Monomeric pilose antler peptide improves depression-like behavior in mice by inhibiting FGFR3 protein expression.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: It has been found that pilose antler peptide has an antidepressant effect on depression. However, the exact molecular mechanism of its antidepressant effect is still unclear. AIM OF THE STUDY: The study sought to determine the impact of monomeric pilose antler peptide (PAP; sequence LVLVEAELRE) on depression as well as investigate potential molecular mechanisms. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Chronic unexpected mild stress (CUMS) was used to establish the model, and the effect of PAP on CUMS mice was detected by the behavioral test. The influence of PAP on neuronal cells and dendritic spine density was observed by immunofluorescence and Golgi staining. FGFR3 and the CaMKII-associated pathway were identified using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, and Western blot analysis was utilized to measure their proteins and gene expression levels. Molecular docking and microscale thermophoresis were applied to detect the binding of PAP and FGFR3. Finally, the effect of FGFR3's overexpression on PAP treatment of depression was detected. RESULTS: PAP alleviated the changes in depressive behavior induced by CUMS, promoted the growth of nerve cells, and the density of dendritic spines was increased to its original state. PAP therapy successfully downregulated the expression of FGFR3 and ERK1/2 while upregulating the expression of CREB, BDNF, and CaMKII. CONCLUSION: Based on the current research, PAP has a therapeutic effect on depression brought on by CUMS by inhibiting FGFR3 expression and enhancing synaptic plasticity.

Fungal polyketides produced by an endophytic fungus Phoma sp. associated with Gastrodia elata.

Two novel fungal polyketides, phometides A (1) and B (2), together with four known compounds (3-6), were isolated from the endophytic fungus Phoma sp. YUD17001 obtained from Gastrodia elata Blume. The structures were elucidated based on spectroscopic analyses, X-ray crystal diffraction, and time-dependent density functional theory/electronic circular dichroism (TDDFT/ECD) calculations. Structurally, phometide A (1) represented the first example of C12 polyketide characterized by an unusual tetrahydrobenzofuran-3(2H)-one core with an α,ß-unsaturated ketone functionality, while phometide B (2) was an unprecedented molecule containing a 2-pentylcycloheptan-1-one scaffold. In an antimicrobial activity assay, phometide A (1) exhibited significant inhibitory activity against Staphylococcus aureus with MIC value of 4 µg/mL. Phometide B (2) showed moderate antifungal activity against Candida albicans with an MIC value of 16 µg/mL. Furthermore, compounds 1 and 2 were evaluated for their acetylcholinesterase inhibitory and cytotoxic activities.

Effects of low-level laser therapy on ROS homeostasis and expression of IGF-1 and TGF-ß1 in skeletal muscle during the repair process.

The aim of the present study was to determine the effects of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) on the homeostasis of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and expression of IGF-1 and TGF-ß1 in the gastrocnemius muscles of rats following contusion. Muscle regeneration involves cell proliferation, migration, and differentiation and is regulated by growth factors. A growing body of evidence suggests that LLLT promotes skeletal muscle regeneration and accelerates tissue repair. Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats (n=96) were randomly divided into three groups: control group (no lesion, untreated, n=6), contusion group (n=48), and contusion-plus-LLLT group (n=42). Gallium aluminum arsenide (GaAlAs) laser irradiation (635 nm; beam spot, 0.4 cm(2); output power, 7 mW; power density, 17.5 mW/cm(2); 20 min) was administered to the gastrocnemius contusion for 20 min daily for 10 days. Muscle remodeling was evaluated at 0 h and 1, 2, 3, 7, 14, 21, and 28 days after injury. Hematoxylin and eosin and Van Gieson staining were used to evaluate regeneration and fibrosis; muscle superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA) were detected via biochemical methods; expression of transforming growth factor beta-1 (TGF-ß1) and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) were investigated via immunohistochemistry. The results showed that LLLT markedly promoted the regeneration of muscle and reduced scar formation. LLLT also significantly enhanced muscle SOD activity and significantly decreased muscle MDA levels 1, 2, and 3 days after injury. LLLT increased the expression of IGF-1 2, 3, and 7 days after injury and decreased the expression of IGF-1 21 and 28 days after injury. LLLT decreased the expression of TGF-ß1 3 and 28 days after injury but increased expression at 7 and 14 days after injury. Our study showed that LLLT could modulate the homeostasis of ROS and of the growth factors IGF-1 and TGF-ß1, which are known to play important roles in the repair process. This may constitute a new preventive approach to muscular fibrosis.

[Optimization of extraction procedure of tongmai granules by orthogonal design with pharmacodynamic index].

OBJECTIVE: To optimize the extraction technology for anti-myocardial ischemia active component group in tongmai granules. METHOD: The extracting conditions were optimized by using orthogonal experiment and pharmacodynamic index. Employing puerarin, ferulic acid, tanshinone IIA, and salvianolic acid B as indexes, the effects of ethanol concentration, solvent volume, extraction times and extraction time on the extracting process were investigated. RESULT: The optimum extraction process was adding 8 times amount of 70% alcohol, refluxing and extracting for 3 times, 1.5 h each time. CONCLUSION: This extraction process shows good stability and is available for extracting anti-myocardial ischemia component group in tongmnai granules.