Protective effects of hydroxy-α-sanshool from the pericarp of Zanthoxylum bungeanum Maxim. On D-galactose/AlCl3-induced Alzheimer's disease-like mice via Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathways

New alkylamides from the pericarps of Zanthoxylum schinifolium

The pericarps of Zanthoxylum schinifolium Sieb. et Zucc were called "green huajiao", which were used as traditional folk medicine and popular seasoning in China. In this study, twenty-seven alkylamides, including a rare alkylamide containing two amide groups (1), an alkylamide with a furan ring (5), six new alkylamide analogues (2-4, 6-8), together with nineteen known alkylamides (9-27) were isolated from green huajiao. Their structures were elucidated by extensive spectroscopic analysis, including 1D, 2D NMR, HRESIMS, and UV spectra. Furthermore, compounds 5, 18, 21, and 22 exhibited weak protective activity for corticosterone-induced PC12 cells damage.

Effect of hydroxy-α-sanshool on lipid metabolism in liver and hepatocytes based on AMPK signaling pathway

BACKGROUND

With the increasing awareness of the safety of traditional Chinese medicine and food, as well as in-depth studies on the pharmacological activity and toxicity of Zanthoxylum armatum DC. (ZADC), it has been found that ZADC is hepatotoxic. However, the toxic substance basis and mechanism of action have not been fully elucidated. Hydroxy-α-sanshool (HAS) belongs to an amide compound in the fruits of ZADC, which may be hepatotoxic. However, the specific effects of HAS, including liver toxicity, are unclear.

PURPOSE

The objectives of this research was to determine how HAS affects hepatic lipid metabolism, identify the mechanism underlying the accumulation of liver lipids by HAS, and offer assurances on the safe administration of HAS.

METHODS

An in vivo experiment was performed by gavaging C57 BL/6 J mice with various dosages of HAS (5, 10, and 20 mg/kg). Biochemical indexes were measured, and histological analysis was performed to evaluate HAS hepatotoxicity. Hepatic lipid levels were determined using lipid indices and oil red O (ORO) staining. Intracellular lipid content were determined by biochemical analyses and ORO staining after treating HepG2 cells with different concentrations of HAS in vitro. Mitochondrial membrane potential, respiratory chain complex enzymes, and ATP levels were assessed by fluorescence labeling of mitochondria. The levels of proteins involved in lipogenesis and catabolism were determined using Western blotting.

RESULTS

Mice in the HAS group had elevated alanine and aspartate aminotransferase blood levels as well as increased liver index compared with the controls. The pathological findings showed hepatocellular necrosis. Serum and liver levels of triglycerides, total cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels were increased, whereas high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels decreased. The ORO staining findings demonstrated elevated liver lipid levels. In vitro experiments demonstrated a notable elevation in triglyceride and total cholesterol levels in the HAS group. ATP, respiratory chain complex enzyme gene expression, mitochondrial membrane potential, and mitochondrial number were reduced in the HAS group. The levels of lipid synthesis-associated proteins (ACC, FASN, and SREBP-1c) were increased, and lipid catabolism-associated protein levels (PPARα and CPT1) and the p-AMPK/AMPK ratio were decreased in vivo and in vitro.

CONCLUSION

HAS has hepatotoxic effects, which can induce fatty acid synthesis and mitochondrial function damage by inhibiting the AMPK signaling pathway, resulting in aberrant lipid increases.

Fisetin-loaded pluronic-based nanogel: Radiation synthesis for alleviating neurocognitive impairments in a rat model of alzheimer's disease via modulation of the apoptotic cascade

