Effects of protostane-type triterpenoids on the 5-HT3A receptor-mediated ion current in Xenopus oocytes

Exploration of the mechanism of Zisheng Shenqi decoction against gout arthritis using network pharmacology

BACKGROUND

In this study, the network pharmacological methods were used to predict the target of effective components of compounds in Zisheng Shenqi Decoction (ZSD, or Nourishing Kidney Qi Decoction) in the treatment of gouty arthritis (GA).

METHOD

The main effective components and corresponding key targets of herbs in the ZSD were discerned through the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database and Analysis (TCMSP), Bioinformatics Analysis Tool for Molecular mechanism of Traditional Chinese Medicine (BATMAN-TCM) database. UniProt database and Swiss Target Prediction (STP) database was used to rectify and unify the target names and supply the target information. The targets related to GA were obtained by using GeneCards database. After we discovered the potential common targets between ZSD and GA, the interaction network diagram of "ZSD-component-GA-target" was constructed by Cytoscape software (Version 3.7.1). Subsequently, the Protein-protein interaction (PPI) network of ZSD effective components-targets and GA-related targets was constructed by Search Tool for the Retrieval of Interacting Genes Database (STRING). Bioconductor package "org.Hs.eg.db" and "cluster profiler" package were installed in R software (Version 3.6.0) which used for Gene Ontology analysis and KEGG (Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes) pathway enrichment analysis.

RESULTS

146 components and 613 targets of 11 herbal medicines in the ZSD were got from TCMSP database and BATMAN-TCM database. 987 targets of GA were obtained from GeneCards database. After intersected and removed duplications, 132 common targets between ZSD and GA were screened out by Cytoscape software (Version 3.7.1). These common targets derived from 81 effective components of 146 components, such as quercetin, stigmasterol and kaempferol. They were closely related to anti-inflammatory, analgesic and anti oxidative stress and the principal targets comprised of Purinergic receptor P2X, ligand-gated ion channel 7 (P2x7R), Nod-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) and IL-1β. GO enrichment analysis and KEGG pathway enrichment analysis by R software (Version 3.6.0) showed that the key target genes had close relationship with oxidative stress, reactive oxygen species (ROS) metabolic process and leukocyte migration in aspects of biological process, cell components and molecular function. It also indicated that ZSD could decrease inflammatory reaction, alleviate ROS accumulation and attenuate pain by regulating P2 × 7R and NOD like receptor signaling pathway of inflammatory reaction.

CONCLUSION

A total of 81 effective components and 132 common target genes between ZSD and GA were screened by network pharmacology. The PPI network, GO enrichment analysis and KEGG pathway enrichment analysis suggested that ZSD can exerte anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects on the treatment of GA by reducing decreasing inflammatory reaction, alleviating ROS accumulation, and attenuating pain. The possible molecular mechanism of it mainly involved multiple components, multiple targets and multiple signaling pathways, which provided a comprehensive understanding for further study. In general, the network pharmacological method applied in this study provides an alternative strategy for the mechanism of ZSD in the treatment of GA.

Subunit-specific effects of poricoic acid A on NMDA receptors

BACKGROUND

N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor is a tetrameric protein complex composed of glycine-linked NR1 subunits and glutamate-linked NR2 subunits. There are four NR2 subunits (A-D) that differ in development, anatomy, and function profiles. They play various roles in normal and neuropathologic conditions. Specific agonists, antagonists, and modulators of subunits for selective NMDA receptors may be precious mediational tools and potent agents for treating diseases. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of poricoic acid A on NMDA receptor known to mediate excitatory synaptic transmission factors and cause changes in synaptic strength. Inhibitory effect of poricoic acid A on NR1a combined with NR2A, NR2B, NR2C, or NR2D receptor was evaluated.

METHODS

Glutamate-mediated currents for each NR1a and NR2 subunits were investigated using two-electrode voltage-clamp techniques. Molecular modeling and molecular dynamics simulation studies were carried out with Autodock Tools. Poricoic acid A and NMDA receptor protein complex were examined with Ligplot and Pymol docking program. Ligplot shows binding activity at the protein and the ligand.

