ß-Glycosidase sensitive oral nanoparticles for combined photothermal and chemo treatment of colorectal cancer.

Colorectal cancer is one of the most common malignant tumors in the world, and its treatment strategies mainly include surgical resection, chemotherapy, adjuvant radiotherapy, and immunotherapy. Among them, chemotherapy inevitably produces systemic toxicity due to the lack of tumor targeting properties and drug resistance caused by long-term medication frequently occurs, immensely constraining the efficacy of chemotherapy alone. To solve the above-mentioned problems, rhamnolipid was used to encapsulate the chemotherapeutic drug 5-FU and photothermal agent bismuthene nanosheets (BiNS), chitosan was applied as the shell of the nanoparticle, and BiNS@RHL-CS/5-FU NPs for oral administration was successfully prepared. When transported in the stomach and small intestine, the double protection of rhamnolipid and chitosan shell prevented the early release of BiNS and 5-FU. When transported to the colon, ß-glycosidase existing in the microenvironment along with elevated pH degraded the chitosan shell, and the reduction in particle size was beneficial for tumor tissue to uptake nanoparticles, thus greatly improving the tumor targeting ability of 5-FU and reducing the systemic toxicity. Due to the presence of BiNS, 1.0 W cm-2 808 nm laser irradiation significantly increased the temperature of the tumor site, not only killing tumor cells directly but also promoting cell uptake and penetration of nanoparticles in the tumor tissue, accelerating the release of 5-FU and improving the sensitivity of tumor cells to chemotherapy, eventually solving the shortcomings of traditional chemotherapy alone. Excellent anti-tumor efficacy has been achieved in both in vitro and in vivo experiments.

Panax notoginseng alleviates oxidative stress through miRNA regulations based on systems biology approach.

BACKGROUND: Herbal medicine Sanqi (SQ), the dried root or stem of Panax notoginseng (PNS), has been reported to have anti-diabetic and anti-obesity effects and is usually administered as a decoction for Chinese medicine. Alternative to utilizing PNS pure compound for treatment, we are motivated to propose an unconventional scheme to investigate the functions of PNS mixture. However, studies providing a detailed overview of the transcriptomics-based signaling network in response to PNS are seldom available. METHODS: To explore the reasoning of PNS in treating metabolic disorders such as insulin resistance, we implemented a systems biology-based approach with RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) and miRNA sequencing data to elucidate key pathways, genes and miRNAs involved. RESULTS: Functional enrichment analysis revealed PNS up-regulating oxidative stress-related pathways and down-regulating insulin and fatty acid metabolism. Superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1), peroxiredoxin 1 (PRDX1), heme oxygenase-1 (Hmox1) and glutamate cysteine ligase (GCLc) mRNA and protein levels, as well as related miRNA levels, were measured in PNS treated rat pancreatic ß cells (INS-1). PNS treatment up-regulated Hmox1, SOD1 and GCLc expression while down-regulating miR-24-3p and miR-139-5p to suppress oxidative stress. Furthermore, we verified the novel interactions between miR-139-5p and miR-24-3p with GCLc and SOD1. CONCLUSION: This work has demonstrated the mechanism of how PNS regulates cellular molecules in metabolic disorders. Therefore, combining omics data with a systems biology strategy could be a practical means to explore the potential function and molecular mechanisms of Chinese herbal medicine in the treatment of metabolic disorders.

EGB1212 post-treatment ameliorates hippocampal CA1 neuronal death and memory impairment induced by transient global cerebral ischemia/reperfusion.

