Lipidomics reveals the lipid metabolism disorders in Fructus Psoraleae-induced hepatotoxicity in rats with kidney-yin deficiency syndrome.

Fructus Psoraleae (FP), one of the important traditional Chinese medicines, is widely used in clinic and has been reported to be hepatotoxic. However, there is no report on the mechanism of FP-induced hepatotoxicity based on the theory of You Gu Wu Yun. In this study, plasma samples of rats with different kidney deficiency syndromes were investigated using a lipidomics approach based on UPLC/Q-TOF-MS technique. Firstly, multivariate statistical analysis, VIP value test, statistical test and other methods were used to find the lipid metabolites in the two syndrome model groups that were different from the normal group. The screening of differential lipid metabolites revealed that there were 12 biomarkers between the blank group and the kidney-yang deficiency model group as well as 16 differential metabolites between the kidney-yin deficiency model group, and finally a total of 17 relevant endogenous metabolites were identified, which could be used as differential lipid metabolites to distinguish between kidney-yin deficiency and kidney-yang deficiency evidence. Secondly, the relative content changes of metabolites in rats after administration of FP decoction were further compared to find the substances associated with toxicity after administration, and the diagnostic ability of the identified biomarkers was evaluated using a receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC). Results a total of 14 potential differential lipid metabolites, including LysoPC(20:0/0:0) and LysoPC(16:0/0:0), which may be related to hepatotoxicity in rats with kidney-yin deficiency syndrome were further screened, namely, the potential active lipid metabolites related to hepatotoxicity in rats induced by FP. Finally, cluster analysis, MetPA analysis and KEGG database were used to analyze metabolic pathways. It was discovered that the metabolism of glycerophospholipid and sphingolipid may be strongly related to the mechanism of hepatotoxicity brought on by FP. Overall, we described the lipidomics changes in rats treated with FP decoction and screened out 14 lipid metabolites related to hepatotoxicity in rats with kidney-yin deficiency, which served as a foundation for the theory of "syndrome differentiation and treatment" in traditional Chinese medicine and a guide for further investigation into the subsequent mechanism.

The Evolution of Single-Cell RNA Sequencing Technology and Application: Progress and Perspectives.

As an emerging sequencing technology, single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-Seq) has become a powerful tool for describing cell subpopulation classification and cell heterogeneity by achieving high-throughput and multidimensional analysis of individual cells and circumventing the shortcomings of traditional sequencing for detecting the average transcript level of cell populations. It has been applied to life science and medicine research fields such as tracking dynamic cell differentiation, revealing sensitive effector cells, and key molecular events of diseases. This review focuses on the recent technological innovations in scRNA-Seq, highlighting the latest research results with scRNA-Seq as the core technology in frontier research areas such as embryology, histology, oncology, and immunology. In addition, this review outlines the prospects for its innovative application in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) research and discusses the key issues currently being addressed by scRNA-Seq and its great potential for exploring disease diagnostic targets and uncovering drug therapeutic targets in combination with multiomics technologies.

Monoterpenoid indole alkaloids from the stems of Kopsia officinalis.

Five new indole alkaloids, kopsiofficines H-L (1-5), along with fourteen known alkaloids (6-19) were isolated from the stems of Kopsia officinalis. Their structures were elucidated by extensive NMR, mass spectroscopic analyses and comparison to the reported data. All the isolated compounds were evaluated their anti-inflammatory activities by inhibiting IL-1ß, PGE2 and TNF-α secretion in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-activated RAW264.7 cells. Compounds 2, 3, 6, 7, 11, 12, 15, and 17 show significant anti-inflammatory activities. These results demonstrate pharmacodynamic substance basis of these folkloric claims.

[Study on biosynthesis of silver nanoparticles using fagopyri dibotryis rhizoma extract and optimization of synthesis conditions].

