[Mechanism of Cistanches Herba in treatment of cancer-related fatigue based on network pharmacology and experimental verification].

This study aimed to explore the mechanism of Cistanches Herba in the treatment of cancer-induced fatigue(CRF) by network pharmacology combined with in vivo and in vitro experiments to provide a theoretical basis for the clinical medication. The chemical constituents and targets of Cistanches Herba were searched from the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform(TCMSP). The targets of CRF were screened out by GeneCards and NCBI. The common targets of traditional Chinese medicine and disease were selected to construct a protein-protein interaction(PPI) network, followed by Gene Ontology(GO) functional and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG) pathway enrichment analyses. A visual signal pathway rela-ted to Chinese medicine and disease targets was constructed. The CRF model was induced by paclitaxel(PTX) in mice. Mice were divided into a control group, a PTX model group, and low-and high-dose Cistanches Herba extract groups(250 and 500 mg·kg~(-1)). The anti-CRF effect in mice was evaluated by open field test, tail suspension test, and exhaustive swimming time, and the pathological morphology of skeletal muscle was evaluated by hematoxylin-eosin(HE) staining. The cancer cachexia model in C2C12 muscle cells was induced by C26 co-culture, and the cells were divided into a control group, a conditioned medium model group, and low-, medium-, and high-dose Cistanches Herba extract groups(62.5, 125, and 250 µg·mL~(-1)). The reactive oxygen species(ROS) content in each group was detected by flow cytometry, and the intracellular mitochondrial status was evaluated by transmission electron microscopy. The protein expression levels of hypoxia-inducible factor-1α(HIF-1α), BNIP3L, and Beclin-1 were detected by Western blot. Six effective constituents were screened out from Cistanches Herba. The core genes of Cistanches Herba in treating CRF were AKT1, IL-6, VEGFA, CASP3, JUN, EGFR, MYC, EGF, MAPK1, PTGS2, MMP9, IL-1B, FOS, and IL10, and the pathways related to CRF were AGE-RAGE and HIF-1α. Through GO enrichment analysis, it was found that the main biological functions involved were lipid peroxidation, nutrient deficiency, chemical stress, oxidative stress, oxygen content, and other biological processes. The results of the in vivo experiment showed that Cistanches Herba extract could significantly improve skeletal muscle atrophy in mice to relieve CRF. The in vitro experiment showed that Cistanches Herba extract could significantly reduce the content of intracellular ROS, the percentage of mitochondrial fragmentation, and the protein expression of Beclin-1 and increase the number of autophagosomes and the protein expression of HIF-1α and BNIP3L. Cistanches Herba showed a good anti-CRF effect, and its mechanism may be related to the key target proteins in the HIF-1α signaling pathway.

Cistanche tubulosa alleviates ischemic stroke-induced blood-brain barrier damage by modulating microglia-mediated neuroinflammation.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Ischemic stroke (IS) has both high morbidity and mortality. Previous research conducted by our group demonstrated that the bioactive ingredients of the traditional medicinal and edible plant Cistanche tubulosa (Schenk) Wight (CT) have various pharmacological effects in treating nervous system diseases. However, the effect of CT on the blood-brain barrier (BBB) after IS are still unknown. AIM OF THE STUDY: This study aimed to identify CT's curative effect on IS and explore its underlying mechanism. MATERIALS AND METHODS: IS injury was established in a rat model of middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO). Gavage administration of CT at dosages of 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg/day was carried out for seven consecutive days. Network pharmacology was used for predicting the pathways and potential targets of CT against IS, and subsequent studies confirmed the relevant targets. RESULTS: According to the results, both neurological dysfunction and BBB disruption were exacerbated in the MCAO group. Moreover, CT improved BBB integrity and neurological function and protected against cerebral ischemia injury. Network pharmacology revealed that IS might involve neuroinflammation mediated by microglia. Extensive follow-up studies verified that MCAO caused IS by stimulating the production of inflammatory factors and microglial infiltration. CT was found to influence neuroinflammation via microglial M1-M2 polarization. CONCLUSION: These findings suggested that CT may regulate microglia-mediated neuroinflammation by reducing MCAO-induced IS. The results provide theoretical and experimental evidence for the efficacy of CT therapy and novel concepts for the prevention and treatment of cerebral ischemic injuries.

