Combination of omics, bioinformatics, molecular docking, and experimental validation to elucidate the hepatoprotective effects, mechanisms, and active compounds of Shandougen.

Omics, bioinformatics, molecular docking, and experimental validation were used to elucidate the hepatoprotective effects, mechanisms, and active compounds of Shandougen (SDG) based on the biolabel-led research pattern. Integrated omics were used to explore the biolabels of SDG intervention in liver tissue. Subsequently, bioinformatics and molecular docking were applied to topologically analyze its therapeutic effects, mechanisms, and active compounds based on biolabels. Finally, an animal model was used to verify the biolabel analysis results. Omics, bioinformatics, and molecular docking revealed that SDG may exert therapeutic effects on liver diseases in the multicompound and multitarget synergistic modes, especially liver cirrhosis. In the validation experiment, SDG and its active compounds (betulinic acid and gallic acid) significantly improved the liver histopathological damage in the CCl4-induced liver cirrhosis model. Meanwhile, they also produced significant inhibitory effects on the focal adhesion pathway (integrin alpha-1, myosin regulatory light chain 2, laminin subunit gamma-1, etc.) and alleviated the associated pathological processes: focal adhesion (focal adhesion kinase 1)-extracellular matrix (collagen alpha-1(IV) chain, collagen alpha-1(VI) chain, and collagen alpha-2(VI) chain) dysfunction, carcinogenesis (alpha-fetoprotein, NH3, and acetylcholinesterase), inflammation (tumor necrosis factor alpha, interleukin-1 [IL-1], IL-6, and IL-10), and oxidative stress (reactive oxygen species, malonaldehyde, and superoxide dismutase). This study provides new evidence and insights for the hepatoprotective effects, mechanisms, and active compounds of SDG.

Sophora tonkinensis and active compounds inhibit mitochondrial impairments, inflammation, and LDLR deficiency in myocardial ischemia mice through regulating the vesicle-mediated transport pathway.

Ancient Chinese medicine literature and modern pharmacological studies show that Sophora tonkinensis Gagnep. (ST) has a protective effect on the heart. A biolabel research based on omics and bioinformatics and experimental validation were used to explore the application value of ST in the treatment of heart diseases. Therapeutic potential, mechanism of action, and material basis of ST in treating heart diseases were analyzed by proteomics, metabolomics, bioinformatics, and molecular docking. Cardioprotective effects and mechanisms of ST and active compounds were verified by echocardiography, HE and Masson staining, biochemical analysis, and ELISA in the isoproterenol hydrochloride-induced myocardial ischemia (MI) mice model. The biolabel research suggested that the therapeutic potential of ST for MI may be particularly significant among the heart diseases it may treat. In the isoprenaline hydrochloride-induced MI mice model, ST and its five active compounds (caffeic acid, gallic acid, betulinic acid, esculetin, and cinnamic acid) showed significant protective effects against echocardiographic changes and histopathological damages of the ischemic myocardial tissue. Meanwhile, they showed a tendency to correct mitochondrial structure and function damage and the abnormal expression of 12 biolables (DCTN1, DCTN3, and SCARB2, etc.) in the vesicle-mediated transport pathway, inflammatory cytokines (IL-1ß, IL-6, and IL-10, etc.), and low density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR). The biolabel research identifies a new application value of ST in the treatment of heart diseases. ST and its active compounds inhibit mitochondrial impairments, inflammation, and LDLR deficiency through regulating the vesicle-mediated transport pathway, thus achieving the purpose of treating MI.

Liver protein and metabolite biolabels reveal hepatoprotective effects and active compounds of Eucommiae folium: Exploration of new application of herb based on multi-omics and bioinformatics.

