Response of photosynthetic characteristics and antioxidant system in the leaves of safflower to NaCl and NaHCO3.

KEY MESSAGE: Compared with NaCl, NaHCO3 caused more serious oxidative damage and photosynthesis inhibition in safflower by down-regulating the expression of related genes. Salt-alkali stress is one of the important factors that limit plant growth. NaCl and sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3) are neutral and alkaline salts, respectively. This study investigated the physiological characteristics and molecular responses of safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) leaves treated with 200 mmol L-1 of NaCl or NaHCO3. The plants treated with NaCl treatment were less effective at inhibiting the growth of safflower, but increased the content of malondialdehyde (MDA) in leaves. Meanwhile, safflower alleviated stress damage by increasing proline (Pro), soluble protein (SP), and soluble sugar (SS). Both fresh weight and dry weight of safflower was severely decreased when it was subjected to NaHCO3 stress, and there was a significant increase in the permeability of cell membranes and the contents of osmotic regulatory substances. An enrichment analysis of the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) using Gene Ontology and the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes identified significant enrichment of photosynthesis and pathways related to oxidative stress. Furthermore, a weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) showed that the darkgreen module had the highest correlation with photosynthesis and oxidative stress traits. Large numbers of transcription factors, primarily from the MYB, GRAS, WRKY, and C2H2 families, were predicted from the genes within the darkgreen module. An analysis of physiological indicators and DEGs, it was found that under saline-alkali stress, genes related to chlorophyll synthesis enzymes were downregulated, while those related to degradation were upregulated, resulting in inhibited chlorophyll biosynthesis and decreased chlorophyll content. Additionally, NaCl and NaHCO3 stress downregulated the expression of genes related to the Calvin cycle, photosynthetic antenna proteins, and the activity of photosynthetic reaction centers to varying degrees, hindering the photosynthetic electron transfer process, suppressing photosynthesis, with NaHCO3 stress causing more pronounced adverse effects. In terms of oxidative stress, the level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) did not change significantly under the NaCl treatment, but the contents of hydrogen peroxide and the rate of production of superoxide anions increased significantly under NaHCO3 stress. In addition, treatment with NaCl upregulated the levels of expression of the key genes for superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), peroxidase (POD), the ascorbate-glutathione cycle, and the thioredoxin-peroxiredoxin pathway, and increased the activity of these enzymes, thus, reducing oxidative damage. Similarly, NaHCO3 stress increased the activities of SOD, CAT, and POD and the content of ascorbic acid and initiated the glutathione-S-transferase pathway to remove excess ROS but suppressed the regeneration of glutathione and the activity of peroxiredoxin. Overall, both neutral and alkaline salts inhibited the photosynthetic process of safflower, although alkaline salt caused a higher level of stress than neutral salt. Safflower alleviated the oxidative damage induced by stress by regulating its antioxidant system.

The Carthamus tinctorius L. genome sequence provides insights into synthesis of unsaturated fatty acids.

Domesticated safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) is a widely cultivated edible oil crop. However, despite its economic importance, the genetic basis underlying key traits such as oil content, resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses, and flowering time remains poorly understood. Here, we present the genome assembly for C. tinctorius variety Jihong01, which was obtained by integrating Oxford Nanopore Technologies (ONT) and BGI-SEQ500 sequencing results. The assembled genome was 1,061.1 Mb, and consisted of 32,379 protein-coding genes, 97.71% of which were functionally annotated. Safflower had a recent whole genome duplication (WGD) event in evolution history and diverged from sunflower approximately 37.3 million years ago. Through comparative genomic analysis at five seed development stages, we unveiled the pivotal roles of fatty acid desaturase 2 (FAD2) and fatty acid desaturase 6 (FAD6) in linoleic acid (LA) biosynthesis. Similarly, the differential gene expression analysis further reinforced the significance of these genes in regulating LA accumulation. Moreover, our investigation of seed fatty acid composition at different seed developmental stages unveiled the crucial roles of FAD2 and FAD6 in LA biosynthesis. These findings offer important insights into enhancing breeding programs for the improvement of quality traits and provide reference resource for further research on the natural properties of safflower.