RESULTS

The inhibitory effect of poricoic acid A on glutamate-induced inward current in a concentration-dependent manner that was reversible. Half inhibitory concentrations of glutamate on NR1a/NR2A, NR1a/NR2B, NR1a/NR2C, and NR1a/NR2D receptors were 9.6 ± 1.2, 5.7 ± 0.4, 46.1 ± 21.5, and 21.5 ± 8.2 μM, respectively. This corresponded to the order of inhibitory effect of oocyte expressing NR1a and NR2s subunit of NR1a/NR2B > NR1a/NR2A > NR1a/NR2C > NR1a/NR2D.

CONCLUSIONS

Taken together, these results indicate that poricoic acid A can modulate the expression of NMDA receptor. In addition, the regulation of excitatory ligand-gating ion channel by poricoic acid A may have pharmaceutical functions on excitatory synaptic transmission of neuronal system.

5-HT3 Receptor Antagonists in Neurologic and Neuropsychiatric Disorders: The Iceberg Still Lies beneath the Surface

5-HT₃ receptor antagonists, first introduced to the market in the mid-1980s, are proven efficient agents to counteract chemotherapy-induced emesis. Nonetheless, recent investigations have shed light on unappreciated dimensions of this class of compounds in conditions with an immunoinflammatory component as well as in neurologic and psychiatric disorders. The promising findings from multiple studies have unveiled several beneficial effects of these compounds in multiple sclerosis, stroke, Alzheimer disease, and Parkinson disease. Reports continue to uncover important roles for 5-HT₃ receptors in the physiopathology of neuropsychiatric disorders, including depression, anxiety, drug abuse, and schizophrenia. This review addresses the potential of 5-HT₃ receptor antagonists in neurology- and neuropsychiatry-related disorders. The broad therapeutic window and high compliance observed with these agents position them as suitable prototypes for the development of novel pharmacotherapeutics with higher efficacy and fewer adverse effects.

Traditional uses, phytochemistry, pharmacology, toxicology and quality control of Alisma orientale (Sam.) Juzep: a review

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Rhizoma alismatis (simplified as RA, "Zexie" in Chinese, ) is a well-known natural medicine with long history in Chinese medicine. As a traditional medicine in China, RA is an important part of many prescriptions and has been commonly used for treating a wide range of ailments related to dysuria, edema, nephropathy, hyperlipidaemia, diabetes, inflammation as well as tumor in clinical applications. Based on scientific literatures, the present paper aims to provide comprehensive and up-to date information about the traditional uses, phytochemistry, pharmacology, toxicology and quality control of RA as well as critical analysis of the research. The review will provide a new foundation and direction for the further studies of RA.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

All available information about RA was supplied by library database and electronic search (ScienceDirect, Web of Science, Pubmed, Google Scholar, etc.). The different types of useful information were collected and arranged in corresponding part of the paper.

RESULTS

Phytochemical studies showed that the main chemical composition of RA was the terpenoid including sesquiterpene, diterpene and triterpene. The crude extracts and isolated compounds from RA showed diverse pharmacological activities including diuretic, nephroprotective, anti-hyperlipidemic, anti-atherosclerotic, anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative activities. However, high-dose or long-term use of RA can lead to water-electrolyte imbalance, bloody urine, acidosis and even hepatotoxicity or nephrotoxicity, which have been proven by several studies.

CONCLUSIONS

Pharmacological researches show RA possessing various bioactivities including diuresis, nephroprotective effect, anti-hyperlipidemia, etc. However, more bioactive components especially diuretic and nephroprotective compounds need to be isolated and identified, and more rigorous researches on action mechanisms are required. More experiments in vitro or in vivo and clinical studies are encouraged to clarify correlation between traditional uses and modern applications, and the toxicity need to be further and precisely explored. In addition, a standardized fingerprint for RA is indispensable and emergent. These achievements will further expand to therapeutic potential and usage of RA and provide a powerful support for clinical use.

