Panax notoginsenoside saponins Rb1 regulates the expressions of Akt/ mTOR/PTEN signals in the hippocampus after focal cerebral ischemia in rats

Rapid and non-destructive identification of Panax ginseng origins using hyperspectral imaging, visible light imaging, and X-ray imaging combined with multi-source data fusion strategies

The geographical origin of Panax ginseng significantly influences its nutritional value and chemical composition, which in turn affects its market price. Traditional methods for analyzing these differences are often time-consuming and require substantial quantities of reagents, rendering them inefficient. Therefore, hyperspectral imaging (HSI) in conjunction with X-ray technology were used for the swift and non-destructive traceability of Panax ginseng origin. Initially, outlier samples were effectively rejected by employing a combined isolated forest algorithm and density peak clustering (DPC) algorithm. Subsequently, random forest (RF) and support vector machine (SVM) classification models were constructed using hyperspectral spectral data. These models were further optimized through the application of 72 preprocessing methods and their combinations. Additionally, to enhance the model's performance, four variable screening algorithms were employed: SelectKBest, genetic algorithm (GA), least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO), and permutation feature importance (PFI). The optimized model, utilizing second derivative, auto scaling, permutation feature importance, and support vector machine (2nd Der-AS-PFI-SVM), achieved a prediction accuracy of 93.4 %, a Kappa value of 0.876, a Brier score of 0.030, an F1 score of 0.932, and an AUC of 0.994 on an independent prediction set. Moreover, the image data (including color information and texture information) extracted from color and X-ray images were used to construct classification models and evaluate their performance. Among them, the SVM model constructed using texture information from X -ray images performed the best, and it achieved a prediction accuracy of 63.0 % on the validation set, with a Brier score of 0.181, an F1 score of 0.518, and an AUC of 0.553. By implementing mid-level fusion and high-level data fusion based on the Stacking strategy, it was found that the model employing a high-level fusion of hyperspectral spectral information and X-ray images texture information significantly outperformed the model using only hyperspectral spectral information. This advanced model attained a prediction accuracy of 95.2 %, a Kappa value of 0.912, a Brier score of 0.027, an F1 score of 0.952, and an AUC of 0.997 on the independent prediction set. In summary, this study not only provides a novel technical path for fast and non-destructive traceability of Panax ginseng origin, but also demonstrates the great potential of the combined application of HSI and X-ray technology in the field of traceability of both medicinal and food products.

Analysis of online prescription patterns in Chinese patients with sequelae of cerebral infarction: a real-world study

Cerebral infarction (CI) is a common cerebrovascular disease worldwide, and the burden caused by the sequelae of CI has increased significantly. However, current treatment guidelines lack standardized recommendations for pharmacotherapy of sequelae of CI. This retrospective study collected and analyzed 1.98 million prescriptions concerning sequelae of CI from patients admitted to Zhiyun Health Internet Hospital in 2022. The mean age of patients was 66.2 ± 11.4 years, and 52.40% were male. 79.73% had one or more comorbidities. For treatment, the prescriptions of 1-, 2- and ≥ 3-drug accounted for 64.55%, 23.77% and 11.68% respectively. Chinese patent medicine (CPM) prescriptions, western medicine (WM) prescriptions, and CPM and WM combined (CPM + WM) prescriptions accounted for 53.81%, 27.33%, and 18.86% respectively. In CPM prescriptions, the most frequently prescribed medications were Salvia miltiorrhiza (34.81%), Ginkgo biloba (24.96%), Panax notoginseng (20.67%), Gastrodia (7.15%) and Ligusticum Wallichii (4.90%). For WM prescriptions, the most commonly prescribed agents were anti-hypertensive (32.82%), anti-thrombotic (16.06%), vasodilator (15.70%), anti-dementia (10.88%), and lipid-lowering (9.58%) drugs. Among CPM + WM prescriptions, 72.61% had CPM/WM = 1, 21.20% had CPM/WM < 1, and 6.19% had CPM/WM > 1. This research utilized real-world data extracted from internet hospitals in China to present valuable evidence of online prescription patterns among patients experiencing sequelae of CI.

Transcriptome analysis reveals that jasmonic acid biosynthesis and signaling is associated with the biosynthesis of asperosaponin VI in Dipsacus asperoides

Dipsacus asperoides is a perennial herb, the roots of which are abundant in asperosaponin VI, which has important medicinal value. However, the molecular mechanism underlying the biosynthesis of asperosaponin VI in D. asperoides remains unclear. In present study, a comprehensive investigation of asperosaponin VI biosynthesis was conducted at the levels of metabolite and transcript during root development. The content of asperosaponin VI was significantly accumulated in two-leaf stage roots, and the spatial distribution of asperosaponin VI was localized in the xylem. The concentration of asperosaponin VI gradually increased in the root with the development process. Transcriptome analysis revealed 3916 unique differentially expressed genes (DEGs) including 146 transcription factors (TFs) during root development in D. asperoides. In addition, α-linolenic acid metabolism, jasmonic acid (JA) biosynthesis, JA signal transduction, sesquiterpenoid and triterpenoid biosynthesis, and terpenoid backbone biosynthesis were prominently enriched. Furthermore, the concentration of JA gradually increased, and genes involved in α-linolenic acid metabolism, JA biosynthesis, and triterpenoid biosynthesis were up-regulated during root development. Moreover, the concentration of asperosaponin VI was increased following methyl jasmonate (MeJA) treatment by activating the expression of genes in the triterpenoid biosynthesis pathway, including acetyl-CoA acetyltransferase (DaAACT), 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A synthase (DaHMGCS), 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme-A reductase (DaHMGCR). We speculate that JA biosynthesis and signaling regulates the expression of triterpenoid biosynthetic genes and facilitate the biosynthesis of asperosaponin VI. The results suggest a regulatory network wherein triterpenoids, JA, and TFs co-modulate the biosynthesis of asperosaponin VI in D. asperoides.

A New Therapeutic Trend: Natural Medicine for Ameliorating Ischemic Stroke via PI3K/Akt Signaling Pathway

Ischemic stroke (IS) is an acute cerebrovascular disease caused by sudden arterial occlusion, which is characterized by a high morbidity, mortality, and disability rate. It is one of the most important causes of nervous system morbidity and mortality in the world. In recent years, the search for new medicine for the treatment of IS has become an attractive research focus. Due to the extremely limited time window of traditional medicine treatment, some side effects may occur, and accompanied by the occurrence of adverse reactions, the frequency of exploration with natural medicine is significantly increased. Phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase/Protein kinase B (PI3K/Akt) signaling pathway is a classical pathway for cell metabolism, growth, apoptosis, and other physiological activities. There is considerable research on medicine that treats various diseases through this pathway. This review focuses on how natural medicines (including herbs and insects) regulate important pathophysiological processes such as inflammation, oxidative stress, apoptosis, and autophagy through the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway, and the role it plays in improving IS. We found that many kinds of herbal medicine and insect medicine can alleviate the damage caused by IS through the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway. Moreover, the prescription after their combination can also achieve certain results. Therefore, this review provides a new candidate category for medicine development in the treatment of IS.

