Protective effect and mechanism of Polygonatum kingianum against hypoxia-induced injury.

Background: Hypoxia is an essential cause of fatigue and aging, and is associated with the occurrence and development of many diseases. Polygonatum kingianum (PK) is a deficiency-nourishing Chinese herbal medicine utilized as both medicine and food, and it has long been used to ameliorate human conditions associated with fatigue and aging over 2000 years in China. PK is an important genuine-medicinal-materials cultivated in Yunnan, China, and is used by the Bai, Wa, and Zhuang nationalities as a traditional medicine for enhancing immunity, anti-fatigue, and anti-aging, while the preventive effect of PK on hypoxia-induced injury and the underlying mechanism are indefinite. Aim of the study: The present study aimed to evaluate the anti-hypoxia efficacy and understand the corresponding mechanism of PK water extract. Materials and methods: The main active ingredients and targets of PK were predicted using network pharmacology, and the anti-hypoxia activities of Gracillin and Liquiritigenin were verified by in vitro experiments. The pharmacodynamic experiments were conducted to evaluate the major signal pathways of PK for detecting anti-hypoxia activity. Results: Fifty active ingredients and 371 potential targets were screened by network pharmacology, then, we confirmed that Gracillin and Liquiritigenin were the main active components of PK to exert anti-hypoxia effect in vitro. The pharmacodynamic experiments revealed that PK enhanced the extension rate of the survival time (ERST) and regulated the targets-related biochemical parameters of rats under hypoxia, showing significant anti-hypoxia effects on rats. Conclusion: The network pharmacology results suggested that PK exerts its anti-hypoxia effect through a multi-component and multi-target manner. Simultaneously, we also observed that Gracillin (saponins) and Liquiritigenin (flavonoids) are the main active components of PK to play a role in anti-hypoxia. The anti-hypoxia effect of PK could be associated with scavenging excess free radicals, maintaining the activities of antioxidant enzymes, and inhibiting oxidative stress due to lipid peroxidation. These findings provide insight into the Polygonatum kingianum as promising medicines or healthcare products for preventing and treating hypoxia.

Quantification of Chemical Groups and Quantitative HPLC Fingerprint of Poria cocos (Schw.) Wolf.

(1)Objective: In this study, a quantitative analysis of chemical groups (the triterpenoids, water-soluble polysaccharides, and acidic polysaccharides) and quantitative high liquid performance chromatography (HPLC) fingerprint of Poria cocos (Schw.) Wolf (PC) for quality control was developed. (2) Methodology: First, three main chemical groups, including triterpenoids, water-soluble polysaccharides, and acidic polysaccharides, in 16 batches of PC were evaluated by ultraviolet spectrophotometry. Afterward, the quantitative fingerprint of PC was established, and the alcohol extract of PC was further evaluated. The method involves establishing 16 batches of PC fingerprints by HPLC, evaluating the similarity of different batches of PC, and identifying eight bioactive components, including poricoic acid B (PAB), dehydrotumulosic acid (DTA), poricoic acid A (PAA), polyporenic acid C (PAC), 3-epidehydrotumulosic acid (EA), dehydropachymic acid (DPA), dehydrotrametenolic acid (DTA-1), and dehydroeburicoic acid (DEA), in PC by comparison with the reference substance. Combined with the quantitative analysis of multi-components by a single marker (QAMS), six bioactive ingredients, including PAB, DTA, PAC, EA, DPA, and DEA, in PC from different places were established. In addition, the multivariate statistical analyses, such as principal component analysis and heatmap hierarchical clustering analysis are more intuitive, and the visual analysis strategy was used to evaluate the content of bioactive components in 16 batches of PC. Finally, the analysis strategy of three main chemical groups in PC was combined with the quantitative fingerprint strategy, which reduced the error caused by the single method. (3) Results: The establishment of a method for the quantification of chemical groups and quantitative HPLC fingerprint of PC was achieved as demonstrated through the quantification of six triterpenes in PC by a single marker. (4) Conclusions: Through qualitative and quantitative chemical characterization, a multi-directional, simple and efficient routine evaluation method of PC quality was established. The results reveal that this strategy can provide an analytical method for the quality evaluation of PC and other Chinese medicinal materials.

Influence of Self-Practice Oriented Teaching plus Psychological Intervention on Blood Glucose Level and Psychological State in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus on Insulin Therapy.

