Immunomodulatory effect of tibetan medicine compound extracts against ORFV in vitro by metabolomics.

Ovine contagious pustular dermatitis (ORF) is one of the main diseases of sheep and is a zoonotic disease caused by Ovine contagious pustular dermatitis virus (ORFV) infection, posing a significant constraint on sheep breeding industry and human health. The Tibetan medical formulation composed of Polygonum leucoides, Polygonum xanthoxylum and Acanthophora rotunda significantly regulated lymphocyte immune function following ORFV stimulation, although the mechanism remains unclear. In order to study the immunomodulatory effects and mechanism of three Tibetan medicinal extracts (Polygonum leucoides, Polygonum xanthoxylum, and Acanthophora rotunda) against ORFV in vitro, sheep peripheral blood lymphocytes were isolated in vitro and treated with different concentrations of Tibetan medicine compound extract solution after ORFV infection. The cytokine expression levels in lymphocytes were measured at 4 h, 8 h and 12 h. Additionally endogenous metabolites in lymphocytes at 0 h, 4 h, 8 h and 12 h were quantified by untargeted metabolomics method. The results showed that, the extracts could regulate the lymphocyte immune factors altered by ORFV, and regulate the lymphocyte immune function through cysteine and methionine metabolic pathways as well as the pyrimidine metabolic pathways, potentially alleviating the immune evasion induced by ORFV.

Phytochemical profiling, in vitro biological activities, and in silico (molecular docking and absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, toxicity) studies of Polygonum cognatum Meissn.

Polygonum cognatum Meissn, a perennial herbaceous belonging to the Polygonaceae family, is an aromatic plant. High-performance liquid chromatography/diode array detector method was developed and validated for the phytochemical analysis of the plant. Also, various methods were used to investigate the antioxidant, antimicrobial, and cytotoxic activities of the methanolic extracts. Antioxidant activities were researched by 2,2'-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl and cupric reducing antioxidant capacity methods. Among the tested standard microbial strains, Candida albicans was found to be more sensitive with a 24.60 ± 0.55 mm inhibition zone according to the diffusion tests. In the microdilution tests, the minimum inhibitory concentration and minimum bactericidal/fungicidal concentration values were 4.75 and ≥ 4.75 mg/mL, respectively, for all tested pathogens. Human colon carcinoma cells were used to investigate cytotoxicity by using 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide analysis (IC50  = 2891 µg/mL for Plant A, IC50  = 3291 µg/mL for Plant B). Molecular docking and absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and toxicity analysis were used to explain inhibition mechanisms of major phenolic compounds of plants against Tankyrase 1, Tankyrase 2 enzymes, and deoxyribonucleic acid gyrase subunit B and found compatible with experimental results.

Phytochemical analysis and hepatotoxicity assessment of braised Polygoni Multiflori Radix (Wen-He-Shou-Wu).

Polygoni Multiflori Radix (PMR) is a medicinal herb commonly used in China and Eastern Asia. Recently, the discovery of hepatotoxicity in PMR has received considerable attention from scientists. Processing is a traditional Chinese medicine technique used for the effective reduction of toxicity. One uncommon technique is the braising method-also known as 'Wen-Fa' in Chinese-which is used to prepare tonics or poisonous medications. Braised PMR (BPMR)-also known as 'Wen-He-Shou-Wu'-is one of the processed products of the braising method. However, the non-volatile components of BPMR have not been identified and examined in detail, and therefore, the hepatotoxic advantage of BPMR remains unknown. In this study, we compared the microscopic characteristics of different samples in powder form using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), investigated the non-volatile components, assessed the effects of different processed PMR products on the liver, and compared the differences between BPMR and PMR Praeparata recorded in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia (2020 edition). We found that the hepatotoxicity of BPMR was dramatically decreased, which may be related to an increase in polysaccharide content and a decrease in toxic substances. The present study provides an important foundation for future investigations of the processing mechanisms of BPMR.

Evaluation of antidiabetic and antioxidant effects of Polygonum cognatum Meisn. and phytochemical analysis of effective extracts.

