Integrating multi-level interactive network and in vivo/vitro studies to explore the protective mechanism of Ampelopsis grossedentata in hyperuricemia.

The strategies or drugs for preventing and treating Hyperuricemia (HUA) are still lacking. As a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) with a profound history, Ampelopsis grossedentata has been shown to play diverse biological roles. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate hypouricemic effect of A. grossedentata, and investigate its involved material basis and mechanism. A HUA mice model was established to evaluate the therapeutic effects of A. grossedentata. And then some extracts from A. grossedentata were prepared, isolated and analyzed. Furthermore, network pharmacology, based on the above results, was used to discover potential active ingredients and therapeutic targets, and they were further verified and explored by molecular docking and in vitro experiments. In vivo experiments showed that A. grossedentata exerted hypouricemic effect on mice of HUA. The core active ingredients (quercetin, myricetin and dihydromyricetin etc.) and core targets (PTGS2, XOD and ABCG2 etc.) for A. grossedentata to treat HUA were predicted by network pharmacology. And molecular docking showed that the spontaneous binding activities of above components and targets were marvelous. In vitro experiments further demonstrated that A. grossedentata exerted hypouricemic effect by decreasing the levels of UA, XOD, antioxidant factors, inflammatory factors, GLUT9 and URAT1 in HK-2 cells of HUA. Taken together, this study integrates multi-level interaction network with in vivo/vitro experiments to systematically reveal the material basis and mechanism of A. grossedentata in treating HUA, which provides a scientific basis for further study of A. grossedentata and HUA.

Anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects of Streblus indicus.

The bark of Streblus indicus, a Dai medicine in China, has been listed in the Chinese Materia Medica as possessing hemostatic and analgesic properties. Ethnic medicine books record that its bark or leaves for the treatment of mumps and lymphoma. However, according to the literature survey, anti-inflammatory and analgesic studies available for leaves and branches of S. indicus have been seldom reported so far. The current study focuses on the metabolites of S. indicus bark and leaves responsible for anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects on the basis of bioactive-included acetic acid writhing, hot-plate, and xylene-induced ear swelling. The secretion of inflammatory mediators, TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1ß, IL-4, and IL-10, were evaluated for their anti-inflammatory by xylene-induced in mouse ear cells. Histological examination was used to assess the anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects of the branches and leaves of S. indicus, and Western blot analysis determined the mechanism of the methanolic extract of branches and leaves. Different metabolites of S. indicus significantly alleviated analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects, with no discernable differences among them. All metabolites decreased the levels of TNF-α, IL-1ß, and IL-6 and increased the levels of IL-4 and IL-10. The analgesic and anti-inflammatory mechanism of the methanolic extract was related to the NF-kB signaling pathway. These results not only would account for scientific knowledge for the traditional application of S. indicus, but also provide a credible theoretical foundation for the further development of anti-inflammatory and analgesic agents.

(±)-Zanthonitidumines A and B: Two new benzophenanthridine alkaloids enantiomers from Zanthoxylum nitidum and their anti-inflammatory activity.

Two new benzophenanthridine alkaloids enantiomers (±)-zanthonitidumines A (1) and B (2), along with seven known analogues (3-9), were isolated from Zanthoxylum nitidium. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of extensive spectroscopic techniques and ECD data. Compound 2 exhibited the most significant inhibition of IL-6 generation as well as TNF-α release which suggest that it may be a potential anti-inflammatory agent.