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder marked by cognitive impairment and memory loss. In this study, AD was experimentally induced in rats using aluminum chloride (AlCl3) and D-galactose (D-gal). Fisetin (Fis), a natural compound with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, has potential for neurodegeneration management, but its low bioavailability limits clinical applications. To address this, we synthesized and characterized Pluronic-2-Acrylamido-2-methylpropane sulfonic acid (PLUR-PAMPS) nanogels using gamma radiation and successfully loaded Fis onto them (Fis-PLUR-PAMPS). The optimal formulation exhibited minimal particle size, a highly acceptable polydispersity index, and the highest zeta-potential, enhancing stability and solubilization efficiency. Our goal was to improve Fis's bioavailability and assess its efficacy against AlCl3/D-gal-induced AD. Male albino Wistar rats were pre-treated orally with Fis (40 mg/kg) or Fis-PLUR-PAMPS for seven days, followed by a seven-day intraperitoneal injection of AlCl3 and D-gal. Behavioral assessments, histopathological analysis, and biochemical evaluation of markers related to AD pathology were conducted. Results demonstrated that Fis-PLUR-PAMPS effectively mitigated cognitive impairments and neurodegenerative signs induced by AlCl3/D-gal. These findings suggest that Fis-PLUR-PAMPS nanogels enhance Fis's bioavailability and therapeutic efficacy, offering a promising approach for AD management.

Borax attenuates oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis by modulating Nrf2/ROS balance in acrylamide-induced neurotoxicity in rainbow trout

Acrylamide (ACR) can have adverse environmental effects because of its multiple applications. Relevant scientific literatures of the existence of ACR residues in foods following processing steps have raised concern in the biochemistry, chemistry and safety of this vinyl substance. The interest has focused on the hepatotoxicity of ACR in animals and humans and on the ACR content mitigation and its detoxification. Borax (BX), as a naturally occurring antioxidant featured boron compound, was selected in this investigation to assess its possible neuro-protective potential against ACR-induced neurotoxicity. Nrf2 axis signaling pathways and detoxification response to oxidative stress after exposure to ACR in brains of rainbow trout, and the effect of BX application on reducing ACR-induced neurotoxicity were investigated. Rainbow trout were acutely exposed to ACR (12.5 mg/L) alone or simultaneously treated with BX (0.75 mg/L) during 96h. The exposed fish were sampled at 48th and 96th and oxidative stress response endpoints, 8-OHdG, Nrf2, TNF-α, caspase-3, in addition to IL-6 activities and the levels of AChE and BDNF in brain tissues of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) were evaluated. Samples showed decreases in the levels of ACR-mediated biomarkers used to assess neural toxicity (SOD, CAT, GPx, AChE, BDNF, GSH), increased levels of MDA, MPO, DNA damage and apoptosis. ACR disrupted the Nrf2 pathway, and induced neurotoxicity. Inhibited activities' expressions under simultaneous administration experiments, revealed the protective effects of BX against ACR-induced toxicity damage. The obtained data allow the outline of early multi-parameter signaling pathways in rainbow trout.

Pongamol Alleviates Neuroinflammation and Promotes Autophagy in Alzheimer's Disease by Regulating the Akt/mTOR Signaling Pathway

Alzheimer's disease (AD), one of the neurodegenerative disorders, is highly correlated with the abnormal hyperphosphorylation of Tau and aggregation of β-amyloid (Aβ). Oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, and abnormal autophagy are key drivers of AD and how they contribute to neuropathology remains largely unknown. The flavonoid compound pongamol is reported to possess a variety of pharmacological activities, such as antioxidant, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory. This study investigated the neuroprotective effect and its mechanisms of pongamol in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced BV2 cells, d-galactose/sodium nitrite/aluminum chloride (d-gal/NaNO2/AlCl3)-induced AD mice, and Caenorhabditis elegans models. Our research revealed that pongamol reduced the release of inflammatory factors IL-1β, TNF-α, COX-2, and iNOS in LPS-induced BV2 cells. Pongamol also protected neurons and significantly restored memory function, inhibited Tau phosphorylation, downregulated Aβ aggregation, and increased oxidoreductase activity in the hippocampus of AD mice. In addition, pongamol reversed the nuclear transfer of NF-κB and increased the levels of Beclin 1 and LC3 II/LC3 I. Most importantly, the anti-inflammatory and promoter autophagy effects of pongamol may be related to the regulation of the Akt/mTOR signaling pathway. In summary, these results showed that pongamol has a potential neuroprotective effect, which greatly enriched the research on the pharmacological activity of pongamol for improving AD.

