Matrine: A review of its pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, toxicity, clinical application and preparation researches

Sophflarines B-E, four distinctive matrine alkaloids from Sophora flavescens with potential neuroprotective activities

The four matrine-derived alkaloids, namely sophflarines B-E (1-4), with distinct skeleton types, were isolated from Sophora flavescens. Compounds 1 and 2 possess rare 1-aza-11-oxatricyclo[5.3.1.02,6] undecane cores, featuring unprecedented N,O-heterocyclic systems of 5/5/6/6/6 and 6/5/5/6/6, respectively. Compounds 3 and 4 exhibit two novel C15 units with tetracyclic skeletons of 5/6/6/6 and 6/5/6/6, respectively. The structures were elucidated through spectroscopic analyses, quantum chemical calculations, and X-ray diffraction data. A plausible biosynthetic pathway for these newly discovered compounds was proposed. Furthermore, compounds 1 and 2 showed anti-neuroinflammatory activity against the cytokines NO, TNF-α, and IL-6. Compound 2 exhibited a neuroprotective effect potentially mediated by activating the Keap1-Nrf2/HO-1 pathway to reduce inflammation and oxidative stress.

Combining with matrine restores ciprofloxacin efficacy against qnrS producing E. coli in vitro and in vivo

The exposure risk of plasmid-mediated quinolone resistance (PMQR) genes increases the incidence of resistant bacterial infections, has resulted in clinical treatment failures with ciprofloxacin, necessitating urgent implementation of novel strategies for controlling this situation. Matrine serves as the principal constituent of the traditional Chinese herb Sophora flavescens Ait. and exhibits pharmacological activities including anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, anti-tumor, and hepatoprotective effects. However, the precise mechanism by which matrine exhibits antibacterial activity remains incompletely elucidated. This study investigated the antibacterial potential and synergistic mechanism of matrine in combination with ciprofloxacin against qnrS-carrying E. coli. The clinical ciprofloxacin-resistant E. coli carrying the qnrS and the recombinant E. coli DE3 (pET28a-qnrS) were evaluated for their antibacterial activity in vitro, it was found that the combination of matrine/ciprofloxacin exhibited a significant synergistic, reducing the MIC value of ciprofloxacin against qnrS-positive E. coli by 4-fold, and it effectively reduced the bacterial load to undetectable levels within 10 h without obvious cytotoxicity. Moreover, consistent findings were observed in significantly reducing bacterial load within the mouse infection model. Molecular docking revealed that matrine was localized in the large loop B of the qnrS crystal structure, establishing hydrogen bonds with Thr-102 and Arg-101, thereby disrupting the activity of qnrS. Interaction analysis further confirmed that matrine could significantly inhibit the protective effect of qnrS on gyrase and restore the activity of ciprofloxacin against qnrS-positive E. coli. Matrine may serve as a qnrS inhibitor to restore the efficacy of ciprofloxacin, suggesting its potential as a novel antibiotic adjuvant for controlling bacterial infections.

Preventive effects of matrine on LPS-induced inflammation in RAW 264.7 cells and intestinal damage in mice through the TLR4/NF-κB/MAPK pathway

BACKGROUND

Matrine is a tetracyclic quinolizidine alkaloid with diverse bioactive properties, including anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective properties. However, the underlying anti-inflammatory mechanisms remain unclear.

PURPOSE

This study aimed to explore how matrine reduces Lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammation in RAW 264.7 cells and to assess its protective effects against LPS-induced intestinal damage.

METHODS

The effect of matrine on cell viability was assessed using the cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay. Additionally, its impact on inflammatory cytokines and macrophage polarization was assessed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), flow cytometry, and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) analyses. The effects on intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS), mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), nitric oxide (NO) production, and oxidative stress were evaluated using 2',7'-dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate staining and JC-1 and Griess assays. Immunofluorescence staining was used to observe the translocation of the NF-κB p65 subunit. Western blotting (WB) and qRT-PCR were employed to analyze the expression levels of proteins related to the toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)/nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB)/mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway. An LPS-induced mouse model was established to study the intestinal inflammation and barrier injury. Mouse feces characteristics, colon length, and disease activity index (DAI) were recorded. Hematoxylin-eosin (H&E) and alcian blue/periodic acid schiff (AB/PAS) staining were used to observe morphological changes and barrier damage in the duodenum, jejunum, ileum, and colon and to measure villus length, crypt depth, goblet cell count, and positive areas in the duodenum, jejunum, and ileum. The content of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) in the colon was determined using gas chromatography (GC).

RESULTS

Matrine inhibited LPS-induced inflammatory cytokine levels, suppressed macrophage M1 polarization, and promoted M2 macrophage polarization. Matrine reduced LPS-induced increases in ROS and NO levels and regulates oxidative stress. Additionally, matrine inhibited the nuclear translocation of the NF-κB p65 subunit and exerted anti-inflammatory effects by suppressing the activation of the TLR4/NF-κB/MAPK pathway. In vivo experiments indicated that matrine significantly alleviated LPS-induced diarrhea, increased DAI, and shortened the colon. Matrine reduced the production of the pro-inflammatory cytokine interleukin (IL)-6, IL-1β, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and the pro-inflammatory mediator NO in mouse intestinal tissues while promoting the content of the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10. Furthermore, it improved intestinal tissue structure and alleviated LPS-induced intestinal barrier damage. Finally, matrine increased the SCFA levels in the intestine.

CONCLUSION

Matrine exerted its anti-inflammatory effects and protects against intestinal injury through the TLR4/NF-κB/MAPK signaling pathway.

Bitter Perception and Effects of Foods Rich in Bitter Compounds on Human Health: A Comprehensive Review

Bitter food, because of its unique taste, is not popular with the public, and is even considered to be difficult to swallow. By binding to specific sites of bitter receptors (26 hTAS2Rs), bitter compounds activate the downstream signaling pathways mediated by G protein, which convert chemical signals into electrical signals that are ultimately transmitted to the brain to produce the bitter perception. The intensity of bitterness is mainly determined by the hydrophobic recognition region of bitter receptors. The bitter compounds in foods mainly include alkaloids, polyphenols, terpenoids, amino acids, etc. Foods rich in bitter taste are mostly natural such as beans, nuts, and coffee, etc. Studies have proven that bitter foods have biological activities such as preventing hyperlipidemia, hypertension, hyperglycemia, anti-inflammatory, antitumor, antibacterial, antioxidant, and exhibit neuroprotective effects and other biological activities. The purpose of this review is to explore the bitter perception and the biological activity of bitter compounds, clarify the mechanism of their action on human health, and provide theoretical guidance for the development and application of functional foods.

Matrine regulates autophagy in ileal epithelial cells in a porcine circovirus type 2-infected murine model

Introduction

Porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) is an important pathogen that causes diarrhea in nursery and fattening pigs, resulting in huge economic losses for commercial pig farms. Protective efficacy of vaccines is compromised by mutations in pathogens. There is an urgent need to articulate the mechanism by which PCV2 destroys the host's intestinal mucosal barrier and to find effective therapeutic drugs. Increasing attention has been paid to the natural antiviral compounds extracted from traditional Chinese medicines. In the present study, we investigated the role of Matrine in mitigating PCV2-induced intestinal damage and enhancing autophagy as a potential therapeutic strategy in mice.

Methods

A total of 40 female, specific-pathogen-free-grade Kunming mice were randomly divided into four groups with 10 mice in each group: control, PCV2 infection, Matrine treatment (40 mg/kg Matrine), and Ribavirin treatment (40 mg/kg Ribavirin). Except for the control group, all mice were injected intraperitoneally with 0.5 mL 105.4 50% tissue culture infectious dose (TCID50)/mL PCV2.

Results

While attenuating PCV2-induced downregulation of ZO-1 and occludin and restoring intestinal barrier function in a PCV2 Kunming mouse model, treatment with Matrine (40 mg/kg) attenuated ultrastructural damage and improved intestinal morphology. Mechanistically, Matrine reversed PCV2-induced autophagosome accumulation by inhibiting signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) phosphorylation and upregulating Beclin1 protein expression, thus resisting viral hijacking of enterocyte autophagy.

Discussion

Our findings demonstrate that Matrine may be a novel, potential antiviral agent against PCV2 by activating intestine cellular autophagy, which provides a new strategy for host-directed drug discovery.

Redox-Responsive AIEgen Diselenide-Covalent Organic Framework Composites Targeting Hepatic Macrophages for Treatment of Drug-induced Liver Injury

The escalating misuse of antipyretic and analgesic drugs, alongside the rising incidents of acute drug-induced liver injury, underscores the need for a precisely targeted drug delivery system. Herein, two isoreticular covalent organic frameworks (Se-COF and Se-BCOF) are developed by Schiff-base condensation of emissive tetraphenylethylene and diselenide-bridged monomers. Leveraging the specific affinity of macrophages for mannose, the first precise targeting of these COFs to liver macrophages is achieved. The correlation is also explored between the therapeutic effects of COFs and the NLRP3/ASC/Caspase-1 signaling pathway. Utilizing this innovative delivery vehicle, the synergistic delivery of matrine and berberine are accomplished, compounds extracted from traditional Chinese medicine. This approach not only demonstrated the synergistic effects of the drugs but also mitigated their toxicity. Notably, berberine, through phosphorylation of JNK and up-regulation of nuclear Nrf-2 and its downstream gene Mn-SOD expression, simultaneously countered excessive ROS and suppressed the activation of the NLRP3/ASC/Caspase-1 signaling pathway in injured liver tissues. This multifaceted approach proved highly effective in safeguarding against acute drug-induced liver injury, ultimately restoring liver health to normalcy. These findings present a novel and promising strategy for the treatment of acute drug-induced liver injury.