Binary chromatographic fingerprint analysis of stemonae radix from three Stemona plants and its applications.

The dried root tubers of Stemona tuberosa, S. japonica and S. sessilifolia are the original sources of Stemonae Radix (SR) for antitussive and insecticidal activities. The products of SR which are available on the market are variable, and imitations exist. In order to characterize the overall chemical constituents of SR and evaluate its quality, a novel, binary high-performance liquid chromatographic fingerprinting method, describing the pattern of alkaloids (fingerprint I) and non-alkaloids (fingerprint II) of SR was developed. It was also applied to determine whether the medicinal parts and the processing methods affect the quality of SR. Similarity and high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS(n)) were utilized to compare or identify the chemical constituents of SR. The results indicate that the chemical constituents from different parts of the underground material of Stemona plants are diverse and that the processing methods affect certain constituents in the root tuber samples. The similarity and the resulting chemical consitituents obtained show that the binary chromatographic fingerprint method can be used to differentiate the three official Stemona species or the adulterants of SR, which is helpful for the identification and quality evaluation of SR.

[Effects of Chinese herbal medicine Guanxinkang on expression of PPARγ-LXRα-ABCA1 pathway in ApoE-knockout mice with atherosclerosis].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effects of Guanxinkang (GXK) decoction, a compound traditional Chinese herbal medicine, on expressions of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ), liver X receptor α (LXRα) and ATP-binding cassette transporter A1 (ABCA1) in apolipoprotein E (ApoE)-knockout mice with atherosclerosis. METHODS: Fourteen 6-week-old C57BL/6 J mice were used as normal control group. Seventy 6-week-old ApoE-knockout mice receiving a high-cholesterol diet to induce atherosclerosis were randomly divided into untreated group, simvastatin group and low-dose (concentration of crude drugs at 0.864 g/mL), medium-dose (crude drugs at 1.728 g/mL) and high-dose (crude drugs at 3.456 g/mL) GXK groups. After treated with the drugs for eight weeks continuously, the livers and aortas of mice were separated. The expressions of PPARγ, LXRα and ABCA1 were measured by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction and Western blotting respectively. RESULTS: Compared with the normal control group, mRNAs and proteins of PPARγ, LXRα and ABCA1 over-expressed in the untreated group (P<0.05). After the treatment, GXK decoction and simvastatin decreased the expressions of PPARγ, LXRα and ABCA1 (P<0.05). High-dose GXK decoction had more marked effects than low- and medium-dose GXK and simvastatin. CONCLUSION: The PPARγ-LXRα-ABCA1 pathway is involved in lipid regulation and inflammation activities. Over-expression of the genes has complicated effects on atherosclerosis in ApoE-knockout mice with high-cholesterol diet. GXK decoction has anti-inflammatory and anti-matrix metalloproteinase activities by regulating PPARγ, LXRα and ABCA1 interactions in the ApoE-knockout mice.