H2S Regulates the Phenotypic Transformation of Astrocytes Following Cerebral Ischemia/Reperfusion via Inhibiting the RhoA/ROCK Pathway

The role of hydrogen sulfide (H2S) on the phenotypic change of astrocytes following cerebral ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) in mice was investigated in present study. We tested the expression of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), A2 phenotype marker S100a10, and A1 phenotype marker C3 protein and assessed the change of BrdU/GFAP-positive cells, GFAP/C3-positive cells, and GFAP/S100a10-positive cells in mice hippocampal tissues to evaluate the change of astrocyte phenotypes following cerebral I/R. The role of H2S on the phenotypic change of astrocytes following cerebral I/R in mice was investigated by using H2S synthase cystathionine-γ-lyase (CSE) knockout mice (KO). The results revealed that cerebral I/R injury promoted the astrocytes proliferation of both A1 and A2 phenotypes, which were more significant in mice of H2S synthase CSE KO than in mice of wild type (WT). Interestingly, supplement with H2S could inhibit the A1 phenotype proliferation but promote the proliferation of A2 phenotype, suggesting that H2S could regulate the transformation of astrocytes to A2 phenotype following cerebral I/R, which is beneficial for neuronal recovery. Besides, we found that H2S-mediated change of astrocyte phenotype is related to inhibiting the RhoA/ROCK pathway. Furthermore, both H2S and ROCK inhibitor could ameliorate the brain injury of mice at 9 days after cerebral I/R. In conclusion, H2S regulates the phenotypic transformation of astrocytes to A2 phenotype following the cerebral I/R via inhibiting RhoA/ROCK pathway and then exerts the neuroprotective effect against the subacute brain injury.

Comprehensive review of the phytochemistry, pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, and toxicology of alkamides (2016-2022)

Alkamides refer to a class of natural active small-molecule products composed of fatty acids and amine groups. These compounds are widely distributed in plants, and their unique structures and various pharmacological activities have caught the attention of scholars. This review provides a collection of literatures related to the phytochemistry, pharmacological effects, pharmacokinetics, and toxicity of alkamides published in 2016-2022 and their summary to provide references for further development of this class of ingredients. A total of 234 components (including chiral isomers) were summarized, pharmacological activities, such as anti-inflammatory, antitumor, antidiabetic, analgesic, neuroprotective, insecticidal, antioxidant, and antibacterial, and miscellaneous properties of alkamides were discussed. In addition, the pharmacokinetic characteristics and toxicity of alkamides were reviewed. However, information on the pharmacological mechanisms of the action, drug safety, and pharmacokinetics of alkamides is limited and thus requires further investigation and evaluation.

Research advances of Zanthoxylum bungeanum Maxim. polyphenols in inflammatory diseases

Zanthoxylum bungeanum Maxim., commonly known as Chinese prickly ash, is a well-known spice and traditional Chinese medicine ingredient with a rich history of use in treating inflammatory conditions. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the botanical classification, traditional applications, and anti-inflammatory effects of Z. bungeanum, with a specific focus on its polyphenolic components. These polyphenols have exhibited considerable promise, as evidenced by preclinical studies in animal models, suggesting their therapeutic potential in human inflammatory diseases such as ulcerative colitis, arthritis, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cardiovascular disease, and neurodegenerative conditions. This positions them as a promising class of natural compounds with the potential to enhance human well-being. However, further research is necessary to fully elucidate their mechanisms of action and develop safe and effective therapeutic applications.

In Vitro Metabolism and In Vivo Pharmacokinetics Profiles of Hydroxy-α-Sanshool

Hydroxy-α-sanshool (HAS) is the predominant active compound in Zanthoxylum bungeanum Maxim (ZBM). Our present work was aimed to explore the in vitro metabolism characteristics, and in vivo pharmacokinetic (PK) profile of HAS. Plasma (human), liver microsomes, and hepatocytes (human, monkey, dog, mouse, and rat) were collected for HAS metabolism studies in vitro and HAS elimination rates in liver microsomes and hepatocytes of different species were investigated. In addition, five recombinant human CYP enzymes were used to identify CYP isoforms of HAS. Finally, the PK properties of HAS in rats in vivo were studied by oral administration (p.o.). The results showed that HAS stably metabolized in human and rat liver microsomes and human hepatocytes, and the binding of HAS to human plasma proteins was nonspecific; HAS has strong inhibitory effects on CYP2C9 and CYP2D6 of human liver microsomes. In addition, in vivo PK study, HAS is rapidly absorbed in rats after oral administration. In conclusion, the in vivo and in vitro metabolic studies of HAS in this study provide data support for its further development and application, and the metabolic profiles of different species can be used as a reference for its safety evaluation.