Matrine alkaloids modulating DNA damage repair in chemoresistant non-small cell lung cancer cells

BACKGROUND

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) presents a significant challenge in the medical field due to its high incidence and resistance to chemotherapy. Chemoresistance in NSCLC diminishes treatment efficacy and contributes to poor patient outcomes. Matrine alkaloids have shown promise in reversing chemotherapy resistance in NSCLC by targeting DNA repair mechanisms.

METHODS

Utilizing molecular dynamics simulations, we explored the interactions between Matrine alkaloids and DNA repair-related proteins to elucidate their impact on NSCLC cells. In vitro experiments involved treating A549/DDP cells with Matrine alkaloids to evaluate their sensitizing effects on lung cancer cells. Additionally, animal model experiments were conducted to validate the therapeutic potential of Matrine alkaloids in NSCLC treatment.

RESULTS

Our findings demonstrate that Matrine alkaloids disrupt DNA damage repair processes in NSCLC cells, leading to increased sensitivity to chemotherapy. Molecular docking studies revealed the intricate mechanisms by which Matrine alkaloids interact with DNA repair proteins, impacting cell survival and proliferation. Both cell experiments and animal models confirmed the chemosensitizing effects of Matrine alkaloids in NSCLC treatment.

CONCLUSION

Matrine alkaloids offer a promising avenue for overcoming chemotherapy resistance in NSCLC by interfering with DNA repair pathways. This study lays a solid foundation for future clinical investigations into the potential of Matrine alkaloids as effective therapeutic agents for enhancing NSCLC treatment outcomes.

Sodium Selenite Prevents Matrine-Induced Nephrotoxicity by Suppressing Ferroptosis via the GSH-GPX4 Antioxidant System

Matrine (MT), an active ingredient derived from Sophor flavescens Ait, is used as a therapeutic agent to treat liver disease and cancer. However, the serious toxic effects of MT, including nephrotoxicity, have limited its clinical application. Here, we explored the involvement of ferroptosis in MT-induced kidney injury and evaluated the potential efficacy and underlying mechanism of sodium selenite (SS) in attenuating MT-induced nephrotoxicity. We found that MT not only disrupts renal structure in mice but also induces the death of NRK-52E cells. Additionally, MT treatment resulted in significant elevations in ferrous iron, reactive oxygen species (ROS) and lipid peroxidation levels, accompanied by decreases in glutathione (GSH) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) levels. SS effectively mitigated the alterations in ferroptosis-related indicators caused by MT and prevented MT-induced nephrotoxicity as effectively as Fer-1 in vivo and in vitro. SS also reversed the MT-induced reduction in GPX4, CTH and xCT protein levels. However, the glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4) inhibitor RSL3 and knockdown of GPX4, CTH, or xCT via siRNA abolished the protective effect of SS against MT-induced nephrotoxicity, indicating that SS exhibited antiferroptotic effects via the GSH-GPX4 antioxidant system. Overall, MT-induced ferroptosis triggers nephrotoxicity, and SS is a promising therapeutic drug for alleviating MT-induced renal injury by activating the GSH-GPX4 axis.

Natural compounds combined with imatinib as promising antileukemic therapy: An updated review

Natural products (NP) have been an alternative therapy for several diseases for centuries, and they also serve as an essential source of bioactive molecules, enhancing our drug discovery capacity. Among these NP, some phytochemicals have shown multiple biological effects, including anticancer activity, with higher effectiveness and less toxicity than actual treatments, suggesting their possible use on resilient human malignancies such as leukemia. Imatinib mesylate (Im) is a selective tyrosine kinase inhibitor widely used as an anticancer drug, the gold standard to attend chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). Nevertheless, resistance to this drug in patients with CML renders it insufficient to eliminate cells with Philadelphia chromosome (BCR/ABL+). Moreover, recent studies show that imatinib can induce genotoxic and chromosomic damage in some in vitro and in vivo models. These facts urge finding new therapeutic alternatives to increase the effectiveness of antileukemic treatment. Recent research has shown that the combined effects of phytochemicals with imatinib can improve the cytotoxicity or resensitized the resistant cells to this drug in diverse leukemia cell lines. Independent mechanisms of action among phytochemicals and imatinib include BCR/ABL regulation, downregulation of transcription factors, inhibition of anti-apoptotic and activation of pro-apoptotic proteins, apoptosis induction dependent- and independent of ROS-overproduction, membrane functions disruption, induction of cell cycle arrest, and cell death. This review summarizes and discusses the synergic effect of some phytochemicals combined with imatinib on leukemia cells and the mechanism of action proposed for these combinations, looking to contribute to developing new effective alternatives for leukemia treatment.

Radix Sophorae Flavescentis of Sophora flavescens Aiton inhibits LPS-induced macrophage pro-inflammatory response via regulating CFHR2 expression

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Long-term chronic inflammation often leads to chronic diseases. Although Sophora flavescens has been shown to have anti-inflammatory properties, its detailed molecular mechanism is still unknown.

AIM OF STUDY

This study investigated the effect of Radix Sophorae Flavescentis on the LPS-induced inflammatory response in macrophages.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

LPS was used to induce the peritoneal macrophages to simulate the inflammatory environment in vitro. Different concentrations of Radix Sophorae Flavescentis-containing (medicated) serum were used for intervention. The peritoneal macrophages were identified by using hematoxylin-eosin and immunofluorescence staining. ELISA was used to measure the TNF-α and IL-6 expression to determine the concentration of LPS. ELISA and Western blot (WB) were used to detect the PGE2 and CFHR2 expression in each group, respectively. The lentiviral vector for interference and overexpression of the CFHR2 gene was constructed, packaged, and transfected into LPS-induced macrophages. The transfection efficiency was verified by WB. Then, ELISA was used to detect the TNF-α, PGE2, and IL-6 expression. WB was used to detect the CFHR2, iNOS, COX-2, TLR2, TLR4, IFN-γ, STAT1, and p-STAT1 expression.

RESULTS

The primary isolated cells were identified as macrophages. The LPS-treated macrophages exhibited significantly higher expression of PGE2 and CFHR2, and the inflammatory factors TNF-α and IL-6, as well as iNOS, COX-2, TLR2, TLR4, IFN-γ, STAT1, and p-STAT1 expression compared with the control group (P < 0.05). The TNF-α, PGE2, and IL-6 levels, as well as CFHR2, iNOS, COX-2, TLR2, TLR4, IFN-γ, STAT1, and p-STAT1 expression were considerably lower in the LPS-induced+10% medicated-serum group, LPS-induced+20% medicated-serum group, and shCFHR interference group compared with the LPS group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Radix Sophorae Flavescentis might mediate CFHR2 expression and play an important role in inhibiting the LPS-induced pro-inflammatory response of macrophages. Radix Sophorae Flavescentis could be a potential treatment for LPS-induced related inflammatory diseases.

Design, Synthesis, and Antifeedant Activity Evaluation of 13/14-Arylthioether Matrine Derivatives

Introducing a sulfur atom into active agricultural molecules is an important strategy for pesticide development. Matrine, an environmentally friendly botanical pesticide, has the advantage of being easily degraded and has drawn attention in the agricultural field. To explore the novel matrine-type pesticides, in this study, we designed and synthesized 13/14-arylthioether matrine derivatives by introducing various aryl sulfide motifs into bioactive matrine. Most of the synthesized arylthioether matrines exhibited good antifeedant activity against Spodoptera exigua. Among them, compound 2q showed the best antifeedant effect with an EC50 value of 0.038 mg/mL, which is approximately 125-fold more activity than matrine and reached the activity level of commercial standard azadirachtin A. Furthermore, compound 2q exhibited an inhibitory effect on antifeedant-related enzyme carboxylesterase (CarE) from S. exigua. In short, the high activity of arylthioether matrines offers new insights into developing new antifeedants.

Underexplored food safety hazards of beekeeping products: Key knowledge gaps and suggestions for future research

These days, a growing consumer demand and scientific interest can be observed for nutraceuticals of natural origin, including apiculture products. Due to the growing emphasis on environmental protection, extensive research has been conducted on the pesticide and heavy metal contamination of bee products; however, less attention is devoted on other food safety aspects. In our review, scientific information on the less-researched food safety hazards of honey, bee bread, royal jelly, propolis, and beeswax are summarized. Bee products originating from certain plants may inherently contain phytotoxins, like pyrrolizidine alkaloids, tropane alkaloids, matrine alkaloids, grayanotoxins, gelsemium alkaloids, or tutin. Several case studies evidence that bee products can induce allergic responses to sensitive individuals, varying from mild to severe symptoms, including the potentially lethal anaphylaxis. Exposure to high temperature or long storage may lead to the formation of the potentially toxic 5-hydroxymethylfurfural. Persistent organic pollutants, radionuclides, and microplastics can potentially be transferred to bee products from contaminated environmental sources. And lastly, inappropriate beekeeping practices can lead to the contamination of beekeeping products with harmful microorganisms and mycotoxins. Our review demonstrates the necessity of applying good beekeeping practices in order to protect honeybees and consumers of their products. An important aim of our work is to identify key knowledge gaps regarding the food safety of apiculture products.

