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The risk of ulcerative colitis (UC) is increasing worldwide with limited success using classical drugs, which has underscored the development of novel agents. Recently, carrier-free molecular assembly has been proven to be an effective drug delivery system, but it has yet to be examined for UC drug development using phytochemicals. Based on traditional Chinese medicine compatibility and potential medicinal uses, a pair of natural compounds, berberine (BBR) and magnolol (MAG), were found to self-assemble into nanostructures in aqueous solutions. Spectral analysis revealed that the assembly mechanisms of BBR and MAG were mediated through charge interactions and π-π stacking. Pharmacokinetic studies and animal imaging showed that BBR-MAG self-assembly (BM) effectively promoted the oral bioavailability and biodistribution of BBR in the colon. BM exhibited superior effects in regulating inflammatory factors, maintaining colon barrier integrity, and regulating gut microbiota in a dextran sulfate sodium salt-induced colitis mouse model. Additionally, no apparent signs of toxicity were observed, suggesting that BM has a favorable safety profile. This study presents a new strategy for UC management and highlights the cooperative effects of combined phytochemicals.
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Berberina , Compostos de Bifenilo , Colite Ulcerativa , Lignanas , Nanoestruturas , Animais , Colite Ulcerativa/tratamento farmacológico , Berberina/química , Berberina/farmacologia , Berberina/uso terapêutico , Lignanas/química , Lignanas/farmacologia , Lignanas/uso terapêutico , Camundongos , Compostos de Bifenilo/química , Nanoestruturas/química , Masculino , Sulfato de Dextrana/química , Colo/efeitos dos fármacos , Colo/patologia , Modelos Animais de Doenças , Distribuição Tecidual , Camundongos Endogâmicos C57BL , Microbioma Gastrointestinal/efeitos dos fármacos , Disponibilidade BiológicaRESUMO
Astragali radix (AR, namded Huangqi in Chinese) is the dried root of Astragalus membranaceus (Fisch.) Bge. var. mongholicus (Bge.) Hsiao or Astragalus membranaceus (Fisch.) Bge. As a widely used ethnomedicine, the biological activities of AR include immunomodulatory, anti-hyperglycemic, anti-oxidant, anti-aging, anti-inflammatory, anti-viral, anti-tumor, cardioprotective, and anti-diabetic effects, with minimum side effects. Currently, it is known that polysaccharides, saponins, and flavonoids are the indispensable components of AR. In this review, we will elaborate the research advancements of AR on ethnobotany, ethnopharmacological practices, phytochemicals, pharmacological activities, clinical uses, quality control, production developments, and toxicology. The information is expected to assist clinicians and scientists in developing useful therapeutic medicines with minimal systemic side effects.
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The toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) signaling pathway constitutes an intricate network of protein interactions primarily involved in inflammation and cancer. This pathway triggers intracellular signaling cascades, modulating transcription factors that regulate gene expression related to immunity and malignancy. Previous studies showed that colon cancer patients with low TLR4 expression exhibit extended survival times and the TLR4 signaling pathway holds a significant role in CRC pathogenesis. In recent years, traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs) have garnered substantial attention as an alternative therapeutic modality for CRC, primarily due to their multifaceted composition and ability to target multiple pathways. Emerging evidence indicates that specific TCM products, such as andrographolide, rosmarinic acid, baicalin, etc., have the potential to impede CRC development through the TLR4 signaling pathway. Here, we review the role and biochemical processes of the TLR4 signaling pathway in CRC, and natural products from TCMs affecting the TLR4 pathway. This review sheds light on potential treatment strategies utilizing natural TLR4 inhibitors for CRC, which contributes to the advancement of research and accelerates their clinical integration into CRC treatment.
