Blue LED light promoting the growth, accumulation of high-value isoflavonoids and astragalosides, antioxidant response, and biosynthesis gene expression in Astragalus membranaceus (Fisch.) Bunge hairy root cultures.

The root of Astragalus membranaceus (Fisch.) Bunge is one of the most frequently used herbs in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) formulae for fighting COVID-19 infections, due to the presence of isoflavonoids and astragalosides associated with antiviral and immune-enhancing activities. For the first time, the exposure of A. membranaceus hairy root cultures (AMHRCs) to different colors of LED lights i.e., red, green, blue, red/green/blue (1/1/1, RGB), and white, was conducted to promote the root growth and accumulation of isoflavonoids and astragalosides. LED light treatment regardless of colors was found beneficial for root growth, which might be a result of the formation of more root hairs upon light stimulation. Blue LED light was found most effective for enhancing phytochemical accumulation. Results showed that the productivity of root biomass in blue-light grown AMHRCs with an initial inoculum size of 0.6% for 55 days was 1.40-fold higher than that in dark (control), and yields of high-value isoflavonoids and astragalosides including calycosin, formononetin, astragaloside IV, and astragaloside I increased by 3.17-fold, 2.66-fold, 1.78-fold, and 1.52-fold relative to control, respectively. Moreover, the photooxidative stress together with transcriptional activation of biosynthesis genes might contribute to the enhanced accumulation of isoflavonoids and astragalosides in blue-light grown AMHRCs. Overall, this work offered a feasible approach for obtaining higher yields of root biomass and medicinally important compounds in AMHRCs via the simple supplementation of blue LED light, which made blue-light grown AMHRCs industrially attractive as plant factory in controlled growing systems. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s11240-023-02486-7.

PC6 electroacupuncture reduces stress-induced autonomic and neuroendocrine responses in rats.

Stress can trigger cardiovascular disease. Both imbalance of autonomic nervous activity and increase of neurohormonal output are core aspects of stress responses and can lead to cardiovascular disease. PC6 as a very important acupoint is used to prevent and treat cardiovascular disease and to improve stress-related activities. We examined the influence of electroacupuncture (EA) at PC6 on stress-induced imbalance of autonomic nervous activity and increase of neurohormonal output. EA at PC6 relieved increased cardiac sympathetic nervous activity and decreased cardiac vagal nervous activity induced by immobilization stress. Also, EA at PC6 reduced immobilization stress-induced increases of plasma norepinephrine (NE) and adrenaline (E) released from sympatho-adrenal-medullary axis. Finally, EA at PC6 reduced immobilization stress-induced increases of corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) in paraventricular hypothalamic nucleus and plasma cortisol (CORT) released from hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. However, EA at tail had no significant effect on the stress-induced autonomic and neuroendocrine responses. The results demonstrate the role of EA at PC6 regulating the autonomic and neuroendocrine responses induced by stress and provide insight into the prevention and treatment of EA at PC6 for stress-induced cardiovascular disease by targeting autonomic and neuroendocrine systems.

