Extraction from different parts of Citrus maxima flowers using ultrasound as an aid and study of their composition and function.

Ultrasonic assisted extraction is frequently referred to as a green environmental protection method. The flower of Citrus maxima (FCM) has been used as a health tea drink in China, although the tea drink lacks clear compound composition identification and functional research. In order to fully use Citrus fruit by-products and further explore the functional features of FCM, this paper isolated, identified, and assessed the chemical compounds in the petals, stems, styles, receptacles, stamens, and buds of FCM extract. There are 88 compounds were recovered, including 23 compounds in the bud, 21 compounds in the petal, 19 compounds in the stem, 11 compounds in the receptacle, 20 compounds in the stamen, and 13 compounds in the style. Antioxidant experiments revealed that the FCM's various compounds had observable impacts in scavenging free radicals (38.44%-58.35%). The aforementioned study demonstrates that the pomelo by-products were developed into useful components using ultrasonic aided extraction technique. FCM has flavor-rich compounds that make it suited for use as an antioxidant tea beverage and offers practical suggestions for preparing healthy products.

Extracting myricetin and dihydromyricetin simultaneously from Hovenia acerba seed by Ultrasound-Assisted extraction on a lab and small Pilot-Scale.

The flavonoids myricetin and dihydromyricetin are significant components of Hovenia acerba seed. In this work, myricetin and dihydromyricetin were extracted from Hovenia acerba seed using an ultrasound-assisted technique, and the extraction parameters were adjusted using the response surface design approach. HPLC was used to assess the yield of myricetin and dihydromyricetin. According to the data, myricetin and dihydromyricetin yields were 0.53 mg/g and 4.06 mg/g at a 60 % ethanol solution concentration, 180 W of ultrasonic irradiation power, a 20 mL/g ratio of liquid to solid, and a 40 °C optimal extraction temperature. The aforementioned findings are virtually in agreement with the experimental findings suggested by the model. The study mentioned above thus offers a means of separating and developing useful components of natural goods.

Potential mechanisms of Lian-Zhi-Fan solution for TNBS-induced ulcerative colitis in rats via a metabolomics approach.

Lian-Zhi-Fan (LZF) decoction is a hospital-prescribed traditional Chinese medicine botanical drug prepared by the fermentation of decocted Coptidis Rhizome (Huanglian), Gardeniae Fructus (Zhizi), and alum (Baifan). It has been used clinically in China for the treatment of anal fistula, perianal abscess, ulcerative colitis (UC), and other anorectal diseases for hundreds of years. However, due to the complexity of traditional Chinese medicine, the potential mechanisms of LZF in the treatment of UC have remained unknown. This study primarily investigated the remarkable pharmacological effects of LZF on TNBS-induced UC rats. To explore the complex targets and regulatory mechanisms of metabolic networks under LZF intervention, a metabolomics approach mediated by HPLC/Q-TOF-MS analysis was used to screen the different metabolites and their metabolic pathways in the serum in order to characterize the possible anti-UC mechanisms of LZF. After rectal administration of LZF for seven consecutive days, significant amelioration effects on body weight loss, DAI score, and colon inflammation were found in UC rats. Based on this, further metabolomics identified 14 potential biomarkers in the treatment of UC with LZF, of which five possessed diagnostic significance: L-alanine, taurocholic acid, niacinamide, cholic acid, and L-valine. These metabolites are mainly involved in 12 metabolic pathways, including nicotate and nicotinamide metabolism, glycospholipid metabolism, arginine and proline metabolism, primary bile acid biosynthesis, and pantothenate and CoA biosynthesis. These metabolic pathways suggest that LZF ameliorates UC by regulating amino acid metabolism, fat metabolism, and energy production. This study provides a useful approach for exploring the potential mechanisms of herbal prescription in UC treatment mediated by metabolomics.

In vivo evaluation and mechanism prediction of anti-diabetic foot ulcer based on component analysis of Ruyi Jinhuang powder.