Diuretic and anti-diuretic activities of fractions of Alismatis rhizoma

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Alismatis rhizoma or Alisma orientale (Zexie in Chinese), the dried rhizome of Alisma orientale Juzepzuk (Alismataceae), is a well-known traditional Chinese medicine and is used as an agent for diuresis and for excreting dampness in China and Japan. In this paper, we report the diuretic activities of the petroleum ether fraction, the ethyl acetate fraction, the n-buthanol fraction, and the remaining fraction, of the ethanol extract of Alismatis rhizoma (AR).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The single dose of the petroleum ether fraction, the ethyl acetate fraction, the n-buthanol fraction, and the remaining fraction, of the ethanol extract of AR were orally administered to rats. Urinary excretion rate, pH and electrolyte excretion were measured in the urine of saline-loaded rats.

RESULTS

In this study, the 100 and 400mg/kg doses of the ethyl acetate fraction and the 12.5, 25 and 50mg/kg doses of the n-butanol fraction all produced an increase in urine volume excretion, and all produced a remarkable increase in urine electrolyte excretion. Although the 800mg/kg doses of the ethyl acetate fraction, the 75 and 100mg/kg doses of the n-butanol fraction and the 12.5, 25 and 50mg/kg doses of the remaining fraction significantly decreased the urine output in 6h, the urine Na(+) and Cl(-) excretion were markedly decreased with the n-butanol fraction (75 and 100mg/kg doses) and the remaining fraction (12.5, 25 and 50mg/kg doses) while the ethyl acetate fraction at 800mg/kg doses had slight effect on urine electrolyte excretion. The petroleum ether fraction did not show remarkable diuretic activity in comparison with control group.

CONCLUSIONS

Our present study determined that the ethyl acetate fraction and the n-butanol fraction present notable diuretic effects, and we found a dual effect on renal function showed by AR, including promoting diuretic activity and inhibiting diuretic activity. The components with strong polarities in AR may have anti-diuretic activities, which might be an effect of promoting the sodium-chloride co-transporter in the distal tubule.

Diuretic and anti-diuretic activities of the ethanol and aqueous extracts of Alismatis rhizoma

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Alismatis rhizoma or Alisma orientale (Zexie in Chinese), the dried rhizome of Alisma orientale Juzepzuk (Alismataceae), is a well-known traditional Chinese medicine and is used as an agent for diuresis and for excreting dampness in Asia and Europe. In this paper, we report the diuretic activities of the ethanol extract (EE) and the aqueous extract (AE) of A. rhizoma (AR).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The EE and AE were orally administered to rats. The urinary excretion rate and pH, and electrolyte excretion were measured in the urine of saline-loaded rats.

RESULTS

The results showed that EE could increase the urine output at 2.5, 5 and 10mg/kg doses but decrease the urine output at 20, 40 and 80mg/kg doses compared with the control group. The 5 and 10mg/kg doses of EE increased the urine electrolyte excretion, but the effects on Na(+)/K(+) values were too weak to reach statistical significance. The Na(+) excretion and Cl(-) excretion were markedly decreased with the 20, 40 and 80mg/kg doses of EE, but the effect on K(+) excretion was notably slight. All of the tested doses of AE produced an increase in urinary excretion, but the increase did not reach statistical significance.

CONCLUSIONS

This study identified that EE but not AE presents a notable diuretic effect, and EE had diuretic and anti-diuretic effects, which appears to be related to the sodium-chloride co-transporter in the renal distal convoluting tubule. This study demonstrated for the first time that the EE of AR has a dual effect on renal function, including promotion of diuretic activity at lower doses and inhibiting diuretic activity at higher doses, and the AR dose should be given more attention in clinical applications. This study will play a critical and guiding role in the dosing of AR as a diuretic drug in clinical applications.

Goshajinkigan oxaliplatin neurotoxicity evaluation (GONE): a phase 2, multicenter, randomized, double‑blind, placebo‑controlled trial of goshajinkigan to prevent oxaliplatin‑induced neuropathy

PURPOSE

Oxaliplatin-induced peripheral neurotoxicity (OPN) is frequent and potentially severe, but successful treatment of this condition is still an unmet clinical need. We aimed to determine whether treatment with goshajinkigan (TJ-107), a traditional Japanese medicine, is better than placebo in preventing OPN in patients with advanced or recurrent colorectal cancer patients treated with standard FOLFOX regimens.

METHODS

In this phase 2, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, patients undergoing oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy were randomized to receive either oral TJ-107 (7.5 g) or matching placebo daily. The severity of OPN was assessed according to the Common Toxicity Criteria for Adverse Events at baseline, every 2 weeks until the 8th cycle, and every 4 weeks thereafter until the 26th week. The primary endpoint was the incidence of grade 2 or greater OPN until the 8th cycle of chemotherapy.