Mongolian medicine Wenguanmu ointment treats eczema by inhibiting the CKLF-1/NF-κB pathway.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: The main clinical manifestations of eczema include itching, erythema, swelling and pain. Currently, allergies and TH1/TH2 cytokine imbalances are significant causes of eczema. TCM believes that eczema is mainly caused by incongruity between dry and wet. Wenguanmu ointment is a classic Mongolian medicine, which mainly composed of Xanthoceras sorbifolia Bunge, Coptis chinensis Franch and Bezoar. These ingredients can clear heat and dampness, dispel wind and dehumidification, anti-inflammatoryad analgesic. In this study, it was found that Wenguanmu ointment can treat eczema with anti-inflammatory, analgesic and antipruritic. AIM OF THE STUDY: In this study, the content of main components in Wenguanmu ointment was tested. Moreover, the therapeutic effect and mechanism of Wenguanmu ointment on eczema model mice were studied. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Kunming mice (25 ± 2 g) were randomly divided into 6 groups: Control group; Model group; Vehicle group; Wenguanmu ointment group; Compound dexamethasone acetate cream group; Chushizhiyang ointment group. The eczema mouse model was established by DNCB. HPLC and TLC tests were used to determine the content of the main components in Wenguanmu ointment. HE staining was used to assess skin damage in mice. In order to detect the anti-inflammatory effect of Wenguanmu ointment on eczema, The levels of IgE, TNF-α, IFN-γ, COX-2 and IL-4 in serum was measured by ELISA. Genecards and Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man databases were used to analyze potential target gene predictions, and it was speculated that Wenguanmu ointment was associated with NF-κB signaling pathway and chemokine signaling pathway. To detect this inference, RT-qPCR and western blotting were used to detect protein and mRNA levels of CKLF-1, IκB-α, and NF-κB. RESULTS: Wenguanmu ointment can repress the symptoms of eczema caused by 2, 4-dinitrochlorobenzene, and inhibit the level of serum immunoglobulin E. Simultaneously it restrain the elevation of miscellaneous pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines, as well as reducing the expression of CKLF-1 and NF-κB protein in the nucleus, and increasing the protein expression of IκB to improve eczema. CONCLUSIONS: The ameliorating effect of Wenguanmu ointment on eczema lesions can play a importment role by inhibiting the CKLF-1/NF-κB pathway.

Comparison of Ophiopogon japonicus and Liriope spicata var. prolifera from Different Origins Based on Multi-Component Quantification and Anticancer Activity.

The tuberous root of Ophiopogon japonicus (Thunb.) Ker-Gawl. is a well-known Chinese medicine also called Maidong (MD) in Chinese. It could be divided into "Chuanmaidong" (CMD) and "Zhemaidong" (ZMD), according to the geographic origins. Meanwhile, the root of Liriope spicata (Thunb.) Lour. var. prolifera Y. T. Ma (SMD) is occasionally used as a substitute for MD in the market. In this study, a reliable pressurized liquid extraction and HPLC-DAD-ELSD method was developed for the simultaneous determination of nine chemical components, including four steroidal saponins (ophiopojaponin C, ophiopogonin D, liriopesides B and ophiopogonin D'), four homoisoflavonoids (methylophiopogonone A, methylophiopogonone B, methylophiopogonanone A and methylophiopogonanone B) and one sapogenin (ruscogenin) in CMD, ZMD and SMD. The method was validated in terms of linearity, sensitivity, precision, repeatability and accuracy, and then applied to the real samples from different origins. The results indicated that there were significant differences in the contents of the investigated compounds in CMD, ZMD and SMD. Ruscogenin was not detected in all the samples, and liriopesides B was only found in SMD samples. CMD contained higher ophiopogonin D and ophiopogonin D', while the other compounds were more abundant in ZMD. Moreover, the anticancer effects of the herbal extracts and selected components against A2780 human ovarian cancer cells were also compared. CMD and ZMD showed similar cytotoxic effects, which were stronger than those of SMD. The effects of MD may be due to the significant anticancer potential of ophiopognin D' and homoisoflavonoids. These results suggested that there were great differences in the chemical composition and pharmacological activity among CMD, ZMD and SMD; thus, their origins should be carefully considered in clinical application.

Apoptotic effects of phenols from the twigs and leaves of Garcinia nujiangensis.

In order to find potential agents for treating cancer disease in naturally occurring compounds, we conducted a systematic phytochemical investigation on the endemic species of Garcinia nujiangensis. Three new biphenyl derivatives (1-3) and one new polycyclic polyprenylated benzophenone (4), together with four known benzophenone analogues (5-8), have been isolated from the CH2Cl2 extract of the twigs and leaves of G. nujiangensis. Their structures were determined by detailed spectroscopic analyses and comparison with structurally related known analogues. Experimental and calculated ECD method was used to determine the absolute configuration of 1 and 4. Moreover, compounds 5-7 were isolated for the first time from this species. The cytotoxicities of the new compounds were evaluated using HL-60, HepG2, and A549 human cancer cell lines. Compound 4 showed more significant antiproliferative effects against HepG2 cells with an IC50 value of 11.38 ± 0.79 µM than that of three biphenyl derivatives. The morphological features of apoptosis were evaluated in 4-treated HepG2 cells. Compound 4 effectively prevented the cell cycle progression of HepG2 cells in G2 phase. Additionally, western blot analysis indicated that treatment of 4 on HepG2 cells led to decreased expression of anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 and pro-Caspase-3, and increased protein expression of both pro-apoptotic Bax and cleaved PARP with reference to ß-actin. Overall, our results suggested that the active polycyclic polyprenylated benzophenone derivatives in the twigs and leaves of G. nujiangensis can be used as a valuable source of bioactive compounds for the pharmaceutical industry.

