Botany, traditional uses, phytochemistry, analytical methods, processing, pharmacology and pharmacokinetics of Bupleuri Radix: A systematic review

Systematic Characterization and Identification of Saikosaponins in Extracts From Bupleurum marginatum var. stenophyllum Using UPLC-PDA-Q/TOF-MS

Saikosaponins comprise a large group of chemical components present in the Bupleurum species that have attracted attention in the field of medicine because of their significant biological activities. Due to the high polarity, structural similarity, and the presence of several isomers of this class of components, their structural identification is extremely challenging. In this study, the mass spectrometric fragmentation pathways, UV spectral features, and chromatographic behavior of different types of saikosaponins were investigated using 24 standard substances. Saikosaponins containing carbonyl groups (C=O) in the aglycone produced fragment ions by loss of 30 Da, and in addition, type IV saikosaponins could produce [aglycone−CH₂OH−OH−H]⁻ and [aglycone−H₂O−H]⁻ fragment ions through neutral losses at positions C₁₆ and C₁₇. The above characteristic ions can be used to identify saikosaponins. More notably, the identification process of saikosaponins was systematically summarized, and using this method, 109 saikosaponins were identified or tentatively characterized from the saikosaponins extract of Bupleurum marginatum var. stenophyllum (BMS) using UPLC-PDA-Q/TOF-MS with both data-dependent acquisition (DDA) and data-independent acquisition (DIA) modes, of which 25 were new compounds and 60 were first discovered from BMS. Further studies revealed that the saikosaponins profiles of BMS, Bupleurum chinense DC (BC), and Bupleurum marginatum Wall. ex DC (BMW) were very similar. This work is of great significance for the basic research of the Bupleurum species and provides strong technical support to solve the resource problems associated with Radix Bupleuri.

Suppressing effect of a saikosaponin-enriched extract of Bupleurum falcatum on alcohol and chocolate self-administration in rats

Recent studies demonstrated that saikosaponin (SS) A and other SSs extracted from Bupleurum falcatum L. (Apiaceae) roots abolished different behaviours motivated by drugs of abuse and palatable foods in rats. The present study was designed to investigate the effect of an SS-enriched extract fraction of B. falcatum roots on operant, oral self-administration of alcohol and chocolate in rats. To this end, female Sardinian alcohol-preferring and Wistar rats were trained to lever-respond for alcohol (15% v/v) and chocolate (5% w/v powdered Nesquik in water), respectively. Acute treatment with B. falcatum extract (0, 0.75, 1.5, and 3 mg/kg, i.p.) reduced, in a dose-related manner, both alcohol and chocolate self-administration. These data confirm the notion that B. falcatum extracts may be a valuable source of pharmacological agents with anti-addictive and anorectic potential. The use of experimental procedures with predictive validity for the human disease adds strength to the translational potential of these results.

Efficacy and Safety of Xue-Fu-Zhu-Yu Decoction for Patients with Coronary Heart Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Objective

To systematically evaluate the efficacy and safety of XFZYD for coronary heart disease (CHD).

Methods

A comprehensive literature search of randomized controlled trials using XFZYD for CHD was conducted in 10 electronic databases from their establishment to December 20, 2020. The researchers screened the relevant trials in NoteExpress, extracted the data in duplicate independently, assessed the risk of bias in the trials using the Cochrane collaboration tool, and then used Rev Man 5.3 for data analysis.

Results

30 trials with 3126 participants were included for meta-analysis. The results showed that the clinical effects of XFZYD and its combination with chemical drugs (CD) were 1.13 (RR; 1.13; 95% CI, 1.03 to 1.24) and 1.26 (RR; 1.26; 95% CI, 1.20 to 1.32) times those of CD, respectively. And, it could also improve electrocardiogram effect, which was 1.63 (RR; 1.63; 95% CI, 1.04 to 2.53) times that of CD. XFZYD could not only decrease duration of angina pectoris and improve vascular endothelial function but also obviously reduce the TCM syndrome score. When used in combination with CD, it could also lower AF, correct the dyslipidemia, and reduce the blood viscosity.

Conclusion

These results demonstrated that XFZYD had great advantages in treating CHD with no obvious adverse reactions. Therefore, it is believed that XFZYD is more suitable for CHD patients with clinical indicators of dyslipidemia, high blood viscosity, or vascular endothelial dysfunction. This study is the first systematic review and meta-analysis with some unique ways, including its comprehensiveness, large-scale search, the novelty of findings, and transparent approach.