Ginsenoside and Its Therapeutic Potential for Cognitive Impairment

Cognitive impairment (CI) is one of the major clinical features of many neurodegenerative diseases. It can be aging-related or even appear in non-central nerve system (CNS) diseases. CI has a wide spectrum that ranges from the cognitive complaint with normal screening tests to mild CI and, at its end, dementia. Ginsenosides, agents extracted from a key Chinese herbal medicine (ginseng), show great promise as a new therapeutic option for treating CI. This review covered both clinical trials and preclinical studies to summarize the possible mechanisms of how ginsenosides affect CI in different diseases. It shows that ginsenosides can modulate signaling pathways associated with oxidative stress, apoptosis, inflammation, synaptic plasticity, and neurogenesis. The involved signaling pathways mainly include the PI3K/Akt, CREB/BDNF, Keap1/Nrf2 signaling, and NF-κB/NLRP3 inflammasome pathways. We hope to provide a theoretical basis for the treatment of CI for related diseases by ginsenosides.

Protective effects of the notoginsenoside R1 on acute lung injury by regulating the miR-128-2-5p/Tollip signaling pathway in rats with severe acute pancreatitis

Notoginsenoside R1 (NG-R1), the extract and the main ingredient of Panax notoginseng, has anti-inflammatory effects and can be used in treating acute lung injury (ALI). In this study, we explored the pulmonary protective effect and the underlying mechanism of the NG-R1 on rats with ALI induced by severe acute pancreatitis (SAP). MiR-128-2-5p, ERK1, Tollip, HMGB1, TLR4, IκB, and NF-κB mRNA expression levels were measured using real-time qPCR, and TLR4, Tollip, HMGB1, IRAK1, MyD88, ERK1, NF-κB65, and P-IκB-α protein expression levels using Western blot. The NF-κB and the TLR4 activities were determined using immunohistochemistry, and TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1β, and ICAM-1 levels in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) using ELISA. Lung histopathological changes were observed in each group. NG-R1 treatment reduced miR-128-2-5p expression in the lung tissue, increased Tollip expression, inhibited HMGB1, TLR4, TRAF6, IRAK1, MyD88, NF-κB65, and p-IκB-α expression levels, suppressed NF-κB65 and the TLR4 expression levels, reduced MPO activity, reduced TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, and ICAM-1 levels in BALF, and alleviated SAP-induced ALI. NG-R1 can attenuate SAP-induced ALI. The mechanism of action may be due to a decreased expression of miR-128-2-5p, increased activity of the Tollip signaling pathway, decreased activity of HMGB1/TLR4 and ERK1 signaling pathways, and decreased inflammatory response to SAP-induced ALI. Tollip was the regulatory target of miR-128-2-5p.

Advanced applications of mass spectrometry imaging technology in quality control and safety assessments of traditional Chinese medicines

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs) have made great contributions to the prevention and treatment of human diseases in China, and especially in cases of COVID-19. However, due to quality problems, the lack of standards, and the diversity of dosage forms, adverse reactions to TCMs often occur. Moreover, the composition of TCMs makes them extremely challenging to extract and isolate, complicating studies of toxicity mechanisms.

AIM OF THE REVIEW

The aim of this paper is therefore to summarize the advanced applications of mass spectrometry imaging (MSI) technology in the quality control, safety evaluations, and determination of toxicity mechanisms of TCMs.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Relevant studies from the literature have been collected from scientific databases, such as "PubMed", "Scifinder", "Elsevier", "Google Scholar" using the keywords "MSI", "traditional Chinese medicines", "quality control", "metabolomics", and "mechanism".

RESULTS

MSI is a new analytical imaging technology that can detect and image the metabolic changes of multiple components of TCMs in plants and animals in a high throughput manner. Compared to other chemical analysis methods, such as liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS), this method does not require the complex extraction and separation of TCMs, and is fast, has high sensitivity, is label-free, and can be performed in high-throughput. Combined with chemometrics methods, MSI can be quickly and easily used for quality screening of TCMs. In addition, this technology can be used to further focus on potential biomarkers and explore the therapeutic/toxic mechanisms of TCMs.

CONCLUSIONS

As a new type of analysis method, MSI has unique advantages to metabolic analysis, quality control, and mechanisms of action explorations of TCMs, and contributes to the establishment of quality standards to explore the safety and toxicology of TCMs.

Notoginsenoside R1 Facilitated Wound Healing in High-Fat Diet/Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Rats

Diabetic ulcers bring about high morbidity and mortality in patients and cause a great economic burden to society as a whole. Since existing treatments cannot fulfil patient requirements, it is urgent to find effective therapies. In this study, the wound healing effect of topical notoginsenoside R1 (NR1) treatment on diabetic full-thickness wounds in type II diabetes mellitus (T2DM) was induced by the combination of a high-fat diet and streptozotocin (STZ) injection. NR1 significantly increased the wound closure rate, enhanced extracellular matrix (ECM) secretion, promoted collagen growth, increased platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule-1 (CD31) expression, and decreased cleaved caspase-3 expression. RNA-Seq analysis identified ECM remodeling and inflammation as critical biological processes and Timp1 and Mmp3 as important targets in NR1-mediated wound healing. Further experiments showed that NR1-treated wounds demonstrated higher expression of tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 1 (TIMP1) and transforming growth factor-β1 (TGFβ1) and lower expression of matrix metallopeptidase 9 (MMP9), matrix metallopeptidase 3 (MMP3), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) than diabetic wounds. These investigations promote the understanding of the mechanism of NR1-mediated diabetic wound healing and provide a promising therapeutic drug to enhance diabetic wound healing.

Exploring the Mechanism of Panax notoginseng Saponins against Alzheimer's Disease by Network Pharmacology and Experimental Validation

Background

Panax notoginseng saponins (PNS) have been used for neurodegenerative disorders such as cerebral ischemia and Alzheimer's disease (AD). Although increasing evidences show the neuron protective effects of PNS, the vital compounds and their functional targets remain elusive. To explore the potential functional ingredients of PNS for the AD treatment and their molecular mechanisms, an in vitro neuron injured model induced by Aβ was investigated, and the potential mechanism was predicted by network pharmacology approach and validated by molecular biology methods.

