Gut dysbiosis correction contributes to the hepatoprotective effects of Thymus quinquecostatus Celak extract against alcohol through the gut-liver axis.

Alcoholic liver disease (ALD) is a major health issue globally due to the consumption of alcoholic beverages. Thymus quinquecostatus Celak is a food additive and an edible herb that is widely used in Asia and possesses hepatoprotective activity, but the underlying mechanisms behind this protective activity are not completely understood. The purpose of this study was to investigate the hepatoprotective effects of Thymus quinquecostatus Celak extract (TQE) against ALD as well as the underlying mechanism based on gut microbiota and the gut-liver axis. TQE supplementation markedly alleviated chronic alcohol-induced liver injury in C57 mice. TQE also ameliorated gut barrier dysfunction induced by alcohol. Consequently, the activation of the lipopolysaccharide (LPS) translocation-mediated TLR4 pathway and the subsequent inflammatory response and ROS overproduction in the liver were suppressed. Meanwhile, alcohol-induced gut microbiota dysbiosis was also corrected by TQE. To further investigate the contribution of gut dysbiosis correction to the beneficial effects of TQE on ALD, a fecal microbiota transplantation study was conducted. TQE-manipulated gut microbiota transplantation markedly counteracted the alcohol-induced gut dysbiosis in the recipient mice. In parallel with gut dysbiosis correction, liver damage was partly ameliorated in the recipient mice. Gut barrier dysfunction, endotoxemia, TLR4 pathway induction as well as downstream inflammatory response and ROS overproduction were also partly suppressed due to gut dysbiosis correction in alcohol-fed recipient mice. In summary, these results suggest that gut dysbiosis correction contributes to the hepatoprotective effects of TQE against alcohol through the gut-liver axis.

An integrated approach to uncover anti-tumor active materials of Curcumae Rhizoma-Sparganii Rhizoma based on spectrum-effect relationship, molecular docking, and ADME evaluation.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Curcumae Rhizoma-Sparganii Rhizoma (CR-SR), an ancient and classical herbal couple, has been extensively used for tumor treatment in clinic of traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs). AIM OF THE STUDY: The study aimed to uncover the anti-tumor active materials of CR-SR water decoction (CR:SR = 1:1) via an integrated approach of spectrum-effect relationship, molecular docking, and ADME evaluation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The anti-tumor activities toward A549, HepG2, Hela, BGC-823, and MCF-7 cells of the different polar elution fractions (DPEFs) of CR, SR, and CR-SR were determined by Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assay. Likewise, the DPEFs' combinations of CR and SR were also tested. The chemical fingerprints of these fractions were profiled by HPLC. Meanwhile, HPLC-ESI-Q-TOF-MS/MS was applied for the identification of chemical components. The main effect-related compounds were screened out by spectrum-effect relationship and molecular docking method. The oral bioavailability and druggability of these active components were subsequently evaluated. Finally, five monomeric compounds were validated experimentally using HepG2 cells. RESULTS: The 80% ethanol elution fraction of CR, SR, and CR-SR showed strong anti-tumor effects toward five cells. Also, the combinations with the 80% ethanol elution fraction of CR and SR showed stronger tumor inhibition effects among the DPEFs' combinations of CR and SR. By spectrum-effect relationship, HPLC-MS, and molecular docking analysis, 24 main effect-related compounds seemed to have potential anti-tumor effects. ADME evaluation showed rutin performed low oral bioavailability and druggability. Therefore, we suppose that 23 compounds (including 4 unknown compounds) are the primary anti-tumor active components of CR-SR water decoction. Among them, zederone, curcumol, chlorogenic acid, calycosin, and curcumenol were validated successfully with good tumor inhibition effects. CONCLUSIONS: In summary, this study demonstrated that the multi-components of CR-SR contribute to its anti-tumor effects. It established a rapid and useful strategy to explore the active material basis of traditional Chinese herbal couples with a multi-technology integrated approach in practice, including chromatography, mass spectrometry, machine algorithm models, online databases, and in vitro cell experiments.

