Haochi Yang, Binghuo Wu, Qi yang, Tian Tan, Dan Shang, Jie Chen, Chenhui Cao, Chuan Xu
{"title":"Urolithin C suppresses colorectal cancer progression via the AKT/mTOR pathway","authors":"Haochi Yang, Binghuo Wu, Qi yang, Tian Tan, Dan Shang, Jie Chen, Chenhui Cao, Chuan Xu","doi":"10.1007/s11418-024-01821-2","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11418-024-01821-2","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Urolithin families are gut-microbial metabolites of ellagic acid (EA). Although urolithin A (UA) and urolithin B (UB) were reported to have antiproliferative activities in cancer cells, the role and related mechanisms of urolithin C (UC) in colorectal cancer (CRC) have not yet been clarified. In this study, we assess the antitumor activities of UC in vitro and in vivo and further explore the underlying mechanisms in CRC cell lines. We found that UC inhibited the proliferation and migration of CRC cells, induced apoptosis, and arrested the cell cycle at the G2/M phase in vitro, and UC inhibited tumor growth in a subcutaneous transplantation tumor model in vivo. Mechanically, UC blocked the activation of the AKT/mTOR signaling pathway by decreasing the expression of Y-box binding protein 1(YBX1). The AKT agonist SC79 could reverse the suppression of cell proliferation in UC-treated CRC cells. In conclusion, our research revealed that UC could prevent the progression of CRC by blocking AKT/mTOR signaling, suggesting that it may have potential therapeutic values.</p><h3>Graphical Abstract</h3><div><figure><div><div><picture><source><img></source></picture></div></div></figure></div></div>","PeriodicalId":654,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Natural Medicines","volume":"78 4","pages":"887 - 900"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2024-06-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11364574/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141287532","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Novel compounds isolated from health food products containing beni-koji (red yeast rice) with adverse event reports","authors":"Seiji Tanaka, Naoko Masumoto, Takuya Makino, Yuji Matsushima, Toshio Morikawa, Michiho Ito","doi":"10.1007/s11418-024-01827-w","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11418-024-01827-w","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Recently, health hazards, such as kidney damage, have been reported owing to the ingestion of a health food product, so-called “foods with functional claims (FFC)’’, containing beni-koji (red yeast rice). Although not an expected compound in the FFC, the detection of puberulic acid has also been reported. Further investigations of these health food products, such as the identification of other unintended compounds and clarifying the health impacts of puberulic acid, are required. To clarify the causes of these health issues, we investigated the presence of unintended compounds in the FFC containing beni-koji using comprehensive instrumental analyses. Using differential analysis, novel compounds <b>1</b> and <b>2</b> were detected as unexpected components between the samples with and without adverse event reports. Although limited to the samples available for analyses in this study, both compounds <b>1</b> and <b>2</b> were detected in all the samples that also contained puberulic acid. Compounds <b>1</b> and <b>2</b>, with molecular formulas of C<sub>23</sub>H<sub>34</sub>O<sub>7</sub> and C<sub>28</sub>H<sub>42</sub>O<sub>8</sub>, respectively, may be lovastatin derivatives. Their structures were confirmed using NMR analyses and are novel natural compounds. For definitive confirmation, we are in the process of synthesizing compounds <b>1</b> and <b>2</b> from lovastatin. The route of contamination of these compounds are currently under investigation. The findings of this study could be used to address the growing health hazards associated with health food products.</p><h3>Graphical abstract</h3>\u0000<div><figure><div><div><picture><source><img></source></picture></div></div></figure></div></div>","PeriodicalId":654,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Natural Medicines","volume":"78 4","pages":"845 - 848"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2024-06-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141247043","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Germacrone, isolated from Curcuma wenyujin, inhibits melanin synthesis through the regulation of the MAPK signaling pathway","authors":"Xiaoye Li, Lijia Chen, Hong Wang, Yiming Li, Huali Wu, Fujiang Guo","doi":"10.1007/s11418-024-01818-x","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11418-024-01818-x","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Abnormal melanin synthesis causes hyperpigmentation disorders, such as chloasma, freckles, and melanoma, which are highly multiple and prevalent. There were few reports on the anti-melanogenic effect of <i>Curcuma wenyujin</i> Y.H. Chen et C. Ling, and the bioactive compound has not been elucidated as well. The study aims to investigate the anti-melanogenic effect of <i>C. wenyujin</i>, and identify the bioactive compound, and further explore its underlying mechanism. Our results showed that the Petroleum ether fraction