ABSTRACT
Membrane transporters are proteins responsible for facilitating the movement of molecules within biological membranes. They play a vital role in maintaining cellular homeostasis by regulating the transport of nutrients, ions, and other molecules into and out of cells. Our aim is to identify biomarkers in colorectal cancer using membrane transporter proteins. We utilized COAD TCGA data for this purpose. Subsequently, we conducted differential gene analysis and feature selection using membrane transporter proteins. Furthermore, we identified two potential genes, including ANO7 and SLC38A4. To validate the expression profiles of ANO7 and SLC38A4, key genes in this context, RT-qPCR was employed on colorectal cancer samples and adjacent normal tissues. Additionally, utilizing GEPIA2, Kaplan-Meier survival analysis, and cBioPortal, we assessed the status of these genes in various cancers, examining their methylation and mutation patterns. In conclusion, we suggest that ANO7 and SLC38A4 serve as prognostic biomarkers in colorectal cancer.
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Osteoporosis, characterized by compromised bone density and microarchitecture, represents a significant global health challenge, particularly in aging populations. This comprehensive review delves into the intricate signaling pathways implicated in the pathogenesis of osteoporosis, providing valuable insights into the pivotal role of signal transduction in maintaining bone homeostasis. The exploration encompasses cellular signaling pathways such as Wnt, Notch, JAK/STAT, NF-κB, and TGF-ß, all of which play crucial roles in bone remodeling. The dysregulation of these pathways is a contributing factor to osteoporosis, necessitating a profound understanding of their complexities to unveil the molecular mechanisms underlying bone loss. The review highlights the pathological significance of disrupted signaling in osteoporosis, emphasizing how these deviations impact the functionality of osteoblasts and osteoclasts, ultimately resulting in heightened bone resorption and compromised bone formation. A nuanced analysis of the intricate crosstalk between these pathways is provided to underscore their relevance in the pathophysiology of osteoporosis. Furthermore, the study addresses some of the most crucial long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) associated with osteoporosis, adding an additional layer of academic depth to the exploration of immune system involvement in various types of osteoporosis. Finally, we propose that SKP1 can serve as a potential biomarker in osteoporosis.
Subject(s)
Osteoporosis , Signal Transduction , Osteoporosis/immunology , Osteoporosis/genetics , Osteoporosis/metabolism , Humans , Animals , Bone Remodeling , Osteoclasts/metabolism , Osteoclasts/immunology , Osteoblasts/metabolism , Osteoblasts/immunology , RNA, Long Noncoding/genetics , RNA, Long Noncoding/metabolismABSTRACT
Lactate dehydrogenase A (LDHA), a critical enzyme involved in glycolysis, is broadly involved multiple biological functions in human cancers. It is reported that LDHA can impact tumor immune surveillance and induce the transformation of tumor-associated macrophages, highlighting its unnoticed function of LDHA in immune system. However, in human cancers, the role of LDHA in prognosis and immunotherapy hasn't been investigated. In this study, we analyzed the expression pattern and prognostic value of LDHA in pan-cancer and explored its association between tumor microenvironment (TME), immune infiltration subtype, stemness scores, tumor mutation burden (TMB), and immunotherapy resistance. We found that LDHA expression is tumor heterogeneous and that its high expression is associated with poor prognosis in multiple human cancers. In addition, LDHA expression was positively correlated with the presence of mononuclear/macrophage cells, and also promoted the infiltration of a range of immune cells. Genomic alteration of LDHA was common in different types of cancer, while with prognostic value in pan-cancers. Pan-cancer analysis revealed that the significant correlations existed between LDHA expression and tumor microenvironment (including stromal cells and immune cells) as well as stemness scores (DNAss and RNAss) across cancer types. Drug sensitivity analysis also revealed that LDHA was able to predict response to chemotherapy and immunotherapy. Furthermore, it was confirmed that knockdown of LDHA reduced proliferation and migration ability of lung cancer cells. Taken together, LDHA could serve as a prognostic biomarker and a potential immunotherapy marker.
