Comparative transcriptome analysis reveals candidate genes related to the sex differentiation of Schisandra chinensis.

Schisandra chinensis is a monoecious plant with unisex flowers. The fruit of S. chinensis is of high medical with economic value. The yield of S. chinensis fruit is related to the ratio of its female and male flowers. However, there is little research on its floral development and sex differentiation. To elucidate the possible mechanism for the sex differentiation of S. chinensis, we collected 18 samples of female and male flowers from three developmental stages and performed a comparative RNA-seq analysis aimed at identifying differentially expressed genes (DEGs) that may be related to sex differentiation. The results showed 936, 7179, and 6890 differentially expressed genes between female and male flowers at three developmental stages, respectively, and 466 candidate genes may play roles in sex differentiation. KEGG analysis showed genes involved in the flavonoid biosynthesis pathway and DNA replication pathway were essential for the development of female flowers. 51 MADS-box genes and 10 YABBY genes were identified in S. chinensis. The DEGs analysis indicated that MADS-box and YABBY genes were strongly related to the sex determination of S. chinensis. RT-qPCR confirmed the RNA-seq results of 20 differentially expressed genes, including three male-biased genes and 17 female-biased genes. A possible regulatory model of sex differentiation in S. chinensis was proposed according to our results. This study helps reveal the sex-differentiation mechanism of S. chinensis and lays the foundation for regulating the male-female ratio of S. chinensis in the future.

The effective approach for the quality control of Codonopsis radix based on quality markers of immune activity.

Codonopsis radix is an important edible and medicinal plant resource for immunomodulation in China and Southeast Asia. However, the chemical quality evaluation of C. radix in Chinese Pharmacopoeia (2020 Version) is still lacking; therefore, it is necessary to develop an effective method to evaluate its quality accurately and systematically. Herein, a reliable method for a comprehensive chemical analysis of bioactive compounds in C. radix by ultra-performance liquid chromatography-diode array detector was developed based on the quality marker (Q-marker) concept, which can efficiently reflect its immune activity. Our previous research explored the seven potential bioactive compounds reflecting the immune regulation activities of C. radix by spectrum-effect relationship analysis. Therefore, in this study, we researched on establishing a quality control method and selected the modern pharmacodynamic experiment of immune regulation to verify the potential bioactive compounds as quality markers. A real quality control method that reflected the traditional efficacy of C. radix in strengthening the spleen and tonifying lungs was developed. Furthermore, the C. radix extract and the seven bioactive compounds could promote the proliferation of immune-related cells and regulate the secretion of inflammatory factors, thus playing a role in immune regulation.

[Anti-inflammatory active component in raw materials of Ligustici Rhizoma et Radix based on spectrum-effect relationship].

The present study investigated the correlation of UPLC fingerprints of raw materials of Ligustici Rhizoma et Radix samples with the anti-inflammatory effect and explored the pharmacodynamic material basis for the anti-inflammatory activity. UPLC fingerprints of 18 batches of raw materials of Ligustici Rhizoma et Radix samples were established for the determination of the content of eight components. The toe swelling rate and the content of IL-1ß, IL-6, and PGE2 in rats with toe inflammation induced by carrageenin were measured. Canonical correlation analysis was used to study the spectrum-effect relationship. Cluster analysis indicated that chemical components of Ligusticum sinense and L. jeholense were similar. Methanol extracts of L. sinense, L. jeholense, and Conioselinum vaginatum significantly reduced the toe swelling rate and the content of IL-1ß, IL-6 and PGE2 in swollen tissues. The anti-inflammatory effect of C. vaginatum was weaker than that of L. sinense and L. jeholense. The results of spectrum-effect relationship indicated that there was an obvious correlation between chemical components and pharmacodynamic indexes. In UPLC fingerprints, compounds 1, 3(chlorogenic acid), 4(cryptochlorogenic acid), 5, 6(ferulic acid), 7(isochlorogenic acid B), 9, 11, 13, 15, 16, 17, 18(coniferyl ferulate), 19, 20(N-butylphthalide), 21, 22, and 23 were significantly correlated with anti-inflammation, among which compounds 5, 11, 13, 15, 17, 21, and 23 had negative correlation. This study screened out the effective components with anti-inflammatory activity in raw materials of Ligustici Rhizoma et Radix, which was of great significance to improve the quality evaluation system of raw materials of Ligustici Rhizoma et Radix.

