The effects and underlying mechanisms of medicine and food homologous flowers on the prevention and treatment of related diseases.

The theory of medicine and food homology has a long history in China. Numerous traditional Chinese medicinal could be used as both medicine and food. Many flower medicinal materials also belong to the homology of medicine and food, such as Chrysanthemum morifolium, Lonicera japonica, Crocus sativus, and Lonicera macranthoides. They mainly contain flavonoids, organic acids, terpenoids, and other active ingredients, which have a variety of medicinal values, including anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, and antioxidant. There are many formulations and functional foods containing these plants in Chinese medicine, which have a variety of nutritional and health effects on the human body. In this review, 10 widely used flowers were selected to review their pharmacological activities, prevention and treatment of related diseases and underlying mechanisms, and discussed the current limitations and future development prospects, hoping to provide references for the research on the development and utilization of natural medical flowers. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: The "homology of medicine and food" flowers have a wide range of uses and are of great research value. In this paper, we introduce 10 "homology of medicine and food" flowers. Their active ingredients, pharmacological activities, and treatments for related diseases are reviewed, and the limitations and development prospects of the "homology of medicine and food" flowers are discussed. It is hoped that this will contribute to the development of the food and pharmacological fields.

Preparation of an isorhamnetin phospholipid complex for improving solubility and anti-hyperuricemia activity.

To improve the solubility and anti-hyperuricemia activity of the insoluble natural flavonoid isorhamnetin (ISO), an isorhamnetin phospholipid complex (ISO-PC) was prepared. ISO-PC was prepared through solvent evaporation and its prescription process was optimized. The formation of ISO-PC was verified via multiple characterization methods. Parameters such as drug loading, solubility, octanol-water partition coefficient, stability, and in vivo anti-hyperuricemia activity of ISO-PC were investigated. The complexation efficiency of ISO-PC was 95.1% ± 0.56%. The characterization results confirmed that ISO-PC was bound by intermolecular interactions between ISO and phospholipids. Compared with ISO, the solubility of ISO-PC in water and 1-octanol increased by 122 and 16.5 times, respectively. In addition, the octanol-water partition coefficient decreased to 1.08. Pharmacodynamic studies have reported that ISO-PC has a more significant effect on reducing serum uric acid levels and renal protection. In conclusion, the findings of this study suggested that ISO-PC could be used as a promising formulation to improve the solubility and the anti-hyperuricemia activity of ISO.

Effects and underlying mechanisms of food polyphenols in treating gouty arthritis: A review on nutritional intake and joint health.

Gouty arthritis, one of the most severe and common forms of arthritis, is characterized by monosodium urate crystal deposition in joints and surrounding tissues. Epidemiological evidence indicates that gouty arthritis incidence is sharply rising globally. Polyphenols are found in many foods and are secondary metabolites in plant foods. The anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects of food polyphenols have been extensively studied in many inflammatory chronic diseases. Research has suggested that many food polyphenols have excellent anti-gouty arthritis effects. The mechanisms mainly include (a) inhibiting xanthine oxidase activity; (b) reducing the levels of inflammatory cytokines and chemokines; (c) inhibiting the activation of signaling pathways and the NLRP3 inflammasome; and (d) reducing oxidative stress. This paper reviews the research progress and pathogenesis of gouty arthritis and introduces the mechanisms of food polyphenols in treating gouty arthritis, which aims to explore the potential of functional foods in the treatment of gouty arthritis. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: The incidence rate of gouty arthritis has increased sharply worldwide, which has seriously affected people's quality of life. According to the current research progress, food polyphenols alleviate gouty arthritis through anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. This paper reviews the research progress and molecular pathogenesis of gouty arthritis and introduces the mechanisms of food-derived polyphenols in the treatment of gouty arthritis, which is helpful to the prevention and treatment of gouty arthritis.

Isorhamnetin, the xanthine oxidase inhibitor from Sophora japonica, ameliorates uric acid levels and renal function in hyperuricemic mice.