Therapeutic potential of plant-derived natural compounds in Alzheimer's disease: Targeting microglia-mediated neuroinflammation

Microglia are resident immune cells of the central nervous system (CNS) with roles in sensing, housekeeping, and defense. Exploring the role of microglia in the occurrence and development of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and the possible therapeutic mechanism of plant-derived natural compounds (PDNCs) that regulate microglia-associated neuroinflammation may potentially help in elucidating the pathogenesis of AD and provide novel insights for its treatment. This review explores the role of abnormal microglial activation and its dominant neuroinflammatory response, as well as the activation of their target receptors and signaling pathways in AD pathogenesis. Additionally, we report an update on the potential pharmacological mechanisms of multiple PDNCs in modulating microglia-associated neuroinflammation in AD treatment. Dysregulated activation of microglial receptors and their downstream pathways impaired immune homeostasis in animal models of AD. Multiple signaling pathways, such as mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), nuclear factor kappa light chain enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB), and Toll-like receptors, play important roles in microglial activation and can exacerbate microglia-mediated neuroinflammation. PDNCs, such as magnolol, stigmasterol, matrine, naringenin, naringin, and resveratrol, can delay the progression of AD by inhibiting the proinflammatory receptors of microglia, activating its anti-inflammatory receptors, regulating the receptors related to β-amyloid (Aβ) clearance, reversing immune dysregulation, and maintaining the immune homeostasis of microglial downstream pathways. This review summarizes the mechanisms by which microglia cause chronic inflammation in AD and evaluates the beneficial effects of PDNCs on immune regulation in AD by regulating microglial receptors and their downstream pathways.

Oral matrine alleviates CCl4-induced liver fibrosis via preserved HSP72 from modulated gut microbiota

Hepatic fibrosis is intricately associated with dysregulation of gut microbiota and host metabolomes. Our previous studies have demonstrated that matrine can effectively reduce hepatosteatosis and associated disorders. However, it is poorly understood whether the gut microbiota involved in the attenuation of liver fibrosis by matrine. Herein we explored a novel mechanism of how oral administration of matrine alleviates liver fibrosis by modulating gut microbiota. Administration of matrine not only potently ameliorated liver fibrosis in carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced mice, but also significantly preserved hepatic heat shock protein 72 (HSP72) in vivo and in vitro. Matrine was failed to reduce liver fibrosis when HSP72 upregulation was blocked by the HSP72 antagonist VER-155008. Also, consumption of matrine significantly alleviated gut dysbiosis and fecal metabonomic changes in CCl4-treated mice. Transplanted the faces of matrine-treated mice induced a remarkable upregulation of HSP72 and remission of fibrosis in liver in CCl4-exposed mice and inhibition of TGF-β1-induced inflammatory response and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in AML-12 cells. Furthermore, deficiency of HSP72 partly reversed the intestinal microbial composition that prevented matrine from reducing CCl4-induced liver fibrosis in mice. This study reveals the "gut microbiota-hepatic HSP72" axis as a key mechanism of matrine in reducing liver fibrosis and suggest that this axis may be targeted for developing other new therapies for liver fibrosis.

Recent developments and new directions in the use of natural products for the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease

BACKGROUND

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) represents a significant global health challenge, and there is an urgent need to explore novel therapeutic interventions. Natural products have demonstrated highly promising effectiveness in the treatment of IBD.

PURPOSE

This study systematically reviews the latest research advancements in leveraging natural products for IBD treatment.

METHODS

This manuscript strictly adheres to the PRISMA guidelines. Relevant literature on the effects of natural products on IBD was retrieved from the PubMed, Web of Science and Cochrane Library databases using the search terms "natural product," "inflammatory bowel disease," "colitis," "metagenomics", "target identification", "drug delivery systems", "polyphenols," "alkaloids," "terpenoids," and so on. The retrieved data were then systematically summarized and reviewed.

RESULTS

This review assessed the different effects of various natural products, such as polyphenols, alkaloids, terpenoids, quinones, and others, in the treatment of IBD. While these natural products offer promising avenues for IBD management, they also face challenges in terms of clinical translation and drug discovery. The advent of metagenomics, single-cell sequencing, target identification techniques, drug delivery systems, and other cutting-edge technologies heralds a new era in overcoming these challenges.

CONCLUSION

This paper provides an overview of current research progress in utilizing natural products for the treatment of IBD, exploring how contemporary technological innovations can aid in discovering and harnessing bioactive natural products for the treatment of IBD.

Natural products reverse cisplatin resistance in the hypoxic tumor microenvironment

Cisplatin is one of the most commonly used drugs for cancer treatment. Despite much progress in improving patient outcomes, many patients are resistant to cisplatin-based treatments, leading to limited treatment efficacy and increased treatment failure. The fact that solid tumors suffer from hypoxia and an inadequate blood supply in the tumor microenvironment has been widely accepted for decades. Numerous studies have shown that a hypoxic microenvironment significantly reduces the sensitivity of tumor cells to cisplatin. Therefore, understanding how hypoxia empowers tumor cells with cisplatin resistance is essential. In the fight against tumors, developing innovative strategies for overcoming drug resistance has attracted widespread interest. Natural products have historically made major contributions to anticancer drug research due to their obvious efficacy and abundant candidate resources. Intriguingly, natural products show the potential to reverse chemoresistance, which provides new insights into cisplatin resistance in the hypoxic tumor microenvironment. In this review, we describe the role of cisplatin in tumor therapy and the mechanisms by which tumor cells generate cisplatin resistance. Subsequently, we call attention to the linkage between the hypoxic microenvironment and cisplatin resistance. Furthermore, we summarize known and potential natural products that target the hypoxic tumor microenvironment to overcome cisplatin resistance. Finally, we discuss the current challenges that limit the clinical application of natural products. Understanding the link between hypoxia and cisplatin resistance is the key to unlocking the full potential of natural products, which will serve as new therapeutic strategies capable of overcoming resistance.

The mechanism of Traditional Mongolian medicine Daruqi particles on inflammation

Daruqi is a Traditional Mongolian medicine with anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, and immune-regulatory effects. However, the mechanisms of its activity were unclear. In the present study, we confirmed the anti-inflammation effect of Daruqi on inflammation induced by LPS using animal models. Then, THP-1 cells treated with LPS was used as a positive control to explore the effective component of Daruqi on inflammation. We identified that Oxymatrine was the essential effector of Daruqi. Furthermore, the mechanism of Oxymatrine on inflammation was verified through proteomics analyses and validation assays. Our results demonstrated that Oxymatrine significantly reduced the levels of inflammatory cytokine, including IL-8, IL-1α, and IL-1β, in LPS induced THP-1 cells. Based on tandem mass tag -labeled quantitative proteomics, 428 differentially expressed proteins were screened, involved in TNF signaling pathway, Ferroptosis, IL-17 signaling pathway, etc. Among these differential expressed proteins (DEPs), 23 proteins were verified with parallel reaction monitoring analysis. The results showed that LPS treatment potentiated the protein level of PLEK, ACSL5 and CYBB, which could be reversed by Oxymatrine. By contrast, the protein expression of SPRYD4 and EMR2 was suppressed after LPS treatment, which could be rescued by Oxymatrine. In summary, Oxymatrine has excellent protective effects in LPS induced THP-1 cells. The five proteins, including PLEK, ACSL5, CYBB, SPRYD4 and EMR2, might serve as the targets of Oxymatrine, and as candidates regulating inflammation in future therapies.

Quantitative Proteomics Reveal the Role of Matrine in Regulating Lipid Metabolism

Hyperlipidemia (HLP) is a prevalent systemic metabolic disorder characterized by disrupted lipid metabolism. Statin drugs have long been the primary choice for managing lipid levels, but intolerance issues have prompted the search for alternative treatments. Matrine, a compound derived from the traditional Chinese medicine Kushen, exhibits anti-inflammatory and lipid-lowering properties. Nevertheless, the mechanism by which matrine modulates lipid metabolism remains poorly understood. Here, we investigated the molecular mechanisms underlying matrine's regulation of lipid metabolism. Employing quantitative proteomics, we discovered that matrine increases the expression of LDL receptor (LDLR) in HepG2 and A549 cells, with subsequent experiments validating its role in enhancing LDL uptake. Notably, in hyperlipidemic hamsters, matrine effectively lowered lipid levels without affecting body weight, which highlights LDLR as a critical target for matrine's impact on HLP. Moreover, matrine's potential inhibitory effects on tumor cell LDL uptake hint at broader applications in cancer research. Additionally, thermal proteome profiling analysis identified lipid metabolism-related proteins that may interact with matrine. Together, our study reveals matrine's capacity to upregulate LDLR expression and highlights its potential in treating HLP. These findings offer insights into matrine's mechanism of action and open new avenues for drug research and lipid metabolism regulation.

Matrine induces cardiotoxicity by promoting ferroptosis through the Nrf2 antioxidant system in H9c2 cells

Matrine (MT) has shown promising efficacy in various cancers and chronic hepatitis; however, its clinical application is limited because of its side effects. Our previous studies have indicated that MT can induce severe hepatotoxicity and nephrotoxicity. The current study aimed to investigate its cardiotoxicity and potential underlying mechanisms in H9c2 cells. Our results showed that MT induced H9c2 cell death and disrupted the cellular membrane integrity. Moreover, MT decreased glutathione (GSH) and cysteine (Cys) levels, and increased Fe2+, lipid peroxidation, reactive oxygen species (ROS), and MDA levels, ultimately leading to ferroptosis. Interestingly, these phenomena were alleviated by the ferroptosis inhibitor Fer-1, whereas MT-induced ferroptosis was exacerbated by the ferroptosis agonist RSL3. In addition, MT significantly reduced FTH, Nrf2, xCT, GPX4, and FSP1 protein levels and inhibited the transcriptional activity of Nrf2 while increasing TFR1 protein levels. Supplementation with Nrf2 agonist (Dimethyl fumarate, DMF) or selenium (Sodium selenite, SS) and CoQ10 alleviated MT-induced cytotoxic effects in H9c2 cells. These results suggest that ferroptosis, which is mediated by an imbalance in the Nrf2 antioxidant system, is involved in MT-induced cardiac toxicity.