[Research progress in DIR gene of lignan biosynthesis in medicinal plants].

The active components, mainly derived from secondary metabolites of medicinal plants, are the material basis for the efficacy of medicinal plants. Lignans, the secondary metabolites in plants with high bioactivity, are widely distributed in a variety of plant species, and their antiviral, antitumor, antibacterial, and antioxidant activities have been proved in clinical practice. Generally, lignans are diverse in structures with many chiral centers, and most of them are optically active. The biosynthesis of lignans depends on the oxidative coupling reaction through site selection and stereo selection, which impedes synthesized lignans to form racemates, but makes them in a three-dimensional configuration. Dirigent protein(DIR) plays an important role in guiding location selection and stereo selection of lignans in biosynthesis. In vitro studies on lignan biosynthesis have shown that racemic end products are obtained in the absence of DIR proteins, while the products in a three-dimensional configuration can be yielded in the presence of DIR proteins, indicating that DIR proteins play an asymmetric role in the biosynthesis of plant secondary metabolites. The present study reviewed the biolo-gical significance of DIR protein, the cloning of DIR gene, gene structure, catalytic mechanism, and the research progress in Isatis indigotica, Eucommia ulmoides, Forsythia suspensa, Salvia miltiorrhiza, Panax pseudoginseng var. notoginseng, and Schisandra chinensis, which provides a reference for the follow-up research of DIR gene.

Plastid phylogenomics provides novel insights into the infrafamilial relationship of Polypodiaceae.

The polygrammoids (Polypodiaceae) are the most species-rich and diversified epiphytic fern lineages, and hold an important role to understand the deep diverging events and rapid adaptation to changing environments in the plant tree of life. Despite progress in the phylogeny of this group of ferns in previous multilocus phylogenetic studies, uncertainty remains especially in backbone relationships among closely related clades, and the phylogenetic placement of recalcitrant species or lineages. Here, we investigated the deep phylogenetic relationships within Polypodiaceae by sampling all major lineages and using 81 plastid genomes (plastomes), of which 70 plastomes were newly sequenced with high-throughput sequencing technology. Based on parsimony, maximum-likelihood, Bayesian and multispecies coalescent analyses of genome skimming data, we achieved a better resolution of the backbone phylogeny of Polypodiaceae. Using simulated data matrices, we detected that potential phylogenetic artefacts, such as long-branch attraction and insufficient taxonomic sampling, may have a confounding impact on the incongruence of phylogenetic inferences. Furthermore, our phylogenetic analyses offer greater resolution than previous multilocus studies, providing a robust framework for future phylogenetic implications on the subfamilial taxonomy of Polypodiaceae. Our phylogenomic study not only demonstrates the advantage of a character-rich plastome dataset for resolving the recalcitrant lineages that have undergone rapid radiation, but also sheds new light on integrative explorations understanding the evolutionary history of large fern groups in the genomic era.

[Molecular identification and efficacy analysis of herbs at Orussey Herbal Market, Phnom Penh, Cambodia].

Cambodia is rich in medicinal plant resources. One hundred and thirty-three medicinal material samples, including the hole herb, root, stem/branch, leaf, flower, fruit, seed, and resin, were collected from the Orussey Herbal Market in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, and then authenticated by ITS and psbA-trnH. A total of 46 samples were identified based on ITS sequences, belonging to 24 families, 40 genera, and 42 species. A total of 100 samples were identified by psbA-trnH sequences to belong to 42 families, 77 genera, and 84 species. A total of 103 samples were identified by two DNA barcodes. According to the morphological characteristics of the medicinal materials, 120 samples classified into 50 species, 86 genera, and 86 families were identified, and the majority of them were from Zingiberaceae, Fabaceae, and Acanthaceae. Such samples have been commonly used in traditional Cambodian medicine, Ayurvedic medicine, Unani medicine, traditional Chinese medicine, and ethnomedicine, but different medical systems focus on different functional aspects of the same medicinal material. The results of this study have demonstrated that DNA barcoding has a significant advantage in identifying herbal products, and this study has provided basic data for understanding the traditional medicinal materials used in Cambodia.