RESULTS

Analyses were done by intention to treat. Eighty-nine patients were randomly assigned to receive either TJ-107 (n = 44) or placebo (n = 45) between May 2009 and March 2010. The incidence of grade 2 or greater OPN until the 8th cycle was 39 and 51 % in the TJ-107 and placebo groups, respectively (relative risk (RR), 0.76; 95 % CI, 0.47–1.21). The incidence of grade 3 OPN was 7 % (TJ-107) vs. 13 % (placebo) (0.51, 0.14–1.92). No concerns regarding toxicity emerged with TJ-107 treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

TJ-107 appears to have an acceptable safety margin and a promising effect in delaying the onset of grade 2 or greater OPN without impairing FOLFOX efficacy.

A 90-day subchronic oral toxicity study of triterpene-enriched extract from Alismatis Rhizoma in rats

Alismatis Rhizoma has been used in East Asia as a traditional treatment for various illnesses and symptoms, and the presence of protostane-type triterpenes has been claimed to provide health benefits. To investigate the subchronic toxicity of triterpene-enriched extract from Alismatis Rhizoma (TEAR), a 90-day oral toxicity study was conducted in rats. Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into four groups (10 rats/sex/group) and received doses of 0, 360, 720, and 1440 mg/kg/d of TEAR for 90 days. Daily clinical observations as well as weekly measurement of body weight and food consumption were conducted. Blood samples were obtained on day 91 to measure changes in hematology and biochemistry. Urine samples were collected on days 0 and 91 for urinalysis. At necropsy, selected organs were weighed and recorded, and histological examination was performed. No mortality or obvious treatment-related clinical signs, hematology, urinalysis parameters, and macroscopic or microscopic examinations were observed. Differences in weight gain, food consumption, biochemistry, and relative organ weight between the treated group and the control group were not considered treatment-related. On the basis of these findings, the no-observed-adverse-effect level for TEAR was 1440 mg/kg/d in both sexes.

Protostane and fusidane triterpenes: a mini-review

Protostane triterpenes belong to a group of tetracyclic triterpene that exhibit unique structural characteristics. Their natural distribution is primarily limited to the genus Alisma of the Alismataceae family, but they have also been occasionally found in other plant genera such as Lobelia, Garcinia, and Leucas. To date, there are 59 known protostane structures. Many of them have been reported to possess biological properties such as improving lipotropism, hepatoprotection, anti-viral activity against hepatitis B and HIV-I virus, anti-cancer activity, as well as reversal of multidrug resistance in cancer cells. On the other hand, fusidanes are fungal products characterized by 29-nor protostane structures. They possess antibiotic properties against staphylococci, including the methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Fusidic acid is a representative member which has found clinical applications. This review covers plant sources of the protostanes, their structure elucidation, characteristic structural and spectral properties, as well as biological activities. The fungal sources, structural features, biological activities of fusidanes are also covered in this review. Additionally, the biogenesis of these two types of triterpenes is discussed and a refined pathway is proposed.

Optimization of Extraction Condition for Alisol B and Alisol B Acetate in Alismatis Rhizoma using Response Surface Methodology

Alismatis Rhizoma is a perennial herb originating from the rhizomes of Alisma orientalis (Sam) Juzep and the same species which have been used to treat seborrheic dermatitis, eczema, polydipsia, and pedal edema. We aimed to determine the concentrations of the compounds alisol B and alisol B acetate present in a sample of the herb using high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with a photodiode array detector. We selected methanol as the optimal solvent considering the structures of alisol B and alisol B acetate. We estimated the proportion of alisol B and alisol B acetate in a standard extract to be 0.0434% and 0.2365% in methanol, respectively. To optimize extraction, we employed response surface methodology to determine the yields of alisol B and alisol B acetate, which mapped out a central composite design consisting of 15 experimental points. The extraction parameters were time, concentration, and sample weight. The predicted concentration of alisol B derivatives was estimated to be 0.2388% under the following conditions: 81 min of extraction time, 76% of methanol concentration, and 1.52g of sample weight.