Exogenous betaine enhances salt tolerance of Glycyrrhiza uralensis through multiple pathways.

BACKGROUND: Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch., a valuable medicinal plant, shows contrasting salt tolerance between seedlings and perennial individuals, and salt tolerance at seedling stage is very weak. Understanding this difference is crucial for optimizing cultivation practices and maximizing the plant's economic potential. Salt stress resistance at the seedling stage is the key to the cultivation of the plant using salinized land. This study investigated the physiological mechanism of the application of glycine betaine (0, 10, 20, 40, 80 mM) to seedling stages of G. uralensis under salt stress (160 mM NaCl). RESULTS: G. uralensis seedlings' growth was severely inhibited under NaCl stress conditions, but the addition of GB effectively mitigated its effects, with 20 mM GB had showing most significant alleviating effect. The application of 20 mM GB under NaCl stress conditions significantly increased total root length (80.38%), total root surface area (93.28%), and total root volume (175.61%), and significantly increased the GB content in its roots, stems, and leaves by 36.88%, 107.05%, and 21.63%, respectively. The activity of betaine aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 (BADH2) was increased by 74.10%, 249.38%, and 150.60%, respectively. The 20 mM GB-addition treatment significantly increased content of osmoregulatory substances (the contents of soluble protein, soluble sugar and proline increased by 7.05%, 70.52% and 661.06% in roots, and also increased by 30.74%, 47.11% and 26.88% in leaves, respectively.). Furthermore, it markedly enhanced the activity of antioxidant enzymes and the content of antioxidants (SOD, CAT, POD, APX and activities and ASA contents were elevated by 59.55%, 413.07%, 225.91%, 300.00% and 73.33% in the root, and increased by 877.51%, 359.89%, 199.15%, 144.35%, and 108.11% in leaves, respectively.), and obviously promoted salt secretion capacity of the leaves, which especially promoted the secretion of Na+ (1.37 times). CONCLUSIONS: In summary, the exogenous addition of GB significantly enhances the salt tolerance of G. uralensis seedlings, promoting osmoregulatory substances, antioxidant enzyme activities, excess salt discharge especially the significant promotion of the secretion of Na+Future studies should aim to elucidate the molecular mechanisms that operate when GB regulates saline stress tolerance.

Efficacy and safety of Naoxintong capsule for acute ischemic stroke: A protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Acute ischemic stroke (AIS) is one of the most common causes of mortality and disability worldwide, which has become a global health concern due to the high prevalence, mortality, and disability rate. Naoxintong capsule is an oral Chinese patent preparation used extensively to treat AIS in China. However, the systematic evaluation on the clinical efficacy and safety of Naoxintong capsule is still absent. Therefore, we attempt to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis based on the existing evidence, in order to provide solid support for the clinical practice of Naoxintong capsule in the treatment of AIS. METHODS: We will search both English and Chinese databases, including Scopus, EMBASE, PubMed, Cochrane library, Google Scholar, Web of Science, CNKI, VIP, Wanfang, and Chinese Biomedical Literature Database, for randomized controlled trials which focus on Naoxintong capsule treating AIS. The retrieving time was from inception to August 2021. According to eligibility criteria, 2 researchers will independently screen information and assess the quality of selected articles. The RevMan 5.3 (Copenhagen, The Nordic Cochrane Centre, The Cochrane Collaboration) software will be used for meta-analysis. RESULTS: The clinical efficacy and safety of Naoxintong capsule in the treatment of AIS will be systematically evaluated or descriptive analyzed. CONCLUSION: The study will provide rigorous evidence to identify whether the application of Naoxintong capsule for treating AIS appeared to be adequate reliability regarding on the efficacy and safety. INPLASY REGISTRATION NUMBER: INPLASY202180052.

Metabolism and Pharmacological Mechanisms of Active Ingredients in Erigeron breviscapus.

BACKGROUND: Erigeron breviscapus (Vant.) Hand-Mazz. is a plant species in the Compositae family. More than ten types of compounds-such as flavonoids, caffeinate esters, and volatile oils-have been identified in Erigeron breviscapus; however, it remains unknown as to which compounds are associated with clinical efficacy. In recent years, flavonoids and phenolic acids have been considered as the main effective components of Erigeron breviscapus. The metabolism and mechanisms of these compounds in vivo have been extensively studied to improve our understanding of the drug. METHODS: In the present review, we summarize the relationships among these compounds, their metabolites, and their pharmacodynamics. Many methods have been implemented to improve the separation and bioavailability of these compounds from Erigeron breviscapus. RESULTS: In China, Erigeron breviscapus has been used for many years. In recent years, through the study of its metabolism and the mechanisms of its effective components, the effects of Erigeron breviscapus in the treatment of various diseases have been extensively studied. Findings have indicated that Erigeron breviscapus improves cardiovascular and cerebrovascular function and that one of its ingredients, scutellarin, has potential value in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease, cancer, diabetic vascular complications, and other conditions. In addition, phenolic acid compounds and their metabolites also play an important role in anti-oxidation, anti-inflammation, and improving blood lipids. CONCLUSION: Erigeron breviscapus plays an important role in the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular/ cerebrovascular diseases, neuroprotection, and cancer through many different mechanisms of action. Further investigation of its efficacious components and metabolites may provide more possibilities for the clinical application of traditional Chinese medicine and the development of novel drugs.