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Produtos Biológicos , Neoplasias Colorretais , Medicamentos de Ervas Chinesas , Transdução de Sinais , Receptor 4 Toll-Like , Humanos , Receptor 4 Toll-Like/metabolismo , Receptor 4 Toll-Like/antagonistas & inibidores , Neoplasias Colorretais/tratamento farmacológico , Neoplasias Colorretais/metabolismo , Transdução de Sinais/efeitos dos fármacos , Produtos Biológicos/uso terapêutico , Produtos Biológicos/farmacologia , Produtos Biológicos/química , Medicamentos de Ervas Chinesas/uso terapêutico , Medicamentos de Ervas Chinesas/farmacologia , Medicamentos de Ervas Chinesas/química , Medicina Tradicional Chinesa , Animais , Medicina Herbária/métodosRESUMO
Hyperglycemia induces chronic stresses, such as oxidative stress and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, which can result in [Formula: see text]-cell dysfunction and development of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM). Ginsenoside Rk1 is a minor ginsenoside isolated from Ginseng. It has been shown to exert anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, and neuroprotective effects; however, its effects on pancreatic cells in T2DM have never been studied. This study aims to examine the novel effects of Ginsenoside Rk1 on ER stress-induced apoptosis in a pancreatic [Formula: see text]-cell line MIN6 and HFD-induced diabetic pancreas, and their underlying mechanisms. We demonstrated that Ginsenoside Rk1 alleviated ER stress-induced apoptosis in MIN6 cells, which was accomplished by directly targeting and activating insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor (IGF-1R), thus activating the phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (Akt)/Bcl-2-associated agonist of cell death (Bad)-B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2) pathway. This pathway was also confirmed in an HFD-induced diabetic pancreas. Meanwhile, the use of the IGF-1R inhibitor PQ401 abolished this anti-apoptotic effect, confirming the role of IGF-1R in mediating anti-apoptosis effects exerted by Ginsenoside Rk1. Besides, Ginsenoside Rk1 reduced pancreas weights and increased pancreatic insulin contents, suggesting that it could protect the pancreas from HFD-induced diabetes. Taken together, our study provided novel protective effects of Ginsenoside Rk1 on ER stress-induced [Formula: see text]-cell apoptosis and HFD-induced diabetic pancreases, as well as its direct target with IGF-1R, indicating that Ginsenoside Rk1 could be a potential drug for the treatment of T2DM.
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Apoptose , Estresse do Retículo Endoplasmático , Ginsenosídeos , Pâncreas , Receptor IGF Tipo 1 , Ginsenosídeos/farmacologia , Animais , Apoptose/efeitos dos fármacos , Receptor IGF Tipo 1/metabolismo , Estresse do Retículo Endoplasmático/efeitos dos fármacos , Camundongos , Pâncreas/patologia , Pâncreas/citologia , Diabetes Mellitus Tipo 2/tratamento farmacológico , Diabetes Mellitus Tipo 2/metabolismo , Masculino , Linhagem Celular , Camundongos Endogâmicos C57BL , Fitoterapia , Transdução de Sinais/efeitos dos fármacosRESUMO
Ag2S quantum dots (QDs) show superior optical properties in the NIR-II region and display significant clinical potential with favorable biocompatibility. However, inherent defects of low targeting and poor solubility necessitate practical modification methods to achieve the theranostics of Ag2S QDs. Herein, we used rolling circle amplification (RCA) techniques to obtain long single-stranded DNA containing the PD-L1 aptamer and C-rich DNA palindromic sequence. The C-rich DNA palindromic sequences can specifically chelate Ag2+ and thus serve as a template to result in biomimetic mineralization and formation of pApt-Ag2S QDs. These QDs enable specific targeting and illuminate hot tumors with high PD-L1 expression effectively, serving as excellent molecular targeted probes. In addition, due to the high NIR-II absorption of Ag2S QDs, pApt-Ag2S QDs exhibit remarkable photothermal properties. And besides, polyvalent PD-L1 aptamers can recognize PD-L1 protein and effectively block the inhibitory signal of PD-L1 on T cells, enabling efficient theranostics through the synergistic effect of photothermal therapy and immune checkpoint blocking therapy. Summary, we enhance the biological stability and antibleaching ability of Ag2S QDs using long single-stranded DNA as a template, thereby establishing a theranostic platform that specifically targets PD-L1 high-expressing inflamed tumors and demonstrates excellent performance both in vitro and in vivo.