Investigation into safflower injection as a prophylactic treatment for retinal vein occlusion in a rabbit model.

The study aimed to assess the effect and mechanism of safflower injection in preventing retinal vein thrombosis in rabbits. Twenty healthy adult pigmented rabbits were randomly assigned to either the experimental group, receiving safflower injection, or the control group, receiving normal saline. After two weeks of treatment, blood samples were collected to analyze platelet adhesion and aggregation rates. Photodynamic therapy was applied to induce occlusion in the target retinal vein. Fundus photography and fluorescein angiography were recorded using a dynamic microscopic monitoring system, and laser speckle imaging was employed to assess blood flow in the affected vein. The experimental group exhibited significantly lower rates of platelet adhesion and aggregation compared to the control group. Following the induction of retinal vein occlusion, the experimental group showed a lower complete occlusion rate of the target retinal vein. Although initial blood flow in the target vein was similar between groups, the blood flow at 1, 3, and 5 min post-occlusion was significantly higher in the experimental group. Safflower injection delayed retinal vein thrombosis formation, preserved blood flow in the affected retinal area, and reduced platelet adhesion and aggregation. These effects facilitated vascular reperfusion within a limited timeframe.

Integrated Proteomics and Metabolomics of Safflower Petal Wilting and Seed Development.

Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) is an ancient oilseed crop of interest due to its diversity of end-use industrial and food products. Proteomic and metabolomic profiling of its organs during seed development, which can provide further insights on seed quality attributes to assist in variety and product development, has not yet been undertaken. In this study, an integrated proteome and metabolic analysis have shown a high complexity of lipophilic proteins and metabolites differentially expressed across organs and tissues during seed development and petal wilting. We demonstrated that these approaches successfully discriminated safflower reproductive organs and developmental stages with the identification of 2179 unique compounds and 3043 peptides matching 724 unique proteins. A comparison between cotyledon and husk tissues revealed the complementarity of using both technologies, with husks mostly featuring metabolites (99%), while cotyledons predominantly yielded peptides (90%). This provided a more complete picture of mechanisms discriminating the seed envelope from what it protected. Furthermore, we showed distinct molecular signatures of petal wilting and colour transition, seed growth, and maturation. We revealed the molecular makeup shift occurring during petal colour transition and wilting, as well as the importance of benzenoids, phenylpropanoids, flavonoids, and pigments. Finally, our study emphasizes that the biochemical mechanisms implicated in the growing and maturing of safflower seeds are complex and far-reaching, as evidenced by AraCyc, PaintOmics, and MetaboAnalyst mapping capabilities. This study provides a new resource for functional knowledge of safflower seed and potentially further enables the precision development of novel products and safflower varieties with biotechnology and molecular farming applications.

Highly oxidized rearranged derivatives of quinochalcone C-glycosides from Carthamus tinctorius.

Safflopentsides A-C (1-3), three highly oxidized rearranged derivatives of quinochalcone C-glycosides, were isolated from the safflower yellow pigments. Their structures were determined based on a detailed spectroscopic analysis (UV, IR, HR-ESI-MS, 1D and 2D NMR), and the absolute configurations were confirmed by the comparison of experimental ECD spectra with calculated ECD spectra. Compounds 1-3 have an unprecedented cyclopentenone or cyclobutenolide ring A containing C-glucosyl group, respectively. The plausible biosynthetic pathways of compounds have been presented. At 10 µM, 2 showed strong inhibitory activity against rat cerebral cortical neurons damage induced by glutamate and oxygen sugar deprivation.