A biolabel-led research based on multi-omics and bioinformatics was applied to analyze the application value of Eucommiae folium (EF) in liver cirrhosis, as well as the mechanism of action and material basis. Multi-omics were used to analyze the biolabels and key pathways of EF intervention in liver tissue. Subsequently, based on the information, bioinformatics was used to analyze the application value of EF in liver disease, as well the mechanism of action and material basis. Finally, histopathological and target expression analyses in an animal model were used to verify biolabels analysis results. Multi-omics showed that 18 proteins and 10 metabolites involved in five key pathways were screened as biolabels. Bioinformatics suggested that the application value of EF for liver cirrhosis may be the highest among the liver diseases that it may treat. Additionally, EF and five active compounds (curcumol, eucalyptol, (+)-catechin, naringenin, and quercetin) may protect the cirrhotic liver against the excessive energy expenditure and hepatic stellate cells activation through suppressing the oxidative phosphorylation pathway in a CCl4-induced mouse model. This study provides reference and evidence for the application value of EF in liver diseases, especially liver cirrhosis.

Cardioprotection of Eucommiae Folium: the extract and pharmaceutically active compounds attenuate hyperglycemia, mitochondrial dysfunction, calcium dyshomeostasis, insulin resistance, and oxidative stress in diabetic cardiomyopathy db/db mice.

OBJECTIVES: A biolabel research based on multi-omics, informatics, molecular docking, and experimental verification was used to investigate the cardioprotective effect and pharmaceutically active compounds of Eucommiae Folium (EF). KEY FINDINGS: Based on the biolabel research pattern, metabonomics, proteomics, and bioinformatics indicated that EF has a therapeutic potential for a variety of heart diseases, especially cardiomyopathy, and the most critical mechanism involved is the diabetic cardiomyopathy pathway. Bioinformatics, cheminformatics, and molecular docking showed that 24 EF compounds may play a therapeutic role in diabetic cardiomyopathy via this pathway. Among which, four compounds (kaempferol, esculetin, (+)-catechin, and astragalin) showed appropriate pharmacokinetic parameters and formed stable binding with biolabels in the pathway. In diabetic cardiomyopathy db/db mice, histopathological analysis, mitochondrial swelling and membrane potential assay, ELISA, and biochemical analysis demonstrated that EF and four active compounds had obvious hypoglycemic effects and attenuated myocardial damage and related pathological processes, such as mitochondrial dysfunction, calcium dyshomeostasis, insulin resistance, and oxidative stress. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides new evidence and insights into the effect, mechanism, and material basis of EF in treating diabetic cardiomyopathy.

Eucommiae Folium and Active Compounds Protect Against Mitochondrial Dysfunction-Calcium Overload in Epileptic Hippocampal Neurons Through the Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Pathway.

Epilepsy is a chronic brain disease and often occurs suddenly for no reason. Eucommiae folium (EF), an edible herb, can be used in the treatment of various kinds of brain diseases in clinic. From the perspective of safety and efficacy, EF is especially suitable for the treatment of chronic brain diseases. With the help of biolabels, this study was aimed to explore the value and feasibility of EF in the treatment of epilepsy. Proteomics and metabolomics were used to explore the biolabels of EF intervention in brain tissues. Bioinformatics was then applied to topologically analyze its neuroprotective effects and mechanisms and material basis based on biolabels, which were validated in an animal model. The biolabel-led research revealed that EF may exert the therapeutic potential to treat brain diseases through the interaction between multiple compounds and multiple targets, among which its therapeutic potential for epilepsy is particularly prominent. In the pentylenetetrazole-induction model, EF and four active compounds (oleamide, catechol, chlorogenic acid, and kaempferol) protected epileptic hippocampal neurons (Nissl and FJB staining) against mitochondrial dysfunction (MYH6, MYL3, and MYBPC3, etc.) and calcium overload (TNNI3, TNNC1, and TNNT2, etc.) through the hypertrophic cardiomyopathy pathway. This study provides new evidence and insights for the neuroprotective effects of EF, in which four active compounds may be potential drug candidates for the treatment of epilepsy.

Omics combined with network pharmacology reveal the neuroprotective mechanism of Sophora tonkinensis based on the biolabel research pattern: The treatment of Parkinson's disease against oxidative stress and neuroexcitatory toxicity.

