New ursane-type triterpenoids from Clerodendranthus spicatus

Analysis of the chemical constituents and their metabolites in Orthosiphon stamineus Benth. via UHPLC-Q exactive orbitrap-HRMS and AFADESI-MSI techniques

BACKGROUND

Known for its strong diuretic properties, the perennial herbaceous plant Orthosiphon stamineus Benth. is believed to preserve the kidney disease. This study compared the boiling water extract with powdered Orthosiphon stamineus Benth. and used a highly sensitive and high resolution UHPLC-Q-Exactive-Orbitrap-HRMS technology to evaluate its chemical composition.

RESULTS

Furthermore, by monitoring the absorption of prototype components in rat plasma following oral treatment, the beneficial ingredients of the Orthosiphon stamineus Benth. decoction was discovered. Approximately 92 substances underwent a preliminary identification utilizing relevant databases, relevant literature, and reference standards. As the compound differences between the powdered Orthosiphon stamineus Benth. and its water decoction were analyzed, it was found that boiling produced additional compounds, 48 of which were new. 45 blood absorption prototype components and 49 OS metabolites were discovered from rat serum, and a kidney tissue homogenate revealed an additional 28 prototype components. Early differences in the distribution of ferulic acid, cis 4 coumaric acid, and rosmarinic acid were shown using spatial metabolomics. It was elucidated that the renal cortex region is where rosmarinic acid largely acts, offering a theoretical foundation for further studies on the application of OS in the prevention and treatment of illness as well as the preservation of kidney function.

SIGNIFICANCE

In this study, UHPLC-Q Exactive Orbitrap-HRMS was employed to discern OS's chemical composition, and a rapid, sensitive, and broad-coverage AFADESI-MSI method was developed to visualize the spatial distribution of compounds in tissues.

Triterpenoids and triterpenoid saponins from Vitex negundo and their anti-inflammatory activities

Seven undescribed polyoxygenated ursane-type triterpenoids (vitnegundins A-G), three undescribed triterpenoid saponins (vitnegundins H-J), and 17 known ones were isolated from an EtOH extract of the aerial parts of Vitex negundo L. The structures of the undescribed compounds were established by extensive spectroscopic analysis. The absolute configurations of vitnegundins A, B, and E were determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction data. Vitnegundins B-D are pentacyclic triterpenoids possessing rare cis-fused C/D rings and vitnegundins C-H represent undescribed ursane-type triterpenoids with 12,19-epoxy moiety. In the biological activity assay, vitnegundin A, vitnegundin E, and swinhoeic acid displayed inhibitory effects against LPS-induced NO release in BV-2 microglial cells, with IC50 values of 11.8, 44.2, and 19.6 μM, respectively.

Study on the mechanism of Orthosiphon aristatus (Blume) Miq. in the treatment of hyperuricemia by microbiome combined with metabonomics

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Growing evidence indicates that hyperuricemia is closely associated with gut microbiota dysbiosis. Orthosiphon aristatus (Blume) Miq. (O. aristatus), as a traditional Chinese medicine, has been widely used to treat hyperuricemia in China. However, the mechanism by which O. aristatus treats hyperuricemia has not been clarified.

AIM OF THE STUDY

In this study, we investigated whether the molecular mechanism underlying the anti-hyperuricemia effect of O. aristatus is related to the regulation of gut microbiota by 16S rDNA gene sequencing combined with widely targeted metabolomics.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Hyperuricemia was induced in rats by administration of 10% fructose and 20% yeast, and the uricosuric effect was assessed by measuring the uric acid (UA) levels in serum and cecal contents. Intestinal morphology was observed by hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining. To explore the effects of O. aristatus on the gut microbiota and its metabolites, we utilized 16S rDNA gene sequencing combined with widely targeted metabolomics. Furthermore, metabolic pathway enrichment analysis was performed on the screened differential metabolites. The real time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and western blotting (WB) were used to detect the expression of relevant proteins in the key pathway.