Hydroxy-α-sanshool from the fruits of Zanthoxylum bungeanum Maxim. promotes browning of white fat by activating TRPV1 to induce PPAR-γ deacetylation

BACKGROUND

Accumulating evidence suggested increasing energy expenditure is a feasible strategy for combating obesity, and browning of white adipose tissue (WAT) to promote thermogenesis might be one of the attractive ways. Hydroxy-α-sanshool (HAS), a natural amide alkaloid extracted from the fruits of Zanthoxylum bungeanum Maxim, possesses lots of benefits in lipid metabolism regulation.

METHODS

The anti-obesity effect of HAS was investigated by establishing an animal model of obesity and a 3T3-L1 differentiation cell model. Effects of HAS on the whole-body fat and liver of obese mice, and the role of HAS in inducing browning of white fat were studied by Micro CT, Metabolic cage detection, Cell mitochondrial pressure detection, transmission electron microscopy and cold exposure assays. Furthermore, the Real-time PCR (qPCR), digital PCR (dPCR), western blot, Co-immunoprecipitation (Co-IP), molecular docking, drug affinity responsive target stability (DARTS), Cellular thermal shift assay (CETSA) and other methods were used to investigate the target and mechanisms of HAS.

RESULTS

We found that treatment with HAS helped mice combat obesity caused by a high fat diet (HFD) and improve metabolic characteristics. In addition, our results suggested that the anti-obesity effect of HAS is related to increase energy consumption and thermogenesis via induction of browning of WAT. The further investigations uncovered that HAS can up-regulate UCP-1 expression, increase mitochondria number, and elevate the cellular oxygen consumption rates (OCRs) of white adipocytes. Importantly, the results indicated that browning effects of HAS is closely associated with SIRT1-dependent PPAR-γ deacetylation through activating the TRPV1/AMPK pathway, and TRPV1 is the potential drug target of HAS for the browning effects of WAT.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results suggested the HAS can promote browning of WAT via regulating AMPK/SIRT-1/PPARγ signaling, and the potential drug target of HAS is the membrane receptor of TRPV1.

Astaxanthin promotes locomotor function recovery and attenuates tissue damage in rats following spinal cord injury: a systematic review and trial sequential analysis

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a catastrophic condition with few therapeutic options. Astaxanthin (AST), a natural nutritional supplement with powerful antioxidant activities, is finding its new application in the field of SCI. Here, we performed a systematic review to assess the neurological roles of AST in rats following SCI, and assessed the potential for clinical translation. Searches were conducted on PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, the Web of Science, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, WanFang data, Vip Journal Integration Platform, and SinoMed databases. Animal studies that evaluated the neurobiological roles of AST in a rat model of SCI were included. A total of 10 articles were included; most of them had moderate-to-high methodological quality, while the overall quality of evidence was not high. Generally, the meta-analyses revealed that rats treated with AST exhibited an increased Basso, Beattie, and Bresnahan (BBB) score compared with the controls, and the weighted mean differences (WMDs) between those two groups showed a gradual upward trend from days 7 (six studies, n = 88, WMD = 2.85, 95% CI = 1.83 to 3.87, p < 0.00001) to days 28 (five studies, n = 76, WMD = 6.42, 95% CI = 4.29 to 8.55, p < 0.00001) after treatment. AST treatment was associated with improved outcomes in spared white matter area, motor neuron survival, and SOD and MDA levels. Subgroup analyses indicated there were differences in the improvement of BBB scores between distinct injury types. The trial sequential analysis then firmly proved that AST could facilitate the locomotor recovery of rats following SCI. In addition, this review suggested that AST could modulate oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, neuron loss, and autophagy via multiple signaling pathways for treating SCI. Collectively, with a protective effect, good safety, and a systematic action mechanism, AST is a promising candidate for future clinical trials of SCI. Nonetheless, in light of the limitations of the included studies, larger and high-quality studies are needed for verification.