BACKGROUND: Diabetes is a metabolic disease with a high complication rate. Diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) seriously affect the quality of life of patients. A total of 15%-20% of diabetic patients develop DFUs, which heal with difficulty over a long time and can result in amputation and disability. Traditional Chinese medicine has a unique effect in the treatment of skin ulcerative diseases. Ruyi Jinhuang powder (RHP) is one of the classic prescriptions in traditional Chinese medicine and is widely used in clinical practice. AIM: To verify the ability of RHP to promote wound healing by electron microscopy analysis in animal models and hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining. The effective components of RHP were extracted and identified by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), and the obtained chemical components were analyzed by network pharmacology methods to predict its therapeutic mechanism. METHODS: Sprague Dawley rats were injected with streptozotocin to establish the DFU model. HE staining was used to observe the wound tissue under an electron microscope. The chemical constituents of RHP were extracted first by supercritical fluid extraction and alcohol extraction, and then, GC-MS and ultra-performance liquid chromatography-MS were used to separately identify the chemical constituents. In addition, the "herb-component-target" link was established through the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology database to obtain the target information, and the molecular docking of important components and key targets was performed in Discovery Studio software. Cytoscape software was used to visualize and analyze the relationship between the chemical composition, targets and Traditional Chinese Medicine network. RESULTS: RHP promoted DFU healing in rats by affecting fibroblasts and nerve cells. A total of 89 chemical components were obtained by GC-MS. Network pharmacological analysis revealed that RHP was associated with 36 targets and 27 pathways in the treatment of DFU, of which the important components were luteolin, trans caryophyllene, ar-turmerone, palmitic acid, methyl palmitate, gallic acid, demethoxycurcumin, berberine, and rheic acid. The key targets were posttranscriptional silencing, topoisomerase II alpha, muscarinic acetylcholine receptor M2, interleukin 6, tumor necrosis factor and retinoic X receptor alpha, and the key pathways were the phosphoinositide 3-kinase-protein kinase B signaling pathway, neuroactive ligand-receptor interactions, and the forkhead box O signaling pathway. CONCLUSION: Our results indicated that RHP may play a role in the treatment of DFU through these target pathways by affecting insulin resistance, altering the nervous system and immune system, participating in inflammatory responses and regulating cell proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis through other specific mechanisms.

Transcriptome analysis of blood stasis syndrome in subjects with hypertension.

OBJECTIVE: To screen for mRNAs associated with blood stasis syndrome and to explore the genetic mechanisms of blood stasis syndrome in hypertension. METHODS: This study involved groups of patients with hypertension and blood stasis, including those with Qi deficiency, Qi stagnation, cold retention and heat retention; as well as hypertensive patients without blood stasis and healthy individuals. Human umbilical vein endothelial cells were co-cultured with the sera of these healthy individuals and patients with blood stasis syndrome. Total RNA was extracted from these cells and assessed by a high-throughput sequencing method (Solexa) and digital gene expression. Differentially expressed genes among these six groups were compared using whole genome sequences, and mRNAs associated with blood stasis syndrome identified. Differences in gene use and gene ontology function were analyzed. Genes enriched significantly and their pathways were determined, as were network interactions, and encoded proteins. Gene identities were confirmed by real-time polymerase chain reactions. RESULTS: Compared with cells cultured in sera of the blood stasis groups, those culture in sera of healthy individuals and of the non-blood stasis group showed 11 and 301 differences, respectively in stasis-related genes. Genes identified as differing between the blood stasis and healthy groups included activating transcription factor 4, activating transcription factor 3, DNA-damage inducible transcription factor 3, Tribbles homolog 3, CCAAT/enhancer binding protein-ß, and Jun proto-oncogene (JUN). Pathway and protein interaction network analyses showed that these genes were associated with endoplasmic reticulum stress. Cells cultured in sera of patients with blood stasis and Qi deficiency, Qi stagnation, heat retention, and cold retention were compared with cells cultured in sera of patients with the other types blood stasis syndrome. The comparison showed differences in expression of 28, 28, 34, and 32 specific genes, respectively. CONCLUSION: The pathogenesis of blood stasis syndrome in hypertension is related to endoplasmic reticulum stress and involves the differential expression of the activating transcription factor 4, activating transcription factor 3, DNA-damage inducible transcription factor 3, Tribbles homolog 3, CCAAT/enhancer binding protein-ß, and JUN genes.