Uses, chemical compositions, pharmacological activities and toxicology of Clematidis Radix et Rhizome- a Review

Three new phenols and one new lignan from Clematis terniflora var. manshurica (Rupr.) Ohwi with their anti-inflammatory activity

Three undescribed phenols, mandshusica C-E (1-3) and a new lignan, mandshusica F (5), along with six known compounds (4, 6-10) were isolated from the roots and rhizomes of Clematis terniflora var. manshurica (Rupr.) Ohwi. Their structures were elucidated by extensive spectroscopic analysis as well as NMR and ECD calculations. Moreover, the possible biosynthetic pathways of compounds 1-3 were also discussed. All compounds were evaluated for their anti-inflammatory activities in LPS-induced RAW 264.7 cells. Compounds 1, 3, 4 significantly reduced the levels of NO and TNF-α, while compounds 2 and 8 significantly inhibited NO production in LPS-induced RAW264.7 cells.

High Value-Added Application of Natural Products in Crop Protection: Discovery and Exploration of Caffeoyl and Flavonoid Derivatives from Clematis brevicaudata DC. as Novel Insecticide Candidates

Nine caffeoyl derivatives (1-9), including two new dicaffeoyl glycosides, brevicaudatosides A and B (1 and 2), and six flavonoids (10-15), were identified from overground Clematis brevicaudata DC. Compounds 1 and 13 exhibited significant oral toxicities against Acyrthosiphon pisum Harris with LC50 (half-lethal concentration) values of 0.12 and 0.28 mM, respectively. Meanwhile, compounds 1, 8, 10, 13, and 15 showed remarkable repellent effects against A. pisum with the repellent indexes valued at 1.00 under 50-200 μg/mL at 24 h. Compounds 1 and 8 also displayed moderate antifeedant activities against Plutella xylostella L. The shrunken bodies, especially for wizened cauda, and the ultrastructural damages of microvilli, mitochondrion, nucleus, and endoplasmic reticulum in midgut were toxic symptoms of A. pisum caused by 1 and 13. The inhibition of Chitinase was the main reason for their potent insecticidal activities. This study provided valuable pieces of evidence for the high value-added application of caffeoyl and flavonoid derivatives from C. brevicaudata as novel plant-origin biopesticides for crop protection.

Discovery of New Botanical Insecticides: Identification and Insecticidal Activity of Saponins from Clematis obscura Maxim and Insights into the Stress Response of Acyrthosiphon pisum Harris

To discover new botanical products-based insecticide candidates, 14 triterpenoid saponins (1-14) including four new ones, obscurosides A-D (1-4), were isolated from Clematis obscura Maxim as potential agrochemicals against Acyrthosiphon pisum Harris and Plutella xylostella (L.). Compounds 1-3 were characterized by a rare ribose substitution at C-3, and 4 was a bidesmoside glycosylated at the rare C-23 and C-28 positions of the oleanane aglycone. Compounds 10 (median antifeeding concentration, AFC50 = 1.10 mg/mL; half-lethal concentration, LC50 = 1.21 mg/mL) and 13 (AFC50 = 1.09 mg/mL, LC50 = 1.37 mg/mL) showed significant insecticidal activities against third larvae of P. xylostella at 72 h. All saponins displayed antifeedant activities against A. pisum with the deterrence index of 0.20-1.00 at 400 μg/mL. Compound 8 showed optimal oral toxicity (LC50 = 50.09 μg/mL) against A. pisum, followed by compounds 1, 5-7, 9, and 14 (LC50 = 90.21-179.25 μg/mL) at 72 h. The shrinkage of the cuticle and the destruction of intestinal structures of microvilli, nucleus, endoplasmic reticulum, and mitochondria were toxic symptoms of 8-treated A. pisum. The significantly declined Chitinase activity in 8-treated A. pisum with an inhibition rate of 79.1% at LC70 (70% lethal concentration) could be the main reason for its significant oral toxicities. Molecular docking revealed favorable affinities of compounds 1 and 8 with group I Chitinase OfChtI (Group I Chitinase from Ostrinia furnacalis) through conventional hydrogen bonds and alkey/π-alkey interactions by different patterns. These results will provide valuable information for the development of novel botanical pesticides for the management of insect pests, especially against A. pisum.