Methods

Network pharmacology approach was used to reveal the relationship between ingredient-target disease and function-pathway of PNS on the treatment of AD. The active ingredients of PNS were collected from TCMSP, PubChem database, and literature mining in PubMed database. DrugBank and GeneCards database were used to predict potential targets for AD. The STRING database was performed to reveal enrichment of these target proteins, protein-protein interactions, and related pathways. Networks were visualized by utilizing Cytoscape software. The enrichment analysis was performed by the DAVID database. Finally, neuroprotective effect and predictive mechanism of PNS were investigated in an in vitro AD model established by Aβ_25–35-treated PC12 cells.

Results

An ingredient-target disease and function-pathway network demonstrated that 38 active ingredients were derived from PNS modulated 364 common targets shared by PNS and AD. GO and KEGG analysis, further clustering analysis, showed that mTOR signaling targets were associated with the neuroprotective effects of PNS. In Aβ-treated PC12 cells, PNS treatment improved neuroprotective effect, including mTOR inhibition and autophagy activation.

Conclusions

Collectively, the protective effects of PNS on AD-neuron injury are related to the inhibition of mTOR and autophagy activation.

Enhancing effect of borneol on pharmacokinetics of ginsenoside Rb1 , ginsenoside Rg1 and notoginsenoside R1 in healthy volunteers after oral administration of compound Danshen dropping pills (CDDP)

Borneol (Bingpian), a monoterpenoid pharmaceutical ingredient, is commonly used as a main composition in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) preparations such as compound Danshen dropping pills (CDDP), and has also been approved by the US FDA as a flavoring substance or adjuvant in food. Borneol plays a regulating and guiding role as messenger drug in CDDP. However, the effect of borneol on the pharmacokinetics of the components of CDDP in human plasma is unclear. In this study, we investigate the effects of borneol on the pharmacokinetics of ginsenoside Rb₁ (Rb₁ ), ginsenoside Rg₁ (Rg₁ ) and notoginsenoside R₁ (NR₁ ) in CDDP. We used a double-cycle crossover-administration model in twelve healthy male volunteers, giving CDDP with borneol (drug T) and without borneol (drug R). The selective response monitoring (SRM) mode was used for mass spectrometry quantification in the positive mode. As a result, we found that borneol could significantly affect the pharmacokinetic parameters of notoginsenosides, and increase the absorption and systemic exposure of Rb₁ , Rg₁ and NR₁ in human plasma by about 1.85 to 3.71 times.

Shuangshen granules attenuate lung metastasis by modulating bone marrow differentiation through mTOR signalling inhibition

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Traditional Chinese medicine Shuangshen granules (SSG) have been used to treat lung cancer patients with Qi deficiency and blood stasis for decades. According to clinical experience, SSG indeed improve the quality of life and prolong the survival time of patients with lung cancer after surgery. Each of the components herbs was proved to be effective in anti-cancer therapy. Both the American ginseng and notoginseng belong to genus Panax of the family Araliaceae. Preclinical and clinical studies demonstrated that ginsenosides of them have anti- or preventive activities to various tumors, including cancers of gastric, breast, liver, lung, ovarian, colon, melanoma and leukemia. PDS, such as ginsenoside Rb1, and PTS, such as ginsenoside Rg1 are the main anticancer compositions. Cordyceps sinensis had also been found effective in inhibiting tumour growth and metastasis, especially on tumour associated immune cells, such as macrophages. However, limited information is available regarding potential mechanisms of SSG. Myeloid-derived suppressor cell (MDSC)-mediated immunosuppression, which is closely associated with poor clinical outcomes in cancer patients, may be the target of SSG, which regulate immune function.

AIM OF THE STUDY

The present study aimed to explore whether SSG attenuate the differentiation of bone marrow cells (BMCs) into MDSCs by blocking the mTOR signalling, leading to the suppression of lung metastasis.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

First, we observed the differentiation of BMCs into MDSCs in vitro and in vivo. BMCs were cultured alone or co-cultured with Lewis lung carcinoma (LLC) cell supernatant in vitro. The effects of different concentrations of SSG, or LLC cell supernatant as a control, on BMC differentiation were detected by flow cytometry and western blotting. Male C57BL/6J mice were subcutaneously implanted with LLC cells, and SSG were administered by gavage twice daily before and after implantation for 7 or 14 days, respectively. The tumour weight, proportion of MDSCs, presence of CD11b⁺Ly6C⁺Ly6G^- and CD11b⁺Ly6C⁺Ly6G⁺ cells in the bone marrow, blood, and lungs, as well as the expression levels of differentiation-related proteins in the bone marrow and lungs were evaluated.

RESULTS

SSG attenuated the differentiation of BMCs into MDSCs, and reduced the fraction of CD11b⁺Ly6C⁺Ly6G⁺ cells by inhibiting the mTOR/S6K1/Myc signalling pathway. In vivo, SSG attenuated differentiation-associated protein markers and reduced the fractions of MDSCs and CD11b⁺Ly6C⁺Ly6G⁺ cells in the bone marrow, blood, and lungs. In addition, SSG administration reduced the tumour weight and inhibited lung metastasis.

CONCLUSIONS

SSG may reduce lung metastasis by attenuating BMC differentiation into CD11b⁺Ly6C⁺Ly6G⁺ cells by inhibiting mTOR signalling in vitro and in vivo.

Total Saponins of Panax notoginseng Activate Akt/mTOR Pathway and Exhibit Neuroprotection in vitro and in vivo against Ischemic Damage

OBJECTIVE

To reveal the neuroprotective effect and the underlying mechanisms of a mixture of the main components of Panax notoginseng saponins (TSPN) on cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury and oxygen-glucose deprivation/reoxygenation (OGD/R) of cultured cortical neurons.

METHODS

The neuroprotective effect of TSPN was evaluated by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay, flow cytometry and live/dead cell assays. The morphology of dendrites was detected by immunofluorescence. Middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) was developed in rats as a model of cerebral ischemia-reperfusion. The neuroprotective effect of TSPN was evaluated by neurological scoring, tail suspension test, 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC) and Nissl stainings. Western blot analysis, immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence were used to measure the changes in the Akt/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling pathway.