Subject(s)
Drug Resistance, Neoplasm , Immunotherapy , Neoplasms , Tumor Microenvironment , Humans , Tumor Microenvironment/immunology , Prognosis , Neoplasms/immunology , Neoplasms/genetics , Neoplasms/therapy , Drug Resistance, Neoplasm/genetics , Biomarkers, Tumor/metabolism , Biomarkers, Tumor/genetics , Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic , L-Lactate Dehydrogenase/metabolism , L-Lactate Dehydrogenase/genetics , Cell Line, TumorABSTRACT
Background: Polyphyllin, a natural compound derived primarily from the Paris genus, manifests its anticancer properties. Extensive research on its therapeutic potential in cancers has been reported. However, there is no systematical analysis of the general aspects of research on polyphyllin by bibliometric analysis. The aim of this study is to visualize emerging trends and hotspots and predict potential research directions in this field. Methods: In this study, we collected relevant research articles from the Web of Science Core Collection Bibliometrics. Using R-bibliometrix, we analyzed the research status, hotspots, frontiers, and development trends of polyphyllin in high-incidence cancers. To conduct a comprehensive visual analysis, CiteSpace and VOSviewer were used for visual analysis of authors, countries, institutions, keywords, and co-cited references within the published articles. Results: A total of 257 articles focusing on the research of polyphyllin in high-incidence cancers were retrieved from the WOSCC database, covering the period from 2005 to 2023. The analysis revealed a consistent increasing trend in annual publications during this timeframe. Notably, China emerged as the most productive country, with Tianjin University leading the institutions. The Journal of Ethnopharmacology stood out as the most prominent journal in this field, while Gao WY emerged as the most prolific author. Polyphyllin VI, polyphyllin II, and polyphyllin VII have emerged as the latest research hotspots. Additionally, the investigation of autophagy and its associated mechanisms has gained significant attention as a novel research direction. Conclusion: This study presents a novel visualization of the research on polyphyllin saponins in the field of highly prevalent cancers using bibliometric analysis. The investigation of polyphyllin D has emerged as a primary focus in this field, with lung cancer, breast cancer, and liver cancer being the key areas of current research. Lastly, polyphyllin saponins show potential application in the field of cancer.
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Among all types of renal cancer, clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) is the most common and lethal subtype and is associated with a high risk of metastasis and recurrence. Histone modifications regulate several biological processes that are fundamental to the development of cancer. Lysine methyltransferase 5C (KMT5C; also known as SUV420H2) is an epigenetic modifier responsible for the trimethylation of H4K20, which drives critical cellular events, including genome integrity, cell growth and epithelialmesenchymal transition (EMT), in various types of cancer. However, the role of KMT5C in ccRCC remains unclear. As such, the expression and function of KMT5C in ccRCC were investigated in the present study. KMT5C expression was significantly increased in ccRCC tissues compared with normal tissues (P<0.0001), and it was closely associated with the overall survival rate of patients with ccRCC. By establishing ccRCC cell lines with KMT5C expression knockdown, the role of KMT5C in the maintenance of aerobic glycolysis in ccRCC cells via the regulation of several vital glycolytic genes was identified. Additionally, KMT5C promoted the proliferation and EMT of ccRCC cells by controlling crucial EMT transcriptional factors. Together, these data suggested that KMT5C may act as an oncoprotein, guide molecular diagnosis, and shed light on novel drug development and therapeutic strategies for patients with ccRCC.
Subject(s)
Carcinoma, Renal Cell , Kidney Neoplasms , Humans , Carcinoma, Renal Cell/pathology , Cell Line, Tumor , Cell Proliferation/genetics , Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic , Glycolysis/genetics , Kidney Neoplasms/pathology , Lysine/metabolism , Methyltransferases/genetics , Methyltransferases/metabolismSubject(s)
Forearm , Giant Cell Tumors , Lung Neoplasms , Soft Tissue Neoplasms , Humans , Soft Tissue Neoplasms/surgery , Soft Tissue Neoplasms/pathology , Lung Neoplasms/surgery , Lung Neoplasms/pathology , Lung Neoplasms/secondary , Forearm/surgery , Giant Cell Tumors/surgery , Giant Cell Tumors/pathology , Male , Female , Middle AgedABSTRACT
Dendrobium nobile is a traditional Chinese herb with anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and neuroprotective properties. However, its antiaging effects are unclear. Herein, we studied the aging-related functions and the mechanism of action of the alcohol extract of Dendrobium nobile (DnAE) in the model organism Caenorhabditis elegans. The results indicated that 1 mg/mL DnAE slowed lipofuscin accumulation, decreased the levels of reactive oxygen species, elevated superoxide dismutase activity, enhanced oxidative and heat stress resistance, extended the lifespan of nematodes, protected their dopamine neurons from 6-hydroxydopamine-induced neurodegeneration, and reduced Aß-induced neurotoxicity. DnAE upregulated the mRNA expression of the transcription factors DAF-16 and HSF-1, promoted the nuclear localization of DAF-16, and enhanced the fluorescence intensity of HSP-16.2. However, it had no effect on the lifespan of DAF-16 mutants. Thus, DnAE can significantly extend lifespan, enhance heat stress tolerance, and delay age-related diseases through a DAF-16-dependent pathway.
