Effect of Tianhuang Formula on Renal Injury and Fibrosis in Hyperuricemia Mice / 中国实验方剂学杂志

ObjectiveTo observe the protective effect and mechanism of Tianhuang formula (THF) against renal injury in hyperuricemia nephropathy (HN) mice through network pharmacology. MethodAll mice were randomly divided into a normal group, a model group, a febuxostat group (5 mg·kg-1), a low-dose THF group (L-THF, 60 mg·kg-1), and a high-dose THF group (H-THF, 120 mg·kg-1). The mice in the normal group were treated with 0.5% sodium carboxymethylcellulose (CMC-Na) by gavage daily. The HN model was induced by oral administration of 500 mg·kg-1 hypoxanthine and intraperitoneal injection of 200 mg·kg-1 oteracil potassium in mice except for those in the blank group. The mice in the groups with drug intervention were treated with corresponding drugs by gavage for three weeks. The levels of serum uric acid, creatinine, urea nitrogen, and 24-h albuminuria were measured. The renal injury was observed by hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining and PAS staining, and renal fibrosis was observed by Sirius red staining. The effects and molecular mechanism of THF in HN mice were analyzed by Western blot, network pharmacology, and molecular docking. ResultBiochemical results indicated that compared with model group, BUN and 24 h urinary protein levels were significantly decreased in L-THF group (P<0.05), SUA and SCr levels were significantly decreased (P<0.01), and SUA, BUN, SCr and 24 h urinary protein levels in H-THF group were significantly decreased (P<0.01). The results of pathological staining showed that the kidney injury and interstitial fibrosis were improved in different doses of THF groups (P<0.05). Western blot results showed that the Nod-like receptor heat protein domain associated protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammatorome, interleukin-1β (IL-1β), fibronectin (FN), uric acid transporter 1 (URAT1), phosphorylated p65 (p-p65) and phosphorylated nuclear transcription factor (NF) -κB were inhibited in the H-THF group The expression of protein-producing α (p-IκBα) was reduced to the normal level (P<0.01), but the expression of IL-1β, URAT1 and p-IκBα in HN mice was not affected in the L-THF group. ConclusionTHF ameliorates renal inflammation and fibrosis by inhibiting the activation of NF-κB and NLRP3 inflammasomes to alleviate HN

Effect and Mechanism of Baoshen Prescription in Alleviating Renal Fibrosis in UUO Mice by Regulating ERK/p38 MAPK Signaling Pathway / 中国实验方剂学杂志

