Berberine ameliorates depression-like behavior in CUMS mice by activating TPH1 and inhibiting IDO1-associated with tryptophan metabolism.

Berberine, which is a potential antidepressant, exhibits definite efficiency in modulating the gut microbiota. Depressive behaviors in mice induced using chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) stimulation were evaluated by behavioral experiments. The markers of neurons and synapses were measured using immunohistochemical staining. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was adopted to analyze serum inflammatory cytokines levels and neurotransmitters were evaluated by LC-MS/MS. Untargeted metabolomics of tryptophan metabolism was further performed using LC-MS/MS. The target enzymes of berberine involved in tryptophan metabolism were assayed using AutoDock and GRMACS softwares. Then, antibiotics was utilized to induce intestinal flora disturbance. Berberine improved the depressive behaviors of mice in a microbiota-dependent manner. Increased neurons and synaptic plasticity were observed following berberine treatment. Meanwhile, berberine decreased serum levels of TNF-α, IL-1ß, and IL-4 and increased levels of IL-10. Moreover, berberine induced retraction of the abnormal neurotransmitters and metabolomics assays revealed that berberine promoted tryptophan biotransformation into serotonin and inhibited the kynurenine metabolism pathway, which was attributed to the potential agonist of tryptophan 5-hydroxylase 1 (TPH1) and inhibitor of indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase 1 (IDO1). In conclusion, berberine improves depressive symptoms in CUMS-stimulated mice by targeting both TPH1 and IDO1, which are involved in tryptophan metabolism.

Vagus nerve stimulated by microbiota-derived hydrogen sulfide mediates the regulation of berberine on microglia in transient middle cerebral artery occlusion rats.

Amelioration of neuroinflammation via modulating microglia is a promising approach for cerebral ischemia therapy. The aim of the present study was to explore gut-brain axis signals in berberine-modulating microglia polarization following cerebral ischemia. The potential pathway was determined through analyzing the activation of the vagus nerve, hydrogen sulfide (H2 S) metabolism, and cysteine persulfides of transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1) receptor. The cerebral microenvironment feature was explored with a metabolomics assay. The data indicated that berberine ameliorated behavioral deficiency in transient middle cerebral artery occlusion rats through modulating microglia polarization and neuroinflammation depending on microbiota. Enhanced vagus nerve activity following berberine treatment was blocked by antibiotic cocktails, capsazepine, or sodium molybdate, respectively. Berberine-induced H2 S production was responsible for vagus nerve stimulation achieved through assimilatory and dissimilatory sulfate reduction with increased synthetic enzymes. Sulfation of the TRPV1 receptor resulted in vagus nerve activation and promoted the c-fos and ChAT in the nucleus tractus solitaries with berberine. Sphingolipid metabolism is the primary metabolic characteristic with berberine in the cerebral cortex, hippocampus, and cerebral spinal fluid disrupted by antibiotics. Berberine, in conclusion, modulates microglia polarization in a microbiota-dependent manner. H2 S stimulates the vagus nerve through TRPV1 is responsible for the berberine-induced gut-brain axis signal transmission. Sphingolipid metabolism might mediate the neuroinflammation amelioration following vagus afferent fiber activation.

Involvement of Huanglian Jiedu Decoction on Microglia with Abnormal Sphingolipid Metabolism in Alzheimer's Disease.