Medicinal patterns of vines used in Chinese herbal medicine: a quantitative study

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

The botanical characteristics of twinning, climbing vine plants conceptually take shape to interlink the meridians and collaterals system throughout the human body by expelling climatic evils (e.g., wind, dampness). Thus, vines have displayed great medicinal properties in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM).

AIM OF THE STUDY

Although some popular vine species have been intensively investigated, the comparable features and medicinal specifications among a vast collection of taxonomic groups based on data visualization methods are relatively lacking in attention. Moreover, the translatability of vines from ancient ethnomedical evidence to modern medical system has not been well established. This review tends to quantitatively summarize the strength of vines in healthcare from the perspectives of medicinal part, traditional function, clinical spectrum, phytochemistry divergence, pharmacological attributes, toxicity as well as the progress of proprietary drug development.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Medicinal vines were retrieved from databases of drug standards and curated catalogues. Synonyms of plant origin across different datasets were normalized by accepted scientific names in the World Flora Online. The distribution patterns and rank of plant origin, medicinal parts, traditional functions and target conditions, as well as the correlation between phytochemical composition and clinical applications were analyzed and visualized.

RESULTS

A total of 121 crude drugs from 36 families, 77 genera, 133 species of vines were obtained and analyzed. The Fabaceae, Menispermaceae and Rubiaceae were the highest ranked families of medicinal vines. Not surprisingly, stem was the most dominant medical part. Moreover, "eliminate wind" displayed a hub node in the traditional function co-occurrence network. In addition to joint impediment disorders, these vines particularly displayed a wide range of therapeutic modalities toward conditions from various organ systems. Chemotaxonomic properties-oriented phytochemical analysis was performed and the chemical diversity among medicinal vines complementarily determined a certain group of therapeutic domains. Particularly, the anti-inflammatory effect and antiarthritic effect were highlighted for treating rheumatic diseases. Using integral animal models and cultured cells, modern pharmacological actions of medicinal vines have been largely observed and validated according to their traditional ethnopharmacology. Furthermore, a small proportion of vine species are well-known toxic plants. Successful drug development pipelines in rheumatic, cardiovascular, liver, malignant and infectious diseases have offered the capacity to generate new treatment options that are being sought out from vine plants.

CONCLUSIONS

Medicinal vines are rich sources of Chinese Material Medica (CMM) and good fit for a variety of clinical manifestations beyond arthritis and rheumatic diseases. In addition to stem, other parts are also popular for both medicines and dietary supplements. Vine plants provide extensive biologically relevant chemical space for developing value-creating drugs. Thus, our analysis can be useful for further motivating and strengthening the preclinical and clinical research of vine-derived remedies.

Single-cell analysis reveals that Jinwu Gutong capsule attenuates the inflammatory activity of synovial cells in osteoarthritis by inhibiting AKR1C3

Jinwu Gutong capsule (JGC) is a traditional Chinese medicine formula for the treatment of osteoarthritis (OA). Synovitis is a typical pathological change in OA and promotes disease progression. Elucidating the therapeutic mechanism of JGC is crucial for the precise treatment of OA synovitis. In this study, we demonstrate that JGC effectively inhibits hyperproliferation, attenuates inflammation, and promotes apoptosis of synovial cells. Through scRNA-seq data analysis of OA synovitis, we dissected two distinct cell fates that influence disease progression (one fate led to recovery while the other fate resulted in deterioration), which illustrates the principles of fate determination. By intersecting JGC targets with synovitis hub genes and then mimicking picomolar affinity interactions between bioactive compounds and binding pockets, we found that the quercetin-AKR1C3 pair exhibited the best affinity, indicating that this pair constitutes the most promising molecular mechanism. In vitro experiments confirmed that the expression of AKR1C3 in synovial cells was reduced after JGC addition. Further overexpression of AKR1C3 significantly attenuated the therapeutic efficacy of JGC. Thus, we revealed that JGC effectively treats OA synovitis by inhibiting AKR1C3 expression.