[Identification and characterization of DIR gene family in Schisandra chinensis].

Dirigent(DIR) proteins are involved in the biosynthesis of lignin, lignans, and gossypol in plants and respond to biotic and abiotic stresses. Based on the full-length transcriptome of Schisandra chinensis, bioinformatics methods were used to preliminarily identify the DIR gene family and analyze the physico-chemical properties, subcellular localization, conserved motifs, phylogeny, and expression patterns of the proteins. The results showed that a total of 34 DIR genes were screened and the encoded proteins were 156-387 aa. The physico-chemical properties of the proteins were different and the secondary structure was mainly random coil. Half of the DIR proteins were located in chloroplast, while the others in extracellular region, endoplasmic reticulum, cytoplasm, etc. Phylogenetic analysis of DIR proteins from S. chinensis and the other 8 species such as Arabidopsis thaliana, Oryza sativa, and Glycine max demonstrated that all DIR proteins were clustered into 5 subfamilies and that DIR proteins from S. chinensis were in 4 subfamilies. DIR-a subfamily has the unique structure of 8 ß-sheets, as verified by multiple sequence alignment. Finally, through the analysis of the transcriptome of S. chinensis fruit at different development stages, the expression pattern of DIR was clarified. Combined with the accumulation of lignans in fruits at different stages, DIR might be related to the synthesis of lignans in S. chinensis. This study lays a theoretical basis for exploring the biological functions of DIR genes and elucidating the biosynthesis pathway of lignans in S. chinensis.

[Simultaneous determination of six major isosteroidal alkaloids in Beimu by UPLC-ELSD].

An UPLC method was established for the direct determination of six major bioactive isosteroidal alkaloids, namely peimisine, imperialine, sipeimine-3-D-glucoside, verticinone, verticine and hupehenine from the bulbus of Fritillaria(Beimu), a commonly used antitussive traditional Chinese medicinal(TCM) herb. An Acquity UPLC~(TM) CSH C_(18) column(2.1 mm×100 mm, 1.7 µm) was used for all analysis. The investigated six compounds were all separated with gradient mobile phase consisting of 0.02% diethylamine-water-methanol at a flow rate of 0.3 mL·min~(-1). The temperature of sample manager was set at 20 ℃. Drift tube temperature was 45 ℃, and spray parameter was 40% with injection volume of 1 µL. Then, the further quality assessment of Beimu was carried out by cluster analysis(CA) and principal component analysis(PCA). The investigated all had good linearity(r≥0.998 9) over the tested ranges. The method is simple, accurate and reproducible, and can be used for determining the content of six major bioactive isosteroidal alkaloids.

[Decipherment of herb medicine Nanwuweizi and Wuweizi in Chinese ancient literature].

Nanwuweizi( Schisandrae Sphenantherae Fructus) and Wuweizi( Schisandrae Chinensis Fructus) have long-term history of use as common traditional Chinese medicines since the Eastern Han Dynasty( AD.25-220 year).However their information are always confused in ancient literature because they were both used as " Wuweizi". Nanwuweizi and Wuweizi are faced with problems such as confused distribution of producing areas,unclear source plants and efficacy characteristics,which limit modern resource development and application. Based on ancient literatures of materia medica,this study conducted a systematic review from several aspects,i.e. the name,distribution of producing areas,source plants,efficacy characteristics and processing of the two medicines in ancient time. This study clarified five main aspects,as following,ancient production areas and corresponding modern distribution areas; source plants used for medicinal purposes in ancient time; application period and application scope; efficacy characteristics in clinical application;processing method. This study provides a reference for evaluating the quality and for their clinical application and reasonable development of Nanwuweizi and Wuweizi.