Based on the biolabel research pattern, omics and network pharmacology were used for exploring the neuroprotection of Sophora tonkinensis (ST) in the treatment of brain diseases. Multi-omics were applied to investigate biolabels for ST intervention in brain tissue. Based on biolabels, the therapeutic potential, mechanism and material basis of ST for treating brain diseases were topologically analyzed by network pharmacology. A Parkinson's disease (PD) mouse model was used to validate biolabel analysis results. Four proteins and three metabolites were involved in two key pathways (alanine, aspartate and glutamate metabolism and arginine biosynthesis) and considered as biolabels. Network pharmacology showed that ST has the potential to treat some brain diseases, especially PD. Eight compounds (including caffeic acid, gallic acid and cinnamic acid) may serve as the material basis of ST treating brain diseases via the mediation of three biolabels. In the PD model, ST and its active compounds (caffeic acid and gallic acid) may protect dopaminergic neurons (maximum recovery rate for dopamine, 49.5%) from oxidative stress (E3 ubiquitin-protein ligase parkin, reactive oxygen species, nitric oxide, etc.) and neuroexcitatory toxicity (glutamate dehydrogenase, glutamine, glutamic acid, etc.). These findings indicated that omics and network pharmacology may contribute to the achievement of the objectives of this study based on the biolabel research pattern.

Biolabel-led research pattern reveals serum profile in rats after treatment with Herba Lysimachiae: Combined analysis of metabonomics and proteomics.

In traditional Chinese medicine, Herba Lysimachiae (HL) is mainly used to treat rheumatic arthralgia. Current pharmacological studies also showed that HL has therapeutic potential for synovial diseases. HL is an oral drug, whose compounds need to enter the blood circulation before reaching the injured tissue, thus potentially causing activity or toxicity to the blood system. In this study, the biolabel-led research pattern was used to analyze the serum profile after HL intervention, based on which the safety and efficacy of HL were explored. Metabonomics and proteomics were combined to analyze the biolabels responsible for the interventions of HL in serum. Bioinformatics databases were used to screen for the material basis that may interfere with biolabels. Omics analysis showed that differentially expressed proteins (19) and metabolites (5) were identified and considered as the potential biolabels, which were involved in 8 biochemical processes (platelet activation and aggregation, blood glucose release, immune and inflammatory regulation, oxidative stress, endoplasmic reticulum stress, tumor progression, blood pressure regulation, and uric acid synthesis). Thirty-one compounds may be the material basis to interfere with 11 biolabels. The present research reveals that the potential activities and toxicities of HL can be explored based on the biolabel-led research pattern.

The active ingredients analysis of Herba Lysimachiae treating osteoarthritis based on the LC-MS/MS technology and public bioinformatics platforms.

Herba Lysimachiae inhibits synovial damage in osteoarthritis via regulating two bio labels (integrin alpha 2b/beta 3). However, the relevant active ingredients are still unknown. Here, the active ingredients of herbal medicines were analyzed based on the liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry technology and public bioinformatics platforms. The liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry technology was used for compound analysis, and public databases (PubChem BioAssay and STRING) were applied to establish the links between herbal compounds and both bio labels, and identify which herbal compounds may regulate these bio labels. Subsequently, the osteoarthritis model was used to confirm the results. Totally, ninety compounds in Herba Lysimachiae were identified based on the liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry technology. Bioinformatics analysis showed that five compounds (myricetin, fisetin, esculetin, 7-hydroxycoumarin-4-acetic acid, and caffeic acid) may synergistically regulate bio labels through 11 targets, which may be the active ingredients of Herba Lysimachiae for osteoarthritis treatment. In the verification experiments, five compounds markedly suppressed the overexpression of bio labels in the synovium of the osteoarthritis model. In conclusion, the present study effectively and rapidly analyzed the active ingredients of Herba Lysimachiae for osteoarthritis treatment.

Biolabel-led research pattern positions the effects and mechanisms of Sophorae Tonkinensis radix et rhizome on lung diseases: A novel strategy for computer-aided herbal medicine research based on omics and bioinformatics.