A review on the pharmacology, pharmacokinetics and toxicity of sophocarpine

Sophocarpine is a natural compound that belongs to the quinolizidine alkaloid family, and has a long history of use and widespread distribution in traditional Chinese herbal medicines such as Sophora alopecuroides L., Sophora flavescens Ait., and Sophora subprostrata. This article aims to summarize the pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, and toxicity of sophocarpine, evaluate its potential pharmacological effects in various diseases, and propose the necessity for further research and evaluation to promote its clinical application. A large number of studies have shown that it has anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antiviral, antiparasitic, anticancer, endocrine regulatory, and organ-protective effects as it modulates various signaling pathways, such as the NF-κB, MAPK, PI3K/AKT, and AMPK pathways. The distribution of sophocarpine in the body conforms to a two-compartment model, and sophocarpine can be detected in various tissues with a relatively short half-life. Although the pharmacological effects of sophocarpine have been confirmed, toxicity and safety assessments and reports on molecular mechanisms of its pharmacological actions have been limited. Given its significant pharmacological effects and potential clinical value, further research and evaluation are needed to promote the clinical application of sophocarpine.

Self-Assembled Matrine-PROTAC Encapsulating Zinc(II) Phthalocyanine with GSH-Depletion-Enhanced ROS Generation for Cancer Therapy

The integration of a multidimensional treatment dominated by active ingredients of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), including enhanced chemotherapy and synergistically amplification of oxidative damage, into a nanoplatform would be of great significance for furthering accurate and effective cancer treatment with the active ingredients of TCM. Herein, in this study, we designed and synthesized four matrine-proteolysis-targeting chimeras (PROTACs) (depending on different lengths of the chains named LST-1, LST-2, LST-3, and LST-4) based on PROTAC technology to overcome the limitations of matrine. LST-4, with better anti-tumor activity than matrine, still degrades p-Erk and p-Akt proteins. Moreover, LST-4 NPs formed via LST-4 self-assembly with stronger anti-tumor activity and glutathione (GSH) depletion ability could be enriched in lysosomes through their outstanding enhanced permeability and retention (EPR) effect. Then, we synthesized LST-4@ZnPc NPs with a low-pH-triggered drug release property that could release zinc(II) phthalocyanine (ZnPc) in tumor sites. LST-4@ZnPc NPs combine the application of chemotherapy and phototherapy, including both enhanced chemotherapy from LST-4 NPs and the synergistic amplification of oxidative damage, through increasing the reactive oxygen species (ROS) by photodynamic therapy (PDT), causing an GSH decrease via LST-4 mediation to effectively kill tumor cells. Therefore, multifunctional LST-4@ZnPc NPs are a promising method for killing cancer cells, which also provides a new paradigm for using natural products to kill tumors.

The anti-inflammatory activity of flavonoids and alkaloids from Sophora flavescens alleviates psoriasiform lesions: Prenylation and methoxylation beneficially enhance bioactivity and skin targeting

The herb Sophora flavescens displays anti-inflammatory activity and can provide a source of antipsoriatic medications. We aimed to evaluate whether S. flavescens extracts and compounds can relieve psoriasiform inflammation. The ability of flavonoids (maackiain, sophoraflavanone G, leachianone A) and alkaloids (matrine, oxymatrine) isolated from S. flavescens to inhibit production of cytokine/chemokines was examined in keratinocytes and macrophages. Physicochemical properties and skin absorption were determined by in silico molecular modeling and the in vitro permeation test (IVPT) to establish the structure-permeation relationship (SPR). The ethyl acetate extract exhibited higher inhibition of interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, and CXCL1 production in tumor necrosis factor-α-stimulated keratinocytes compared to the ethanol and water extracts. The flavonoids demonstrated higher cytokine/chemokine inhibition than alkaloids, with the prenylated flavanones (sophoraflavanone G, leachianone A) led to the highest suppression. Flavonoids exerted anti-inflammatory effects via the extracellular signal-regulated kinase, p38, activator protein-1, and nuclear factor-κB signaling pathways. In the IVPT, prenylation of the flavanone skeleton significantly promoted skin absorption from 0.01 to 0.22 nmol/mg (sophoraflavanone G vs. eriodictyol). Further methoxylation of a prenylated flavanone (leachianone A) elevated skin absorption to 2.65 nmol/mg. Topical leachianone A reduced the epidermal thickness in IMQ-treated mice by 47%, and inhibited cutaneous scaling and cytokine/chemokine overexpression at comparable levels to a commercial betamethasone product. Thus, prenylation and methoxylation of S. flavescens flavanones may enable the design of novel antipsoriatic agents.

Matrine and icariin can inhibit bovine viral diarrhoea virus replication by promoting type I interferon response in vitro

Introduction

Bovine viral diarrhoea virus (BVDV) can cause diarrhoea (BVD) in an animal herd, leading to heavy economic losses. There are limited drugs available for treating and controlling BVD. This research aims to investigate the antiviral and immunoregulatory effects of two traditional Chinese herb extracts against BVDV infection. The extracts are matrine and icariin, which have been proved to have immunostimulant and antiviral effects.

Material and Methods

A cell counting kit-8 assay was used to analyse the toxicity of matrine and icariin to Madin-Darby bovine kidney (MDBK) cells. The model of MDBK cells infected with BVDV was utilised to uncover the antiviral mechanism of matrine and icariin, which along with their immunoregulatory ability was evaluated by quantitative reverse-transcription PCR and ELISA.

Results

The results showed that matrine and icariin can significantly inhibit the gene expression level of the BVDV 5' untranslated region through various pathways. Both matrine and icariin can statistically upregulate the gene expression level of interferon alpha, interferon beta (IFN-β), toll-like receptor 3, retinoic acid-inducible gene I and interferon regulatory factor 3, and raise the concentration of IFN-β after BVDV infection.

Conclusion

This study proves that both matrine and icariin have inhibitory effects on BVDV replication by activating IFN production and the IFN signalling pathway. The finding is promising and should open up the possibility of larger-scale in vitro research followed by in vivo experiments evaluating matrine and icariin as therapeutic agents in BVD cases.

EGFR-Activated JAK2/STAT3 Pathway Confers Neuroprotection in Spinal Cord Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury: Evidence from High-Throughput Sequencing and Experimental Models

This study aimed to investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying spinal cord ischemia-reperfusion (SCI/R) injury. Through RNA-Seq high-throughput sequencing and bioinformatics analysis, we found that EGFR was downregulated in the spinal cord of SCI/R mice and may function via mediating the JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway. In vitro cell experiments indicated that overexpression of EGFR activated the JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway and reduced neuronal apoptosis levels. In vivo animal experiments further confirmed this conclusion, suggesting that EGFR inhibits SCI/R-induced neuronal apoptosis by activating the JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway, thereby improving SCI/R-induced spinal cord injury in mice. This study revealed the molecular mechanisms of SCI/R injury and provided new therapeutic strategies for treating neuronal apoptosis.

Improvement of the Thermal Stability and Aqueous Solubility of Three Matrine Salts Assembled by the Similar Structure Salt Formers

Matrine (MAT), a natural Chinese herbal medicine, has a unique advantage in the treatment of various chronic diseases. However, its low melting point, low bioavailability, and high dosage restrict its subsequent development into new drugs. In this study, three kinds of MAT salts, namely, MAT-2,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid (MAT-25DHB), MAT-2,6-dihydroxybenzoic acid (MAT-26DHB), and MAT-salicylic acid-hydrate (MAT-SAL-H2O), were designed and synthesized to improve the drugability of MAT. The three salts were characterized by using various analytical techniques, including single-crystal X-ray diffractometry, powder X-ray diffractometry, differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetry, and infrared spectroscopy. The results of the thermal stability evaluation showed that the formation of salts improved the stability of MAT; MAT-25DHB is the most stable salt reported at present. The results of aqueous solubility showed that the solubility of MAT-25DHB was higher than that of MAT, while that of MAT-26DHB and MAT-SAL-H2O were less. Given that the MAT-25DHB salt further improved the solubility of MAT, it is expected to be subjected to further research as an optimized salt. Lattice energy and solvation free energy are important factors affecting the solubility of salts; the reasons for the changes of solubility and stability of three kinds of salts are explained by calculating them.

Pharmacokinetic, Tissue Distribution, Metabolite, and Toxicity Evaluation of the Matrine Derivative, (6aS, 10S, 11aR, 11bR, 11cS)-10-Methylaminododecahydro-3a, 7a-Diaza-benzo (de) Anthracene-8-thione

MASM, a structurally modified derivative of matrine, exhibits superior efficacy in reducing inflammation and liver injury in rats when compared to matrine. This study aims to investigate the pharmacokinetic profile and acute toxicity of MASM. Pharmacokinetic results revealed that MASM exhibited rapid absorption, with a Tmax ranging from 0.21 ± 0.04 h to 1.31 ± 0.53 h, and was eliminated slowly, with a t1/2 of approximately 10 h regardless of the route of administration (intravenous, intraperitoneal, or intragastric). The absolute intragastric bioavailability of MASM in rats was determined to be 44.50%, which was significantly higher than that of matrine (18.5%). MASM was detected in all rat tissues including the brain, and through the utilization of stable isotope-labeled compounds and standard references, ten metabolites of MASM, namely sophocarpine, oxysophocarpine, and oxymatrine, were tentatively identified. The LD50 of MASM in mice was determined to be 94.25 mg/kg, surpassing that of matrine (83.21 mg/kg) based on acute toxicity results. Histopathological and biochemical analysis indicated no significant alterations in the primary organs of the low- to medium-dosage groups of MASM. These findings provide valuable insights into the efficacy and toxicity profile of MASM.

