Exploring the mechanism of action of Chinese medicine in regulating liver fibrosis based on the alteration of glucose metabolic pathways.

In recent years, metabolic reprogramming in liver fibrosis has become a research hotspot in the field of liver fibrosis at home and abroad. Liver fibrosis is a pathological change caused by chronic liver injury from a variety of causes. Liver fibrosis is a common pathological feature of many chronic liver diseases such as chronic hepatitis B, non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, and autoimmune hepatitis, as well as the pathogenesis of the disease. The development of chronic liver disease into cirrhosis must go through the pathological process of liver fibrosis, in which hepatic stellate cells (HSC) play an important role. Following liver injury, HSC are activated and transdifferentiated into scar-forming myofibroblasts, which drive the trauma healing response and which rely on the deposition of collagen-rich extracellular matrix to maintain tissue integrity. This reaction will continue without strict control, which will lead to excessive accumulation of matrix and liver fibrosis. The mechanisms and clinical studies of liver fibrosis have been the focus of research in liver diseases. In recent years, several studies have revealed the mechanism of HSC metabolic reprogramming and the impact of this process on liver fibrosis, in which glucose metabolic reprogramming plays an important role in the activation of HSC, and it mainly meets the energy demand of HSC activation by upregulating glycolysis. Glycolysis is the process by which one molecule of glucose is broken down into two molecules of pyruvate and produces energy and lactate under anaerobic conditions. Various factors have been found to be involved in regulating the glycolytic process of HSC, including glucose transport, intracellular processing of glucose, exosome secretion, and lactate production, etc. Inhibition of the glycolytic process of HSC can be an effective strategy against liver fibrosis. Currently, the combined action of multiple targets and links of Chinese medicine such as turmeric, comfrey, rhubarb and scutellaria baicalensis against the mechanism of liver fibrosis can effectively improve or even reverse liver fibrosis. This paper summarizes that turmeric extract curcumin, comfrey extract comfreyin, rhubarb, Subtle yang yu yin granules, Scutellaria baicalensis extract oroxylin A and cardamom extract cardamomin affect liver fibrosis by regulating gluconeogenic reprogramming. Therefore, studying the mechanism of action of TCM in regulating liver fibrosis through reprogramming of glucose metabolism is promising to explore new methods and approaches for Chinese Medicine modernization research.

[Research progress on role of traditional Chinese medicine in hepatic fibrosis based on miRNA-mediated activation of NLRP3 inflammasome].

In recent years, liver fibrosis has become a hotspot in the field of liver diseases. MicroRNA(miRNA)-mediated Nod-like receptor pyrin domain containing 3(NLRP3) inflammasome activation is pivotal in the pathogenesis of liver fibrosis. The present study mainly discussed the role of miRNA-mediated NLRP3 inflammasome activation in the pathogenesis of liver fibrosis. Different miRNA molecules regulated liver fibrosis by mediating NLRP3 inflammasome activation, including miRNA-350-3 p(miR-350-3 p)/interleukin-6(IL-6)-mediated signal transducer and activator of transcription 3(STAT3)/c-myc signaling pathway, miR-148 a-induced autophagy and apoptosis of hepatic stellate cells via hedgehog signaling pathway, miR-155-mediated NLRP3 inflammasome by the negative feedback of the suppressor of cytokine signaling-1(SOCS-1), miR-181 a-mediated downstream NLRP3 inflammatory pathway activation through mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase(MEK)/extracellular signal-regulated kinase(ERK)/nuclear transcription factor κB(NF-κB) inflammatory pathway, miR-21-promoted expression of NF-κB and NLRP3 of RAW264.7 cells in mice by inhibiting tumor necrosis factor-α inducible protein 3(A20), and miR-20 b-promoted expression of IL-1ß and IL-18 by activating NLRP3 signaling pathway. Additionally, the anti-liver fibrosis mechanism of different active components in Chinese medicines(such as Curcumae Rhizoma, Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma, Aurantii Fructus, Polygoni Cuspidati Rhizoma et Radix, Moutan Cortex, Paeoniae Radix Alba, Epimedii Folium, and Cinnamomi Cortex) was also explored based on the anti-liver fibrosis effect of miRNA-mediated NLRP3 inflammasome activation.

Combining network pharmacology with chromatographic fingerprinting and multicomponent quantitative analysis for the quality evaluation of Astragali Radix.