RESULTS

Our results indicated that O. aristatus intervention decreased serum UA levels and increased the UA levels in cecal contents in hyperuricemic rats. Additionally, O. aristatus improved intestinal morphology and altered the composition of the gut microbiota and its metabolites. Specifically, 16S rDNA revealed that O. aristatus treatment significantly reduced the abundance of unidentified-Ruminococcaceae and Lachnospiraceae-NK4A136-group. Meanwhile, widely targeted metabolomics showed that 17 metabolites, including lactose, 4-oxopentanoate and butyrate, were elevated, while 55 metabolites, such as flavin adenine dinucleotide and xanthine, were reduced. Metabolic pathway enrichment analysis found that O. aristatus was mainly involved in purine metabolism. Moreover, RT-PCR and WB suggested that O. aristatus could significantly up-regulate the expression of UA excretion transporter ATP-binding cassette subfamily G member 2 (ABCG2) in the intestine.

CONCLUSION

O. aristatus exerts UA-lowering effect by regulating the gut microbiota and ABCG2 expression, indicating that this herb holds great promise in the treatment of hyperuricemia.

Clerodendranthus spicatus inhibits epithelial-mesenchymal transition of renal tubular cells through the NF-κB/Snail signalling pathway in hyperuricaemia nephropathy

CONTEXT

Clerodendranthus spicatus Thunb. (Labiatae) (CS), a perennial traditional Chinese medicinal herb that can reduce serum uric acid (sUA) levels and ameliorate renal function is widely used to treat hyperuricaemic nephropathy (HN).

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the molecular mechanism of action of CS in HN treatment using in vivo and in vitro experiments.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into control, HN, CS and positive control allopurinol groups. The HN group was intraperitoneally injected with 750 mg/kg oxonic acid potassium (OA), whereas the CS group was injected with OA along with a gavage of CS (low dose 3.125 g/kg, high dose 6.25 g/kg) for five weeks. For in vitro studies, uric acid-treated HK2 cells were used to verify the therapeutic mechanism of CS in HN.

RESULTS

HN rats exhibit pathological phenotypes of elevated sUA levels and renal injury. CS significantly improved these symptoms and sUA (p < 0.05) and blood urea nitrogen (p < 0.01) levels, and dramatically improved renal tubular injury in HN rats. The IC50 value of UA (uric acid) in HK2 cells was 826.32 ± 3.55 μg/mL; however, 120 ng/mL CS had no significant cytotoxicity on HK2 cells. In vivo and in vitro studies showed that CS inhibited NF-κB phosphorylation and inhibited α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and vimentin expression while increasing E-cadherin expression, suggesting that CS inhibited the fibrotic process in renal cells, thus protecting renal function.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS

These findings provide a fundamental understanding of the application of CS in HN treatment to better guide clinical interventions.

Phenylboronic Acid and Amino Bifunctional Modified Adsorbent for Quickly Separating Phenolic Acids from Crude Extract of Clerodendranthus spicatus and Evaluation of Their Antioxidant and Hypoglycemic Activities

A novel phenylboronic acid and amino bifunctional modified silica gel (SiO2-NH2-FPBA) was prepared, which was 30-80 μm, had a pore size of 8.69 nm, a specific surface area of 206.89 m2/g, was stable at low temperature, and contained 0.4793 mmol/g of the phenylboronic acid group and 1.6377 mmol/g of the amino group. It was used to develop a rapid separation method for phenolic acids. The results showed that it could adsorb 93.64 mg/g caffeic acid, 89.35 mg/g protocatechuic acid and 79.66 mg/g gallic acid. The adsorption process was consistent with the pseudo-second-order model (R2 > 0.99), and fitted the Langmuir isotherm model well (R2 > 0.99). CH3COOH could effectively desorb phenolic acids (>90%) and did not destroy their structures. When SiO2-NH2-FPBA was added to crude extract of Clerodendranthus spicatus, 93.24% of the phenolic acids could be captured, and twenty-two kinds of phenolic acids were identified by Q Exactive HF LC-MS. Furthermore, the isolated phenolic acids from Clerodendranthus spicatus possessed great DPPH, ABTS, and hydroxyl radicals scavenging activities and ferric reducing power. They also demonstrated effective inhibition of α-amylase and α-glucosidase activities (IC50 = 110.63 ± 3.67 μg/mL and 64.76 ± 0.30 μg/mL, respectively). The findings indicate that SiO2-NH2-FPBA has significant potential in practical applications of separating active constituents from natural resources.

