Lactobacillus_johnsonii&lt;/em&gt; and decreased &lt;em&gt;Lactobacillus _murinus&lt;/em&gt; highlighted the probiotic effects of BT-7. Functional pathway prediction revealed that BT-7's microbiota was enriched in pathways related to carbohydrate and amino acid metabolism, as well as digestive system and immune-related functions. Transcriptomic analysis revealed downregulation of inflammatory signaling, particularly within the NOD-like receptor pathway, with reduced NLRP3 expression at both mRNA and protein levels confirming this effect.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Conclusions&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;This work demonstrates that BT-7 exerts protective effects against CAC by suppressing inflammatio","PeriodicalId":15761,"journal":{"name":"Journal of ethnopharmacology","volume":"355 ","pages":"Article 120696"},"PeriodicalIF":5.4,"publicationDate":"2025-10-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145232706","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":"LC-MS/MS based phytochemical composition profiling and the development of hemostatic in situ gel formulation of Teucrium polium L.","authors":"Miray Ilhan ,&nbsp;Mert Ilhan ,&nbsp;Hazal Ezgi Gultekin ,&nbsp;Zeynep Senyigit ,&nbsp;Muge Kilicarslan","doi":"10.1016/j.jep.2025.120689","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jep.2025.120689","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Ethnopharmacological relevance</h3><div>The natural hemostatic mechanism fails in cases of severe bleeding. It is vital to promptly control hemorrhage during first-aid interventions and surgical procedures. Plant-derived bioactive components and extracts used in folk medicine are promising sources of hemostatic agents with low toxicity. <em>Teucrium polium</em> L. is utilized ethnobotanically in Eastern Anatolia for its hemostatic properties by putting the aerial parts directly on the site of hemorrhage.</div></div><div><h3>Aim</h3><div>This study focuses on developing a strategy for modernizing the traditional use of a plant-based hemostatic agent, <em>T. polium</em> extract, incorporating <em>in situ</em> gel formulations using carbopol and poloxamer.</div></div><div><h3>Materials and methods</h3><div>In order to reveal the phytochemical content of the extract, LC-MS/MS study was conducted. <em>T. polium</em> extract was added to <em>in situ</em> gels at concentrations of 5 % and 10 % w/w. Characterization experiments were performed to achieve the optimal formulation, including rheological evaluation, contact angle measurement, spreadability analysis, and <em>in vitro</em> active substance release rate tests.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>The yield of the lyophilized extract prepared with 80 % ethanol was 16.7 %. LC-MS/MS quantitative results showed that the major compounds in the extract were quinic acid, fumaric acid, rutin, cosmosiin, and apigenin. Formulations exhibited low viscosity at room temperature and underwent gelation at physiological pH and temperature (pH 7.4, 37 °C).</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div><em>In vitro</em> investigations of the <em>in situ</em> gel incorporating <em>T. polium</em> extract indicated that it is an effective formulation for delivering agents to damaged tissue and irregularly shaped bleeding wounds. This study is groundbreaking in the formulation designs of plants used ethnobotanically for hemorrhage management.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":15761,"journal":{"name":"Journal of ethnopharmacology","volume":"355 ","pages":"Article 120689"},"PeriodicalIF":5.4,"publicationDate":"2025-10-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145232708","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":"Lycium barbarum polysaccharide LBP-4 attenuates triptolide-induced male reproductive toxicity via Nrf2/Keap1-mediated antioxidant response and apoptotic regulation","authors":"Zechao Wang ,&nbsp;Jixin Xie ,&nbsp;Fang Wu ,&nbsp;Hailei Liao ,&nbsp;Wenying He ,&nbsp;Weihua Li ,&nbsp;Yanli Lei ,&nbsp;Yin Wang ,&nbsp;Qin Chang ,&nbsp;Lijuan Wang","doi":"10.1016/j.jep.2025.120682","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jep.2025.120682","url":null,"abstract":"&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Ethnopharmacological relevance&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;Lyciu&lt;em&gt;m barbarum&lt;/em&gt; (Goji berry) has been traditionally employed to enhance vitality and treat reproductive deficiencies. Polysaccharides derived from its fruit (LBP) are key bioactive constituents, historically linked to nourishing the male reproductive system and mitigating oxidative stress—a practice now supported by modern research on their protective mechanisms.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Ethnopharmacological relevance&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;Lyciu&lt;em&gt;m barbarum&lt;/em&gt;, commonly known as Goji berry, has been traditionally utilized in herbal medicine to enhance vitality and address reproductive health disorders. Polysaccharides derived from its fruit (LBPs) represent key bioactive components, which have been scientifically documented to exert protective effects on male reproductive function and to alleviate oxidative stress.