Contamination of the traditional medicine Radix Dipsaci with aflatoxin B1 impairs hippocampal neurogenesis and cognitive function in a mouse model of osteoporosis.

BACKGROUND: Aflatoxin B1, which can penetrate the blood-brain barrier and kill neural cells, can contaminate traditional herbal medicines, posing a significant risk to human health. The present study examined cellular, cognitive and behavioral consequences of aflatoxin B1 contamination of the anti-osteoporotic medicine Radix Dipsaci. METHODS: A mouse model of osteoporosis was created by treating the animals with all-trans-retinoic acid. Then the animals were treated intragastically with water decoctions of Radix Dipsaci that contained detectable aflatoxin B1 or not. The animals were compared in terms of mineral density and mineral salt content of bone, production of pro-inflammatory factors, neurogenesis and microglial activation in hippocampus, as well as behavior and cognitive function. RESULTS: Contamination of Radix Dipsaci with aflatoxin B1 significantly reduced the medicine's content of bioactive saponins. It destroyed the ability of the herbal decoction to improve mineral density and mineral salt content in the bones of diseased mice, and it induced the production of the oxidative stress marker malondialdehyde as well as the pro-inflammatory cytokines interleukin-1ß and tumor necrosis factor-α. Aflatoxin B1 contamination inhibited formation of new neurons and increased the proportion of activated microglia in the hippocampus. These neurological changes were associated with anhedonia, behavioral despair, and deficits in short-term memory and social memory. CONCLUSION: Contamination of Radix Dipsaci with aflatoxin B1 not only eliminates the herbal decoction's anti-osteoporotic effects, but it also induces neurotoxicity that can lead to cognitive decline and behavioral abnormalities. Such contamination should be avoided through tightly regulated production and quality control of medicinal herbs.

[Material basis of kidney Yang deficiency rats before and after salt processing of Dipsacus asper based on spectrum-effect relationship].

This paper aims to study the spectrum-effect relationship between the fingerprints before and after salt processing of Dipsacus asper and the efficacy of warming and tonifying kidney Yang and find the main active components against kidney Yang deficiency before and after salt processing of D. asper, so as to provide the basis for clarifying the effect of salt processing on kidney Yang deficiency. The HPLC fingerprint before and after salt processing of D. asper was established by the HPLC-DAD. 15 common peaks were obtained, and 11 components were identified. The content changes of various components in rat serum were detected, and the difference in efficacy before and after salt processing was compared. The results of pharmacological experiments showed that salt processing of D. asper could enhance the kidney index. At the same dose, there was a significant difference between the raw D. asper and D. asper after salt processing groups. Compared with the model group, the contents of ACTH, cAMP, CORT, E_2, GH, Na~+-K~+-ATPase, T, and T4 in the serum of rats in the administration group increased to a certain extent, and the contents of cGMP and TNF-α decreased to a certain extent. Among them, there were significant differences in the above indexes in the serum of rats in the high-dose group of raw D. asper, middle-dose group of D. asper after salt processing, high-dose group of D. asper after salt processing, and the positive drug group. The overall results showed that D. asper after salt processing was more effective than raw D. asper in preventing kidney yang deficiency. The efficacy of D. asper was evaluated by grey correlation analysis, entropy method, and Pearson correlation analysis, and the components of D. asper after salt processing against kidney yang deficiency were screened out. According to the results of correlation degree ranking, the components with increased ranking before and after salt processing of D. asper were loganin, chlorogenic acid, dipsacoside A, asperosaponin Ⅵ, caffeic acid, and isochlorogenic acid B. It was preliminarily speculated that these compounds may be the potential pharmacodynamic components for the treatment of kidney yang deficiency before and after salt processing of D. asper. The changing components before and after the salt processing of D. asper were determined, which proved that D. asper after salt processing was superior to D. asper in the treatment of kidney yang deficiency. The spectrum-effect relationship between the efficacy of D. asper before and after salt processing and the treatment of kidney yang deficiency was established, which laid a foundation for the subsequent study on the pharmacodynamic components and molecular mechanism of salt processing of D. asper.