Mechanism Research of PZD Inhibiting Lung Cancer Cell Proliferation, Invasion, and Migration based on Network Pharmacology

BACKGROUND

A classic Chinese medicine decoction, Pinellia ternata (Thunb.) Breit.-Zingiber officinale Roscoe (Ban-Xia and Sheng-Jiang in Chinese) decoction (PZD), has shown significant therapeutic effects on lung cancer.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to explore and elucidate the mechanism of action of PZD on lung cancer using network pharmacology methods.

METHODS

Active compounds were selected according to the ADME parameters recorded in the TCMSP database. Potential pathways related to genes were identified through GO and KEGG analysis. The compoundtarget network was constructed by using Cytoscape 3.7.1 software, and the core common targets were obtained by protein-protein interaction (PPI) network analysis. Batch molecular docking of small molecule compounds and target proteins was carried out by using the AutoDock Vina program. Different concentrations of PZD water extracts (10, 20, 40, 80, and 160 μg/mL) were used on lung cancer cells. Moreover, MTT and Transwell experiments were conducted to validate the prominent therapeutic effects of PZD on lung cancer cell H1299.

RESULTS

A total of 381 components in PZD were screened, of which 16 were selected as bioactive compounds. The compound-target network consisting of 16 compounds and 79 common core targets was constructed. MTT experiment showed that the PZD extract could inhibit the cell proliferation of NCI-H1299 cells, and the IC50 was calculated as 97.34 ± 6.14 μg/mL. Transwell and wound-healing experiments showed that the PZD could significantly decrease cell migration and invasion at concentrations of 80 and 160 μg/mL, respectively. The in vitro experiments confirmed that PZD had significant therapeutic effects on lung cancer cells, mainly through the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway.

CONCLUSION

PZD could inhibit the cell proliferation, migration, and invasion of NCI-H1299 cells partially through the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. These findings suggested that PZD might be a potential treatment strategy for lung cancer patients.

Matrine alleviates hypoxia-induced inflammation and pulmonary vascular remodelling via RPS5/NF-κB signalling pathway

Hypoxia-induced vasoconstriction and vascular remodelling are the main pathological features of hypoxic pulmonary arterial hypertension (HPAH), and inflammation is participated in the occurrence of pulmonary vascular remodelling (PVR). Matrine is an alkaloid with the effects of anti-inflammation, antifibrosis and antitumour. But, few studies have explored the role of matrine in regulating PVR, and the related mechanisms are still unknown. In this study, we found that hypoxia-induced pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (PASMCs) proliferation and inhibited its apoptosis, reduced the expression of ribosomal protein s5 and activated the nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB) signalling. Matrine, sildenafil and NF-κB inhibitor Bay 11-7082 could reverse these changes and impel the cell cycle in phase S retardation, and reduced the expression of p50, p65, proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), Bcl-2. In addition, matrine could lower right ventricular systolic pressure and mean pulmonary artery pressure of rats, α-smooth muscle actin and PCNA expression in pulmonary artery media, the levels of tumor necrosis factor-α and interleuki-1β, thus improved hypoxia-induced PVR. This study indicated that matrine could alleviate inflammation and improve PVR through reversing the imbalance of proliferation and apoptosis of PASMCs, thus it had a therapeutic effect on HPAH.

Machine Learning Algorithms Identify Target Genes and the Molecular Mechanism of Matrine against Diffuse Large B-cell Lymphoma

BACKGROUND

Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is the most common type of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma worldwide. Novel treatment strategies are still needed for this disease.

OBJECTIVE

The present study aimed to systematically explore the potential targets and molecular mechanisms of matrine in the treatment of DLBCL.

METHODS

Potential matrine targets were collected from multiple platforms. Microarray data and clinical characteristics of DLBCL were downloaded from publicly available database. Differential expression analysis and weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) were applied to identify the hub genes of DLBCL using R software. Then, the shared target genes between matrine and DLBCL were identified as the potential targets of matrine against DLBCL. The least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) algorithm was used to determine the final core target genes, which were further verified by molecular docking simulation and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. Functional analysis was also performed to elucidate the potential mechanisms.

RESULTS

A total of 222 matrine target genes and 1269 DLBCL hub genes were obtained through multiple databases and machine learning algorithms. From the nine shared target genes of matrine and DLBCL, five final core target genes, including CTSL, NR1H2, PDPK1, MDM2, and JAK3, were identified. Molecular docking showed that the binding of matrine to the core genes was stable. ROC curves also suggested close associations between the core genes and DLBCL. Additionally, functional analysis showed that the therapeutic effect of matrine against DLBCL may be related to the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway.

CONCLUSION

Matrine may target five genes and the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway in DLBCL treatment.

Matrine induces ferroptosis in cervical cancer through activation of piezo1 channel

BACKGROUND

Cervical cancer, which is a significant public health concern in women, currently lacks effective therapeutic drugs. Matrine, a constituent of the traditional Chinese herb Sophora flavescentis Radix, is known for its anti-cervical cancer properties and ability to induce programmed cell death. The induction of cancer cell ferroptosis, which is a novel cell death pattern, can become an effective clinical therapy for tumor in the future. However, the effect of matrine on ferroptosis in cervical cancer remains to be elucidated.

PURPOSE

In this study, we investigated whether matrine induces ferroptosis in cervical cancer and elucidated the underlying mechanisms.

METHODS

We established an SiHa-derived tumor-bearing mouse model using CB17 severe combined immunodeficient (SCID) mice and administered a group of matrine (25, 50, and 75 mg/kg) and cisplatin (2 mg/kg). We meticulously tracked alterations in body weight and tumor size and evaluated liver and kidney health using haematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining. Using Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) Dataset (GSE201309), we evaluated the relationship between the effects of matrine on malignant tumor cells and ferroptosis. In vitro, tetrazolium-based colorimetric (MTT), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and colony formation assays were used to study the effects of matrine on SiHa cell activity and cytotoxicity. We assessed ferroptosis-related protein abundance using western blotting and ferroptosis-related indices in cells using confocal immunofluorescence microscopy. The interaction of matrine with a protein linked to ferroptosis was studied using cellular thermal shift assay (CETSA). The effects of matrine on Piezo1 expression were investigated using calcium imaging. We also used Piezo1-specific siRNA to explore the role of Piezo1 in ferroptosis.

RESULTS

Matrine administration effectively inhibited tumor growth in a SiHa-derived tumor-bearing mouse model without inducing noticeable harm. The analysis results of GEO data set show matrine-induced effects in tumor cells were indeed involved in the process of ferroptosis. Treatment with matrine resulted in a significant reduction in GPX4 protein levels and a concurrent increase in lipid peroxide and Fe2+ content, suggesting matrine-induced modulation of ferroptosis. Matrine promoted SiHa cell death in vitro, as evidenced by the results of MTT and LDH assays. Cell death coincides with increases in intracellular Fe2+, reactive oxygen species (ROS), and lipid peroxides. Our study also revealed significant upregulation of Piezo1 expression through the action of matrine, whereas transferrin receptor (Tfr) and System Xc- (xCT) expression and interaction remained unaffected. We provided further evidence that matrine induces calcium influx through the Piezo1 channel, thereby potentially influencing ferroptosis. Transfection with Piezo1 siRNA reversed the effects of matrine in SiHa cell.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings indicate that matrine exerts a protective effect against cervical cancer by inducing ferroptosis through the activation of Piezo1, but not xCT or Tfr.

Matrine suppresses liver cancer progression and the Warburg effect by regulating the circROBO1/miR-130a-5p/ROBO1 axis

Matrine, an effective component extracted from the traditional Chinese herb, Sophora flavescens, has been indicated to exert antitumor activity in different types of cancer. However, the role and precise mechanism of matrine in the progression of liver cancer remains largely unclear. Cell viability, cell proliferation, cell apoptosis, and Warburg effect were estimated by cell counting kit-8 assay, colony formation assay, flow cytometry assay, and glucose uptake and lactate production assay, respectively. The candidate Circular RNAs (circRNAs) were screened by integrating the Gene Expression Omnibus database (GSE155949) analysis with the online program GEO2R. A quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction was employed to test the expression of circRNA circROBO1, microRNA miR-130a-5p, and roundabout homolog 1 (ROBO1). The interaction of circROBO1/miR-130a-5p/ROBO1 axis was predicted and confirmed by bioinformatics analysis, a dual-luciferase reporter assay, and an RNA pull-down assay. A xenograft mouse model was employed to reveal the role of matrine in vivo. Matrine repressed liver cancer cell viability, proliferation, and Warburg effect, but increased cell apoptosis in vitro. CircROBO1 and ROBO1 were upregulated, but miR-130a-5p was downregulated in liver cancer tissues. Additionally, matrine could reduce the expression of circROBO1 and ROBO1, and increase the expression of miR-130a-5p. Mechanically, overexpression of circROBO1 partly recovered the effect of matrine on liver cancer cell viability, proliferation, apoptosis, and Warburg effect by regulating the miR-130a-5p/ROBO1 axis. Matrine impeded liver cancer development by mediating the circROBO1/miR-130a-5p/ROBO1 axis, which provided a theoretical basis for the application of matrine as an effective anticancer drug for liver cancer.