ObjectiveTo observe the protective effect of Baoshen prescription against renal fibrosis and explore its underlying mechanism through network pharmacology， molecular docking， and in vivo experiments. MethodAll mice were randomly divided into sham surgery group， model group， low-， medium-， and high-dose Baoshen prescription groups， and a benazepril hydrochloride group. Unilateral ureteral obstruction （UUO） was performed to establish a renal fibrosis model， and the administration of Baoshen prescription at low， medium， and high doses （0.455， 0.91， and 1.82 g·kg-1）， and benazepril hydrochloride （1.68 mg·kg-1） or distilled water began on the same day as model preparation. Mice in the model group and the sham surgery group were given an equal volume of distilled water. The intervention was carried out once daily for 14 days. Mouse serum levels of blood urea nitrogen （BUN） and creatinine （Cr） were measured. Hematoxylin-eosin （HE） staining and Masson staining were used to observe renal pathological changes. Western blot and immunohistochemistry were used to assess the expression of fibronectin （FN）， α-smooth muscle actin （α-SMA）， and E-cadherin， which are related to renal fibrosis. Real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction （Real-time PCR） was used to measure the mRNA expression of transforming growth factor-β1 （TGF-β1）， tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α）， NOD-like receptor protein 3 （NLRP3）， and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 （MCP-1） in renal tissues. The mechanism of Baoshen prescription in improving renal fibrosis was explored through network pharmacology， molecular docking， and Western blot experiments. ResultCompared with the sham surgery group， the model group showed significantly increased levels of BUN and Cr （P<0.01）. The model group exhibited abnormal renal glomerular morphology， loss of tubular brush borders， tubular dilation， and an enlarged area of blue collagen fibers. Mice in the model group showed significantly elevated levels of FN and α-SMA （P<0.01）， significantly decreased expression of E-cadherin （P<0.01）， and significantly increased expression of TGF-β1， TNF-α， NLRP3， and MCP-1 mRNA （P<0.05， P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， the Baoshen prescription groups showed significantly reduced BUN and Cr levels （P<0.01）， alleviated renal pathological damage， improved fibrosis， reduced expression of FN and α-SMA （P<0.01）， increased E-cadherin expression （P<0.01）， and downregulated mRNA expression of TGF-β1， TNF-α， NLRP3， and MCP-1 （P<0.05， P<0.01）. Network pharmacology and molecular docking predicted that Baoshen prescription could potentially improve renal fibrosis through the extracellular signal-regulated kinase （ERK）/p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase （MAPK） signaling pathway. Pharmacological research showed that compared with the sham surgery group， the model group exhibited significantly increased expression of phosphorylated （p）-ERK and p-p38 （P<0.05， P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， medium- and high-dose Baoshen prescription groups showed significantly downregulated expression of p-ERK and p-p38 proteins （P<0.05， P<0.01）. ConclusionBaoshen prescription can effectively improve renal fibrosis induced by UUO in mice， and its mechanism of action may be related to the ERK/p38 MAPK signaling pathway.

An integrated fecal microbiome and metabolome in the aged mice reveal anti-aging effects from the intestines and biochemical mechanism of FuFang zhenshu TiaoZhi(FTZ).

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Fufang Zhenzhu Tiao Zhi (FTZ) capsule is a Chinese herbal preparation under the guidance of professor Guo Jiao's new theory of "Tiaogan Qishu Huazhuo" for disorders of glucose and lipid metabolism for more than twenty yares, which has been demonstrated to exhibit potential anti-aging effects such as regulation of glucose and lipid metabolisms and antiinflammatory and antioxidative effects. This study attempts to reveal the anti-intestinal aging effect and possible mechanism of FTZ. METHODS: The mice were divided into three groups: the control group, model group and treatment group. The treatment group was given 1.0 g/kg body weight of FTZ extract administered by oral gavage once a day for 12 consecutive weeks. Age-related alterations such as HE staining of intestinal tissue morphology, mRNA levels of intestinal telomerase and inflammatory cytokines were observed Fecal samples were used for ultra-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-QTOF/MS) and 16S rRNA gene sequencing analyses to reveal age-related metabolic perturbations and gut flora disorders to demonstrate the effects of FTZ. RESULTS: Emerged pathological morphology of intestinal tissues, upregulated relative expression level of gut inflammatory factors and decreased relative expression level of telomerase mRNA in aging mice illustrated characteristic senescent phenotypes in model group. FTZ treatment significantly lowered intestinal inflammation levels, enhanced telomerase activity, partially reversed the fecal metabolites abnormalities and restored the disorders of intestinal flora. Multiple potential metabolites were associated with linoleic acid, glycerophospholipid, α-linolenic acid, biosynthesis of unsaturated fatty acids and glycerolipid metabolisms. Several decreased beneficial butyrate-producing bacteria like S24-7, possible Alkaliphilus belonging to the Clostridia class and increased harmful bacteria such as potentially toxic metabolite hydrogen sulfide-producer Bilophila and Desulfovibrio, inflammation-mediator Mucispirillum were determined in present aging mice. These age-related poor alterations could be partially attenuated by FTZ treatment. CONCLUSION: The pathologic changes of intestinal senescence and the decrease of telomerase mRNA in elderly mice was observed. FTZ may sever as a novel delaying intestinal aging strategy via three pathways for anti-inflammatory, improving gut metabolites and gut flora. This study not only provided biological basis for the theory of treating different diseases with the same treatment in TCM, but also provided objective evidence for incorporating aging into the system of"glucose-lipid metabolism disease".