An exploratory metabolomic study reveals the Dipsacus asper-Achyranthes bidentate herb pair against osteoarthritis by modulating imbalance in polyunsaturated fatty acids and energy metabolism.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a degenerative joint disease primarily affecting the cartilage. The therapeutic potential of the Dipsacus asper-Achyranthes bidentate herb pair for OA has been acknowledged, yet its precise mechanism remains elusive. In this study, we conducted a comprehensive analysis of metabolomic changes and therapeutic outcomes in osteoarthritic rats, employing a gas chromatography-mass spectrometry-based metabolomics approach in conjunction with histopathological and biochemical assessments. The rats were divided into six groups: control, model, positive control, Dipsacus asper treated, Achyranthes bidentata treated, and herb pair treated groups. Compared to the model group, significant reductions in levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-1ß (IL-1ß), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and iNOS were observed in the treated groups. Multivariate statistical analyses were employed to investigate metabolite profile changes in serum samples and identify potential biomarkers, revealing 45 differential biomarkers, with eighteen validated using standard substances. These analytes exhibited excellent linearity across a wide concentration range (R2>0.9990), with intra- and inter-day precision RSD values below 4.69% and 4.83%, respectively. Recoveries of the eighteen analytes ranged from 93.97% to 106.59%, with RSD values under 5.72%, underscoring the method's reliability. Treatment with the herbal pair effectively restored levels of unsaturated fatty acids such as linoleic acid and arachidonic acid, along with glucogenic amino acids. Additionally, levels of phosphoric acid and citric acid were reversed, indicating restoration of energy metabolism. Collectively, these findings highlight the utility of metabolomic analysis in evaluating therapeutic efficacy and elucidating the underlying molecular mechanisms of herb pairs in OA treatment.

Dipsacus Asperoides-Derived Exosomes-Like Nanoparticles Inhibit the Progression of Osteosarcoma via Activating P38/JNK Signaling Pathway.

Introduction: Osteosarcoma is a prevalent and highly malignant primary bone tumor. However, current clinical therapeutic drugs for osteosarcoma are not suitable for long-term use due to significant side effects. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop new drugs with fewer side effects. Dipsacus asperoides C. Y. Cheng et T. M. Ai, a traditional Chinese medicine, is commonly used for its anti-inflammatory, anti-pain, bone fracture healing, and anti-tumor effects. In this study, we investigated the effects of exosome-like nanoparticles derived from Dipsacus asperoides (DAELNs) on osteosarcoma cells in vitro and in vivo. Methods: DAELNs were isolated and purified from Dipsacus asperoides and their physical and chemical properties were characterized using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and nanoparticle tracking analysis (NTA). The cellular uptake of DAELNs in osteosarcoma cells was analyzed by PKH26 staining. The proliferation, invasion, migration, and apoptosis of osteosarcoma cells were assessed using CCK8 assay, EdU assay, colony-formation assay, transwell assay, wound healing assay, and mitochondrial membrane potential measurement, respectively. The regulatory mechanism of DAELNs inhibiting the progression of osteosarcoma via activating P38/JNK signaling pathway was investigated using Western blotting and immunohistochemistry. Moreover, the therapeutic effects of DAELNs were evaluated using in vivo small animal imaging assay, HE staining, and immunohistochemistry. Results: Our results showed that DAELNs inhibited the proliferation, invasion, migration, and fostered the apoptosis of osteosarcoma cells in vitro and suppressed the tumor growth of osteosarcoma cells in a xenograft nude mouse model. Furthermore, the bio-distribution of DiD-labeled DAELNs showed preferential targeting of osteosarcoma tumors and excellent biosafety in histological analysis of the liver and kidney. Mechanistically, DAELNs activated the P38/JNK signaling pathway-induced apoptosis. Conclusion: Taken together, DAELNs are novel, natural, and osteosarcoma-targeted agents that can serve as safe and effective therapeutic approaches for the treatment of osteosarcoma.

Four new triterpene saponins from Cephalaria speciosa and their potent cytotoxic and immunomodulatory activities.