Ophiopogon japonicus and its active compounds: A review of potential anticancer effects and underlying mechanisms.

BACKGROUND: Ophiopogon japonicus (Thunb.) Ker Gawl., a well-known Chinese herb, has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for thousands of years. Extensive in vitro and in vivo studies have shown that O. japonicus and its active compounds exhibit potential anticancer effects in a variety of cancer cells in vitro and suppress tumor growth and metastasis without causing serious toxicity in vivo. PURPOSE: This review aims to systemically summarize and discuss the anticancer effects and the underlying mechanisms of O. japonicus extracts and its active compounds. METHODS: The review is prepared following the guidelines of Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses. Various scientific databases including Web of Science, PubMed, Scopus, and Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure were searched using the keywords: Ophiopogon japonicus, tumor, cancer, carcinoma, content, pharmacokinetics, and toxicity. RESULTS: O. japonicus extracts and the active compounds, such as ruscogenin-1-O-[ß-d-glucopyranosyl(1→2)][ß-d-xylopyranosyl(1→3)]-ß-d-fucopyranoside (DT-13), ophiopogonin B, and ophiopogonin D, exert potential anticancer effects, including the induction of cell cycle arrest, activation of apoptosis and autophagy, and inhibition of metastasis and angiogenesis. In addition, the mechanisms underlying these effects, as well as the pharmacokinetics, toxicity and clinical utility of O. japonicus extracts and active compounds are discussed. Furthermore, this review highlights the research and application prospects of these compounds in immunotherapy and combination chemotherapy. CONCLUSIONS: The traditional herb O. japonicus and its phytochemicals could be safe and reliable anticancer drug candidates, alone or in combination with chemotherapeutic drugs. We hope that this review, which highlights the anticancer properties of O. japonicus, will contribute to drug optimization, therapeutic development, and future studies on cancer therapies based on this medicinal plant.

Cell metabolomics study on the anticancer effects of Ophiopogon japonicus against lung cancer cells using UHPLC/Q-TOF-MS analysis.

Ophiopogon japonicus (OJ) is a traditional Chinese herbal medicine that has been used for thousands of years. Recently, the anticancer effects of OJ have been reported in multiple types of cancer, particularly in lung cancer. However, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. In present study, the effects of OJ against NCI-H1299 human lung cancer cells were investigated, and the underlying mechanisms were explored using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UHPLC/Q-TOF-MS)-based cell metabolomics. As a result, OJ inhibited the proliferation, induced the apoptosis and suppressed the migration of NCI-H1299 cells. A total of 22 differential metabolites responsible for the effects of OJ were screened and annotated based on the LC-MS-based cell metabolomics approach. The altered metabolites were involved in three metabolic pathways, including glycerophospholipid metabolism, ether lipid metabolism and glutathione metabolism. These results showed that cell metabolomics-based strategies are promising tools to discover the action mechanisms of OJ against lung cancer cells.

Overexpression of SmLAC25 promotes lignin accumulation and decreases salvianolic acid content in Salvia miltiorrhiza.