RESULTS

MTT showed that TSPN (50, 25 and 12.5 µ g/mL) protected cortical neurons after OGD/R treatment (P<0.01 or P<0.05). Flow cytometry and live/dead cell assays indicated that 25 µ g/mL TSPN decreased neuronal apoptosis (P<0.05), and immunofluorescence showed that 25 µ g/mL TSPN restored the dendritic morphology of damaged neurons (P<0.05). Moreover, 12.5 µ g/mL TSPN downregulated the expression of Beclin-1, Cleaved-caspase 3 and LC3B-II/LC3B-I, and upregulated the levels of phosphorylated (p)-Akt and p-mTOR (P<0.01 or P<0.05). In the MCAO model, 50 µ g/mL TSPN improved defective neurological behavior and reduced infarct volume (P<0.05). Moreover, the expression of Beclin-1 and LC3B in cerebral ischemic penumbra was downregulated after 50 µ g/mL TSPN treatment, whereas the p-mTOR level was upregulated (P<0.05 or P<0.01).

CONCLUSION

TSPN promoted neuronal survival and protected dendrite integrity after OGD/R and had a potential therapeutic effect by alleviating neurological deficits and reversing neuronal loss. TSPN promoted p-mTOR and inhibited Beclin-1 to alleviate ischemic damage, which may be the mechanism that underlies the neuroprotective activity of TSPN.

MiR-499a prevents astrocytes mediated inflammation in ischemic stroke by targeting PTEN

INTRODUCTION

Ischemic stroke (IS) is a common and severe neurological disorder and is associated with high rates of mortality and morbidity. Inflammatory reaction in astrocytes is one of the important pathological factors of stroke. Improved understanding of the underlying molecular mechanisms should aid better treatment of the disease. This study aimed to test our hypothesis that a miR-499a played an important role in the inflammatory response in astrocytes induced by IS targeting phosphatase and tensin homologue deleted on chromosome 10 (PTEN).

METHODS

This study was comprised of two models: oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD) and reoxygenation model. Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) and Western blot were used to examine gene expression levels, and MTT assay analysis were used to examine cell states. The relationships between miR-499a and PTEN were confirmed by luciferase reporter assay.

RESULTS

MiR-499a was robustly downregulated with OGD induced injury in astrocytes. Forced transient expression of miR-499a in OGD astrocytes nearly completely reversed the inflammatory response. Knockdown of miR-499a by its specific inhibitor in healthy astrocytes induced the inflammatory response resembling those produced by OGD. On the other hand, PTEN was markedly upregulated in OGD astrocytes, which was reciprocal to the expression of miR-499a. PTEN was experimentally validated as a direct target gene for miR-499a. Overexpression of PTEN was able to induce an inflammatory response of astrocytes. Moreover, PTEN siRNA counteracted the inflammatory response induced by OGD.

CONCLUSIONS

Taken together, our findings indicate miR-499a as an important factor to prevent inflammatory response and suggest miR-499a as a new molecule for the treatment of IS. The present study also demonstrated the relationship between miR-499a and PTEN, with PTEN as a downstream signaling mediator of miR-499a in the inflammatory response of astrocytes induced by IS.

A Network Pharmacology Approach for Exploring the Mechanisms of Panax notoginseng Saponins in Ischaemic Stroke

BACKGROUND

Panax notoginseng saponins (PNS) have been deemed effective herb compounds for treating ischaemic stroke (IS) and improving the quality of life of IS patients. This study aimed to investigate the underlying mechanisms of PNS in the treatment of IS based on network pharmacology.

METHODS

PNS were identified from the Traditional Chinese Medicine System Pharmacology (TCMSP) database, and their possible targets were predicted using the PharmMapper database. IS-related targets were identified from the GeneCards database, OMIM database, and DisGeNET database. A herb-compound-target-disease network was constructed using Cytoscape, and protein-protein interaction (PPI) networks were established with STRING. GO enrichment and KEGG pathway analysis were performed using DAVID. The binding of the compounds and key targets was validated by molecular docking studies using AutoDock Vina. The neuroprotective effect of TFCJ was substantiated in terms of oxidative stress (superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, catalase, and malondialdehyde) and the levels of IGF1/PI3K/Akt pathway proteins.

RESULTS

A total of 375 PNS targets and 5111 IS-related targets were identified. Among these targets, 241 were common to PNS, and IS network analysis showed that MAPK1, AKT1, PIK3R1, SRC, MAPK8, EGFR, IGF1, HRAS, RHOA, and HSP90AA1 are key targets of PNS against IS. Furthermore, GO and KEGG enrichment analysis indicated that PNS probably exert therapeutic effects against IS by regulating many pathways, such as the Ras, oestrogen, FoxO, prolactin, Rap1, PI3K-Akt, insulin, PPAR, and thyroid hormone signalling pathways. Molecular docking studies further corroborated the experimental results.The network pharmacology results were further verified by molecular docking and in vivo experiments.

CONCLUSIONS

The ameliorative effects of PNS against IS were predicted to be associated with the regulation of the IGF1-PI3K-Akt signalling pathway. Ginsenoside Re and ginsenoside Rb1 may play an important role in the treatment of IS.

Traditional uses, chemical diversity and biological activities of Panax L. (Araliaceae): A review

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Panax L. (Araliaceae) is globally-recognized plant resource suitable for the globalization of traditional Chinese medicines. It has traditionally been used as tonic agents in various ethnomedicinal systems of East Asia, especially in China. It is often used to regulate bodily functions and considered as adjuvant therapy for tumor, resuscitation of traumatic hemorrhagic shock, etc. AIM OF THIS REVIEW: This review systematically summarized the information on distributions, botanical characteristics, traditional uses, chemical components and biological activities of the genus Panax, in order to explore and exploit the therapeutic potential of this plant.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The available information about genus Panax was collected via the online search on Web of Science, Google Scholar, PubMed, Baidu Scholar, Science Direct, China National Knowledge Infrastructure and Springer search. The keywords used include Panax, saponin, secondary metabolites, chemical components, biological activity, pharmacology, traditional medicinal uses, safety and other related words. The Plant List (www.theplantlist.org) and Catalogue of Life: 2019 Annual Checklist (www.catalogueoflife.org/col/) databases were used to provide the scientific names, subspecies classification and distribution information of Panax.

RESULTS

Panax is widely assessed concerning its phytochemistry and biological activities. To date, at least 748 chemical compounds from genus Panax were isolated, including saponins, flavonoids, polysaccharides, steroids and phenols. Among them, triterpenoid saponins and polysaccharides were the representative active ingredients of Panax plants, which have been widely investigated. Modern pharmacological studies showed that these compounds exhibited a wide range of biological activities in vitro and in vivo including antineoplastic, anti-inflammatory, hepatorenal protective, neuroprotective, immunoregulatory, cardioprotective and antidiabetic activities. Many studies also confirmed that the mechanisms of organ-protective were closely related to molecular signaling pathways, the expression of related proteins and antioxidant reactions. To sum up, genus Panax has high medicinal and social value, deserving further investigation.