Dose-Effect/Toxicity of Bupleuri Radix on Chronic Unpredictable Mild Stress and Normal Rats Based on Liver Metabolomics

Depression, one of the most prevalent psychiatric diseases, affects the quality of life of millions of people. Studies have shown that the lower polar fraction of Bupleuri Radix (PBR) elicited therapeutic effects in chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) rats. In contrast, comparatively mild liver injury was observed in normal rats administered a high PBR dose. It is essential to clarify the effective and safe dose of PBR and its dose-effect/toxicity relationship. In this study, we used the CUMS model to evaluate the effects and toxicities of PBR and to decipher the dose-effect/toxicity relationship and mechanism using the liver metabonomics combined with multivariate statistical analysis. In CUMS rats, PBR improved the depression-like behaviors including reduced body growth rate, anhedonia, and locomotor activities, and markedly reduced the contents of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST). In control rats, PBR treatment altered ALT and AST from typical levels. Moreover, the effective dose range for CUMS rats was 12.6–163 g (herb)/kg, the median toxicity dose for CUMS and normal rats were 388 and 207 g (herb)/kg. The toxicological results showed that the cytokeratin-18 fragment level was increased significantly in CUMS rats given with 100 g (herb)/kg PBR. After a comprehensive analysis, the use of PBR dose was determined to be 12.6–50 g (herb)/kg. In CUMS rats, PBR could reverse amino acid metabolism, energy metabolism, sphingolipid metabolism, and β-oxidation of fatty acids to produce an anti-depressant effect in a dose-dependent manner. In control rats, two additional metabolic pathways were significantly perturbed by PBR, including glycerophospholipid metabolism and bile acid metabolism. Moreover, the comprehensive metabolic index including dose-effect index (DEI) and dose toxicity index (DTI) had a remarkable ability (ROC = 0.912, ROC = 0.878) to predict effect and toxicity. The DEI and DTI were used to determine the dose range of effect and toxicity which was shown high concordance with previous results. Furthermore, the CUMS rats possessed a higher toxicity tolerance dose of PBR which was consistent with the theory of “You Gu Wu Yun” in traditional Chinese medicine. The metabonomics techniques combined with correlation analysis could be used to discover indicators for comprehensive evaluations of efficacy and toxicity.

Saikosaponin a promotes sleep by decreasing neuronal activities in the lateral hypothalamus

Insomnia is one of the most prevalent sleep disorders, which imparts tremendous societal and economic impact. However, the present pharmacotherapy is greatly limited by adverse effects, so it is necessary to explore new drugs for the treatment of insomnia. Radix Bupleuri (RB) has been widely used in traditional Chinese medicine for >2000 years; it has many pharmacological effects, including sedation and anticonvulsant properties. The present study investigated the effects of saikosaponin a (SSa), an active component of RB, on sleep and locomotion. Male C57BL/6j mice received intraperitoneal injections of SSa at three different dosages (0.625, 1.25, and 2.5 mg/kg). Sleep parameters were analysed by electroencephalography and electromyography. The open-field test was used to measure locomotor activities. Our present results showed that SSa treatment significantly increased the duration of non-rapid eye movement sleep and shortened sleep latency in a dose-dependent manner. A high dose of SSa (2.5 mg/kg) also decreased locomotor activities. Moreover, by measuring c-Fos expression and the calcium signal in the lateral hypothalamus (LH), we found that SSa treatment decreased neuronal activity in the LH. In conclusion, SSa might be the sleep-promoting component in RB and its mechanism may be related to the modulation of neuronal activity in the LH.

Chinese Herbal Medicine for Treating Epilepsy

Chinese herbal medicine has a long history of use for treating epilepsy. Because of the side effects of Western antiepileptic therapy and the quest for more accessible treatment, complementary and alternative medicines have become popular. Traditional Chinese medical diet therapy appears to be safe and effective. We searched PubMed and the Cochrane Library through November 2020 for the use of traditional Chinese medicine in clinical settings, including plants, fungi, and animals. Combinations of keywords included “epilepsy,” “seizure,” “antiepileptic,” “anticonvulsive,” “Chinese herbal medicine,” “Chinese herb,” and each of the Latin names, English names, and scientific names of herbs. We also summarized the sources and functions of these herbs in Chinese medicine. Different herbs can be combined to increase antiepileptic effects through various mechanisms, including anti-inflammation, antioxidation, GABAergic effect enhancement, modulation of NMDA channels and sodium channel, and neuroprotection. Despite reports of their anticonvulsive effects, adequate experimental evidence and randomized controlled clinical trials are required to confirm their antiepileptic effects.

