Correlation Between Different Antidiarrheal Treatments and Changes in Chemical Components of Allii Sativi Bulbus Before and After Steaming Treatment Based on Flora Sequencing and In Vitro Experiments.

We investigated the changes in the main active ingredients and pharmacodynamic differences in the therapeutic effect of garlic before and after steaming and the correlation between them. The main active ingredients in raw garlic products (RGPs) and steamed garlic products (SGPs) were determined by high-pressure liquid chromatography and ultraviolet spectroscopy. Acute rapid diarrhea (AD) and antibiotic-induced diarrhea (DD) models were established in rats, and each group was treated with RGP and SGP, respectively. The main chemical components of garlic changed before and after steaming. Garlicin and alliinase were only found in RGP, whereas only alliin was found in SGP. Both RGP and SGP contained garlic polysaccharides. For in vivo experiments on AD, the average rate of loose stools was 100.00 ± 0.00, 31.55 ± 11.76, and 19.14 ± 6.62 in the RGP high-dose and SGP high-dose treatment groups, respectively; in DD, the rates were 91.11 ± 14.40, 19.33 ± 3.63, and 30.56 ± 4.30, respectively (P < .01, treatment vs. model groups). In AD, the average grade of loose stools was 2.33 ± 0.52 and 1.83 ± 0.75 in the model and RGP high-dose treatment groups, respectively (P < .05); in DD, the values were 2.17 ± 0.41 in the model group and 1.67 ± 0.52 in the SGP high-dose treatment group (P < .05). RGP had a better therapeutic effect on AD, mainly related to the antibacterial effect of garlicin in RGP. SGP had a better therapeutic effect on DD, mainly related to the alliin and garlic polysaccharide in SGP. This study could provide evidence to support the clinical use of garlic.

Gut microbiota and metabonomics used to explore the mechanism of Qing'e Pills in alleviating osteoporosis.

CONTEXT: The traditional Chinese medicine Qing'e Pills (QEP) has been used to treat postmenopausal osteoporosis (PMO). OBJECTIVE: We evaluated the regulatory effects of QEP on gut microbiota in osteoporosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eighteen female SD rats were divided into three groups: sham surgery (SHAM), ovariectomized (OVX) and ovariectomized treated with QEP (OVX + QEP). Six weeks after ovariectomy, QEP was administered to OVX + QEP rats for eight weeks (4.5 g/kg/day, i.g.). After 14 weeks, the bone microstructure was evaluated. Differences in gut microbiota were analysed via 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Changes in endogenous metabolites were studied using UHPLC-Q-TOF/MS technology. GC-MS was used to detect short-chain fatty acids. Furthermore, we measured serum inflammatory factors, such as IL-6, TNF-α and IFN-γ, which may be related to gut microbiota. RESULTS: OVX + QEP exhibited increased bone mineral density (0.11 ± 0.03 vs. 0.21 ± 0.02, p< 0.001) compared to that of OVX. QEP altered the composition of gut microbiota. We identified 19 potential biomarkers related to osteoporosis. QEP inhibited the elevation of TNF-α (38.86 ± 3.19 vs. 29.43 ± 3.65, p< 0.05) and IL-6 (83.38 ± 16.92 vs. 45.26 ± 3.94, p< 0.05) levels, while it increased the concentrations of acetic acid (271.95 ± 52.41 vs. 447.73 ± 46.54, p< 0.001), propionic acid (28.96 ± 5.73 vs. 53.41 ± 14.26, p< 0.01) and butyric acid (24.92 ± 18.97 vs. 67.78 ± 35.68, p< 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that QEP has potential of regulating intestinal flora and improving osteoporosis. The combination of anti-osteoporosis drugs and intestinal flora could become a new treatment for osteoporosis.

Combination of molecular docking and liver transcription sequencing analysis for the evaluation of salt-processed psoraleae fructus-induced hepatotoxicity in ovariectomized mice.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Salt-processed Psoraleae fructus (SPF) is widely used as a phytoestrogen-like agent in the treatment of osteoporosis. However, SPF-associated hepatotoxicity is a known health hazard. Cholestasis is often associated with SPF-induced hepatotoxicity. Notably, clinical liver injury is a common side effect of SPF in the treatment of osteoporosis; however, the exact mechanism underlying this phenomenon is unclear. AIM OF THE STUDY: To evaluate SPF-induced hepatotoxicity in an ovariectomized murine model of estrogen deficiency and examine the mechanisms underlying this process. MATERIALS AND METHODS: To explore the molecular mechanism of SPF-induced cholestatic liver injury, different concentrations of SPF (5 and 10 g/kg) were intragastrically administered to ovariectomized and non-ovariectomized female ICR mice for 30 days. RESULTS: SPF-treated mice showed noticeably swollen hepatocytes, dilated bile ducts, and elevated levels of serum biochemical markers. Compared to ovariectomized mice, these changes were more prominent in non-ovariectomized mice. According to the sequence data, a total of 6689 mRNAs were identified. Compared with the control group, 1814 differentially expressed mRNAs were identified in the group treated with high SPF doses (SPHD), including 939 upregulated and 875 downregulated mRNAs. Molecular docking and Western blot experiments showed that liver injury was closely related to the estrogen levels. Compared with the negative control group, the expression levels of FXR, Mrp2, CYP7a1, BSEP, SULT1E1, HNF4a, and Nrf2 decreased in the estradiol-treated (E2), low-dose SPF-treated (SPLD), and SPHD groups. Interestingly, the expression levels of FXR, CYP7a1, SULT1E1, and HNF4α were significantly higher in the ovariectomized groups than in the non-ovariectomized groups (#P < 0.05; ###P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Overall, this study demonstrates that SPF downregulates key enzymes involved in cholesterol and bile acid biosyntheses, posing a risk for cholestatic liver injury. SPF also regulates the FXR-SULT1E signaling pathway via HNF4α, which is an important causative factor of cholestasis. Moreover, the severity of liver damage was significantly lower in the ovariectomized groups than in the non-ovariectomized group. These results suggest that the estrogen level is the most critical factor determining liver injury.

Comparative in vivo pharmacokinetics study of affeic acid, isoferulic acid and ferulic acid in crude and three different prepared Cimicifuga foetida L.

Our study investigated the differences in pharmacokinetics of three major components of crude Cimicifuga foetida L. and its fried product and honey- and liquor-prepared products. A rapid and sensitive ultra-high performance liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry approach was established for determing caffeic acid, isoferulic acid and ferulic acid in rat plasma. The approach has good linearity, precision, accuracy, recovery and stability. Phenolic acid was rapidly absorbed. The times to peak concentration were shorter in the processed group than those for the crude product, with their values of <30 min. The peak concentration values of caffeic acid and isoferulic acid were higher in the crude group than in the processed groups (p < 0.05). Area under the curve values of the three phenolics in the crude group were significantly higher than those of the processed groups (p < 0.05).