Subject(s)
Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins , Dendrobium , Animals , Longevity , Caenorhabditis elegans , Dendrobium/metabolism , Oxidative Stress , Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins/genetics , Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins/metabolism , Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism , Heat Shock Transcription Factors/metabolism , Ethanol/metabolism , Forkhead Transcription Factors/metabolismABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The thioredoxin (TMX) system, an important redox system, plays crucial roles in several immune-related diseases. However, there is limited research on the correlation of TMX family gene expression with human pan-cancer prognosis, tumor microenvironment (TME), and immunotherapy. METHODS: Based on the integration of several bioinformatics analysis methods, we explored the expression levels and prognostic value of TMX family members in pan-cancer and analyzed their association between TME, immune infiltration, stemness scores, and drug sensitivity. Using KEGG enrichment analysis, we explored the potential signaling pathways of their regulation. Additionally, we conducted a transwell assay to verify the relationship between TMX family gene expression and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in liver cancer. RESULTS: Expression of the TMX family genes was shown to have an obvious intratumoral heterogeneity. In some cancers, TMX family members expression was also been found to correlate with poor prognosis of patients. Furthermore, TMX family genes may serve important roles in TME. The expression of TMX family genes was found to have a strong correlation with the stromal scores, immune scores, DNAss and RNAss in pan-cancer. Specifically, the expression levels of TMX family genes have been found to be associated with immune subtypes of renal clear cell carcinoma and liver hepatocellular carcinoma. High TMX2 expression promote EMT in liver cancer. CONCLUSIONS: The findings of this study may elucidate the biological roles of TMX family genes as potential targets for pan-cancer and also offer valuable insights for further investigating how these genes function in the development and spreading of cancer.
Subject(s)
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular , Carcinoma, Renal Cell , Kidney Neoplasms , Liver Neoplasms , Thioredoxins , Humans , Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/drug therapy , Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/genetics , Liver Neoplasms/drug therapy , Liver Neoplasms/genetics , Prognosis , Tumor Microenvironment/genetics , Thioredoxins/geneticsABSTRACT
Our previous studies have confirmed that transforming growth factor-ß (TGF-ß) plays an important role in tumor metastasis, and the serum deprivation protein response (SDPR) is a potential downstream target of TGF-ß. However, the role and mechanism of SDPR in gastric cancer are still unclear. We performed gene microarray, bioinformation analysis, combined with in vivo and in vitro experimental verification, we identified that SDPR is significantly downregulated in gastric cancer, and participates in TGF-ß-mediated tumour metastasis. Mechanically, SDPR interacts with extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and inhibits fatty acid metabolism key gene Carnitine palmitoyl transferase 1A (CPT1A) at transcriptional level by supressing ERK/PPAR pathway. Our findings suggest that the TGF-ß/SDPR/CPT1A axis play an important role in the fatty acid oxidation of gastric cancer, and provides a new insight into the crosstalk of tumour microenvironments and metabolism reprogramming and suggest that strategies to intervene the fatty acid metabolism may therapy gastric cancer metastasis.