Previous studies have shown that Sophorae Tonkinensis radix et rhizome (ST) can be used to treat some lung diseases. However, the therapeutic potentials, therapeutic advantages, mechanism of action, and material basis of ST treatment of lung diseases remain unclear. Thus, the aim of this study was to carry out an integrated analysis based on the biolabel-led research pattern. Proteomics and metabonomics were applied to explore the biolabels responsible for the effect of ST on lung tissue. Based on the biolabels, a bioinformatics database was used to topologically analyze the therapeutic potentials, therapeutic advantages, mechanism of action, and material basis of ST in treating lung diseases. Four human lung-cancer cell models were used to validate the results of the biolabel analysis. In total, 45 proteins and 3 metabolites were significantly enriched in 13 pathways and were considered as biolabels. Bioinformatics revealed that the therapeutic potentials of ST involved a variety of lung diseases, especially lung neoplasms. Under the mediation of 40 biolabels, 29 compounds may be the material basis of ST in treating lung diseases. In a verification experiment, ST had a significant inhibitory effect on the H226 cell line (lung squamous cell carcinoma), which ranks first in morbidity and mortality among lung cancers in China. Additionally, five biolabels (CPS1, CKM, CPT1B, COX5B, and COX4I1) were involved in the anti-lung cancer mechanism of ST and 3 compounds (gallic acid, betulinic acid, and caffeic acid). These findings indicate that the biolabel-led research pattern was helpful in achieving the objectives of this study.

Sophorae tonkinensis radix et rhizome-induced pulmonary toxicity: A study on the toxic mechanism and material basis based on integrated omics and bioinformatics analyses.

The root and rhizome of Sophora tonkinensis Gagnep. (ST) are widely used for the treatment of tonsillitis, sore throats, and heat-evil-induced diseases in traditional Chinese medicine. However, the clinical application of ST is relatively limited due to its toxicity. The mechanism and material basis of ST-induced pulmonary toxicity are still unclear. In the present research, integrated omics and bioinformatics analyses were used to investigate the toxic mechanism and material basis of ST in lung tissue. Proteomics and metabonomics were integrated to analyze the differentially expressed proteins and metabolites. Joint pathway analysis was used to analyze the significantly dysregulated pathways. PubChem and the Comparative Toxicogenomics Database were applied for the screen of toxic targets and compounds. Integrated omics revealed that 323 proteins and 50 metabolites were differentially expressed after treating with ST, out of which 19 proteins and 1 metabolite were significantly enriched in seven pathways. Bioinformatics showed that 15 compounds may indirectly affect the expression of 9 toxic targets of ST. Multiple toxic targets of ST-induced pulmonary injury were found in the study, whose dysregulation may trigger pulmonary cancer, dyspnea, and oxidative stress. Multiple compounds may be the toxic material basis in response to these effects.

A biolabel research based on metabonomics reveals the therapeutic potentials of Herba Lysimachiae in synovial diseases: The dual effects on synovial platelet aggregation by prostaglandin E1/E2.

Previous research has demonstrated that Herba Lysimachiae (HL) exerts the dual effects on platelet aggregation in the synovium, which may contribute to its protection against synovial lesions under different situations. However, the mechanism is unclear. In the present experiment, a biolabel research based on metabonomics was used to mine the information about the intervention of HL on synovium at the metabolite level, which may help to analyze the regulation of HL on synovial platelet aggregation and its possible treatment in synovial diseases. Synovial metabolic profiling was analyzed using a Shimadzu Nexera UHPLC LC-30A system and an AB SCIEX Triple TOF 4600 mass spectrometer. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to verify the biolabels analysis results in the healthy and osteoarthritis rats. Totally, thirteen common metabolites were differentially expressed after treating with HL, and implicated in 2 key pathways (arachidonic acid metabolism and glycerophospholipid metabolism). ELISA showed that HL regulated the expression of prostaglandins E1 and E2 in synovial tissues of the healthy and osteoarthritis rats. This study reveals that HL may regulate synovial platelet aggregation through prostaglandin E1/E2. Additionally, HL is suitable for treating synovial diseases, especially osteoarthritis, which may be associated with platelet aggregation, apoptosis, inflammation, angiogenesis, and carcinogenesis processes.