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Aptâmeros de Nucleotídeos , Antígeno B7-H1 , Pontos Quânticos , Nanomedicina Teranóstica , Pontos Quânticos/química , Aptâmeros de Nucleotídeos/química , Antígeno B7-H1/metabolismo , Animais , Camundongos , Humanos , Neoplasias/tratamento farmacológico , Compostos de Prata/química , Linhagem Celular Tumoral , Raios Infravermelhos , FemininoRESUMO
Cuproptosis, a copper-dependent cell death process, has been confirmed to further activate the immune response and mediate the immune resistance. However, hypoxic tumor microenvironment hampers cuproptosis sensitivity and suppresses the body's antitumor immune response. Herein, we have successfully immobilized and functionalized catalase (CAT) with long single-stranded DNA containing polyvalent CpG sequences through rolling circle amplification (RCA) techniques, obtaining an enzyme-cored spherical nucleic acid nanoplatform (CAT-ecSNA-Cu) to deliver copper ions for cuproptosis. The presence of long-stranded DNA-protected CAT enhances mitochondrial respiration by catalyzing the conversion of H2O2 to O2, thereby sensitizing cuproptosis. Meanwhile, increased tumor oxygenation suppresses the expression of the hypoxia-inducible factor-1 (HIF-1) protein, resulting in the alleviation of the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment. Of note, cuproptosis induces immunogenic cell death (ICD), which facilitates dendritic cell (DC) maturation and enhances antigen presentation through polyCpG-supported Toll-like receptor 9 (TLR9) activation. Furthermore, cuproptosis-induced PD-L1 upregulation in tumor cells complements checkpoint blockers (αPD-L1), enhancing antitumor immunity. The strategy of enhancing cuproptosis-mediated antitumor immune responses by alleviating hypoxia effectively promotes the activation and proliferation of effector T cells, ultimately leading to long-term immunity against cancer.
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Catalase , Cobre , Hipóxia Tumoral , Hipóxia Tumoral/efeitos dos fármacos , Animais , Cobre/química , Catalase/metabolismo , Catalase/química , Camundongos , Microambiente Tumoral/efeitos dos fármacos , Humanos , Neoplasias/tratamento farmacológico , Neoplasias/imunologia , Antineoplásicos/farmacologia , Antineoplásicos/química , Linhagem Celular Tumoral , Morte Celular Imunogênica/efeitos dos fármacos , Células Dendríticas/imunologia , Células Dendríticas/efeitos dos fármacosRESUMO
Gene therapy, an effective medical intervention strategy, is increasingly employed in basic research and clinical practice for promising and unique therapeutic effects for diseases treatment, such as cardiovascular disorders, cancer, neurological pathologies, infectious diseases, and wound healing. However, naked DNA/RNA is readily hydrolyzed by nucleic acid degrading enzymes in the extracellular environment and degraded by lysosomes during intracellular physiological conditions, thus gene transfer must cross complex cellular and tissue barriers to deliver genetic materials into targeted cells and drive efficient activation or inhibition of the proteins. At present, the lack of safe, highly efficient, and non-immunogenic drug carriers is the main drawback of gene therapy. Considering the dense hydroxyl groups on the benzene rings in natural polyphenols that exert a strong affinity to various nucleic acids via hydrogen bonding and hydrophobic interactions, polyphenol-based carriers are promising anchors for gene delivery in which polyphenols serve as the primary building blocks. In this review, the recent progress in polyphenol-assisted gene delivery was summarized, which provided an easily accessible reference for the design of future polyphenol-based gene delivery vectors. Nucleic acids discussed in this review include DNA, short interfering RNAs (siRNA), microRNA (miRNA), double-strand RNA (dsRNA), and messenger RNA (mRNA).