Study on the Anti-Inflammatory Effect and Mechanism of Yuxuebi Tablet Based on Network Pharmacology

Yuxuebi tablet (YXB) is a Chinese patent medicine with the effect of activating blood circulation and dissipating blood stasis and has been used to treat "Bi" syndrome in China. The aim of this study was to reveal its anti-inflammatory efficacy and mechanism. A carrageenan-induced inflammation mouse model was established to demonstrate the anti-inflammatory efficacy of YXB by detecting the paw swelling degree and inflammatory cell infiltration in paws. The active chemical ingredients and anti-inflammatory targets of YXB were obtained through network pharmacology analysis. Finally, the core anti-inflammatory targets of YXB were determined by the ELISA method and western blot. YXB significantly reduced the paw swelling degree and inflammatory cell infiltration in paws. A total of 120 key active components included in YXB interacted with 56 core inflammatory targets (such as TNF, IL1B, IL6, PTGS2, RELA, MAPK1, MAPK8, and MAPK14), mainly involving in the TNF signaling pathway, Toll-like receptor signaling pathway, NF-kappaB signaling pathway, and NOD-like receptor signaling pathway. Further studies in vivo found that YXB reduced the levels of TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 in serum and inhibited the expression of COX-2 and the phosphorylation levels of NF-κB p65, JNK, and p38 protein in paws. Taken together, YXB had a good anti-inflammatory effect, which might be related to inhibiting the phosphorylation of NF-κB, JUN, and p38 and the decrease of COX-2 expression and the levels of inflammatory factors.

Magnoflorine attenuates inflammatory responses in RA by regulating the PI3K/Akt/NF-κB and Keap1-Nrf2/HO-1 signalling pathways in vivo and in vitro

BACKGROUND

As a prolonged autoimmune disorder, rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is characterised by synovial hyperplasia and the erosion of bone and cartilage. Magnoflorine (MAG) is the main component purified from Clematis manshurica Rupr. Recent studies have shown that MAG has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and immunosuppressive effects, which are relevant to anti-RA activities.

OBJECTIVE

The current investigation was conducted to explore the anti-RA effects of MAG and to discover the possible molecular mechanisms.

METHODS

In vitro experiments, CCK-8, wound healing, and transwell assays were utilized to evaluate the anti-proliferative, anti-migratory, and anti-invasive activities of MAG, respectively. The rate of cell distribution and cell apoptosis were evaluated by flow cytometry. ROS generation was detected by DCFH-DA staining. Western blotting, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction assay, and immunofluorescent staining were employed to test the anti-RA effect of MAG as well as to explore the potential mechanisms by evaluating related gene and protein expression. For in vivo experiments, an adjuvant-induced arthritis (AIA) rat model was established. The related parameters were measured in rats. Then, rats were sacrificed, and ankle joints were collected for histopathological analysis and observation.

RESULTS

MAG significantly decreased the proliferation, migration, invasion, and reactive oxygen species levels in IL-1β-treated MH7A cells. Furthermore, MAG promoted cell apoptosis by increasing Bax levels and decreasing Bcl-2 levels. MAG also induced cell cycle arrest. Inflammatory cytokines (iNOS, COX-2, IL-6, and IL-8) and MMPs (MMP-1, 2, 3, 9, and 13) were reduced by MAG treatment. Molecular analysis revealed that MAG exerted anti-RA effects by partly inhibiting the PI3K/Akt/NF-κB signalling axis and activating the Keap1-Nrf2/HO-1 signalling pathway. In vivo studies have revealed that MAG treatment substantially improved severe symptoms in AIA rats, and these curative effects were linked to the attenuation of inflammatory responses.

CONCLUSION

These results first suggested that MAG exhibits anti-arthritic effects in IL-1β-treated MH7A cells and AIA rat models. Thus, MAG may be used as a new drug to treat RA clinically.

Lactate metabolism in rheumatoid arthritis: Pathogenic mechanisms and therapeutic intervention with natural compounds

BACKGROUND

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a common chronic and systemic autoimmune disease characterized by persistent inflammation and hyperplasia of the synovial membrane, the degradation of cartilage, and the erosion of bones in diarthrodial joints. The inflamed joints of patients with RA have been recognized to be a site of hypoxic microenvironment which results in an imbalance of lactate metabolism and the accumulation of lactate. Lactate is no longer considered solely a metabolic waste product of glycolysis, but also a combustion aid in the progression of RA from the early stages of inflammation to the late stages of bone destruction.

PURPOSE

To review the pathogenic mechanisms of lactate metabolism in RA and investigate the potential of natural compounds for treating RA linked to the regulation of imbalance in lactate metabolism.

METHODS

Research advances in our understanding of lactate metabolism in the pathogenesis of RA and novel pharmacological approaches of natural compounds by targeting lactate metabolic signaling were comprehensively reviewed and deeply discussed.

