Chemical Profiling of Shen-Wu-Yi-Shen Tablets Using UPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS and Its Quality Evaluation Based on UPLC-DAD Combined with Multivariate Statistical Analysis.

Shen-Wu-Yi-Shen tablets (SWYST) is a traditional Chinese medicine prescription used for treating chronic kidney disease (CKD). This study aims to characterize the constituents in SWYST and evaluate the quality based on the quantification of multiple bioactive components. SWYST samples were analyzed with ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-TOF-MS) and a data-processing strategy. As a result, 215 compounds in SWYST were unambiguously identified or tentatively characterized, including 14 potential new compounds. Meanwhile, strategies based on characteristic fragments for rapid identification were summarized, indicating that the qualitative method is accurate and feasible. Notably, the glucose esters of laccaic acid D-type anthraquinone were first found and their fragmentation patterns were described by comparing that of O-glycoside isomers. Besides, based on comparisons of the cleavage ways of mono-acyl glucose with different acyl groups or acylation sites, differences in fragmentation pathways between 1,2-di-O-acyl glucose and 1,6-di-O-acyl glucose were proposed for the first time and verified by reference substances. In addition, a validated UPLC-DAD was established for the determination of 11 major bioactive components related to treatment of CKD (albiflorin, paeoniflorin, 2,3,5,4'-tetrahydroxy-stilbene-2-O-ß-d-glucoside (TSG), 1-O-galloyl-2-O-cinnamoyl-ß-d-glucose, emodin-8-O-ß-d-glucoside, chrysophanol-O-ß-d-glucoside, aloe-emodin, rhein, emodin, chrysophanol and physcion). Moreover, TSG and 1-O-galloyl-2-O-cinnamoyl-ß-d-glucose were found as the quality markers related to the origins of SWYST based on multivariate statistical analysis. Conclusively, the findings in this work provide a feasible reference for further studies on quality research and mechanisms of action in treating CKD.

Polysaccharides from Chinese herbal medicine: a review on the hepatoprotective and molecular mechanism.

Polysaccharides, predominantly extracted from traditional Chinese medicinal herbs such as Lycium barbarum, Angelica sinensis, Astragalus membranaceus, Dendrobium officinale, Ganoderma lucidum, and Poria cocos, represent principal bioactive constituents extensively utilized in Chinese medicine. These compounds have demonstrated significant anti-inflammatory capabilities, especially anti-liver injury activities, while exhibiting minimal adverse effects. This review summarized recent studies to elucidate the hepatoprotective efficacy and underlying molecular mechanisms of these herbal polysaccharides. It underscored the role of these polysaccharides in regulating hepatic function, enhancing immunological responses, and improving antioxidant capacities, thus contributing to the attenuation of hepatocyte apoptosis and liver protection. Analyses of molecular pathways in these studies revealed the intricate and indispensable functions of traditional Chinese herbal polysaccharides in liver injury management. Therefore, this review provides a thorough examination of the hepatoprotective attributes and molecular mechanisms of these medicinal polysaccharides, thereby offering valuable insights for the advancement of polysaccharide-based therapeutic research and their potential clinical applications in liver disease treatment.

The tissue distribution of Jinzhen oral liquid in healthy and influenza mice.

Jinzhen oral liquid (JZOL) is widely used in China. However, its tissue distribution, a vital part of the efficacy substances research, has not been reported yet. This study characterized its chemical components and its prototypes and metabolites in mice, and investigated its tissue distribution in pathological and healthy mice. Several constituents were characterized, including 55 constituents in JZOL, 11 absorbed prototypes and six metabolites in plasma and tissues. The metabolic pathways were demethylation, dehydration and acetylation. A sensitive, accurate and stable quantitative method was established and applied to the tissue distribution. After administration of JZOL, these seven components were rapidly distributed to various tissues, mainly staying in the small intestine, and less distributed to lung, liver and kidney. Compared with healthy mice, the absorption of baicalin, wogonoside, rhein, glycyrrhizic acid and liquiritin apioside was reduced in influenza mice, but their elimination was slow. However, influenza infection had no obvious effect on the overall distribution of the most important components (baicalin, glycyrrhizic acid and wogonoside) in the plasma or small intestine, but obviously affected the distribution of baicalin in liver. In summary, seven components are rapidly distributed to various tissues, and influenza infection has certain influence on the tissue distribution of JZOL.

Remediation of crude oil-contaminated coastal marsh soil: Integrated effect of biochar, rhamnolipid biosurfactant and nitrogen application.

Decontamination of oil spills from coastal wetland soils requires a delicate approach. A microcosm study was carried out to investigate the impact of integrated application of biochar, rhamnolipid (RL) biosurfactant and nitrogen (N) on petroleum hydrocarbon remediation in a Louisiana coastal saline marsh and their impact on soil microbial community. The soil was artificially contaminated with crude oil and subjected to treatments of different combinations of sugarcane residue biochar, RL, and coated urea. Total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH) in the contaminated soil were analyzed periodically using gas chromatograph and associated soil bacterial community was studied using 16 s rRNA sequencing technologies. Results showed that integrated application of biochar + RL, biochar + N, and biochar + N+RL reduced 32.3%, 73.2%, 80.9% of TPH, respectively, and exhibited synergic interaction with higher efficiency than application individually. Combined treatments showed distinct functions that biochar increased the sorption of aromatic compounds, while RL and N enhanced the degradation of heavy and light aliphatic compounds. All remediation treatments caused reduction of soil bacterial diversity while RL and N shifted the microbial community to higher abundances of Proteobacteria and Bacteroidetes, respectively. Overall, the findings of this study demonstrate the positivity of applying integrated biochar, biosurfactant, and N treatment in oil remediation in wetland soils.

Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation for postoperative pain control after total knee arthroplasty: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

BACKGROUND: This meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the efficiency and safety of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) for pain control after total knee arthroplasty. METHODS: A systematic search was performed in Medline (1966 to June 2017), PubMed (1966 to June 2017), Embase (1980 to June 2017), ScienceDirect (1985 to June 2017), and the Cochrane Library. Only randomized controlled trial (RCT) was included. The fixed/random effect model was used according to the heterogeneity tested by I statistic. Meta-analysis was performed using Stata 11.0 software. RESULTS: Five RCTs including 472 patients met the inclusion criteria. The present meta-analysis indicated that there were significant differences between groups in terms of visual analogue scale score at 12 hours (average: 3.58 vs 4.34, SMD = -0.260, 95% CI: -0.442 to -0.078, P = .005), 24 hours (average: 3.18 vs 3.52, SMD = -0.244, 95% CI: -0.426 to -0.063, P = .008), and 48 hours (average: 2.70 vs 2.96, SMD = -0.214, 95% CI: -0.395 to -0.033, P = .021) after total knee arthroplasty. Significant differences were found regarding opioid consumption at 12 hours (average: 14.44 vs 18.54, SMD = -0.503, 95% CI: -0.687 to -0.319, P = .000), 24 hours (average: 16.10 vs 18.40, SMD = -0.262, 95% CI: -0.443 to -0.080, P = .005), and 48 hours (average: 12.92 vs 15.12, SMD = -0.183, 95% CI: -0.364 to -0.002, P = .048). CONCLUSION: TENS could significantly reduce pain and opioid consumption after total knee arthroplasty. In addition, there were fewer adverse effects in the TENS groups. Higher quality RCTs are required for further research.

[Effect of extract of ginkgo biloba leaves on proliferation of SCs cultured in vitro].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of extract of ginkgo biloba leaves (EGb50) on the proliferation of SCs cultured in vitro. METHODS: The SCs were isolated from 3-day-old SD rats' sciatic nerves by the method of enzyme gradation digestion (n=20) and the purified 2nd passage of SCs were divided into 2 groups: the experimental group, in which SCs were cultured in FBS-DMEM medium with EGb50 (terminal concentration: 50 microg/mL); the control group, in which SCs were cultured in the FBS-DMEM medium without EGb50. The absorbance (A) value was detected by the 2, 3-bis- (2-methoxy-4-nitro-5-sulfophenyl)-2H-tetrazolium-5-carboxanilide (XTT) method 1, 3, 5, 7 and 9 days after culture, then the growth curves was drawn. Cell cycle was detected by flow cytometry (FCM). Disintegration per minute (DPM) of SCs was detected by the method of 3H-thymine nucleoside (3H-TdR) 2 and 3 days after culture and nerve growth factor (NGF) synthesis in SCs culture media was detected by ELISA method. RESULTS: Most SCs were spindle-shaped with a purity above 90%. XTT detection showed that A value of SCs in the control group was gradually increased 3 days after culture, reached the peak 5 days after culture and gradually decreased from then; the A value in the experimental group experienced the similar changes, but it was higher than that in the control group at each time point (P < 0.01). 3H-TdR showed that the DPM of the experimental group was 1 961.78 +/- 231.13 and 4 601.51 +/- 605.08 at 2 and 3 days after culture, while for the control group, the A value was 1347.15 +/- 121.57 and 3740.42 +/- 158.73 at the same time point, indicating a significant difference between two groups (P < 0.01). FCM observation indicated that the SCs proliferation index of the experimental group and the control group was 18.6% +/- 3.2% and 9.7% +/- 2.9%, indicating a significant difference between two groups (P < 0.01). ELISA observation showed that the NGF concentration in the experimental and the control group was (0.0656 +/- 0.0039) ng/mL and (0.0386 +/- 0.0036) ng/mL, indicating a significant difference (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: EGb50 is capable of enhancing the proliferation of SCs cultured in vitro, which may be one of the important mechanisms to promote peripheral nerve regeneration.

[Effect of extract of Ginkgo biloba leaves on expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase after sciatic nerve injury: experiment with rats].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of extract of Ginkgo biloba leaves (EGb50) on the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) after sciatic nerve injury. METHODS: 156 male SD rats were randomly divided into 3 groups: experiment group (n=72), undergoing section and anastomosis of sciatic nerve and then gastric perfusion of EGb50 200 mg.kg-1.d-1; injury control group (n=72), undergoing section and anastomosis of sciatic nerve and then gastric perfusion of normal saline daily; and sham operation group (n=12), undergoing sham operation and gastric perfusion of normal saline daily. The rats were killed at different time points: 1, 3, 7, 14, 21, and 28 days after the operation. The sciatic nerve distant to the anastomotic sites with a length of 0.5 cm was cut out to undergo immunohistochemistry and RT-PCR to detect the protein and mRNA expression of iNOS. RESULTS: No obvious iNOS protein and mRNA expression was seen in the sham operation group. 3, 7, 14, and 21 days after operation the mean values of absorbance of iNOS in the sciatic nerve specimens of the experiment group were all significantly lower than those of the injury control group (P<0.05, P<0.01). High mRNA expression of iNOS began to be shown in the sciatic nerve specimens since 1day after the operation and remained at a high level till 7 days after and then began to decrease in the injury control group. The levels of mRNA expression of iNOS in the sciatic nerve specimens 1, 3, and 7 days after the operation of the experiment group were all significantly lower than those of the injury control group (all P<0.01), and there was no significant difference in the levels mRNA expression of iNOS 14, 21, and 28 days after the operation between the experiment group and injury control group (all>0.05). CONCLUSION: The extract of Gingko biloba promotes the regeneration of nervous tissues, probably by inhibiting the expression of iNOS.