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Zhang J, Lin D, Wu Y, Chen L, Ma Z, Wu M, Liu X, Zhang Y, Cao H. Blood-supplementing effect of low molecular weight peptides of E-Jiao on chemotherapy-induced myelosuppression: evaluation of pharmacological activity and identification of bioactive peptides released in vivo. Front Pharmacol 2024; 15:1366407. [PMID: 38904003 PMCID: PMC11188354 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2024.1366407] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2024] [Accepted: 05/08/2024] [Indexed: 06/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Background: Equus asinus L. [Equidae; Asini Corri Colla] (donkey-hide gelatin, E-Jiao) is a traditional Chinese medicine renowned for its exceptional blood-supplementing effect. However, the specific components that contribute to its efficacy remain elusive. This study aimed to demonstrate that peptides are responsible for E-Jiao's blood-supplementing effect and to explore the specific peptides contributing to its efficacy. Methods: The low molecular weight peptides of E-Jiao (LMEJ) were obtained using an in vitro digestion method. LMEJ and peptides in the rat bloodstream were characterized by peptidomics analysis. The blood-supplementing effect of LMEJ was assessed using blood-deficient zebrafish and mouse models. The effect of the peptides detected in rat blood was evaluated using the same zebrafish model, and network pharmacology analysis was performed to investigate the underlying mechanisms. Results: A total of 660 unique peptides were identified within LMEJ. Both E-Jiao and LMEJ significantly alleviated myelosuppression in mice but only LMEJ attenuated myelosuppression in zebrafish. After the administration of E-Jiao to rats, 67 E-Jiao-derived peptides were detected in the bloodstream, 41 of which were identical to those identified in LMEJ. Out of these 41 peptides, five were synthesized. Subsequent verification of their effects revealed that two of them were able to alleviate myelosuppression in zebrafish. Network pharmacology study suggested that E-Jiao may exert a blood-supplementing effect by regulating signaling pathways such as JAK-STAT, IL-17 and others. These results indicated that peptides are at least partially responsible for E-Jiao's efficacy. Conclusion: This study provides a crucial foundation for further exploration of the bioactive components of E-Jiao.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinju Zhang
- Research Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine of Lingnan (Southern China), Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
- National Engineering Research Center for Modernization of Traditional Chinese Medicine Lingnan Resources Branch, Guangzhou, China
| | - Danlin Lin
- Research Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine of Lingnan (Southern China), Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
- National Engineering Research Center for Modernization of Traditional Chinese Medicine Lingnan Resources Branch, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yuting Wu
- Research Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine of Lingnan (Southern China), Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
- National Engineering Research Center for Modernization of Traditional Chinese Medicine Lingnan Resources Branch, Guangzhou, China
| | - Lixia Chen
- Research Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine of Lingnan (Southern China), Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
- National Engineering Research Center for Modernization of Traditional Chinese Medicine Lingnan Resources Branch, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zhiguo Ma
- Research Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine of Lingnan (Southern China), Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
- National Engineering Research Center for Modernization of Traditional Chinese Medicine Lingnan Resources Branch, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Pharmacodynamic Constituents of TCM and New Drugs Research, Guangzhou, China
| | - Menghua Wu
- Research Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine of Lingnan (Southern China), Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Pharmacodynamic Constituents of TCM and New Drugs Research, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Information Technology, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xindan Liu
- School of Medicine, Foshan University, Foshan, China
| | - Ying Zhang
- Research Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine of Lingnan (Southern China), Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
- National Engineering Research Center for Modernization of Traditional Chinese Medicine Lingnan Resources Branch, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Information Technology, Guangzhou, China
| | - Hui Cao
- Research Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine of Lingnan (Southern China), Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Pharmacodynamic Constituents of TCM and New Drugs Research, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Information Technology, Guangzhou, China