Silver nanoparticles were synthesized from the extract of Fagopyri Dibotryis Rhizoma and the optimization of synthesis was studied. The absorbance of UV-visible spectroscopy was determined under the different influencing factors such as extracting time of Fagopyri Dibotryis Rhizoma powder, reation temperature of synthesis, volume of Fagopyri Dibotryis Rhizoma extract and concentration of AgNO3 to seek the optimization conditions. By means of FT-IR, TEM, DLS and XRD, the silver nanoparticles were characterized. The results showed that when the boiling time of Fagopyri Dibotryis Rhizoma powder was 5 min, resultant temperature was 25 degrees C, the volume ratio of 0.1 g x mL(-1) Fagopyri Dibotryis Rhizoma extract and 1 mmol x L(-1) AgNO3 was 1 to 10, and the reaction time was 3.5 h, the obtained silver nanoparticles had mean size about 27 nm and Zeta potential about -34.3 mV with good uniformity and dispersivity. Therefore, the green synthesis method of silver nanoparticles using extract of traditional Chinese medicine is stable and feasible.

Anti-lung cancer activity through enhancement of immunomodulation and induction of cell apoptosis of total triterpenes extracted from Ganoderma luncidum (Leyss. ex Fr.) Karst.

Ganoderma luncidum (Leyss. ex Fr.) Karst. (GLK) has been used traditionally for the prevention and treatment of cancers or tumors for a long time in Traditional Chinese Medicine. The triterpenes as main effective components of GLK have been found to be beneficial for the efficacy. The purpose of this study was to examine the anti-lung cancer activity of triterpenes of GLK in vitro and in vivo and to explore their anti-lung cancer effects and potential mechanisms. A549 cells and Lewis tumor-bearing mice were used to evaluate the inhibition effects of triterpenes on cell proliferation and tumor growth. The IC50 of triterpenes of GLK on A549 cells was 24.63 µg/mL. Triterpenes of GLK could significantly inhibit tumor growth in mice (30, 60 and 120 mg/kg). The immune organs indexes including spleen and thymus were increased remarkedly by the treatment with triterpenes. Moreover, they were able to stimulate the immune response by increasing the expressions of IL-6 and TNF-α. Flow cytometric analysis revealed that cell arrest caused by triterpenes treatment (7.5, 15 and 30 µg/mL) was in the G2/M phase in A549 cells. Triterpenes induced apoptosis by decreasing the expression of the antiapoptotic protein Bcl-2 and pro-caspase 9 and increasing the levels of cleaved-caspase 9. Our findings suggested that the triterpenes of GLK have anti-lung cancer activity in vitro and in vivo via enhancement of immunomodulation and induction of cell apoptosis. The study provides insights into the mechanism of GLK in the prevention and treatment of lung cancer.

[Exploration of one-step preparation of Ganoderma lucidum multicomponent microemulsion].

To explore one-step method for the preparation of Ganoderma lucidum multicomponent microemulsion, according to the dissolution characteristics of triterpenes and polysaccharides in Ganoderma lucidum, formulation of the microemulsion was optimized. The optimal blank microemulsion was used as a solvent to sonicate the Ganoderma lucidum powder to prepare the multicomponent microemulsion, besides, its physicochemical properties were compared with the microemulsion made by conventional method. The results showed that the multicomponent microemulsion was characterized as (43.32 +/- 6.82) nm in size, 0.173 +/- 0.025 in polydispersity index (PDI) and -(3.98 +/- 0.82) mV in zeta potential. The contents of Ganoderma lucidum triterpenes and polysaccharides were (5.95 +/- 0.32) and (7.58 +/- 0.44) mg x mL(-1), respectively. Sonicating Ganoderma lucidum powder by blank microemulsion could prepare the multicomponent microemulsion. Compared with the conventional method, this method is simple and low cost, which is suitable for industrial production.

[Study on nano-CaCO3 applicated in Xin Yue Shu Capsules preliminarily].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the characteristics of nano-CaCO3 applicated in Xin Yue Shu Capsules. METHODS: Studied the effect of different dosages of aerosil or nano-CaCO3 on fluidity, bulk density, moisture absorption of Xin Yue Shu capsules spray drying powder. In vitro dissolution and ferulic acid stability of Xin Yue Shu capsules was observed. RESULTS: It significantly improved powder fluidity and bulk density of Xin Yue Shu spray drying powder when aerosil or nano-CaCO3 was added. But there was no significant effect on powder moisture absorption, ferulic acid in vitro dissolution and ferulic acid stability. CONCLUSION: The effect of Nano-CaCO3 on improving powder fluidity and bulk density applicated in the spray drying powder of traditional Chinese medicine deserves studying further.