Matrine disrupts Nrf2/GPX4 antioxidant system and promotes hepatocyte ferroptosis

Matrine (MT) is an alkaloid isolated from Sophora flavescens with various bioactivities and is widely used clinically. However, the broader its clinical use, the greater its toxicity concerns. We investigate the role of ferroptosis in MT-induced liver injury caused by an imbalance in the antioxidant pathway. Our results showed that MT could cause pathological changes in liver tissues and lead to a significant reduction in L02 cell viability. MT also reduced superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione (GSH), increased malondialdehyde (MDA), reactive oxygen species (ROS), and lipid peroxidation levels, and disrupted iron homeostasis, leading to ferroptosis. In addition, MT decreased the protein levels of FTH, Nrf2, xCT, GPX4, HO-1 and ferroptosis suppressor protein 1 (FSP1) and increased the protein levels of TRF1 and DMT1, characteristic indicators of ferroptosis. Interestingly, the cytotoxic effects of MT were alleviated by ferroptosis inhibitor, Nrf2 agonist, or selenium supplementation. These results revealed that MT triggers hepatocyte ferroptosis by inhibiting the Nrf2/GPX4 antioxidant system.

Research Progress of Natural Matrine Compounds and Synthetic Matrine Derivatives

Matrine is a quinoline alkaloid extracted and separated from the dried root, fruit, and other parts of the plant Sophora flavescens using an organic solvent. Matrine exhibits a variety of biological activities and is widely used in pharmacy, agronomy, and other fields. Due to its low bioavailability, poor chemical stability, and toxicity to the central nervous system, a large number of researchers have searched for matrine derivatives with higher biological activity and safety by modifying its structure. In this review article, the research progress of matrine derivatives obtained using two methods (extraction from Sophora flavescens and structural modifications) from 2018 to 2022 in terms of pharmacological activity, mechanism of action, and structure-activity relationship are presented. The modification of matrine over the past five years has been mainly on the D-ring. Many new matrine alkaloids have been extracted from natural products, some of which have good pharmacological activity, which broadens the strategy for matrine structural modification in the future.

Design, Synthesis and Various Bioactivity of Acylhydrazone-Containing Matrine Analogues

Compounds with acylhydrazone fragments contain amide and imine groups that can act as electron donors and acceptors, so they are easier to bind to biological targets and thus generally exhibit significant biological activity. In this work, acylhydrazone fragments were introduced to the C-14 or C-11 position of matrine, a natural alkaloid, aiming to enhance their biological activities. The result of this bioassay showed that many synthesized compounds exhibited excellent anti-virus activity against the tobacco mosaic virus (TMV). Seventeen out of 25 14-acylhydrazone matrine derivatives and 17 out of 20 11-butanehydrazone matrine derivatives had a higher inhibitory activity against TMV than the commercial antiviral agent Ribavirin (the in vitro activity, in vivo inactivation, curative and protection activities at 500 µg/mL were 40.9, 36.5 ± 0.9, 38.0 ± 1.6 and 35.1 ± 2.2%, respectively), and four 11-butanehydrazone matrine derivatives even had similar to or higher activity than the most efficient antiviral agent Ningnanmycin (55.4, 57.8 ± 1.4, 55.3 ± 0.5 and 60.3 ± 1.2% at 500 µg/mL for the above four test modes). Among them, the N-benzyl-11-butanehydrazone of matrine formed with 4-bromoindole-3-carboxaldehyde exhibited the best anti-TMV activity (65.8, 71.8 ± 2.8, 66.8 ± 1.3 and 69.5 ± 3.1% at 500 µg/mL; 29, 33.5 ± 0.7, 24.1 ± 0.2 and 30.3 ± 0.6% at 100 µg/mL for the above four test modes), deserving further investigation as an antiviral agent. Other than these, the two series of acylhydrazone-containing matrine derivatives were evaluated for their insecticidal and fungicidal activities. Several compounds were found to have good insecticidal activities against diamondback moth (Plutella xylostella) and mosquito larvae (Culex pipiens pallens), showing broad biological activities.

Design, synthesis and biological evaluation of matrine-dithiocarbamate hybrids as potential anticancer agents

A series of novel matrine-dithiocarbamate (DTC) hybrids were efficiently synthesised from matrine through a three-step sequence involving basic hydrolysis, esterification, and DTC formation. They were evaluated for their in vitro cytotoxic potency on several human cancer and normal cells. All matrine-DTC hybrids were much more toxic against the human hepatoma cell line HepG2 than the parent matrine. Hybrid 4l (IC₅₀ = 31.39 μM) was the most potent compound against HepG2 cells, being 156- and 3-fold more toxic than matrine (IC₅₀ > 4900 μM) and the reference vincristine (VCR, IC₅₀ = 93.67 μM), respectively. Moreover, hybrid 4l was less toxic to normal human embryonic kidney cell line HEK-293T, with a higher selectivity index (SI, HEK-293T/HepG2 ≈ 6) than matrine (SI ≈ 1) and VCR (SI ≈ 1). The structure-activity relationship analysis indicated that selectivity was greatly boosted when 4-(trifluoromethyl)benzyl was incorporated into the hybrids (4f and 4l). In addition, the hybrid 4l was also highly toxic to the other five types of human cancer cells (Calu-1, SK-BR-3, HUH-7, 786-O and SK-OV-3; IC₅₀ = 44.18-112.19 μM), whereas it was relatively less toxic to the corresponding normal cells (WI-38, LX-2, HEK-293T and KGN; IC₅₀ = 81.48-195.17 μM). Further mechanistic studies showed that hybrid 4l induced apoptosis in a concentration-dependent manner in HepG2 cells. Our results demonstrate that the cytotoxic activity of matrine can be highly enhanced by hybridisation with DTC. Hybrid 4l has promising applications in anticancer drug development.

The pivotal role of JAK/STAT and IRS/PI3K signaling pathways in neurodegenerative diseases: Mechanistic approaches to polyphenols and alkaloids

BACKGROUND

Neurodegenerative diseases (NDDs) are characterized by progressive neuronal dysfunctionality which results in disability and human life-threatening events. In recent decades, NDDs are on the rise. Besides, conventional drugs have not shown potential effectiveness to attenuate the complications of NDDs. So, exploring novel therapeutic agents is an urgent need to combat such disorders. Accordingly, growing evidence indicates that polyphenols and alkaloids are promising natural candidates, possessing several beneficial pharmacological effects against diseases. Considering the complex pathophysiological mechanisms behind NDDs, Janus kinase (JAK), insulin receptor substrate (IRS), phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K), and signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) seem to play critical roles during neurodegeneration/neuroregeneration. In this line, modulation of the JAK/STAT and IRS/PI3K signaling pathways and their interconnected mediators by polyphenols/alkaloids could play pivotal roles in combating NDDs, including Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD), Huntington's disease (HD), stroke, aging, multiple sclerosis (MS), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), depression and other neurological disorders.

PURPOSE

Thus, the present study aimed to investigate the neuroprotective roles of polyphenols/alkaloids as multi-target natural products against NDDs which are critically passing through the modulation of the JAK/STAT and IRS/PI3K signaling pathways.

STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS

A systematic and comprehensive review was performed to highlight the modulatory roles of polyphenols and alkaloids on the JAK/STAT and IRS/PI3K signaling pathways in NDDs, according to the PRISMA guideline, using scholarly electronic databases, including Scopus, PubMed, ScienceDirect, and associated reference lists.

RESULTS

In the present study 141 articles were included from a total of 1267 results. The results showed that phenolic compounds such as curcumin, epigallocatechin-3-gallate, and quercetin, and alkaloids such as berberine could be introduced as new strategies in combating NDDs through JAK/STAT and IRS/PI3K signaling pathways. This is the first systematic review that reveals the correlation between the JAK/STAT and IRS/PI3K axis which is targeted by phytochemicals in NDDs. Hence, this review highlighted promising insights into the neuroprotective potential of polyphenols and alkaloids through the JAK/STAT and IRS/PI3K signaling pathway and interconnected mediators toward neuroprotection.

CONCLUSION

Amongst natural products, phenolic compounds and alkaloids are multi-targeting agents with the most antioxidants and anti-inflammatory effects possessing the potential of combating NDDs with high efficacy and lower toxicity. However, additional reports are needed to prove the efficacy and possible side effects of natural products.

Novel Matrine Derivatives as Potential Larvicidal Agents against Aedes albopictus: Synthesis, Biological Evaluation, and Mechanistic Analysis

A large number of studies have shown that matrine (MA) possesses various pharmacological activities and is one of the few natural, plant-derived pesticides with the highest prospects for promotion and application. Fifty-eight MA derivatives were prepared, including 10 intermediates and 48 target compounds in 3 series, to develop novel mosquitocidal agents. Compounds 4b, 4e, 4f, 4m, 4n, 6e, 6k, 6m, and 6o showed good larvicidal activity against Aedes albopictus, which is both a highly aggressive mosquito and an important viral vector that can transmit a wide range of pathogens. Dipping methods and a bottle bioassay were used for insecticidal activity evaluation. The LC50 values of 4e, 4m, and 6m reached 147.65, 140.08, and 205.79 μg/mL, respectively, whereas the LC50 value of MA was 659.34 μg/mL. Structure–activity relationship analysis demonstrated that larvicidal activity could be improved by the unsaturated heterocyclic groups introduced into the carboxyl group after opening the D ring. The MA derivatives with oxidized N-1 lost their mosquitocidal activities, indicating that the bareness of N-1 is crucial to maintain their anti-mosquito activity. However, the activity was not greatly influenced by introducing a cyan group at C-6 or a benzene sulfonyl group at N-16. Additionally, compounds 4e and 4m exhibited good inhibitory activities against acetylcholinesterase with inhibitory rates of 59.12% and 54.30%, respectively, at a concentration of 250 μg/mL, whereas the inhibitory rate of MA was 9.88%. Therefore, the structural modification and mosquitocidal activity of MA and its derivatives obtained here pave the way for those seeking strong mosquitocidal agents of plant origin.