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Ramli AH, Swain P, Mohd Fahmi MSA, Abas F, Leong SW, Tejo BA, Shaari K, Ali AH, Agustar HK, Awang R, Ng YL, Lau YL, Md Razali MA, Mastuki SN, Mohmad Misnan N, Mohd Faudzi SM, Kim CH. Preliminary insight on diarylpentanoids as potential antimalarials: In silico, in vitro pLDH and in vivo zebrafish toxicity assessment. Heliyon 2024; 10:e27462. [PMID: 38495201 PMCID: PMC10943399 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e27462] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2023] [Revised: 02/28/2024] [Accepted: 02/29/2024] [Indexed: 03/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Malaria remains a major public health problem worldwide, including in Southeast Asia. Chemotherapeutic agents such as chloroquine (CQ) are effective, but problems with drug resistance and toxicity have necessitated a continuous search for new effective antimalarial agents. Here we report on a virtual screening of ∼300 diarylpentanoids and derivatives, in search of potential Plasmodium falciparum lactate dehydrogenase (PfLDH) inhibitors with acceptable drug-like properties. Several molecules with binding affinities comparable to CQ were chosen for in vitro validation of antimalarial efficacy. Among them, MS33A, MS33C and MS34C are the most promising against CQ-sensitive (3D7) with EC50 values of 1.6, 2.5 and 3.1 μM, respectively. Meanwhile, MS87 (EC50 of 1.85 μM) shown the most active against the CQ-resistant Gombak A strain, and MS33A and MS33C the most effective P. knowlesi inhibitors (EC50 of 3.6 and 5.1 μM, respectively). The in vitro cytotoxicity of selected diarylpentanoids (MS33A, MS33C, MS34C and MS87) was tested on Vero mammalian cells to evaluate parasite selectivity (SI), showing moderate to low cytotoxicity (CC50 > 82 μM). In addition, MS87 exhibited a high SI and the lowest resistance index (RI), suggesting that MS87 may exert effective parasite inhibition with low resistance potential in the CQ-resistant P. falciparum strain. Furthermore, the in vivo toxicity of the molecules on early embryonic development, the cardiovascular system, heart rate, motor activity and apoptosis were assessed in a zebrafish animal model. The overall results indicate the preliminary potential of diarylpentanoids, which need further investigation for their development as new antimalarial agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amirah Hani Ramli
- Natural Medicines and Product Research Laboratory, Institute of Bioscience, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, 43400, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Puspanjali Swain
- Department of Biology, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, 34134, South Korea
| | - Muhammad Syafiq Akmal Mohd Fahmi
- Natural Medicines and Product Research Laboratory, Institute of Bioscience, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, 43400, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Faridah Abas
- Natural Medicines and Product Research Laboratory, Institute of Bioscience, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, 43400, Selangor, Malaysia
- Department of Food Science, Faculty of Food Science & Technology, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Sze Wei Leong
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Malaya, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Bimo Ario Tejo
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Khozirah Shaari
- Natural Medicines and Product Research Laboratory, Institute of Bioscience, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, 43400, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Amatul Hamizah Ali
- Department of Earth Sciences and Environment, Faculty of Science and Technology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Bangi, 43600, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Hani Kartini Agustar
- Department of Earth Sciences and Environment, Faculty of Science and Technology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Bangi, 43600, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Rusdam Awang
- UPM - MAKNA Cancer Research Laboratory, Institute of Bioscience, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Yee Ling Ng
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Malaya, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Yee Ling Lau
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Malaya, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | | | - Siti Nurulhuda Mastuki
- Natural Medicines and Product Research Laboratory, Institute of Bioscience, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, 43400, Selangor, Malaysia
- Department of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Faculty of Science & Technology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Bangi, 43600, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Norazlan Mohmad Misnan
- Herbal Medicine Research Centre, Institute for Medical Research, National Institutes of Health, 40170, Shah Alam, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia
| | - Siti Munirah Mohd Faudzi
- Natural Medicines and Product Research Laboratory, Institute of Bioscience, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, 43400, Selangor, Malaysia
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Cheol-Hee Kim
- Department of Biology, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, 34134, South Korea
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