Comparative study on effects of Xiaoyao Powder (逍遥散) and its modified prescription on plasma metabolomics of rats with chronic immobilization stress

Research on Xiaoyao Powder in the treatment of depression based on epigenetics and quality markers

Depression has become one of the most common public health issues around the world, and the incidence has been increasing in recent years. A large amount of clinical investigations have proven that the treatment of depression is difficult. The prognosis is poor, and the fatality rate is high. At present, western medicine is the preferred treatment for depression, but it often causes adverse clinical reactions such as dry mouth, blurred vision, and memory loss, etc. The herbal compound Xiaoyao Powder is a traditional medicine for soothing the liver and relieving depression, strengthening the spleen, and nourishing the blood. It can reduce adverse reactions. It is effective in treating depression. In this study, we elucidate the function of Xiaoyao Powder in anti-depression from the perspective of clinical application and pharmacological mechanisms such as regulating epigenetic and chemical quality markers to provide empirical and experimental theoretical results that contribute to developing future depression therapy with Xiaoyao Powder.

Antidepressant effects of the traditional Chinese herbal formula Xiao-Yao-San and its bioactive ingredients

BACKGROUND

Depression is one of the most debilitating and severe psychiatric disorders and a serious public health concern. Currently, many treatments are indicated for depression, including traditional Chinese medicinal formulae such as Xiao-Yao-San (XYS), which has effective antidepressant effects in clinical and animal studies.

PURPOSE

To summarize current evidence of XYS in terms of the preclinical and clinical studies and to identify the multi-level, multi-approach, and multi-target potential antidepressant mechanisms of XYS and active components of XYS by a comprehensive search of the related electronic databases.

METHODS

The following electronic databases were searched from the beginning to April 2022: PubMed, MEDLINE, Web of Science, Google Scholar, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure.

RESULTS

This review summarizes the antidepressant mechanisms of XYS and its active ingredients, which are reportedly correlated with monoamine neurotransmitter regulation, synaptic plasticity, and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, etc. CONCLUSION: XYS plays a critical role in the treatment of depression by the regulation of several factors, including the monoaminergic systems, hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, synaptic plasticity, inflammation, brain-derived neurotrophic factor levels, brain-gut axis, and other pathways. However, more clinical and animal studies should be conducted to further investigate the antidepressant function of XYS and provide more evidence and recommendations for its clinical application. Our review provides an overview of XYS and guidance for future research direction.

Assessment of Phytochemicals and Herbal Formula for the Treatment of Depression through Metabolomics

Depression is a widespread and persistent psychiatric disease. Due to various side effects and no curative treatments of conventional antidepressant drugs, botanical medicines have attracted considerable attention as a complementary and alternative approach. The pathogenesis of depression is quite complicated and unclear. Metabolomics is a promising new technique for the discovery of novel biomarkers for exploring the potential mechanisms of diverse diseases and assessing the therapeutic effects of drugs. In this article, we systematically reviewed the study of botanical medicine for the treatment of depression using metabolomics over a period from 2010 to 2019. Additionally, we summarized the potential biomarkers and metabolic pathways associated with herbal medicine treatment for depression. Through a comprehensive evaluation of herbal medicine as novel antidepressants and understanding of their pharmacomechanisms, a new perspective on expanding the application of botanical medicines for the treatment of depression is provided.

Chronic restraint stress induced changes in colonic homeostasis-related indexes and tryptophan-kynurenine metabolism in rats