Four new triterpene saponins, namely speciosides A-D (1-4) along with six known saponins were isolated from the n-butanol extract of Cephalaria speciosa. In addition to these, three new prosapogenins (2a-4a) were obtained after alkaline hydrolysis. Elucidation of the structures of the isolated compounds was carried out by 1D, 2D NMR, HR-ESI/MS and GC-MS analyses. Cytotoxic activity was investigated on A549, CCD34-Lu, MDA-MB-231, PC-3, U-87MG, HeLa, HepG-2 cells by MTT method. Additionally, the immunomodulatory effect of compounds was evaluated for macrophage polarization with/without inactivated IBV D274 antigen treatment on THP-1 cells originated macrophage cells in terms of M1 or M2. According to the cytotoxicity results, compound 1 and prosapogenin 2a exhibit significant cytotoxicity than doxorubicin by comparison. The results demonstrated that saponin molecules treated THP-1 originated macrophages were induced M1 and/or M2 polarization. Additionally, macrophage cells treated with/without IBV D274 antigen contained saponin compounds were triggered significantly M2 polarization relative to M1. Notably, monodesmosidic saponins (1 and 2a-4a) in comparison with bisdesmosidic ones (2-4) demonstrated the most effect on M2 polarization. In conclusion, the results showed that all the isolated new saponins and their prosapogenins have immunomodulatory potential on macrophage cells increasing immune response without significant cytotoxic effect on THP-1 originated macrophages.

Exploring active ingredients of anti-osteoarthritis in raw and wine-processed Dipsaci Radix based on spectrum-effect relationship combined with chemometrics.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Dipsaci Radix (DR) is the dry root of the Dipsacus asper Wall. ex DC., which has the function of tonifying the liver and kidney, continuing tendons and bones, and regulating blood vessels. However, there are few reports on the main active ingredients. AIM OF THE STUDY: This study aimed to find the main active components of DR in the treatment of osteoarthritis (OA) by spectrum-effect relationship and compare the differences between RDR and WDR. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Firstly, the high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method was used to establish the fingerprint of DR, and 10 peaks of them were determined by UPLC-Q-TOF/MS. Then, the OA rat model was established by injecting sodium iodoacetate to study the effect of DR on OA. The spectrum-effect relationship was analyzed by grey relational analysis (GRA) and Pearson correlation analysis. RESULTS: According to the pharmacological results, compared with the model group, the cartilage score, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-1ß (IL-1ß), and interleukin-6 (IL-6), and Mankin score of rats in low, medium and high dose groups were decreased, and the therapeutic effect of wine-processed DR tended to be better than raw DR at the same dose. Finally, the active components of DR were preliminarily determined as 4 (loganic acid), 6 (chlorogenic acid), 8 (caffeic acid), 14 (dipsanoside B), 16, and 17 (asperosaponin VI) which had a large correlation in GRA and Pearson correlation analysis. CONCLUSION: This study established the spectrum-effect relationship between the raw and wine-processed DR for the first time, which provided a theoretical basis for the study of the pharmacodynamic substance basis of DR before and after processing. This research provided a reference for the subsequent study of DR.

[Cloning and bioinformatics analysis of ß-amyrin synthase in Dipsacus asper].

Dipsaci Radix is one of the commonly used Chinese medicinal materials in China, with a long history. It has the medicinal activities of nourishing liver and kidney, recovering from broken sinews, and treating bone fracture. Triterpenoid saponins are the main functional ingredients of Dipsacus asper. ß-Amyrin synthases(ß-AS) as a superfamily of oxidosqualene cyclases(OSCs) can catalyze the construction of the skeleton structure of oleanane-type triterpenoid saponins. There are only a few studies about the ß-AS in D. asper, and the catalytic mechanism of this enzyme remains to be explored. To enrich the information of ß-AS, according to the transcriptome sequencing results, we cloned DaWß-AS gene from D. asper into a specific vector for heterologous expression in Escherichia coli. In the meantime, real-time PCR was performed to analyze the relative expression of DaWß-AS in four different tissues of D. asper. The results of RT-qPCR showed DaWß-AS had the highest expression level in leaves. Bioinformatics results indicated that DaWß-AS had a conserved domain of PLN03012 superfamily, belonging to the cl31551 superfamily. There was no transmembrane domain or signal peptide in DaWß-AS. This study provides a scientific basis for revealing the biological pathways of triterpenoid saponins in D. asper, which will facilitate the biosynthesis of the associated saponins and afford reference for the cultivation and development of high-quality resources of D. asper.