Laccase (LAC) is a blue multicopper oxidase that contains four copper ions, which is involved in lignin polymerization and flavonoid biosynthesis in plants. Although dozens of LAC genes have been identified in Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge (a model medicinal plant), most have not been functionally characterized. Here, we explored the expression patterns and the functionality of SmLAC25 in S. miltiorrhiza. SmLAC25 has a higher expression level in roots and responds to methyl jasmonate, auxin, abscisic acid, and gibberellin stimuli. The SmLAC25 protein is localized in the cytoplasm and chloroplasts. Recombinant SmLAC25 protein could oxidize coniferyl alcohol and sinapyl alcohol, two monomers of G-lignin and S-lignin. To investigate its function, we generated SmLAC25-overexpressed S. miltiorrhiza plantlets and hairy roots. The lignin content increased significantly in all SmLAC25-overexpressed plantlets and hairy roots, compared with the controls. However, the concentrations of rosmarinic acid and salvianolic acid B decreased significantly in all the SmLAC25-overexpressed lines. Further studies revealed that the transcription levels of some key enzyme genes in the lignin synthesis pathway (e.g., SmCCR and SmCOMT) were significantly improved in the SmLAC25-overexpressed lines, while the expression levels of multiple enzyme genes in the salvianolic acid biosynthesis pathway were inhibited. We speculated that the overexpression of SmLAC25 promoted the metabolic flux of lignin synthesis, which resulted in a decreased metabolic flux to the salvianolic acid biosynthesis pathway.

[Effect of modified Danggui Shaoyao Powder on SOCS3/TLR4 signaling pathway in rats with chronic atrophic gastritis].

This study aims to investigate the effect of modified Danggui Shaoyao Powder on the suppressor of cytokine signaling 3(SOCS3)/Toll-like receptor 4(TLR4) signaling pathway in gastric tissue of rats with chronic atrophic gastritis(CAG).Sixty SPF-grade SD rats were randomly assigned into the normal group, model group, Moluo Pills group, and high-, medium-, and low-dose groups of modified Danggui Shaoyao Powder.The rats in other groups except the normal group were treated with N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine(MNNG) to establish the CAG model.After 12 weeks of modeling, the rats in each group were administrated with corresponding drugs by gavage for 8 weeks.After the last administration, the histopathological changes of rat gastric mucosa were observed via hematoxylin-eosin(HE) staining.The serum levels of IL-6, TNF-α, and CRP were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA).The mRNA levels of SOCS3 and TLR4 were determined by real-time PCR.The protein levels of SOCS3, TLR4, JAK2, p-JAK2, STAT3, and p-STAT3 in rat gastric tissue were measured by Western blot.Immunohistochemical method was employed to determine the protein levels of NF-κB, MyD88, NLRP3, Bcl-2, Bax, and Bad in rat gastric tissue.The results showed that modified Danggui Shaoyao Powder alleviated gastric mucosal atrophy of rats, significantly lowered the levels of IL-6, TNF-α, and CRP in rat serum, up-regulated the mRNA level of SOCS3, and down-regulated the mRNA level of TLR4 in rat gastric tissue.Furthermore, modified Danggui Shaoyao Powder up-regulated the protein level of SOCS3, down-regulated the protein levels of TLR4, p-JAK2, p-STAT3, NF-κB, MyD88, NLRP3, Bax, and Bad, and promoted the expression of Bcl-2 protein.Therefore, modified Danggui Shaoyao Powder may mitigate the gastric mucosal atrophy of rats by regulating the SOCS3/TLR4 signaling pathway.

The discovery of potentially active diterpenoids to inhibit the pyroptosis from Callicarpa arborea.