Chronic stressors represented risk factors for the etiology or exacerbation of several gastrointestinal diseases. The goal of the present study was to examine whether chronic restraint stress (CRS) could initiate and aggravate colonic inflammation, integrity damage and metabolic disturbance of rats. Firstly, increased inflammatory cytokines (interferon-γ (IFN-γ), tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α) and interleukin-10(IL-10)) and decreased tight junction (TJ) proteins (occludin and zonula occludins-1 (ZO-1)) in rat colon were observed. Secondly, untargeted metabolomics based on ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight mass (UPLC-Q-TOF/MS) revealed that TRP metabolism was the most prominently affected. Thirdly, quantification of TRP and its metabolites via prominence ultrafast liquid chromatography coupled with a QTRAP 5500 mass (UFLC-QTRAP-5500/MS) showed that TRP, kynurenine (KYN), kynurenic acid (KA) and 3-hydroxykynurenine (3-HK) were significantly increased. At the same time, 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) was unchanged and 5-hydroxyindolacetic acid (5-HIAA) was significantly decreased in the colon of CRS rats. Besides, TRP metabolic enzyme changes were with the same trends as the corresponding metabolites. Thus, our data showed that CRS could initiate colonic inflammation, integrity damage and colonic metabolism disturbance, especially TRP-KYN metabolism pathway of rats, which may provide an experimental background for future research on stress-related gastrointestinal dysfunction. SIGNIFICANCE: Chronic exposure to psychological stress could induce metabolic imbalance of the body, and stressful life events were intimately correlated with frequent relapses in patients with intestinal disorders. The present study showed that chronic restraint stress (CRS) could initiate and aggravate colonic inflammation, integrity damage and metabolic disturbance, especially tryptophan-kynurenine metabolism of rats. Tryptophan-kynurenine pathway may be involved in the initiation and development of diseases induced by chronic stress. This research may shed light on future research on stress-related gastrointestinal dysfunction.

Xiaoyaosan (Tiaogan-Liqi therapy) protects peritoneal macrophages from corticosterone-induced stress by regulating the interaction between glucocorticoid receptor and ABCA1

Background

Previous studies have reported that Xiaoyaosan (XYS), Tiaogan-Liqi therapy, has a protective function in depressive disorder, and can regulate body weight and corticosterone (CORT) level. However, little is known about the effect of XYS in treating atherosclerosis. This study aimed to explore the influence XYS on macrophage foam cell formation and related mechanism.

Methods

Rat peritoneal macrophages (PMs) were separated and stimulated with CORT and oxidized low density lipoprotein (ox-LDL). The serum was obtained from rats treated with different doses of XYS and was added into the medium for macrophages. Then, the cell activity and lipid content of PMs were measured through Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assay and oil red staining, respectively. The expressions of glucocorticoid receptor (GR), ATP binding cassette subfamily A member 1 (ABCA1), and heat shock protein 90 (HSP90) were detected. In addition, overexpression of GR and ABCA1 was performed and the effect on XYS treatment was subsequently assessed.

Results

The CCK-8 assay showed the serum increased cell activity of CORT-induced stress PMs in a XYS dose-dependent manner. Oil red staining and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) showed that the serum decreased lipids of PMs. In the XYS treated groups, HSP90 protein was decreased and protein levels of ABCA1 and GR were increased in cytoplasm, while GR protein in nucleus was decreased. Co-immunoprecipitation (Co-IP) assay indicated GR might interact with HSP90 and be involved with the function of XYS. Furthermore, overexpression of GR attenuated the protective function of XYS on CORT-induced stress in PMs, while overexpression of ABCA1 enhanced that.

Conclusions

This study denoted that XYS could protect PMs from CORT-induced stress by regulating the interaction of GR and ABCA1, which might contribute to the treatment of atherosclerosis.

Toxicological effects of Nux Vomica in rats urine and serum by means of clinical chemistry, histopathology and 1H NMR-based metabonomics approach

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

The dried ripe seeds of Nux Vomica (Strychnos nux-vomica L.), a traditional Chinese medicine, have been used to treat multifarious symptoms. However, the clinical applications of Nux Vomica are limited by its severe toxicity. In this study, Nux Vomica was subjected to nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) metabonomics and pathological examination to determine relevant biomarkers in target organs and to explain the underlying toxicity mechanism.

MATERIALS AND METHOD

Thirty-six male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into three groups of twelve rats. The control group was oral gavaged with distilled water, and two experiment groups were treated with Nux Vomica at a dose of 0.315 and 0.630g/kg body weight. On days 14 and 21, serum, urine, liver and kidney tissues were collected for histopathological examination, biochemical analysis and ¹H-NMR analysis.