A hederagenin-type triterpene saponin, sumbulianoside a from Cephalaria sumbuliana and its potent immunomodulatory activity against seasonal flu virus H3N2.

A new hederagenin-type triterpene saponin; hederagenin 28-O-ß-D-galactopyranosyl-(1→6)-ß-D-glucopyranosyl ester named sumbulianoside A (1), together with twelve known saponins were isolated from the n-butanol extract of Cephalaria sumbuliana (Caprifoliaceae) from which, one known saponin, dipsacus saponin A (2) was isolated, for the first time from Cephalaria species. The structures of the isolated compounds were elucidated by 1 D and 2 D NMR and HRESIMS analyses. Cytotoxic activities were investigated on A549, Hela, PANC1, SHSY5Y cells and non-cancerous cell HEK293 by MTT method and immunomodulatory activities were evaluated against activated H3N2 seasonal virus in whole blood by measuring IL-4, IFN-γ, IL-1ß cytokine level with ELISA. According to the cytotoxicity results, compounds 1 and 2 did not possess significant cytotoxicity, while only compound 2 induced significant IL-4 production (** p<.001) against H3N2 showing a possible Th2 response and antibody production. All compounds had no effect on cytokine release (p > 0.5).

Systematic profiling of the effective ingredients and mechanism of Scabiosa comosa and S. tschilliensis against hepatic fibrosis combined with network pharmacology.

Scabiosa comosa and S. tschilliensis (SCST) are traditionally used for liver diseases in Mongolian medicine. However, their active ingredients and molecular mechanisms are unknown. The present study employed network pharmacology and experimental verification approaches to decipher the common pharmacological mechanisms of SCST on liver fibrosis, which is the key step in liver diseases. We predicted the targets of all available SCST ingredients with the SWISS and SuperPred servers and clustered the targets related to liver fibrosis from DrugBank, the OMIM database and the literature. We further evaluated the links between the herbal ingredients and pharmacological actions to explore the potential mechanism of action of SCST. We found that the PPARG signalling pathway could be regulated by SCST for liver fibrosis through enrichment analysis. The key targets included 8 co-targets, including HSP90AA1, PPARG, HSP90AB1, STAT1, etc., which play pivotal roles in the pathogenesis of liver fibrosis. Additionally, the top 15 key compounds included flavonoids and phenylpropanoids. Central to the pathogenesis of liver fibrosis is trans-differentiation or activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs). Therefore, LX2 cells, an immortalized human HSC line, were studied. Here, a total 37 components were isolated and identified from the inflorescences of SCST, including the new compound tschilliensisin, and the first separated components, ß-sitosterol and luteolin, and these compounds were assessed against anti-hepatic fibrosis. An MTT assay and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and Western blotting analyses demonstrated that the flavonoids of SCST revealed anti-hepatic fibrosis effects via anti-proliferation and increases in the Stat1, Pparg, Hsp90aa1 genes and STAT1 and PPARG proteins in LX-2 cells. In conclusion, these results indicate that SCST has multi-targeted and multi-component synergistic anti-hepatic fibrosis effects.

A Methanol Extract of Scabiosa atropurpurea Enhances Doxorubicin Cytotoxicity against Resistant Colorectal Cancer Cells In Vitro.

