Effect of Zuogui Pill (左归丸) on monoamine neurotransmitters and sex hormones in climacteric rats with panic attack

Zuogui Wan slowed senescence of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells by suppressing Wnt/β-catenin signaling

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

In traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), Zuogui Wan (ZGW) is a classical prescription for senile disorders and delay aging. Modern studies show that ZGW promotes central nerve cell regeneration, prevents and cures osteoporosis, enhances the body's antioxidant capacity, regulates the body's immune function, and promotes mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) proliferation.

AIM OF THE STUDY

It has been shown that MSCs aging is closely associated with organism's aging and age-related disorders. The study aimed to define the effects of ZGW on the aging bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) and to identify the mechanisms of ZGW delaying BMSCs senescence.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Network pharmacology analysis combined with GEO data mining, molecular docking and experimental validation were used to evaluate the mechanisms by which ZGW delays MSCs senescence (MSCS). LC-MS was used for quality control analysis of ZGW.

RESULTS

PPI network analysis revealed that EGF, TNF, JUN, MMPs, IL-6, MAPK8, and MYC are components of the core PPI network. GO and KEGG analyses revealed that oxidative stress, regulation of response to DNA damage stimuli, and Wnt signaling were significantly enriched. GEO database validation also indicated that Wnt signaling closely correlated with MSCs aging. Molecular docking analysis of the top-13 active components in the "ZGW-Targets-MSCS" network indicated that most components have strong affinity for key proteins in Wnt signaling, suggesting that modulation of Wnt signaling is an important mechanism of ZGW activity against MSCS. Further experimental validation found that ZGW indeed regulates Wnt signaling and suppresses the expression of age-related factors to enhance cell proliferation, ameliorate DNA damage, and reduce senescence-related secretory phenotype (SASP) secretion, thereby maintaining multidirectional differentiation of rat BMSCs. Similar results were obtained using the Wnt inhibitor, XAV-939.

CONCLUSIONS

Together, our data show that ZGW slows BMSCs aging by suppressing Wnt signaling.

Zuoguiwan Ameliorates Cognitive Deficits and Neuro-Inflammation in Streptozotocin-Induced Alzheimer's Disease Rats

INTRODUCTION

Alzheimer's disease is the most popular neurodegenerative disorder with no effective drugs to stop the progression. Zuoguiwan (ZGW), a traditional Chinese herbal medicine, has been applied in many diseases. Our study aimed to detect the function and mechanisms of ZGW in Alzheimer's disease (AD).

METHODS

The rat models of AD were established by streptozotocin (STZ), and the function of ZGW on cognitive dysfunction was measured with the Morris water maze test. The concentration of pro-inflammatory mediators was accessed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The relative mRNA expression of ERβ was detected by real-time quantitative PCR.

RESULTS

The treatment with ZGW could suppress the cognitive impairment by the findings of escape latency and time spent in the target quadrant and the increased concentration of IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α induced by STZ. STZ might repress the mRNA levels of ERβ, and ZGW management weakened the declined mRNA expression of ERβ. ZGW might play a protective role in AD rats against the injury of STZ on cognition and neuro-inflammation by improving the mRNA expression of ERβ.

CONCLUSION

The results indicated that ZGW might be a novel therapeutic strategy to slow the process of AD by modulating ERβ.

Zuogui Pill Attenuates Neuroinflammation and Improves Cognitive Function in Cerebral Ischemia Reperfusion-Injured Rats

INTRODUCTION

Cerebral ischemia and reperfusion (CI/R) injury is a devasting cerebrovascular disease, accompanied with ischemia stroke, cerebral infarction. Zuogui Pill (ZGP), as a Chinese traditional medicine, is proved to be effective in many diseases and cancers. Our study aimed to detect the roles of ZGP in CI/R injury.

METHODS

Neural stem cells were isolated from rats and induced by oxygen and glucose deprivation and recovery. CCK-8 and flow cytometry were applied to assess the function of ZGP on cell viability and apoptosis. Rat CI/R injury models were established by the middle cerebral artery occlusion and reperfusion. The function of ZGP on CI/R injury was identified via evaluating modified neurological severity score, infarct area, and cognitive impairment.

RESULTS

Compared to the control, the cell viability was obviously decreased in the oxygen and glucose deprivation and recovery (OGD/R) group, while the adverse influence on cells was reversed by cultured plus 10% ZGP serum. Consistently, ZGP attenuated the influence of OGD/R on cell apoptosis. More importantly, ZGP could alleviate CI/R injury of rats by reducing neurological damage and infarct area and promoting cognitive function.

CONCLUSION

This study provided protective roles of ZGP on cell viability and apoptosis induced by OGD/R. In addition, ZGP played protective roles on neuroinflammation and cognitive function in rats.

Zuogui Wan alleviated maternal kidney-yin deficiency-induced thymic epithelial cell dysfunction in newborn rats through Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Kidney-yin deficiency (KYD) during pregnancy is common and associated with possibility of thymus hypoplasia in neonates. Zuogui Wan (ZGW) is a classic traditional medicine to treat KYD.

AIM OF STUDY

The Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway is essential for thymic epithelial cell (TEC) viability, function and for thymus integrity. We evaluated whether maternal diets with ZGW in KYD rats ameliorates epithelial cell dysfunction in the fetal thymus, and investigated its underlying mechanism in which the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway is involved.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Rats were randomly assigned to four groups (n = 8). Two experimental groups received KYD induction with or without ZGW supplementation. The other 2 vehicle groups were sham operated and administrated with normal saline or ZGW. KYD was established using periodically chronic shaken stimulus and threaten stress. Success of the model induction was evaluated by the general observation, changing of the body weight and plasma thyroxine level. Then, pregnant of vehicle and KYD rats were fed with or without ZGW-supplemented diet throughout the F1 gestation. Postnatal thymi samples were obtained after delivery for histological examination. In vitro, TECs of the newborn rats whose mother suffered KYD were isolated, and cultured using the serum containing ZGW with or without the supplement of Wnt4/β-catenin pathway inhibitor ICG-001. Cell viability was evaluated by CCK-8 assay. Meanwhile, the thymi tissues and TECs were collected for biochemical analysis. Levels of thymosin β4 (TMSβ4) and thymosin α1 (Tα1) were detected by ELISA assay. The mRNA and protein expression of Wnt4, β-catenin, and Foxn1 were determined by RT-qPCR and Western blot respectively.

RESULTS

In vivo, KYD resulted in significantly increased apoptosis of TECs and atrophy of the thymi, especially in the medullary zone. The morphological changes observed in KYD rats were ameliorated by ZGW treatment. Meanwhile, the decreased TMSβ4, Tα1, Wnt4, β-catenin, and Foxn1 levels in KYD rats were also significantly alleviated by ZGW administration. In vitro, elevated TMSβ4 and Tα1 levels accompanied with upregulated Wnt4, β-catenin, and Foxn1 expressions in the TECs were observed after ZGW intervention, however, which were significantly downregulated by ICG-001 supplement.

CONCLUSIONS

Maternal kidney-yin deficiency could result in TEC dysfunction in newborn rats. ZGW was able to improve the growth and development of TEC, potentially by regulating the Wnt/β-catenin pathway.