A four-component combination derived from Huang-Qin Decoction significantly enhances anticancer activity of irinotecan.

Huang-Qin Decoction (HQD) is a classic prescription for diarrhea in Chinese medicine treatment. Recent studies have demonstrated that HQD and its modified formulation PHY906 could ameliorate irinotecan (CPT-11) induced gastrointestinal (GI) toxicity and enhance its anticancer therapeutic efficacy. Nevertheless, which constituents in HQD are effective is still unclear so far. The study aims to screen out the key bioactive components combination from HQD that could enhance the anticancer effect of CPT-11. First, the potential bioactive constituents were obtained through system pharmacology strategy. Then the bioactivity of each constituent was investigated synthetically from the aspects of NCM460 cell migration, TNF-α release of THP-1-derived macrophage and MTT assay in HCT116 cell. The contribution of each constituent in HQD was evaluated using the bioactive index Ei, which taken the content and bioactivity into comprehensive consideration. And then, the most contributing constituents were selected out to form a key-component combination. At last, the bioefficacy of the key-component combination was validated in vitro and in vivo. As a result, a key-component combination (HB4) consisting of four compounds baicalin, baicalein, glycyrrhizic acid and wogonin was screened out. In vitro assessment indicated that HB4 could enhance the effect of CPT-11 on inhibiting cell proliferation and inducing apoptosis in HCT116. Furthermore, the in vivo study confirmed that HB4 and HQD have similar pharmacological activity and could both enhance the antitumor effect of CPT-11 in HCT116 xenograft model. Meanwhile, HB4 could also reduce the CPT-11 induced GI toxicity.

Isochlorogenic acid (ICGA): natural medicine with potentials in pharmaceutical developments.

Natural products have attracted a great deal of attention as significant resources in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and in chemical medicine, as well as in cosmetic ingredients, nutraceuticals and food products. Isochlorogenic acid (ICGA), which has medicinal value, has been discovered in various plants. As a widespread natural medicine, ICGA should be the subject of further research and development. However, there have been no systematic analyses of ICGA. According to our investigation, ICGA was initially isolated from green coffee extracts by Barnes et al. in 1950. To date, it has been discovered in a variety of tea, vegetables, medicinal diet and TCM materials. ICGA is used as a chemical marker for the quality control of these TCM materials. The metabolic process of ICGA has been studied in detail, conforming to be linear dynamics. Thus, the clear pharmacokinetics of ICGA offers a solid foundation for its research and development. ICGA has multiple biological and pharmacological effects, and studies have mainly focused on its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, hypoglycemic, neuroprotective, and cardiovascular protective effects, and hepatoprotective properties. The mechanisms underlying these effects are summarized in this review to provide scientific support and inspiration for the future research and development of ICGA and ICGA-rich natural products.

[Impact of a Sewage Treatment Plant on the Accumulation of Microplastics in Freshwater Organisms in the Lijiang River of the Guilin Urban Section].

Microplastics (MPs, particle size<5 mm), as a new pollutant, have attracted wide attention in recent years. The distributions of MPs in effluent of a sewage treatment plant (STP) were examined. Surface water, sediment, and freshwater organism samples were taken from the STP discharge outlet in the Lijiang River tributary (S1), the confluence of tributaries and main streams in the Lijiang River (S2), and downstream locations in the Lijiang River (S3). The impact of STP discharge effluent on the characteristics and spatial distribution of MPs pollution in freshwater organisms was studied. The results showed that the freshwater organisms had a probability of uptake of MPs by 94.2%. The mean abundance of MPs in S1 (2.7 n·ind-1) was significantly higher than that of S3 (1.9 n·ind-1, P<0.05). The MPs found in S1 and S3 were mainly <0.10 mm, accounting for 46.0% and 30.5%, respectively. The fiber type of MPs was observed in the body of freshwater organisms. Polyethylene terephthalate was the major polymer form in S1 organisms, while polypropylene was the major polymer form in S3. The effluent discharged from the STP led to the accumulation of MPs in freshwater organisms.

Traditional Chinese Medicine: an effective treatment for 2019 novel coronavirus pneumonia (NCP).

The novel coronavirus pneumonia broke out in 2019 and spread rapidly. In 30 different countries, there are over seventy thousand patients have been diagnosed in total. Therefore, it is urgent to develop the effective program to prevent and treat for the novel coronavirus pneumonia. In view of Traditional Chinese Medicine has accumulated a solid theoretical foundation of plague in ancient and recent decades. Meanwhile, Traditional Chinese Medicine can provide the more effective and personalized treatment via adjusting the specific medicine for each patient based on the different syndromes. In addition, TCM often has different effect on the distinct stages of diseases, contributing to the prevention, treatment and rehabilitation. Nowadays, TCM has exhibited decent effect in the in the fight against NCP. Therefore, it is convinced that Traditional Chinese Medicine is an effective treatment for 2019 novel coronavirus pneumonia.

Copper-Catalyzed Diamination of Alkenes of Unsaturated Ketohydrazones with Amines.

A convenient copper-catalyzed intra-/intermolecular diamination of ß,γ-unsaturated hydrazones has been developed with simple amines as external amine sources. The protocol enables efficient access to various nitrogen-containing pyrazolines under mild reaction conditions.