Subject(s)
Stomach Neoplasms , Humans , Stomach Neoplasms/metabolism , Transforming Growth Factor beta/genetics , Transforming Growth Factor beta/metabolism , Cell Line, Tumor , Lipid Metabolism , Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases/metabolism , Fatty Acids/metabolism , Tumor MicroenvironmentABSTRACT
Clozapine (CLZ) is known as the most effective antipsychotic medication for schizophrenia. However, low dosage or over dosage of CLZ is adverse to the treatment of Schizophrenia. Thus, it is necessary to develop effective detection method for CLZ. Recently, due to the advantages such as excellent optical properties, good photobleachability and sensitivity, carbon dots (CDs)-based fluorescent sensors for the detection of target analytes have drawn a great deal of attention. In this work, blue fluorescent CDs (Named as B-CDs) with quantum yield (QY) as high as 38% were obtained by using carbonized human hair as source material through one-step dialysis method for the first time. B-CDs showed obvious graphite-like structure with an average of 1.76 nm, containing abundant functional groups such as -C=O, amino N and C-N on the surface of carbon cores. Optical analysis showed that the B-CDs exhibited excitation-dependent emission property with maximum emission wavelength of 450 nm. Moreover, B-CDs were further applied as a fluorescence sensor to the detection of CLZ. The B-CDs based sensor exhibited a good quenching response by CLZ through the inner filter effect and static quenching mechanism with a limit of detection of 67 ng/mL, which was much lower than the minimal effective concentration in blood (0.35 µg/mL). Finally, to test the practical application value of the developed fluorescence method, the determination of the content of CLZ in tablets and the concentration in blood was carried out. Compared with the results of high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method, it can be found that the constructed fluorescence detection method showed high accuracy and had great application potential in the detection of CLZ. Additionally, the results of cytotoxicity experiment showed that B-CDs had low cytotoxicity, which laid the foundation for the subsequent application of B-CDs in biological systems.
Subject(s)
Clozapine , Quantum Dots , Humans , Quantum Dots/chemistry , Carbon/chemistry , Spectrometry, Fluorescence/methods , Fluorescent Dyes/chemistry , HairABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Vaccination is the most effective way to prevent coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). However, it is often less protective and does not significantly increase antibody levels, especially in individuals with impaired immune systems. Nevertheless, the immunocompetence can be enhanced using a natural immunomodulator, such as Dendrobium officinale aqueous extract (DoAE). METHODS: To determine whether DoAE promotes antibody production, we treated healthy volunteers with DoAE during COVID-19 vaccination. Meanwhile, the control volunteers were given a placebo (cornstarch) during the vaccination. Antibody levels were measured at three-week intervals in the DoAE and control groups. RESULTS: DoAE enhanced immunity and preserved immune cell homeostasis. However, the neutralizing antibody (nAb) levels in the DoAE group were lower than those in the control group. Analysis of the gut microbiota revealed that the abundance of anti-inflammatory flora was increased, while the pro-inflammatory flora was reduced in the DoAE group. CONCLUSION: DoAE has immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory properties. Therefore, DoAE has the potential for COVID-19 prophylaxis, treatment, and recovery from the adverse effects of COVID-19. However, its anti-inflammatory activity affects the production of nAbs. Thus, DoAE may not be recommended for consumption during COVID-19 vaccination.
Subject(s)
COVID-19 , Dendrobium , Humans , Adjuvants, Immunologic , Antibodies, Neutralizing , Antibodies, Viral , COVID-19 Vaccines , SARS-CoV-2 , VaccinationABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The theory of free radical oxidative stress (ROS) is one of the leading theories of ageing, and antioxidants play an important role in antiaging. Dendrobium has always been popular as a natural antioxidant. METHODS: This study investigated the effects of various polarity fractions of ethanol extracts from Dendrobium nobile Lindl. (D. nobile) on D-galactose-induced aging mice. D. nobile stems were extracted by ethanol to form the crude extract (EA), which was sequentially extracted by trichloromethane, ethyl acetate, and n-butanol to yield the secondary extracts, named TCM, EAC, and NBA, respectively. EA, TCM, EAC and NBA were intragastrically administered at a dose of 200 mg/kg b.w. to the aging mice induced by D-galactose for 8 weeks. RESULTS: Compared with the aging control group (AC), D. nobile extracts reduced body weight and lipid accumulation and enhanced endurance and immunity by increasing the index of the spleens and thymus. Meanwhile, D. nobile extracts showed antioxidant properties by lowering Malondialdehyde (MDA) levels and increasing the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and Glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) in the skin, blood, liver, and brain. Furthermore, D. nobile extracts had a good protective effect on the cell structure and function against lesions of the skin, liver, brain, kidney, and ovary of aging mice. In particular, EA and EAC had better antioxidant and antiaging effects, suggesting that the most effective components were flavonoids and polyphenols that existed in EAC. Both EA and EAC downregulated the expression of aging-related genes such as Il1a, Il1b, Il1rn, Ccl3, Ccl4, Fos and Gck in the brain at the transcriptome level. Both EA and EAC reversed the increase in the Firmicutes/Bacteroidota ratio in aging mice, increased the abundance of probiotic bacteria Lactobacillus and Muribaculum, and decreased the abundance of pathogenic bacteria such as Staphylococcus, Corynebacterium and Brevibacterium. CONCLUSIONS: The EA and EAC extracts of D. nobile have better effects on immunity improvement, antioxidation and antiaging by remodelling the intestinal microecosystem and downregulating the expression of age-promoting genes in the brain. D. nobile, especially EA and EAC extracts, could be used as an antiaging drug or functional food.