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Ácidos Nucleicos , DNA/metabolismo , RNA Interferente Pequeno/genética , Técnicas de Transferência de Genes , Terapia GenéticaRESUMO
Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a high incidence disease worldwide and clinically presents as relapsing and incurable inflammation of the colon. Bilirubin (BR), a natural antioxidant with significant anti-colitic effects, is utilized in preclinical studies as an intestinal disease therapy. Due to their water-insolubility, the design of BR-based agents usually involves complicated chemosynthetic processes, introducing various uncertainties in BR development. After screening numerous materials, it is identified that chondroitin sulfate can efficiently mediate the construction of BR self-assembled nanomedicine (BSNM) via intermolecular hydrogen bonds between dense sulfate and carboxyl of chondroitin sulfate and imino groups of BR. BSNM exhibits pH sensitivity and reactive oxygen species responsiveness, enabling targeted delivery to the colon. After oral administration, BSNM significantly inhibits colonic fibrosis and apoptosis of colon and goblet cells; it also reduces the expression of inflammatory cytokines. Moreover, BSNM maintains the normal level of zonula occludens-1 and occludin to sustain the integrity of intestinal barrier, regulates the macrophage polarization from M1 to M2 type, and promotes the ecological recovery of intestinal flora. Collectively, the work provides a colon-targeted and transformable BSNM that is simple to prepare and is useful as an efficient targeted UC therapy.
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Colite Ulcerativa , Colite , Animais , Camundongos , Sulfatos de Condroitina/metabolismo , Sulfatos de Condroitina/uso terapêutico , Bilirrubina/metabolismo , Bilirrubina/uso terapêutico , Modelos Animais de Doenças , Colite/tratamento farmacológico , Colite Ulcerativa/tratamento farmacológico , Colite Ulcerativa/metabolismo , Colo/metabolismo , Camundongos Endogâmicos C57BLRESUMO
The etiology of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is extremely complex and related to an excessive immune response that results in the pathologically release of reactive oxygen species (ROS) via tissue injury and chronic inflammation. Generally, excessive ROS production is one of the essential mediators for inflammatory pathogenesis. Targeting cumulate ROS to interrupt pathological inflammatory responses has been recognized as a feasible strategy for inflammatory suppression of IBD. Correspondingly, the overexpression of ROS can also trigger the drug release of novel drug delivery systems to alleviate IBD symptoms. In this review, we summarized the pathological production of endogenous ROS in IBD, discussed the enormous potential of multiple kinds of ROS-scavenging and ROS-triggering novel delivery systems for the treatment of IBD, including enzymology, metal, polyphenols, natural pigments, nitroxide radicals-contained and sulfide-loaded drug delivery systems, and other novel ROS-responsive materials to synthesize ROS-based drug delivery systems. We also summarized the immunomodulatory effects of ROS-targeted drug delivery systems for the treatment of IBD. Besides, based on the requirements of clinical applications and industrialization development, the challenges faced in the evolution of redox drug delivery systems were also discussed. Collectively, this review provides a reliable reference to the development of ROS-scavenging and ROS-triggering drug delivery systems for the medical intervention of IBD.
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Doenças Inflamatórias Intestinais , Humanos , Espécies Reativas de Oxigênio , Doenças Inflamatórias Intestinais/tratamento farmacológico , Sistemas de Liberação de Medicamentos/métodos , Inflamação/tratamento farmacológico , OxirreduçãoRESUMO
BACKGROUND: Ulcerative colitis (UC) has affected an increasing number of people globally, with still limited clinical success. Huanglian Decoction (HLD) is a famous classical prescription documented for alleviating gastrointestinal disorders with unexplored therapeutic effects and mechanisms. PURPOSE: This study aimed to investigate the therapeutic effect and underlying mechanism of HLD in dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced colitis mice. METHODS: The efficacy and safety of HLD were evaluated in a well-established DSS-induced colitis mice model. Disease progression was monitored via clinical symptoms, histopathological examination, biochemical assays, and epithelial barrier function evaluation. RESULTS: HLD alleviated DSS-induced colitis symptoms, reversed colon length reduction, reduced histological injury, downregulated the level of pro-inflammatory cytokines, maintained the tight distribution of ZO-1/occludin-1 and the normal level of ß-catenin, concurrent with apoptosis reduction in the colonic epithelium. After HLD treatment, the DSS-induced gut dysbiosis was modulated, and the gut microbiota achieved a new equilibrium state. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates that HLD may present a potential remedy for UC treatment, providing evidence for further developing Chinese classical prescriptions.
