Green and Efficient Extraction of Phenolic Components from Plants with Supramolecular Solvents: Experimental and Theoretical Studies.

The supramolecular solvent (SUPRAS) has garnered significant attention as an innovative, efficient, and environmentally friendly solvent for the effective extraction and separation of bioactive compounds from natural resources. However, research on the use of a SUPRAS for the extraction of phenolic compounds from plants, which are highly valued in food products due to their exceptional antioxidant properties, remains scarce. The present study developed a green, ultra-sound-assisted SUPRAS method for the simultaneous determination of three phenolic acids in Prunella vulgaris using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The experimental parameters were meticulously optimized. The efficiency and antioxidant properties of the phenolic compounds obtained using different extraction methods were also compared. Under optimal conditions, the extraction efficiency of the SUPRAS, prepared with octanoic acid reverse micelles dispersed in ethanol-water, significantly exceeded that of conventional organic solvents. Moreover, the SUPRAS method demonstrated greater antioxidant capacity. Confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) images revealed the spherical droplet structure of the SUPRAS, characterized by a well-defined circular fluorescence position, which coincided with the position of the phenolic acids. The phenolic acids were encapsulated within the SUPRAS droplets, indicating their efficient extraction capacity. Furthermore, molecular dynamics simulations combined with CLSM supported the proposed method's mechanism and theoretically demonstrated the superior extraction performance of the SUPRAS. In contrast to conventional methods, the higher extraction efficiency of the SUPRAS can be attributed to the larger solvent contact surface area, the formation of more types of hydrogen bonds between the extractants and the supramolecular solvents, and stronger, more stable interaction forces. The results of the theoretical studies corroborate the experimental outcomes.

[Research status of Bovis Calculus and relevant Chinese patent medicines based on bibliometric analysis].

With scarce resources, natural Bovis Calculus is expensive and hard to meet clinical demand. At the moment, four kinds of Bovis Calculus are available on the market: the natural product, in vitro cultured product, synthesized product, and the product formed in cow after manual intervention. In this study, papers on the four kinds of Bovis Calculus products and relevant Chinese patent medicines were searched from Web of Science, PubMed, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure(CNKI). CiteSpace, citexs AI, and CNKI were employed for bibliometric analysis and knowledge map analysis. On this basis, the status, trend, and focuses of research on Bovis Calculus and relevant Chinese patent medicines were summarized. The results suggested overall slow development in the research on Bovis Calculus and relevant Chinese patent medicines with three typical growth stages. It is consistent with the development of Bovis Calculus substitutes and the national policy for the development of traditional Chinese medicine. At the moment, the research on Bovis Calculus and relevant Chinese patent medicines has been on the rise. In recent years, there has been an explosion of research on them, particularly the quality control of Bovis Calculus and the Chinese patent medicines, the pharmacological efficacy of Chinese patent medicines, such as Angong Niuhuang Pills, and the comparison of the quality of various Bovis Calculus products. However, there is a paucity of research on the pharmacological efficacy and the mechanism of Bovis Calculus. This medicinal and the relevant Chinese patent medicines have been studied from diverse perspectives and China becomes outstanding in this research field. However, it is still necessary to reveal the chemical composition, pharmacological efficacy, and mechanism through multi-dimensional deep research.

[Mechanism of astragaloside â £ in regulating autophagy of PC12 cells under oxygen-glucose deprivation by medicating Akt/mTOR/HIF-1α pathway].

