Flavonoid extracted from Epimedium attenuate cGAS-STING-mediated diseases by targeting the formation of functional STING signalosome.

Hyperactivation of the cyclic-GMP-AMP synthase (cGAS)-stimulator of interferon genes (STING) signalling pathway has been shown to be associated with the development of a variety of inflammatory diseases, and the discovery of an inhibitor of the cGAS-STING signalling pathway holds great promise in the therapeutic interventions. Epimedium flavonoid (EF), a major active ingredient isolated from the medicinal plant Epimedium, has been reported to have good anti-inflammatory activity, but its exact mechanism of action remains unclear. In the present study, we found that EF in mouse bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDMs), THP-1 (Tohoku Hospital Pediatrics-1) as well as in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (hPBMC) inhibited the activation of the cGAS-STING signalling pathway, which subsequently led to a decrease in the expression of type I interferon (IFN-ß, CXCL10 and ISG15) and pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-6 and TNF-α). Mechanistically, EF does not affect STING oligomerization, but inhibits the formation of functional STING signalosome by attenuating the interaction of interferon regulatory factor 3 (IRF3) with STING and TANK-binding kinase 1 (TBK1). Importantly, in vivo experiments, EF has shown promising therapeutic effects on inflammatory diseases mediated by the cGAS-STING pathway, which include the agonist model induced by DMXAA stimulation, the autoimmune inflammatory disease model induced by three prime repair exonuclease 1 (Trex1) deficiency, and the non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) model induced by a pathogenic amino acid and choline deficiency diet (MCD). To summarize, our study suggests that EF is a potent potential inhibitor component of the cGAS-STING signalling pathway for the treatment of inflammatory diseases mediated by the cGAS-STING signalling pathway.

The combination of Schisandrin C and Luteolin synergistically attenuates hepatitis B virus infection via repressing HBV replication and promoting cGAS-STING pathway activation in macrophages.

BACKGROUND: HBV infection can result in severe liver diseases and is one of the primary causes of liver cell carcinoma-related mortality. Liuwei Wuling tablet (LWWL) is a traditional Chinese medicine formula, with a protecting liver and decreasing enzyme activity, usually used to treat chronic hepatitis B with NAs in clinic. However, its main active ingredients and mechanism of action have not been fully investigated. Hence, we aimed to screen the active ingredient and effective ingredient combinations from Liuwei Wuling tablet to explore the anti-herpatitis B virus activity and mechanism. METHODS: Analysis and screening of effective antiviral components in LWWL by network pharmacology, luteolin (Lut) may be a compound with significant antiviral activity. The mechanism of antiviral action of Lut was also found by real-time PCR detection and western blotting. Meanwhile, we established a co-culture model to investigate the antiviral mechanism of Schisandrin C (SC), one of the main active components of Schisandra chinensis fructus (the sovereign drug of LWWL). Next, HBV-infected mice were established by tail vein injection of pAAV-HBV1.2 plasmid and administered continuously for 20 days. And their antiviral capacity was evaluated by checking serum levels of HBsAg, HBeAg, levels of HBV DNA, and liver levels of HBcAg. RESULTS: In this study, we conducted network pharmacology analysis on LWWL, and through in vitro experimental validation and data analysis, we found that luteolin (Lut) possessed obviously anti-HBV activity, inhibiting HBV replication by downregulating hepatocyte nuclear factor 4α (HNF4α) via the ERK pathway. Additionally, we established a co-culture system and proved that SC promoted activation of cGAS-STINIG pathway and IFN-ß production in THP-1 cells to inhibit HBV replication in HepG2.2.15 cells. Moreover, we found the combination of SC and Lut shows a greater effect in inhibiting HBV compared to SC or Lut alone in HBV-infected mice. CONCLUSION: Taken together, our study suggests that combination of SC and Lut may be potential candidate drug for the prevention and treatment of chronic hepatitis B.

Four new glycosides isolated from Gerbera delavayi Franch.

Phytochemical investigation of the whole plant of Gerbera delavayi afforded four new glycosides including three coumarin glycosides, Gerbelavinside A (1), Gerbelavinside B (2) and Gerbelavinside C (3) and one acetophenone glycoside, Gerbelavinside F (4). The structures of isolated compounds were elucidated by analysis of 1D and 2D NMR, HR-ESI-MS, acid hydrolysis, as well as comparing with the literature. The isolated compounds were examined the effects of nitric oxide (NO) production inhibition in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced RAW264.7 macrophage cells, and Gerbelavinside C presented a certain inhibitory activity.