Polygonum cognatum Meisn. (Polygonaceae) is used both as food and as a folk medicine to treat diabetes. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of the extracts, along with isolated compounds, from P. cognatum aerial parts on diabetes. In vitro studies were conducted using an α-glucosidase inhibitory assay, while in vivo antidiabetic studies were carried out on streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Effective extracts were subjected to isolation studies, and structures of the compounds were elucidated by spectroscopic methods. The ethyl acetate and n-butanol extracts had the highest effect in both in vitro and in vivo experiments. They also decreased aspartate transaminase, alanine transaminase and malondialdehyde levels, while increasing glutathione and superoxide dismutase activity in rats. From the active extracts, 11 phenolic compounds were isolated and characterized. Among the isolated compounds, quercetin was found to be the most active according to α-glucosidase inhibitory activity studies. This study provided scientific evidence for the traditional use of P. cognatum as a folk medicine for treating diabetes. The findings suggest that the ethyl acetate and n-butanol extracts, as well as quercetin, have the potential for development as antidiabetic agents.

Thrombin-targeted screening of anticoagulant active components from Polygonum amplexicaule D. Don var. sinense Forb by affinity ultrafiltration coupled with UPLC-Q-TOF-MS.

INTRODUCTION: Polygonum amplexicaule D. Don var. sinense Forb (PAF), a medicinal plant, has the effect of promoting blood circulation and removing blood stasis. However, the active compounds and targets of its anticoagulant effect are still unclear. OBJECTIVES: This study aims to establish an effective reversely thrombin-targeted screening method for anticoagulant active components in PAF by affinity ultrafiltration (AUF) coupled with ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectroscopy (UPLC-Q-TOF-MS). METHODS: Different polar parts of PAF were screened for potential thrombin ligands by AUF-HPLC and identified by UPLC-Q-TOF-MS. After studying the affinity between ligands and thrombin by molecular docking, the antithrombotic activity of ligands was detected in vivo by zebrafish thrombus model, and in vitro by chromogenic substrate method. The mechanism of such ligands on thrombin was further studied by coagulation factor assay. RESULTS: Eleven potential thrombin ligands from PAF were screened by the AUF-UPLC-Q-TOF-MS method, and two compounds (butyl gallate and ß-sitosterol) with significant anticoagulant activity were discovered via in vitro and in vivo activity testing. CONCLUSION: A method system based on AUF-UPLC-Q-TOF-MS, molecular docking and in vivo and in vitro experiments also provided a powerful tool for further exploration of anticoagulant active components in PAF.

[Experimental study on improvement of cognitive impairment in Alzheimer's disease by different degrees of steaming and sunning of Polygoni Multiflori Radix based on fecal metabolomics].

The fecal metabolomics method was employed to investigate the cognitive improvement mechanism of Polygoni Multiflori Radix in Alzheimer's disease(AD) and examine the effects of different degrees of steaming and sunning on cognitive function in AD model mice. Additionally, the processing principle of Polygoni Multiflori Radix was discussed. Forty-eight 5-month-old APP/PS1 mice were randomly assigned to the following groups: model group, positive group, raw product group, three-steaming and three-sunning product group, six-steaming and six-sunning product group, and nine-steaming and nine-sunning product group. Seven negative control mice from the same litter were included as the blank group. After 150 days of intragastric administration, the learning and memory abilities of mice in each group were assessed by using the Barnes maze and dark avoidance tests. Fecal samples were collected for extensive targeted metabolomics testing. Principal component analysis(PCA), orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis(OPLS-DA), and other multivariate statistical methods were utilized to analyze metabolites in mouse feces. Comparison of behavioral results between the model group and different product groups demonstrated that the six-steaming and six-sunning product group exhibited significantly reduced latency in the Barnes maze positioning and navigation test(P<0.05), as well as a notable decrease in the number of errors in the space exploration experiment(P<0.05). Moreover, the latency of mice entering the dark box for the first time in the dark avoidance experiment was significantly prolonged(P<0.05), indicating the best overall improvement in the learning and memory ability of AD model mice. Metabolomics results revealed that compared with the model group, the differential metabolites in other groups in descending order were as follows: six-steaming and six-sunning product group > nine-steaming and nine-sunning product group > raw product group > three-steaming and three-sunning product group, encompassing 146, 120, 95, and 81 potential biomarkers, respectively. Among them, 16 differential metabolites were related to AD disease. Further comparisons based on the degree of processing indicated that the six-steaming and six-sunning product group exhibited the most significant adjustments in total metabolic pathways, particularly regulating the interconversion of pentose and glucuronic acid, as well as amino acid anabolism and other pathways. In summary, the mechanism of Polygoni Multiflori Radix after processing in enhancing the learning and memory ability of APP/PS1 mice may be associated with improved amino acid metabolism and increased energy metabolism in the body. The six-steaming and six-sunning yielded the best outcomes.