Colorectal cancer is a malignancy with a high incidence. Currently, the drugs used in chemotherapy are often accompanied by strong side effects. Natural secondary metabolites can interfere with chemotherapeutic drugs and intensify their cytotoxic effects. This study aimed to profile the secondary metabolites from the methanol extract of Scabiosa atropurpurea and investigate their in vitro activities, alone or in combination with the chemotherapeutic agent doxorubicin. MTT assay was used to determine the cytotoxic activities. Annexin-V/PI double-staining analysis was employed to evaluate the apoptotic concentration. Multicaspase assay, quantitative reverse transcription real-time PCR (RT-qPCR), and ABC transporter activities were also performed. LC-MS analysis revealed 31 compounds including phenolic acids, flavonoids, and saponins. S. atropurpurea extract intensified doxorubicin anti-proliferative effects against resistant tumor cells and enhanced the cytotoxic effects towards Caco-2 cells after 48 h. The mRNA expression levels of Bax, caspase-3, and p21 were increased significantly whereas Bcl-2 expression level was decreased. Furthermore, the methanol extract reversed P-glycoprotein or multidrug resistance-associated protein in Caco-2 cells. In conclusion, S. atropurpurea improved chemosensitivity and modulated multidrug resistance in Caco-2 cells which makes it a good candidate for further research in order to develop a new potential cancer treatment.

Botanical and Genetic Identification Followed by Investigation of Chemical Composition and Biological Activities on the Scabiosa atropurpurea L. Stem from Tunisian Flora.

Scarce information about the phenolic composition of Scabiosa atropurpurea L. is available, and no carotenoid compounds have been reported thus far. In this study the phenolic and carotenoid composition of this plant was both investigated and associated bioactivities were evaluated. Aiming to obtain extracts and volatile fractions of known medicinal plants to valorize them in the pharmaceutical or food industries, two techniques of extraction and five solvents were used to determine the biologically active compounds. Gas chromatography coupled to flame ionization and mass spectrometry and liquid chromatography coupled to photodiode array and atmospheric pressure chemical ionization/electrospray ionization mass spectrometry highlighted the presence of 15 volatiles, 19 phenolic, and 24 natural pigments in Scabiosa atropurpurea L. stem samples; among them, the most abundant were 1,8-cineole, chlorogenic acid, cynaroside, and lutein. Bioactivity was assessed by a set of in vitro tests checking for antioxidant, antibacterial, antifungal, and allelopathic (against Brassica oleracea L. and Lens culinaris Medik) effects. Scabiosa atropurpurea L. stem extracts presented a considerable antioxidant, antibacterial, and allelopathic potential, with less antifungal effectiveness. These results indicate that the volatile fractions and extracts from S. atropurpurea L. stem could be considered as a good source of bioactive agents, with possible applications in food-related, agriculture, and pharmaceutical fields. Genetic investigations showed 97% of similarity with Scabiosa tschiliensis, also called Japanese Scabiosa.

Cell Growth Inhibition of Saponin XII from Dipsacus japonicus Miq. on Acute Myeloid Leukemia Cells.

In previous studies, we isolated the known compound saponin XII from the roots of Dipsacus japonicus Miq. Here, we show that this compound reduced the number of acute myeloid leukemia OCI-AML3 cells as evaluated by a hemocytometer. Flow cytometry analyses demonstrated that the reported activity was associated with a significant increase of apoptosis and of cells in the G0/G1 phase of the cell cycle, with a decrease of cells in the S and G2/M phases. Thus, the inhibition of cell growth in OCI-AML3 cells was due to antiproliferative and pro-apoptotic effects. Interestingly, the bioactivity of saponin XII exerted its effect at a concentration as low as 1 µg/mL.

Anti-liver fibrosis effect of total flavonoids from Scabiosa comosa Fisch. ex Roem. et Schult. on liver fibrosis in rat models and its proteomics analysis.