RESULTS

The metabolites changes of rats treated with Nux Vomica are obviously differ from that of controls. In serum, low-dose group compared with control shows the significantly changes included elevated concentration of glucose, TMAO, and creatine, with decreased lipids, 3-HB, lactate, and unsaturated fatty acid. Change in taurine was only observed in the separation comparison of high-dose group and control. In urine, the variation metabolites included elevations in glucose, creatine, and TMAO as well as decreased lactate, succinate, α-ketoglutaric acid, citrate and hippurate in low-dose group compared with control. Only alanine and creatine were decreased significantly in high-dose group compared with control.

CONCLUSION

Nux Vomica induced disruptions in glycolysis, lipid and amino acid metabolism, and toxic effects were aggravated in liver and kidney tissues as dosing time was prolonged. ¹H NMR-based metabonomics combined with biochemical and histopathological methods can be applied to elucidate the toxicity mechanism of Nux Vomica decoction that caused liver and kidney injuries in rats.

A 1H-NMR-Based Metabonomic Study on the Anti-Depressive Effect of the Total Alkaloid of Corydalis Rhizoma

Corydalis Rhizoma, named YuanHu in China, is the dried tuber of Corydalis yanhusuo W.T. Wang which is used in Traditional Chinese Medicine for pain relief and blood activation. Previous pharmacological studies showed that apart from analgesics, the alkaloids from YuanHu may be useful in the therapy of depression by acting on the GABA, dopamine and benzodiazepine receptors. In this study, the antidepressive effect of the total alkaloid of YuanHu (YHTA) was investigated in a chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) rat model using 1H-NMR-based metabonomics. Plasma metabolic profiles were analyzed and multivariate data analysis was applied to discover the metabolic biomarkers in CUMS rats. Thirteen biomarkers of CUMS-introduced depression were identified, which are myo-inositol, glycerol, glycine, creatine, glutamine, glutamate, β-glucose, α-glucose, acetoacetate, 3-hydroxybutyrate, leucine and unsaturated lipids (L7, L9). Moreover, a metabolic network of the potential biomarkers in plasma perturbed by CUMS was detected. After YHTA treatment, clear separation between the model group and YHTA-treated group was achieved. The levels of all the abnormal metabolites mentioned above showed a tendency of restoration to normal levels. The results demonstrated the therapeutic efficacy of YHTA against depression and suggested that NMR-based metabolomics can provide a simple and easy tool for the evaluation of herbal therapeutics.

The application of HPLC and microprobe NMR spectroscopy in the identification of metabolites in complex biological matrices

Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR)-based metabolomics can be used directly to identify a variety of metabolites in biological fluids and tissues. Metabolite analysis is an important part of life science and metabolomics research. However, the identification of some metabolites using NMR spectroscopy remains a big challenge owing to low abundance or signal overlap. It is important to develop a method to measure these compounds accurately. Two-dimensional NMR spectroscopy, metabolite prediction software packages, and spike-in experiments with authentic standards are often used to solve these problems, but they are costly and time-consuming. In this study, methods were developed to identify metabolites in complex biological mixtures using both high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and off-line microprobe NMR spectroscopy. With use of these methods, 83 and 73 metabolites were identified in Sprague Dawley rat urine and feces, respectively. Among them, 40 and 45 metabolites, respectively, could not be identified with traditional NMR methods. Our research revealed that the combination of HPLC and NMR techniques could significantly improve the accuracy of trace and overlapped metabolite identification, while offering an effective and convenient approach to identify potential biomarkers in complex biological systems.