The traditional herb Polygonum hydropiper from China: a comprehensive review on phytochemistry, pharmacological activities and applications.

CONTEXT: Polygonum hydropiper L. (Polygonaceae) (PH) is a traditional Chinese traditional medicine with a pungent flavor and mild drug properties. PH is mainly distributed in the channel tropism in the stomach and large intestine. PH has multiple uses and can be used to treat a variety of diseases for a long time. OBJECTIVE: This review summarizes the phytochemical and pharmacological activities, and applications of PH from 1980 to 2022. We also provide suggestions for promoting further research and developing additional applications of PH. METHODS: The data and information on PH from 1980 to 2022 reviewed in this article were obtained from scientific databases, including Science Direct, PubMed, Science Citation Index, SciFinder Scholar (SciFinder), Springer, American Chemical Society (ACS) Publications, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), etc. Some information was obtained from classic literature on traditional Chinese medicines. The search terms were Polygonum hydropiper, phytochemistry compositions of Polygonum hydropiper, pharmacological activities of Polygonum hydropiper, and applications of Polygonum hydropiper. RESULTS: The comprehensive analysis of the literature resulted in 324 compounds being isolated, identified, and reported from PH. Regarding traditional uses, the majority of phytochemical and pharmacological studies have indicated the diverse bioactivities of PH extracts, flavonoids, and volatile oil elements, including antibacterial, antifungal, insecticidal, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory. CONCLUSIONS: PH has a long history of diversified medicinal uses, some of which have been verified in modern pharmacological studies. Further detailed studies are required to establish scientific and reasonable quality evaluation standards and action mechanisms of active constituents from PH.

Chemical Composition of Essential Oils of Seven Polygonum Species from Turkey: A Chemotaxonomic Approach.

Medicinal plants and herbal preparations are gaining attention in the scientific community today, as they are often used intermittently in the treatment of various diseases. The genus of Polygonum (Polygonaceae), known locally as "madimak", is an aromatic plant widely used in world flavors. The chemical composition of the essential oils of dried aerial parts of seven of Polygonum was analyzed by GC-MS. These species are Polygonum lapathifolium L., Polygonum persicaria L., Polygonum arenastrum Bor., Polygonum bellardii All., Polygonum arenarium Waldst. Et Kit., Polygonum aviculare L., and Polygonum cognatum Meissn. Qualitative and quantitative differences were found in the essential oil analysis of the seven Polygonum species. The major compounds were determined as (E)-ß-farnesene (19. 46%), dodecanal (15.92%), ß-caryophyllene (12.95%), in P. aviculare; (E)-ß-farnesene (25.00%), dodecanal (20.45%), ß-caryophyllene (9.38%), and caryophyllene oxide (8. 26%) in P. persicaria; dodecanal (25.65%), caryophyllene oxide (13.35%), ß-caryophyllene (7.95%), and (E)-ß-farnesene (6.20%) in P. lapathifolium, and dodecanal (19.65%), (E)-ß-farnesene (13.86%), ß-caryophyllene (8.06%), and α-terpineol (7.2%) in P. arenarium, dodecanal (16.23%), ß-caryophyllene (16.09%), (E)-ß-farnesene (12.26%), caryophyllene oxide (7.94%) in P. bellardii, (E)-ß-farnesene (20.75%), dodecanal (17.96%), ß-caryophyllene (13.01%), α-terpineol (4.97%) in P. arenastrum, (E)-ß-farnesene (9.49%), dodecanal (14.01%), ß-caryophyllene (11.92%), geranyl acetate (9.49%), and undecanal (7.35%) in P. cognatum. This study is the most comprehensive study conducted to determine the essential oil components of Polygonum species. In addition, a literature review on the composition of the essential oils of these Polygonum taxa was performed. The essential oil components of the species in our study were revealed for the first time with this study.

Discovery of Hepatotoxic Equivalent Markers and Mechanism of Polygonum multiflorum Thunb. by Metabolomics Coupled with Molecular Docking.