Integrated omics and bioinformatics analyses for the toxic mechanism and material basis of Sophorae Tonkinensis radix et rhizome-induced hepatotoxicity.

In traditional Chinese medicine theory, Sophorae Tonkinensis radix et rhizome (ST) has the effects of treating tonsillitis, sore throats, and heat-evil-induced diseases. However, the utilization of ST is relatively restricted owing to its toxicity. The previous studies have made some progress on the mechanism and material basis of ST-induced hepatotoxicity, but there is still no significant breakthrough. In this study, integrated omics and bioinformatics analyses were used to investigate the mechanism and material basis of ST-induced hepatotoxicity. Integrated omics were used to analyze the differentially expressed proteins and metabolites, based on which the significantly dysregulated pathways were analyzed by using MetaboAnalyst. Bioinformatics was applied to screen the toxic targets and material basis. Integrated omics revealed that 254 proteins and 42 metabolites were differentially expressed after the treatment with ST, out of which 7 proteins were significantly enriched in 3 pathways. Bioinformatics showed that 20 compounds may interfere with the expression of 7 toxic targets of ST. Multiple toxic targets of ST-induced hepatotoxicity were found in the study, whose dysregulation may trigger hepatocyte necrosis/apoptosis, liver metastasis, and liver cirrhosis. Multiple compounds may be the toxic material basis in response to these effects.

A Review of Pharmacological and Toxicological Effects of Sophora tonkinensis with Bioinformatics Prediction.

Sophora tonkinensis Gagnep. (ST) (Fabaceae) is distributed chiefly in south-central and southeast China and Vietnam. In traditional Chinese medicine theory, the root and rhizome of ST are toxic and mainly used in the treatment of pharyngeal and laryngeal diseases. Modern studies provide new insights into the pharmacological and toxicological aspects of ST. The pharmacological and toxicological properties of ST were reviewed in this paper based on the literature from Google Scholar and CNKI, and the bioinformatics platforms were applied to explore the pharmacological and toxicological potentials of ST. The results of the literature analysis showed that ST has hepatoprotective, immunomodulatory, and anticancer effects and produces obvious toxicity to the liver and nervous and cardiovascular system. The results of bioinformatics showed that the compounds from ST may be applied to the treatment of cancer and digestive and nervous system diseases and show the possibility to cause hematotoxicity, neurotoxicity, and immunotoxicity. The present review demonstrates that attention should be paid to the potential toxicity of ST in the treatment of diseases and provides the reference for the subsequent pharmacological toxicological studies on the mechanism and chemical basis of ST.

Recent advance in treatment of osteoarthritis by bioactive components from herbal medicine.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a common chronic articular degenerative disease, and characterized by articular cartilage degradation, synovial inflammation/immunity, and subchondral bone lesion, etc. The disease affects 2-6% of the population around the world, and its prevalence rises with age and exceeds 40% in people over 70. Recently, increasing interest has been devoted to the treatment or prevention of OA by herbal medicines. In this paper, the herbal compounds with anti-OA activities were reviewed, and the cheminformatics tools were used to predict their drug-likeness properties and pharmacokinetic parameters. A total of 43 herbal compounds were analyzed, which mainly target the damaged joints (e.g. cartilage, subchondral bone, and synovium, etc.) and circulatory system to improve the pathogenesis of OA. Through cheminformatics analysis, over half of these compounds have good drug-likeness properties, and the pharmacokinetic behavior of these components still needs to be further optimized, which is conducive to the enhancement in their drug-likeness properties. Most of the compounds can be an alternative and valuable source for anti-OA drug discovery, which may be worthy of further investigation and development.

Urinary metabolomic signatures in reticular oral lichen planus.