extracted from <i>C. wenyujin</i> rhizome had a significant anti-melanogenic effect, and germacrone isolated from it was confirmed as the major bioactive compound. To our data, germacrone significantly inhibited tyrosinase (TYR) activity, reduced melanosome synthesis, reduced dendrites formation of B16F10 cells, and melanosome transport to keratinocytes. Moreover, germacrone effectively decreased the hyperpigmentation in zebrafish and the skin of guinea pigs in vivo. Western-blot analysis showed that germacrone down-regulated the expression of TYR, TRP-1, TRP-2, Rab27a, Cdc42, and MITF proteins via the activation of the MAPK signaling pathway. Taken together, germacrone is an effective bioactive compound for melanogenesis inhibition. Our studies suggest that germacrone may be considered a potential candidate for skin whitening.</p><h3>Graphical abstract</h3><div><figure><div><div><picture><source><img></source></picture></div></div></figure></div></div>","PeriodicalId":654,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Natural Medicines","volume":"78 4","pages":"863 - 875"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2024-05-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141159914","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Qu Hangda, Shi Peng, Liang Guangping, Liu Shurui, Zhang Zhongxin
{"title":"Byakangelicin alleviates sepsis-associated acute kidney injury by inhibiting inflammation and apoptosis","authors":"Qu Hangda, Shi Peng, Liang Guangping, Liu Shurui, Zhang Zhongxin","doi":"10.1007/s11418-024-01813-2","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11418-024-01813-2","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Inflammation and apoptosis are common in many pathological conditions. Studies have shown that many natural compounds can regulate the signal pathways related to inflammation and apoptosis and can prevent sepsis-associated acute kidney injury (SA-AKI). Several studies have reported the potential anti-inflammatory effect of byakangelicin (BK), a component from the roots of <i>Angelica gigas</i>. However, the role of BK in SA-AKI remains unknown. Here, we report that BK is a potential therapeutic drug for SA-AKI. Experimental results show that BK has high anti-inflammatory activity, inhibits the activation of the NF-κB signaling pathway, and then reduces the production of IL-6, TNF-a, and IFN-γ. In addition, we study the effect of BK on renal cell apoptosis and find that BK significantly reduces the expression of apoptosis-related genes. Further research suggests that BK may exert the above pharmacological effects through 26S protease regulatory subunit 8 (PSMC5). These findings indicate that BK, as an inhibitor of inflammation and apoptosis, can be used to treat SA-AKI.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":654,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Natural Medicines","volume":"78 4","pages":"985 - 994"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2024-05-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s11418-024-01813-2.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141159912","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Scutellaria Root extract-induced hepatocytotoxicity can be controlled by regulating its baicalin content","authors":"Naohiro Oshima, Kosuke Kusamori, Ryo Takasaki, Moe Takeda, Yuri Katsurada, Takumi Nose, Kazuki Okoshi, Makiya Nishikawa, Noriyasu Hada","doi":"10.1007/s11418-024-01814-1","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11418-024-01814-1","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Scuellaria Root (<b>SR</b>, root of <i>Scutellaria baicalensis</i>), which has potent anti-inflammatory effects, is a component of useful Kampo formulae. Albeit a low frequency, <b>SR</b> induces serious interstitial pneumonia and liver dysfunction. In this study, to control the adverse effects of <b>SR</b>, we investigated the causal constituent responsible for its hepatocytotoxicity and aimed to develop a method to control it. As a result, we revealed that the hepatocytotoxicity of <b>SR</b> was correlated with its baicalin content, a major constituent in <b>SR</b>. It was confirmed by preparing a baicalin-free <b>SR</b> extract, which exhibited reduced hepatocytotoxicity. The addition of baicalin to the baicalin-free <b>SR</b> extract restored the hepatocytotoxicity, indicating that the hepatocytotoxicity of <b>SR</b> is dependent on its baicalin content. Thus, <b>SR</b> extract-induced hepatocytotoxicity can be controlled by regulating its baicalin content.</p><h3>Graphical abstract</h3>\u0000<div><figure><div><div><picture><source><img></source></picture></div></div></figure></div></div>","PeriodicalId":654,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Natural Medicines","volume":"78 4","pages":"978 - 984"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2024-05-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s11418-024-01814-1.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141086445","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Lingjian Tan, Kouharu Otsuki, Takashi Kikuchi, Di Zhou, Ning Li, Li Huang, Chin-Ho Chen, Wei Li