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Colite Ulcerativa , Colite , Microbioma Gastrointestinal , Animais , Colite/induzido quimicamente , Colite Ulcerativa/induzido quimicamente , Colite Ulcerativa/tratamento farmacológico , Colite Ulcerativa/patologia , Colo/patologia , Citocinas , Sulfato de Dextrana/efeitos adversos , Modelos Animais de Doenças , Medicamentos de Ervas Chinesas , Camundongos , Camundongos Endogâmicos C57BL , Ocludina , Prescrições , beta CateninaRESUMO
INTRODUCTION: Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic recurrent idiopathic disease characterized by damage to the colonic epithelial barrier and disruption of inflammatory homeostasis. At present, there is no curative therapy for UC, and the development of effective and low-cost therapies is strongly advocated. OBJECTIVES: Multiple lines of evidence support that tannic acid (TA) and berberine (BBR), two active ingredients derived from Chinese herb pair (Rhei Radix et Rhizoma and Coptidis Rhizoma), have promising therapeutic effects on colonic inflammation. This study aims to develop a targeted delivery system based on BBR/TA-based self-assemblies for the treatment of UC. METHODS: TA and BBR self-assemblies were optimized, and hyaluronic acid (HA) was coated to achieve targeted colon delivery via HA-cluster of differentiation 44 (CD44) interactions. The system was systematically characterized and dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced mouse colitis model was further used to investigate the biodistribution behavior, effect and mechanism of the natural system. RESULTS: TA and BBR could self-assemble into stable particles (TB) and HA-coated TB (HTB) further increased cellular uptake and accumulation in inflamed colon lesions. Treatment of HTB inhibited pro-inflammatory cytokine levels, restored expression of tight junction-associated proteins and recovered gut microbiome alteration, thereby exerting anti-inflammatory effects against DSS-induced acute colitis. CONCLUSION: Our targeted strategy may provide a convenient and powerful platform for UC and reveal new modes of application of herbal combinations.
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Antineoplásicos , Berberina , Colite Ulcerativa , Colite , Animais , Antineoplásicos/uso terapêutico , Benzopiranos , China , Colite/induzido quimicamente , Colite/tratamento farmacológico , Colite/metabolismo , Colite Ulcerativa/induzido quimicamente , Colite Ulcerativa/tratamento farmacológico , Colite Ulcerativa/patologia , Sulfato de Dextrana , Modelos Animais de Doenças , Camundongos , Salicilatos , Taninos/metabolismo , Proteínas de Junções Íntimas/metabolismo , Distribuição TecidualRESUMO
With the development of synthesis technology, modified messenger RNA (mRNA) has emerged as a novel category of therapeutic agents for a broad of diseases. However, effective intracellular delivery of mRNA remains challenging, especially for its sensitivity to enzymatic degradation. Here, we propose a polyphenol-assisted handy delivery strategy for efficient in vivo delivery of IL-10 mRNA. IL-10 mRNA binds to polyphenol ellagic acid through supramolecular binding to yield a negatively charged core, followed by complexing with linear polyetherimide and coating with bilirubin-modified hyaluronic acid to obtain a layer-by-layer nanostructure. The nanostructure specifically up-regulated the level of IL-10, effectively inhibited the expression of inflammatory factors, promoted mucosal repair, protected colonic epithelial cells against apoptosis, and exerted potent therapeutic efficacy in dextran sulfate sodium salt-induced acute and chronic murine models of colitis. The designed delivery system without systemic toxicity has the potential to facilitate the development of a promising platform for mRNA delivery in ulcerative colitis treatment.