Dried tangerine peel polysaccharide (DTPP) alleviates hepatic steatosis by suppressing TLR4/MD-2-mediated inflammation and endoplasmic reticulum stress.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a complex pathogenic metabolic syndrome characterized by increased inflammation and endoplasmic reticulum stress. In recent years, natural polysaccharides derived from traditional Chinese medicine have shown significant anti-inflammatory effects, making them an attractive therapeutic option. However, little research has been conducted on the therapeutic potential of dried tangerine peel polysaccharide (DTPP) - one of the most important medicinal resources in China. The results of the present study showed that DTPP substantially reduced macrophage infiltration in vivo and suppressed the expression of pro-inflammatory factors and endoplasmic reticulum stress-related genes. Additionally, surface plasmon resonance analysis revealed that DTPP had a specific affinity to myeloid differentiation factor 2, which consequently suppressed lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammation via interaction with the toll-like receptor 4 signaling pathway. This study provides a potential molecular mechanism underlying the anti-inflammatory effects of DTPP on NAFLD and suggests DTPP as a promising therapeutic strategy for NAFLD treatment.

Genome-wide association studies identifies genetic loci related to fatty acid and branched-chain amino acid metabolism and histone modifications under varying nitrogen treatments in safflower (Carthamus tinctorius).

Effective identification and usage of genetic variation are prerequisites for developing nutrient-efficient cultivars. A collection of 94 safflower (Carthamus tinctorius ) genotypes (G) was investigated for important morphological and photosynthetic traits at four nitrogen (N) treatments. We found significant variation for all the studied traits except chlorophyll b (chl b ) among safflower genotypes, nitrogen treatments and G×N interaction. The examined traits showed a 2.82-50.00% increase in response to N application. Biological yield (BY) reflected a significantly positive correlation with fresh shoot weight (FSW), root length (RL), fresh root weight (FRW) and number of leaves (NOL), while a significantly positive correlation was also observed among carotenoids (C), chlorophyll a (chl a ), chl b and total chlorophyll content (CT) under all treatments. Superior genotypes with respect to plant height (PH), FSW, NOL, RL, FRW and BY were clustered into Group 3, while genotypes with better mean performance regarding chl a , chl b C and CT were clustered into Group 2 as observed in principal component analysis. The identified eight best-performing genotypes could be useful to develop improved nitrogen efficient cultivars. Genome-wide association analysis resulted in 32 marker-trait associations (MTAs) under four treatments. Markers namely DArT-45481731 , DArT-17812864 , DArT-15670279 and DArT-45482737 were found consistent. Protein-protein interaction networks of loci associated with MTAs were related to fatty acid and branched-chain amino acid metabolism and histone modifications.

CSM-CROPGRO model to simulate safflower phenological development and yield.

Crop simulation models are valuable tools for decision making regarding evaluation and crop improvement under different field conditions. CSM-CROPGRO model integrates genotype, environment and crop management portfolios to simulate growth, development and yield. Modeling the safflower response to varied climate regimes are needed to strengthen its productivity dynamics. The main objective of the study was to evaluate the performance of DSSAT-CSM-CROPGRO-Safflower (Version 4.8.2) under diverse climatic conditions. The model was calibrated using the field observations for phenology, biomass and safflower grain yield (SGY) of the year 2016-17. Estimation of genetic coefficients was performed using GLUE (Genetic Likelihood Uncertainty Estimation) program. Simulated results for days to flowering, maturity, biomass at flowering and maturity and SGY were predicted reasonably with good statistical indices. Model evaluation results elucidate phenological events with low root mean square error (6.32 and 6.52) and high d-index (0.95 and 0.96) for days to flowering and maturity respectively for all genotypes and climate conditions. Fair prediction of safflower biomass at flowering and maturity showed low RMSE (887.3 and 564.3 kg ha-1) and high d-index (0.67 and 0.93) for the studied genotypes across the environments. RMSE for validated safflower grain yield (101.8 kg ha-1) and d-index (0.95) depicted that model outperformed for all genotypes and growing conditions. Longer appropriate growing conditions at NARC-Islamabad took optimal duration to assimilate photosynthetic products lead to higher grain yield. Safflower resilience to different environments showed that it can be used as an alternate crop for different agroecological regions. Furthermore, CROPGRO-Safflower model can be used as tool to further evaluate inclusion of safflower in the existing cropping systems of studied regions.