{"title":"Daphnane diterpenoid orthoesters with an odd-numbered aliphatic side chain from Daphne pedunculata","authors":"Lingjian Tan, Kouharu Otsuki, Takashi Kikuchi, Di Zhou, Ning Li, Li Huang, Chin-Ho Chen, Wei Li","doi":"10.1007/s11418-024-01826-x","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11418-024-01826-x","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Daphnane diterpenoids were recognized for their extensive range of potent biological activities. In the present study, phytochemical investigation including LC–MS/MS analysis resulted in the identification of five daphnane diterpenoid orthoesters (<b>1</b>–<b>5</b>). Among the five daphnane diterpenoids, two previously unreported compounds, daphnepedunins I and J (<b>2</b> and <b>4</b>) were isolated from <i>Daphne pedunculata</i>. The structure of new compounds was elucidated with extensive physicochemical and spectroscopic analyses. Their structure was characterized by the presence of an unusual odd-numbered aliphatic chain connected to an orthoester. The isolated compounds were evaluated for their anti-HIV activity against HIV-1 infection of MT4 cells, and the results indicated that compound <b>1</b> showed the most potent anti-HIV activity with an IC<sub>50</sub> value of 0.82 nM.</p><h3>Graphical Abstract</h3>\u0000<div><figure><div><div><picture><source><img></source></picture></div></div></figure></div></div>","PeriodicalId":654,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Natural Medicines","volume":"78 4","pages":"901 - 907"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2024-05-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141079498","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Anti-coronavirus and anti-pulmonary inflammation effects of iridoids, the common component from Chinese herbal medicines for the treatment of COVID-19","authors":"Dan-Yu Huang, Yong-Xin Luo, Wen-De Zheng, Shu-Yu Wu, Pei-Qi Huang, Jing-Wei Jin, Pan-Pan Wu, Li-She Gan","doi":"10.1007/s11418-024-01820-3","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11418-024-01820-3","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>The practice of Chinese herbal medicines for the treatment of COVID-19 in China played an essential role for the control of mortality rate and reduction of recovery time. The iridoids is one of the main constituents of many heat-clearing and detoxifying Chinese medicines that were largely planted and frequently used in clinical practice. Twenty-three representative high content iridoids from several staple Chinese medicines were obtained and tested by a SARS-CoV-2 pseudo-virus entry-inhibition assay on HEK-293 T/ACE2 cells, a live HCoV-OC43 virus infection assay on HRT-18 cells, and a SARS-CoV-2 3CL protease inhibitory FRET assay followed by molecular docking simulation. The anti-pulmonary inflammation activities were further evaluated on a TNF-α induced inflammation model in A549 cells and preliminary SARs were concluded. The results showed that specnuezhenide (<b>7</b>), cornuside (<b>12</b>), neonuezhenide (<b>15</b>), and picroside III (<b>21</b>) exhibited promising antiviral activities, and neonuezhenide (<b>15</b>) could inhibit 3CL protease with an IC<sub>50</sub> of 14.3 μM. Docking computation showed that compound <b>15</b> could bind to 3CL protease through a variety of hydrogen bonding and hydrophobic interactions. In the anti-pulmonary inflammation test, cornuside (<b>12</b>), aucubin (<b>16</b>), monotropein (<b>17</b>), and shanzhiside methyl ester (<b>18</b>) could strongly decrease the content of IL-1β and IL-8 at 10 μM. Compound <b>17</b> could also upregulate the expression of the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 significantly. The iridoids exhibited both anti-coronavirus and anti-pulmonary inflammation activities for their significance of existence in Chinese herbal medicines, which also provided a theoretical basis for their potential utilization in the pharmaceutical and food industries.</p><h3>Graphical Abstract</h3><div><figure><div><div><picture><source><img></source></picture></div></div></figure></div></div>","PeriodicalId":654,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Natural Medicines","volume":"78 4","pages":"1003 - 1012"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2024-05-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s11418-024-01820-3.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141074347","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Chemical quality evaluation and characteristics of interspecific hybrid (G. uralensis × G. glabra) C-18 strain as a new Licorice cultivar","authors":"Makio Shibano, Koki Matsuda, Kazuo Ozaki","doi":"10.1007/s11418-024-01819-w","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11418-024-01819-w","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>The development of new cultivars is essential for establishing a method of producing licorice in Japan. A suitable new cultivar for domestic licorice production, known as the interspecific hybrid strain C-18, was developed by crossbreeding <i>Glycyrrhiza uralensis</i> Fisch. (as the seed parent, possessing a high glycyrrhizin (GL) content, strain OMP-28) and <i>Glycyrrhiza glabra</i> L. (as the pollen parent, known for vigorous growth, strain OMP-10). Both <i>G. uralensis</i> and <i>G. glabra</i> are specified in the Pharmacopoeia of Japan (18th