Nervonic acid reduces the cognitive and neurological disturbances induced by combined doses of D-galactose/AlCl3 in mice

Nervonic acid (NA) is a kind of ultra-long-chain monounsaturated fatty acid, which can repair nerve cell damage caused by oxidative stress. Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a nervous system disease and often accompanied by the decline of learning and memory capacity. In this study, the combined dose of D-galactose/AlCl3 was used to establish a mouse model of AD. Meanwhile, the mice were treated with different doses of NA (10.95 and 43.93 mg/kg). The results showed that NA delayed the decline of locomotion and learning ability caused by D-galactose/AlCl3, increased the activity of total superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, and reduced the content of malondialdehyde in vivo. Besides, NA reduced the levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, increased the levels of 5-hydroxytryptamine, dopamine, γ-aminobutyric acid, alleviated the cell morphology damage induced by D-galactose/AlCl3 in hippocampus and liver tissue. Furthermore, the intervention of NA upregulated the expression levels of PI3K, AKT, and mTOR genes and downregulated the expression levels of TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β genes. Therefore, we speculate the intervention of NA could be an effective way in improving cognitive impairment through the activation of PI3K signaling pathway. These results suggest that NA has the potential to be developed as antioxidant drug for the prevention and early therapy of AD.

Neuromodulatory effect of vardenafil on aluminium chloride/D-galactose induced Alzheimer's disease in rats: emphasis on amyloid-beta, p-tau, PI3K/Akt/p53 pathway, endoplasmic reticulum stress, and cellular senescence

Dysregulation of protein homeostasis, proteostasis, is a distinctive hallmark of many neurodegenerative disorders and aging. Deleteriously, the accumulation of aberrant proteins in Alzheimer's disease (AD) is accompanied with a marked collapse in proteostasis network. The current study explored the potential therapeutic effect of vardenafil (VAR), a phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitor, in AlCl3/D-galactose (D-gal)-induced AD in rats and its possible underlying mechanisms. The impact of VAR treatment on neurobehavioral function, hippocampal tissue architecture, and the activity of the cholinergic system main enzymes were assessed utilizing VAR at doses of 0.3 mg/kg and 1 mg/kg. Additionally, the expression level of amyloid-beta and phosphorylated tau proteins in the hippocampus were figured out. Accordingly, VAR higher dose was selected to contemplate the possible underlying mechanisms. Intriguingly, VAR elevated the cyclic guanosine monophosphate level in the hippocampus and averted the repressed proteasome activity by AlCl3/D-gal; hence, VAR might alleviate the burden of toxic protein aggregates in AD. In addition, a substantial reduction in the activating transcription factor 6-mediated endoplasmic reticulum stress was demonstrated with VAR treatment. Notably, VAR counteracted the AlCl3/D-gal-induced depletion of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 level. Moreover, the anti-senescence activity of VAR was demonstrated via its ability to restore the balance of the redox circuit. The modulation of phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase/protein kinase B/p53 pathway and the reduction of nuclear factor kappa B level, the key regulator of senescence-associated secretory phenotype mediators release, with VAR treatment were also elucidated. Altogether, these findings insinuate the possible therapeutic benefits of VAR in AD management.