Uncovering the Role of Hydroxycinnamoyl Transferase in Boosting Chlorogenic Acid Accumulation in Carthamus tinctorius Cells under Methyl Jasmonate Elicitation.

Chlorogenic acids (CGAs) are bioactive compounds widely used in the food, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic industries. Carthamus tinctorius is an important economic crop, and its suspension cells are rich in CGAs. However, little is known about the biosynthesis and regulation of CGAs in Carthamus tinctorius cells. This study first elucidated the regulatory mechanism of CGA biosynthesis in methyl jasmonate (MeJA)-treated Carthamus tinctorius cells and the role of the MeJA-responsive hydroxycinnamoyl transferase (HCT) gene in enhancing their CGA accumulation. Firstly, temporal changes in intracellular metabolites showed that MeJA increased the intracellular CGA content up to 1.61-fold to 100.23 mg·g-1. Meanwhile, 31 primary metabolites showed significant differences, with 6 precursors related to increasing CGA biosynthesis. Secondly, the transcriptome data revealed 3637 new genes previously unannotated in the Carthamus tinctorius genome and 3653 differentially expressed genes. The genes involved in the plant signaling pathway and the biosynthesis of CGAs and their precursors showed a general up-regulation, especially the HCT gene family, which ultimately promoted CGA biosynthesis. Thirdly, the expression of a newly annotated and MeJA-responsive HCT gene (CtHCT, CtNewGene_3476) was demonstrated to be positively correlated with CGA accumulation in the cells, and transient overexpression of CtHCT enhanced CGA accumulation in tobacco. Finally, in vitro catalysis kinetics and molecular docking simulations revealed the ability and mechanism of the CtHCT protein to bind to various substrates and catalyze the formation of four hydroxycinnamic esters, including CGAs. These findings strengthened our understanding of the regulatory mechanism of CGA biosynthesis, thereby providing theoretical support for the efficient production of CGAs.

Investigating the therapeutic effects and mechanisms of Carthamus tinctorius L.-derived nanovesicles in atherosclerosis treatment.

BACKGROUND: Carthamus tinctorius L., a traditional herbal medicine used for atherosclerosis (AS), lacks a clear understanding of its therapeutic mechanisms. This study aimed to investigate the therapeutic effects and mechanisms of Carthamus tinctorius L.-derived nanovesicles (CDNVs) in AS treatment. METHODS: CDNVs were isolated and characterized using improved isolation methods. Transmission electron microscopy, nanoparticle tracking analysis, and protein analysis confirmed their morphology, size, and protein composition. Small RNA sequencing was performed to identify the miRNA profile of CDNVs, and bioinformatics analysis was used to determine their potential biological roles. In vivo biodistribution and toxicity studies were conducted in mice to assess the stability and safety of orally administered CDNVs. The anti-atherosclerotic effects of CDNVs were evaluated in ApoE-/- mice through plaque burden analysis. The protective effects of CDNVs on ox-LDL-treated endothelial cells were assessed through proliferation, apoptosis, reactive oxygen species activation, and monocyte adhesion assays. miRNA and mRNA sequencing of CDNV-treated endothelial cells were performed to explore their regulatory effects and potential target genes. RESULTS: CDNVs were successfully isolated and purified from Carthamus tinctorius L. tissue lysates. They exhibited a saucer-shaped or cup-shaped morphology, with an average particle size of 142.6 ± 0.7 nm, and expressed EV markers CD63 and TSG101. CDNVs contained proteins, small RNAs, and metabolites, including the therapeutic compound HSYA. Small RNA sequencing identified 95 miRNAs, with 10 common miRNAs accounting for 72.63% of the total miRNAs. These miRNAs targeted genes involved in cell adhesion, apoptosis, and cell proliferation, suggesting their relevance in cardiovascular disease. Orally administered CDNVs were stable in the gastrointestinal tract, absorbed into the bloodstream, and accumulated in the liver, lungs, heart, and aorta. They significantly reduced the burden of atherosclerotic plaques in ApoE-/- mice and exhibited superior effects compared to HSYA. In vitro studies demonstrated that CDNVs were taken up by HUVECs, promoted proliferation, attenuated ox-LDL-induced apoptosis and ROS activation, and reduced monocyte adhesion. CDNV treatment resulted in significant changes in miRNA and mRNA expression profiles of HUVECs, with enrichment in inflammation-related genes. CXCL12 was identified as a potential direct target of miR166a-3p. CONCLUSION: CDNVs isolated from Carthamus tinctorius L. tissue lysates represent a promising oral therapeutic option for cardiovascular diseases. The delivery of miRNAs by CDNVs regulates inflammation-related genes, including CXCL12, in HUVECs, suggesting their potential role in modulating endothelial inflammation. These findings provide valuable insights into the therapeutic potential of CDNVs and their miRNAs in cardiovascular disease.

