Alleviation of endothelial dysfunction of Pheretima guillemi (Michaelsen)-derived protein DPf3 in ponatinib-induced thrombotic zebrafish and mechanisms explored through ox-LDL-induced HUVECs and TMT-based proteomics.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Thrombus generation is one of the leading causes of death in human, and vascular endothelial dysfunction is a major contributor to thrombosis. Pheretima guillemi (Michaelsen), a traditional medicinal animal known as "Dilong", has been utilized to cure thrombotic disorders for many years. DPf3, a group of functional proteins extracted from P. guillemi, has been characterized and identified to possess antithrombotic bioactivity via in vitro and ex vivo experiments. AIM OF THE STUDY: This study is aimed to investigate the vascular-protection activity and related mechanism of antithrombotic protein DPf3 purified from Pheretima guillelmi systematically. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The antithrombotic activity and vascular endothelium protection effect of DPf3 was explored in vivo using ponatinib-induced vascular endothelial injury zebrafish thrombus model. Then, (hi) ox-LDL-induced HUVECs was applied to investigate the protection mechanism of DPf3 against the injury of vascular endothelium. In addition, TMT-based proteomics analysis was used to study the biomarkers, biological processes and signal pathways involved in the antithrombotic and vascular protective effects of DPf3 holistically. RESULTS: DPf3 exerted robust in vivo antithrombosis and vascular endothelial protection ability. DPf3 was identified to prevent HUVECs from damage by reducing ROS production, and to reduce monocyte adhesion by decreasing the protein content of adhesion factor VCAM 1. DPf3 was also observed to weaken the migration ability of injured cells and inhibit abnormal angiogenesis. The mechanism of DPf3's antithrombotic and vascular protective activity was mainly related to the regulation of lipid metabolism, energy metabolism, complement and coagulation system, ECM receptor interaction, MAPK signal pathway, etc. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that DPf3 has strong antithrombotic and endothelial protective effects. The endothelial protective ability and related mechanisms of DPf3 provide a scientific reference for the traditional use of earthworms in the treatment of thrombosis.

[Optimization of extraction process for classic prescription Yihuang Decoction based on Box-Behnken design-response surface methodology, standard relation, and analytic hierarchy process combined with entropy weight method].

Based on the concept of quality by design(QbD), the Box-Behnken design-response surface methodology combined with standard relation(SR) and analytic hierarchy process(AHP)-entropy weight method(EWM) was applied to optimize the extraction process of the classic prescription Yihuang Decoction. The content of geniposidic acid, phellodendrine hydrochloride, and berberine hydrochloride in Yihuang Decoction, the extract yield, and fingerprint similarity were used as the critical quality attributes(CQAs) of the extraction process. The extraction time, water addition, and extraction times were used as the critical process parameters(CPPs). After determining the levels of each factor and level through single-factor experiments, response surface experiments were designed according to the Box-Behnken principle, and the experimental results were analyzed. The SR between each sample and the reference sample under various evaluation indicators of different extraction parameters was calculated. The weights of the five evaluation indicators were determined using AHP-EWM, followed by comprehensive evaluation. A function model between CPPs and CQAs characterized by comprehensive scores was established to predict the optimal extraction process parameters. In the final comprehensive weight coefficients, the yield rate accounted for 43.1%, and the content of berberine hydrochloride, phellodendrine hydrochloride, and geniposidic acid accounted for 35.1%, 6.3%, and 15.5%, respectively. After comprehensive score analysis with SR, the established second-order polynomial model was statistically significant(P<0.01, and the lack of fit was not significant). The predicted optimal extraction conditions for Yihuang Decoction were determined as follows: 8-fold volume of water, extraction time of 1.5 h, and extraction once. The mean comprehensive score of the validation experiment was 85.77, with an RSD of 0.99%, and it met the quality control stan-dards for the reference sample of Yihuang Decoction. The results indicate that the optimized extraction process for Yihuang Decoction is stable and reliable, and the water extract is close in quality attributes to the reference sample. This can serve as a foundation for the research and development of granules in the future. Box-Behnken design-response surface methodology combined with SR and AHP-EWM can provide references for the modern extraction process research of other classic prescriptions.

[Intelligent co-design of material, process, and equipment for manufacturing high-quality traditional Chinese medicine preparations].