Polygonum multiflorum Thunb. (PMT), a commonly used Chinese herbal medicine for treating diseases such as poisoning and white hair, has attracted constant attention due to the frequent occurrence of liver injury incidents. To date, its hepatotoxic equivalent markers (HEMs) and potential hepatotoxic mechanisms are still unclear. In order to clarify the HEMs of PMT and further explore the potential mechanisms of hepatotoxicity, firstly, the chemical constituents in PMT extract were globally characterized, and the fingerprints of PMT extracts were established along with the detection of their hepatotoxicity in vivo. Then, the correlations between hepatotoxic features and component contents were modeled by chemometrics to screen HEMs of PMT, which were then further evaluated. Finally, the hepatotoxic mechanisms of PMT were investigated using liver metabolomics and molecular docking. The results show that the chemical combination of 2,3,5,4-tetrahydroxystilbene-2-O-ß-D-glucoside (TSG) and emodin-8-O-glucoside (EG) was discovered as the HEMs of PMT through pre-screening and verifying process. Liver metabolomics revealed that PMT caused liver injury by interfering with purine metabolism, which might be related to mitochondrial function disorder and oxidative injury via the up-regulations of xanthosine and xanthine, and the down-regulation of 5' nucleotidase (NT5E) and adenylate kinase 2 (AK2). This study not only found that the HEMs of PMT were TSG and EG, but also clarified that PMT might affect purine metabolism to induce liver injury, which contributed to our understanding of the underlying mechanisms of PMT hepatotoxicity.

Polygonum capitatum, the Hmong Medicinal Flora: A Comprehensive Review of Its Phytochemical, Pharmacological and Pharmacokinetic Characteristics.

Polygonum capitatum, known as "Tou Hua Liao" (Chinese name), is a crucial source of Hmong medicinal plants that has benefited human health for a long time. This folk-medicinal plant is widely distributed in the south-west of China for the treatment of various urologic disorders including urinary tract infections, pyelonephritis, and urinary calculus. The purpose of this paper was to provide a systematic and comprehensive overview of the traditional usages, botany, phytochemistry, pharmacology, pharmacokinetics and clinical applications of this flora. Up until the end of 2022, at least 91 compounds had been reported from P. capitatum, mainly covering the classes of flavonoids, lignanoids, phenols and other components. The compounds and extracts isolated from P. capitatum exhibit a wide range of pharmacological activities, such as anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antimicrobial, anticancer, analgesic, hypothermic, diuretic and other pharmacological effects. Qualitative and quantitative chemical analyses were also covered. Furthermore, the possible development trends and perspectives for future research on this medicinal plant were also discussed.

Systematically Exploring the Chemical Ingredients and Absorbed Constituents of Polygonum capitatum in Hyperuricemia Rat Plasma Using UHPLC-Q-Orbitrap HRMS.

Polygonum capitatum as an ethnic medicine has been used to treat urinary tract infections, pyelonephritis and urinary calculi. In our previous study, P. capitatum was found to have anti-hyperuricemia effects. Nevertheless, the active constituents of P. capitatum for treating hyperuricemia were still unclear. In this study, an ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to quadrupole/orbitrap high-resolution mass spectrometry (UHPLC-Q-Orbitrap HRMS) was used to comprehensively detect the chemical ingredients of P. capitatum and its absorbed constituents in the plasma of hyperuricemia rats for the first time. Xcalibur 3.0 and Compound Discoverer 2.0 software coupled to mzCloud and ChemSpider databases were utilized for qualitative analysis. A total of 114 chemical components including phenolics, flavonoids, tannins, phenylpropanoids, amino acids, amides and others were identified or tentatively characterized based on the exact mass, retention time and structural information. Compared to the previous P. capitatum study, an additional 66 different components were detected. Moreover, 68 related xenobiotics including 16 prototype components and 52 metabolites were found in the plasma of hyperuricemia rats. The metabolic pathways included ring fission, hydrolysis, decarboxylation, dehydroxylation, methylation, glucuronidation and sulfation. This work may provide important information for further investigation on the active constituents of P. capitatum and their action mechanisms for anti-hyperuricemia effects.

Exploratory Quality Control Study for Polygonum multiflorum Thunb. Using Dinuclear Anthraquinones with Potential Hepatotoxicity.

In recent years, the hepatotoxicity of Polygoni Multiflora Radix (PMR) has attracted increased research interest. Some studies suggest that anthraquinone may be the main hepatotoxic component. Most of the relevant studies have focused on the mononuclear anthraquinone component rather than binuclear anthraquinones. The hepatotoxicity of dinuclear anthraquinone (dianthrone) was investigated in a cell-based model. Next, a method for the determination of six free and total dianthonones in PMR and PMR Praeparata (PMRP) was established using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography triple quadrupole mass spectrometry (UPLC-QQQ-MS/MS), which was then used to analyze the collected samples. The data show that four binuclear anthraquinone compounds were hepatotoxic and may be potential toxicity indicators for the safety evaluation of PMR and PMRP. Herein, we provide a theoretical basis for the improvement of PMRP quality standards.