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Dimocarpus longan Lour. (also called as longan) is a subtropical and tropical evergreen tree belonging to the Sapindaceae family and is widely distributed in China, Southeast Asia and South Asia. The pulp of longan fruit is a time-honored traditional medicinal and edible raw material in China and some Asian countries. With the advancement of food therapy in modern medicine, longan fruit pulp as an edible medicinal material is expected to usher in its rapid development as a functional nutrient. As one of the main constituents of longan fruit pulp, longan fruit pulp polysaccharides (LPs) play an indispensable role in longan fruit pulp-based functional utilization. This review aims to outline the extraction and purification methods, structural characteristics and biological activities (such as immunoregulatory, anti-tumor, prebiotic, anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory and inhibition of AChE activity) of LPs. Besides, the structure-activity relationship, application prospect and patent application of LPs were analyzed and summarized. Through the systematic summary, this review attempts to provide a theoretical basis for further research of LPs, and promote the industrial development of this class of polysaccharides.
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Rationale: Ulcerative colitis (UC), a typical kind of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), is an idiopathic chronic intestinal inflammation. Conventional therapeutic strategies mainly focus on the rebalance of pro-inflammation and anti-inflammation cytokines, whereas targeting damaged intestinal barriers, imbalanced intestinal microbiota and dysregulated mucosal immune responses in UC remain a big challenge. The objective of this study was to develop turmeric-derived nanovesicles (TNVs) for alleviation of colitis and explore the underlying mechanisms. Methods: TNVs were isolated and purified through differential centrifugation. The targeted ability was evaluated on the dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced mouse model by IVIS imaging system. The anti-inflammation efficacy was studied in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced macrophages and DSS-induced acute and chronic colitic mouse model. In addition, the influence of TNVs on the intestinal microbiota was investigated via 16S rRNA microbiome sequence and the condition of macrophage polarization after TNVs treatment was analyzed by flow cytometry. Results: TNVs were isolated and characterized as nano-size spheroids. The IVIS imaging experiment indicated that orally administrated TNVs could accumulate in the inflamed colon sites and exhibited superior anti-inflammatory activity both in vitro and in vivo. The 16S rRNA sequencing suggested the important role of TNVs in the regulation of gut microbiota. Further, TNVs could promote the transformation of M1 phenotype to M2 macrophages and restore the damaged intestinal epithelium barrier to exert the anti-colitis efficacy. Conclusion: Collectively, oral administration of TNVs exhibited excellent anti-inflammatory efficacy through restoring the damaged intestinal barrier, regulating the gut microbiota and reshaping the macrophage phenotype. This study sheds light on the application of natural exosome-like nanovesicles for the treatment of UC.
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Colite Ulcerativa , Curcuma , Sistemas de Liberação de Fármacos por Nanopartículas , Animais , Anti-Inflamatórios/uso terapêutico , Colite/induzido quimicamente , Colite/tratamento farmacológico , Colite Ulcerativa/induzido quimicamente , Colo , Citocinas , Sulfato de Dextrana/efeitos adversos , Modelos Animais de Doenças , Microbioma Gastrointestinal/efeitos dos fármacos , Microbioma Gastrointestinal/genética , Inflamação/tratamento farmacológico , Camundongos , Camundongos Endogâmicos C57BL , Sistemas de Liberação de Fármacos por Nanopartículas/farmacologiaRESUMO
Ulcerative colitis (UC) is an autoimmune disease afflicting an increasing number of patients and increasing demands towards the development of efficacious and safe drugs. Recently, with increasing interest in alternative medicines, natural resources have become a hotspot for drug discovery against UC. In addition to being consumed as a food and spice, ginger is also widely used as a well-recognized gastrointestinal herbal medicine. With a long history in the treatment of digestive disorders, the potential of ginger in alleviating UC has been documented in several experimental models and clinical trials. However, as a major active constituent of ginger, ginger polysaccharides (GP) and its effect on UC has yet to be reported. In this study, GP was firstly separated and characterized. In a dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis mouse model, GP alleviated UC symptoms by inhibiting pro-inflammatory cytokines levels to regulate intestinal inflammation, repairing the intestinal barrier as indicated by occludin-1 and ZO-1, as well as regulating gut microbiota. Taking these results together, we believe GP could be an innovative option in developing functional foods or therapeutic agents for UC management.