In the context of Pharma 4.0, the design tools that support the pharmaceutical Quality by Design(QbD) are iterating fast toward intelligent or smart design. The conventional development methods for traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) preparations have the limitations such as over dependence on experience, low dimensions for the designed experiment parameters, poor compatibility between the process and equipment, and high trial-and-error cost during process scale-up. Therefore, this paper innovatively proposed the intelligent co-design involving material, process, and equipment for manufacturing high-quality TCM preparations, and introduced the design philosophy, targets, tools, and applications with TCM oral solid dosage(OSD) as an example. In terms of design philosophy, the pharmaceutical design tetrahedron composed of critical material attributes, critical process parameters, critical equipment attributes, and critical quality attributes was developed. The design targets were put forward based on the product performance classification system. The design tools involve a design platform that contains several modules, such a as the iTCM material database, the processing route classification system, the system modeling and simulation, and reliability-based optimization. The roles of different modules in obtaining essential and universal design knowledge of the key common manufacturing units were introduced. At last, the applications of the co-design methodology involving material, process, and equipment in the high shear wet granulation process development and the improvement of the dissolving or dispersion capability of TCM formula granules are illustrated. The research on advanced pharmaceutical design theory and methodology will help enhance the efficiency and reliability of drug development, improve the product quality, and promote the innovation of high-end TCM products across the industry.

Study of the skin-penetration promoting effect and mechanism of combined system of curcumin liposomes prepared by microfluidic chip and skin penetrating peptides TD-1 for topical treatment of primary melanoma.

The transdermal drug delivery system (TDDS) is an effective strategy for the treatment of melanoma with fewer side effects and good biocompatible, but the skin penetration of drugs should be further promoted. Here, we proposed a new system that combined curcumin liposomes (Cur-Lips) with skin-penetrating peptides to promote skin penetration ability. However, the preparation of Cur-Lips has drawbacks of instability and low entrapment efficiency by the traditional methods. We thus innovatively designed and applied a microfluidic chip to optimize the preparation of Cur-Lips. Cur-Lips exhibited a particle size of 106.22 ± 4.94 nm with a low polydispersity index (＜0.3) and high entrapment efficiency of 99.33 ± 1.05 %, which were prepared by the microfluidic chip. The Cur-Lips increased the skin penetration capability of Cur by 2.76 times compared to its solution in vitro skin penetration experiment. With the help of skin-penetrating peptide TD-1, the combined system further promoted the skin penetration capability by 4.48 times. The (TD-1 + Cur-Lips) system also exhibited a superior inhibition effect of the tumor to B16F10 in vitro. Furthermore, the topical application of (TD-1 + Cur-Lips) gel suppressed melanoma growth in vivo, and induced tumor cell apoptosis in tumor tissues. The skin-penetration promotion mechanism of the system was investigated. It was proved that the system could interact with the lipids and keratin on the stratum corneum to promote the Cur distribute into the stratum corneum through hair follicles and sweat glands. We proved that the microfluidic chips had unique advantages for the preparation of liposomes. The innovative combined system of liposomes and biological transdermal enhancers can effectively promote the skin penetration effect of drugs and have great potential for the prevention and treatment of melanoma.