Hiya: A new genus segregated from Hypolepis in the fern family Dennstaedtiaceae, based on phylogenetic evidence and character evolution.

The relationship of Hypolepis brooksiae, H. nigrescens, and H. scabristipes to the remainder of Hypolepis (Dennstaedtiaceae) has been questioned by previous authors based on their unique combination of morphological characters and different base chromosome number. Using four chloroplast genes including rbcL, atpA, rpL6, and rps4-trnS intergenic spacer (IGS) from 32 samples, representing 24 species of Dennstaedtiaceae, we recovered a clade comprising H. brooksiae and H. nigrescens, distinct from the remaining species of Hypolepis. This clade is resolved as sister to the clade comprising Blotiella, Paesia and Histiopteris. We reconstructed ancestral states of 16 morphological characters and found that this clade is distinguished by indeterminate, scandent leaves exhibiting rhythmic growth, provided with recurved black-tipped prickles, and stipule-like pinnules that protect the emerging crosier and pinnae departures, rachis-costa architecture where the adaxial sulcus is confluent with the next lower order, and a base chromosome number of x = 29. In light of this molecular and morphological evidence, we describe a new genus, Hiya, and provide nomenclatural combinations to accommodate the three known species segregated from Hypolepis: Hiya brooksiae, Hiya nigrescens, and Hiya scabristipes.

Fabry disease caused by the GLA p.Gly183Asp (p.G183D) variant: Clinical profile of a serious phenotype.

Background: The detailed clinical phenotype of patients carrying the α-galactosidase gene (GLA) c.548 G > A/p.Gly183Asp (p.G183D) variant in Fabry disease (FD) has not been thoroughly documented in the existing literature. Methods: This paper offers a meticulous overview of the clinical phenotype and relevant auxiliary examination results of nine confirmed FD patients with the p.G183D gene variant from two families. Pedigree analysis was conducted on two male patients with the gene variant, followed by biochemical and genetic screening of all high-risk relatives. Subsequently, evaluation of multiple organ systems and comprehensive instrument assessment were performed on heterozygotes of the p.G183D gene variant. Results: The study revealed that all patients exhibited varying degrees of cardiac involvement, with two demonstrating left ventricular wall thickness exceeding 15 mm on echocardiography, and the remaining six exceeding 11 mm. Impaired renal function was evident in all six patients with available blood test data, two of whom underwent kidney transplantation. Eight cases reported neuropathic pain, and five experienced varying degrees of stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA). Conclusion: This study indicates that the GLA p.G183D gene variant can induce premature organ damage, particularly affecting the heart, kidneys, and nervous system.

A phytomedicine extract exerts an anti-inflammatory response in the lungs by reducing STING-mediated type I interferon release.