Osteogenesis promotion by injectable methacryloylated gelatin containing psoralen and its bacteriostatic properties.

The treatment of periodontitis focuses on controlling the progression of inflammation, reducing plaque accumulation, and promoting bone tissue reconstruction. Among them, the reconstruction of irregular bone resorption caused by periodontitis is a long-standing challenge. At present, the local drug treatment of periodontitis is mainly anti-inflammatory and antibacterial drugs. In this study, psoralen (Pso), a Chinese herbal medicine with anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and osteogenic effects, was selected for the local treatment of periodontitis. Meanwhile, an injectable methacrylate gelatin (GelMA) platform loading with Pso was constructed. Pso-GelMA had the properties of fluidity, light cohesion, self-healing, and slow release, which could be better used in the deep and narrow structure of the periodontal pocket, and greatly increased the effectiveness of local drug delivery. The pore size of Gelma hydrogel did not change after loading Pso by SEM. In vitro, Pso-GelMA effectively upregulated the expression of osteogenic genes and proteins, increased alkaline phosphatase activity, promoted the mineralisation of rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) extracellular matrix, and had significant antibacterial effects on Staphylococcus aureus and Fusobacterium nucleatum. Therefore, Pso-GelMA has immense promise in the adjuvant treatment of periodontitis.

The phytochemistry, pharmacology and traditional medicinal use of Glechomae Herba - a systematic review.

Glechomae Herba is a Chinese herb, which has been used in China for thousands of years, mainly for the treatment of nephrolithiasis. This paper summarizes the modern research progress on Glechomae Herba from the aspects of botany, traditional medicinal use, phytochemistry, pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, analytical methods and quality control. In addition, it also points out the deficiencies of current research on this herb and provides possible directions for its development. So far, more than 190 chemical components have been isolated and identified from Glechomae Herba, including organic acids and their esters, volatile oils, flavonoids and their glycosides, terpenes and other chemical components. Its extracts and compounds have a wide range of pharmacological effects, including anti-stone, anti-inflammatory, bacteriostatic, cholagogic and diuretic, effect on ileum smooth muscle, anti-tumor effect on tumor and hypoglycemic effects. However, future studies should focus on drug metabolism, clarify its pharmacodynamic mechanism, and establish a reasonable quality control standards for Glechomae Herba.

[Joint effects of nano-selenium and nano-cerium on the male reproductive function of mice exposed to microwave radiation].

OBJECTIVE: To study effect of nano-selenium and nano-cerium(nano cerium oxide) on the spermatogenic ability of mice irradiated by 1800 MHz microwave radiation(MR). METHODS: Forty-two ICR mice were randomly divided into groups: blank control group, solvent control group, microwave radiation model group, low, medium and high dose groups of nano-selenium+nano-cerium. In joint effects groups of nano-selenium and nano-cerium, the nano-selenium solution(60, 120 and 240 µg/kg) and the nano-cerium oxide solution(15, 30, 60 µg/kg) were administered to the stomach at 7:30 in the morning and 18:30 in the evening, respectively. The blank control group was orally administered with an equal volume of distilled water, and the solvent control group and the MR group were orally administered with an equal volume of carboxymethylcellulose sodium solution. During the second week of gastric administration, the mice were exposed to microwave radiation(1800 MHz) for 2 h every day(specific absorption ratio: 0. 2986 W/kg). After MR treatment, the daily sperm production of testis, sperm motility and sperm deformity rate in epididymis were measured, and the testicular marker enzymes [G6 PDH(6-phosphatedehydrogenase), ACP(acid phosphatase), LDH(lactate dehydrogenase)], antioxidant indexes [CAT(catalase), MDA(malondialdehyde) and T-AOC(total antioxidant capacity)] in testicular tissue were analyzed. RESULTS: Compared with the solvent control group, MR led to the decrease of sperm motility and the increase of sperm deformity rate, decreased the enzymes activities of G6 PDH, ACP and CAT, increased LDH activity and MDA content, and decreased the T-AOC level in testicular tissue, and the differences were statistically significant(P<0. 05). Compared with the MR group, the joint action of nano-selenium and nano-cerium with medium dose increased the daily sperm production of testis((18. 98±1. 27) ×10~6/g) vs. (15. 53±1. 24) ×10~6/g), decreased the sperm deformity rate(11. 74%±0. 91% vs. 16. 84%±2. 05%), and the joint action of nano-selenium and nano-cerium with medium and high dose increased the sperm motility in epididymis(61. 98%±6. 33%, 54. 17±4. 38 vs. 45. 16%±5. 01%), and the differences were statistically significant(P<0. 05). Compared with the MR group, the joint action of nano-selenium and nano-cerium with low and medium dose increased the activity of ACP(11. 07±0. 98, 14. 85±1. 39 vs. 8. 72±0. 91 nmol/(min·mg prot), P<0. 05). The joint action of nano-selenium and nano-cerium with medium and high dose increased the activity of G6 PDH(24. 12±2. 06, 21. 36±3. 65 vs. 15. 11±1. 73 nmol/(min·mg prot), P<0. 05) and decreased the activity of LDH(15. 52±1. 17, 13. 51±1. 68 vs. 22. 46±2. 01 nmol/(min·mg prot), P<0. 05). The joint action of nano-selenium and nano-cerium with medium dose increased the activity of CAT(17. 92±2. 03 vs. 11. 69±0. 87 nmol/(min·mg prot), P<0. 05) and decreased the content of MDA(5. 17 ±0. 62 vs. 9. 03 ±0. 63 nmol/mg prot, P<0. 05). The joint action of nano-selenium and nano-cerium with low, medium and high dose increased the level of T-AOC(22. 06±1. 54, 29. 36±2. 39, 21. 01±2. 47 vs. 12. 88±1. 82 U/mg prot, P<0. 05). CONCLUSION: The joint addition of nano-selenium and nano-cerium can improve the reproductive function of male mice exposed to MR, and can effectively alleviate the changes of mouse testicular marker enzyme activity and the decline of antioxidant capacity caused by MR.