Hesperidin ameliorates insulin resistance by regulating the IRS1-GLUT2 pathway via TLR4 in HepG2 cells.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect and mechanism of hesperidin (HES) on insulin resistance (IR) in the human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line (HepG2 cells). HepG2 cells were induced with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) as a model of IR and treated with HES at three dosages. Next, the levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), the glucose content, and glucose uptake were evaluated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, glucose oxidase-peroxidase method (GOD-POD), or (2-(N-(7-nitrobenz-2-oxa-1, 3-diazol-4-yl)amino)-2-deoxyglucose) (2-NBDG). Moreover, the protein expression of toll-like receptors 4 (TLR4), insulin receptor substrate 1 (IRS1), nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB), and glucose transporter 2 (GLUT2) in HepG2 cells treated with HES were assessed via western blotting analysis. In addition, GLUT2 protein expression exposed to HES was detected following treatment with TLR4 inhibitor (HTA125). Our results demonstrated that HES decreased the levels of TNF-α and IL-6, attenuated the glucose content in culture medium and increased glucose uptake in insulin-resistant HepG2 cells in vitro. Moreover, HES upregulated the expression of IRS1 and GLUT2 protein and downregulated the protein expression of TLR4 and NF-κB in insulin-resistant HepG2 cells. The expression of GLUT2 protein had no significant changes when treated with HES after blockade of TLR4. HES attenuated IR in LPS-inducedinsulin-resistant HepG2 cells. Therefore, regulating the IRS1-GLUT2 pathway via TLR4 represents a potential mechanism of HES on IR in HepG2 cells.

UPLC-QTOF/MS-Based Lipidomic Profiling of Liver Qi-Stagnation and Spleen-Deficiency Syndrome in Patients with Hyperlipidemia.

Hyperlipidemia is a common disease caused by abnormal plasma lipid metabolism. Lipidomics is a powerful and efficient technology to study the integration of disease and syndrome of Chinese medicine. This study investigated specific changes in lipid metabolites from hyperlipidemia patients with syndrome of liver qi-stagnation and spleen-deficiency (SLQSD). Lipid profiles in plasma samples from 29 hyperlipidemia patients including 10 SLQSD and 19 non-SLQSD and 26 healthy volunteers (NC) were tested by UPLC-QTOF/MS. PLS-DA analysis and database searching were performed to discover differentiating metabolites. Differences in lipid metabolites between hyperlipidemia and healthy people mainly include phosphatidylcholines, phosphatidylethanolamines, phosphatidylglycerols, and ceramides. Hyperlipidemia patients with SLQSD and non-SLQSD could be differentiated by using identified lipid metabolites including phosphatidylcholines, phosphatidylethanolamines, phosphatidylinositols, triglycerides, diacylglycerols, lysophosphatidylethanolamines, sphingomyelins, lysophosphatidylcholines, and lactosylceramides. There were significant differences of lipid metabolism between between different syndromes of the same disease such as hyperlipidemia which showed significant differences between SLQSD and non-SLQSD.

Screening the Lipid-lowering Active Ingredients in Rhubarb by the Hepatocyte Affinity Chromatography in Vitro / 世界科学技术-中医药现代化