BACKGROUND: Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is an acute respiratory disease characterized by bilateral chest radiolucency and severe hypoxemia. Quzhou Fructus Aurantii ethyl acetate extract (QFAEE), which is prepared from the traditional Chinese respiratory anti-inflammatory natural herb Quzhou Fructus Arantii, has the potential to alleviate ARDS. In this work, we aimed to investigate the potential and mechanism underlying the action of QFAEE on ARDS and how QFAEE modulates the STING pathway to reduce type I interferon release to alleviate the inflammatory response. METHODS: Lipopolysaccharide (LPS), a potential proinflammatory stimulant capable of causing pulmonary inflammation with edema after nasal drops, was employed to model ARDS in vitro and in vivo. Under QFAEE intervention, the mechanism of action of QFAEE to alleviate ARDS was explored in this study. TREX1-/- mice were sued as a research model for the activation of the congenital STING signaling pathway. The effect of QFAEE on TREX1-/- mice could explain the STING-targeted effect of QFAEE on alleviating the inflammatory response. Our explorations covered several techniques, Western blot, histological assays, immunofluorescence staining, transcriptomic assays and qRT-PCR to determine the potential mechanism of action of QFAEE in antagonizing the inflammatory response in the lungs, as well as the mechanism of action of QFAEE in targeting the STING signaling pathway to regulate the release of type I interferon. RESULTS: QFAEE effectively alleviates ARDS symptoms in LPS-induced ARDS. We revealed that the mechanism underlying LPS-induced ARDS is the STING-TBK1 signaling pathway and further elucidated the molecular mechanism of QFAEE in the prevention and treatment of ARDS. QFAEE reduced the release of type I interferons by inhibiting the STING-TBK1-IRF3 axis, thus alleviating LPS-induced pneumonia and lung cell death in mice. Another key finding is that activation of the STING pathway by activators or targeted knockdown of the TREX1 gene can also induce ARDS. As expected, QFAEE was found to be an effective protective agent in alleviating ARDS and the antagonistic effect of QFAEE on ARDS was achieved by inhibiting the STING signaling pathway. CONCLUSIONS: The main anti-inflammatory effect of QFAEE was achieved by inhibiting the STING signaling pathway and reducing the release of type I interferons. According to this mechanism of effect, QFAEE can effectively alleviate ARDS and can be considered a potential therapeutic agent. In addition, the STING pathway plays an essential role in the development and progression of ARDS, and it is a potential target for ARDS therapy.

Medicinal plants used by minority ethnic groups in China: Taxonomic diversity and conservation needs.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Indigenous communities have long relied on medicinal plants (MPs) for primary healthcare. The ethnomedicinal knowledge are different among ethnic groups since the local flora and people's health beliefs generally vary among biocultural backgrounds. China with its diverse biocultural environment is rich in culturally important plant species including MPs. They are also essential in the context of conservation of plant resources and the related traditional medical knowledge, requiring an integrated perspective on these MPs. AIM OF THE STUDY: Focusing on the MPs used by the minority ethnic groups, this study assesses the diversity of MPs in China used in local indigenous traditions, as well as their conservation needs. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The MPs used by the 18 selected minority ethnic groups were extracted from an ethnic MP dictionary. After standardizing, the names then were compiled as an inventory. Next, following statistics were computed: the number of species in each order and family, species used by each ethnic group, species documented in the national herbal resource dataset, species adopted in drug standards, and species at different levels of conservation lists. The overall similarity of the MPs used by the ethnic groups included was achieved using a cluster and principal component analysis. RESULTS: In total 5886 vascular plant species are reported as medicines in the 18 ethnic groups, which belong to 1657 genera and 243 families. It is found that 3195 species are used exclusively by one ethnic group, indicating their cultural salience and potential restrictedness in ecological terms. Moreover, 1159 species are included in national/regional drug standards, indicating their importance in the national medical flora. However, only 3541 species of them are documented in the national herbal resource dataset, and 761 species are at different levels of threatened status, highlighting the conservation needs of Chinese MPs and the related traditional medical knowledge. CONCLUSIONS: Using a quantitative approach, for the first time the present study reveals the high level of taxonomic diversity of MPs used by minority ethnic groups of China. However, of these species, 40% are still not inventoried in the national herbal resource dataset, and more than half are used exclusively by one ethnic group, and around 13% are included in the conservation lists of different levels. These together urge the conservation of MP resources and related traditional medical knowledge. Additionally, we recommend fostering the cross-cultural communication the regional ethnomedicinal knowledge, for the purpose of maximizing the benefits of regional plants to human.

Transcriptome-wide analysis of PIP reductase gene family identified a phenylpropene synthase crucial for the biosynthesis of dibenzocyclooctadiene lignans in Schisandra chinensis.