Analyze the Effect of Steaming on the Chemical Constituents, Defecation and Liver Injury of Polygonum Multiflorum Radix (Heshouwu) by Multiple Analysis Techniques Combined with Multivariate Statistics.

Steaming is a characteristic pharmaceutical skill in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). Polygonum multiflorum radix (PM) and its steamed products have been used in Asia for centuries. Raw Polygonum multiflorum radix (RPM) is commonly used to promote defecation but can exert toxicity, especially in liver injury. However, RPM can be made converted into Polygoni multiflori radix praeparata (PMP) by steaming; this is considered a good method to reduce defecation and liver injury caused by PM in Asia. The chemical constituents of TCM are the key to its action. We systematically analyzed the effect of steaming on PM constituents, defecation, and liver injury. We identified 13 main constituents from PM and PMP; the results showed that after being steamed, two constituents (TSG, catechin) had decreased, six constituents (such as procyanidin B1 or B2) had disappeared, four constituents (such as emodin, physcion) had increased, emodin-8-O-ß-D-glucoside remained unchanged in PMP. Pharmacological experiments showed that PM could promote defecation; however, there were no obvious effects in response to PMP. Only a high dose of PM for 14 days caused some degree of liver injury, although this injury disappeared after 14 days of drug withdrawal. Network pharmacology and molecular docking studies showed that TSG, emodin and physcion were the most effective in promoting defecation and causing liver injury. Collectively, our findings show that steaming can reduce the effect of PM on promoting defecation and reducing liver injury. TSG may be one of the important constituents in PM that can promote defecation and cause liver injury.

Evaluation of the Potential of a Lectin Extracted from Polygonumpersicaria L. as a Biorational Agent against Sitophilusoryzae L.

Rice weevil, Sitophilus oryzae L. (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), is one of the most destructive stored-product pests that is resistant to a wide range of chemical insecticides. In the present study, we investigated whether a lectin extracted from Polygonum persicaria L. (PPA) can be used as a biorational agent to control such insect pests. Along with the lethal digestive assay, the sub-lethal insecticidal activities of PPA, including the effects on digestive, detoxifying, and antioxidant enzyme activities, were evaluated against S. oryzae adults. The effect of feeding a diet containing PPA and carob extract as a food attractant on the mortality of S. oryzae adults was also investigated. Feeding on the diet containing PPA resulted in a significant mortality of S. oryzae adults with a LC50 (Lethal Concentration to kill 50% of insects) of 3.68% (w/w). The activity of digestive enzymes, including α-amylase, α-glucosidase, TAG-lipase, trypsin, chymotrypsin, elastase, and carboxy- and aminopeptidase, were decreased by the sub-lethal concentration of PPA. Detoxifying and antioxidant enzymes, including esterase, superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione-S-transferase, ascorbate peroxidase, glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase, and malondialdehyde, were activated in adults affected by PPA. These findings indicated that PPA, in addition to causing digestive disorders, leads to oxidative stress in S. oryzae. The presence of carob extract had no effect on the PPA-induced mortality of the insect. According to the results of the present study, PPA has promising insecticidal efficiency against S. oryzae. In addition, the usage of PPA with a food attractant carob extract in bait traps can be recommended as a new biorational formulation in S. oryzae management.

Quercetin-Rich Ethanolic Extract of Polygonum odoratum var Pakphai Leaves Decreased Gene Expression and Secretion of Pro-Inflammatory Mediators in Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Murine RAW264.7 Macrophages.