Growth performance, meat quality and hematological parameters of broiler chickens fed safflower seed.

The aim of the current study was to determine the effects of dietary supplementation of safflower seed (SS) on the growth performance and hematological parameters of broiler birds along with the physicochemical, textural and sensory attributes of chicken meat. A total of 200 male chickens (7-days-old) were distributed into 5 groups (40 chickens in each) with 5 replicates of 8 chicks in a 42-day experiment. Each group was allocated to one of 5 dietary treatments, i.e., 0, 2.5, 5, 7.5, and 10% SS. The experimental diets were formulated for starter (7 to 21 days) and finisher (22 to 42 days) phases. Inclusion of SS in the diet improved growth performances in treatment groups between 7 and 42 days. The highest and lowest body weights were observed at the 5% SS and 0% SS levels, respectively. The physicochemical attributes of breast and thigh meat were found (P > 0.05) except for crude fat. The crude fat was significantly (P < 0.05) increased with increasing levels of SS in the diet. The inclusion of SS in the diet did not negatively impact the textural properties, i.e., hardness, cohesiveness, springiness, gumminess, chewiness, and shear force of breast and thigh meat. There was no significant difference in the sensory parameters of cooked chicken meat with increasing levels of SS in the diet. The results demonstrated a significant (P < 0.01) improvement in hematological parameters in the blood samples of broiler chickens fed diet supplemented with various levels of SS for five weeks. These findings suggest that, SS may be used as an oil seed for broiler chicken feed.

Antibacterial, ROS scavenging and angiogenesis promotingϵ-Polylysine/gelatin based hydrogel containing CTLP to regulate macrophages for pressure ulcer healing.

Pressure ulcers (PUs) have emerged as a substantial burden on individuals and society. The introduction of innovative dressings that facilitate the healing of pressure ulcer wounds represents a cost-effective alternative for treatment. In this study, the emphasis is on the preparation of Carthamus tinctorius L. polysaccharide (CTLP) as hydrogel microspheres (MPs), which are then encapsulated within a hydrogel matrix crosslinked with phenylboronic acid gelatin (Gelatin-PBA) andϵ-polylysine-grafted catechol (ϵ-PL-Cat) to enable sustained release for promoting pressure ulcer healing. The presented Gelatin-PBA/ϵ-PL-Cat (GPL)/CTLP-MPs hydrogel demonstrated outstanding self-healing properties. In addition,in vitroexperiments revealed that the hydrogel exhibited remarkable antibacterial activity, excellent biocompatibility. And it showed the capacity to promote vascular formation, effectively scavenge reactive oxygen species, and facilitate macrophage polarization from the M1 to M2 phenotype.In vivowound healing of mice PUs indicated that the prepared GPL/CTLP-MPs hydrogel effectively accelerated the formation of granulation tissue and facilitated the healing of the wounds. In summary,in vivoandin vitroexperiments consistently highlight the therapeutic potential of GPL/CTLP-MPs hydrogel in facilitating the healing process of PUs.

Synergistic effects of vermicompost and mycorrhizal inoculation on arsenic tolerance and phytostabilization in safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.).