Oral lichen planus (OLP) is a chronic inflammatory disease. Among all the clinical forms in OLP, reticular type has the highest incidence rate. Previous studies have applied metabolomics to investigate the metabolic changes of oral mucosa and blood samples from reticular OLP patients. Urinary metabolomic signatures is also useful in analyzing the pathological changes of the patients, which was a complement to the previous studies. Through these researches, we may have a more comprehensive understanding of the disease. Metabolic profiles of urinary samples from OLP patients and control subjects were analyzed by liquid chromatography (LC)-mass spectrometry (MS) system. Differentially expressed metabolites were identified via OSI/SMMS software for the pathology analysis. Totally, 30 differentially expressed metabolites were identified. Pathological network showed that these metabolites participated in 8 pathological processes, that is, DNA damage and repair disorder, apoptosis process, inflammatory lesion, oxidative stress injury, carbohydrate metabolism disorder, mood dysfunction, abnormal energy expenditure, and other pathological process. These findings demonstrated that the analysis of human urine metabolome might be conducive to the achievement of the objectives of this study.

Label-free quantitative proteomics positions the effects and mechanisms of Herba Lysimachiae on synovial diseases based on biolabel-led research pattern.

Some previous studies have demonstrated that Herba Lysimachiae (HL) has a certain protective effect on synovial lesion. But the synovial diseases HL is suitable for treating have remained unclear, as well as the mechanisms involved. To investigate the therapeutic potentials of HL in synovial diseases based on the biolabel-led research pattern. Label-free quantitative proteomics analysis was used to screen the potential biolabels responsible for the intervention of HL on synovium. The effects of HL on the joint swelling and synovial platelet aggregation in osteoarthritis model was applied to confirm the biolabels analysis results. Totally, 140 common proteins were differentially expressed after treatment with HL, out of which 23 were involved in 4 key pathways and considered as the potential biolabels responsible for the interventions of HL on synovium. Biolabels analysis showed that HL increased the levels of the proteins promoting platelet aggregation in physiological situations. The potential biolabels and their related pathways were mainly associated with the pathogenesis of osteoarthritis. In osteoarthritis model, HL inhibited the joint swelling and the overexpression of Itga2b and Itgb3 in synovium to some extent. This study reveals that HL is suitable to treat osteoarthritis. Additionally, HL may produce the dual effects on platelet aggregation in synovium.

Herbal compounds for rheumatoid arthritis: Literatures review and cheminformatics prediction.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a systemic disease characterized by autoimmunity, joint inflammation, and cartilage destruction, which affects 0.5-1% of the population. Many compounds from herbal medicines show the potentials to treat RA. On this basis, the compounds with good pharmacokinetic behaviors and drug-likeness properties will be further studied and developed. Therefore, the herbal compounds with anti-RA activities were reviewed in this paper, and the cheminformatics tools were used to predict their drug-likeness properties and pharmacokinetic parameters. A total of 90 herbal compounds were analyzed, which were reported to be effective on RA models through anti-inflammation, chondroprotection, immunoregulation, antiangiogenesis, and antioxidation. Most of the herbal compounds have good drug-likeness properties. Most of the compounds can be an alternative and valuable source for anti-RA drug discovery.

Serum-based metabolomics characterization of patients with reticular oral lichen planus.

OBJECTIVE: Oral lichen planus (OLP) is a chronic inflammatory mucosal lesion and systemic disease. In OLP, reticular type is the most common presentation of the disease. However, little is known about it. The aim of this study was to analyze the pathogenesis of reticular OLP and its possible associations with the pathological changes in other organ systems through serum-based metabolomics. METHODS: Blood samples were obtained from 16 reticular OLP patients and 24 control subjects. Liquid chromatography (LC)-mass spectrometry (MS) system was used to identify differentially expressed metabolites. The pathways analysis was performed by MetaboAnalyst. Pathological network was constructed by Cytoscape software. RESULTS: Totally, 31 modulated metabolites were identified, whose dysregulations affected 25 metabolic pathways and 7 pathological processes in the disease. Through an impact-value screen (impact-value＞0.1), 6 pathways were selected as the significantly dysregulated pathways. Pathological network showed that these metabolites participated in 7 pathological processes, that is, apoptosis process, DNA damage and repair disorder, oxidative stress injury, carbohydrate metabolism disorder, mood dysfunction, inflammatory lesion, and other pathological process. CONCLUSION: The study demonstrated that reticular OLP could cause the dysregulations of the metabolites in serum, which might be also further linked to other organ and systemic diseases through the blood system, such as diabetes, sleep disorders, and depression, etc.