Background: Abnormal sphingolipid metabolism is closely related to the occurrence and development of Alzheimer's disease (AD). With heat-clearing and detoxifying effects, Huanglian Jiedu decoction (HLJDD) has been used to treat dementia and improve learning and memory impairments. Purpose: To study the therapeutic effect of HLJDD on AD as it relates to sphingolipid metabolism. Methods: The level of sphingolipids in the brains of APP/PS1 mice and in the supernatant of ß-amyloid (Aß)25-35-induced BV2 microglia was detected by HPLC-QTOF-MS and HPLC-QTRAP-MS techniques, respectively. The co-expression of ionized calcium-binding adapter molecule 1 (Iba1) and Aß as well as four enzymes related to sphingolipid metabolism, including serine palmitoyltransferase 2 (SPTLC2), cer synthase 2 (CERS2), sphingomyelin phosphodiesterase 1 (SMPD1), and sphingomyelin synthase 1 (SGMS1), in the brains of APP/PS1 mice were evaluated by immunofluorescence double labelling. In addition, real-time quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction was conducted to determine the mRNA expression of SPTLC2, CERS2, SMPD1, SGMS1, galactosylceramidase (GALC), and sphingosine kinase 2 (SPHK2) in Aß25-35-stimulated BV2 microglia. Results: Abnormal sphingolipid metabolism was observed both in APP/PS1 mouse brain tissues and Aß25-35-stimulated BV2 cells. The levels of sphingosine, sphinganine, sphingosine-1-phosphate, sphinganine-1-phosphate and sphingomyelin were significantly reduced, while the levels of ceramide-1-phosphate, ceramide, lactosylceramide and hexosylceramide significantly increased in Aß25-35-stimulated BV2 cells. In AD mice, more microglia were clustered in the Aß-positive region. The decreased level of SGMS1 and increased levels of CERS2, SPTLC and SMPD1 were also found. In addition, the expressions of SPTLC2, CERS2, and SMPD1 in Aß25-35-stimulated BV2 cells were increased significantly, while the expressions of GALC, SPHK2, and SGMS1 were decreased. These changes all showed a significant correction after HLJDD treatment. Conclusion: HLJDD is a good candidate for treating AD. This study provides a novel perspective on the potential roles of the sphingolipid metabolism in AD.

Potential Mechanism of S. baicalensis on Lipid Metabolism Explored via Network Pharmacology and Untargeted Lipidomics.

BACKGROUND: S. baicalensis, a traditional herb, has great potential in treating diseases associated with aberrant lipid metabolism, such as inflammation, hyperlipidemia, atherosclerosis and Alzheimer's disease. AIM OF THE STUDY: To elucidate the mechanism by which S. baicalensis modulates lipid metabolism and explore the medicinal effects of S. baicalensis at a holistic level. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The potential active ingredients of S. baicalensis and targets involved in regulating lipid metabolism were identified using a network pharmacology approach. Metabolomics was utilized to compare lipids that were altered after S. baicalensis treatment in order to identify significantly altered metabolites, and crucial targets and compounds were validated by molecular docking. RESULTS: Steroid biosynthesis, sphingolipid metabolism, the PPAR signaling pathway and glycerolipid metabolism were enriched and predicted to be potential pathways upon which S. baicalensis acts. Further metabolomics assays revealed 14 significantly different metabolites were identified as lipid metabolism-associated elements. After the pathway enrichment analysis of the metabolites, cholesterol metabolism and sphingolipid metabolism were identified as the most relevant pathways. Based on the results of the pathway analysis, sphingolipid and cholesterol biosynthesis and glycerophospholipid metabolism were regarded as key pathways in which S. baicalensis is involved to regulate lipid metabolism. CONCLUSION: According to our metabolomics results, S. baicalensis may exert its therapeutic effects by regulating the cholesterol biosynthesis and sphingolipid metabolism pathways. Upon further analysis of the altered metabolites in certain pathways, agents downstream of squalene were significantly upregulated; however, the substrate of SQLE was surprisingly increased. By combining evidence from molecular docking, we speculated that baicalin, a major ingredient of S. baicalensis, may suppress cholesterol biosynthesis by inhibiting SQLE and LSS, which are important enzymes in the cholesterol biosynthesis pathway. In summary, this study provides new insights into the therapeutic effects of S. baicalensis on lipid metabolism using network pharmacology and lipidomics.

Analysis of Antidepressant Activity of Huang-Lian Jie-Du Decoction Through Network Pharmacology and Metabolomics.

