A polysaccharide from dried aerial parts of Agrimonia pilosa: Structural characterization and its potential therapeutic activity for steroid‑induced necrosis of the femoral head (SANFH)

Systematic Identification of the Main Constituents from Agrimonia pilosa Ledeb. and Their Metabolites in Rats using HPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS

Agrimonia pilosa is a perennial herbaceous flowering plant, commonly known as agrimony or hairy agrimony. The dried aerial parts of this species have been widely used for the treatment of acute diarrhea, hemostasis, and other inflammation-related diseases. However, information on the in vivo metabolism of A. pilosa constituents is limited. In this study, the phytochemical profile of A. pilosa was investigated using HPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS combined with a nontargeted diagnostic ion network analysis strategy. An information-dependent acquisition method with multiple filters was utilized to screen possible prototypes and metabolites in complex biological matrices. Furthermore, various data-processing techniques were applied to analyze possible prototypes and their metabolites in rat plasma, feces, and urine following oral administration of A. pilosa extract. A total of 62 compounds, which belonged to five main structural classes (21 phenols, 22 flavonoids, 6 coumarins, 3 triterpenes, and 10 organic acids), were tentatively identified in A. pilosa. In addition, using our proposed stepwise method, 32 prototypes and 69 metabolites were detected in rat plasma, feces, and urine. The main metabolic pathways after the oral administration of A. pilosa extract were revealed to include methylation, dihydroxylation, demethylation, hydrolysis, sulfation, and glucuronidation. This comprehensive in vivo and in vitro identification of the possible active components in A. pilosa could provide a basis for understanding its various pharmacological activities.

Benefits and mechanisms of polysaccharides from Chinese medicinal herbs for anti-osteoporosis therapy: A review

Osteoporosis is a systemic metabolic bone disease with an increasing incidence rate. Chinese medicinal herbs have a long history of treating bone diseases. Polysaccharides are an important category of phytochemicals in Chinese medicinal herbs, and their health benefits have increased the interest of the public. Numerous studies have indicated that polysaccharides exhibit anti-osteoporosis effects by balancing bone resorption and bone formation, but the detailed effects and mechanism have not been systematically summarized. We performed a comprehensive review of the literature to consolidate studies for the period 2000-2021 by conducting electronic searches on the PubMed, CNKI, VIP, and Wanfang databases. In total, polysaccharides from 19 kinds of Chinese medicinal herbs in 54 studies have shown bone homeostasis protective properties. In vivo and in vitro experiments have demonstrated that polysaccharides present properties in the treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis, senile osteoporosis, and glucocorticoid-induced secondary osteoporosis, especially postmenopausal osteoporosis. Moreover, a number of signalling pathways, such as the Wnt/β-catenin signalling pathway, BMP/SMAD/RUNX2 signalling pathway, OPG/RANKL/RANK signalling pathway, apoptosis pathway, and transcription factors, are regulated by polysaccharides and participate in improving bone homeostasis. This review will provide a better understanding of the anti-osteoporotic effects of polysaccharides and the concomitant modulations of signalling pathways.

Atorvastatin Upregulates microRNA-186 and Inhibits the TLR4-Mediated MAPKs/NF-κB Pathway to Relieve Steroid-Induced Avascular Necrosis of the Femoral Head

Steroid-induced avascular necrosis of the femoral head (SANFH) is caused by the death of active components of the femoral head owing to hormone overdoses. The use of lipid-lowering drugs to prevent SANFH in animals inspired us to identify the mechanisms involving Atorvastatin (Ato) in SANFH. However, it is still not well understood how and to what extent Ato affects SANFH. This study aimed to figure out the efficacy of Ato in SANFH and the underlying molecular mechanisms. After establishment of the SANFH model, histological evaluation, lipid metabolism, inflammatory cytokines, oxidative stress, apoptosis, and autophagy of the femoral head were evaluated. The differentially expressed microRNAs (miRs) after Ato treatment were screened out using microarray analysis. The downstream gene and pathway of miR-186 were predicted and their involvement in SANFH rats was analyzed. OB-6 cells were selected to simulate SANFH in vitro. Cell viability, cell damage, inflammation responses, apoptosis, and autophagy were assessed. Ato alleviated SANFH, inhibited apoptosis, and promoted autophagy. miR-186 was significantly upregulated after Ato treatment. miR-186 targeted TLR4 and inactivated the MAPKs/NF-κB pathway. Inhibition of miR-186 reversed the protection of Ato on SANFH rats, while inhibition of TLR4 restored the protective effect of Ato. Ato reduced apoptosis and promoted autophagy of OB-6 cells by upregulating miR-186 and inhibiting the TLR4/MAPKs/NF-κB pathway. In conclusion, Ato reduced apoptosis and promoted autophagy, thus alleviating SANFH via miR-186 and the TLR4-mediated MAPKs/NF-κB pathway.

EPS364, a Novel Deep-Sea Bacterial Exopolysaccharide, Inhibits Liver Cancer Cell Growth and Adhesion

The prognosis of liver cancer was inferior among tumors. New medicine treatments are urgently needed. In this study, a novel exopolysaccharide EPS364 was purified from Vibrio alginolyticus 364, which was isolated from a deep-sea cold seep of the South China Sea. Further research showed that EPS364 consisted of mannose, glucosamine, gluconic acid, galactosamine and arabinose with a molar ratio of 5:9:3.4:0.5:0.8. The relative molecular weight of EPS364 was 14.8 kDa. Our results further revealed that EPS364 was a β-linked and phosphorylated polysaccharide. Notably, EPS364 exhibited a significant antitumor activity, with inducing apoptosis, dissipation of the mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) and generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in Huh7.5 liver cancer cells. Proteomic and quantitative real-time PCR analyses indicated that EPS364 inhibited cancer cell growth and adhesion via targeting the FGF19-FGFR4 signaling pathway. These findings suggest that EPS364 is a promising antitumor agent for pharmacotherapy.