[Effects of Chinese herbal medicine Guanxinkang on lipid metabolism and serum C-reactive protein, amyloid A protein and fibrinogen in apolipoprotein E-knockout mice with atherosclerosis].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effects of Guanxinkang (GXK) decoction, a compound traditional Chinese herbal medicine, on serum lipids and apolipoprotein A I (ApoA I), apolipoprotein B (ApoB), apolipoprotein E (ApoE), C-reactive protein (CRP), serum amyloid A protein (SAA) and fibrinogen (Fbg) concentrations of ApoE-knockout mice with atherosclerosis, and to explore the mechanism of GXK decoction in anti-atherosclerosis. METHODS: Seventy 6-week-old ApoE-knockout mice receiving a high-cholesterol diet were used to induce atherosclerosis and were randomly divided into 5 groups: untreated group, simvastatin group and low- (drug concentration is 0.864 g/mL), medium- (1.728 g/mL), and high-dose (3.456 g/mL) GXK groups. Another fourteen 6-week-old C57BL/6J mice were used as the normal control. Two 12-week-old mice were randomly selected from the normal control and the ApoE-knockout mice respectively to observe vulnerable plaque in the mouse's aortic by hematoxylin-eosin staining. Blood was collected from venous plexus of eye socket after gavage of corresponding drugs once daily for 8 weeks continuously, and then the serum was separated. Triglyceride (TAG) and total cholesterol (TC) were measured by enzyme-coupled assay; low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) were measured by selective precipitation method. Serum levels of ApoA I and ApoB were determined by turbidimetry. Double-antibody sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to detect ApoE, CRP, SAA and Fbg concentrations in serum. RESULTS: Compared with the normal control group, the levels of serum TC, TAG, LDL-C, ApoB, CRP, SAA and Fbg in the untreated group were increased (P<0.05), and the serum concentrations of HDL-C, ApoA I and ApoE in the untreated group were decreased (P<0.05). After treatment, GXK decoction and simvastatin improved the dyslipidemia by increasing the concentrations of ApoA I and HDL-C and decreasing the concentrations of TC, TAG, LDL-C, ApoB, CRP, SAA and Fbg (P<0.05). The high-dose GXK decoction had the most marked effects on SAA and Fbg and the serum lipids compared with the low-dose and medium-dose GXK and simvastatin. CONCLUSION: GXK decoction may not only provide an active effect on hyperlipidemia, but also down-regulate the levels of serum CRP, SAA and Fbg. GXK decoction exerts an anti-atherosclerosis effect in ApoE-knockout mice.

[Studies on the chemical constituents of Rhodiola rosea].

OBJECTIVE: To separate and identify the chemical constituents of n-BuOH extraction from the roots of Rhodiola rosea in Xinjiang. METHODS: The column chromatography was used to separate consituents. The structures were elucidated by chemical reactions and MS, 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR, and 2D-NMR spectral data. RESULTS: Six compounds were isolated and identified as salidroside (I), kaempferol-7-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranoside(II), herbacetin-7-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyr-anoside(III), herbace-tin-7-0-(3"-O-beta-D-glucopyran-oside)-alpha-L-rhamnopyranoside(IV), 5, 7, 3', 5'-tetrahydroxy-flavanone(V), sucrose(VI). CONCLUSION: Compound V is isolated from this plant for the first time.

[Structure-activity relationships of phenylethanoid glycosides in plants of Cistanche salsa on antioxidative activity].

OBJECTIVE: To study the structure-activity relationships of phenylethanoid glycosides in plants of Cistanche salsa on antioxidative activity. METHODS: By the assay systems of DPPH*, the antioxidant activity of six phenylethanoid glycosides from plants of Cistanche salsa was determined to investigate the relationship between the antioxidant activities and phenylethanoid glycosides's structural characteristics. RESULTS: The antioxidative activity of phenylethanoid glycosides was variant with dose-dependent effect. The sequence of the strength of the antioxidative activity of the six components was shown to be 2'-Acetylacteoside > Acteoside > or = Tubuloside B > or = Isoacteoside > Echinacoside > Cistanoside A. CONCLUSION: The antioxidative activity of phenylethanoid glycosides is related to the number of phenolic hydroxyl, steric hindrance, 2-acetyl on the middle glucopyranose, and the location of phenolic hydroxyl. Additionally, it may be related to the alpha, beta-unsaturated ketone of phenl-2-propenoyl.

[Studies on chemical constituents of cultivated Cistanche salsa].

OBJECTIVE: To study the chemical constituents of cultivated Cistanche salsa. METHODS: Compounds were isolated and purified on several chromatography, and then were identified by physico-chemical properties and structurally elucidated by spectral analysis. RESULTS: Seven compounds were isolated and identified as beta-sitosterol (I), daucosterol (II), beta-sitosteryl glucoside 3'-O-heptadecoicate (III), 8-hydroxygeraniol 1-beta-D-glucopyranoside (IV), 2-methanol-5-hydroxy-pyridine (V), betaine (VI), galactitol (VII). CONCLUSION: The chemical constituents of artificial cultivated Cistanche salsa are studied for the first time. Among them, compound III and IV are isolated from the plant for the first time, compound V is isolated from this genus for the first time.