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Colite Ulcerativa , Colite , Microbioma Gastrointestinal , Zingiber officinale , Animais , Colite/tratamento farmacológico , Colite Ulcerativa/induzido quimicamente , Colite Ulcerativa/tratamento farmacológico , Colo , Citocinas , Sulfato de Dextrana/efeitos adversos , Modelos Animais de Doenças , Camundongos , Camundongos Endogâmicos C57BL , Ocludina , Polissacarídeos/efeitos adversosRESUMO
Ginseng is an international herb that has been used for thousands of years. Two species most commonly applied and investigated in the ginseng family are Asian ginseng and American ginseng. The number of randomized controlled clinical trials (RCTs) has conspicuously increased, driven by the rapid development of ginseng. However, the reporting of RCT items of ginseng is deficient because of different trial designs and reporting formats, which is a challenge for researchers who are looking for the data with high quality and reliability. Thus, this study focused on providing an extensive analysis of these two species and examined the quality of the RCTs, based on the Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials (CONSORT) guideline. Ninety-one RCTs conducted from 1980 to 2019 that were related to Asian ginseng and American ginseng used singly met our inclusion criteria. We found that the reporting quality of the two species has improved during the past 40 years. Publication date and sample size were significantly associated with the reporting quality. Rigorous RCTs designed for the species of ginseng are warranted, which can shed light on product research and development of ginseng in the future.
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ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Dachuanxiong Formula (DCXF) is a classical Chinese medicine prescription and is composed of dried rhizomes from Ligusticum striatum DC. (Chuanxiong Rhizoma) and Gastrodia elata Bl. (Gastrodiae Rhizoma) at the ratio of 4:1 (w/w). It has been used as Chinese medicine prescription for thousands of years. DCXF is used traditionally to treat many diseases, including migraine, atherosclerosis and ischemic stroke. AIM OF THE STUDY: This study aimed to investigate the effects of DCXF on pain response in migraine mice, and the underlying mechanisms using proteomics and bioinformatics analyses. MATERIALS AND METHODS: DCXF extract was prepared by mixing Chuanxiong Rhizoma and Gastrodiae Rhizoma at a mass ratio of 4:1 (w/w). After extraction, the extract was filtered prior to high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis. Nitroglycerin (NTG) was used to establish a mouse migraine model, and a behaviour study was conducted by hot plate test. In addition, proteomics and bioinformatics studies were conducted to investigate the mechanisms of DCXF-mediating anti-migraine treatment. RESULTS: Our results showed that there were significant differences in the latencies between NTG-treated and DCXF low dose- and high doses-treated groups at 30 min after NTG injection, this suggested that DCXF could ameliorate pain response in migraine mice. Besides, the plasma levels of endothelin-1 were also measured. NTG group significantly enhanced the endothelin-1 level compared to the control group. In contrast, DCXF low dose and high dose groups significantly reduced this level compared to NTG group. In addition, the underlying mechanisms were also investigated. Our results demonstrated that the anti-migraine treatment of DCXF was highly associated with fatty acid synthesis, suggesting that DCXF ameliorated pain response through reducing endothelin-1 level and regulating fatty acid synthesis. CONCLUSIONS: The present study revealed the anti-migraine effect of DCXF in migraine mice and provided insights into the mechanisms of DCXF-mediating anti-migraine treatment.