Arsenic (As) is a hazardous metalloid, and mycorrhizal inoculation and vermicompost amendment can influence As bioremediation. However, the studies concerning the sole and joint effects of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and vermicompost on the phytoremediation efficacy are limited. In the present study at first, the impact of various levels of vermicompost (0, 2, 4, and 8% w/w) was investigated on As mobility in soil and safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) plants grown in soils of spiked with 0, 40, and 80 mg kg-1 As. Results revealed that with increasing dose of vermicompost, bioavailable As in soil decreased which resulted in a lower bioaccumulation factor and translocation factor (TF) and led to a significant increase of tolerance index (TI) and total chlorophyll content in plants. The highest effect on TI and total As accumulation per plant was obtained in the dosage of 8% vermicompost. Therefore, in the second experiment, the sole and joint effects of 8% vermicompost and inoculation with Rhizophagus intraradices were assessed on the tolerance and accumulation of As in safflower. The addition of vermicompost aggravated mycorrhizal colonization but did not significantly influence mycorrhizal dependency under As stress. The joint effects of AMF and vermicompost improved the dry weight of roots and shoots, increased P concentration and P:As ratio in shoots, reduced malondialdehyde content, and moderated ascorbate peroxidase activity in leaves of As-stressed plants. Interestingly, co-application of AMF and vermicompost more than their sole usage decreased As concentration in shoots and TF and more strongly increased total As accumulation per plant. These findings suggest that mycorrhizal inoculation and vermicompost have a synergistic effect on As tolerance and phytostabilization efficacy of safflower plants, and their combined application may be a new option to remediate As-contaminated soils.

Highly Promiscuous Flavonoid Di-O-glycosyltransferases from Carthamus tinctorius L.

Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) has been recognized for its medicinal value, but there have been limited studies on the glycosyltransferases involved in the biosynthesis of flavonoid glycosides from safflower. In this research, we identified two highly efficient flavonoid O-glycosyltransferases, CtOGT1 and CtOGT2, from safflower performing local BLAST alignment. By constructing a prokaryotic expression vector, we conducted in vitro enzymatic reactions and discovered that these enzymes were capable of catalyzing two-step O-glycosylation using substrates such as kaempferol, quercetin, and eriodictyol. Moreover, they exhibited efficient catalytic activity towards various compounds, including flavones (apigenin, scutellarein), dihydrochalcone (phloretin), isoflavones (genistein, daidzein), flavanones (naringenin, glycyrrhizin), and flavanonols (dihydrokaempferol), leading to the formation of O-glycosides. The broad substrate specificity of these enzymes is noteworthy. This study provides valuable insights into the biosynthetic pathways of flavonoid glycosides in safflower. The discovery of CtOGT1 and CtOGT2 enhances our understanding of the enzymatic processes involved in synthesizing flavonoid glycosides in safflower, contributing to the overall comprehension of secondary metabolite biosynthesis in this plant species.

Elevated atmospheric CO2 concentration mitigates salt damages to safflower: Evidence from physiological and biochemical examinations.

The physiological and biochemical responses of salt-stressed safflower to elevated CO2 remain inadequately known. This study investigated the interactive effects of high CO2 concentration (700 ± 50 vs. 400 ± 50 µmol mol-1) and salinity stress levels (0.4, 6, and 12 dS m-1, NaCl) on growth and physiological properties of four safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) genotypes, under open chamber conditions. Results showed that the effects of CO2 on biomass of shoot and grains depend on salt stress and plant genotype. Elevated CO2 conditions increased shoot dry weight under moderate salinity stress and decreased it under severe stress. The increased CO2 concentration also increased the safflower genotypes' relative water content and their K+/Na + concentrations. Also enriched CO2 increased total carotenoid levels in safflower genotypes and improved membrane stability index by reducing H2O2 levels. In addition, increased CO2 level led to an increase in seed oil content, under both saline and non-saline conditions. This effect was particularly pronounced under severe saline conditions. Under conditions of high CO2 and salinity, the Koseh genotype exhibited higher grain weight and seed oil content than other genotypes. This advantage is due to the higher relative water content, maximum quantum efficiency of photosystem II (Fv/Fm), and K+/Na+, as well as the lower Na+ and H2O2 concentrations. Results indicate that the high CO2 level mitigated the destructive effect of salinity on safflower growth by reducing Na + uptake and increasing the Fv/Fm, total soluble carbohydrates, and membrane stability index. This finding can be used in safflower breeding programs to develop cultivars that can thrive in arid regions with changing climatic conditions.