CONCLUSIONS

The genus Panax is very promising to be fully utilized in the development of nutraceutical and pharmaceutical products. However, there is a lack of in-depth studies on ethnomedicinal uses of Panax plants. In addition, further studies of single chemical component should be performed based on the diversity of chemical structure, significant biological activities and clinical application. If the bioactive molecules and multicomponent interactions are discovered, it will be of great significance to the clinical application of Panax plants. It is an urgent requirement to carry out detailed phytochemical, pharmacology and clinical research on Panax classical prescriptions for the establishment of modern medication guidelines. Exploring the molecular basis of herbal synergistic actions may provide a new understanding of the complex disease mechanisms and accelerate the process of pharmaceutical development.

Chemical constituents of Panax ginseng and Panax notoginseng explain why they differ in therapeutic efficacy

Panax ginseng (Meyer) and Panax notoginseng (Burkill), belonging to the family Araliaceae, are used worldwide as medicinal and functional herbs. Numerous publications over the past decades have revealed that both P. notoginseng and P. ginseng contain important bioactive ingredients such as ginsenosides and exert multiple pharmacological effects on nervous system and immune diseases. However, based on traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) theory, their applications clearly differ as ginseng reinforces vital energy and notoginseng promotes blood circulation. In this article, we review the similarities and differences between ginseng and notoginseng in terms of their chemical composition and pharmacological effects. Their chemical comparisons indicate that ginseng contains more polysaccharides and amino acids, while notoginseng has more saponins, volatile oil, and polyacetylenes. Regarding pharmacological effects, ginseng exhibits better protective effects on cardiovascular disease, nerve disease, cancer, and diabetes mellitus, whereas notoginseng displays a superior protective effect on cerebrovascular disease. The evidence presented in this review facilitates further research and clinical applications of these two herbs, and exploration of the relationship between the chemical components and disease efficacy may be the critical next step.

Decreased stroke risk with combined traditional Chinese and western medicine in patients with ischemic heart disease: A real-world evidence

Both ischemic heart disease (IHD) and stroke are major causes of death worldwide. We investigated the effects of combined Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and western medicine (WM) on stroke risk in IHD patients.Taiwanese patients with IHD were enrolled in the TCM study during their outpatient visit. Stroke events after TCM or non-TCM treatment were examined. Chi-square tests and Student t-tests were used to examine differences between patients using and not using TCM. The Cox proportional hazards regression model was used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs). Sex, age, and comorbidities were included in a multivariable Cox model to estimate the adjusted HR (aHR). The survival probability and the probability free of stroke were calculated by the Kaplan-Meier method.There were 733 IHD patients using TCM and 733 using non-TCM treatment, with the same proportion of sex and age within each cohort. Using single Chinese herb such as Dan Shen, San Qi, or Chuan Xiong would have lower stroke events and lower aHR than non-TCM in IHD patients. There was 0.3-fold lower stroke risk in IHD patients with combination TCM and non-TCM treatment (95% CI = 0.11-0.84, P = .02). Moreover, the survival rate was higher (P < .001) and the incidence of hemorrhagic stroke was significantly lower (P = .04) in IHD patients with TCM treatment.IHD patients using combined TCM and WM had a higher survival rate and lower risk of new onset stroke, especially hemorrhagic stroke than those who did not use TCM treatment.

Panax notoginseng for Cerebral Ischemia: A Systematic Review

Panax notoginseng is the most widely used Chinese medicinal herb for the prevention and treatment of ischemic diseases. Its main active ingredients are saponins, including ginsenoside Rb1, ginsenoside Rg1, and notoginsenoside R1, among others. This review provides an up-to-date overview on the pharmacological roles of P. notoginseng constituents in cerebral ischemia. The saponins of P. notoginseng induce a variety of pharmacological effects in the multiscale mechanisms of cerebral ischemic pathophysiology, including anti-inflammatory activity, reduction of oxidative stress, anti-apoptosis, inhibition of amino acid excitotoxicity, reduction of intracellular calcium overload, protection of mitochondria, repairing the blood-brain barrier, and facilitation of cell regeneration. Regarding cell regeneration, P. notoginseng not only promotes the proliferation and differentiation of neural stem cells, but also protects neurons, endothelial cells and astrocytes in cerebral ischemia. In conclusion, P. notoginseng may treat cerebrovascular diseases through multiple pharmacological effects, and the most critical ones need further investigation.

Pananx notoginseng saponins attenuate CCL2-induced cognitive deficits in rats via anti-inflammation and anti-apoptosis effects that involve suppressing over-activation of NMDA receptors

HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND) are characterized by synaptic damage and neuronal loss in the brain, ultimately leading to progressive decline of cognitive abilities and memory. Chemokine CC motif ligand 2 (CCL2) is elevated in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), and has been believed to contribute to HAND. Previous studies by our research team have shown that CCL2 enhances N-Methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR)-mediated excitatory postsynaptic currents (EPSCs) and causes nerve cell damage. However, there are few drugs currently available to treat nerve damage that is caused by CCL2. Panax notoginseng saponins (PNS) are isolated from Panax notoginseng and benefit the human body in various ways, including the neuroprotective effect. However, the protective effect of PNS on CCL2-induced neurotoxicity remains unknown. In this study, we found that PNS improved CCL2-induced learning and memory impairment, and inhibited CCL2-induced cell death. These effects may be due to inhibiting over-activation of NMDA receptors by alleviating the dysfunction of glutamate metabolism. Furthermore, PNS-modulated CCL2-inducd intracellular oxidative stress was found to attenuate cell inflammation. Additionally, PNS pretreatment evidently inhibited apoptotic pathways by reducing the Bax/BCL-2 ratio and caspase-3, 8, 9 expressions. In conclusion, this study demonstrates that PNS provides substantial neuroprotection against CCL2-induced neurotoxicity, and may be a novel therapeutic agent in CCL2-induced HAND or other neurodegenerative diseases.

Neuroprotective effects of notoginsenoside R1 by upregulating Trx-1 on acrylamide-induced neurotoxicity in PC12

Acrylamide (ACR) is a water-soluble chemical that is commonly used in chemical and cosmetic manufacture. Many studies have been carried out to investigate the neurotoxicity mechanisms of ACR, resulting in oxidative stress and nerve damages. One of the commonly used traditional Chinese medicines is notoginsenoside R1 (NR1). However, its mitochondrial-mediated apoptotic effect caused in ACR-induced neurotoxicity has not been reported. Our results have shown that NR1 resisted the neurotoxicity induced by ACR by upregulating the levels of thioredoxin-1 (Trx-1) in Rat adrenal chromaffin cell tumor (PC12) cells. NR1 inhibited the increase in levels of Bax, caspase-9, and caspase-3, which was instigated by ACR. Moreover, NR1 inhibited the decrease in levels of B-cell lymphoma 2 and Trx-1 induced by ACR. The downregulation of Trx-1 aggravated the mitochondrial-mediated apoptosis and increased the expression of the above molecules, which was induced by ACR. In contrast, overexpression of Trx-1 attenuated the mitochondrial-mediated apoptosis and inhibited the expression of the mentioned molecules induced by ACR. Our results suggested that NR1 protected ACR-induced mitochondrial apoptosis by upregulating Trx-1.

