High-throughput sequencing-based analysis of the composition and diversity of the endophyte community in roots of Stellera chamaejasme.

Stellera chamaejasme (S. chamaejasme) is an important medicinal plant with heat-clearing, detoxifying, swelling and anti-inflammatory effects. At the same time, it is also one of the iconic plants of natural grassland degradation in northwest China, playing a key role in the invasion process. Plant endophytes live in healthy plant tissues and can synthesize substances needed for plant growth, induce disease resistance in host plants, and enhance plant resistance to environmental stress. Therefore, studying the root endophytes of S. chamaejasme is of great significance for mining beneficial microbial resources and biological prevention and control of S. chamaejasme. This study used Illumina MiSeq high-throughput sequencing technology to analyze the composition and diversity of endophytes in the roots of S. chamaejasme in different alpine grasslands (BGC, NMC and XGYZ) in Tibet. Research results show that the main phylum of endophytic fungi in the roots of S. chamaejasme in different regions is Ascomycota, and the main phyla of endophytic bacteria are Actinobacteria, Proteobacteria and Firmicutes (Bacteroidota). Overall, the endophyte diversity of the NMC samples was significantly higher than that of the other two sample sites. Principal coordinate analysis (PCoA) and permutational multivariate analysis of variance (PERMANOVA) results showed significant differences in the composition of endophytic bacterial and fungal communities among BGC, NMC and XGYZ samples. Co-occurrence network analysis of endophytes showed that there were positive correlations between fungi and some negative correlations between bacteria, and the co-occurrence network of bacteria was more complex than that of fungi. In short, this study provides a vital reference for further exploring and utilizing the endophyte resources of S. chamaejasme and an in-depth understanding of the ecological functions of S. chamaejasme endophytes.

[CiteSpace knowledge map of gut microbiota research involving traditional Chinese medicine in recent twenty years].

We employed bibliometrics to comprehensively study the hotspots and frontiers of gut microbiota research involving traditional Chinese medicine(TCM), aiming to provide new ideas for the subsequent research in this field. The studies of gut microbiota with TCM published from January 1, 2002 to December 31, 2021 were retrieved from CNKI, Wanfang, VIP and Web of Science(WoS). After data screening and cleaning, CiteSpace 5.8.R3 was used to visualize and analyze the authors, journals, and keywords. A total of 1 119 Chinese articles and 815 English articles were included in the study. The period of 2019-2021 witnessed the surge in the number of articles published in this field, being the peak research period. TAN Zhou-jin and DUAN Jin-ao were the authors publishing the most articles in Chinese and English, respectively. The two authors ranked top in both Chinese and English articles, playing a central role in this research field. The top five Chinese and English journals in this field had a large influence in the international research field. High-frequency keywords and keyword clustering showed that the research hotspots in this field were concentrated in four areas: trial and clinical research on the regulation of gut microbiota in disease treatment by TCM, metabolic transformation of Chinese medicines by gut microbiota, and the effect of TCM added to feed on the gut microbiota and growth performance of animals. The study of gut microbiota structure in patients with different TCM syndromes, as well as that of TCM combined with probiotics/flora transplantation in the treatment of diseases, can provide new ideas for clinical diagnosis and traditional drug treatment of diseases and has great research space and research value in the future.

Alteration of UDP-glucuronosyltransferase 1a1, 1a7 and P-glycoprotein expression in hepatic fibrosis rats and the impact on pharmacokinetics of puerarin.

BACKGROUND: Puerarin, derived from a traditional Chinese herb Pueraria lobata (Willd.) Ohwi which was distributed globally and planted in most parts of China, has been extensively applied in patients with cardiovascular diseases in China. Yet a considerable proportion of the patients were accompanied with liver illnesses simultaneously because of all sorts of reasons. HYPOTHESIS/PURPOSE: It had been implied by some previous research that the absorption and the metabolism of puerarin were susceptible to liver issues due to changed P-gp and Ugt1a level, but pharmacokinetics of puerarin under such conditions were few concerned. Our study aimed to make sure whether and how much the behavior of puerarin in vivo was affected by hepatic diseases, and to explore the potential mechanisms. METHODS: A CCl4 induced rat model of hepatic fibrosis (HF) was prepared and verified. Single low/high doses of oral and intravenous administration of puerarin to HF and normal rats were performed. Pharmacokinetics of puerarin were determined by a validated HPLC method. The expression of P-gp, Ugt1a1, and Ugt1a7 in both liver and intestines were determined by quantitative RT-PCR and Western blot analysis respectively. RESULTS: The systemic exposure of puerarin in HF rats of experimental groups were found decreased remarkably except for that of the high dose intravenous group. Moreover, the expression of P-gp, Ugt1a1, and Ugt1a7 in liver and intestines of HF rats were figured out increased. CONCLUSION: The results indicated that the HF originated overexpression of Ugt1a1, Ugt1a7, and P-gp level played important roles in pharmacokinetics of puerarin, suggested the clinical regimen of puerarin based on normal populations might be inappropriate for patients with chronic liver diseases. It was implied drugs whose absorption or elimination were related to P-gp, Ugt1a1, or Ugt1a7 might also be affected by hepatic illnesses.

Chinese medicine Jinlida (JLD) ameliorates high-fat-diet induced insulin resistance in rats by reducing lipid accumulation in skeletal muscle.

The present paper reports the effects of Jinlida (JLD), a traditional Chinese medicine which has been given as a treatment for high-fat-diet (HFD)-induced insulin resistance. A randomized controlled experiment was conducted to provide evidence in support of the affects of JLD on insulin resistance induced by HFD. The affect of JLD on blood glucose, lipid, insulin, adiponectin, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and total bilirubin (TBIL) in serum and lipid content in skeletal muscle was measured. Genes and proteins of the AMPK signaling pathway were analyzed by real time RT-PCR and Western blot. Adiponectin receptor 1 and 2 (ADIPOR1, ADIPOR2) and other genes involved in mitochondrial function and fat oxidation were analyzed by real time RT-PCR. Histological staining was also performed. JLD or pioglitazone administration ameliorated fasting plasma levels of glucose, insulin, triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), ALT, AST and non-esterified fatty acid (NEFA) (P < 0.05). Treatment with JLD or pioglitazone significantly reverted muscle lipid content (P < 0.05). JLD (1.5 g/kg) significantly increased plasma adiponectin concentration by 60.17% and increased AMPK and acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC) phosphorylation in skeletal muscle (P < 0.05). JLD administration increased levels of ADIPOR1 and ADIPOR2 by 1.48 and 1.29 respectively. Levels of genes involved in mitochondrial function and fat oxidation were increased. This study provides the molecular mechanism by which JLD ameliorates HFD-induced insulin resistance in rats.