&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 evaluate the therapeutic potential of LBP-4 against triptolide (TP)-induced male reproductive toxicity and to elucidate the underlying mechanisms, with a specific focus on oxidative stress, apoptosis, and the Nrf2/Keap1 signaling pathway.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Materials and methods&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;Male mice were co-administered TP (120 μg/kg/day) and LBP-4 (20/40/60 mg/kg/day)to assess reproductive recovery. Evaluations included: Body and organ indices: Body weight, testicular, and epididymal weights. Sperm parameters: Sperm count, motility, and malformation rate via computer-assisted sperm analysis (CASA). Histopathology: Testicular tissue integrity and spermatogenic cell organization using hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining. Oxidative stress markers: SOD, MDA, and GSH levels measured by biochemical assays. Testes from mice group (control, TP, H-LBP-4) underwent UID-mRNA-seq. DEGs were analyzed via GO and KEGG enrichment. Molecular pathways: Nrf2/Keap1 pathway gene/protein expression (QPCR, Western blot), Bax/Bcl-2 ratio, and caspase-3 and autophagy markers.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Results&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;Reproductive Recovery: LBP-4 administration dose-dependently ameliorated TP-induced damage, significantly improving body weight, testicular and epididymal indices, and sperm parameters (count, motility, and morphology). Histological Improvement: LBP-4 restored testicular architecture and spermatogenesis, significantly increased mature sperm numbers, and mitigated cellular disarray. Higher doses of LBP-4 further alleviated atrophy and enhanced tissue organization. Oxidative Stress Mitigation: LBP-4 normalized the TP-altered levels of SOD (a 1.67-fold increase), GSH (a 21.86 % elevation), and MDA (a 54.90 % reduction), demonstrating dose-dependent efficacy. RNA-seq analysis revealed significant differential gene expression among groups: CON vs TP (448 upregulated/551 downregulated genes), H-LBP-4-TP vs TP (856 upregulated/1775 downregulated genes), and H-LBP-4-CON vs CON (3583 upregulated/4087 downregulated genes). Differentially expressed genes (DEGs","PeriodicalId":15761,"journal":{"name":"Journal of ethnopharmacology","volume":"355 ","pages":"Article 120682"},"PeriodicalIF":5.4,"publicationDate":"2025-10-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145232717","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":"Hai Zao Xiao Liu Jiao Nang ameliorated hypothyroidism in rat models by targeting ferroptosis pathway: Integrated network study of multi-omics","authors":"Ran Hu ,&nbsp;Kun-Yang Tang ,&nbsp;Min Xiao ,&nbsp;Jin-Rong Yang ,&nbsp;Xiao-Xue Tao ,&nbsp;Bing-Bing Hu ,&nbsp;Shao-Yong Xu ,&nbsp;Jin-Song Shu","doi":"10.1016/j.jep.2025.120687","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jep.2025.120687","url":null,"abstract":"&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Ethnopharmacological relevance&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;Hai Zao Xiao Liu Jiao Nang (HZXLJN) is a brown granular capsule formulation derived from the classical TCM prescription “Hai Zao Yu Hu Tang” for thyroid disorders. This unique herbal compound has been clinically applied for years in treating thyroid diseases, demonstrating remarkable therapeutic efficacy with low adverse effects and recurrence rates. However, its underlying mechanisms remain unclear.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Aims&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;This study elucidates the therapeutic effects of HZXLJN on hypothyroidism (HT) via the ferroptosis pathway using an integrated strategy of network pharmacology, multi-omics analysis, and in vitro experiments.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Methods&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;The chemical composition of HZXLJN was analyzed using mass spectrometry. Network pharmacology, proteomics, and metabolomics were integrated in a multi-omics approach to investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying HZXLJN's therapeutic effects on HT. Animal experiments were conducted to screen potential therapeutic pathways. A hypothyroidism rat model was established in SD rats using propylthiouracil (PTU), followed by intervention with either HZXLJN, levothyroxine sodium (LS), or Ferrostatin-1 (Fer-1), with subsequent observation of rat conditions; Histopathological evaluation of thyroid tissue was performed using hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining. Serum hormone levels and biochemical parameters were assessed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and biochemical assays. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) was employed to examine GPX4 protein expression in thyroid tissue. The mitochondrial status of thyroid follicular cells was observed via transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Western blot (WB) analysis was conducted to detect the expression of pathway-related proteins in thyroid tissue. In vitro, a ferroptosis cell model was established in Nthy-ori 3-1 cells by Erastin induction to screen for the specific active components of HZXLJN, followed by investigation of the underlying mechanisms through immunofluorescence (IF) and Western blot (WB) analyses.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Results&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;HZXLJN contains nine active components. Network pharmacology predicted AKT and p53 as its primary therapeutic targets. Proteomic and metabolomic analyses suggested its therapeutic effects may be associated with ferroptosis, preliminarily identifying five ferroptosis-related pathways: glutathione metabolism, lipid metabolism, mitochondrial function, heme metabolism, and autophagolysosome activity. Animal experiments demonstrated that HZXLJN ameliorated PTU-induced hypothyroidism in SD rats. Through GPX4 level assessment and transmission electron microscopy, we confirmed that HZXLJN improved hypothyroidism by inhibiting ferroptosis. Further validation via Western blot and biochemical assays of the multi-omics-identified ferroptosis pathways determined that HZXLJN primarily exerts its effects by modulating the glutathione metabolism pathway. In v","PeriodicalId":15761,"journal":{"name":"Journal of ethnopharmacology","volume":"355 ","pages":"Article 120687"},"PeriodicalIF":5.4,"publicationDate":"2025-10-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145232672","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":"Kuntai capsule for the treatment of menopausal symptoms induced by GnRH-a therapy: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials","authors":"Junhong Yu ,&nbsp;Fanya Yu ,&nbsp;Lina Zhang ,&nbsp;Xudong Zhang ,&nbsp;Juwen Zhang ,&nbsp;Yangyang Zhang ,&nbsp;Ling Xiong ,&nbsp;Xiaoyan Li ,&nbsp;Wei Chen","doi":"10.1016/j.jep.2025.120685","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jep.2025.120685","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Ethnopharmacological relevance</h3><div>Gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists (GnRH-a) often induce menopausal symptoms, negatively affecting women's psychological, emotional, and physical health. Kuntai capsule is widely used in clinical practice to alleviate various menopausal symptoms. Exploring the potential of Kuntai capsule in GnRH-a therapy holds significant clinical value.</div></div><div><h3>Aim of the study</h3><div>This study aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of Kuntai capsule in treating menopausal symptoms induced by GnRH-a therapy.</div></div><div><h3>Materials and methods</h3><div>Databases namely China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang Database, Chinese Science and Technology Journal Database, Chinese Biomedical Literature Database, PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Embase were searched from their inception to November 2024. We included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing Kuntai capsule combined with GnRH-a to GnRH-a alone or GnRH-a combined with hormone therapy (HT) for endometriosis, uterine fibroids or adenomyosis treatment. The risk of bias was evaluated using RoB 1.0. A meta-analysis was performed using RevMan 5.4 software. The primary outcomes were Kupperman Index (KI) and menopausal symptoms, including the incidence of hot flashes, insomnia, and vaginal dryness. The secondary outcomes were adverse events, including the incidence of vaginal or uterine bleeding and breast tenderness, and recurrence rate.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>A meta-analysis of 36 RCTs, including a total of 3577 patients, was conducted. The results indicated that, compared to GnRH-a alone, Kuntai capsule combined with GnRH-a significantly reduced KI (MD = −5.88, 95 % CI [-9.80, −1.96], P = 0.003) as well as the incidence of hot flashes (RR = 0.49, 95 % CI [0.36, 0.68], P &lt; 0.0001), insomnia (RR = 0.42, 95 % CI [0.29, 0.62], P &lt; 0.0001), and vaginal dryness (RR = 0.38, 95 % CI [0.26, 0.57], P &lt; 0.00001).</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>Kuntai capsule is effective and safe in improving menopausal symptoms induced by GnRH-a therapy. However, due to the methodological limitations of the included RCTs, further high-quality evidence from large-sample and well-designed research is needed in the future.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":15761,"journal":{"name":"Journal of ethnopharmacology","volume":"355 ","pages":"Article 120685"},"PeriodicalIF":5.4,"publicationDate":"2025-10-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145232653","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}