Saikosaponin-d improved the stemness of mouse neural stem cells and increased their thermotolerance potential

PURPOSE

To investigate the effect of saikosaponin-d (Ssd) on proliferation, differentiation, and stemness of neural stem cells (NSCs), and to observe whether Ssd has a protective effect on NSCs at medium-high and high temperature.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

NSCs were extracted from 15-day fetal mice. After subculture, Ssd treatment was performed. Cell cycle and apoptosis rate were detected by flow cytometry. Western Blot and immunofluorescence assay were used to detect the expression and spatial distribution of Nestin, NSE, GFAP, Oct4, and SOX2. Cell growth morphology was observed under a microscope; the concentration of extracellular lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) was determined by ELISA.

RESULTS

Compared with the control group, the proportion of NSCs in the G0/G1 phase increased in the Ssd treatment group; on the contrary, the proportion in the G2/M phase significantly decreased. Microscopically, our results also suggested the sphere-formation rate increased significantly. Besides, the percentage of dead cells in the Ssd group at 38.5, 40°C were reduced, and the level of LDH release was dropped.

CONCLUSION

Ssd improved the stemness of NSCs, inhibited their differentiation into neural cells, and reduced cell damage under high temperature. Therefore, we speculate that Ssd can improve the thermotolerance of NSCs and protect the nervous system of children with fever.

Comparison of chemical constituents of Bupleurum marginatum var. stenophyllum and Bupleurum chinense DC. using UHPLC-Q-TOF-MS based on a metabonomics approach

The overall chemical composition of Bupleurum marginatum var. stenophyllum and Bupleurum chinense DC. was compared in this study. Metabolites were identified using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry. Multivariate statistical analysis techniques such as principal component analysis were used to conduct metabonomics analysis and study the correlation between different components. Principal component analysis results showed a clear distinction among medicinal materials of different origins and divided them into different categories, consistent with the results of hierarchical cluster analysis. Both partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) and orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) showed that the two materials could be distinguished clearly. Using PLS-DA and OPLS-DA combined with the S-plot and a variable importance in the projection (VIP) score >1, 24 differential metabolites were screened and identified; all of the metabolites were triterpenoid saponins. In addition, SPSS 25.0 and Metabo Analyst 4.0 were used to analyze significant differences in the relative contents of different compounds in the two materials. This study has successfully provided not only a new direction for research based on the chemical substances identified and the quality evaluation of Bupleuri Radix but also a better theoretical basis for the expansion of medicinal sources and their clinical application.

Juglans mandshurica Maxim.: A Review of Its Traditional Usages, Phytochemical Constituents, and Pharmacological Properties

Juglans mandshurica Maxim., also known as “Manchurian walnut” (Chinese) and “Onigurumi” (Japanese), is a medicinal plant widely distributed in Western and Central Asia, especially in China. It has been traditionally used to treat cancer, gastric ulcers, diarrhea, dysentery, dermatosis, uterine prolapse, and leukopenia. To date, more than 400 constituents including quinones (e.g. naphthoquinones, anthraquinones, naphthalenones, tetralones), phenolics, flavonoids, triterpenoids, coumarins, lignans, phenylpropanoids, diarylheptanoids, and steroids, were isolated and structurally identified from different plant parts of J. mandshurica. Among them, quinones, phenolics, triterpenoids, and diarylheptanoids, as the major bioactive substances, have been extensively studied and displayed significant bioactivity. Previous studies have demonstrated that J. mandshurica and a few of its active components exhibit a wide range of pharmacologically important properties, such as antitumor, immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective, anti-diabetic, antiviral, antimicrobial, and anti-melanogenesis activities. However, many investigations on biological activities were mainly based on crude extracts of this plant, and the major bioactive ingredients responsible for these bioactivities have not been well identified. Further in vitro and in vivo studies on the mechanisms of action of the pure bioactive compounds, and more elaborate toxicity studies as well as clinical studies are needed to ensure safety and effectiveness of the plant for human use. Taken together, the present review will provide some specific useful suggestions guide to further investigations and applications of this plant in the preparation of medicines and functional foods.