BACKGROUND: To explore the potential therapeutic effect of total flavonoids (TFs) extracted from Scabiosa comosa Fisch. ex Roem. et Schult on liver fibrosis in rat models and to identify the possible targets and pathways of TF in treating liver fibrosis by using a quantitative proteomics method. METHODS: Sixty Wistar rats were equally randomized into five groups: a blank control group, a model group, and high-, intermediate-, and low-dose TF treatment groups. Except for the blank control group, rats in the other four groups were intragastrically administered with CCL4 2 mL/kg to establish the liver fibrosis models. Furthermore, the high-, intermediate-, and low-dose TF groups were intragastrically given TF at a dose of 200, 100 and 50 mg/kg, respectively. After 10 weeks, the rats were sacrificed, and blood and liver samples were collected. Serum alanine transaminase (ALT), Aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) levels were measured, and hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining and Masson's trichrome staining were used to observe the pathological changes in each group. The hydroxyproline content was also determined. Real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and Western blotting (WB) were performed to detect the mRNA and protein expressions of α-smooth muscle actin (αSMA) and Collagen I. Mass spectrometry was performed for proteomic analysis. RESULTS: Compared with the blank control group, the model group had significantly higher ALT, AST, ALP, and hydroxyproline levels; also, HE and Masson staining showed fibrotic lesions and inflammatory cell infiltration in the model group. Compared with the model group, the high-, intermediate-, and lowdose TF groups had significantly decreased ALT, AST, and ALP levels (P<0.05), and a significantly lower hydroxyproline level (P<0.05), along with remarkably improved fibrotic lesions and inflammatory cell infiltration. Real-time PCR and WB showed that the model group had significantly higher expressions of αSMA and collagen I than those in the blank control group, whereas the TF groups had significantly lower expressions of αSMA and collagen I than those in the model group. A total of 5,014 proteins were detected by quantitative proteomics, among which 205 proteins were differentially expressed, 77 of which were upregulated and 128 of which were down-regulated. KEGG pathway analysis indicated that the peroxisome proliferator activated receptor (PPAR) and ECM-receptor interaction pathways were down-regulated in the TF groups compared with the model group. Among them, fatty-acid-binding protein (FABP) and von Willebrand factor (vWF) were the key proteins in the PPAR and extracellular matrix (ECM)-receptor interaction pathways. The proteomic results were validated by using WB, yielding consistent results. CONCLUSIONS: Our result demonstrated that the TF extract of Scabiosa comosa Fisch. ex Roem. et Schult has a good anti-liver fibrosis effect and may prevent liver fibrosis by reducing the content of α-SMA, CollagenⅠ in liver tissue. The anti-fibrosis mechanism of TF extract of Scabiosa comosa Fisch. ex Roem. et Schult may be the inhibition of key proteins FABP and vWF in PPAR, ECM RECEPTOR INTERACTION pathway.

Traditional uses, processing methods, phytochemistry, pharmacology and quality control of Dipsacus asper Wall. ex C.B. Clarke: A review.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Dipsacus asper Wall. ex C.B. Clarke, a traditional Chinese herbal medicine, has long been used in China for the therapy of bone diseases (e.g. bone fracture, osteoporosis, rheumatic arthritis), traumatic hematoma, uterine bleeding and those caused by the deficiency of liver and kidney. AIM OF THE STUDY: This work aims to evaluate current research progress on chemical constituents, pharmacological activities, quality control, and pharmacokinetic of Dipsacus asper Wall. ex C.B. Clarke, pinpoint the shortcomings of existing studies, and provide meaningful guidelines for our future investigations. METHODS: Extensive database retrieval, such as PubMed, SciFinder and CNKI, was carried out by using keywords such as "Dipsacus asper", "Radix Dipsaci", and "Xuduan". Furthermore, relevant textbooks, patents, reviews, and digital documents were consulted to collate all available scientific literature and to provide a complete science-based survey of the topic. RESULTS: More than 100 compounds have been isolated and identified from Dipsacus asper Wall. ex C.B. Clarke, a substantial proportion of which were reported to be triterpenoids and iridoids. Biological effects such as protective effects against bone fracture, anti-osteoporosis, neuroprotective, cardioprotective, anti-aging and protection of reproductive system activities were also evaluated in vitro and in vivo. CONCLUSIONS: Diaphoretic processing resulted in the drop in the content of asperosaponin VI, which was highly associated with bone protective effect of DA. Therefore, diaphoretic processing was not a suitable processing method for DA. Although Dipsacus asper Wall. ex C.B. Clarke was traditionally used for therapy of osteoarthritis, the in-depth study of the underlying mechanism was very rare. Much endeavor had been made on the effect of DA on bone fracture. Notably, high-dose of Dipsacus asper administration may cause adverse impacts in maternal healthy and embryo-fetal development. It's not suitable for further development in those bioactivities, such as anti-inflammatory and free radical scavenging, which are shared in many other plant species. Pharmacological effects of individual component of DA is not equivalent to its traditional usage. Attention should be paid to the traditional effect of extract of DA.