Pyroptosis is a programmed-inflammatory cell death, which leads to release of inflammatory cellular contents and formation of inflammation. Uncontrollable pyroptosis can result in serious immune diseases, such as cytokine release syndrome (CRS), sepsis, disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC), and acute organ damage, including acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and acute kidney injury (AKI). Members of the Callicarpa genus are significant raw materials for traditional Chinese medicine, widely used for analgesia, hemostasis, and anti-inflammation. Previously, we have reported some ent-clerodane diterpenoids from Callicarpa arborea, shown potent inhibitory effects against pyroptosis. In this study, we went on investigating this kind of diterpenoids, and yielded 66 ent-clerodane diterpenoids, including 52 new compounds, from Callicarpa arborea. Their structures featured with a 5/6- (1-25) or a 6/6- (26-66)-fused double-ring scaffolds, were elucidated using spectroscopic data, electrostatic circular dichroism (ECD) and X-ray diffraction analyses. Screening for the inhibitory activity against pyroptosis by detecting of IL-1ß secretion in J771A.1 cells, revealed 28 compounds with an IC50 below 10.5 µM. Compound 1 was the most potent with an IC50 of 0.68 µM and inhibited the J774A.1 macrophage pyroptosis by blocking the NLR pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome activation. An in vivo study further revealed that compound 1 decreased infiltration of CD11b + F4/80 + macrophages into lung and attenuated the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced lung injury. Taken together, this study indicated the potential of compound 1 as a candidate for pyroptosis-related inflammation treatment, as well as provided the chemical and pharmacological basis for the further development of Callicarpa genus as a herbal medicine.

Protective Effect of Targeted Fluid Therapy on Patients with One-Lung Ventilation.

Objective: To evaluate the protective effect of target-directed fluid therapy on the lungs and postoperative rehabilitation in elderly patients with single-lung ventilation undergoing total endoscopic radical resection of esophageal cancer. Methods: Seventy elderly patients who underwent total endoscopic radical resection of esophageal cancer from January 2017 to December 2019 in our hospital were selected and divided into two groups by the random number table method: the goal-directed fluid treatment group (group G, n = 35) and the control group (group C, n = 35). Venous blood was extracted before surgery (T1), at the end of free esophagus (T2) by thoracoscopy, at the end of abdominal surgery (T3), and at the end of surgery (T4). IL-6 and IL-10 levels were detected by ELISA. The clinical pulmonary infection score (CIPS) was used to evaluate the pulmonary inflammation on the second day after surgery and the occurrence of complications. Duration of antibiotic use and length of hospital stay were recorded. Results: At T1, there were no significant differences in IL-6 and IL-10 levels between the two groups (P > 0.05). At T2, the IL-6 level in group G increased to 26.65 ± 1.80 pg/ml but was significantly lower than that in group C (32.28 ± 3.22 pg/ml) (P < 0.01). At T3 and T4, IL-6 and IL-10 levels in group G were significantly lower than those in group C (P < 0.01). The CIPS score of group G was lower than that of group C (1.5 ± 1.0 vs 2.7 ± 1.4), and the duration of antibiotic use in group G was shorter than that in group C (211.2 ± 15.4 vs 232.6 ± 18.7 h), with statistical significance (P < 0.01). The incidence of complications in group G was lower than that in group C (28.6% vs 40.0%), and the length of hospital stay in group G was shorter than that in group C (10.5 ± 1.7 vs 11.2 ± 1.9 days), but there was no significant difference between the two groups (P > 0.05). Conclusion: Target-directed fluid therapy inhibited inflammatory cytokine levels and had better lung protection, but no significant benefit in the complications or the length of hospital stay was observed.

Zengye Decoction Attenuated Severe Acute Pancreatitis Complicated with Acute Kidney Injury by Modulating the Gut Microbiome and Serum Amino Acid Metabolome.

Objective: To explore the effect and underlying mechanism of Zengye decoction (ZYD), a traditional formula from China, on the severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) rat model with acute kidney injury (AKI). Methods: The SAP-AKI model was induced by 3.5% sodium taurocholate. Rats were treated with normal saline or ZYD twice and sacrificed at 36 h after modeling. Amylase, lipase, creatinine, blood urea nitrogen, kidney injury molecule 1(KIM-1), and multiple organs' pathological examinations were used to assess the protective effect of ZYD. Gut microbiome detected by 16S rRNA sequencing analysis and serum amino acid metabolome analyzed by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry explained the underlying mechanism. The Spearman correlation analysis presented the relationship between microflora and metabolites. Results: ZYD significantly decreased KIM-1(P < 0.05) and the pathological score of the pancreas (P < 0.05), colon (P < 0.05), and kidney (P < 0.05). Meanwhile, ZYD shifted the overall gut microbial structure (ß-diversity, ANOSIM R = 0.14, P=0.025) and altered the microbial compositions. Notably, ZYD reduced the potentially pathogenic bacteria-Bacteroidetes, Clostridiales vadin BB60 group, and uncultured_Clostridiales_bacterium, but promoted the short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) producers-Erysipelotrichaceae, Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus, and Moryella (all P < 0.05). Moreover, principal component analysis (PCA), partial least squares-discriminant analysis (PLS-DA), and hierarchical clustering analysis (HCA) presented a remarkable change in amino acid metabolome after SAP-AKI induction and an apparent regulation by ZYD treatment (R2Y 0.878, P=0.01; Q2 0.531, P=0.01). Spearman's correlation analysis suggested that gut bacteria likely influenced serum metabolites levels (absolute r > 0.4 and FDR P < 0.02). Conclusions: ZYD attenuated SAP-AKI by modulating the gut microbiome and serum amino acid metabolome, which may be a promising adjuvant treatment.