Objective: To screen and analysis of antihepatic steatosis active components and cell metabolism withinrhubarb anthraquinones in vitro. Methods: Lipid-lowering activity of liver cell affinity components in rhubarbanthraquinones was evaluated by hepatic steatosis in vitro model. Hepatocyte-specific affinity compositions werescreened by hepatocyte affinity chromatography. Hep G2 cells were incubated with rhubarb anthraquinones in vitro andwere detected by HPLC and HPLC-Q-TOF-MS method. Results: Compared with normal group, the intracellular TGcontent of model group were significantly increased (P＜0.05) . Respectively treated with different concentrations ofrhubarb anthraquinones, the intracellular TG content were significantly decreased in a dose dependent manner (P＜0.05) in comparison with model group. Compared with rhubarb solution, there are mainly four hepatocyte-specific affinitycompositions of aloe-emodin, emodin, chrysophanol and physcion, except for rhein. Conclusion: The lipid-lowering experiment in vitro verified that five rhubarb anthraquinones have significant lipid-lowering activity. This research established a biochromatography method to screen out four hepatocyte-specific affinity compositions of aloe-emodin, emodin, chrysophanol and physcion from rhubarb anthraquinones, while the conjugation sites of rhein were ambiguous.Combined hepatocyte affinity chromatography with hepatic steatosis in vitro model, it could evaluate and screen lipidlowering active ingredient in vitro and cell metabolism of Chinese traditional medicine for the drug development of lipidlowering rhubarb anthraquinones.

[Investigation and morphological observation of Histiostoma feroniarum breeding in Chinese herbal medicine Rhizoma Zingiberis].

OBJECTIVE: To understand the breeding situation of Histiostoma feroniarum in Chinese herbal medicine Rhizoma Zingiberis. METHODS: The Rhizoma Zingiberis sold on the market was selected and brushed. The dust from Rhizoma Zingiberis was screened under a microscope to search the mites. The mites were made into specimens to identify the species. RESULTS: The mites were H. feroniarum. Totally 14 mites were found in 100 g dust sample, with the density of breeding of 0.14/g. CONCLUSIONS: H. feroniarum could breed in Chinese herbal medicine Rhizoma Zingiberis, and the prevention and control measures should be adopted.

Research progress on prevention and treatment of glucolipid metabolic disease with integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine / 中国结合医学杂志

Hyperlipidemia, type 2 diabetes mellitus, nonalcoholic fatty liver and many other metabolic disorder are frequently co-existing in patients. In addition, these diseases are closely related in pathophysiological settings. However, increasing of the disease incidence, lacking of comprehensive prevention and control measurements against the key pathology point concomitant occurrence with the pattern of the single disease, single target therapy, that is leading therapeutic strategy for these metabolic disorders in the setting of Western medicine (WM). On the basis of the combination of the advantages of integrated Chinese medicine (CM) and WM, with unified understanding of such diseases, the new concept of glucolipid metabolic disease (GLMD) is introduced. In this new concept, disorders in glucose and lipid metabolism are recognized as the key trigger and major driving force for the progress of GLMD. The key points of pathology included dysfunction of neuronal-endocrine-immune system, insulin resistance, oxidative stress, inflammation and intestinal flora imbalance. In the core pathogenic perspective of CM, it can be explained as "Gan (Liver) Shi Shu Xie" (dysfunction of Gan in metabolism and emotion regulation) that will lead to the occurence/production of endogenous dampness and phlegm, blood stasis and turbid. This leads to the new concept of "Liver-based regulatory system for metabolic homeostasis" to be introduced further. The comprehensive prevention and control strategy "Tiao Gan Qi Shu Hua Zhuo" (modulating Gan, trigging key metabolic system to resolve pathogenic factors such as phlegm retention and dampness). Its representative formula Fufang Zhenzhu Tiaozhi Capsule () is innovated under such rationales. Comment for some commonly-used CM GLMD therapeutic drugs was presented. High-level evidence-based and epidemiological and mechanism studies should be carried out to further interpret and explain of the scientific connotation of GLMD.