edition) as the source plants for Glycyrrhizae Radix. After 2 years of cultivation, strain C-18 exhibited robust growth, with a fresh weight of 148.8 g and a stem diameter of 0.89 mm. The GL content in the dry weight was measured at 3.61%. Seedlings cultivated from rhizomes in the field for 2 years showed a tap root fresh weight per plant of 120 ± 21 g, with an average GL content relative to the dry weight of 2.68% ± 0.38%. Although glabridin, a characteristic compound of <i>G. glabra</i>, was not detected, glycycoumarin, a characteristic compound of <i>G. uralensis</i>, was detected via HPLC analysis. Strain C-18 contained glycycoumarin as a characteristic compound of <i>G. uralensis</i> but lacked glabridin, a compound characteristic of <i>G. glabra</i>. Additionally, 2,3-dehydrokievitone (<b>1</b>) and parvisoflavone A (<b>2</b>) were identified as distinctive components of the interspecific hybrid (<i>G. uralensis</i> × <i>G. glabra</i>) C-18.</p><h3>Graphical abstract</h3>\u0000<div><figure><div><div><picture><source><img></source></picture></div><div><p>External morphological characteristics of the interspecific hybrid (<i>G. uralensis</i> ×<i> G. glabra</i>) C-18 strain</p></div></div></figure></div></div>","PeriodicalId":654,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Natural Medicines","volume":"78 4","pages":"876 - 886"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2024-05-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141074350","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Comparison of Menthae Herba written with the same kanji characters (薄荷) in Japan and China","authors":"Hiromasa Negishi, Michiho Ito","doi":"10.1007/s11418-024-01822-1","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11418-024-01822-1","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Menthae Herba is an herbal medicine whose name is written with the same <i>kanji</i> characters (薄荷) in both the <i>Japanese Pharmacopoeia,</i> 18th Edition (JP) and in the <i>Pharmacopoeia of the People’s Republic of China</i> (CP). However, the original plant are <i>Mentha arvensis</i> Linné var. <i>piperascens</i> Malinvaud in JP and <i>Mentha haplocalyx</i> Briq. in CP. To clarify the similarities and differences between Menthae Herba in Japan and that in China, morphological observations, essential oil component analysis, and DNA analysis were performed on marketed products of Menthae Herba in Japan and in China. The morphological observations based on the description of JP Menthae Herba showed that most of the samples matched the items listed in the description. Essential oil component analysis by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry showed that the amount of menthol varied among samples and that menthol was not always the principal compound in the oil. The original plant species was confirmed by DNA analysis of the <i>rpl16</i> intron region in chloroplast DNA and all samples matched the sequence of <i>M. canadensis</i>. The results showed that Menthae Herba products distributed in both Japan and China contained <i>M. canadensis</i>, but they had different compositions of essential oil, with menthol-rich Menthae Herba being dominant in the Japanese market.</p><h3>Graphical Abstract</h3>\u0000<div><figure><div><div><picture><source><img></source></picture></div></div></figure></div></div>","PeriodicalId":654,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Natural Medicines","volume":"78 4","pages":"1071 - 1076"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2024-05-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s11418-024-01822-1.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141064453","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Visualizing the spatial distribution of ustalic acid in the fruiting body of Tricholoma kakishimeji","authors":"Tetsuro Ito, Syu Taira, Wataru Aoki, Hiroyuki Nagai, Masashi Fukaya, Kaori Ryu, Akiyoshi Yamada","doi":"10.1007/s11418-024-01823-0","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11418-024-01823-0","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Imaging mass spectrometry (IMS) was conducted for the first time using ustalic acid (UA) and the fruiting body of <i>Tricholoma kakishimeji</i> to localize mushroom toxins. The mushroom materials were systematically collected in Japan, and analysis of the cross sections of the materials at a resolution of 120 μm using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI–IMS) revealed the localization of UA and its biogenically related metabolites. MALDI–IMS confirmed that UA was predominantly located on the entire surface of the fruiting body and accumulated in higher amounts in younger fruiting bodies than in mature ones. UA is the first toxic secondary metabolite in the genus <i>Tricholoma</i> locally identified using IMS in mushrooms.</p><h3>Graphical abstract</h3>\u0000<div><figure><div><div><picture><source><img></source></picture></div></div></figure></div></div>","PeriodicalId":654,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Natural Medicines","volume":"78 4","pages":"838 - 843"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2024-05-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140955554","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}