Depressive disorder is a common mental disorder characterized by depressed mood and loss of interest or pleasure. As the Herbal medicines are mainly used as complementary and alternative therapy for depression. This study aimed at exploring antidepressant activity of Huang-lian Jie-du Decoction (HLJDD), and evaluating active components and potential depression-associated targets. HLJDD was administered on chronic unpredictable mild stress-induced (CUMS) depressive mice. Behavior evaluation was performed through force swimming test (FST), novelty-suppressed feeding test (NSF), and open field test (OFT). Active components of HLJDD, potential targets, and metabolic pathways involved in depression were explored through systemic biology-based network pharmacology assay, molecular docking and metabonomics. FST assay showed that CUMS mice administered with HLJDD had significantly shorter immobility time compared with control mice. Further, HLJDD alleviated feeding latency of CUMS mice in NSFand increased moving distance and duration in OFT. In the following network pharmacology assay, thirty-eight active compounds in HLJDD were identified based on drug-like characteristics, and pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics profiles. Moreover, forty-eight molecular targets and ten biochemical pathways were uncovered through molecular docking and metabonomics. GRIN2B, DRD, PRKCA, HTR, MAOA, SLC6A4, GRIN2A, and CACNA1A are implicated in inhibition of depressive symptoms through modulating tryptophan metabolism, serotonergic and dopaminergic synaptic activities, cAMP signaling pathway, and calcium signaling pathway. Further network pharmacology-based analysis showed a correlation between HLJDD and tryptophan metabolism. A total of thirty-seven active compounds, seventy-six targets, and sixteen biochemical pathways were involved in tryptophan metabolism. These findings show that HLJDD acts on potential targets such as SLC6A4, HTR, INS, MAO, CAT, and FoxO, PI3K/Akt, calcium, HIF-1, and mTOR signaling pathways, and modulates serotoninergic and dopaminergic synaptic functions. In addition, metabonomics showed that tryptophan metabolism is the primary target for HLJDD in CUMS mice. The findings of the study show that HLJDD exhibited antidepressant effects. SLC6A4 and MAOA in tryptophan metabolism were modulated by berberine, baicalein, tetrahydroberberine, candicine and may be the main antidepressant targets for HLJDD.

[Study on Chemical Constituents of Fermented Antrodia camphorata Powder].

OBJECTIVE: To study the chemical constituents of fermented Antrodia camphorata powder. METHODS: 15 compounds were isolated from Antrodia camphorata by Silica gel column chromatography, ODS column chromatography, gel column chromatography, preparative liquid phase chromatography separation technique, as well as recrystallization. RESULTS: On the basis of their physical and chemical properties and spectral data,their structures were identified as Ferulic acid (1), Inositol (2), ß-Sitosterol (3),Vanillin (4),Vanillic acid (5), Butyric acid (6), Daucosterol (7), p-Hydroxycinnamic acid (8), Lauric acid (9), Inosine (10), Uridine (11), Adenine (12), D(+)-Sucrose (13), Arachidic acid (14) and Guanosine (15). CONCLUSION: Compounds 1, 5, 6 and 8-15 are isolated from fermented powder for the first time.

Daucosterol protects neurons against oxygen-glucose deprivation/reperfusion-mediated injury by activating IGF1 signaling pathway.

We previously reported that daucosterol (a sterolin) up-regulates the expression of insulin-like growth factor I (IGF1)(1) protein in neural stem cells. In this study, we investigated the effects of daucosterol on the survival of cultured cortical neurons after neurons were subjected to oxygen and glucose deprivation and simulated reperfusion (OGD/R)(2), and determined the corresponding molecular mechanism. The results showed that post-treatment of daucosterol significantly reduced neuronal loss, as well as apoptotic rate and caspase-3 activity, displaying the neuroprotective activity. We also found that daucosterol increased the expression level of IGF1 protein, diminished the down-regulation of p-AKT(3) and p-GSK-3ß(4), thus activating the AKT(5) signal pathway. Additionally, it diminished the down-regulation of the anti-apoptotic proteins Mcl-1(6) and Bcl-2(7), and decreased the expression level of the pro-apoptotic protein Bax(8), thus raising the ratio of Bcl-2/Bax. The neuroprotective effect of daucosterol was inhibited in the presence of picropodophyllin (PPP)(9), the inhibitor of insulin-like growth factor I receptors (IGF1R)(10). Our study provided information about daucosterol as an efficient and inexpensive neuroprotectants, to which the IGF1-like activity of daucosterol contributes. Daucosterol could be potentially developed as a medicine for ischemic stroke treatment.