Uncovering Mechanism and Efficacy of Salvia Miltiorrhiza-Safflower in Cerebral Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury.

Cerebral ischemia (CI) is the main cause of stroke morbidity and disability. This study aims to identify the early molecular regulation responsible for the therapeutic effectiveness of the Herb pair Danshen-Honghua (DH) for CI. The major targets of DH were identified by searching the public database of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). In addition, GeneCards, Disgenet, and GeneMap databases in OMIM were used to determine the disease targets of CI. A total of 88 common targets of DH and CI were selected, a protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was established by Cytoscape, and 19 core targets were screened. These genes were primarily enriched in biological processes including wound healing, reaction to oxidative stress, and response to peptides, lipid and atherosclerosis, Age-rage signaling pathway, and TNF signaling pathway by KEGG and GO enrichments. The effective components of DH had stable binding to these key targets by molecular docking. Finally, it was verified that the mechanism of DH on CI treatment may be related to the activation of the TNF-α/JNK signaling pathway by establishing the middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) rat model.

The mechanism of Semen Persicae-Flos Carthami in treating hypertrophic scar: A study based on network pharmacological analysis and in vitro experiments.

Traditional medicine believes that hypertrophic scar (HS) falls into the category of "blood stasis". Chinese herbs for promoting blood circulation and removing blood stasis, activating meridians, and relieving pain are usually selected to treat HS by traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). Both Semen Persicae (SP) and Flos Carthami (FC) are confirmed to be effective for HS. Clinically, SP and FC are often used in combination with each other. However, the pharmacodynamic mechanism and molecular target of SP-FC in the treatment of HS are still unclear. Therefore, this study is intended to explore the mechanism and target of SP-FC in the treatment of HS through network pharmacology combined with in vitro cell and molecular biology experiments. Target genes of SP-FC were obtained from the traditional Chinese medicine systems pharmacology database and analysis platform (TCMSP), and targets of HS-related diseases were searched from databases such as Disgenet and GeneCards. Based on the targets searched and obtained, a Venn diagram was plotted to acquire common targets of SP-FC-HS. Next, STRING 11.0 was employed for protein-protein interaction (PPI) network analysis of common targets; and cytoscape 3.9.0 for connection relationship analysis of PPI and plotting of a "drug-component-target" network diagram. Besides, a modified explant culture method was applied to separate primary hypertrophic scar fibroblasts (HSFs); MTT assay to detect cell viability of HSFs after treatment by SP-FC for 24 h; Annexin V-FITC/PI double staining combined with flow cytometry to test apoptosis; western blot to check the protein expression level of p53; and real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR to determine mRNA level of p53. In the analysis of network pharmacology, 269 pharmacological targets of SP, 449 pharmacological targets of FC, and 2569 targets of HS-related diseases were screened from the databases. After plotting the Venn diagram, 116 common targets of SP-FC-HS were acquired. In vitro experiments showed that the expression of p53 in HSFs was decreased. SP-FC significantly reduces the viability of HSFs, increases p53 levels in HSFs, and promotes apoptosis. SP-FC can reduce scar formation by promoting p53 expression.

Metagenomic sequencing revealed the regulative effect of Danshen and Honghua herb pair on the gut microbiota in rats with myocardial ischemia injury.