Chemical Comparison of Monk Fruit Products Processed by Different Drying Methods Using High-Performance Thin-Layer Chromatography Combined With Chemometric Analysis.

Monk fruit, also named Luo Han Guo, is the fruit of Siraitia grosvenorii (Swingle) C. Jeffrey ex A. M. Lu et Z. Y. Zhang and has been used as both food and traditional Chinese medicine. Due to preservation concerns, monk fruit is usually processed by hot-air drying or using low-temperature techniques after harvest. In this study, high-performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC) method was developed for the analysis of 13 mogrosides, 1 flavonoid, and 3 sugars in monk fruit products. Then chemometric analysis was applied to investigate the chemical characteristics in the samples dried by different methods. The results showed that the contents of mogroside V, 11-oxo-mogroside V, isomogroside V, and sucrose in monk fruits dried at low temperature were much higher than those in traditional hot-air drying samples, which was also confirmed by HPTLC-scanning. These findings indicate that HPTLC combined with chemometric analysis provides a reliable tool to understand the chemical differences between the monk fruit products processed by different drying methods, which will be helpful for their quality evaluation.

Health-Promoting Phenolic Compound Accumulation, Antioxidant Response, Endogenous Salicylic Acid Generation, and Biosynthesis Gene Expression in Germinated Pigeon Pea Seeds Treated with UV-B Radiation.

Germinated pigeon pea seeds (GPPSs) are good dietary supplements with satisfactory nutritional and medicinal values. In this study, UV-B treatment was used to promote the accumulation of health-promoting phenolic compounds (10 flavonoids and 1 stilbene) in GPPS. The total yield of 11 phenolic compounds (235 839.76 ± 17 118.24 ng/g DW) significantly improved (2.53-fold increase) in GPPSs exposed to UV-B radiation (3 W/m2) for 8 h, whereas free amino acid and reducing sugar contents exhibited a decreasing tendency during UV-B exposure. Meanwhile, the positive response in the antioxidant activities of enzymes and nonenzymatic extracts was noticed in UV-B-treated GPPSs. Moreover, UV-B radiation could cause tissue damages in hypocotyls and cotyledons of the GPPSs and enhance the generation of endogenous salicylic acid, thus activating the expression of biosynthesis genes (especially CHS and STS1). Overall, the simple UV-B supplementation strategy makes GPPSs more attractive as functional foods/nutraceuticals in diet for promoting human health.

Chemical Stability of a Chinese Herbal Spirit Using LC-MS-Based Metabolomics and Accelerated Tests.