Structural elucidation and osteogenic activity of a novel heteropolysaccharide from Alhagi pseudalhagi

Alhagi pseudalhagi, commonly known as camel thorn, is used as an indigenous medicinal plant in China. The present study was designed to elucidate the structure of a novel polysaccharide, APP90-2, isolated from Alhagi pseudalhagi and evaluate its osteogenic activity. A homogeneous polysaccharide (APP90-2) was obtained from A. pseudalhagi via DEAE-52 and Sephacryl S-100 columns, with a molecular weight of 5.9 kDa. Monosaccharide, GC-MS, and NMR analyses showed that APP90-2 consisted of α-l-Rhap-(1→, →3)-α-l-Araf-(1→, →5)-α-l-Araf-(1→, →4)-β-d-Xylp-(1→, α-d-Glcp-(1→, →3,5)-α-l-Araf-(1→, →4)-β-d-GlcAp-(1→, →4)-3-OAc-α-d-Glcp-(1→, →3)-α-d-Galp-(1→, →3)-β-d-GalAp-(1→, →4)-α-d-Galp-(1→, →6)-α-d-Manp-(1→, →4,6)-β-d-Galp-(1→, and →3,6)-β-d-Glcp-(1→ with relative molar ratios of 4.1:1.8:6.1:6.7:1.7:1.0:1.5:2.7:2.4:1.1:2.3:2.6:1.4:2.0. Morphological analyses revealed that APP90-2 interacted with Congo-red and had an obvious honeycomb structure. Additionally, APP90-2 significantly promoted proliferation, differentiation, and mineralization of MC3T3-E1 cells, indicating that APP90-2 exhibited pronounced osteogenic activity. Therefore, our findings suggest that A. pseudalhagi may be used as an alternative medicine or health supplement for the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis.

Structural Identification and Coagulation Effect of Flammulina velutipes Polysaccharides

Two polysaccharides were isolated successfully from Flammulina velutipes and identified as CHFVP-1 (24.44 kDa) and CHFVP-2 (1497 kDa). Based on the results of Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), gas chromatography (GC), gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS), and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy regarding the structure of CHFVP-1 and CHFVP-2, CHFVP-1 was constructed with the backbone of→6)-α-D-Galp-(1→ and the branch of Galp by an →3,6)-α-D-Manp-(1→attached with T-β-D-Glcp or t-α-L-Fucp side chains. Meanwhile, the CHFVP-2 was a glucan with the construction of →6)-β-D-Glcp-(1→ and T-β-D-Glcp. Moreover, the coagulant activity in vitro of CHFVP-1 and CHFVP-2 was evaluated, and the results showed that CHFVP-1 exerts procoagulant activity by shortening the activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) and thrombin time (TT), while CHFVP-2 did not reveal a definite coagulant activity. The finding would benefit the further application of F. velutipes in the field of medicine.

Protective effect of Agrimonia pilosa polysaccharides on dexamethasone-treated MC3T3-E1 cells via Wnt/β-Catenin pathway

A water‐soluble polysaccharide (APP‐AW) was isolated from Agrimonia pilosa and prepared to three sulphated derivatives (S1, S2 and S3). The results showed that pre‐treatment with APP‐AW, S1, S2 and S3 each at the concentration of 50 μg/mL for 48 hours was able to prevent cytotoxicity induced by 1 μmol/L dexamethasone (Dex) in MC3T3‐E1 cells via inhibition of apoptosis, which is in line with the findings in flow cytometry analysis. Meanwhile, the decreased ALP activity, collagen content, mineralization, BMP2, Runx2, OSX and OCN protein expression in DEX‐treated MC3T3‐E1 cells were reversed by the addition of APP‐AW, S1, S2 and S3. Moreover, APP‐AW, S1, S2 and S3 rescued DEX‐induced increase of Bax, cytochrome c and caspase‐3 and decrease of Bcl‐2, Wnt3, β‐catenin and c‐Myc protein expression in MC3T3‐E1 cells. Our findings suggest that pre‐treatment with APP‐AW, S1, S2 and S3 could significantly protect MC3T3‐E1 cells against Dex‐induced cell injury via inhibiting apoptosis and activating Wnt/β‐Catenin signalling pathway, thus application of these polysaccharides may be a promising alternative strategy for steroid‐induced avascular necrosis of the femoral head (SANFH) therapy.

Structural characterization of a safflower polysaccharide and its promotion effect on steroid-induced osteonecrosis in vivo

A water-soluble polysaccharide (SPAW) was purified from Safflower and it was identified to be (1→3)-linked β-d-Glucan. The therapeutic effect and underlying mechanism of SPAW on steroid-induced avascular necrosis of the femoral head (SANFH) in a rabbit model was performed here. The abnormal histopathologic changes and apoptosis of femoral head in model group were significantly reverted after SPAW (25, 100 and 200 mg/kg) administration for 60 days, as evidenced by the a decline of empty lacunae rate, the average bone marrow fat cell size and the proportion of apoptotic cells. Furthermore, administration of SPAW significantly decreased the Bax and caspase-3 protein expression, but increased the protein expression of Bcl-2 when compared these in model rabbits. Meanwhile, increased hydroxyproline (HOP) and decreased serum hexosamine (HOM) concentration in rabbit serum were turned to the opposite way. The present study suggested that SPAW may provide an alternative treatment for the treatment of SANFH.