[Determination of inorganic elements in Antrodia camphorata powder by ICP-MS].

OBJECTIVE: To establish a method for simultaneous analysis of 22 inorganic elements in Antrodia camphorata powder by Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS). Additionally, inorganic elements of Ganoderma lucidum had been detected and compared. METHODS: The sample solutions were analyzed by ICP-MS after microwave digestion and the contents of elements were calculated according to their calibration curves. The data of correlations and principal components were analyzed with the SPSS 17.0 software. RESULTS: 22 inorganic elements were determined in Antrodia camphorata powder. And there are some correlations among the inorganic elements in Antrodia camphorata powder. In addition to the element K, the content of Ca and Mg was also abundant. The content of heavy metals and harmful elements should be pay more attention. CONCLUSION: The study indicates that ICP-MS is a quick, accurate and sensitive method for determining the content of inorganic elements in Antrodia camphorata powder, which provides a scientific reference for the quality analysis and safety assessment of Antrodia camphorata powder.

Daucosterol promotes the proliferation of neural stem cells.

Neural stem cells (NSCs) are self-regenerating cells, but their regenerative capacity is limited. The present study was conducted to investigate the effect of daucosterol (a sterolin) on the promotion of NSC proliferation and determine the corresponding molecular mechanism. Results of cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay showed that daucosterol significantly increased the quantity of viable cells and the effectiveness of daucosterol was similar to that of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and epidermal growth factor (EGF). Flow cytometry detection of CFSE-labeled (CFSE, carboxyfluorescein diacetate succinimidyl ester) NSCs showed that Div Index (or the average number of cell divisions) and % Divided (or the percentage of cells that divided at least once) of the cells were increased, indicating that daucosterol increased the percentage of NSCs re-entering the cell cycle. mRNA microarray analysis showed that 333 genes that are mostly involved in the mitotic cell cycle were up-regulated. By contrast, 627 genes that are mostly involved in differentiation were down-regulated. In particular, insulin-like growth factor I (IGF1) was considered as an important regulatory gene that functionally promoted NSC proliferation, and the increased expression of IGF1 protein was validated by ELISA. In addition, the phosphorylation of AKT was increased, indicating that the proliferation-enhancing activity of daucosterol may be involved in IGF1-AKT pathway. Our study provided information about daucosterol as an efficient and inexpensive growth factor alternative that could be used in clinical medicine and research applications.

Casbane diterpenoids from the roots of Euphorbia pekinensis.

Four casbane diterpenoids, together with three known related compounds were isolated from the roots of Euphorbia pekinensis. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic studies and comparison with the known related compounds. In addition, the absolute configuration of three compounds was determined by the modified Mosher's method. The isolated compounds were evaluated for their cytotoxic activity against seven human cancer cell lines by a WST-8 assay.

Analysis of Hydroxy Fatty Acids from the Pollen of Brassica campestris L. var. oleifera DC. by UPLC-MS/MS.

Ultraperformance liquid chromatography coupled with negative electrospray tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-ESI-MS/MS) was used to determine 7 hydroxy fatty acids in the pollen of Brassica campestris L. var. oleifera DC. All the investigated hydroxy fatty acids showed strong deprotonated molecular ions [M-H](-), which underwent two major fragment pathways of the allyl scission and the ß-fission of the alcoholic hydroxyl group. By comparison of their molecular ions and abundant fragment ions with those of reference compounds, they were tentatively assigned as 15,16-dihydroxy-9Z,12Z-octadecadienoic acid (1), 10,11,12-trihydroxy-(7Z,14Z)-heptadecadienoic acid (2), 7,15,16-trihydroxy-9Z,12Z-octadecadienoic acid (3), 15,16-dihydroxy-9Z,12Z-octadecadienoic acid (4), 15-hydroxy-6Z,9Z,12Z-octadecatrienoic acid (5), 15-hydroxy-9Z,12Z- octadecadienoic acid (6), and 15-hydroxy-12Z-octadecaenoic acid (7), respectively. Compounds 3, 5, and 7 are reported for the first time.