As a prevalent medicinal liquor among Chinese people, a type of Chinese herbal spirit from Jing Brand Co., Ltd (CHS-J) is a newly developed health beverage with the health functions of anti-fatigue and immune enhancement. The researchers from the enterprise found that the contents of several components in CHS-J samples have been significantly decreasing during the stated storage period, as detected by the HPLC-UV method, which would make a great challenge for quality control of CHS-J. Furthermore, the chemical stability of CHS-J during the storage period is greatly challenged affected, especially in the environment of high temperature and light exposure. To systematically reveal the unstable components and promote the quality control of CHS-J, the chemical stability of CHS-J during the shelving storage period was characterized by the UPLC/Q-TOFMS-based metabolomics approach. First, the targeted and untargeted metabolomics approaches discovered the significantly changed components in CHS-J samples produced in different years. Furthermore, the accelerated tests of newly produced CHS samples and several authorized standards were conducted to validate the above results and elucidate the possible mechanisms underlying these chemical changes. Moreover, these chemical changes during the storage period had little influence on the anti-fatigue effect of CHS-J samples. These findings will offer new insight into the understanding of the chemical stability of CHS-J and will facilitate the quality control of CHS-J.

Key quality factors for Chinese herbal medicines entering the EU market.

Chinese herbal medicines (CHMs) have unique advantages in the prevention and treatment of diseases, which are widely recognized in the world. More and more CHMs are becoming increasingly popular in the international markets. However, the quality control of CHMs is a significant issue for their acceptance and recognition in the international market. This review mainly focuses on the quality requirements for CHMs to enter the European Union (EU) market. Both Chinese and European regulations and quality controls are compared. Firstly, the EU medicinal regulatory system and relevant regulations were reviewed. Secondly, the key factors of the quality control of CHMs, including Chinese herbal drugs, extracts and products were compared with those of European herbal medicines in the EU market. Subsequently, three main registration routes for herbal medicinal products including Chinese herbal medicinal products entering the EU were introduced. Furthermore, the legal status of traditional Chinese medicine granules in the EU was also discussed. Through the comparison of the key quality factors for CHMs in China and the EU, the similarities and differences in terms of quality requirements and regulations are addressed, which provides a reference for the development of CHMs into the EU market.

[Effects of Nardostachys jatamansi on gut microbiota of rats with Parkinson's disease].

Under the guidance of the traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) theory of "Zangfu-organs of spleen and stomach" and the modern theory of "microbiota-gut-brain axis", this study explored the effects of Nardostachys jatamansi on the gut microbiota of rats with Parkinson's disease(PD). The 40 SD rats were randomly divided into the control group, PD model group, levodopa group, and Nardostachys jatamansi ethanol extract group. The PD model was established by subcutaneous injection of rotenone in the neck and back area. After 14 days of intragastric administration, the PD rats' behaviors were analyzed through open field test, inclined plane test, and pole test. After the behavioral tests, the striatum, colon, and colon contents of rats in each group were collected. Western blot was employed to detect the protein expression of tyrosine hydroxylase(TH) and α-synuclein(α-syn) in striatum and that of α-syn in colon. Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA) was used to detect the levels of tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α), interleukin-1ß(IL-1ß), and nuclear factor-kappa B(NF-κB) in striatum and colon. High-throughput sequencing of 16 S rRNA gene was conducted to detect the differences in microbial diversity, abundance, differential phyla, and dominant bacteria of rats between groups. The results indicated that Nar. ethanol extract could relieve dyskinesia, reverse the increased levels of α-syn, TNF-α, IL-1ß, and NF-κB in striatum, and improve the protein expression of TH in striatum of PD rats. The α diversity analysis indicated a significant decrease in diversity and abundance of gut microbiota in the PD model. The results of linear discriminant analysis effect size(LEfSe) of dominant bacteria indicated that Nardostachys jatamansi ethanol extract increased the relative abundance of Clotridiaceae, Lachnospiraceae, and Anaerostipes, and reversed the increased relative abundance of Proteobacteria, Gammaproteobacteria, Enterobacteriaceae, and Escherichia-Shigella in PD model group to exhibit the neuroprotective effect. In summary, the results indicated that Nar. ethanol extract exert the therapeutic effect on PD rats. Specifically, the extract may regulate gut microbiota, decrease the levels of proinflammatory cytokines, and reduce the protein aggregation of α-syn in the colon and striatum to alleviate intestinal inflammation and neuroinflammation. This study provides a basis for combining the theory of "Zangfu-organs of spleen and stomach" with the theory of "microbiota-gut-brain axis" to treat PD.

