Insights into Q-markers of honey-fried licorice in treating spleen deficiency based on substance and energy metabolism regulation.

BACKGROUND: Honey-fried Licorice (HFL) is a dosage form of Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizome processed with honey, which has been recorded to exhibit better efficacy in tonifying the spleen compared to the raw product. In contrast, different processing methods of Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizome exhibit different efficacies and applications, but their current quality control index components remain consistent. PURPOSE: Based on the discovery and research strategy of traditional Chinese medicine decoction piece quality marker (Q-marker), this study aimed to conduct a multidimensional integration of constituents absorbed into the body and metabolomics based on the tonifying spleen and stomach effects of HFL to effectively identify the Q-marker of HFL. METHODS: In this study, a spleen deficiency rat model was established using the "exhausted swimming + poor diet" method to investigate the pharmacodynamics of tonifying the spleen and stomach by HFL. The constituents absorbed into blood was conducted using UPLC-Q-TOF/MS, correlation analysis between metabolomics and constituents absorbed into blood recognized the Q-Marker of HFL. RESULTS: The pharmacodynamic data demonstrated that HFL exhibited a significant regulatory effect on the disordered levels of PP, trypsin, chymase, PL, α-Glu, MTL, GAS, VIP, IL-2, IFN-γ, and IgA in the spleen deficiency model. Furthermore, HFL was found to improve the pathological changes in the spleen and intestine in the spleen deficiency model, highlighting its significant "tonifying spleen and stomach" effect. In the serum containing HFL, a total of 17 constituents were identified as being absorbed into the blood. Among these, 11 were prototypical components, while 6 were metabolites. Metabolomics data revealed that 9 differentially expressed metabolic markers were observed. Furthermore, the analysis of endogenous metabolic markers indicated that 10 components exhibited significant correlations with these biomarkers. CONCLUSION: The effect of "tonifying spleen and stomach" of HFL is closely related to the regulation of the material and energy metabolism pathway. The Q-Marker of HFL is glycyrrhizic acid and 18ß-glycyrrhetinic acid as the main control standards and liquiritin, isoliquiritin, liquiritin, isoliquiritin, isolicorice flavonol, licorice chalcone C and Formononetin were used as auxiliary standards.

Research progress on ethnobotany, phytochemistry, pharmacological action, and applications of Engelhardia roxburghiana Wall: a review.

OBJECTIVES: Engelhardia roxburghiana Wall is a plant of the Juglandaceae family, and its leaves is the main part used as a medicine. It is used to relieve heat and pain, gasification, and dampness. The purpose of this review is to provide a systematic review about the botany, traditional uses, phytochemistry, pharmacology, and toxicology of this plant. KEY FINDINGS: Many compounds have been isolated and identified from the plant, including flavonoids, triterpenoids, steroids, quinones, essential oils, and other types of chemical constituents. Extensive pharmacological activities of the extracts or compounds of E. roxburghiana Wall in vivo and in vitro were mainly confirmed, including anti-cancer, anti-diabetic, anti-inflammatory, and anti-allergic effects. SUMMARY: In this paper, the botany, traditional uses, phytochemistry, and pharmacology of E. roxburghiana Wall were reviewed. In the future, E. roxburghiana Wall needs further study, such as paying more attention to quality control and the utilization on agriculture. In addition, discussing the medicinal components of decoction as well as the toxicity will also contribute to the progress of clinical trial studies.

Anatomical Mechanisms of Leaf Blade Morphogenesis in Sasaella kogasensis 'Aureostriatus'.

There are limited studies on the cytology of bamboo leaf development from primordium to maturity. This study delves into the leaf morphological characteristics and growth patterns of Sasaella kogasensis 'Aureostriatus' and provides a three-dimensional anatomical analysis of cell division, expansion, and degradation. Leaves on the same branch develop bottom-up, while individual leaves develop the other way around. Like bamboo shoots and culms, the leaves follow a "slow-fast-slow" growth pattern, with longitudinal growth being predominant during their development. The growth zones of individual leaves included division, elongation, and maturation zones based on the distribution of growth space. By measuring 13,303 epidermal long cells and 3293 mesophyll cells in longitudinal sections of rapidly elongating leaves, we observed that in the rapid elongation phase (S4-S5), the division zone was located in the 1-2 cm segment at the bottom of the leaf blade and maintained a constant size, continuously providing new cells for leaf elongation, whereas in the late rapid elongation phase (S6), when the length of the leaf blade was approaching that of a mature leaf, its cells at the bottom of the blade no longer divided and were replaced by the ability to elongate. Furthermore, to gain an insight into the dynamic changes in the growth of the S. kogasensis 'Aureostriatus' leaves in the lateral and periclinal directions, the width and thickness of 1459 epidermal and 2719 mesophyll cells were counted in the mid-cross section of leaves at different developmental stages. The results showed that during the early stages of development (S1-S3), young leaves maintained vigorous division in the lateral direction, while periplasmic division gradually expanded from the bottom to the top of the leaf blade and the number of cell layers stabilized at S4. The meristematic tissues on both sides of the leaf were still able to divide at S4 but the frequency of the division gradually decreased, while cell division and expansion occurred simultaneously between the veins. At S6, the cells at the leaf margins and between the veins were completely differentiated and the width of the leaf blade no longer expanded. These findings revealed changes in cell growth anisotropically during the leaf development of S. kogasensis 'Aureostriatus' and demonstrated that leaf elongation was closely related to the longitudinal expansion of epidermal cells and proliferative growth of mesophyll cells, whereas the cell division of meristematic tissues and expansion of post-divisional cells contributed to the increases in blade width and thickness. The presented framework will facilitate a further exploration of the molecular regulatory mechanisms of leaf development in S. kogasensis 'Aureostriatus' and provide relevant information for developmental and taxonomic studies of bamboo plants.

Isolation, phytochemistry, characterization, biological activity, and application of Morinda officinalis How oligosaccharide: a review.

Morinda officinalis How oligosaccharide (MOO) stands as one of the principal active constituents of M. officinalis How, widely employed in traditional Chinese medicine. The methods for MOO extraction predominantly encompass hot water extraction, ethanol extraction, ultrasonic-assisted extraction, and microwave-assisted extraction. Distinct extraction techniques yield varying MOO quantities. MOO encompasses a diversity of oligosaccharides, including bajijiasu, sucrose, 1-kestose, nystose, mannose, 1F-fructofuranosylnystose, 1,1,1,1-kestohexose, fructoheptasaccharide, inulin-type hexasaccharide, inulin-type heptasaccharide, inulotriose, inulotetraose, inulopentaose, and mannose. MOO exhibits a wide spectrum of biological activities, exerting specific effects on the nervous system, cardiovascular system, motor system, reproductive system, and immune system. It demonstrates antidepressant properties, offers potential in mitigating Alzheimer's disease, stimulates angiogenesis, and possesses anti-osteoporotic and other pharmacological effects. Clinically, when combined with various antidepressants, MOO exhibits specific therapeutic efficacy across multiple forms of depression. As a naturally occurring plant oligosaccharide, MOO holds diverse pharmaceutical applications. This article conducts a review of the latest extraction and purification methodologies, structural characterization analysis, biological activity assessment, and clinical applications of MOO. Such a comprehensive analysis yields innovative insights for advancing the research and application of MOO in the future.