Pungency Perception and the Interaction with Basic Taste Sensations: An Overview

The perception of pungency can be attributed to the combination of pain and heat, and it has critical impacts on food flavor and food consumption preferences. Many studies have reported a variety of pungent ingredients with different Scoville heat units (SHU), and the mechanism of pungent perception was revealed in vivo and in vitro. The worldwide use of spices containing pungent ingredients has led to an increasing awareness of their effects on basic tastes. However, the interaction between basic tastes and pungency perception based on structure-activity relationship, taste perception mechanism and neurotransmission lacks review and summary, considering its brighter prospects in food flavor. Thus, in this review, common pungency substances and pungency evaluation methods, and the mechanism of pungency perception is presented, and the interaction between basic tastes and pungency perception and the possible factors of their interaction are reviewed in detail. Pungent stimuli are mainly transduced through transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1) and transient receptor potential fixed hormone isoform (TRPA1) activated by stimulants. Using modern detection techniques combined with sensory standards, different substances produce different degrees of pungent stimulation, ranging from 10⁴ to 10⁷ SHU/g. Pungent stimuli can affect taste receptor or channel protein conformation and regulate taste bud cell sensitivity by producing neurotransmission products. The products of neurotransmission and taste receptor cell activation in turn act on taste perception. When there are simultaneous effects of taste perception, pungency stimulation may enhance the perception of salty at a certain concentration, with a mutual inhibition effect with sour, sweet, and bitter taste, while its interaction with umami taste is not obvious. However, due to the complexity of perception and the uncertainty of many perceptual receptors or channels, the current studies of interactions are still controversial. Based on the understanding of the mechanism and influencing factors, the availability of pungency substances is proposed in the perspective of food industry in order to achieve new development.

Hydrogen sulfide inhibits lipopolysaccharide-based neuroinflammation-induced astrocyte polarization after cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury

The effect of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-based neuroinflammation following cerebral ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) on the genotypic transformation of reactive astrocytes and its relationship with endogenous hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) were investigated in present study. We found that LPS promoted the cerebral I/R-induced A1 astrocytes proliferation in mouse hippocampal tissues and deteriorated the reduction of hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) content in mouse sera, H₂S donor NaHS could inhibitA1 astrocytes proliferation. Similarly, knockout of cystathionine γ-lyase (CSE), one of endogenous H₂S synthases, likewise up-regulated the cerebral I/R-induced A1 astrocytes proliferation, which could also be blocked by NaHS. Besides, supplement with H₂S promoted the A2 astrocytes proliferation in hippocampal tissues of CSE knockout (CSE KO) mice or LPS-treated mice following cerebral I/R. In the oxygen glucose deprivation/reoxygenation (OGD/R) model of astrocytes, H₂S also promoted the transformation of astrocytes into A2 subtype. Moreover, we found that H₂S could up-regulate the expression of α-subunit of large-conductance Ca²⁺-activated K⁺ (BK_Ca) channels in astrocytes, and the channel opener BMS-191011 likewise promoted the transformation of astrocyte into A2 subtype. In conclusion, H₂S inhibits the proliferation of A1 astrocytes induced by LPS-based neuroinflammation following cerebral I/R and promotes the transformation of astrocytes into A2 subtype, which may be related to up-regulation of BK_Ca channels.

Total flavones of Rhododendron induce the transformation of A1/A2 astrocytes via promoting the release of CBS-produced H2S

BACKGROUND

We previously found that total flavones of Rhododendron (TFR) protected against the cerebral ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury. But the detailed mechanism is not clear. Recent research revealed that reactive astrocytes were divided into A1 and A2 phenotypes for their morphological and functional remodeling and neurotoxic- vs-neuroprotective effect on the injury of the central nervous system (CNS).

PURPOSE

The present study was undertaken to explore the role and mechanism of TFR on the phenotypic change of astrocytes following cerebral I/R in vivo and oxygen glucose deprivation/re-oxygenation (OGD/R) in vitro.

STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS

We tested the expression of astrocytes marker glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), A1 astrocytes marker C3 protein and A2 astrocytes marker S100a10, as well as the BrdU/GFAP-positive cells, GFAP/S100a10-positive cells and GFAP/C3-positive cells in mice hippocampal tissues to evaluate the phenotypic change of astrocytes. Besides, we assessed the change of astrocyte phenotypes following OGD/R in vitro.

RESULTS

We found that mice cerebral I/R promoted the astrocytes proliferation of both A1 and A2 phenotypes in hippocampal tissues. While treatment with TFR could promote the proliferation of A2 astrocytes but inhibit the A1 astrocytes proliferation in mice hippocampal tissues, suggesting that TFR could accelerate the astrocytes transformation into A2 subtype following cerebral I/R. Whereas, in OGD/R model of astrocytes, we found that TFR inhibited the proliferation of both A1 and A2 astrocytes. Besides, we found that TFR could up-regulate the release of cystathionine β-synthase (CBS)-produced hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) and inhibit RhoA/Rho kinase pathway, and revealed that the inhibitory effect of TFR on astrocytes proliferation could be blocked by aminooxyacetic acid (AOAA), an CBS inhibitor. Furthermore, TFR could ameliorate the mice cerebral I/R injury and the OGD/R-induced astrocytic damage.