Microarray Analysis of mRNA and MicroRNA Expression Profile Reveals the Role of ß -Sitosterol-D-glucoside in the Proliferation of Neural Stem Cell.

Neural stem cells (NSCs) are self-regenerating cells, but their regenerative capacity is limited. The present study was conducted to investigate the effect of ß -sitosterol-D-glucoside (BSSG) on the proliferation of hippocampal NSCs and to determine the corresponding molecular mechanism. Results of CCK-8 assay showed that BSSG significantly increased NSC proliferation and the effectiveness of BSSG was similar to that of basic fibroblast growth factor and epidermal growth factor. mRNA expression profiling showed that 960 genes were differentially expressed after NSCs were treated with BSSG. Among the 960 genes, IGF1 is considered as a key regulatory gene that functionally promotes NSC proliferation. MicroRNA (miRNA) expression profiling indicated that 30 and 84 miRNAs were upregulated and downregulated, respectively. miRNA-mRNA relevance analysis revealed that numerous mRNAs including IGF1 mRNA were negatively regulated by miRNAs with decreased expression, thereby increasing the corresponding mRNA expression. The increased expression of IGF1 protein was validated by ELISA. Picropodophyllin (PPP, an inhibitor of IGF-1R) inhibition test confirmed that the proliferation-enhancing effect depended on IGF1. This study provided information about BSSG as an efficient and inexpensive growth factor alternative, of which the effect is closely involved in IGF1.

Antithrombotic phenolic compounds from Glycyrrhiza uralensis.

A new coumestan, named glycyrurol, and nine phenolic compounds were isolated from the ethyl acetate extract of the roots and rhizomes of Glycyrrhiza uralensis. Their structures were elucidated based on spectroscopic analysis and literature data, and anticoagulative assay found significant antithrombotic activity of compounds 4, 8 and 10.

Determination of nucleosides and nucleobases in the pollen of Typha angustifolia by UPLC-PDA-MS.

INTRODUCTION: The pollen of Typha angustifolia L. has been used traditionally for the treatment of dysmenorrhea, stranguria and metrorrhagia in China. Recently, nucleosides and nucleobases have been proven as important bioactive compounds. Exploration of the nucleoside and nucleobase profiles from the pollen of T. angustifolia is important for improving its therapeutic value and could be convenient for its quality evaluation. OBJECTIVE: To establish an UPLC-PDA-MS method for simultaneous determination of nucleosides and nucleobases in the pollen of T. angustifolia. METHODOLOGY: The analysis was performed on an Acuity UPLCHSS T3 column with a gradient elution of 5 mM ammonium acetate and methanol solution at a flow rate of 0.3 mL/min. RESULTS: Satisfactory separation of these compounds was obtained in less than 12 min. All calibration curves showed good linear regression (r² > 0.9995). The method provided good accuracy, precision, recovery, and sensitivity for the quantification of the 10 compounds analysed. CONCLUSION: The UPLC method established is very helpful for optimising their content and could be convenient for quality evaluation of the pollen of T. angustifolia, which has not been reported as far as we are aware.

[Preliminary analysis of quality of Antrodia camphorata powder].

OBJECTIVE: To proceed a preliminary analysis of the quality of Antrodia camphorata powder. METHODS: The contents of water-soluble extract were detected according to the standards stated in Chinese Pharmacopoeia. UV-VIS was used to analyze total polysaccharide and triterpenoid. HPLC method was applied for the analysis of adenosine in Antrodia. camphorata. Besides, volatile compounds were analyzed by HSGC-MS. RESULTS: The contents of water-soluble extract (37.26% - 40.98%), total polysaccharide (5.45% - 8.08%), total triterpenoid (2.44% - 2.87%) and adenosine (0.0470% - 0.0604%) were obtained respectively. 49 volatile compounds were identified in Antrodia camphorata powder. CONCLUSION: The established method can be used for the quality control of Antrodia camphorata powder.