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Medicamentos de Ervas Chinesas/farmacologia , Endotelina-1/sangue , Ácidos Graxos/biossíntese , Transtornos de Enxaqueca/tratamento farmacológico , Animais , Modelos Animais de Doenças , Relação Dose-Resposta a Droga , Medicamentos de Ervas Chinesas/administração & dosagem , Feminino , Masculino , Camundongos , Camundongos Endogâmicos C57BL , Nitroglicerina/toxicidadeRESUMO
Although the increasing studies have corroborated the biological activities and great market utilization value of polysaccharide fractions derived from Polygonati rhizome, a well-known edible and medicinal plant, Polygonati rhizome polysaccharides (PRPs) still lack sufficient attention. Herein, we make attempt to systematically summarize recent advances in the extraction, purification, structural characteristics, biological activities, and commercial products of PRPs. Based on the detailed extraction and structural characteristics, the biological activities of PRPs including immune-regulation, anti-osteoporosis, anti-Alzheimer's disease, anti-diabetes and anti-atherosclerotic, are emphatically summarized, as well as the possible related mechanisms. Most importantly, about 365 kinds of commercial functional foods and over 500 patents related to PRPs as the main raw material were analyzed to explore the status quo and bottleneck for the development and utilization of PRPs. In conclusion, this review will benefit to bridge the gap between basic knowledge and market innovations, and facilitate the in-depth utilization of PRPs.
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Medicamentos de Ervas Chinesas/química , Alimento Funcional , Polygonatum/química , Polissacarídeos/química , Descoberta de Drogas , Medicamentos de Ervas Chinesas/farmacologia , Plantas Comestíveis/química , Polissacarídeos/farmacologia , Rizoma/químicaRESUMO
Since ancient times, litchi has been well recognized as a functional food for the management of various ailments. Many bioactives, including flavanoids, anthocyanins, phenolics, sesquiterpenes, triterpenes, and lignans, have been identified from litchi with a myriad of biological properties both in vitro and in vivo. In spite of the extensive research progress, systemic reviews regarding the bioactives of litchi are rather scarce. Therefore, it is crucial to comprehensively analyze the pharmacological activities and the structure-activity relationships of the abundant bioactives of litchi. Besides, more and more studies have focused on litchi preservation and development of its by-products, which is significant for enhancing the economic value of litchi. Based on the analysis of published articles and patents, this review aims to reveal the development trends of litchi in the healthcare field by providing a systematic summary of the pharmacological activities of its extracts, its phytochemical composition, and the nutritional and potential health benefits of litchi seed, pulp and pericarp with structure-activity relationship analysis. In addition, its by-products also exhibited promising development potential in the field of material science and environmental protection. Furthermore, this study also provides an overview of the strategies of the postharvest storage and processing of litchi.
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Flavonoides/química , Litchi , Extratos Vegetais/uso terapêutico , Alimento Funcional , Humanos , Fitoterapia , Relação Estrutura-AtividadeRESUMO
BACKGROUND: The oral colon-targeting drug delivery vehicle is vital for the efficient application of curcumin (Cur) in ulcerative colitis (UC) treatment because of its lipophilicity and instability in the gastrointestinal tract. METHODS: The core-shell microparticle (MP) system composed of eco-friendly materials, zein and shellac, was fabricated using a coaxial electrospray technique. In this manner, Cur was loaded in the zein core, with shellac shell coating on it. The colon-targeting efficiency and accumulation capacity of shellac@Cur/zein MPs were evaluated using a fluorescence imaging test. The treatment effects of free Cur, Cur/zein MPs, and shellac@Cur/zein MPs in acute experimental colitis were compared. RESULTS: With the process parameters optimized, shellac@Cur/zein MPs were facilely fabricated with a stable cone-jet mode, exhibiting standard spherical shape, uniform size distribution (2.84 ± 0.15 µm), and high encapsulation efficiency (95.97% ± 3.51%). Particularly, with the protection of shellac@zein MPs, Cur exhibited sustained drug release in the simulated gastrointestinal tract. Additionally, the in vivo fluorescence imaging test indicated that the cargo loaded in shellac@zein MPs improves the colon-targeting efficiency and accumulation capacity at the colonitis site. More importantly, compared with either free Cur or Cur/zein MPs, the continuous oral administration of shellac@Cur/zein MPs for a week could efficiently inhibit inflammation in acute experimental colitis. CONCLUSION: The shellac@Cur/zein MPs would act as an effective oral drug delivery system for UC management.