CONCLUSION

These findings suggested that TFR could affect the transformation of astrocytes subtypes following cerebral I/R, which may be related to up-regulation of CBS-produced H₂S and subsequent inhibition of RhoA/ROCK pathway.

Characterization of Polysaccharides from the Pericarp of Zanthoxylum bungeanum Maxim by Saccharide Mapping and Their Neuroprotective Effects

The pericarp of Zanthoxylum bungeanum maxim (PZM) is a commonly used spice and herbal medicine in China. In the present study, the structural characteristics of PPZM were investigated by saccharide mapping after enzymatic digestion by using high-performance thin layer chromatography (HPTLC) and polysaccharide analysis by using carbohydrate gel electrophoresis (PACE). The mechanisms of protective effects of PPZM on Aβ_25-35-induced oxidative damage were explored in PC12 cells. The results showed that PPZM contained 1,4-α-D-galactosidic, 1,4-α-D-galactosiduronic, and (1→4)-β-D-glucosidic linkages. Pretreatment with PPZM significantly increased the cell viability of Aβ_25-35-injured PC12 cells. Flow cytometry and Hoechst/PI staining indicated that PPZM gradually relieved the apoptosis of the Aβ_25-25-treated cells. PPZM markedly decreased the ROS level of PC12 cells and suppressed Aβ_25-35-induced oxidative stress by increasing the SOD level, and decreasing the level of MDA and LDH. The mRNA expressions of caspase-3 and Bax were significantly downregulated, and Bcl-2 expression was upregulated by treatment with PPZM. PPZM significantly increased the mRNA expression of Nrf2 and HO-1 in Aβ_25-35 treated cells. The results indicated that PPZM alleviated apoptosis and oxidative stress induced by Aβ_25-25 through the inhibition of mitochondrial dependent apoptosis and activation of Nrf2/HO-1 pathway. PPZM can be used as a potential protective agent against Aβ_25-25-induced neurotoxicity.

Structural Characterization of a Pleurotus sajor-caju Polysaccharide and Its Neuroprotection Related to the Inhibition of Oxidative Stress

A novel polysaccharide PSP2-1 was isolated and purified from Pleurotus sajor-caju. The structural characterization data displayed that the molecular weight of PSP2-1 was 44.9 kDa, and PSP2-1 consisted of fucose, galactose, glucose, and mannose. The methylation results showed that the glycosidic bonds of PSP2-1 included T-Fuc, 1,6-Gal, T-Glc, 1,6-Glc, 1,3,6-Glc, 1,3-Man, 1,2,6-Man, and T-Man. Neuroprotective studies indicated that PSP2-1 significantly improved the cell viability of the H₂O₂-induced oxidatively damaged neuronal cell HT22, reduced the release of LDH, inhibited apoptosis and release of cytochrome c, and alleviated the decline of mitochondrial membrane potential and ROS accumulation. Furthermore, PSP2-1 decreased the phosphorylation levels of cleaved PARP and cleaved caspase-3, and increased the ratio of bcl-2/bax. Additionally, PSP2-1 could inhibit the phosphorylation of MAPK family members including JNK, p38, and Erk. Finally, animal experiments showed that PSP2-1 could improve the oxidative stress injury and the learning and memory ability of mice with aging induced by D-galactose. Our results confirmed that PSP2-1 significantly ameliorated the oxidative stress injury, inhibited the apoptosis in H₂O₂-induced neuronal cells via MAPK pathway, and also improved cognition in mice with aging induced by D-galactose. Our research gives the foundation for the functional food application of P. sajor-caju polysaccharides in the future.