Anti-tumor activity and linear-diarylheptanoids of herbal couple Curcumae Rhizoma-Sparganii Rhizoma and the single herbs.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Curcumae Rhizoma and Sparganii Rhizoma (CR-SR) are the classical herbal couple for activating blood circulation and treating tumor in clinics. AIM OF THE STUDY: To investigate the anti-tumor activity and to clarify the bioactive ingredients of herbal couple CR-SR and the single herbs Curcumae Rhizoma (CR) and Sparganii Rhizoma (SR). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The active fractions of CR-SR decoction were fractioned by column chromatography. And isolated compounds were characterized by IR, ESI-MS, 1D and 2D-NMR techniques. Detecting linear-diarylheptanoids in CR-SR, CR and SR was realized through UPLC-LTQ-Orbitrap MSn, based on the fragmentation pathways established in this study, comparison with MS data of isolated compounds and references. The anti-tumor activities of different solvent fractions from CR-SR, CR and SR, as well as isolated ingredients were tested by CCK-8 method. RESULTS: Ultimately, a new compound (1), having a sulfonic acid group at C-3, named demethoxyshogasulfonic acid, along with another structurally similar 17 known linear-diarylheptanoids were isolated. These linear-diarylheptanoids (1-18) were divided into 12 categories based on the differences of substituents at C-3 and C-5 on the straight chain of seven carbons. Six fragmentation pathways were established by summarizing MS data of the 18 isolated compounds collected from UPLC-MS. Based on that, and retention times and MS fragmentation ions, 47 linear-diarylheptanoids were identified in CR-SR and CR, in which 12 linear-diarylheptanoids were also detected in SR. Most importantly, 5 sulfonated linear-diarylheptanoids were new compounds detected in CR and CR-SR. And the biological assay indicated that compounds 1-4 and 12-15 significantly reduced the proliferation and inhibited colony formation of MCF-7 and HepG2 cells. CONCLUSION: The new compound (1) exhibited good anti-cancer activity, which suggests that a great effort has to be paid to investigate the bioactivity of sulfonated compounds. The fractions of CR-SR decoction exhibited stronger anti-tumor activities than that of CR and SR against 5 different cancer cells. As for chemical composition, it is the first time to report that diarylheptanoids are in Sparganiaceae and the sulfonated compounds in Zingiberaceae. Moreover, the linear-diarylheptanoids found in SR which being tested to possess good anti-tumor activity, plus those compounds in CR enhance the capacity of CR-SR. It shows importance of TCM compatibility.

Multi-Response Extraction Optimization Based on Anti-Oxidative Activity and Quality Evaluation by Main Indicator Ingredients Coupled with Chemometric Analysis on Thymus quinquecostatus Celak.

Thymus quinquecostatus Celak is a species of thyme in China and it used as condiment and herbal medicine for a long time. To set up the quality evaluation of T. quinquecostatus, the response surface methodology (RSM) based on its 2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity was introduced to optimize the extraction condition, and the main indicator components were found through an UPLC-LTQ-Orbitrap MSn method. The ethanol concentration, solid-liquid ratio, and extraction time on optimum conditions were 42.32%, 1:17.51, and 1.8 h, respectively. 35 components having 12 phenolic acids and 23 flavonoids were unambiguously or tentatively identified both positive and negative modes to employ for the comprehensive analysis in the optimum anti-oxidative part. A simple, reliable, and sensitive HPLC method was performed for the multi-component quantitative analysis of T. quinquecostatus using six characteristic and principal phenolic acids and flavonoids as reference compounds. Furthermore, the chemometrics methods (principal components analysis (PCA) and hierarchical clustering analysis (HCA)) appraised the growing areas and harvest time of this herb closely relative to the quality-controlled. This study provided full-scale qualitative and quantitative information for the quality evaluation of T. quinquecostatus, which would be a valuable reference for further study and development of this herb and related laid the foundation of further study on its pharmacological efficacy.