Phenylpropenes, such as isoeugenol and eugenol, are produced as defend compounds, floral attractants, and flavor constituents by phenylpropene synthases belonging to the PIP reductase family. Moreover, isoeugenol is proposed to be involved in the biosynthesis of dibenzocyclooctadiene lignans, the main active compounds of Schisandra chinensis (Turcz.) Baill. fruits (SCF). S. chinensis, a woody vine plant, is widely used for its medicinal, horticultural, edible, and economic values. In this study, nine ScPIP genes were identified and characterized from the transcriptome datasets of SCF. The expression profiles revealed that ScPIP genes were differentially expressed during different developmental stages of SCF. Three ScPIPs were selected and cloned as candidate genes encoding phenylpropene synthases according to phylogenetic analysis. ScPIP1 was proved to function as isoeugenol synthase (IGS) and designated as ScIGS1 through in vivo functional characterization in Escherichia coli. Subcellular localization analysis demonstrated that ScIGS1 was localized in both the cytoplasm and nucleus. The three-dimensional (3D) model of ScIGS1 was obtained using homology modeling. Site-directed mutagenesis experiments revealed that the substitution of residues at positions 110 and 113 impacted the product specificity of ScIGS1 and the mutation of Lys157 to Ala abolishing catalytic function. Moreover, the kcat values of mutants were lower than that of ScIGS1 using a deep learning approach. In conclusion, this study provides a basis for further research on PIP reductases and the biosynthetic pathway of dibenzocyclooctadiene lignans.

Single botanical drugs in the Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India-A quantitative ethnobotanical analysis.

Developing evidence-based uses of herbal medicines and natural product-based drug discovery are two core aims of ethnopharmacology. This requires an understanding of the medicinal plants and the traditional medical knowledge associated with them which is a basis for cross-cultural comparison. The botanical drugs of traditional medical systems are still not understood well, even for well-known and widely respected traditions like Ayurveda. In this study, a quantitative ethnobotanical analysis was performed on the single botanical drugs included in the Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India (API), presenting an overview on the medicinal plants of Ayurveda from perspectives of plant systematics and medical ethnobotany. Part-I of API includes 621 single botanical drugs, which are sourced from 393 species (323 genera in 115 families). Of these, 96 species yield two or more drugs, together accounting for 238 drugs. Taking the traditional concepts, biomedical uses and the pragmatic disease classification into account, therapeutic uses of these botanical drugs are sorted into 20 categories, which meet primary health demands. The therapeutic uses of the drugs sourced from the same species may differ considerably, but 30 of the 238 drugs are used in highly similar way. The comparative phylogenetic analysis identifies 172 species with high potential for specific therapeutic uses. This medical ethnobotanical assessment for the first time provides a comprehensive understanding on the single botanical drugs in API from the perspective of medical botany using an "etic" (scientist-oriented) approach. This study also highlights the importance of quantitative ethnobotanic methods in understanding traditional medical knowledge.

Identifying Genes Associated with Female Flower Development of Phellodendron amurense Rupr. Using a Transcriptomics Approach.

Phellodendron amurense Rupr., a species of Rutaceae, is a nationally protected and valuable medicinal plant. It is generally considered to be dioecious. With the discovery of monoecious P. amurense, the phenomenon that its sex development is regulated by epigenetics has been revealed, but the way epigenetics affects the sex differentiation of P. amurense is still unclear. In this study, we investigated the effect of DNA methylation on the sexual development of P. amurense. The young inflorescences of male plants were treated with the demethylation agent 5-azaC, and the induced female flowers were obtained. The induced female flowers' morphological functions and transcriptome levels were close to those of normally developed plants. Genes associated with the development of female flowers were studied by comparing the differences in transcriptome levels between the male and female flowers. Referring to sex-related genes reported in other plants, 188 candidate genes related to the development of female flowers were obtained, including sex-regulating genes, genes related to the formation and development of sexual organs, genes related to biochemical pathways, and hormone-related genes. RPP0W, PAL3, MCM2, MCM6, SUP, PIN1, AINTEGUMENTA, AINTEGUMENTA-LIKE6, AGL11, SEUSS, SHI-RELATED SEQUENCE 5, and ESR2 were preliminarily considered the key genes for female flower development. This study has demonstrated that epigenetics was involved in the sex regulation of P. amurense, with DNA methylation as one of its regulatory modes. Moreover, some candidate genes related to the sexual differentiation of P. amurense were obtained with analysis. These results are of great significance for further exploring the mechanism of sex differentiation of P. amurense and studying of sex differentiation of plants.