Borax relieved the acrylamide-induced hematotoxic, hepatotoxic, immunotoxic and genotoxic damages in rainbow trout by regulating apoptosis and Nrf2 signaling pathway

Acrylamide(AA) is a compound with wide usage areas including paper, dyes, and plastics industries. Due to its broad spectrum and water solubility suggest that this vinyl compound may cause serious environmental problems. AA was shown to exhibit neurotoxic, immunotoxic, reproductive toxicant as well as carcinogenic potency on animals. Especially in recent years, the therapeutic effects of boron and boron containing compounds like borax(BX), ulexite(ULX) and colemanite(COL) had been reported. However, the ameliorative potential by boron compounds against AA-induced toxicities had not been investigated yet. Therefore, in this investigation rainbow trout were exposed acutely to AA in the presence and absence of BX. The hematological indices and genotoxic end-points were examined in the fish blood tissue. In addition to oxidative stress response, the levels of DNA damage, CASP3, TNF-α, Nrf-2 as well as IL-6 amounts were determined in both blood and liver tissues of fish. The obtained results executed that AA induced toxic conditions in both tissues. In fact, an increase in the amount of oxidative stress and ROS, and a decrease in GSH levels were observed. AA exposure led to an increase in CASP3levels and 8-OHdG formation. It was also found that Nrf-2 pathway contributed to the initiation of oxidative stress that associated with AA-induced toxicity. On the contrary, our findings indicated that co-exposure of BX with AA elicited oxidative stress and cell death. In a conclusion BX was suggested as a useful and effective natural agent for the prevention and early treatment of AA toxicity in fish.

Signal pathways in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease with traditional Chinese medicine

AIM OF THE REVIEW

This study aimed to reveal the classical signal pathways and important potential targets of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) for treating Alzheimer's disease (AD), and provide support for further investigation on TCM and its active ingredients.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Literature survey was conducted using PubMed, Web of Science, Google Scholar, CNKI, and other databases, with "Alzheimer's disease," "traditional Chinese medicine," "medicinal herb," "Chinese herb," and "natural plant" as the primary keywords.

RESULTS

TCM could modulate signal pathways related to AD pathological progression, including NF-κB, Nrf2, JAK/STAT, ubiquitin-proteasome pathway, autophagy-lysosome pathway-related AMPK/mTOR, GSK-3/mTOR, and PI3K/Akt/mTOR, as well as SIRT1 and PPARα pathway. It could regulate crosstalk between pathways through a multitarget, thus maintaining chronic inflammatory interaction balance, inhibiting oxidative stress damage, regulating ubiquitin-proteasome system function, modulating autophagy, and eventually improving cognitive impairment in patients with AD.

CONCLUSION

TCM could be multilevel, multitargeted, and multifaceted to prevent and treat AD. In-depth research on the prevention and treatment of AD with TCM could provide new ideas for exploring the pathogenesis of AD and developing new anti-AD drugs.

Analisis Senyawa Aktif Trigeminal Andaliman dengan Variasi Metode Pengeringan dengan Pendekatan GC-MS

Sanshool compounds are the trigeminal active compounds in andaliman (Zanthoxylum acantho-podium DC) with a numbing and tingling sensation. The analysis of such compounds is usually done through HPLC approach; however, limited studies have reported that the analysis of such compounds could be conducted with Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS). This method could save research time and funding by analyzing both sanshools and volatiles simultaneously, which would describe the complete profile of andaliman flavor compounds. This study aimed to confirm the potency of GC-MS in analyzing sanshool compounds and to utilize this method in studying the impact of different drying methods towards andaliman trigeminal active compounds. Andaliman was dried with five drying methods (sun, sunshade, air, oven, and freeze-drying) and was macerated with chloroform, concentrated, and analyzed with GC-MS. The results of this study showed that GC-MS was able to analyze sanshool compounds efficiently. Drying had no statistically significant impact on sanshool quantities extracted from andaliman. Fresh andaliman contained 0.69 % (dry weight basis) of α-sanshool, the main sanshool in andaliman. On the other hand, dried andaliman contained 0.80-1.08% of α-sanshool (dry weight basis). As oven drying managed to produce andaliman with a similar concentration of α-sanshool at a faster time and more affordable cost than other drying methods, oven drying was suggested as the ideal drying method to extend the shelf life of andaliman.