In recent years, more and more evidence has shown that the disorder of gut microbiota (GM) is closely correlated with myocardial ischemia (MI). Even though the Danshen and Honghua herb pair (DHHP) is widely used in treating cardiovascular disease in China and exhibits obvious clinical efficacy on MI, the anti-MI mechanism of DHHP remains and needs to be explored in depth. Thus, in this study, we investigated whether the amelioration effect and molecular mechanism of DHHP on MI were related to regulating GM through pharmacodynamics evaluation and metagenomic sequencing. Histopathological testing results showed that DHHP treatment could alleviate the pathological changes of myocardial tissue in the acute MI (AMI) rats induced by isoproterenol (ISO), especially structural disorder, irregular distribution, and enlargement of the myocardial space. These pathological changes were all alleviated to some extent by DHHP treatment. Biochemical analysis results suggested that compared with the control group, the serum levels of AST, CTn-I, CK-MB, and TNF-α in model group rats were notably decreased, and the CAT and SOD levels in serum were markedly increased. These abnormal trends were significantly reversed by DHHP treatment. Furthermore, metagenomic sequencing analysis results indicated that DHHP could improve disorders in the composition and function of GM in AMI rats, mainly reflected in increasing diversity and richness, and obviously enhancing the abundance of Bacteroides fluxus, B. uniformis, B. stercoris, Roseburia hominis, Schaedlerella arabinosiphila, and R. intestinalis, and reducing the abundance of Enterococcus avium and E. canintestini, which were associated with purine metabolism, tyrosine metabolism, cyanoamino acid metabolism, and glutathione metabolism. In conclusion, DHHP may attenuate ISO-induced MI by regulating the structure, composition, and function of GM, thus contributing to further our understanding of the anti-MI mechanisms of DHHP and providing new therapeutic ideas and diagnostic targets for the clinical studies of MI.

The potential cutaneous benefits of Carthamus tinctorius oleosomes.

Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius) oleosomes are unique organelles that house triglycerides and fatty acids and demonstrate a natural resilience to environmental stresses. There is recent growing interest in safflower oleosomes due to their potential applications in dermatology, especially as a carrier technology to improve drug penetration through the skin. This paper explores various aspects of safflower oleosomes, including their production, safety, absorption, and applications in photoprotection and epidermal remodeling. Oleosomes have shown encouraging results in targeted drug delivery in in vitro and in vivo animal models; however, human clinical research is required to determine their efficacy and safety in dermatology. Oleosomes are comprise a novel biotechnology that has the potential to transform sustainable and natural treatments in dermatology by utilizing their unique structure. Safflower oleosomes are stable lipid molecules that can deliver small and large molecules with high efficacy. This review will examine the current research findings and prospective future applications of oleosomes.

Carthamus Tinctorius L. (Safflower) extracts inhibit expression of metastatic genes of MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells.

Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer in women and the second  cause of cancer-related death after lung cancer. Although the common methods used in the treatment of breast cancer are chemotherapy, radiotherapy and surgery, the search for alternative treatments continues.  The leading  alternative treatments are medicinal plants which actually inspire the production of many cancer drugs. In this study, the proliferative and metastatic effects of Carthamus tinctorius L., known for its many therapeutic properties, on metastatic breast cancer were investigated. Here, intending to evaluate the the content and actions of different extracts of safflower leaves extracts were prepared by extracting in water, alcohol and oil and analysed by FTIR. Their antioxidant effect was tested and then the extracts were applied to metastatic breast cancer cells. FTIR spectrums of all three extracts have revealed the presence of organic compounds.  It is found that all extracts but mostly the oil extract has antioxidant property. MTT assay, wound healing assay and gene expression analysis were performed to assess the antiproliferative and anti metastatic effects of the extracts on breast cancer cells. It is found that, there is no significant antiproliferative effect of extracts on MDA-MB-231 cells except the alcohol extract. However, all safflower extracts, especially the oil extract, significantly reduced the metastatic potential of breast cancer cells. It is concluded that safflower contents are potent chemicals which inhibit the cellular mechanisms underlying the spreading of cancer cells and further analysis may lead to new initiatives in drug design research.