The effect of luteolin 7-glucoside, apigenin 7-glucoside and Succisa pratensis extracts on NF-κB activation and α-amylase activity in HepG2 cells.

The chemical composition of Succisa pratensis is not well known. The existing data indicate a substantial content of flavonoids, which include luteolin and apigenin 7-glucosides. The aim of this study was to elaborate the isolation protocol of these flavonoids from flowers and leaves of S. pratensis, to carry out their characterization, as well as evaluate the effect of S. pratensis extracts on activation of transcription factor NF-κB and α-amylase activity. The extraction protocol applied in this study allowed isolation and characterization of flavonoid fraction of S. pratensis. Their identity was confirmed by NMR spectra analysis, UV spectroscopy and electrospray ionization-tandem MS evaluation. Treatment of pancreatic α-amylase with S. pratensis extract inhibited this enzyme's activity to an extent comparable to that of isolated luteolin and apigenin 7-glucosides. Incubation of HepG2 cells for 24 h with S. pratensis extracts or isolated flavonoids resulted in moderate reduction in NF-κB transcription factor activation evaluated in terms of translocation of its active subunits from cytosol into nucleus and subsequently diminished expression of the COX-2 gene. Expression of NF-κB was also reduced. The most significantly diminished NF-κB activation and expression, as well as COX-2 expression, was found to result from treatment with isolated flavonoids and ethyl acetate extract of S. pratensis leaves. These results indicate that S. pratensis flavonoids may modulate the metabolic and signaling pathways whose deregulation is related to pathogenesis of liver cancer. Further studies are required to confirm these observations and assess the chemopreventive and/or therapeutic potential of the S. pratensis herb.

Comprehensive separation of iridoid glycosides and triterpenoid saponins from Dipsacus asper with salt-containing solvent by high-speed countercurrent chromatography coupled with recycling mode.

The roots of Dipsacus asper Wall as a commonly used traditional Chinese medicine are used for tonifying liver and kidney and strengthening bones and muscles. However, an effective separation strategy for comprehensive and rapid separation of the main active compounds from the roots of D. asper is nonexistent. This investigation provided an effective separation method based on AB-8 macroporous resin column chromatography using different ratios of ethanol in water and two different modes of high-speed countercurrent chromatography with salt-containing solvent system for rapid enrichment and separation from the roots of D. asper. The macroporous resin column chromatography was performed on AB-8 resin using ethanol in water ratios of 10, 30, 40, 50, and 80% as the optimized enrichment conditions for iridoid glycosides and triterpenoid saponins with different polarities. For high-speed countercurrent chromatography separation, the conventional and recycling modes were combined together to develop a strategy for 12 compounds (1-12) from the enriched parts of 30, 40, and 80% ethanol, including six high-polarity iridoid glycosides (1-6) using inorganic salt-containing solvent system and six triterpenoid saponins (7-12). Recycling high-speed countercurrent chromatography separation was successfully applied to separate two isomers (9 and 10) after 11 cycles.

[Study on commodity specification and grade standard and quality evaluation of Dipsaci Radix].

Through the records of herbal and market investigations,the samples collected from different market and origin were analyzed,and the appearance character indexes were determined in order to revise the commodity specification and grade standard of Dipsaci Radix combined with production practice. This is also to analyze association of the appearance with quality different of intrinsic components. The investigation results indicated the root's long and thick was better,and atrovirens of fracture surface,there are most of the market is dominated by the ungraded goods. Through principal component analysis,variance analysis and cluster analysis,combining with the feasibility of actual operation and herbal record,the length,middle diameter and phloem color were filtrated and the specification was divided into 2 ranks: the selection and ungraded goods,and the grade was divided into 2 ranks for the selection goods: big,small selected goods. Moreover,there were no significant correlation between the appearance and the intrinsic quality index of Dipsaci Radix,the content of extractum were significantly positive correlation with the moisture,but had extremely negative correlation with the total ash. Multiple comparisons indicated that the content of the moisture,extractum and asperosaponin VI of the selected goods were higher than the ungraded goods,while the total ash content were lower,and they hasn't significant difference. The commodity specification and grade standard of Dipsaci Radix as a basis provide commodity specification and grade standard of communities and standardizing market trade order.