A lipophilic prodrug of Danshensu: preparation, characterization, and in vitro and in vivo evaluation / 中国天然药物

Danshensu [3-(3, 4-dihydroxyphenyl) lactic acid, DSS], one of the significant cardioprotective components, is extracted from the root of Salvia miltiorrhiza. In the present study, an ester prodrug of Danshensu (DSS), palmitoyl Danshensu (PDSS), was synthesized with the aim to improve its oral bioavailability and prolong its half-life. The in vitro experiments were carried out to evaluate the physicochemical properties and stability of PDSS. Although the solubility of PDSS in water was only 0.055 mg·mL, its solubility in FaSSIF and FeSSIF reached 4.68 and 9.08 mg·mL, respectively. Octanol-water partition coefficient (log P) was increased from -2.48 of DSS to 1.90 of PDSS. PDSS was relatively stable in the aqueous solution in pH range from 5.6 to 7.4. Furthermore, the pharmacokinetics in rats was evaluated after oral administration of PDSS and DSS. AUC and t of PDSS were enhanced up to 9.8-fold and 2.2-fold, respectively, compared to that of DSS. C was 1.67 ± 0.11 μg·mL for PDSS and 0.81 ± 0.06 μg·mL for DSS. Thus, these results demonstrated that PDSS had much higher oral bioavailability and longer circulation time than its parent drug.

Investigation and morphological observation of Histiostoma feroniarum breeding in Chinese herbal medicine Rhizoma Zingiberis / 中国血吸虫病防治杂志

Objective To understand the breeding situation of Histiostoma feroniarum in Chinese herbal medicine Rhizoma Zingiberis. Methods The Rhizoma Zingiberis sold on the market was selected and brushed. The dust from Rhizoma Zingiberis was screened under a microscope to search the mites. The mites were made into specimens to identify the species. Results The mites were H. feroniarum. Totally 14 mites were found in 100 g dust sample,with the density of breeding of 0.14/g. Conclusion H. feroniarum could breed in Chinese herbal medicine Rhizoma Zingiberis,and the prevention and control measures should be adopted.

Rapid identification of coumarins from Fructus citri Sarcodactylis by UPLC/Q-TOF-MS.

Coumarins is a kind of important components in traditional Chinese medicine. Due to their special structure, they have significant pathological connections with many diseases. In this research, we established a rapid method to analyse the coumarins from Fructus citri Sarcodactylis by using the technique of ultra-performance liquid chromatography with quadruple time-of-flight mass spectrometry. Twenty-one coumarins were identified from Fructus citri Sarcodactylis, 10 were discovered for the first time. At the same time, a rapid sensitive method for identifying coumarins from Fructus citri Sarcodactylis was established.

Study of Traditional Chinese Medicine Diagnostic Aid Platform for Hyperlipemia Based on Adaptive Clustering Algorithm / 世界科学技术-中医药现代化

Hyperlipidemia is one of the main basic lesions of blood vessels and organ diseases. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has been used in the prevention and treatment of hyperlipidemia with advantages such as little drug side effects and obvious efficacy. The establishment of hyperlipidemia diagnostic aid platform helped to improve treatment efficiency, and provide a platform for data acquisition, storage and analysis for research on hyperlipidemia syndrome standardization. At first, a collection system was implemented, which was consisted of tongue image and the text information of the other three diagnostic methods, for doctor's accurate mastering of patient's clinical manifesta-tions and improvement of therapeutic effect. Through this platform, a clustering algorithm was applied to analyze clin-ical information of four diagnostic methods among 897 hyperlipemia cases, which had been classified into 5 cate-gories. Compare disease characteristics of samples in every category with syndromes category and find out the rela-tionships between them, by which the foundation of hyperlipemia syndrome differentiation standardization will be es-tablish. It provided suggestions on TCM syndrome differentiation and diagnosis.