The ethanol extract of honeysuckle stem modulates the innate immunity of Chinese mitten crab Eriocheir sinensis against Aeromonas hydrophila.

Honeysuckle stem had been used as feed additives to modulate immunity in breeding industry, which was limited in the aquaculture field. In this study, the immunomodulation of honeysuckle stem ethanol extract (designed as HSE) on Chinese mitten crab Eriocheir sinensis was detected. The crabs fed with HSE diets for 30 days had higher level of the total haemocyte count (HTC), lysozyme activity and PO activity (P < 0.05), and had no obvious affect on the phagocytic activity, NO and TNF-α level. When challenged with Aeromonas hydrophila (1.0 × 107 colony-forming units), HSE exhibited weak antibacterial activity against A. hydrophila and increased survival rate of crabs. The decreasing of THC and the increasing of TNF-α concentration, EsCaspase and EsLITAF mRNA expression level were all inhibited significantly by HSE treatment (P < 0.05), when the crabs were challenged by A. hydrophila. Moreover, the following immune parameters of crabs were enhanced by HSE treatment after A. hydrophila infection, including the rising of phagocytosis index and phagocytic rate of haemocyte, the rising of lysozyme, PO, NOS activities and nitric oxide concentration (P < 0.05). Therefore, it was concluded that HSE had great potential to develop into feed additive of crabs, which could enhance the innate immunity of Chinese mitten crabs E. sinensis effectively after A. hydrophila infection.

Intranasal Pretreatment with Z-Ligustilide, the Main Volatile Component of Rhizoma Chuanxiong, Confers Prophylaxis against Cerebral Ischemia via Nrf2 and HSP70 Signaling Pathways.

Z-Ligustilide (Z-LIG) is a major component in Rhizoma Chuanxiong, which has been traditionally used as a health food supplement for the prevention of cerebrovascular disease in China. This study investigates the ability of intranasal Z-LIG pretreatment to enhance protection against neuronal damage in rats with middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) and the role of cellular stress response mechanisms Nrf2 and HSP70. Z-LIG significantly mitigated infarct volume, neurological dysfunction, blood-brain barrier disruption, and brain edema (p < 0.01). Moreover, Z-LIG prevented the loss of collagen IV, occludin, and ZO-1 (p < 0.05) and decreased MMP-2 and -9 levels (p < 0.01). Meanwhile, Z-LIG up-regulated NQO1 and HSP70. Notably, blockage of Nrf2-driven transcription or down-regulation of HSP70 remarkably attenuated the preventive effect of Z-LIG (p < 0.05). Together, intranasal delivery of Z-LIG enhanced protection against ischemic injury via Nrf2 and HSP70 signaling pathways and has prophylactic potential in the population at high risk of stroke.

Chinese herbal medicine formula tao hong si wu decoction protects against cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury via PI3K/Akt and the Nrf2 signaling pathway.

The Chinese herbal medicine formula Tao Hong Si Wu decoction (THSWD) is traditionally used for the prevention and treatment of ischemic stroke. Transcription factor NF-E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) regulates a battery of phase II enzymes and is known as the major mechanism of cellular defense against oxidative stress. The present study aimed to explore the potential effect of THSWD on the Nrf2 signaling pathway and the consequent effect during cerebral ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury. We found that THSWD reduced infarct volume and improved neurological function in a rat stroke model induced by middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO). Additionally, heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1), a key endogenous antioxidant enzyme regulated by Nrf2, was significantly further induced by THSWD in this in vivo model. In neuronal-like PC12 cells, THSWD remarkably up-regulated HO-1 expression and promoted Nrf2 nuclear translocation. Furthermore, phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt kinase was found to be involved in the upstream of Nrf2 regulation. In an in vitro oxygen-glucose deprivation/reperfusion (OGD-Rep) model, THSWD treatment significantly reduced cell death induced by OGD-Rep insult. Importantly, the protective action was attenuated while PI3K activity was inhibited by a specific inhibitor, LY294002, and the Nrf2 signaling pathway was blocked by antioxidant response element (ARE) decoy oligonucleotides. Collectively, these results demonstrated that THSWD exhibited notable neuroprotective properties in vitro and in vivo and activation of PI3K/Akt and the Nrf2 signaling pathway may be, at least in part, responsible for the protection. This study provides a better understanding of the molecular mechanism underlying the traditional use of the Chinese herbal medicine formula THSWD.

Correlation between Antistress and Hepatoprotective Effects of Schisandra Lignans Was Related with Its Antioxidative Actions in Liver Cells.

The present study was conducted to investigate the relationship between the anti-stress and hepato-protective effects of Schisandra Lignans Extract (SLE) on stress-induced liver damage. Seven weeks old male mice were fixed in a restraint tube for 18 h to induce liver damage. SLE was orally administered to animals for 5 days at dosages of 100 and 200 mg/kg/day before exposed to restraint stress. Oral administration of SLE significantly reduced restraint-induced liver damage in experimental animal. SLE was further found to significantly alleviate the provocation of corticosterone in stressed mice. SLE also significantly decreased oxidative damage and increased anti-oxidative capability of liver cells by preventing the over production and accumulation of free radicals. In conclusion, the protective effects of SLE on stress-induced liver damage were confirmed, and the correlation between hepatoprotective and anti-stress effects of schisandra lignans was possible related to its alleviation on the malignant effects of stressors for bio-homeostasis, such as balance of oxidation and reduction in cells.