[Revealing characteristics and rules of acupoint sensitization phenomena: based on knee osteoarthritis].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the characteristics and rules of acupoint sensitization phenomena based on knee osteoarthritis (KOA), one of the clinical dominant diseases of acupuncture-moxibustion. METHODS: In combination with literature and expert experiences, the acupoints with the highest use frequency in treatment of KOA were screened, e.g. Heding (EX-LE 2), Liangqiu (ST 34), Mingmen (GV 4), Neixiyan (EX-LE 4), Ququan (LR 8) and Dubi (ST 35). In 814 patients with KOA and 217 healthy subjects, the acupoint temperature, mechanic pain threshold and pressure pain threshold were detected separately. Using machine learning method, the sensitization was judged at each acupoint. RESULTS: Compared with healthy subjects, the acupoint temperature was increased and the mechanic pain threshold and pressure pain threshold were reduced in KOA patients (P<0.05). Besides, the cut-off value was presented to distinguish whether the acupoint was sensitized or not. The results of machine learning showed that the highest prediction accuracy of acupoint sensitization was 86.7% (Shenshu [BL 23]) and the lowest one was 73.9% (Heding [EX LE 2]). The prediction accuracy at the third clinical stage trial was higher, the highest was 93.3% (Ququan [LR 8]) in KOA patients. CONCLUSION: It is confirmed that the acupoint sensitization reflects the characteristics of disease and is correlative with the conditions of illness, which may provide the reference for the auxiliary diagnosis and condition assessment of KOA.

Effects of Umbilical Cord Milking on Anemia in Preterm Infants: A Multicenter Randomized Controlled Trial.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate whether umbilical cord milking (UCM) prevents and controls anemia in preterm infants, as compared with immediate cord clamping (ICC). STUDY DESIGN: Pregnant women delivering at <34 weeks' gestation in four hospitals were randomly assigned to undergo UCM or ICC from July 2017 to June 2019. Hematological parameters and iron status were collected and analyzed as primary outcomes at 24 hours, 1 week, 2 weeks, and 6 months after delivery. RESULTS: Neonates receiving UCM had significant higher levels of hemoglobin (Hb), hematocrit, and serum iron (p < 0.05). Lower prevalence of anemia and lower need for transfusions were noted in UCM group. Although UCM was associated with prolonged duration of phototherapy, the maximum levels of bilirubin were similar between two groups (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: UCM is an effective intervention to help preterm infants experience less anemia with the potential to increase blood volume, as seen by higher Hb levels and more enhanced iron stores.

Quercetin 7-rhamnoside protects against alpha-naphthylisothiocyanate (ANIT)-induced in cholestatic hepatitis rats by improving biliary excretion and inhibiting inflammatory responses.

Objective: To explore the pharmacological effects and molecular mechanism of quercetin 7-rhamnoside (Q7R) in the treatment of cholestatic hepatitis induced by alpha-naphthylisothiocyanate (ANIT). Methods: ANIT-induced cholestatic hepatitis rat model was used to investigate the hepatoprotective effects of three different doses of Q7R (1.25 mg/kg; 2.5 mg/kg; 5 mg/kg). Serum biochemical indices were detected using commercial kits. H&E and masson staining were used to observe hepatic tissue damage and collagen deposition in hepatocytes. The metabolism of bile acid-related substances was detected via HPLC-MS/MS by 5-(diisopropylamino) amylamine (DIAAA) derivative method. Hepatocyte injury, cholestasis, and inflammation were detected at the mRNA and protein levels using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and western blotting, respectively. Results: Q7R can decrease the level of CYP7A1, and increase FXR, CYP27A1 so then improving abnormal bile acid secretion. Furthermore, Q7R can also ameliorating inflammation by reduce TNF-α, IL-1ß, PTGS1, PTGS2, NCOA2, NF-κB level. Therefore, Q7R had an effective therapeutic effect on ANIT-induced cholestatic hepatitis, improving abnormal bile acid secretion, and inhibiting inflammatory responses. Conclusion: The results demonstrated that Q7R treat cholestatic hepatitis by regulating bile acid secretion and alleviating inflammation.