Antithrombotic lipids from Semen Persicae.

Chemical investigation of Semen Persicae has led to the isolation of decane (1), triolein (2), nonacosanoic acid (3), oleic acid ethyl ester (4), palmitic acid (5), oleic acid (6) and 15,16-dihydroxy-9Z,12Z-octadecadienoic acid 2,3-dihydroxypropyl ester (7). Amongst these, compound 7 is a new lipid. Their structures were elucidated by chemical and extensive spectral analysis. Their anticoagulative activities were also evaluated in vitro, which showed that petroleum ether extract and compounds 5-6 could significantly prolong thrombin time while methanol extract could obviously inhibit platelet aggregation.

Pentacyclic triterpenes from the resin of Liquidambar formosana.

Two new pentacyclic triterpenes and eight known pentacyclic triterpenes were isolated from the petroleum ether extract of Liquidambaris Resina. The structural elucidation of these compounds was determined by spectroscopic data interpretation. Their cytotoxic and antiplatelet aggregation activities were examined to find potent cytotoxic and antiplatelet aggregation compounds from natural resources. The results showed that 3-keto oleane triterpenes had strong cytotoxicity against MDA-MB-435S cancer cells and that 28-carboxyl oleane triterpenes possessed significant inhibition of platelet aggregation induced by ADP.

Qualitative and quantitative analysis of the major bioactive phenolic compounds of Glechoma longituba by LC-coupled with PAD and ESI-MS detection.

A sensitive and selective method based on HPLC-PAD and Quadrupole TOF ESI-MS-MS is presented for quality control of Glechoma longituba, the major bioactive phenolic compounds of which could be quantified simultaneously. LC-ESI-MS was applied for nine fully identified compounds and another eight partially identified compounds in the plant by comparing their mass spectral data and retention times with those of selected standards and literature data. For quantitative analysis, the chromatographic conditions and extraction procedure were optimized in order to ensure the exhaustive extraction of the plant material. The calibration curves for determination of the nine compounds showed good linearity over the tested ranges (r2 > 0.999). Measurement of intra-day and inter-day variability was conducted to assess precision of the method, and their RSDs were between 2.22%-2.92% and 1.35%-2.95%. The RSDs of repeatability and stability were between 0.90%-2.53% and 1.73%-2.94%. The recoveries of the nine compounds were between 94.7%-106.5%, with RSD value ranging from 0.56%-2.88%. These validation results demonstrated the suitability of the method for the precise and accurate determination of the main constituents of G. longituba. The method was used for the quality evaluation of twenty batches of G. longituba obtained from different regions of China. The multi-index comprehensive evaluation method for the different kinds of compounds can ensure the efficacy and safety of the traditional Chinese medicine.

Two new α-pinene derivatives from Angelica sinensis and their anticoagulative activities.

Two new α-pinene derivatives (1-2) were isolated from the aerial parts of Angelica sinensis. Their structures were determined by spectroscopic and chemical methods to be 6ß,9-dihydroxy-(+)-α-pinene (1) and 9-hydroxy-(+)-α-pinene-6ß-O-D-glucoside (2). In the anticoagulative assay, compounds 1 and 2 exhibited weak antithrombin activity and strong antiplatelet aggregation activity in vitro.

Antithrombotic flavonoids from the faeces of Trogopterus xanthipes.

Chemical investigation of Trogopterus faeces has led to the isolation of seven flavonoids. Their structures were elucidated by chemical and spectral analyses. In an anticoagulative assay, three kaempferol coumaroyl rhamnosides had significant antithrombin activity. This is the first report on the occurrence of flavonoid glycosides in Trogopterus faeces.