Zi-Su-Zi decoction improves airway hyperresponsiveness in cough-variant asthma rat model through PI3K/AKT1/mTOR, JAK2/STAT3 and HIF-1α/NF-κB signaling pathways.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Cough-variant asthma (CVA) is one of the most common causes of chronic cough. Its pathogenesis is closely related to chronic airway inflammation and airway hyperresponsiveness. CVA belongs to the category of "wind cough" in Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). Zi-Su-Zi decoction (ZSD) is a Chinese herbal formula that is clinically used for the treatment of cough and asthma, especially CVA. However, the mechanism of action remains unclear. AIM OF THE STUDY: In this study, we aimed to explore the potential mechanism by which ZSD improves CVA airway hyperresponsiveness. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The targets of ZSD in CVA were studied using a Network pharmacology. The main chemical components of ZSD were detected and analyzed using ultra-high-pressure liquid chromatography (UHPLC-MS/MS). In animal experiments, the rat model of CVA was established using Ovalbumin (OVA)/Aluminum hydroxide (AL(OH)3) sensitization. Moreover, the experiment also evaluated cough symptoms, percentage of eosinophils (EOS%), pulmonary function tests, histopathological sections, blood cytokine levels, mRNA and protein levels. RESULTS: The results showed that Network pharmacology suggested 276 targets of ZSD and CVA and found that ZSD treatment with CVA was closely related to the phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (AKT) signaling pathway. UHPLC-MS/MS revealed that ZSD contained 52 main chemical components. Compared with the model group, the cough symptoms of the rats in the different ZSD concentration groups were relieved, the EOS% index was lowered, and body weight was increased. HE staining showed that ZSD reduced airway inflammation, edema and hyperplasia, thereby improving the pathological structure of lung tissue, and the effect of high-dose ZSD was especially significant. Our most important finding was that ZSD blocked the entry of hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α), signal transducer and activator of transcription-3 (STAT3) and nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB) into the nucleus by interfering with PI3K/AKT1/mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR), and janus kinase 2 (JAK2) signaling factors. Consequently, inhibiting the release of cytokines and immunoglobulin-E, thereby reducing airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) and partially reverses airway remodeling. CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that ZSD can improve airway hyperresponsiveness and partially reverse airway remodeling by inhibiting the PI3K/AKT1/mTOR, JAK2/STAT3 and HIF-1α/NF-κB signaling pathways. Therefore, ZSD is an effective prescription for the treatment of CVA.

A novel glycoprotein from earthworm extract PvE-3: Insights of their characteristics for promoting diabetic wound healing and attenuating methylglyoxal-induced cell damage.

Diabetic chronic wound is a worldwide medical burden related to overdosed methylglyoxal (MGO) synthesis, which is the major precursor of glycation of proteins and DNA and is related to the dysfunction of dermal cells thus leading to chronic refractory wounds. Previous studies proved that earthworm extract accelerates diabetic wound healing and possesses cell proliferation and antioxidative effects. However, the effects of earthworm extract on MGO-damaged fibroblasts, the inner mechanisms of MGO-induced cell damage and the functional components in earthworm extract are still poorly understood. Firstly, we evaluated the bioactivities of the earthworm extract PvE-3 on the diabetic wound model and the diabetic related cell damage model. Then the mechanisms were investigated through transcriptomics, flow cytometry and fluorescence probe. The results revealed that PvE-3 promoted diabetic wound healing and protected fibroblast function in cell-damaged conditions. Meanwhile, the high-throughput screening implied the inner mechanisms of diabetic wound healing and PvE-3 cytoprotection effect were involved in the muscle cell function, the cell cycle regulation and the mitochondrial transmembrane potential depolarization. The functional glycoprotein isolated from PvE-3 possessed EGF-like domain which had a strong binding affinity with EGFR. The findings provided references to explore the potential treatments of diabetic wound healing.

[Application of traditional Chinese medicine theory in modern traditional Chinese medicine nano-preparation: taking tumor treatment as an example].

With Zang-Fu organs, meridians, Qi and blood, and body fluid as the physiological and pathological basis, traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) theory is guided by the holistic concept and characterized by syndrome differentiation. It has made significant contributions to human health maintenance and disease prevention. Modern TCM preparation is developed on the basis of inheriting and developing TCM preparations using modern science and technology under the guidance of TCM theory. At present, the incidence and mortality of common tumors are increasing. TCM has rich clinical experience in the treatment of tumors. However, in the current stage, some TCM preparations have a tendency to deviate from the guidance of TCM theory. With the modernization of TCM, it is worth considering how TCM theory guides modern TCM preparations. Taking tumor treatment as an example, this paper introduced the development of TCM nano-preparation under the influence of modern nanotechnology, summarized the research on the development of modern TCM nano-preparation from the aspects of TCM holistic concept, TCM treatment principles, and TCM theory application, and discussed the application prospect of TCM nano-preparation in overall therapy, drug pairing, carrier selection, and targeted substance selection under the guidance of TCM theory. This paper provides new references for further developing the combination of tradition and modernization of TCM nano-preparation.

[Effect of nanoparticles of different stiffness combined with menthol/curcumol on mechanical properties of bEnd.3 cells].