Establishment of Residual Methods for Matrine in Quinoa Plants and Soil and the Effect on Soil Bacterial Community and Composition

A method was developed for the determination of matrine residues in quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.) plants and soil by liquid chromatography triple quadrupole tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) with QuEChERS clean-up. Matrine from soil, quinoa roots, stems, leaves and seeds was extracted with 25% ammonia, 20 mL acetonitrile/methanol, salted with sodium chloride (NaCl) and purified with anhydrous magnesium sulfate (MgSO₄), N-propyl ethylenediamine (PSA) and graphitized carbon black (GCB). Then a chromatographic separation was performed on a Shim-pack XR-ODS II (75 mm × 2.0 mm, i. d., 2.2 µm) column with a gradient elution of 5 mmol/L ammonium formate-methanol as the mobile phase and monitored in multiple reaction monitoring modes (MRM) in electrospray positive ionization mode. The results showed that in the range of 0.005~1 mg/L, the linear correlation coefficients of matrine in the five matrices were all above 0.999. The LOQs for soil, quinoa roots, stems, leaves and seeds were 0.005, 0.005, 0.01, 0.01 and 0.005 mg/kg, respectively. The mean recoveries ranged from 74.42% to 98.37%, with RSDs of 1.25-6.84% at the three concentration addition levels. The average intra-day and inter-day recoveries were 73.92-92.36% and 78.56-90.18%, respectively, with RSDs below 8.72% and 9.43%. The recoveries and reproducibility of the method were superior. The method was used to determine the actual samples, which indicated that the half-lives of matrine in quinoa seeds, leaves, stems and soil were 1.28-1.32, 1.03-1.21, 0.81-0.92 and 0.93-0.97 d. It has a half-life below 30 d, which is an easily dissipated pesticide. The method is simple, sensitive, accurate, reliable and applicable to a wide range of applications, and it can achieve the rapid multi-residue determination of matrine to a certain extent. Next Generation Sequencing was used to explore the effects of exposure to high and low doses of matrine on soil bacterial communities and the composition of the three soils in the Qinghai Province (Haixi, Haidong and Haibei). The results showed that the number of ASVs increased significantly after treatment with matrine at an effective dose of 0.1 mg/kg than after treatment with matrine at an effective dose of 5.0 mg/kg. Similarly, bacterial abundance was higher after 0.1 mg/kg of matrine treatment than after 5.0 mg/kg of matrine treatment. The inhibitory effect on some bacterial flora was enhanced with an increase in matrine application, while the inhibitory effect on bacterial flora was weakened with time. Applying a certain dose of matrine e changed the relative abundance of the dominant bacterial genera of the soil bacteria.

Monomeric compounds from traditional Chinese medicine: New hopes for drug discovery in pulmonary fibrosis

Pulmonary fibrosis (PF) is a chronic and irreversible pulmonary disease, and can lead to decreased lung function, respiratory failure and even death. The pathogenesis research and treatment strategy of PF significantly lag behind the medical progress and clinical needs. The treatment of this disease remains a thorny clinical problem, and the effective therapeutic drugs are still limited. Monomeric compounds from traditional Chinese medicine own various biological activities and high safety. They play a broad part in treating diseases and is also a candidate drug for preventing and treating PF. In this paper, we reviewed the mechanism of action and potential value of various anti-PF monomeric compounds from traditional Chinese medicine. These monomeric compounds can attenuate inflammatory response, oxidative stress, epithelial mesenchymal transformation and other processes of lung through many signaling pathways, and inhibit the activation and differentiation of fibroblasts, thus contributing to the treatment of PF. This review can provide new ideas for the development of anti-PF drugs in high efficiency with low toxicity.

A review of pharmacokinetic and pharmacological properties of asiaticoside, a major active constituent of Centella asiatica (L.) Urb

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Centella asiatica (L.) Urb., a potential medicinal plant, is widely used in orient traditional medicine. Its major active constituents include asiaticoside (AS), madecassoside (MS), asiatic acid and madecassic acid. Thereinto, AS is a pentacyclic triterpenoid saponin with a variety of pharmacological effects including antitumor, neuroprotective and wound healing effects.

AIM OF THE STUDY

In this review, we summarize the pharmacokinetics, safety and pharmacological properties of AS.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We gathered information about AS from articles published up to 2022 and listed in Google scholar, PubMed, Web of Science, Elsevier, and similar databases. The keywords used in our search included "asiaticoside", "Centella asiatica", "pharmacokinetics", "nerve", "cancer", "skin", etc. RESULTS: AS appeared to degrade through a first-order reaction and had low biotoxicity. However, the pharmacokinetic properties of AS differed according to species. AS is highly blood-brain-barrier permeable without any harmful side effect. It has a variety of pharmacological effects including anti-neural inflammation and anti-cancer properties, as well as protective properties for the skin, cardiovascular system, and pulmonary system.

CONCLUSION

This review comprehensively summarized current information regarding the pharmacokinetic and pharmacological properties of AS, and supported the pharmaceutical value of this compound. Future research should focus on improving bioavailability of AS and conducting clinical assessment.

Oxymatrine ameliorates experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis by rebalancing the homeostasis of gut microbiota and reducing blood-brain barrier disruption

Background

Increasing evidence suggests that gut dysbiosis can directly or indirectly affect the immune system through the brain-gut axis and play a role in the occurrence and development of Multiple sclerosis (MS). Oxymatrine (OMAT) has been shown to ameliorate the symptoms of MS in the classical experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) model of MS, but whether its therapeutic role is through the correction of gut dysbiosis, is unclear.

Methods

The effects of OMAT on intestinal flora and short-chain fatty acids in EAE model mice were evaluated by 16S rRNA sequencing and GC-MS/MS, respectively, and the function change of the blood-brain barrier and intestinal epithelial barrier was further tested by immunohistochemical staining, Evans Blue leakage detection, and RT-qPCR.

Results

The alpha and beta diversity in the feces of EAE mice were significantly different from that of the control group but recovered substantially after OMAT treatment. Besides, the OMAT treatment significantly affected the gut functional profiling and the abundance of genes associated with energy metabolism, amino acid metabolism, the immune system, infectious diseases, and the nervous system. OMAT also decreased the levels of isobutyric acid and isovaleric acid in EAE mice, which are significantly related to the abundance of certain gut microbes and were consistent with the reduced expression of TNF-a, IL-6, and IL-1b. Furthermore, OMAT treatment significantly increased the expression of ZO-1 and occludin in the brains and colons of EAE mice and decreased blood-brain barrier permeability.

Conclusion

OMAT may alleviate the clinical and pathological symptoms of MS by correcting dysbiosis, restoring gut ecological and functional microenvironment, and inhibiting immune cell-mediated inflammation to remodel the brain-gut axis.

Matrine suppresses NLRP3 inflammasome activation via regulating PTPN2/JNK/SREBP2 pathway in sepsis

BACKGROUND

Sepsis is defined as life-threatening organ dysfunction caused by a dysregulated host response to infection. Abnormal activation of NOD-like receptor thermal protein domain associated protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome plays a vital role in the pathogenesis of sepsis. Matrine is proved to show good anti-inflammatory properties, whereas its effect and the underlying molecular machinery on sepsis remains unclear.

PURPOSE

The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect and mechanism of Matrine on sepsis.

STUDY DESIGN

THP-1 cells and J774A.1 cells were stimulated by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) with nigericin or adenosine triphosphate (ATP) to establish an in vitro model. Cecal ligation and puncture (CLP)-induced sepsis mouse model was used. Matrine was given by gavage.

METHODS

To investigate the NLRP3 inflammasome activation, phorbol myristate acetate (PMA)-induced THP-1 cells were first primed with LPS and then stimulated by matrine, followed by treatment with nigericin or ATP. The concentration of interleukin 1β (IL-1β) and interleukin 18 (IL-18) in the cell culture supernatant was detected. The mechanism was explored by cell death assay, immunoblots and immunofluorescence in vitro. C57BL/6 mice were intragastrically administered with matrine for 5 days before CLP. The therapeutic effect of matrine was evaluated by symptoms, pathological analysis, ELISA and RT-qPCR.

RESULTS

Our results revealed that matrine inhibited IL-1β and IL-18 secretion, suppressed caspase-1 activation, reduced cell death, and blocked ASC speck formation upon NLRP3 inflammasome activation. Furthermore, matrine restrains NLRP3 inflammasome activation as well as pyroptosis through regulating the protein tyrosine phosphatase non-receptor type 2 (PTPN2)/JNK/SREBP2 signaling. Matrine also prominently improved the symptoms and pathological changes with reduced levels of TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 in the lung tissues and serum in a dose-dependent manner.