Four undescribed triterpenes from the aerial parts of Verbena officinalis

Verbena officinalis is used as a Chinese folk medicine for the treatment of rheumatism and bronchitis. Herein, four undescribed triterpenes, officinalisoids A-D (1-4), together with thirty-three known compounds (5-37) were isolated from the aerial parts of V. officinalis. The chemical structures of the new compounds were determined by spectrometric data interpretation using NMR, HRESIMS, IR and UV spectroscopy. Biological evaluation results revealed that compound 30 exhibited potential anti-inflammatory activity with IC50 value of 6.07 μM (CC50 > 50 μM) and compound 12 showed moderate anti-dengue virus activity with the IC50 value of 24.55 μM (CC50 > 50 μM).

Studies on the key constituents and the related mechanisms of Clerodendranthus spicatus in the treatment of diabetes based on network pharmacology

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Clerodendranthus spicatus is a traditional Chinese medicine and has been used to treat diabetes and some kidney diseases for a long history.

AIM OF THE STUDY

The research aimed to study the active constituents, the potential targets and the related mechanisms of C. spicatus in the treatment of diabetes through network pharmacology method and verify the antidiabetic activity by molecular biology experiments.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A comprehensive network pharmacology strategy was used to predict the key active constituents, the key targets and the related mechanisms and pathways of C. spicatus in the treatment of diabetes. The strategy mainly included screening and predicting potential active constituents and targets by network construction, GO (Gene Ontology) and KEGG (Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes) enrichment analysis. Based on the predicted results, C. spicatus was extracted by ultrasonic method with 50% ethanol and enriched by using macroporous resin. The compounds with potential antidiabetic effects were separated through silica-gel column chromatography and HPLC (high performance liquid chromatography), and then identified by MS (mass spectrum) and NMR (nuclear magnetic resonance). The C. spicatus extract and isolated compounds were tested by in-vitro and cell experiments to verify their antidiabetic activities, including antioxidant activities, inhibition activities on α-glucosidase and α-amylase, the influence on glucose uptake in cell experiments and the Western blot of PI3K and Akt expression levels.

RESULTS

A total of 18 active constituents and 16 key targets of C. spicatus in the treatment of diabetes were screened out through network pharmacology method. Phenolic acids might be the main target compounds for the next research. After extraction, enrichment and separation, the phenolic acids-enriched fraction of C. spicatus and four phenolic acid compounds (helisterculin C, salvianolic acid B, orthosiphoic acid E and ethyl caffeate) were obtained. Among them, salvianolic acid B was isolated from C. spicatus for the first time and orthosiphoic acid E was isolated from natural products for the first time. In experiment verification, the crude extract of C. spicatus, the phenolic acids-enriched fraction and the four compounds all showed antidiabetic potentials. The phenolic acids in C. spicatus had antioxidant activities, inhibitory activities on α-amylase and α-glucosidase and promoted glucose uptake in L6 cells through PI3K/Akt signaling pathway.

CONCLUSIONS

This study showed that C. spicatus had antidiabetic activities with the mechanism of the mode of multi-compounds acting on multi-targets and multi-pathways. The main active phenolic acid compounds were also identified. It provided theoretical basis for further development and utilization of C. spicatus.

A Systematic Review of Orthosiphon stamineus Benth. in the Treatment of Diabetes and Its Complications