This study aimed to investigate the effects of nanoparticles PLGA-NPs and mesoporous silicon nanoparticles(MSNs) of different stiffness before and after combination with menthol or curcumol on the mechanical properties of bEnd.3 cells. The particle size distributions of PLGA-NPs and MSNs were measured by Malvern particle size analyzer, and the stiffness of the two nanoparticles was quantified by atomic force microscopy(AFM). The bEnd.3 cells were cultured in vitro, and the cell surface morphology, roughness, and Young's modulus were examined to characterize the roughness and stiffness of the cell surface. The changes in the mechanical properties of the cells were observed by AFM, and the structure and expression of cytoskeletal F-actin were observed by a laser-scanning confocal microscope. The results showed that both nanoparticles had good dispersion. The particle size of PLGA-NPs was(98.77±2.04) nm, the PDI was(0.140±0.030), and Young's modulus value was(104.717±8.475) MPa. The particle size of MSNs was(97.47±3.92) nm, the PDI was(0.380±0.016), and Young's modulus value was(306.019±8.822) MPa. The stiffness of PLGA-NPs was significantly lower than that of MSNs. After bEnd.3 cells were treated by PLGA-NPs and MSNs separately, the cells showed fine pores on the cell surface, increased roughness, decreased Young's modulus, blurred and broken F-actin bands, and reduced mean gray value. Compared with PLGA-NPs alone, PLGA-NPs combined with menthol or curcumol could allow deepened and densely distributed surface pores of bEnd.3 cells, increase roughness, reduce Young's modulus, aggravate F-actin band breakage, and diminish mean gray value. Compared with MSNs alone, MSNs combined with menthol could allow deepened and densely distributed surface pores of bEnd.3 cells, increase roughness, reduce Young's modulus, aggravate F-actin band breakage, and diminish mean gray value, while no significant difference was observed in combination with curcumol. Therefore, it is inferred that the aromatic components can increase the intracellular uptake and transport of nanoparticles by altering the biomechanical properties of bEnd.3 cells.

Differences in in vivo absorption of flavone glycosides, flavone aglycones and terpene lactones under different dosage forms and physiological conditions.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Ginkgo biloba L. extract (GBE) oral preparations have been used for many years in the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, and the main active ingredients are flavonoids and terpene lactones. Among them, the oral absorption of the prototype components of flavonoid glycosides into the blood needs to be further clarified, and the differences in the oral absorption of different components in GBE by different dosage forms and physiological conditions are not clear yet. AIM OF THE STUDY: To clarify the oral absorption of the prototype flavonoid glycosides in vivo, and to further explore the differences in the oral absorption of various active compounds under different oral dosage forms and dietary conditions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Firstly, the target compounds were selected based on the characteristic chromatogram of GBE and literature. Then, the content differences of three different oral GBE preparations were studied, and their pharmacokinetics (PK) were compared. Finally, the PK differences of the preparations with better oral absorption under different dietary conditions were studied. RESULTS: Five flavonoid glycosides, three aglycones and four terpene lactones were selected as the research objects. The content determination results of GBE tablets, guttate pills and tinctures showed that the content of several components especially flavonoid glycosides in the tincture was higher than that of the other two preparations. After oral administration of these three preparations, the PK study showed different results from previous studies. The PK behavior of flavonoid glycosides was also determined at the same time as flavonoid glycosides and terpene lactones. and the bioavailability of flavonoid glycosides in the tincture was higher than that of the other two preparations. PK results of fasting and non-fasting showed that taking GBE tincture on an empty stomach increased the absorption of various compounds, especially flavonoid glycosides. However, due to the existence of food residues in the gastrointestinal tract, the oral bioavailability of flavonoid glycosides was significantly improved. CONCLUSIONS: This study discussed the differences in the content and oral absorption of active compounds in different oral preparations of GBE, clarified the in vivo absorption of flavonoid glycosides prototype, as well as the influence of diet on the PK of active compounds, which has certain guiding significance for the clinical application of GBE oral preparations.

Combined Chemo-Immuno-Photothermal Therapy for Effective Cancer Treatment via an All-in-One and One-for-All Nanoplatform.