Background: The study aimed to examine the effect of self-practice oriented teaching plus psychological intervention on blood glucose level and psychological status of type 2 diabetic patients on first insulin therapy. Methods: A total of 80 patients with type 2 diabetes admitted from April 2020 to November 2020 were assessed for eligibility and included. They were then assigned to a control group and an observation group via the random number table method, with 40 cases in each group. In addition to insulin injection treatment in both groups prior to intervention, the control group received health education and psychological intervention, whereas the observation group adopted a self-practice oriented teaching strategy plus psychological intervention. Insulin injections, nursing satisfaction, blood glucose level, and disease awareness were compared between the two groups. The Exercise of Self-Care Agency (ESCA) scale was used to assess the patients' self-care ability, the Generic Quality of Life Inventory-74 (GQOLI-74) scale was used to assess their quality of life, and the emotional state of patients was evaluated by the Hospital Anxiety and Depression (HAD) scale. Results: Patients in the observation group outperformed the control group in terms of insulin injection after intervention (P < 0.05). Significantly higher nursing satisfaction and ESCA scores were observed after intervention (P < 0.05). Self-practice oriented teaching plus psychological intervention resulted in remarkably lower postintervention glycemic indexes (P < 0.001). Markedly higher disease knowledge scores and GQOLI-74 scores were witnessed in the observation group in contrast to those of the control group (P < 0.001). The observation group patients showed lower HAD scores than those of the control group (P < 0.001). Conclusion: Self-practice oriented teaching plus psychological intervention could effectively alleviate the negative emotions of type 2 diabetic patients on first insulin therapy, stabilize glycemic indexes, and improve quality of life, demonstrating good potential for clinical promotion.

Antioxidant Effects of Salidroside in the Cardiovascular System.

Cardiovascular disease is one of the main human health risks, and the incidence is increasing. Salidroside is an important bioactive component of Rhodiola rosea L., which is used to treat Alzheimer's disease, tumor, depression, and other diseases. Recent studies have shown that salidroside has therapeutic effects, to some degree, in cardiovascular diseases via an antioxidative mechanism. However, evidence-based clinical data supporting the effectiveness of salidroside in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases are limited. In this review, we discuss the effects of salidroside on cardiovascular risk factors and cardiovascular diseases and highlight potential antioxidant therapeutic strategies.

Correlation between Mitochondrial Dysfunction, Cardiovascular Diseases, and Traditional Chinese Medicine.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the number one threat that seriously endangers human health. However, the mechanism of their occurrence is not completely clear. Increasing studies showed that mitochondrial dysfunction is closely related to CVD. Possible causes of mitochondrial dysfunction include oxidative stress, Ca2+ disorder, mitochondrial DNA mutations, and reduction of mitochondrial biosynthesis, all of which are closely related to the development of CVD. At present, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is widely used in the treatment of CVD. TCM has the therapeutic characteristics of multitargets and multipathways. Studies have shown that TCM can treat CVD by protecting mitochondrial function. Via systematic literature review, the results show that the specific mechanisms include antioxidant stress, regulation of calcium homeostasis, antiapoptosis, and regulation of mitochondrial biosynthesis. This article describes the relationship between mitochondrial dysfunction and CVD, summarizes the TCM commonly used for the treatment of CVD in recent years, and focuses on the regulatory effect of TCM on mitochondrial function.

[Molecular Identification on Three Medicinal Phlomis Species Produced in Yunnan Province Based on ITS and matK].

Objective: To analyze ITS region and matK gene sequences of three medicinal Phlomis plants,in order to provide molecular basis for identifying and protecting their wild resources. Methods: PCR and sequencing were conducted on Phlomis likiangensis,Phlomis melanantha and Phlomis betonicoides wild populations by primers pairs ITS4 / ITS5 and matKXF / matK5 R. Results: The smallest inter-K2 P genetic distance was further than the largest intra-K2 P genetic distance in Phlomis likiangensis, Phlomis melanantha and Phlomis betonicoides. Different samples of three medicinal Phlomis plants were gathered together and could be distinguished from other exogenous species by Neighbor-Joining( NJ) tree. Phlomis likiangensis, Phlomis melanantha and Phlomis betonicoides had three, three and one sites on ITS2 for their effective identification, and had three,three and three sites on ITS1 for their effective identification respectively. Phlomis betonicoides had three sites on matK for its effective identification, while Phlomis likiangensis or Phlomis melanantha needed multiple sites for their effective identification. Conclusion: The study implies that ITS1,ITS2 and matK fragments could be used for molecular identification of Phlomis likiangensis, Phlomis melanantha and Phlomis betonicoides.

[Pharmacognostical studies on root of Geranium strictipes].

OBJECTIVE: To establish pharmacognostical methods on Root of Geranium strictipes. METHODS: To study by the original plant identification, character identification. The organizational structure of root and powder features of this drug were observed and compared. TLC of the drug was also undertaken. RESULTS: It showed that Geranium strictipes powder microstructure contained many calcium oxalate cluster crystals and starch grains. TLC had good reappearance. CONCLUSION: This study provides reference information for further development and identification of this crude drug.