Paeoniflorin attenuates the allergic contact dermatitis response via inhibiting the IFN-γ production and the NF-κB/IκBα signaling pathway in T lymphocytes

Targeting dendritic cell activation: the therapeutic impact of paeoniflorin in cortosteroid-dependent dermatitis management

This study investigates the mechanism through which paeoniflorin inhibits TSLP expression to regulate dendritic cell activation in corticosteroid-dependent dermatitis treatment. Utilizing databases like TCMSP, we identified paeoniflorin's components, targets, and constructed networks. Molecular docking and gene enrichment analysis helped pinpoint key targets and pathways affected by paeoniflorin. In vitro and in vivo models were used to study CD80, CD86, cytokines, T-cell activation, skin lesions, histopathological changes, TSLP, CD80, and CD86 expression. Our study revealed paeoniflorin's active constituent targeting IL-6 in corticosteroid-dependent dermatitis. In vitro experiments demonstrated reduced TSLP expression, CD80, CD86, and cytokine secretion post-paeoniflorin treatment. In vivo, paeoniflorin significantly decreased skin lesion severity, cytokine levels, TSLP, CD80, and CD86 expression. The study highlights paeoniflorin's efficacy in inhibiting TSLP expression and suppressing dendritic cell activation in corticosteroid-dependent dermatitis, suggesting its potential as a therapeutic intervention. Additionally, it offers insights into the complex molecular mechanisms underlying paeoniflorin's anti-inflammatory properties in treating corticosteroid-dependent dermatitis.

Genus Paeonia monoterpene glycosides: A systematic review on their pharmacological activities and molecular mechanisms

BACKGROUND

Genus Paeonia, which is the main source of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Paeoniae Radix Rubra (Chishao in Chinese), Paeoniae Radix Alba (Baishao in Chinese) and Moutan Cortex (Mudanpi in Chinese), is rich in active pharmaceutical ingredient such as monoterpenoid glycosides (MPGs). MPGs from Paeonia have extensive pharmacological effects, but the pharmacological effects and molecular mechanisms of MPGs has not been comprehensively reviewed.

PURPOSE

MPGs compounds are one of the main chemical components of the genus Paeonia, with a wide variety of compounds and strong pharmacological activities, and the structure of the mother nucleus-pinane skeleton is similar to that of a cage. The purpose of this review is to summarize the pharmacological activity and mechanism of action of MPGs from 2012 to 2023, providing reference direction for the development and utilization of Paeonia resources and preclinical research.

METHODS

Keywords and phrases are widely used in database searches, such as PubMed, Web of Science, Google Scholar and X-Mol to search for citations related to the new compounds, extensive pharmacological research and molecular mechanisms of MPGs compounds of genus Paeonia.

RESULTS

Modern research confirms that MPGs are the main compounds in Paeonia that exert pharmacological effects. MPGs with extensive pharmacological characteristics are mainly concentrated in two categories: paeoniflorin derivatives and albiflflorin derivatives among MPGs, which contains 32 compounds. Among them, 5 components including paeoniflorin, albiflorin, oxypaeoniflorin, 6'-O-galloylpaeoniflorin and paeoniflorigenone have been extensively studied, while the other 28 components have only been confirmed to have a certain degree of anti-inflammatory and anticomplementary effects. Studies of pharmacological effects are widely involved in nervous system, endocrine system, digestive system, immune system, etc., and some studies have identified clear mechanisms. MPGs exert pharmacological activity through multilateral mechanisms, including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, inhibition of cell apoptosis, regulation of brain gut axis, regulation of gut microbiota and downregulation of mitochondrial apoptosis, etc. CONCLUSION: This systematic review delved into the pharmacological effects and related molecular mechanisms of MPGs. However, there are still some compounds in MPGs whose pharmacological effects and pharmacological mechanisms have not been clarified. In addition, extensive clinical randomized trials are needed to verify the efficacy and dosage of MPGs.

Potential Mechanisms of White Peony against Primary Sjögren’s Syndrome Based on Network Pharmacology and Molecular Docking

Background

Multiple system and organ damage occurs with the continuous progression of primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS), and the lack of specific drugs against this disease is a huge challenge. White peony (WP), a widely used traditional Chinese herb, has been confirmed to have a therapeutic value in pSS. However, the specific mechanisms of WP in the treatment of pSS are unknown.