Tumor metastasis and recurrence are recognized to be the main causes of failure in cancer treatment. To address these issues, an "all in one" and "one for all" nanoplatform was established for combined "chemo-immuno-photothermal" therapy with the expectation to improve the antitumor efficacy. Herein, Docetaxel (DTX, a chemo-agent) and cynomorium songaricum polysaccharide (CSP, an immunomodulator) were loaded into zein nanoparticles coated by a green tea polyphenols/iron coordination complex (GTP/FeIII, a photothermal agent). From the result, the obtained nanoplatform denoted as DTX-loaded Zein/CSP-GTP/FeIII NPs was spherical in morphology with an average particle size of 274 nm, and achieved pH-responsive drug release. Moreover, the nanoplatform exhibited excellent photothermal effect both in vitro and in vivo. It was also observed that the nanoparticles could be effectively up take by tumor cells and inhibited their migration. From the results of the in vivo experiment, this nanoplatform could completely eliminate the primary tumors, prevent tumor relapses on LLC (Lewis lung cancer) tumor models, and significantly inhibit metastasis on 4T1 (murine breast cancer) tumor models. The underlying mechanism was also explored. It was discovered that this nanoplatform could induce a strong ICD effect and promote the release of damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) including CRT, ATP, and HMGB1 by the dying tumor cells. And the CSP could assist the DAMPs in inducing the maturation of dendritic cells (DCs) and facilitate the intratumoral infiltration of T lymphocytes to clear up the residual or disseminated tumor cells. In summary, this study demonstrated that the DTX-loaded Zein/CSP-GTP/FeIII is a promising nanoplatform to completely inhibit tumor metastasis and recurrence.

[Quality standard and quality value transfer of reference samples of classical prescription Huagan Decoction].

The detection method of characteristic spectrum for reference samples was established by preparing 15 batches of the reference samples of Huagan Decoction, and the peak attribution and the similarity range in the characteristic spectrum were clarified. The ranges of paste-forming rate, content, and transfer rate of the index components including geniposide, paeonol, and paeoniflorin were analyzed. The key quality attribute of the reference samples of Huagan Decoction was defined. The results showed that the 15 batches of the reference samples of Huagan Decoction had good similarities in the characteristic spectrum, which were all higher than 0.9. According to the information of characteristic peak, there were 18 characteristic peaks in the whole prescription, including seven common characteristic peaks from green tangerine peel and dried tangerine peel, four characteristic peaks from tree peony root bark(three of them were common characteristic peaks from tree peony root bark and red peony root), five characteristic peaks from cape jasmine fruit, one characteristic peak from paniculate bolbostemma, and one characteristic peak from oriental waterplantain rhizome.The paste-forming rate of the 15 batches of reference samples was 14.73%-18.83%. The content of geniposide was 1.68%-2.87%, with the average transfer rate of 70.05%±11.13%. The content of paeonol was 0.10%-0.16%, with the average transfer rate of 9.38%±1.78%. The content of paeoniflorin was 1.94%-2.74%, with the average transfer rate of 36.69%±4.63%. This study analyzed the quality value transfer of the reference samples of Huagan Decoction by the evaluation mode of combining the characteristic spectrum, the paste-forming rate, and the content of index components. The findings of this study initially established a stable and feasible standard decoction evaluation method and provided references for the quality control and the subsequent development of relevant preparations of Huagan Decoction.

Network pharmacology-based prediction and verification of the active ingredients and potential targets of Huagan Decoction for reflux esophagitis.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Huagan Decoction (HGD), a famous traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) formula, has been widely used in the treatment of reflux esophagitis (RE). However, its effective compounds, potential targets and molecular mechanism remain unclear. AIM OF THE STUDY: To investigate effective compounds, potential targets and molecular mechanism of HGD against RE by using network pharmacology combined with in vitro validation, with the aims of observing the action of HGD and exploring new therapeutic strategies for RE treatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Effective compounds and potential targets of HGD, as well as related genes of RE, were collected from public databases. Pharmacological clustering and Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment analysis were applied to find targets that involving in the anti-inflammatory module. The pathways were drawn using Cytoscape 3.8.0. Important ingredients, potential targets, and signaling pathways were determined through the construction of protein-protein interaction (PPI), GO and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG). Subsequently, cell experiments were carried out. RESULTS: A total of 54 active ingredients and 240 RE-related gene targets of HGD were identified. The active compound-target network was visualized and pharmacological clustering further sorted 53 proteins that involve in the regulation of inflammatory responses. GO analysis confirmed the classification was statistically significant. Analysis of compound-target network revealed that quercetin and geniposide may be key ingredients for the anti-inflammatory effect of HGD against RE. The potential targets regulated by HGD are IL-6, IL-1ß, PTGS2, AKT1, TNF-α, MAPK1, IL-8, IL-10, CCL2 and MAPK3. In vitro experiment showed that quercetin and geniposide could inhibit the inflammatory response of HET-1A cells through p38MAPK/NF-κB signaling pathway, which was consistent with the prediction by the network pharmacology approach. CONCLUSIONS: Geniposide and quercetin could be effective therapeutic ingredients for the HGD against RE. They play anti-inflammatory effects via down-regulating the pro-inflammatory cytokines and the conduction of p38MAPK/NF-κB signal. This research provides a comprehensive study on the active components, potential targets, and molecular mechanisms of HGD against RE. Moreover, the study supplies a feasible approach to reveal the mechanisms of TCM formula.