Hyperuricemia is a metabolic condition closely linked to xanthine oxidase (XOD) function, which is involved in the production of uric acid (UA). In this study, XOD was used as a target to construct an in vitro and in vivo activity screening and verification system. The XOD inhibition ability of the main components from the water extract of Sophorae Flos (WSF), an unopened dry flower bud of Sophora japonica, was screened by HPLC. Isorhamnetin (IRh) was identified as a major flavonoid XOD inhibitor from WSF, and we characterized its effects and potential mechanism in ameliorating UA levels and renal function in hyperuricemia model mice. Hyperuricemia was induced by oral administration of potassium oxonate (PO) and hypoxanthine to mice for 7 days. The biochemical index results showed that treatments with low, medium, and high doses of IRh (50, 100, and 150 mg kg-1) significantly reduced serum UA levels and inhibited XOD activity in serum and in the liver. Additionally, IRh effectively decreased the levels of serum creatinine and blood urea nitrogen, suggesting that it possessed nephroprotective effects in hyperuricemic mice. Furthermore, histopathological results showed that nuclear lesions and renal tubule dilatation in the kidneys of IRh-treated hyperuricemic mice were reduced, suggesting that IRh may alleviate renal injury. Molecular docking results showed that IRh combined well with XOD and is an effective XOD inhibitor. In conclusion, IRh from Sophora japonica may reduce the UA levels and alleviate renal injury by inhibiting XOD activity. It potentially functions as a therapeutic drug and dietary supplement to treat hyperuricemia.

Quantitation of vistusertib by UHPLC-MS/MS in rat plasma and its application to a pharmacokinetic study.

Aim: The present study aimed to develop a UHPLC-MS/MS method for determination of vistusertib in biological matrix, and to describe the pharmacokinetic behavior of vistusertib in SD rats. Methodology & results: After protein precipitation with acetone and acetonitrile (1:1), the chromatographic separation was achieved on an Agilent Poroshell 120 EC-C18 column and detected with a SCIEX QTRAP 4500 mass spectrometer under positive ionization mode. The developed UHPLC-MS/MS method showed an excellent linearity within the range of 1.0-3000 ng/ml with good accuracy and precision. Vistusertib showed a rapid absorption and reached the maximum concentration of 3532.2 ± 678.0 ng/ml 20-30 min after oral administration in Sprague-Dawley rats. Conclusion: The established analytical method was fast, sensitive and robust, and successfully applied to describe the pharmacokinetic behavior of vistusertib following an oral administration in rats.

A review on the fruit components affecting uric acid level and their underlying mechanisms.

Uric acid (UA) is produced in the liver and excreted through the kidneys and intestines. If UA is overproduced or its excretion reduces, the concentration of UA increases, leading to hyperuricemia and gout. The high concentration of UA is also related to cardiovascular disease, hypertension, obesity, and other diseases. Fruits are healthy foods. However, fruits contain fructose and small amounts of purine, and the product of their metabolism is UA. Therefore, theoretically, eating fruits will increase the concentration of serum UA. Fruit components are numerous, and their effects on serum UA are complex. According to the current research, fructose, purine, polyphenols, vitamin C, dietary fiber, and minerals present in fruits influence serum UA concentrations. In addition to the UA synthesized by fructose and purine metabolism, the mechanisms by which other components affect the concentration of serum UA can be summarized as follows: (a) inhibiting xanthine oxidase; (b) reducing reabsorption of UA; and (c) improving the excretion of UA. In this review, we comprehensively discussed the fruit components that affect serum UA concentrations, and explained their mechanisms for the first time, which references for patients with hyperuricemia to take fruits. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: With the rising prevalence, hyperuricemia and gout have become public health problems that endanger our daily life. The key to the treatment of hyperuricemia is to control the level of serum UA within the normal range. Fruits are healthy foods. However, fruit components are numerous, and their effects on serum UA are complex. According to the current research, fructose, purine, polyphenols, vitamin C, dietary fiber, and minerals present in fruits influence serum UA concentrations. In this review, we comprehensively discussed the fruit components that affect serum UA concentrations. We also explained their mechanisms, which references for patients with hyperuricemia to take fruits.