Metabolomics analysis of oral mucosa reveals profile perturbation in reticular oral lichen planus.

BACKGROUND: Oral lichen planus (OLP) is a chronic inflammatory mucosal disorder and potentially oral premalignant lesion affecting the stratified squamous epithelia. In OLP, reticular type is the most common clinical form of the disease. However, little is known about it. Metabolomics analysis may help to investigate the disease pathogenesis and to improve clinical treatment. METHODS: Liquid chromatography (LC)-mass spectrometry (MS) system, XCMS software, SIMCA software, and OSI / SMMS software were integrated to identify differentially expressed metabolites for the pathways and pathology analysis. RESULTS: Totally, 21 modulated metabolites were identified, whose dysregulations affected 30 metabolic pathways. Through an impact-value screen (impact-value>0.1), 8 pathways were selected as the significantly dysregulated pathways. Pathological network showed that these metabolites participated in 5 pathological processes, that is, inflammatory lesion, DNA damage and repair disorder, apoptosis process, oxidative stress injury, and abnormal energy expenditure. CONCLUSION: The study revealed the metabolic perturbation of oral mucosa in reticular OLP, which may provide an important reference for the understanding of the pathogenesis of the disease and the discovery of therapeutic targets.

Acanthopanax senticosus Protects Structure and Function of Mesencephalic Mitochondria in A Mouse Model of Parkinson's Disease.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the neuro-protective effects of Acanthopanax senticosus Harms (EAS) on mesencephalic mitochondria and the mechanism of action, using a mouse model of Parkinson's disease (PD). METHODS: The chemical fingerprint analysis of the extract of Acanthopanax senticosus Harms (EAS) was performed using the ultra performance liquid chromatograph and time of flight mass spectrometry. Thirty mice were randomly divided into the control group, the MPTP model group, and the EAS treated group with MPTP (MPTP+EAS group, 10 in each group). The MPTP model group and the MPTP+EAS group received MPTP-HCl (30 mg/kg i.p) once a day for 5 days. The control group received an equal volume of saline (20 mL/kg i.p) once a day for 5 days. Induced by 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1, 2, 3, 6-tetrahydropyridine hydrochloride daily (MPTP-HCl, 30 mg/kg) for 5 days, the PD mice were treated with EAS at 45.5 mg/kg daily for 20 days. The behavioral testing of mice was carried out using the pole-climbing test. The integrity and functions of neurons were examined in mesencephalic mitochondria in a PD mouse model, including nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide dehydrogenase ubiquinone flavoprotein 2 (NDUFV2), mitochondrially encoded nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide dehydrogenase 1 (MT-ND1), succinate dehydrogenase complex subunit A (SDHA), and succinate dehydrogenase cytochrome b560 subunit (SDHC). RESULTS: After treatment with EAS, the behavioral changes induced by MPTP were attenuated significantly (P<0.05). EAS protected the mesencephalic mitochondria from swelling and attenuated the decreases in their membrane potential (both P<0.05), which was supported by an ultra-structural level analysis. The changes in reactive oxygen species (ROS), malonic dialdehyde (MDA), oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) system 4 subunits levels and PD-related proteins expressions (parkin, Pink1, DJ-1, α-synuclein, and Lrrk2) reverted to near normal levels (all P<0.05), based on the results of immune-histological and Western blotting observations. CONCLUSIONS: The neuro-protective effects of EAS are linked to protecting mice against MPTP-induced mitochondrial dysfunction and structural damage. Therefore, EAS is a promising candidate for the prevention or treatment of mitochondrial neurodegenerative disorders, such as PD.