[Comparative study on in vivo and in vitro permeability of Huoxue Zhitong gel patch and microemulsion gel].

This study aims to establish a method for determination of paeonol(Pae), eugenol(Eug), and piperine(Pip) content in receptor liquid and research on the permeability and pharmacokinetics of Huoxue Zhitong gel patch and microemulsion gel. The Franz diffusion experiment was conducted to assess the percutaneous permeability, and the microdialysis method was employed to assess pharmacokinetics of Huoxue Zhitong gel patch and microemulsion gel. The content of Pae, Eug, and Pip in receptor liquid in vitro and in vivo was determined by HPLC and UPLC-MS. The Q_n and J_(ss) of Pae, Eug, and Pip in the gel patch were significantly higher than those in the microemulsion gel, indicating that the drug release was faster in the gel patch. The C_(max), AUC_(0-760), and MRT of Pae, Eug, and Pip in the gel patch were higher than those in the microemulsion gel, indicating that the gel patch can promote the penetration and prolong the skin residence of the drug. The results of this study provide reference for improving the dosage form of Huoxue Zhitong patch.

[Application progress on taste evaluation methods for oral preparations].

Taste is an important factor affecting the medicinal properties of oral preparations and patient compliance with medication, and also an important evaluation index for oral preparation design and clinical application. How to characterize the taste objectively, accurately, simply, and efficiently is a bottleneck problem that restricts the taste design, development, and utilization of oral preparations. At present, the commonly used taste assessment methods for oral preparations are traditional human taste panel, electronic tongue, animal preference test, in vitro release study, and electrophysiological test. The traditional human taste panel is the first choice for taste evaluation, but it is limited by poor subjectivity and reproducibility. Therefore, despite some limitations, the other four taste assessment methods have been applied in the pharmaceutical industry as auxiliary methods. This study reviewed the detection principles, applicability, advantages, and disadvantages of the above methods to provide references for the taste correction research and taste assessment of oral preparations, improve patient compliance and the competitiveness of oral preparation products in the industry, and promote the development of oral preparation technologies.

Quality assessment of fried licorice based on fingerprints and chemometrics.

Fried licorice is obtained by frying licorice without using any auxiliary materials, and it is widely used both as food and medicine in China. To explore the influence of licorice origin on the quality of fried licorice, a method based on fingerprinting and chemometrics was developed. Twenty batches of licorice were selected from four locations. The reference chromatograms of each location were established via similarity analysis. Chemometric methods, such as cluster, principal component, and orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analyses were used to evaluate the changes in the composition of fried licorice, predict its origin, and reflect its quality. Mass spectrometry was used to identify the chemical components. Finally, an origin prediction function was established via discriminant analysis to trace the origin of licorice. The model was demonstrated to be stable, reliable, and accurate in predicting licorice origin and to provide a reference for origin traceability.

Therapeutic effects of Chinese medicine Di-Long (Pheretima vulgaris) on rheumatoid arthritis through inhibiting NF-κB activation and regulating Th1/Th2 balance.

