Exploring the anxiolytic mechanism of Fructus gardeniae based on metabolomics, network pharmacology, and molecular docking.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effect and anxiolytic mechanism of a natural remedy called Fructus gardeniae (FG). METHODS: The elevated-plus maze (EPM) test was used to confirm the anxiolytic effect of FG. The potential and anxiolytic components, targets, and route processes of FG were investigated using the network pharmacology method in conjunction with metabolomics and molecular docking technologies. RESULTS: FG could greatly enhance the proportion of time and times of opening arms, according to the EPM data. As to the metabolomics findings, a total of 61 distinct metabolites were found, mainly involved in glycine, serine, and threonine metabolism as well as alanine, aspartate, and glutamate metabolism. The primary active ingredients of FG, nicotiflorin, jasminodiol, and crocetin, demonstrated substantial binding affinities with monoamine oxidase A (MAOA), monoamine oxidase A (ACHE), malate dehydrogenase 2 (MDH2), glutamate decarboxylase 2 (GAD2), glutamate decarboxylase 1 (GAD1), and nitric oxide synthase (NOS1), according to the findings of network pharmacology and molecular docking. CONCLUSION: FG exerts an anxiolytic action via targeting MAOA, ACHE, MDH2, GAD2, GAD1, and NOS1, and regulating the metabolism of glycine, serine, and threonine as well as alanine, aspartic acid, and glutamic acid.

Oral application of magnesium-L-threonate alleviates radicular pain by inhibiting neuro-inflammation dependent central sensitization of rats.

BACKGROUND: We have reported neuro-inflammation is involved in radicular pain by enhancing the efficiency of pain synaptic transmission in spinal level. Recently, peers' studies have confirmed that magnesium deficiency leads to neuro-inflammation, thus contributes to memory and emotional deficits and pain hypersensitivity in antineoplastic agents treated rats. In this study, we explore the effect of oral application of magnesium-L-threonate (L-TAMS) in radicular pain induced by lumbar disc herniation (LDH) of rats and the possible mechanisms. METHODS: Rat model of LDH was induced by autologous nucleus pulposus (NP) implantation. Mechanical and thermal pain thresholds were assessed by von Frey filaments and hotplate test respectively. L-TAMS was applied from drinking water at dosage of 604 mg/kg/day from 2 day before NP implantation and until the end of the experiment. Free Mg2+ content in serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) was measured by calmagite chromometry. Synaptic transmission efficiency was determined by C-fiber evoked field potentials recorded by electrophysiologic recording in vivo. The activation of microglia in spinal dorsal horn was displayed by immunofluorescence staining and western blotting. The expressions of pro-inflammatory cytokines and glutamic N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) subunits (NR2A, NR2B) were assessed by western blotting and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) respectively. RESULTS: NP implantation induced mechanical allodynia and thermal hyperalgesia, accompanied by decreased Mg2+ concentration in serum and CSF which were both obscured by oral application of L-TAMS. L-TAMS inhibited spinal microglia activation and pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1ß) expression of rats with NP. L-TAMS decreased C-fiber evoked potentials and NR2B protein level in rats with NP, which were rescued by extra intrathecal delivery of TNF-α or IL-6 or IL-1ß. CONCLUSIONS: Oral application of L-TAMS alleviates radicular pain by inhibiting neuro-inflammation dependent central sensitization of rats.

Study on potential toxic material base and mechanisms of hepatotoxicity induced by Dysosma versipellis based on toxicological evidence chain (TEC) concept.

Dysosma Versipellis (DV), a traditional Chinese medicine, has the functions of eliminating phlegm, detoxification, dispersing knots . However, its serious toxicity limits its further use. Therefore, it is necessary to conduct a comprehensive toxicity study of DV, screen the basis of potential toxic substances and understand its toxic mechanism. Based on the concept of toxicological evidence chain (TEC), this study utilizes the technologies and means of chemomics, metabolomics, molecular docking and network toxicology flexibly, step by step to find the evidence of potential toxic components in the development of hepatotoxicity induced by DV, evidence of critical toxicity events, evidence of adverse outcomes, thus, a chain of toxicity evidence with reference and directivity can be organized. It further confirmed the toxic damage and potential molecular mechanism of DV. 5 potential toxic components were identified, namely, Podophyllotoxin-4-O-D-glucoside, Podorhizol, Podophyllotoxin, Podophyllotoxone and 3',4'-O,O-Didemethylpophyllotoxin. These chemical constituents affect phenylalanine metabolism, glycerophospholipid metabolism, energy metabolism and other related pathways by regulating PAH, SOD1, SOD2 and other related targets, then it induces oxidative stress, cell apoptosis, inflammatory reaction and energy consumption, which ultimately induces the occurrence of liver injury. The results of this study provide some reference for the follow-up analysis of toxicity mechanism of DV.

Integrated metabolomics and network toxicology to reveal molecular mechanism of celastrol induced cardiotoxicity.

Celastrol (CS), an active triterpene derived from traditional Chinese medicine Tripterygium wilfordii Hook. f, has been used to treat chronic inflammation, arthritis and other diseases. However, it has been reported that CS can trigger cardiotoxicity and the molecular mechanism of heart injury induced by CS is not clear. Considering the wide application of Tripterygium wilfordii Hook. f in clinics, it is necessary to develop an accurate and reliable method to assess the safety of CS, and to elucidate as much as possible the mechanism of cardiotoxicity induced by CS. In this study, Ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time of flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-TOF/MS)-based metabolomics revealed clues to the mechanism of CS-induced heart injury. Palmitic acid significantly increased in plasma from CS-treated rats, and this increase resulted in oxidative stress response in vivo. Excessive ROS further activate TNF signaling pathway and caspase family, which were obtained from the KEGG enrichment analysis of network toxicology strategy. Protein expression level of caspase-3, caspase-8, bax were significantly increased by western blot. Q-PCR also showed the similar results as western blot. It means that apoptosis plays a key role in the process of celastrol induced cardiotoxicity. Blocking this signal axis may be a potential way to protect myocardial tissue.

Neuroprotective Effects of Dexmedetomidine Against Hypoxia-Induced Nervous System Injury are Related to Inhibition of NF-κB/COX-2 Pathways.

Dexmedetomidine has been reported to provide neuroprotection against hypoxia-induced damage. However, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. We examined whether dexmedetomidine's neuroprotective effects were mediated by the NF-κB/COX-2 pathways. Adult male C57BL/6 mice were subjected to a 30-min hypoxic treatment followed by recovery to normal conditions. They received dexmedetomidine (16 or 160 µg/kg) or 25 mg/kg atipamezole, an α2-adrenoreceptor antagonist, intraperitoneally before exposure to hypoxia. The whole brain was harvested 6, 18, or 36 h after the hypoxia to determine the histopathological outcome and cleaved caspase-3, Bax/Bcl, NF-κB, and COX-2 levels. Hypoxia treatment induced significant neurotoxicity, including destruction of the tissue structure and upregulation of the protein levels of caspase-3, the ratio of Bax/Bcl-2, NF-κB, and COX-2. Dexmedetomidine pretreatment effectively improved histological outcome and restored levels of caspase-3, the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio, NF-κB, and COX-2. Atipamezole reversed the neuroprotection induced by dexmedetomidine. Neuroprotection was achieved by PDTC and NS-398, inhibitors of NF-κB and COX-2, respectively. Dexmedetomidine use before hypoxia provides neuroprotection. Inhibition of NF-κB/COX-2 pathways activation may contribute to the neuroprotection of dexmedetomidine.