Subject(s)
Antioxidants , Dendrobium , Female , Animals , Mice , Antioxidants/pharmacology , Galactose/pharmacology , Dendrobium/chemistry , Oxidative Stress , Aging , EthanolABSTRACT
Zygosaccharomyces rouxii was a highly salt-tolerant yeast, playing an important role in soy sauce fermentation. Previous studies reported that Z. rouxii under salt treatment produces better fermented food. However, the detailed change of main flavor substance was not clear. In this study, the physiological and transcriptomic analyses of Z. rouxii under salt treatment was investigated. The results revealed the high salt tolerance of Z. rouxii. Analysis of physiological data showed that the proportion of unsaturated fatty acids was significantly increased with the increment of salt concentrations. The analysis of organic acids showed that the content of succinic acid was significantly higher in the salt-treated Z. rouxii while oxalic acid was only identified at the 18% salt concentration-treated group. Results of volatile substances analysis showed that concentrations of 3-methyl-1-butanol and phenylethyl alcohol were significantly increased with the increment of salt concentrations. A comparison of transcriptome data showed that the genes involved in the TCA cycle and the linoleic acid synthesis process exhibited different expressions, which is consistent with the results of physiological data. This study helps to understand the change of main flavor substance of Z. rouxii under salt treatment and guide their applications in the high salt liquid state fermentation of the soy sauce.
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It has been found that arsenic trioxide (ATO) is effective in treating acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL). However, long QT syndrome was reported in patients receiving therapy using ATO, which even led to sudden cardiac death. The underlying mechanisms of ATO-induced cardiotoxicity have been investigated in some biological experiments, showing that ATO affects human ether-à-go-go-related gene (hERG) channels, coding rapid delayed rectifier potassium current (I Kr ), as well as L-type calcium (I CaL ) channels. Nevertheless, the mechanism by which these channel reconstitutions induced the arrhythmia in ventricular tissue remains unsolved. In this study, a mathematical model was developed to simulate the effect of ATO on ventricular electrical excitation at cellular and tissue levels by considering ATO's effects on I Kr and I CaL . The ATO-dose-dependent pore block model was incorporated into the I Kr model, and the enhanced degree of ATO to I CaL was based on experimental data. Simulation results indicated that ATO extended the action potential duration of three types of ventricular myocytes (VMs), including endocardial cells (ENDO), midmyocardial cells (MCELL), and epicardial cells (EPI), and exacerbated the heterogeneity among them. ATO could also induce alternans in all three kinds of VMs. In a cable model of the intramural ventricular strand, the effects of ATO are reflected in a prolonged QT interval of simulated pseudo-ECG and a wide vulnerable window, thus increasing the possibility of spiral wave formation in ventricular tissue. In addition to showing that ATO prolonged QT, we revealed that the heterogeneity caused by ATO is also an essential hazard factor. Based on this, a pharmacological intervention of ATO toxicity by resveratrol was undertaken. This study provides a further understanding of ATO-induced cardiotoxicity, which may help to improve the treatment for APL patients.