Chinese medicine Di-Long, the dried body of Pheretima vulgaris (Chen) has been used for the treatment of joint inflammation, arthralgia and numbness of limbs for many years. This study was to investigate the anti-rheumatoid arthritis (RA) effects of Di-Long and to explore its possible mechanisms. The identification and quantification of representative components in Di-Long extracts (DL) were carried out by HPLC analysis. The anti-RA effects and mechanisms of DL were studied in CIA mice, RAW 264.7 macrophages and spleen T lymphocytes. The Th1/Th2 cell ratio in CIA mice spleens were determined by Flow cytometry. The cytokine levels were determined by ELISA method. The expressions of p-NF-κB p65 in ankle joints of CIA mice were detected by Immunohistochemistry analysis. The phosphorylation of NF-κB signaling pathway in RAW 264.7 macrophages and expressions of T-bet and GATA-3 in CIA mice spleens were determined by Western blots. The treatment with DL significantly decreased the paw thickness, arthritis scores and inflammatory cells infiltration in CIA mice. The TNF-α, IL-6 concentrations in both mice serum and macrophages secretion were markedly reduced with the treatment of DL, as well as the phosphorylation of NF-κB pathway. DL inhibited the expressions of T-bet and GATA-3 and decreased Th1/Th2 cells ratio in CIA mice spleens. DL reduced IFN-γ, IL-2 levels in mice serum and spleen T lymphocytes, and increased IL-4 levels in CIA mice serum. Chinese medicine Di-Long have significant anti-RA effects. The mechanisms might be inhibiting the activation of NF-κB signaling pathway and regulating the balance of Th1/Th2 cells.

[Enhancing effects of chemical permeation enhancer propylene glycol and ultrasonic technology on transdermal permeation of Baimai Ointment].

This study aimed to improve the transdermal permeation quantity of Baimai Ointment by investigating the enhancing effects of physical and chemical permeation promoting methods on transdermal permeation of Baimai Ointment. The improved Franz diffusion cell method was used for in vitro transdermal experiment. The abdominal skin of mice was used, and the skin was treated with 3% propylene glycol in the chemical enhancement group. Ultrasonic technology was introduced in the physical enhancement group. The conditions of ultrasonic technology were optimized by single factor trial. Taking Q_(EF) and ER as the indexes of penetration promotion performance, the enhancing effects of the two methods were compared. The results showed that the promotion performance of 3% propylene glycol for ammonium glycyrrhizinate, nardosinone and curcumin of the chemical enhancement group were 1.74, 1.60, and 3.73 times higher than those of the blank group, respectively. The overall permeation efficiency of the Baimai Ointment was significantly improved. The comprehensive promoting effect on each component was curcumin>ammonium glycyrrhizinate>nardosinone. In the physical enhancement group, the penetration promoting effect of ultrasonic power 1.0 W was better than that of 2.0 W and 0.5 W, ultrasonic time 5 min was better than 3 min and 8 min, and the ultrasonic frequency 1 MHz was better than 3 MHz. Therefore, the optimal ultrasonic condition was 1.0 W-5 min-1 MHz. Under this condition, in terms of the transdermal permeation for ammonium glycyrrhizinate, the Q_(EF) and ER of the ultrasonic technology were better than those of 3% propylene glycol. In terms of the transdermal permeation for nardosinone and curcumin, the QEF and ER of 3% propylene glycol were better than those of the ultrasonic technology. Therefore, 3% propylene glycol combined with ultrasonic technology can be used to promote permeation of Baimai Ointment that contains both water-soluble and fat-soluble components in the clinical application. This study provides a theoretical basis for the clinical application of Baimai Ointment and other transdermal preparations.

Study on the Mechanism of Baimai Ointment in the Treatment of Osteoarthritis Based on Network Pharmacology and Molecular Docking with Experimental Verification.

Purpose: The external preparation of the Tibetan medicine formula, Baimai ointment (BMO), has great therapeutic effects on osteoarthritis (OA). However, its molecular mechanism remains almost elusive. Here, a comprehensive strategy combining network pharmacology and molecular docking with pharmacological experiments was adopted to reveal the molecular mechanism of BMO against OA. Methods: The traditional Chinese medicine for systems pharmacology (TCMSP) database and analysis platform, traditional Chinese medicine integrated database (TCMID), GeneCards database, and DisGeNET database were used to screen the active components and targets of BMO in treating OA. A component-target (C-T) network was built with the help of Cytoscape, and the Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment through STRING. Autodock Tools which was used to dock the key components and key target proteins was analyzed. Animal experiments were performed to verify the key targets of BMO. Hematoxylin-eosin and toluidine blue staining were used to observe the pathology of joints. Protein expression was determined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results: Bioactive compounds and targets of BMO and OA were screened. The network analysis revealed that 17-ß-estradiol, curcumin, licochalone A, quercetin, and glycyrrhizic acid were the candidate key components, and IL6, tumor necrosis factor (TNF), MAPK1, VEGFA, CXCL8, and IL1B were the candidate key targets in treating OA. The KEGG indicated that the TNF signaling pathway, NF-κB signaling pathway, and HIF-1 signaling pathway were the potential pathways. Molecular docking implied a strong combination between key components and key targets. The pathology and animal experiments showed BMO had great effects on OA via regulating IL6, TNF, MAPK1, VEGFA, CXCL8, and IL1B targets. These findings were consistent with the results obtained from the network pharmacology approach. Conclusion: This study preliminarily illustrated the candidate key components, key targets, and potential pathways of BMO against OA. It also provided a promising method to study the Tibetan medicine formula or external preparations.