Methods

The active ingredients and their targets in WP were searched on the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform (TCMSP), and disease-related targets were collected from GeneCards, Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man (OMIM), and the Therapeutic Target Database (TTD). The overlapping targets were acquired by taking the intersection. A protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was structured using the STRING database. A disease-drug-ingredient-target (D-D-I-T) network was built using Cytoscape software. By filtering twice, core targets were acquired. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia Gene and Genome (KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis were accompanied by R packages. Finally, molecular docking was used to verify the abovementioned results.

Results

In total, we screened 88 WP-related targets, 1480 pSS-related targets, and 32 overlapping targets. D-D-I-T Network analysis displayed six main active ingredients of WP, which played a significant therapeutic role in pSS. Further topological analysis selected seven core target genes, including IL-6, TNF, PPARγ, AKT1, CASP3, NOS3, and JUN. GO and KEGG analysis were used to elucidate pharmacological mechanisms, mainly acting in the AGE-RAGE signaling pathway. Molecular docking proved that paeoniflorin bound well with core targets.

Conclusion

Our study revealed that IL-6, TNF, AKT1, CASP3, NOS3, and JUN may be pathogenic target genes, and PPARγ may be a protective target gene. The main active ingredients of WP mainly played a therapeutic role via the AGE-RAGE signaling pathway. These findings provide a fundamental and theoretical basis for the clinical application of WP.

Medicinal Plant Extracts and Natural Compounds for the Treatment of Cutaneous Lupus Erythematosus: A Systematic Review

Cutaneous lupus erythematosus (CLE) is a group of autoimmune connective tissue disorders that significantly impact quality of life. Current treatment approaches typically use antimalarial medications, though patients may become recalcitrant. Other treatment options include general immunosuppressants, highlighting the need for more and more targeted treatment options. The purpose of this systematic review was to identify potential compounds that could be repurposed for CLE from natural products since many rheumatologic drugs are derived from natural products, including antimalarials. This study was registered with PROSPERO, the international prospective register of systematic reviews (registration number CRD42021251048). We comprehensively searched Ovid Medline, Cochrane Library, and Scopus databases from inception to April 27th, 2021. These terms included cutaneous lupus erythematosus; general plant, fungus, bacteria terminology; selected plants and plant-derived products; selected antimalarials; and JAK inhibitors. Our search yielded 13,970 studies, of which 1,362 were duplicates. We screened 12,608 abstracts, found 12,043 to be irrelevant, and assessed 565 full-text studies for eligibility. Of these, 506 were excluded, and 59 studies were included in the data extraction. The ROBINS-I risk of bias assessment tool was used to assess studies that met our inclusion criteria. According to our findings, several natural compounds do reduce inflammation in lupus and other autoimmune skin diseases in studies using in vitro methods, mouse models, and clinical observational studies, along with a few randomized clinical trials. Our study has cataloged evidence in support of potential natural compounds and plant extracts that could serve as novel sources of active ingredients for the treatment of CLE. It is imperative that further studies in mice and humans are conducted to validate these findings.

Systematic Review Registration:https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?RecordID=251048.

High-Throughput and Untargeted Metabolic Profiling Revealed the Potential Effect and Mechanisms of Paeoniflorin in Young Asthmatic Rats

Paeoniflorin (PF) is a multi-target monoterpenoid glycoside and possesses broad pharmacological functions, e.g., anti-inflammation, anti-depression, antitumor, abirritation, neuroprotection, antioxidant, and enhancing cognitive and learning ability. PF has gained a large amount of attention for its effect on asthma disease as the growth rate of asthma has increased in recent years. However, its mechanism of action on asthma is still unclear. In this study, we have explored the action mechanism of PF on asthma disease. Furthermore, high-throughput untargeted metabolic profiling was performed through ultraperformance liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization quadruple time-of-flight high-definition mass spectrometry (QA) UPLC-Q/TOF-MS combined with pattern recognition approaches and pathway analysis. A total of 20 potential biomarkers were discovered by UPLC/MS and urine metabolic profiling. The key pathways including the citrate cycle (the TCA cycle), pyrimidine metabolism, pentose phosphate pathway, tyrosine metabolism, and tryptophan metabolism were affected by PF. In conclusion, we have discovered metabolite biomarkers and revealed the therapeutic mechanism of PF based on liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry untargeted metabolomics. The untargeted metabolomics combined with UPLC-MS is a useful tool for exploring the therapeutic mechanism and targets of PF in the treatment of asthma. Metabolomics combined with UPLC-MS is an integrated method to explore the metabolic mechanism of PF in the treatment of asthma rats and to reveal the potential targets, providing theoretical support for the study of the treatment of PF.