Nowadays, cultivated variants and adulterants of Astragali Radix (AR) have flooded the market, causing the quality assurance of AR to be challenging. To address this issue, we combined network pharmacology with chromatographic fingerprinting and multicomponent quantitative analysis for the quality evaluation of AR. Specifically, through network pharmacology, a complete understanding of the active components and pharmacological activities of AR was established. In addition, establishing fingerprint profiles and multicomponent quantitation by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) is convenient and comprehensive, and can more fully reflect the overall situation of the distribution of various chemical components. To evaluate and differentiate AR from different origins, hierarchical cluster analysis and principal component analysis were performed. The result showed that AR acts synergistically through multiple targets and pathways. The content of chemical components in AR from different origins varied significantly. Combining network pharmacology and multicomponent quantification results, astragaloside II and IV and formononetin can be used as quality markers for the quality control of AR. This study provides a comprehensive and reliable strategy for the quality evaluation of AR and identifies its quality markers to ensure the quality of the herb.

Chemometric analysis of active compounds and antioxidant and α-glucosidase inhibitory activities for the quality evaluation of licorice from different origins.

Contents of total flavonoids (TFc), total phenolics (TPc), and total crude polysaccharide (TCPc) in licorice from different origins were determined by optimized colorimetric methods, whereas five monomer ingredients (liquiritin [LQ], isoliquiritin [ILQ], liquiritigenin [LQG], isoliquiritigenin [ILQG], and glycyrrhizic acid [GA]) were simultaneously identified and quantified by HPLC-MS and HPLC. The results indicated that the contents of chemical compounds in licorice showed significant difference in different origins. Hierarchical cluster analysis and principal component analysis further proved that producing area indeed affected the quality including compounds and pharmacological activity in licorice. Licorice from Inner Mongolia exhibited the excellent DPPH assay, whereas samples from Gansu and Xinjiang showed high scavenging capacity to OH and ABTS free radicals. Meanwhile, α-Glu inhibitory activity of licorice samples was four times higher than the antioxidant activity. Correlation analysis made clear that TFc and TCPc both strongly contribute to DPPH scavenge capacity at P < 0.01 level, whereas TCPc contributed to α-Glu inhibitory activity at P < 0.05 level. This study would contribute to the comprehensive quality evaluation based on the compounds and pharmacological activity of licorice, and provide a reference for the choice of producing area to ensure the quality of licorice as a medicine.

Multicomponent quantitative analysis combined with antioxidant and alpha-glucosidase inhibitory activities for the quality evaluation of Gastrodia elata from different regions.

Gastrodia elata (G. elata), as a natural plant with nourishing and edible value, plays a vital role in food and pharmaceutical production. In the present study, a novel approach for the simultaneous determination of six components based on high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) coupled with photodiode array detection (PDA) was developed for the quality evaluation of G. elata from different regions. Meanwhile, antioxidant and α-glucosidase inhibitory activities were estimated and compared. The results indicated that the total contents of the six compounds in G. elata from Guizhou and Zhejiang provinces obtained by boiling were higher than those obtained by steaming in Anhui and Yunnan provinces. In addition, samples from Guizhou, Yunnan and Shanxi provinces contained more p-hydroxybenzyl alcohol, and always possessed higher antioxidant activity, while samples collected from Anhui province showed the highest α-glucosidase inhibitory activity with the highest gastrodin content. The results revealed that the quality of G. elata was affected by different regions and different initial processing technologies, which provided a reference for the selection and application of G. elata.

Protective effect of carnosol on lung injury induced by intestinal ischemia/reperfusion.

PURPOSE: Carnosol is a phenolic diterpene that has potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. The purpose of this study was to investigate the preconditioning effects of carnosol on lung injury induced by intestinal ischemia/reperfusion (II/R). METHODS: Rats were divided into control, II/R, and carnosol groups. The II/R model was established by clamping the superior mesenteric artery for 1 h and reperfusion at 2, 4, and 6 h after ischemia. The carnosol group received 3 mg/kg carnosol intraperitoneally 1 h before the operation. The rats were then euthanized, and blood and lung specimens were obtained for analysis. RESULTS: The II/R induced lung injury, characterized by histological changes and significant increasing of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid protein. The activity of lung tissue superoxide was weakened, the tissue myeloperoxidase activity and serum interleukin-6 level increased significantly in II/R groups. A strong positive expression of lung intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kappaB) were observed. Pretreatment with carnosol markedly reduced lung injury by increasing the tissue superoxide activity and decreasing the myeloperoxidase activity and interleukin-6 level, which was parallel to the decreased expression of ICAM-1 and NF-kappaB. CONCLUSION: Carnosol was able to ablate lung injury induced by II/R, partly attributed to the inhibition of NF-kappaB activation.