Doxorubicin downregulates autophagy to promote apoptosis-induced dilated cardiomyopathy via regulating the AMPK/mTOR pathway.

The broad-spectrum antineoplastic drug doxorubicin (DOX) has one of the most serious chronic side effects on the heart, dilated cardiomyopathy, but the precise molecular mechanisms underlying disease progression subsequent to long latency periods remain puzzling. Here, we established a model of DOX-induced dilated cardiomyopathy. In a cardiac cytology exploration, we found that differentially expressed genes in the KEGG signaling pathway enrichment provided a novel complex network of mTOR bridging autophagy and oxidative stress. Validation results showed that DOX caused intracellular reactive oxygen species accumulation in cardiomyocytes, disrupted mitochondria, led to imbalanced intracellular energy metabolism, and triggered cardiomyocyte apoptosis. Apoptosis showed a negative correlation with DOX-regulated cardiomyocyte autophagy. To evaluate whether the inhibition of mTOR could upregulate autophagy to protect cardiomyocytes, we used rapamycin to restore autophagy depressed by DOX. Rapamycin increased cardiomyocyte survival by easing the autophagic flux blocked by DOX. In addition, rapamycin reduced oxidative stress, prevented mitochondrial damage, and restored energy metabolic homeostasis in DOX-treated cardiomyocytes. In vivo, we used metformin (Met) which is an AMPK activator to protect cardiac tissue to alleviate DOX-induced dilated cardiomyopathy. In this study, Met significantly attenuated the oxidative stress response of myocardial tissue caused by DOX and activated cardiomyocyte autophagy to maintain cardiomyocyte energy metabolism and reduce cardiomyocyte apoptosis by downregulating mTOR activity. Overall, our study revealed the role of autophagy and apoptosis in DOX-induced dilated cardiomyopathy and demonstrated the potential role of regulation of the AMPK/mTOR axis in the treatment of DOX-induced dilated cardiomyopathy.

Comparison of blood tonic efficacy and chemical constituents of Kadsura interior A.C. Smith and its closely related species.

BACKGROUND: The stems of Kadsura interior A. C. Smith are used as traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) Kadsurae Caulis, with the traditional efficacy of tonifying and invigorating the blood, therefore being favored to treat blood deficiency (BD) widely. However, the stems of K. interior and its closely related species are morphologically similar and they may readily be misused as Kadsurae Caulis, thus likely to exert negative effects on clinical efficacy and clinical medication safety. METHODS: Firstly, blood tonic efficacies of the stems of K. interior (KIS) and its closely related species were compared using BD mouse model induced by 1-acetyl-2-phenylhydrazine (APH) and cyclophosphamide (CTX). Secondly, the chemical constituents from the stems of K. interior and its closely related species were evaluated and compared using a plant metabolomics approach. Plant metabolomics in this study aims at discovering differential metabolites and comprehensively assessing the chemical constituents by combining state-of-the-art high-resolution UPLC-Q/TOF-MS/MS technique and multivariate data analysis. Finally, based on the pharmacological data and the chemical constituents in UPLC-Q/TOF-MS fingerprints, the potential blood tonic active markers were screened by the spectrum-effect relationship analysis and quantified by UPLC-UV-DAD. RESULTS: The ethanol extract of the stems of K. interior significantly increased the levels of hematocrit (HCT), hemoglobin (HGB), and red blood cells (RBC) in BD mice. In addition, it significantly increased the serum levels of interleukin 3 (IL-3), granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), and macrophage-stimulating factor (M-CSF) in BD mice (P < 0.01). The blood tonic efficacy of the stems of K. interior was superior to those of its closely related species, especially at the dose of 200 mg/kg. Six differential compounds in the stems of K. interior were screened out to distinguish it from its closely related species. In combination with the results of the spectrum-effect relationship analysis, heteroclitin D, interiorin C, and heteroclitin G were identified as potential bioactive markers. The contents of heteroclitin D and heteroclitin G in the freeze-dried powder of KIS were 15.90 and 3.74 µg/mg. CONCLUSIONS: This study illustrated the differences in the blood tonic efficacies and the chemical constituents of the stems of K. interior and its closely related species, and pinpointed the potential bioactive markers of K. interior.