Inhibition of long noncoding RNA growth arrest–specific 5 attenuates cerebral injury induced by deep hypothermic circulatory arrest in rats

OBJECTIVE

We sought to investigate cerebroprotection by targeting long noncoding RNA growth arrest-specific 5 in a rat model of prolonged deep hypothermic circulatory arrest.

METHODS

Deep hypothermic circulatory arrest was conducted for 60 minutes when the pericranial temperature was cooled to 18°C in rats. Dual luciferase assay was used to detect the binding relationship between growth arrest-specific 5 and putative target microRNAs. Adeno-associated viral vectors containing growth arrest-specific 5 small interfering RNA or negative control small interfering RNA were administered by intracerebroventricular injection 14 days before deep hypothermic circulatory arrest. Expressions of growth arrest-specific 5, microRNA-23a, phosphate and tension homology, Bcl-2-associated X protein, Bcl-2, phospho-protein kinase B, protein kinase B, and cleaved caspase-3 in the hippocampus were measured by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and Western blot. Spatial learning and memory functions were evaluated by the Morris water maze test. The hippocampus was harvested for histologic examinations and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP-biotin nick-end labeling staining.

RESULTS

Luciferase assay showed that growth arrest-specific 5 targeted and inhibited microRNA-23a expression. After deep hypothermic circulatory arrest, hippocampal growth arrest-specific 5 expression was significantly enhanced with a robust decrease of hippocampal microRNA-23a expression. Small interfering RNA growth arrest-specific 5 significantly inhibited growth arrest-specific 5 expression and enhanced microRNA-23a expression in the hippocampus, accompanied with decreases of phosphate and tension homology and Bcl-2-associated X protein expression, and increases of Bcl-2 expression and phospho-protein kinase B/protein kinase B ratio. Growth arrest-specific 5 knockdown inhibited neuronal apoptosis, attenuated histologic damages, and increased the number of surviving neurons in the hippocampus. Spatial learning and memory functions after deep hypothermic circulatory arrest were also markedly improved by growth arrest-specific 5 inhibition.

CONCLUSIONS

Inhibition of large noncoding RNA growth arrest-specific 5 can provide a powerful cerebroprotection against deep hypothermic circulatory arrest, which may be mediated through microRNA-23a/phosphate and tension homology pathway.

Panax notoginseng saponins promote liver regeneration through activation of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR cell proliferation pathway and upregulation of the AKT/Bad cell survival pathway in mice

Backgroud

The regenerative capacity of the liver is crucial for the host to survive after serious hepatic injuries, tumor resection, or living donor liver transplantation. Panax notoginseng saponins (PNS) have been reported to exert protective effects during organ injuries. The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of PNS on liver regeneration(LR) and on injuries induced by partial hepatectomy (PH).

Methods

We performed 70% partial PH on C57BL/6 J mice treated with or without PNS. LR was estimated by liver weight/body weight, serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels and cell proliferation, and the related cellular signals were analyzed by Western blot.

Results

Different concentrations of PNS promoted hepatocyte proliferation in vitro. Mice in the PNS group showed higher liver/body weight ratios at 2 d and 7 d (P < 0.05) after PH and lower levels of serum ALT and AST (P < 0.05) compared to those of mice in the normal control (NC) group. Histological analysis showed that the expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen(PCNA) at 2 d and 7 d after PH was significantly higher in the PNS group than in the NC group (P < 0.05). Mechanistically, the AKT/mTOR cell proliferation pathway and AKT/Bad cell survival pathway were activated by PNS, which accelerated hepatocyte proliferation and inhibited apoptosis (P < 0.05).

Conclusions

PNS promoted liver regeneration through activation of PI3K/AKT/mTOR and upregulated the AKT/Bad cell pathways in mice.

Botulinum toxin type A prevents the phenotypic transformation of fibroblasts induced by TGF‑β1 via the PTEN/PI3K/Akt signaling pathway

Hypertrophic scar (HS) is a common type of dermatosis. Botulinum toxin type A (BTXA) can exert an anti-HS effect; however, the regulatory mechanisms underlying this effect remain unclear. Thus, the aim of this study was to examine the effects of BTXA on phosphatase and tensin homolog deleted on chromosome ten (PTEN) expression and the fibroblast phenotypic transformation induced by transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1, which is an important regulatory factor involved in the process of HS. For this purpose, fibroblasts were treated with various concentrations of BTXA and then treated with 10 ng/ml of TGF-β1 with gradient concentrations of BTXA. The proliferation and apoptosis of fibroblasts were measured by cell counting kit-8 assay (CCK-8) and flow cytometry, respectively. PTEN methylation was analyzed by methylation-specific PCR (MSP) and DNA methyltransferase (DNMT) activity was determined using a corresponding kit. RT-qPCR and western blot analysis were performed to detect the transcription and translation levels. The results revealed that BTXA suppressed the proliferation and increased the apoptosis of fibroblasts treated with TGF-β1 in a dose-dependent manner. BTXA in combination with TGF-β1 suppressed the expression of molecules related to the extracellular matrix (ECM), epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and apoptosis. BTXA reduced the PTEN methylation level and downregulated the expression levels of methylation-associated genes. BTXA also inhibited the phosphorylation of phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) and Akt. On the whole, the findings of this study indicate that BTXA may inhibit fibroblast phenotypic transformation by regulating PTEN methylation and the phosphorylation of related pathways. The findings of this study can provide a theoretical basis for HS treatment.

Analytical methods and biological activities of Panax notoginseng saponins: Recent trends

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Panax notoginseng (Burk.) F. H. Chen, also called Sanqi, is a widely used traditional Chinese medicine, which has long history used as herbal medicines. It is currently an important medicinal material in China, holding the first place in the sale volume of the whole patent medicines market in China, and the market size of the single species has exceeded 10 billion yuan. In addition, P. notoginseng is an important constituent part of many famous Chinese patent medicines, such as Compound Danshen Dripping Pills and Yunnan Baiyao. P. notoginseng saponins (PNSs), which are the major active components of P. notoginseng, are a kind of chemical mixture containing different dammarane-type saponins. Many studies show that PNSs have been extensively used in medical research or applications, such as atherosclerosis, diabetes, acute lung injury, cancer, and cardiovascular diseases. In addition, various PNS preparations, such as injections and capsules, have been made commercially available and are widely applied in clinical practice.