This study explored the protective effect of astragaloside Ⅳ(AS-Ⅳ) on oxygen-glucose deprivation(OGD)-induced autophagic injury in PC12 cells and its underlying mechanism. An OGD-induced autophagic injury model in vitro was established in PC12 cells. The cells were divided into a normal group, an OGD group, low-, medium-, and high-dose AS-Ⅳ groups, and a positive drug dexmedetomidine(DEX) group. Cell viability was measured using the MTT assay. Transmission electron microscopy was used to observe autophagosomes and autolysosomes, and the MDC staining method was used to assess the fluorescence intensity of autophagosomes. Western blot was conducted to determine the relative expression levels of functional proteins LC3-Ⅱ/LC3-Ⅰ, Beclin1, p-Akt/Akt, p-mTOR/mTOR, and HIF-1α. Compared with the normal group, the OGD group exhibited a significant decrease in cell viability(P<0.01), an increase in autophagosomes(P<0.01), enhanced fluorescence intensity of autophagosomes(P<0.01), up-regulated Beclin1, LC3-Ⅱ/LC3-Ⅰ, and HIF-1α(P<0.05 or P<0.01), and down-regulated p-Akt/Akt and p-mTOR/mTOR(P<0.05 or P<0.01). Compared with the OGD group, the low-and medium-dose AS-Ⅳ groups and the DEX group showed a significant increase in cell viability(P<0.01), decreased autophagosomes(P<0.01), weakened fluorescence intensity of autophagosomes(P<0.01), down-regulated Beclin1, LC3-Ⅱ/LC3-Ⅰ, and HIF-1α(P<0.05 or P<0.01), and up-regulated p-Akt/Akt and p-mTOR/mTOR(P<0.01). AS-Ⅳ at low and medium doses exerted a protective effect against OGD-induced autophagic injury in PC12 cells by activating the Akt/mTOR pathway, subsequently influencing HIF-1α. The high-dose AS-Ⅳ group did not show a statistically significant difference compared with the OGD group. This study provides a certain target reference for the prevention and treatment of OGD-induced cellular autophagic injury by AS-Ⅳ and accumulates laboratory data for the secondary development of Astragali Radix and AS-Ⅳ.

Antibacterial Activity of Plants in Cirsium: A Comprehensive Review.

As ethnic medicine, the whole grass of plants in Cirsium was used as antimicrobial. This review focuses on the antimicrobial activity of plants in Cirsium, including antimicrobial components, against different types of microbes and bacteriostatic mechanism. The results showed that the main antimicrobial activity components in Cirsium plants were flavonoids, triterpenoids and phenolic acids, and the antimicrobial ability varied according to the species and the content of chemicals. Among them, phenolic acids showed a strong antibacterial ability against Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Enterococcus faecium. The antibacterial mechanisms include: (1) damaging the cell membrane, cell walls, mitochondria and nucleus of bacteria; (2) inhibiting the synthesis of proteins and nucleic acids; (3) suppressing the synthesis of enzymes for tricarboxylic acid cycle pathways and glycolysis, and then killing the bacteria via inhibition of energy production. Totally, most research results on antimicrobial activity of Cirsium plants are reported based on in vitro assays. The evidence from clinical data and comprehensive evaluation are needed.

Metabolomics distinguishes different grades of Scrophularia ningpoensis hemsl: Towards a biomarker discovery and quality evaluation.

In managing unique complexities associated with Chinese medicinal quality assessment, metabolomics serves as an innovative tool. This study proposes an analytical approach to assess differing qualities of Scrophularia ningpoensis （S. ningpoensis）Hemsl by identifying potential biomarker metabolites and their activity with the corresponding secondary metabolites. The methodology includes four steps; first, a GC-MS based metabolomics exploration of the Scrophularia ningpoensis Hemsl. Second, a multivariate statistical analysis (PCA, PLS-DA, OPLS-DA) for quality assessment and biomarker identification. Third, the application of ROC analysis and pathway analysis based on identified biomarkers. Finally, validation of the associated active ingredients by HPLC. The analysis showed distinct metabolite profiles across varying grades of S. ningpoensis Hemsl, establishing a grading dependency relationship. Select biomarkers (gluconic Acid, d-xylulose, sucrose, etc.) demonstrated robust grading performances. Further, the Pentose Phosphate Pathway, deemed as most influential in grading, was tied to the synthesis of key constituents (iridoids, phenylpropanoids). HPLC validation tests affirm a decreasing trend in harpagoside and cinnamic acid levels between first and third-grade samples. In conclusion, this GC-MS based metabolomics combined HPLC method offers a sound approach to assess and distinguish quality variations in S. ningpoensis Hemsl samples.

A whole transcriptome profiling analysis for antidepressant mechanism of Xiaoyaosan mediated synapse loss via BDNF/trkB/PI3K signal axis in CUMS rats.