(1) Background: Orthosiphon stamineus Benth. is a traditional medicine used in the treatment of diabetes and chronic renal failure in southern China, Malaysia, and Thailand. Diabetes is a chronic metabolic disease and the number of diabetic patients in the world is increasing. This review aimed to systematically review the effects of O. stamineus in the treatment of diabetes and its complications and the pharmacodynamic material basis. (2) Methods: This systematic review was conducted following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA), using the databases ScienceDirect, PubMed, and Web of Science. (3) Results: Thirty-one articles related to O. stamineus and diabetes were included. The mechanisms of O. stamineus in the treatment of diabetes and its complications mainly included inhibiting α-amylase and α-glucosidase activities, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities, regulating lipid metabolism, promoting insulin secretion, ameliorating insulin resistance, increasing glucose uptake, promoting glycolysis, inhibiting gluconeogenesis, promoting glucagon-likepeptide-1 (GLP-1) secretion and antiglycation activity. Phenolic acids, flavonoids and triterpenoids might be the main components for hypoglycemia effects in O. stamineus. (4) Conclusion: O. stamineus could be an antidiabetic agent to treat diabetes and its complications. However, it needs further study on a pharmacodynamic substance basis and the mechanisms of effective constituents.

Bioactivity-guided separation of potential α-glycosidase inhibitor from clerodendranthus spicatus based on HSCCC coupled with molecular docking

Clerodendranthus Spicatus is a traditional Dais medi-edible plant and it has been proven to have good blood glucose-lowering efficacy. However, the material basis of Clerodendranthus Spicatus has not been clarified yet and therefore needs to be determined. In this paper, the effective ingredients of this medicine were purified by high-speed counter-current chromatography. Alongside, their potential hypoglycemic activity was determined by α-glucosidase inhibitory activities in vitro and molecular docking. Finally, five compounds were purified and identified as 2-caffeoyl-L-tartaric acid (1), N-(E)-caffeoyldopamine (2), rosmarinc acid (3), methyl rosmarinate (4), 6,7,8,3',4'-Pentamethoxyflavone (5). Examination of α-glucosidase inhibitory activity in vitro showed that 2-caffeoyl-L-tartaric acid and rosmarinic acid had a higher inhibitory activity than acarbose. Molecular docking indicated that the affinity energy of the identified compounds ranged from - 7.6 to - 8.6 kcal/mol, a more desirable result than acarbose (- 6.6 kcal/mol). Particularly, rosmarinc acid with the lowest affinity energy of - 8.6 kcal/mol was wrapped with 6 hydrogen bonds. Overall, α-glucosidase inhibitory activities and molecular docking suggested that rosmarinc acid was likely to be a promising hypoglycemic drug.

Comprehensive chemical and metabolic profiling of anti-hyperglycemic active fraction from Clerodendranthi Spicati Herba

Extensive pharmacological research has demonstrated that Clerodendranthi Spicati Herba has an obvious anti-hyperglycemic effect via α-glucosidase inhibitory activity. However, the anti-hyperglycemic active fraction and its metabolic behavior in vivo have not been elaborated clearly. In this study, ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to quadrupole time of flight tandem mass spectrometry with data filtering strategy, including mass defect screening, diagnostic product ions and neutral loss identification, was established for chemical and metabolic profiling of anti-hyperglycemic active fraction from Clerodendranthi Spicati Herba. A total of 28 methoxylated flavonoids and 61 diterpenoids were rapidly identified. Four main known methoxylated flavonoids were purified and unambiguously identified by nuclear magnetic resonance analysis. Thirty-one absorbed diterpenoids, 12 absorbed methoxylated flavonoids, and 56 methoxylated flavonoids metabolites were identified in rat plasma, urine, bile, and feces after oral administration of anti-hyperglycemic active fraction. The methoxylated flavonoids were predominantly metabolized by demethylation, sulfation, and glucuronidation. Glucuronidation metabolites found in bile and urine after demethylation were dominant metabolites. Diterpenoids were absorbed into the blood mainly in the form of prototypes and excreted through bile and urine. These results indicated that methoxylated flavonoids and diterpenoids were responsible for α-glucosidase inhibitory activity, which might provide novel drug candidates for the management of diabetes mellitus.

Effect of Shenkang on renal fibrosis and activation of renal interstitial fibroblasts through the JAK2/STAT3 pathway

BACKGROUND

Activation of renal fibroblasts is a critical mechanism in the process of renal fibrosis. As a commonly used herbal formula, Shenkang (SK) has been found to attenuate renal fibrosis and renal parenchyma destruction. However, the effect of SK on renal fibroblast activation in unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) mice and its molecular mechanism remain undetermined. The present study was performed to elucidate the effect of SK on renal fibroblast activation and renal fibrosis, as well as the potential underlying mechanism, in both NRK-49F cells and UUO mice.