Phenolics from Eugenia jambolana seeds with advanced glycation endproduct formation and alpha-glucosidase inhibitory activities.

Published data suggest that dietary-derived phenolics exert beneficial effects against hyperglycemia-mediated diseases, such as diabetes, through inhibiting the formation of advanced glycation endproducts (AGEs) and carbohydrate hydrolyzing enzyme activities. In the course of our investigation on the edible berry, Eugenia jambolana (known as Jamun), 21 phenolics (1-21) were isolated and identified from its seeds. Among these, one compound (1) is new and eleven compounds (3, 6, 9-13, 17, and 19-21) are being reported from E. jambolana for the first time. The anti-AGE activities of thirteen pure isolates (2-7, 9-12, 14, 15, and 20) were either comparable or superior to the synthetic anti-glycation agent, aminoguanidine, at three test concentrations (20, 50, and 100 µM) in the BSA-fructose assay. Most of these phenolics with anti-AGE activity exhibited potent free radical scavenging activity in the DPPH assay, and attenuated intracellular levels of LPS-induced reactive oxygen species in RAW264.7 macrophage. In addition, compounds 2-6, and 14 showed superior α-glucosidase inhibitory activity (IC50 = 5.0-21.2 µM) compared to the clinical α-glucosidase inhibitor, acarbose (IC50 = 289.9 µM). This is the first report of the anti-AGE effects of compounds 2-6 and 9-12, and α-glucosidase inhibitory activities of compounds 3-6, 9, 11 and 14. The current study supports the role of phenolics in the antidiabetic properties attributed to this edible berry, and warrants further animal studies to evaluate their potential as dietary agents for the prevention and/or therapy of hyperglycemia-mediated diseases.

[Observation on therapeutic effect of auricular point sticking combined with Tongshiji treatment on child ametropic amblyopia].

OBJECTIVE: To compare therapeutic effects of auricular point sticking combined with Tongshiji treatment and simple Tongshiji treatment on child ametropic amblyopia. METHODS: Three hundred children of ametropic amblyopia were classified as mild, moderate and severe groups, 100 cases in each group. The each group was again randomly divided into a simple Tongshiji treatment (control group) and a auricular point sticking combined with Tongshiji treatment group (observation group). Their therapeutic effects were compared. RESULTS: The total effective rate in the observation group were 100.0%, 79.8% and 71.0%, and in the control group were 100.0%, 54.3% and 48.2% respectivety for mild, moderate and severe groups. For the mild amblyopia children, there was no significant difference between the two groups in the therapeutic effect; for the moderate and severe ametropic amblyopia children, the therapeutic effect in the observation group was better than that in the control group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Auricular point sticking combined with Tongshiji treatment for child ametropic amblyopia is of characteristics of convenient manipulation, obvious and rapid therapeutic effect.