Systems pharmacology dissection of action mechanisms of Dipsaci Radix for osteoporosis.

AIMS: Osteoporosis (OP) is a systemic metabolic bone disease characterized by bone mass decrease and microstructural degradation, which may increase the risk of bone fracture and leading to high morbidity. Dipsaci Radix (DR), one typical traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), which has been applied in the treatment of OP with good therapeutic effects and few side effects. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms of DR to treat OP have not been fully elucidated. In this study, we aim to dissect the molecular mechanism of DR in the treatment of OP. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A systems pharmacology approach was employed to comprehensively dissect the action mechanisms of DR for the treatment of OP. KEY FINDINGS: 10 compounds were screened out as the potential active ingredients with excellent biological activity based on in silico ADME (absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion) prediction model. Then, 36 key protein targets of 6 compounds were identified by systems drug targeting model (SysDT) and they were involved in several biological processes, such as osteoclast differentiation, osteoblast differentiation and anti-inflammation. The target-pathway network indicated that targets are mainly mapped in multiple signaling pathways, i.e., MAPK, Tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), NF-κb and Toll-like receptor pathways. The in vitro results indicated that the compounds ursolic acid and beta-sitosterol effectively inhibited the osteoclast differentiation. SIGNIFICANCE: These results systematically dissected that DR exhibits the therapeutic effects of OP by the regulation of immune system-related pathways, which provide novel perspective to drug development of OP.

Simultaneous determination of several flavonoids and phenolic compounds in nineteen different Cephalaria species by HPLC-MS/MS.

Cephalaria species in Turkey known as "Pelemir" and they have many different biological activities due to their wide range of chemical content. The main goal of this study is determine the flavonoids and phenolic acids in Cephalaria species using high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS). This method was developed for quantitation of reported compounds using reverse phase Fortis C18 (150 × 3 mm × 5 µm) column with a gradient of 0.1% formic acid solution (A) in water and (B) in methanol in ESI mode. The recoveries of developed method were obtained in the range of 90.4-109.4%. Limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantification (LOQ) values were calculated in the range of 0.3-25.2 ppb and 3.0-102.3 ppb for the reported compounds. Uncertainty evaluations of all compounds were reported. Twenty-five flavonoids, five simple phenolics, two triterpenoids, one iridoid and vitamin C successfully identified and quantified for nineteen Cephalaria species. The main flavonoids in the studied species were determined as cyanidin-3-O-glucoside, luteolin-7-O-glucoside, kaempherol-3-O-glucoside, hyperoside, hesperidin, luteolin and quercetin while salicylic and caffeic acids were detected as major phenolic acids in the analyzed samples. This is the first full characterization study for nineteen Cephalaria species via HPLC-MS/MS.

Absolute structure assignment of an iridoid-monoterpenoid indole alkaloid hybrid from Dipsacus asper.

Iridoid-monoterpenoid indole alkaloid hybrids (IMIAHs) represent a rare class of natural products reported from only several plants of Rubiaceae and Dipsacaceae families, while their structural assignments remain a very challenging work due to complexity and flexibility. In the current study, a new IMIAH (1) was isolated from the roots of Dipsacus asper and its structure with absolute configuration was unambiguously established by a combination of spectroscopic analyses, chemical degradation and ECD calculation. A new oleanane-type triterpenoid saponin (2) and 15 known co-metabolites were also obtained and structurally characterized. Our biological evaluations showed that compound 2 exhibited moderate inhibition against acetylcholine esterase (AChE) with an IC50 value of 15.8 ±â€¯0.56 µM, and compound 15 displayed potent cytotoxicity selectively against human A549 and H157 lung cancer cells with IC50 values of 6.94 ±â€¯0.24 and 9.06 ±â€¯0.12 µM, respectively.