CONCLUSION

Matrine effectively alleviates the symptoms of CLP-induced sepsis in mice, restrains NLRP3 inflammasome activation by regulating PTPN2/JNK/SREBP2 signaling pathway, and may become a promising therapeutic agent for sepsis treatment.

Induction of Apoptosis by Matrine Derivative ZS17 in Human Hepatocellular Carcinoma BEL-7402 and HepG2 Cells through ROS-JNK-P53 Signalling Pathway Activation

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common malignancies and ranks third among cancer-related deaths worldwide. Using matrine as a lead compound, 12 matrine derivatives were designed and synthesised, and their antiproliferative activities were evaluated in four cancer cell lines. Eight of the twelve compounds showed strong antiproliferative activity, with an IC50 of <10 μM. The compound ZS17 exhibited strong antiproliferative activity in hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines with IC50 values in the range of 3.014−3.388 μM, which was much lower than that of matrine. Furthermore, we explored the role of ZS17 in inducing apoptosis in HCC cells in vitro and in vivo, as well as possible mechanisms involved. ZS17 inhibited the proliferation of BEL-7402 and HepG2 cells in time- and dose-dependent manners. In addition, we found that ZS17 significantly induced apoptosis and ROS (reactive oxygen species) production, promoted JNK phosphorylation, activated p53, and activated the caspase signalling pathway. Furthermore, the antioxidant NAC, JNK inhibitor SP600125, and Si-JNK increased cell viability, re-established cell metastasis, and inhibited ZS17-induced apoptosis. An in vivo antitumour assay demonstrated that ZS17 significantly reduced the number of migrating HepG2 cells in zebrafish embryos and suppressed the growth of HepG2 xenografts in nude mice without any obvious side effects. Our study demonstrated that the ROS-JNK-P53 pathway plays an important role in the destruction of liver tumour cells by ZS17. Thus, ZS17 may represent a promising chemotherapeutic agent for the treatment of HCC patients.

Synthesis and Evaluation of 11-Butyl Matrine Derivatives as Potential Anti-Virus Agents

Matrine derivatives were reported to have various biological activities, especially the ester, amide or sulfonamide derivatives of matrine deriving from the hydroxyl or carboxyl group at the end of the branch chain after the D ring of matrine is opened. In this work, to investigate whether moving away all functional groups from the C-11 branch chain could have an impact on the bioactivities, such as anti-tobacco mosaic virus (TMV), insecticidal and fungicidal activities, a variety of N-substituted-11-butyl matrine derivatives were synthesized. The obtained bioassay result showed that most N-substituted-11-butyl matrine derivatives had obviously enhanced anti-TMV activity compared with matrine, especially many compounds had good inhibitory activity close to that of commercialized virucide Ningnanmycin (inhibition rate 55.4, 57.8 ± 1.4, 55.3 ± 0.5 and 60.3 ± 1.2% at 500 μg/mL; 26.1, 29.7 ± 0.2, 24.2 ± 1.0 and 27.0 ± 0.3% at 100 μg/mL, for the in vitro activity, in vivo inactivation, curative and protection activities, respectively). Notably, N-benzoyl (7), N-benzyl (16), and N-cyclohexylmethyl-11-butyl (19) matrine derivatives had higher anti-TMV activity than Ningnanmycin at both 500 and 100 μg/mL for the four test modes, showing high potential as anti-TMV agent. Furthermore, some compounds also showed good fungicidal activity or insecticidal activity.

Identification of the Mechanism of Matrine Combined with Glycyrrhizin for Hepatocellular Carcinoma Treatment through Network Pharmacology and Bioinformatics Analysis

Matrine and glycyrrhizin are representative active ingredients of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) used in clinical practice. Studies have demonstrated that matrine has antitumor pharmacological effects and that glycyrrhizin protects liver function. However, the potential bioactive compounds and mechanisms remain unknown, as well as whether they have synergistic effects in killing cancer cells and protecting liver cells. To investigate the synergistic effects and mechanism of matrine combined with glycyrrhizin in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) treatment, we used both network pharmacology and bioinformatics analyses. First, the chemical gene interaction information of matrine and glycyrrhizin was obtained from the PubChem database. The pathogenic genes of HCC were accessed from five public databases. The RNA sequencing data and clinical information of HCC patients were downloaded from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). Next, the overlapping genes among the potential targets of matrine and glycyrrhizin and HCC-related targets were determined using bioinformatics analysis. We constructed the drug-target interaction network. Prognosis-associated genes were acquired through the univariate Cox regression model and Lasso-Cox regression model. The results were verified by the International Cancer Genome Consortium (ICGC) database. Finally, we predicted the immune function of the samples. The drug-target interaction network consisted of 10 matrine and glycyrrhizin targets. We selected a Lasso-Cox regression model consisting of 3 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) to predict the efficacy of the combination in HCC. Subsequently, we successfully predicted the overall survival of HCC patients using the constructed prognostic model and investigated the correlation of the immune response. Matrine and glycyrrhizin have synergistic effects on HCC. The model we obtained consisted of three drug-target genes by Lasso-Cox regression analysis. The model independently predicted the combined effect of matrine and glycyrrhizin in HCC treatment and OS, which will be helpful for guiding clinical treatment. The prognostic model was correlated with the immune cells and immune checkpoints of patients, which had an adjuvant effect on HCC immunotherapy. Matrine and glycyrrhizin can have therapeutic effects on HCC by promoting the production or enhancing the core gene activity in the drug network and improving the immune system function of patients.

Antinociceptive effect of plant-based natural products in chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathies: A systematic review

Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) is one of the most prevalent and difficult-to-treat symptoms in cancer patients. For this reason, the explore for unused helpful choices able of filling these impediments is essential. Natural products from plants stand out as a valuable source of therapeutic agents, being options for the treatment of this growing public health problem. Therefore, the objective of this study was to report the effects of natural products from plants and the mechanisms of action involved in the reduction of neuropathy caused by chemotherapy. The search was performed in PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science in March/2021. Two reviewers independently selected the articles and extracted data on characteristics, methods, study results and methodological quality (SYRCLE). Twenty-two studies were selected, describing the potential effect of 22 different phytochemicals in the treatment of CIPN, with emphasis on terpenes, flavonoids and alkaloids. The effect of these compounds was demonstrated in different experimental protocols, with several action targets being proposed, such as modulation of inflammatory mediators and reduction of oxidative stress. The studies demonstrated a predominance of the risk of uncertain bias for randomization, baseline characteristics and concealment of the experimental groups. Our findings suggest a potential antinociceptive effect of natural products from plants on CIPN, probably acting in several places of action, being strategic for the development of new therapeutic options for this multifactorial condition.

Research progress on the pharmacological effects of matrine

Matrine possesses anti-cancer properties, as well as the prevention and treatment of allergic asthma, and protection against cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury. Its mechanism of action may be (1) regulation of cancer cell invasion, migration, proliferation, and cell cycle to inhibit tumor growth; (2) reduction of oxidized low-density lipoprotein and advanced glycation end products from the source by exerting anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects; (3) protection of brain damage and cortical neurons by regulating apoptosis; (4) restoration of the intestinal barrier and regulation of the intestinal microbiota. This article aims to explore matrine’s therapeutic potential by summarizing comprehensive information on matrine’s pharmacology, toxicity, and bioavailability.

Anti-Alphaviral Alkaloids: Focus on Some Isoquinolines, Indoles and Quinolizidines

The discovery and the development of safe and efficient therapeutics against arthritogenic alphaviruses (e.g., chikungunya virus) remain a continuous challenge. Alkaloids are structurally diverse and naturally occurring compounds in plants, with a wide range of biological activities including beneficial effects against prominent pathogenic viruses and inflammation. In this short review, we discuss the effects of some alkaloids of three biologically relevant structural classes (isoquinolines, indoles and quinolizidines). Based on various experimental models (viral infections and chronic diseases), we highlight the immunomodulatory effects of these alkaloids. The data established the capacity of these alkaloids to interfere in host antiviral and inflammatory responses through key components (antiviral interferon response, ROS production, inflammatory signaling pathways and pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines production) also involved in alphavirus infection and resulting inflammation. Thus, these data may provide a convincing perspective of research for the use of alkaloids as immunomodulators against arthritogenic alphavirus infection and induced inflammation.

Matrine@chitosan-D-proline nanocapsules as antifouling agents with antibacterial properties and biofilm dispersibility in the marine environment

Antifoulants are the most vital substances in antifouling coatings to prevent marine organisms from colonizing the undersea substrate surfaces. In addition to antibacterial performance, inhibition of biofilm formation is an important criterion for antifouling coatings. In this study, we synthesized pH-responsive matrine@chitosan-D-proline (Mat@CS-Pro) nanocapsules of about 280 nm with antibacterial properties and biofilm dispersibility. The prepared Mat@CS-Pro nanocapsules exhibited high-level antibacterial properties, reaching about 93, 88, and 96% for E. coli, S. aureus, and P. aeruginosa, respectively. Such nanocapsules can cause irreversible damage to bacteria and cause them to lose their intact cell structures. Moreover, Mat@CS-Pro nanocapsules also possessed outstanding dispersal biofilm performances, in which the biofilm thickness of E. coli, S. aureus, and P. aeruginosa was decreased by 33, 74, and 42%, respectively, after 3 days of incubation. Besides, the Mat@CS-Pro nanocapsules had remarkable pH-responsive properties. As the environmental pH became acidic, the nanocapsules swelled to about 475 nm and the released concentration could reach 28.5 ppm after immersion for 10 h but maintained a low releasing rate in pH 8 conditions.