[Puerarin-Chuanxiong oil submicron emulsion combining medicine and adjuvant].

This study was mainly based on the compatibility of Puerariae Lobatae Radix and Chuanxiong Rhizoma to prepare submicron emulsion and evaluated its physical and pharmaceutical properties. Firstly, pseudo-ternary phase diagrams were drawn by dripping method which took Chuanxiong oil as the oil phase and the area of microemulsion region as the index. On this basis, suitable emulsifier and co-emulsifier were screened for the preparation of Chuanxiong oil submicron emulsion. Then, the formula realizing the largest oil loading was selected. Finally, puerarin substituted part of emulsifier and co-emulsifier to lower their content, so as to form puerarin-Chuanxiong oil submicron emulsion featuring the combination of medicine and adjuvant. Its particle size, zeta potential, centrifugal stability and storage stability were determined, and the in vitro drug release behavior was investigated by dialysis bag method, based on which the quality of the as-prepared submicron emulsion was evaluated comprehensively. The proposed method was proved feasible for the preparation of Chuanxiong oil submicron emulsion, which adopted polyoxyethylene castor oil(EL-40) as the emulsifier and was free from co-emulsifier. The formula of the maximum oil loading was found as Chuanxiong oil∶EL-40∶water 3∶7∶90. Further, puera-rin successfully replaced up to 10% of the emulsifier in submicron emulsion. Eventually, the optimal drug-loading formula was determined as puerarin∶Chuanxiong oil∶EL-40∶water 7∶30∶63∶900. The quality evaluation results of the as-prepared submicron emulsion demonstrated that the average emulsion droplet size was 333.9 nm, the PDI 0.26, and the zeta potential-10.12 mV. The submicron emulsion had a good centrifugal stability and did not present any instable phenomena such as delamination and precipitation during its standing still for 50 days. The evaluation of in vitro drug release behavior indicated that the submicron emulsion was capable of releasing the drug completely. The puerarin-chuanxiong oil submicron emulsion prepared in this study possessed a stable quality and to some extent increased the solubility of puerarin along with a sustained-release effect. This study provided ideas for the clinical application of puerarin.

Combined photothermal-immunotherapy via poly-tannic acid coated PLGA nanoparticles for cancer treatment.

Photothermal therapy (PTT) is able to ablate tumors via hyperthermia, while immunotherapy could prevent tumor recurrence and metastasis by activating the host immune responses. Therefore, the combination of PTT and immunotherapy offers great advantages for the treatment of cancer. To achieve this goal, poly tannic acid (pTA) coated PLGA nanoparticles (PLGA-pTA NPs) were synthesized for combined photothermal-immunotherapy. pTA was a coordination complex formed by TA and Fe3+ and it could be easily coated on PLGA NPs within seconds with a coating rate of 5.89%. As a photothermal agent, PLGA-pTA revealed high photothermal conversion efficiency and excellent photo-stability upon 808 nm laser irradiation. It also exhibited strong photothermal cytotoxicity against 4T1 cells. Moreover, PLGA-pTA based PTT could effectively trigger DC maturation since it could induce the release of DAMPs. The result of animal experiments showed that PLGA-pTA plus laser irradiation raised the tumor temperature up to ca. 60 °C and effectively suppressed the growth of primary tumors. What's more, the progression of distant tumors as well as lung metastasis was also significantly inhibited due to the activation of anti-tumor responses by PLGA-pTA mediated PTT. When further combined with anti-PD-L1 antibody (a-PD-L1), the tumor growth and metastasis were almost completely inhibited. Our study provided a versatile platform to achieve combined photothermal-immunotherapy with enhanced therapeutic efficacy.