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Drug resistance is always a great obstacle in any endocrine therapy of breast cancer. Although the combination of endocrine therapy and targeted therapy has been shown to significantly improve prognosis, refractory endocrine resistance is still common. Dysregulation of the Hippo pathway is often related to the occurrence and the development of many tumors. Targeted therapies of this pathway have played important roles in the study of triple negative breast cancer (TNBC). Targeting the Hippo pathway in combination with chemotherapy or other targeted therapies has been shown to significantly improve specific antitumor effects and reduce cancer antidrug resistance. Further exploration has shown that the Hippo pathway is closely related to endocrine resistance, and it plays a "co-correlation point" role in numerous pathways involving endocrine resistance, including related pathways in breast cancer stem cells (BCSCs). Agents and miRNAs targeting the components of the Hippo pathway are expected to significantly enhance the sensitivity of breast cancer cells to endocrine therapy. This review initially explains the possible mechanism of the Hippo pathway in combating endocrine resistance, and it concludes by recommending endocrine therapy in combination with therapies targeting the Hippo pathway in the study of endocrine-resistant breast cancers.
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The clinical use of the steroidal aromatase inhibitor Formestane (4-hydroxandrostenedione, 4-OHA) in the treatment of advanced ER+ breast cancer has been discontinued, and therefore, interest in this remarkable drug has vanished. As a C-19 sterol, 4-OHA can undergo extensive intracellular metabolism depending on the expression of specific enzymes in the corresponding cells. We used the metabolites 4ß-hydroxyandrosterone, 4ß-hydroxyepiandrosterone and its 17ß-reduced derivative as standards for the proof of catalytic activity present in the cell culture medium and expressed by the isolated enzymes. All of the aldo-keto reductases AKR1C1, AKR1C2, AKR1C3 and AKR1C4 catalysed the reduction of the 3-keto-group and the Δ4,5 double bond of 4-OHA at the same time. Molecular docking experiments using microscale thermophoresis and the examination of the kinetic behaviour of the isolated enzymes with the substrate 4-OHA proved that AKR1C3 had the highest affinity for the substrate, whereas AKR1C1 was the most efficient enzyme. Both enzymes (AKR1C1and AKR1C3) are highly expressed in adipose tissue and lungs, exhibiting 3ß-HSD activity. The possibility that 4-OHA generates biologically active derivatives such as the androgen 4-hydroxytestosterone or some 17ß-hydroxy derivatives of the 5α-reduced metabolites may reawaken interest in Formestane, provided that a suitable method of administration can be developed, avoiding oral or intramuscular depot-injection administration.
Subject(s)
3-alpha-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase (B-Specific)/physiology , Androstenedione/analogs & derivatives , Steroids/pharmacokinetics , 20-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases/physiology , Administration, Oral , Aldo-Keto Reductase Family 1 Member C3/physiology , Androstenedione/chemical synthesis , Androstenedione/pharmacokinetics , Animals , COS Cells , Chlorocebus aethiops , Humans , Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases/physiology , Kinetics , Molecular Docking Simulation , Oxidoreductases/physiology , Protein Binding , Protein Isoforms , Recombinant Proteins/chemistry , Solvents , Steroids/chemical synthesisABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To study the effects of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P2O5) and potassium (K2O) fertilizers on the growth, yield total saponins content and nutrient absorption of Pulsatilla cernua and provide a theoretical basis for good agriculture practice. METHODS: Field plot experiments was conducted, based on the D-saturation optimal design with three factors of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. Samples collected periodically were used for determination the contents of nutrient and total saponins, and for measurement of yield and agronomic characters. RESULTS: Nutrient contents in Pulsatilla cernua varied with growth stage and part under the same growth stage. Nutrient contents in aerial part were higher than that in root, while the proportion of nutritional absorption from seedling stage to the middle growth stage was larger than that at the late growth stage. Yield and total saponins content of Pulsatilla cernua were significantly influenced by the N1P2O5 and K2O applications, among three factors, N had the greatest effects, the next was K2O and P5O2. CONCLUSION: Pulsatilla cerntua under field cultivation should be fertilized properly, top-dressing with these fertilizers during the early growth stage and increasing the proportion of potassium. According to total saponin production of Pulsatilla cernua, the optimum fertilization model for high yield and good quality is 180 kg/hm2 of N, 79.74 kg/hm2 of P2O5, and 225 kg/hm2 of K20, with a N : P2O : K2O ratio of approximately 2.3 : 1 : 2.8.