BACKGROUND: Depression is a neuropsychiatric disease resulting from deteriorations of molecular networks and synaptic injury induced by stress. Traditional Chinese formula Xiaoyaosan (XYS) exert antidepressant effect, which was demonstrated by a great many of clinical and basic investigation. However, the exact mechanism of XYS has not yet been fully elucidated. METHODS: In this study, chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) rats were used as a model of depression. Behavioral test and HE staining were used to detect the anti-depressant effects of XYS. Furthermore, whole transcriptome sequencing was employed to establish the microRNA (miRNA), long non-coding RNA (lncRNA), circular RNA (circRNA), and mRNA profiles. The biological functions and potential mechanisms of XYS for depression were gathered from the GO and KEGG pathway. Then, constructed the competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) networks to illustrate the regulatory relationship between non-coding RNA (ncRNA) and mRNA. Additionally, longest dendrite length, total length of dendrites, number of intersections, and density of dendritic spines were detected by Golgi staining. MAP2, PSD-95, SYN were detected by immunofluorescence respectively. BDNF, TrkB, p-TrkB, PI3K, Akt, p-Akt were measured by Western Blotting. RESULTS: The results showed that XYS could increase the locomotor activity and sugar preference, decreased swimming immobility time as well as attenuate hippocampal pathological damage. A total of 753 differentially expressed lncRNAs (DElncRNAs), 28 circRNAs (DEcircRNAs), 101 miRNAs (DEmiRNAs), and 477 mRNAs (DEmRNAs) were identified after the treatment of XYS in whole transcriptome sequencing analysis. Enrichment results revealed that XYS could regulate multiple aspects of depression through different synapse or synaptic associated signal, such as neurotrophin signaling and PI3K/Akt signaling pathways. Then, vivo experiments indicated that XYS could promote length, density, intersections of synapses and also increase the expression of MAP2 in hippocampal CA1, CA3 regions. Meanwhile, XYS could increase the expression of PSD-95, SYN in the CA1, CA3 regions of hippocampal by regulating the BDNF/trkB/PI3K signal axis. CONCLUSION: The possible mechanism on synapse of XYS in depression was successfully predicted. BDNF/trkB/PI3K signal axis were the potential mechanism of XYS on synapse loss for its antidepressant. Collectively, our results provided novel information about the molecular basis of XYS in treating depression.

[Chemical constituents of Solanum cathayanum].

OBJECTIVE: To study the chemical constituents of Solanum cathayanum. METHODS: Chemical constituents were isolated by chromatographic methods and identified by NMR analysis. RESULTS: Five compounds were isolated and identified as lignoceric acid (I), beta-sitosterol (II), lupeol (III) 8-hydroxy-3-methoxy-5H-pyrido [2, 1-c] pyrazin-5-one (IV), ethly 2,6-dioxo-1,2,3,6-tetrahy-dropyrimidine-4-carboxylate (V). CONCLUSION: Compound I and III are isolated from this plant for the first time. Compound IV and V are isolated from the genus of Solanum for the first time.

Determination of Total Flavonoids Contents and Antioxidant Activity of Ginkgo biloba Leaf by Near-Infrared Reflectance Method.

BACKGROUND: Total flavonoids content (TFC) is one of the most important quality indexes of Ginkgo biloba leaf, and it is concerned with total antioxidant activity. Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIR) method has showed its advantages in fast, accurate, qualitative, and quantitative analysis of various components in many quality control researches. In this study, a calibration model was built by partial least squares regression (PLSR) coupling with NIR spectrum to quantitatively analyze the TFC and total antioxidant activity of Ginkgo biloba leaf. RESULTS: During the model establishing, some spectrum pretreatment and outlier diagnosis methods were optimized to establish the final model. The coefficients of determination (R2 ) for TFC and total antioxidant activity prediction were 0.8863 and 0.8486, respectively; and the root mean square errors of prediction (RMSEP) were 2.203 mg/g and 0.2211 mM/g, respectively. CONCLUSION: These results showed that NIR method combined with chemometrics is suitable for quantitative analysis of main components and their activities and might be applied to quality control of relevant products.