RAD-Seq and Ecological Niche Reveal Genetic Diversity, Phylogeny, and Geographic Distribution of Kadsura interior and Its Closely Related Species.

Most plants of Kadsura have economic value and medicinal application. Among them, K. interior and its closely related species have been demonstrated to have definite efficacy. However, the taxonomy and phylogenetic relationship of Kadsura in terms of morphology and commonly used gene regions remain controversial, which adversely affects its rational application. In this study, a total of 107 individuals of K. interior, K. heteroclita, K. longipedunculata, K. oblongifolia, and K. coccinea were studied from the perspectives of genetic diversity, phylogeny, and ecology via single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) developed through restriction site-associated DNA sequencing (RAD-seq). Based on these SNPs, the genetic diversity, phylogenetic reconstruction, and population genetic structure were analyzed. Subsequently, divergence time estimation and differentiation scenario simulation were performed. Meanwhile, according to the species distribution records and bioclimatic variables, the Last Glacial Maximum and current potential distributions of five species were constructed, and the main ecological factors affecting the distribution of different species were extracted. The F ST calculated showed that there was a moderate degree of differentiation among K. heteroclita, K. longipedunculata, and K. oblongifolia, and there was a high degree of genetic differentiation between K. interior and the above species. The phylogenetic tree indicated that each of the species was monophyletic. The results of population genetic structure and divergence scenario simulation and D-statistics showed that there were admixture and gene flow among K. heteroclita, K. longipedunculata, and K. oblongifolia. The results of ecological niche modeling indicated that the distribution areas and the bioclimatic variables affecting the distribution of K. interior and its related species were different. This study explored the differences in the genetic divergence and geographical distribution patterns of K. interior and its related species, clarifying the uniqueness of K. interior compared to its relatives and providing a reference for their rational application in the future.

Anti-asthmatic fraction screening and mechanisms prediction of Schisandrae Sphenantherae Fructus based on a combined approach.

Objective: Schisandrae Sphenantherae Fructus (SSF) is a traditional Chinese medicine used to treat coughs and pulmonary inflammatory diseases. However, the pharmacodynamic material basis and mechanisms for SSF in asthma treatment remain unclear. This study aims to screen the anti-asthmatic fraction and verify the pharmacodynamic material basis, predict the potential mechanism, and verify the interaction ability between compounds and core targets. Methods: First, three fractions from SSF were compared in terms of composition, comparison, and anti-asthmatic effects. Then, the ultra-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole/time-of-flight-mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q/TOF-MS/MS) strategy was used to identify the compounds from the active fraction, and the anti-asthmatic efficacy of the active fraction was further studied by the ovalbumin (OVA)-induced asthma murine model. Finally, network pharmacology and molecular methods were used to study the relationships between active compounds, core targets, and key pathways of PEF in asthma treatments. Results: The petroleum ether fraction (PEF) of SSF showed better effects and could significantly diminish lung inflammation and mitigate the level of serum immunoglobulin E (IgE), interleukin (IL)-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-13, and IL-17 in mice. A total of 26 compounds from the PEF were identified, among which the main compounds are lignans and triterpenes. Moreover, 21 active compounds, 129 overlap-ping targets, and 10 pathways were screened by network pharmacology tools. The top five core targets may play a great role in asthma treatment. Gene Ontology (GO) analysis and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis suggested that the PEF can treat asthma by acting on multiple asthma pathological processes, including the IL-17 signaling pathway, T helper (Th) 17 cell differentiation, and the calcium signaling pathway. Molecular docking was performed to evaluate the interactions of the protein-ligand binding, and most docked complexes had a good binding ability. Conclusion: The present results might contribute to exploring the active compounds with anti-asthmatic activity.