AIM OF THE REVIEW

Since the safety and efficacy of compounds are related to their qualitative and quantitative analyses, this review briefly summarizes the analytic approaches for PNSs and their biological effects developed in the last decade.

METHODOLOGY

This review conducted a systematic search in electronic databases, such as Pubmed, Google Scholar, SciFinder, ISI Web of Science, and CNKI, since 2009. The information provided in this review is based on peer-reviewed papers and patents in either English or Chinese.

RESULTS

At present, the chromatographic technique remains the most extensively used approach for the identification or quantitation of PNSs, coupled with different detectors, among which the difference mainly lies in their sensitivity and specificity for analyzing various compounds. It is well-known that PNSs have traditionally strong activity on cardiovascular diseases, such as atherosclerosis, intracerebral hemorrhage, or brain injury. The recent studies showed that PNSs also responded to osteoporosis, cancers, diabetes, and drug toxicity. However, some other studies also showed that some PNSs injections and special PNS components might lead to some biological toxicity under certain dosages.

CONCLUSION

This review may be used as a basis for further research in the field of quantitative and qualitative analyses, and is expected to provide updated and valuable insights into the potential medicinal applications of PNSs.

miR-124 upregulates astrocytic glutamate transporter-1 via the Akt and mTOR signaling pathway post ischemic stroke

High-concentration glutamic acid (Glu) induced by ischemic stroke can be inhibited by glutamate transporter-1 (GLT-1), which is the main mechanism for preventing excessive extracellular glutamate accumulation in the central nervous system. Upregulation of miR-124 could reduce the infarct area and promote the recovery of neurological function after ischemic stroke. A previous study investigated whether miR-124 could regulate GLT-1 expression in normal culture conditions. However, the role of miR-124 in the regulation of GLT-1 expression and further mechanisms after ischemic stroke remain unclear. In this study, the effects of miR-124 on GLT-1 expression in astrocytes after ischemic stroke were explored using an in vitro model of ischemic stroke (oxygen-glucose deprivation/reperfusion, OGD/reperfusion). The expression of GLT-1 was significantly decreased with lower expression of miR-124 in astrocytes injured by OGD/reperfusion. When miR-124 expression was improved, the expression of GLT-1 was notably increased in astrocytes injured by OGD/reperfusion. The results revealed that GLT-1 expression in astrocytes had a relationship with miR-124 after OGD/reperfusion. However, a direct interaction could not be confirmed with a luciferase reporter assay. Further results demonstrated that an inhibitor of Akt could decrease the increased protein expression of GLT-1 induced by miR-124 mimics, and an inhibitor of mTOR could increase the reduced protein expression of GLT-1 caused by a miR-124 inhibitor in astrocytes injured by different OGD/reperfusion conditions. These results indicated that miR-124 could regulate GLT-1 expression in astrocytes after OGD/reperfusion through the Akt and mTOR pathway.

PNS-R1 inhibits Dex-induced bronchial epithelial cells apoptosis in asthma through mitochondrial apoptotic pathway

Dexamethasone (Dex) are widely used for the treatment of asthma. However, they may cause apoptosis of bronchial epithelial cells and delay the recovery of asthma. Therefore, it is an urgent problem to find effective drugs to reduce this side effects. Panax notoginseng saponins R1 (PNS-R1) is known to exhibit anti-oxidative and anti-apoptotic properties in many diseases. We aim to investigate whether PNS-R1 can reduce Dex-induced apoptosis in bronchial epithelial cells. In this study, the anti-apoptotic effects of PNS-R1 were investigated by conducting in vitro and in vivo. Annexin V-FITC/PI staining flow cytometry analysis and TUNEL assay were conducted to detect apoptotic cells. Mitochondrial membrane potential was detected by JC-1 analysis. Western blotting and immunohistochemical analysis were conducted to measure caspase3, Bcl-2, Bax, Cyt-c, Apaf-1, cleaved-caspase3 and cleaved-caspase9 levels in lung tissues and 16HBE cells. Our findings demonstrated that Dex could induce apoptosis of bronchial epithelial cells and upregulate caspase3 expression of lung tissues. Western blot showed that Dex increased Bax, Cyt-c, Apaf-1, cleaved-caspase9, cleaved-caspase3 expression and decreased Bcl-2 expression. PNS-R1 could suppress Dex-induced apoptosis of bronchial epithelial cells by inhibiting Bax, Cyt-c, Apaf-1, cleaved-caspase9, cleaved-caspase3 expression and upregulating Bcl-2 expression. Flow cytometry analysis showed PNS-R1 alleviated JC-1 positive cells induced by Dex in 16HBE cells. These results showed that PNS-R1 alleviated Dex-induced apoptosis in bronchial epithelial cells by inhibition of mitochondrial apoptosis pathway. Furthermore, our findings highlighted the potential use of PNS-R1 as an adjuvant drug to treat asthma.

Establishment and evaluation of a simulated high‑altitude hypoxic brain injury model in SD rats

This study was conducted to establish a stable hypobaric hypoxia brain injury model. SD rats were randomly separated into control and model groups, and placed outside or inside of a hypobaric chamber, respectively. Subsequent to 24 h anoxic exposure, plasma superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione (GSH), oxidized glutathione (GSSG) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) were measured using commercial biochemical kits. Hematoxylin-eosin (H&E), Nissl's and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) staining were used to observe the morphology of neurons in the hippocampus. The protein expression levels of apoptotic protease activating factor-1 (Apaf-1), hypoxia inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α), caspase-3, cleaved caspase-3, Bcl-2-associated X protein (Bax) and cytochrome c (cyto-c) were detected using western blot and immunohistochemistry analyses. Hypoxic substantially induced morphological lesions in the hippocampus concomitant with the physical behavioral performance deficit. Furthermore, hypoxia markedly exacerbated the levels of MDA, LDH and GSSG, and restrained GSH (P<0.01) and SOD (P<0.05) levels compared with the control group. In addition, hypoxia significantly induced the protein expression of Apaf-1, HIF-1α, caspase-3, cleaved caspase-3, Bax and Cyto-c (P<0.01) compared with the control group. Finally, a lower number and volume of Nissl bodies were verified in the hypoxic group. TUNEL results demonstrated a greater number of apoptotic cells in the hypoxic group. The present study demonstrates a model of rat hypoxic brain injuries induced by a hypobaric chamber at 9,000 m for 24 h. Furthermore, the redox enzyme, HIF-1α and mitochondrial apoptosis-associated protein, along with H&E and Nissl's staining, may be applied to evaluate the degree of injury.