Extracts of Ginkgo biloba have been used in traditional medicines for centuries, and have potential for clinical applications in cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury. However, standardized extracts have proven protective only as pre-treatments, and the major mechanisms of action remain unclear. We explored the potential of the novel extract EGB1212, which meets the United States Pharmacopeia (USP) 31 standardization criteria for pharmaceutical use, as a post-treatment after global cerebral ischemia/reperfusion (GCI/R) injury in a rat model. The pre-treated group was administered EGB1212 for 7 d prior to common carotid artery occlusion (i.e., ischemia, for 20 min). Post-treated rats received the same but starting 2 h after ischemia and continuing for 7 d. Seven days after GCI/R, brains of each group were processed for H&E staining of hippocampal CA1 neurons. Remaining rats underwent the Morris water maze and Y-maze tests of spatial learning and memory, beginning eight days after reperfusion. To assess hippocampal autophagy, light chain (LC)-3-I/LC3-II and Akt/pAkt were determined via a Western blot of rat hippocampi harvested 12, 24, or 72 h after reperfusion. EGB1212 pre- and post-treatments both improved neuronal survival and spatial learning and memory functions. Pre-treatment effectively reduced LC3-II levels and post-treatment resulted in significantly elevated pAkt levels. We conclude that EGB1212 exerted significant neuroprotection in GCI/R in both preventative and post-treatment settings. This extract shows great potential for clinical applications.

[Simultaneous determination of three steroidal alkaloids from Solanum Nigrum by RP-HPLC].

OBJECTIVE: A new method for simultaneous determination of solasonine (1), solamargine (2) and khasianine (3) in Solanum Nigrum by reversed-phase HPLC was developed. METHOD: The samples were separated at 30 degrees C on Agilent Zorbax SB C18 (4.6 mm x 150 mm, 5 microm) column with acetonitrile-water-phosphoric as mobile phase. Flow rate was 1.0 mL x min(-1) and the detection wavelength was 205 nm. RESULT: There was good linearity between the peak area and concentration at the ranges of 0.860-10.320 microg (r = 0.999 7), 0.726-8.710 microg (r = 0.999 7), 0.856-10.270 microg (r = 0.999 7) for 1, 2 and 3 respectively. The average recoveries of 1, 2 and 3 were 101.04%, 99.65%, 100.17%. CONCLUSION: The method is rapid, simple and accurate, and it can be used for the evaluation of Solanum Nigrum L.

Co-deoxy-liquefaction of biomass and vegetable oil to hydrocarbon oil: Influence of temperature, residence time, and catalyst.

Co-deoxy-liquefaction of biomass and vegetable oil was investigated under the conditions of different temperatures (350-500 °C) and residence time as well as catalyst using HZSM-5. Results suggested low temperature was favorable for the formation of diesel-like products, while high temperature caused more gasoline-like products. By the addition of HZSM-5, at 450 °C alkanes content of the obtained oil with low oxygen content of 2.28%, reached a maximum of 56.27%, resulting in the highest HHV of 43.8 MJ kg(-1). High temperature favored cracking activity of HZSM-5 which reduced the char formation and contributed to the removal of carbonyl. Compared to temperature, the effect of residence time on products was relatively less; experiments indicated the optimum residence time was 15 min at which obtained oil with the highest yield of 17.78%, had better properties. Preliminary analysis of mechanisms showed biomass provided hydrogen for vegetable oil, facilitating hydrogenation of CC bonds of vegetable oil.

Study of the co-deoxy-liquefaction of biomass and vegetable oil for hydrocarbon oil production.

Hydrocarbon oil was obtained by co-deoxy-liquefaction of biomass and vegetable oil in the work. Results showed the weight ratio of biomass to vegetable oil exerted a great effect on the quality of obtained hydrocarbon oil. The optimum weight ratio of biomass to vegetable oil was 4.4:1, when alkanes with the content of 50.43% were detected in obtained hydrocarbon oil, with lower oxygen content of 2.52%, which resulted in higher calorific value-up to 43.36 MJ kg(-1). At the same time, removal rate of carbonyl group of vegetable oil in the mixture reached at least 75.11%. The overall efficiency of the deoxy-liquefaction of biomass and the decarboxylation of vegetable oil were both enhanced by adding vegetable oil into biomass. Compared with the oils obtained from vegetable oil and biomass, respectively, distribution of hydrocarbon oil obtained from the mixture was much more similar to that of diesel oil.