Polygonum odoratum var. Pakphai has been used in traditional Thai medicine for the treatment of flatulence and constipation and to relieve the inflammation caused by insect bites. Quercetin (Q), which is abundant in plant-based foods, has been found to exert anti-inflammatory properties. This study evaluated the anti-inflammatory activity of P. odoratum ethanolic extract in RAW264.7 macrophage cells. Leaves were extracted with 50% ethanol, phenolics and flavonoids were then analyzed using UHPLC-QTOF-MS and HPLC-DAD. RAW264.7 cells were induced with lipopolysaccharides (LPSs). They were then treated with the extract and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrotic factor-alpha (TNF-α) concentrations were determined. Levels of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), IL-6 and TNF-α mRNAs were analyzed using qRT-PCR. Chemical analysis demonstrated that the extract was abundant with Q while also containing catechin, gallic acid, epicatechin gallate and coumarin. The extract increased the viability of RAW264.7 cells and dose-dependently decreased nitric oxide production, PGE2, IL-6 and TNF-α levels in the medium from the LPS-induced RAW264.7 cell culture. Consistently, COX-2, iNOS, IL-6 and TNF-α mRNA levels were decreased in a concentration-dependent manner (p < 0.05). Thus, the quercetin-rich ethanolic extract derived from P. odoratum var Pakphai leaves can exert anti-inflammatory activity in LPS-induced RAW264.7 cells through a reduction of the pro-inflammatory mediator response.

Polarity Directed Appraisal of Pharmacological Potential and HPLC-DAD Based Phytochemical Profiling of Polygonum glabrum Willd.

The present study was designed to evaluate polarity-dependent extraction efficiency and pharmacological profiling of Polygonum glabrum Willd. Crude extracts of leaves, roots, stems, and seeds, prepared from solvents of varying polarities, were subjected to phytochemical, antioxidant, antibacterial, antifungal, antidiabetic, and cytotoxicity assays. Maximum extraction yield (20.0% w/w) was observed in the case of an acetone:methanol (AC:M) root extract. Distilled water:methanol (W:M) leaves extract showed maximum phenolic contents. Maximum flavonoid content and free radical scavenging potential were found in methanolic (M) seed extract. HPLC-DAD quantification displayed the manifestation of substantial quantities of quercetin, rutin, gallic acid, quercetin, catechin, and kaempferol in various extracts. The highest ascorbic acid equivalent total antioxidant capacity and reducing power potential was found in distilled water roots and W:M leaf extracts, respectively. Chloroform (C) seeds extract produced a maximum zone of inhibition against Salmonella typhimurium. Promising protein kinase inhibition and antifungal activity against Mucor sp. were demonstrated by C leaf extract. AC:M leaves extract exhibited significant cytotoxic capability against brine shrimp larvae and α-amylase inhibition. Present results suggest that the nature of pharmacological responses depends upon the polarity of extraction solvents and parts of the plant used. P. glabrum can be considered as a potential candidate for the isolation of bioactive compounds with profound therapeutic importance.

Mechanism underlying Polygonum capitatum effect on Helicobacter pylori-associated gastritis based on network pharmacology.

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection is a common disease that can cause H. pylori-associated gastritis (HAG), peptic ulcers, and gastric cancer. As a traditional Chinese medicine, Polygonum capitatum (PC) manifests its unique advantages in the prevention and treatment of complex diseases and chronic diseases, due to its ability to clear heat, detoxify and relieve pain, promote blood circulation, and remove blood stasis. In order to explore the molecular mechanism of PC for HAG, the study collected the predicted targets of active compounds, conducted functional analysis by the STRING database, collected HAG differential expression genes, and conducted KEGG enrichment analysis on the intersection of predicted targets and differential expression genes of gastritis by Cluego. The results show that PC works mainly by affecting phosphorylation of IκBα, NF-κB p65, p38MAPK, and ERK1/2 and nuclear transposition of NF-κB p65 and p-p38MAPK, which has been proved by in vivo and in vitro experiments. These results suggest that PC may act on HAG with multiple targets and pathways, and play a key role in the process of HAG treatment.

Investigation on the Phytochemical Composition, Antioxidant and Enzyme Inhibition Potential of Polygonum Plebeium R.Br: A Comprehensive Approach to Disclose New Nutraceutical and Functional Food Ingredients.