Notoginsenoside Fe suppresses diet induced obesity and activates paraventricular hypothalamic neurons

Obesity has become a major public health challenge worldwide. Energy imbalance between calorie acquisition and consumption is the fundamental cause of obesity. Notoginsenoside Fe is a naturally occurring compound in Panax notoginseng, a herb used in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases in traditional Chinese medicine. Here, we evaluated the effect of notoginsenoside Fe on obesity development induced by high-fat diet in C57BL/6 mice. Our results demonstrated that notoginsenoside Fe decreased food intake and body weight, as well as protected liver structure integrity and normal function. Metabolic cage analysis showed that notoginsenoside Fe also promoted resting metabolic rate. In addition, intracerebroventricular (i.c.v) injection of notoginsenoside Fe induced C-Fos expression in the paraventricular nucleus (PVH) but not the arcuate nucleus (ARC) of the hypothalamus. These results suggest that Fe may reduce body weight through the activation of energy-sensing neurons in the hypothalamus.

Notoginsenoside Fe, a naturally occurring compound in Panax notoginseng, significantly reduces body weight, promotes metabolic rate, and suppresses food intake through activating C-Fos expression in PVH in high-fat diet induced obese mice.

Protective effects of Panax notoginseng saponins in a rat model of severe acute pancreatitis occur through regulation of inflammatory pathway signaling by upregulation of miR-181b

Panax notoginseng saponins are extracted from Chinese ginseng—Panax notoginseng Ledeb—and are known to have therapeutic anti-inflammatory effects. However, the precise mechanism behind their anti-inflammatory effects remains relatively unknown. To better understand how Panax notoginseng saponins exert their therapeutic benefit, we tested them in a rat model of severe acute pancreatitis (SAP). Rats received a tail vein injection of Panax notoginseng saponins and were administered 5% sodium taurocholate 2 h later. Pancreatic tissue was then harvested and levels of miR-181b, FSTL1, TREM1, TLR4, TRAF6, IRAK1, p-Akt, p-p38MAPK, NF-κBp65, and p-IκB-α were determined using Western blot and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays were used to determine serum levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), TREM1, interleukin (IL)-6, ACAM-1, IL-8, and IL-12 and DNA-bound levels of NF-KB65 and TLR4 in pancreatic and ileum tissue. Serum levels of lipase and amylase, pancreatic myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity, and pancreatic water content were also measured. Hematoxylin and eosin staining was used for all histological analyses. Results indicated upregulation of miR-181b, but negligible levels of FSTL1, p-p38MAPK, TLR4, TRAF6, p-Akt, IRAK1, TREM1, p-NF-κBp65, and p-IκB-α, as well as negligible DNA-bound levels of NF-KB65 and TLR4. We also observed lower levels of IL-8, IL-6, ACAM-1, TNF-α, MPO, and IL-12 in the Panax notoginseng saponin–treated group when compared with controls. In addition, Panax notoginseng saponin–treated rats had significantly reduced serum levels of lipase and amylase. Histological analyses confirmed that Panax notoginseng saponin treatment significantly reduced taurocholate-induced pancreatic inflammation. Collectively, our results suggest that Panax notoginseng saponin treatment attenuated acute pancreatitis and pancreatic inflammation by increasing miR-181b signaling. These findings suggest that Panax notoginseng saponins have therapeutic potential in the treatment of taurocholate-induced SAP.

HIF-1<alpha> Repression of PTEN Transcription Mediates Protective Effects of BMSCs on Neurons During Hypoxia

Neonatal hypoxic-ischemic brain damage (HIBD) is a cerebral hypoxic-ischemic disease caused by a variety of insults during the perinatal period, leading to varying degrees of cognitive dysfunction. Mesenchymal stem cells play an important role in functional recovery, but the mechanism is not yet clear. It has been reported that HIF-1<alpha> and PTEN are involved in the process of hypoxia-ischemia, but the specific roles that these proteins play remains to be understood. In this study, we performed oxygen glucose deprivation (OGD) or CoCl₂ preconditioning on hippocampal neurons to simulate a hypoxic environment in vitro, and then co-cultured them with BMSCs, to observe the effect of BMSCs and the role of HIF-1<alpha>. In addition, bpV, an inhibitor of PTEN was added to OGD neurons to determine the role of PTEN during hypoxia. We found that the levels of cell damage and apoptosis in OGD neurons decreased significantly after co-culture with BMSCs. Apoptosis was increased when HIF-1<alpha> was inhibited, but neurons remained protected when PTEN was suppressed. We further established that HIF-1<alpha> was enriched at the PTEN promoter both in BMSCs and hippocampal neurons, with increased enrichment under hypoxic conditions, leading to reduced transcription of PTEN. Our findings support the conclusion that CoCl₂ preconditioning of BMSCs can simulate hypoxic conditions and can protect OGD neurons, an effect that is mediated through activation of the HIF-1<alpha> system and repression of PTEN transcription.

Combined Use of Emodin and Ginsenoside Rb1 Exerts Synergistic Neuroprotection in Cerebral Ischemia/Reperfusion Rats

Acute ischemic stroke (AIS) generally causes neurological dysfunction and poses a serious threat to public health. Here, we aimed to assess the independent and combined effects of ginsenoside Rb1 (GRb1) and Emodin on neuroprotection through regulating Connexin 43 (Cx43) and Aquaporin 4 (AQP4) expression in cerebral ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) model rats. Adult male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into five groups: sham group, I/R group, Emodin group, GRb1 group and Emodin+GRb1 group. They were further allocated to four subgroups according to the 6h, 1d, 3d, and 7d time points except the sham group. Based on the modified Longa suture method, the focal cerebral I/R model was established by middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO). The neurological deficit scores (NDS), blood brain barrier (BBB) permeability and cerebral infarction area were assessed at each corresponding time point. Cx43 and AQP4 levels were assessed by Real-time PCR and Immunofluorescence. Compared with I/R group, both the independent and combined use of GRb1 and Emodin could alleviate NDS, reduce the BBB permeability, reduce the infarction area and down-regulate Cx43 and AQP4 expression at 6h, 1d, 3d, and 7d after I/R (P < 0.05). The Emodin+GRb1 group had more significant effects than Emodin group and GRb1 group (P < 0.05). In conclusion, the combination of Emodin and GRb1 exerts synergistically neuroprotective functions through regulating AQP4 and Cx43 after I/R.