METHODS

NRK-49F cells were stimulated with 10 ng/ml TGF-β1 for 48 h. After SK treatment, the CCK-8 method was used to evaluate cell viability. Thirty-six C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into the sham group, UUO group, angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) group, and SK high-, moderate- and low-dose groups. UUO was induced in mice except those in the sham group. Drugs were administered 1 day later. On the 13th day, the fractional anisotropy (FA) value was determined by MRI to evaluate the degree of renal fibrosis. After 14 days, serum indexes were assessed. Hematoxylin and eosin (HE) and Sirius red staining were used to observe pathological morphology and the degree of fibrosis of the affected kidney. Western blotting and PCR were used to assess the expression of related molecules in both cells and animals at the protein and gene levels.

RESULTS

Our results showed that SK reduced extracellular matrix (ECM) and α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) expression both in vitro and in vivo and attenuated renal fibrosis and the pathological lesion degree after UUO, suppressing JAK2/STAT3 activation. Furthermore, we found that SK regulated the JAK2/STAT3 pathway regulators peroxiredoxin 5 (Prdx5) in vitro and suppressor of cytokine signaling protein 1 (SOCS1) and SOCS3 in vivo.

CONCLUSIONS

These results indicated that SK inhibited fibroblast activation by regulating the JAK2/STAT3 pathway, which may be a mechanism underlying its protective action in renal fibrosis.

An In Vitro Evaluation of the Molecular Mechanisms of Action of Medical Plants from the Lamiaceae Family as Effective Sources of Active Compounds against Human Cancer Cell Lines

It is predicted that 1.8 million new cancer cases will be diagnosed worldwide in 2020; of these, the incidence of lung, colon, breast, and prostate cancers will be 22%, 9%, 7%, and 5%, respectively according to the National Cancer Institute. As the global medical cost of cancer in 2020 will exceed about $150 billion, new approaches and novel alternative chemoprevention molecules are needed. Research indicates that the plants of the Lamiaceae family may offer such potential. The present study reviews selected species from the Lamiaceae and their active compounds that may have the potential to inhibit the growth of lung, breast, prostate, and colon cancer cells; it examines the effects of whole extracts, individual compounds, and essential oils, and it discusses their underlying molecular mechanisms of action. The studied members of the Lamiaceae are sources of crucial phytochemicals that may be important modulators of cancer-related molecular targets and can be used as effective factors to support anti-tumor treatment.

Ursane-type triterpenoids from the roots of Rosa multiflora with their anti-inflammatory activity

Nine ursane-type triterpenoids including three new ones 2α, 19α-dihydroxyurs-3-O-acetyltormentic acid (1), 1α, 2α, 3α, 20β-tetrahydroxyurs -13(18)-en-28-oic acid (2), and 2α, 3α, 20β, 24-tetrahydroxyurs-13(18)-en-28-oic acid (3) were isolated from the roots of Rosa multiflora. Their structures were elucidated by extensive spectroscopic methods, including NMR, MS, and IR spectroscopic analyses data. All the isolates were evaluated for their anti-inflammatory activity in vitro and the results showed that compounds 1-9 displayed moderate inhibitory activity with IC₅₀ values ranging from 24.7 to 86.2 μM compared with the postitive control Amino guanidine (IC₅₀ 4.3 μM).[Formula: see text].

Navicularines A-C: New diterpenoid alkaloids from Aconitum naviculare and their cytotoxic activities

Three new bisditerpenoid alkaloids, navicularines A-C (1-3), and three known ones (4-6), were isolated from the ground parts of Aconitum naviculare. Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic methods. All the new compounds were tested against five cell lines (HL-60, SMMC-7721, A-549, MCF-7, SW480). It was found that navicularine B exhibited certain cytotoxic activities in vitro, with IC₅₀ values of 13.50, 18.52, 17.22, 11.18, and 16.36μM, respectively.