Clinical research of Chinese medicine syndromes of hyperlipidemia inpatients / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the Chinese medicine (CM) syndrome typing of hyperlipidemia inpatients, thus exploring the CM syndrome typing laws.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The clinical materials, including blood lipids, grading,complications, CM symptoms, and manifestations of tongue and pulse were recorded using self-formulated epidemiological questionnaire of CM syndrome in hyperlipidemia, and then these materials were statistically analyzed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Gan-qi stagnation syndrome (66.46%) was the most often seen syndrome in the 316 hyperlipidemia inpatients. Gan stagnation Pi-deficiency syndrome (35.44%), Gan-Shen yin deficiency syndrome (16.77%), Pi-Shen yang deficiency syndrome (13.61%), inner stagnation of phlegm and stasis syndrome (13.29%), hyperactivity of yang and hypoactivity of yin syndrome (9. 18%) were 5 common syndromes of hyperlipidemia. Gan stagnation Pi-deficiency syndrome occupied an important position among all types and at various levels. Results from the lipid classification of hyperlipidemia showed that mixed type with low HDL-C was the most often seen (108/316, 34.18%), followed by mixed hyperlipidemia (81/316, 25.63%). Totally the mixing type accounted for 59.81% (189/316), higher than hypertriglyceridemia (16.77%) and hypercholesterolemia (23.42%).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Gan stagnation pi-deficiency syndrome might be the core syndrome affecting the lipid metabolism of hyperlipidemia. Mixed hyperlipidemia was the most often seen in clinics. Clinical medication should cover actions of decreasing TC and TG, and increasing HDL-C.</p>

Proteomic study of serum proteins in a type 2 diabetes mellitus rat model by Chinese traditional medicine Tianqi Jiangtang Capsule administration.

Proteomics technology was for the first time applied to investigate the changes of serum proteins levels in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) rat model after treated by Chinese traditional medicine Tianqi Jiangtang Capsule (ten normal Wistar rats, ten with T2DM and ten with T2DM administrated by Tianqi Jiangtang Capsule). In addition to two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (2-DE), serum protein profiling in the three groups was further performed using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-TOF/MS). 11 visualized spots were differentially regulated and identified as diabetes-associated proteins. All the samples in three groups were then analyzed by ELISA and estimated the 7 proteins which were found to vary. The distinct effect of T2DM induction on the pattern of rat serum includes the down-regulation of Apolipoprotein E, Apolipoprotein A-I, Ig gamma-2A chain C region, and up-regulation of Transthyretin (TTR), Haptoglobin (Hp), Serum amyloid P-componen (SAP), Prothrombin. The majority of those protein levels were interestingly restored to those of healthy rats after Tianqi Jiangtang Capsule treatment.

Courtship and mating of Scorpiops luridus Zhu Lourenço & Qi, 2005 (Scorpiones: Euscorpiidae) from Xizang province, China

In the current work, the courtship and mating of Scorpiops luridus Zhu Lourenço & Qi, 2005 (Euscorpiidae) from Xizang province (Tibet), China, were studied for the first time in the laboratory. Most of the mating behaviors in Scorpiops luridus are not remarkably different from those exhibited by other scorpions. However, for the first time a male pulling a female with its chelicerae to rapidly accomplish the sperm uptake was observed. Additionally, the sexual stinging behavior displayed by the male occurred in the initial stage, not during the promenade stage as previously described in several scorpion species. Through observation and analysis, we speculate that venom injection during sexual stinging is selective, possibly relying on the status shown by the stung scorpion (passive or aggressive). In order to clearly describe the process of courtship and mating, both sequences are represented in a flow chart, while the main behavior components of these processes were identified, analyzed and discussed.(AU)

Chinese herbal medicine for treatment of dislipidemia / 老年心脏病学杂志（英文版）

Prevalence of dislipidemia is increasing rapidly in China and there has been a growing interest in Chinese herbal medicine for the treatment of hyperlipidemia both inside and outside China. In this article, lipids regulating effects of 9 herbs or their extracts and 5 herbal formulae which have been published in English-language literature are reviewed. Although evidence from animals and humans consistently supports the therapeutic activities of these Chinese herbal medicines, few multi-center large-scale clinical trials have been conducted to confirm the efficacy and evaluate their safety.