Electroacupuncture at Acupoints Reverses Plasma Glutamate, Lipid, and LDL/VLDL in an Acute Migraine Rat Model: A (1) H NMR-Based Metabolomic Study

Background. The objective of this study was to identify potential biomarkers of electroacupuncture (EA) on relieving acute migraine through metabolomic study. Methods. EA treatments were performed on both acupoints and nonacupoints on the nitroglycerin (NTG)-induced migraine rat model. NMR experiments and multivariate analysis were used for metabolomic analysis. Results. The number of head-scratching, the main ethology index of migraine rat model, was significantly increased (P < 0.01) after NTG injection. The plasma metabolic profile of model group was distinct from that of the control group. Glutamate was significantly increased (P < 0.01), whereas lipids were significantly decreased (P < 0.01) in model rats. After EA at acupoints, the metabolic profile of model rats was normalized, with decreased glutamate (P < 0.05) and increased lipids (P < 0.01). In contrast, EA at nonacupoints did not restore the metabolic profile, but with six metabolites significantly different from acupoints group. Interestingly, the number of head-scratching and glutamate level were significantly decreased (P < 0.05) after receiving EA at both acupoints and nonacupoints. Conclusions. EA at acupoints may relieve acute migraine by restoring the plasma metabolic profile and plasma glutamate, while EA at nonacupoints may modestly relieve acute migraine by decreasing plasma glutamate.

Soyo-san reduces depressive-like behavior and proinflammatory cytokines in ovariectomized female rats

Background

Soyo-san is a traditional oriental medicinal formula, a mixture of 9 crude drugs, and it has been clinically used for treating mild depressive disorders. The role of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines in psychiatric disorders has been the focus of great research attention in recent years. In the present study, we detected the antidepressant effect of soyo-san in the ovariectomized and repeated stressed female rats.

Methods

This study was designed to evaluate the antidepressant-like effect of soyo-san on the forced swimming test (FST). The rats were randomly divided into the following groups: the nonoperated and nonstressed group (non-op), the nonoperated and stressed group (non-op + ST), the ovariectomized and stress group (OVX) and sham operated and stressed group (sham), the ovariectomized and stressed group (OVX + ST), the ovariectomized, stressed and soyo-san 100 mg/kg treated group (SOY100) and the ovariectomized, stressed and soyo-san 400 mg/kg treated group (SOY400). The rats were exposed to immobilization stress (IMO) for 14day (2 h/14day), and soyo-san (100 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg) was administrated during the same time. In the same animals, the levels of corticosterone and interleukin-1-beta (IL-1β) were examined in the serum. Also, the change of IL-1β expression in brain regions was examined after behavior test.

Results

In the FST, the lower dose (100 mg/kg) of extract was effective in reducing immobility, along with an increase in swimming time. The serum levels of corticosterone and IL-1β in the SOY groups were significantly lower than those in the control group. In the brain, the expression of IL-1β positive neurons in the control group were significantly increased in the paraventricular nucleus (PVN) and hippocampus compared to the non-op. However, soyo-san groups significantly reduced the IL-1β-ir neurons in the PVN and hippocampal regions compared to the control.

Conclusion

The present results demonstrated that soyo-san effectively reduced behavioral and patho-physiological depression-like responses. Trial registration: Our results suggest that soyo-san may be useful for immune regulator in repeated stress-induced ovariectomized female rats.

Metabonomics-based study of clinical urine samples in suboptimal health with different syndromes

Objective. To explore the urinary biochemistry features of syndromes of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) such as syndrome of stagnation of liver Qi, spleen deficiency, liver Qi stagnation, and spleen deficiency (LSSDS) in sub-optimal health status (SHS). Methods. 12 cases for each syndrome group in SHS were selected, 12 subjects were used as a normal control group, and ¹H NMR detection was, respectively, carried out, and the data was corrected by the orthogonal signal correction (OSC) and then adopted a partial least squares (PLS) method for discriminate analysis. Results. The OSC-PLS (ctr) analysis results of the nuclear overhauser enhancement spectroscopy (NOESY) detection indicated that the syndromes in SHS could be differentiated, and there were significant differences in the levels of metabolites of the urine samples of the four groups; the biomarkers of LSSDS in SHS were found out. The contents of citric acid (2.54 and 2.66), trimethylamineoxide (3.26), and hippuric acid (3.98, 7.54, 7.58, 7.62, 7.66, 7.82, and 7.86) in the urine samples of LSSDS group were lower than that of the normal control group. Conclusion. There are differences in the ¹H-NMR metabolic spectrum of the urine samples of the four groups, and the specific metabolic products of the LSSDS in SHS can be identified from metabonomics analysis.