The present work describes medicinal potential and secondary metabolic picture of the methanol extract (PP-M) of Polygonum plebeium R.Br. and its fractions; hexane (PP-H), ethyl acetate (PP-E) and water (PP-W). In total bioactive component estimation, highest contents of phenolic (89.38±0.27 mgGAE/g extract) and flavonoid (51.21±0.43 mgQE/g extract) were observed in PP-E, and the same fraction exhibited the highest antioxidant potential in DPPH (324.80±4.09 mgTE/g extract), ABTS (563.18±11.39 mgTE/g extract), CUPRAC (411.33±15.49 mgTE/g extract) and FRAC (369.54±1.70 mgTE/g extract) assays. In Phosphomolybdenum activity assay, PP-H and PP-E showed nearly similar potential, however, PP-H was the most active (13.54±0.24 mgEDTAE/g extract) in metal chelating activity assay. PP-W was the stronger inhibitor (4.03±0.05 mgGALAE/g extract) of the enzyme AChE, while PP-H was potent inhibitor of BChE (5.62±0.27 mg GALAE/g extract). Interestingly, PP-E was inactive against BChE. Against tyrosinase activity, PP-E was again the most active fraction with inhibitory value of 71.89±1.44 mg KAE/g extract, followed by the activity of PP-M and PP-W. Antidiabetic potential was almost equally distributed among PP-M, PP-H and PP-E. For mapping the chemodiversity of P. plebeium, PP-M was analyzed through UHPLC/MS, which led to the identification of more than 50 compounds. Flavonoids were the main components derived from isovitexin, kaempferol and luteolin however, gallic acid, protocatechuic acid, gingerols and lyoniresinol 9'-sulfate were among important bioactive phenols. These findings prompted to conclude that Polygonum plebeium can be a significant source to offer new ingredient for nutraceuticals and functional foods.

Protective Effects of Ethanolic Extract from Rhizome of Polygoni avicularis against Renal Fibrosis and Inflammation in a Diabetic Nephropathy Model.

Progressive diabetic nephropathy (DN) in diabetes leads to major morbidity and mortality. The major pathological alterations of DN include mesangial expansion, extracellular matrix alterations, tubulointerstitial fibrosis, and glomerular sclerosis. Polygoni avicularis is widely used in traditional oriental medicine and has long been used as a diuretic, astringent, insecticide and antihypertensive. However, to the best of the authors' knowledge, the effects of the ethanolic extract from rhizome of Polygoni avicularis (ER-PA) on DN have not yet been assessed. The present study aimed to identify the effect of ER-PA on renal dysfunction, which has been implicated in DN in human renal mesangial cells and db/db mice and investigate its mechanism of action. The in vivo experiment was performed using Polygoni avicularis-ethanol soluble fraction (ER-PA) and was administrated to db/db mice at 10 and 50 mg/kg dose. For the in vitro experiments, the human renal mesangial cells were induced by high glucose (HG, 25 mM). The ER-PA group showed significant amelioration in oral glucose tolerance, and insulin resistance index. ER-PA significantly improved the albumin excretion and markedly reduced plasma creatinine, kidney injury molecule-1 and C-reactive protein. In addition, ER-PA significantly suppressed inflammatory cytokines. Histopathologically, ER-PA attenuated glomerular expansion and tubular fibrosis in db/db mice. Furthermore, ER-PA suppressed the expression of renal fibrosis biomarkers (TGF and Collagen IV). ER-PA also reduced the NLR family pyrin domain containing 3 inflammatory factor level. These results suggest that ER-PA has a protective effect against renal dysfunction through improved insulin resistance as well as the inhibition of nephritis and fibrosis in DN.

Greener Is Better: First Approach for the Use of Natural Deep Eutectic Solvents (NADES) to Extract Antioxidants from the Medicinal Halophyte Polygonum maritimum L.

In this study, natural deep eutectic solvents (NADES) formed by choline chloride (ChCl), sucrose, fructose, glucose, and xylose, were used to extract antioxidants from the halophyte Polygonum maritimum L. (sea knotgrass) and compared with conventional solvents (ethanol and acetone). NADES and conventional extracts were made by an ultrasound-assisted procedure and evaluated for in vitro antioxidant properties by the radical scavenging activity (RSA) on the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical, oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC), and copper chelating activity (CCA). Samples were profiled by liquid chromatography (LC)-electrospray ionization (ESI)-QTOF-MS analysis. ChCl:fructose was more efficient in the DPPH assay, than the acetone extract. ChCl:sucrose and ChCl:fructose extracts had the highest ORAC when compared with the acetone extract. NADES extracts had higher CCA, than the acetone extract. The phenolic composition of the NADES extracts was less complex than the conventional extracts, but the proportions of major antioxidants, such as flavonols and flavan-3-ols, were similar in all the solvents. Myricitrin was the major flavonoid in all of the samples, while gallic acid was the main phenolic acid in the conventional extracts and present in a greater amount in ChCl:fructose. Results suggest that NADES containing ChCl and sucrose/fructose can replace conventional solvents, especially acetone, in the extraction of antioxidants from sea knotgrass.