RESULTS

Lactate produced by RA synovial fibroblasts (RASFs) acts on targeted cells such as T cells, macrophages, dendritic cells and osteoclasts, and affects their differentiation, activation and function to accelerate the development of RA. Many natural compounds show therapeutic potential for RA by regulating glycolytic rate-limiting enzymes to limit lactate production, and affecting monocarboxylate transporter and acetyl-CoA carboxylase to inhibit lactate transport and conversion.

CONCLUSION

Regulation of imbalance in lactate metabolism offers novel therapeutic approaches for RA, and natural compounds capable of targeting lactate metabolic signaling constitute potential candidates for development of drugs RA.

Complete chloroplast genome characterization and phylogenetic analysis of Clematis mandshurica (Ranunculaceae)

The complete chloroplast genome sequence of Clematis mandshurica Ruprecht (1867), a specie of the Ranunculaceae family, and its phylogenetic relationships with other species have been reported in this study. The complete chloroplast genome of C. mandshurica is 159,563 bp in length, including a large single-copy (LSC) region of 79,360 bp, a small single-copy (SSC) region of 18,121 bp, and a pair of identical inverted repeat regions (IRs) of 31,041 bp. The genome encodes a total of 132 genes, including 90 protein-coding genes, 34 transfer RNA (tRNA) genes, and eight ribosomal RNA (rRNA) genes. The phylogenetic analysis reveals that C. mandshurica was found to be closest to Clematis taeguensis. The complete chloroplast genome of C. mandshurica contributes to a better understanding of phylogenetic relationships among Clematis species.

New triterpenoid saponins from the whole plants of Clematis heracleifolia

Three new triterpenoid saponins, heracleifolianosides A-C (1-3), together with seven known compounds (4-10), were isolated from the whole plants of Clematis heracleifolia. Moreover, three new secondary saponins (1a, 2a and 3a), two known secondary metabolites (5a and 7a) were obtained by alkaline hydrolysis. Their structures were elucidated by extensive spectroscopic analysis and chemical evidences. The cytotoxicity of eight native saponins and five prosapogenins against human breast tumor MDA-MB-231 and gastric carcinoma SGC-7901 cell lines were evaluated by MTT method. Remarkably, the prosapogenin monodesmosidic saponin 7a showed significant cytotoxicity against MDA-MB-231 or SGC-7901 cell lines with IC₅₀ values in the range of 6.05-6.32 μmol/L. It is suggested that it might be a feasible way to change the inactive bisdesmosic triterpenoid saponins to active monodesmosic saponins by a simple procedure of alkaline hydrolysis.

Discovering inhibitor molecules for pathological crystallization of CaOx kidney stones from natural extracts of medical herbs

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Kidney stones is one of the common diseases of the urinary system. The primary cause of kidney stone formation is the thermodynamic supersaturation of lithogenic solutes in urine, which desaturates by nucleation, crystal growth and aggregation of minerals and salts, mainly Calcium oxalate (CaOx). One of the potential therapies is to develop drug molecules to inhibit or prevent CaOx crystallization in urine. Traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs) provided an efficient approach for the treatment of kidney stones with a specialized-designed recipe of medicinal herbs. But the action details of these herbs were poorly understood due to their complex components, and whether the effective constituents of herbs have an inhibitory effect on the process of stone formation has not been evaluated.

AIM OF THE STUDY

This study aims to develop and identify inhibitor substitutes from a library of kidney stone prescriptions in traditional Chinese medicines to prevent pathological kidney stone formation.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

As many as twenty Chinese medicines were extracted and separated into five different polar extracts, the inhibition performance of which on CaOx crystallization was explored by recording and comparing crystallization kinetics. The potential inhibitor molecules in the inhibitory extracts were confirmed by HPLC and their retardation efficacy was evaluated by quantifying nucleation and growth kinetics using colorimetry. Then the inhibitor-COM crystal interactions and specificity were examined by morphology evolution and surface structure analysis. In vitro inhibition performance of inhibitors on crystal growth and attachment of CaOx crystals to human renal epithelial cells were further evaluated by recording the nucleation and adhesive crystal numbers.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSION

Water- and n-butanol- soluble extracts from 20 kinds of herbs show almost 100% inhibition percentage, and the n-butanol extracts was found better than commercial drug citrate. Twenty-one molecule substitutes were identified from these extracts, and among them polyphenols display the best inhibition efficacy to retard CaOx crystallization. The high-throughput colorimetric assay and morphology examinations reveals thirteen out of 21 molecules show inhibition potential and disrupt growth of CaOx monohydrate crystals by interacting with exposed Ca²⁺ and C₂O₄^2- on the (100) and (010) surfaces. Moreover, these inhibitors also display pronounced performance in protecting renal epithelial cells by inhibiting nucleation and adhesion of CaOx crystals to cells, thus reducing stone formation. The structure-performance correlation among 19 screened molecules that inhibitors having pKa<3.5, logD (pH = 6) <0, H-number>0.1 mmol are the best in suppressing CaOx crystallization. Our findings provide a novel solution to design and manufacture inhibitor drugs from Chinese medicines for preventing pathological kidney stones formation.

Conventional disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs combined with Chinese Herbal Medicine for rheumatoid arthritis: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) remains a major global public health challenge. Disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) are standard therapeutic drugs for RA. Conventional DMARDs (c-DMARDs) are a subgroup of approved synthetic DMARDs. The c-DMARDs experienced lesser response with longer disease duration or drug exposure, and unwanted adverse events (AEs). The combination treatments (CTs) of c-DMARDs and Chinese Herbal Medicines (CHMs) were often used in RA clinical trials for increasing the therapeutic effectiveness and reducing the AEs. This systematic review aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of the CTs for RA. Databases were searched from inception to October 2020 for identification of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that investigated the CTs in the management of RA. Twenty-three RCTs with 2,441 participants were included. The assessments and analyses found CTs improved American College of Rheumatology (ACR) 20 (RR: 1.33, 95% CI [1.21, 1.45], 10 studies, n=1,075) and alleviated AEs (RR: -0.40, 95% CI [-0.30, -0.53], 19 studies, n=2,011) in comparison with c-DMARDs. The CTs also significantly improved RA symptoms and patient-reported outcomes; reduced disease activity score (DAS) 28, serum acute-phase reactants and RA biomarkers. The five most commonly used herbs in included studies were Angelicae Sinensis Radix, Paeoniae Radix Alba, Cinnamomi Ramulus, Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma, and Clematidis Radix et Rhizoma. Pharmacological studies indicated these CHMs could contribute to the outcomes. The integrated CHMs potentially increased the overall effectiveness of c-DMARDs and alleviated AEs in management of RA. Large sample and rigorously designed RCTs are required for future studies.

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An up-to-date systematic review of conventional DMARDs combined with Chinese Herbal Medicines (CHMs) for rheumatoid arthritis.

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Integrated CHMs increased overall effectiveness of conventional DMARDs and reduced adverse events.

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Five most commonly used CHMs possessed multi-pharmacological effects contributing to the outcomes.

Jiuzhuan Huangjing Pills relieve mitochondrial dysfunction and attenuate high-fat diet-induced metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease

BACKGROUND

Metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) is a common global chronic liver disease. Jiuzhuan Huangjing Pills (JHP) have been used for the treatment of human disease for over a thousand years, but their efficacy and underlying mechanism(s) of action against MAFLD are unknown. We investigated the alleviating effects of JHP on high-fat diet (HFD)-induced MAFLD.

METHODS

In vitro and in vivo methods were used to evaluate the effects of JHP on MAFLD. L02 adipocyte models were induced by fat emulsion and adipocytes were treated with JHP for 24 h. MAFLD rat models were induced by HFD-feeding and were intragastrically administered JHP for 12 weeks. Changes in fat accumulation, L02 cell damage, body weight, food intake, histological parameters, organ indexes, biochemical parameters, and mitochondrial indicators including ultrastructure, oxidative stress, energy metabolism, and fatty acid metabolism were investigated.

RESULTS

JHP attenuated the increase in levels of total cholesterol, triglyceride, low density lipoprotein cholesterol, alanine transaminase, and aspartate transaminase levels, and significantly increased high density lipoprotein cholesterol. JHP up-regulated levels of glutathione (GSH) and superoxide dismutase (SOD), and down-regulated malondialdehyde (MDA). JHP afforded protection to the mitochondrial ultrastructure, and inhibited the HFD-induced increase in MDA and the reduction of SOD, GSH, ATP synthase, and complex I and II, in liver mitochondria. JHP regulated the expression of β-oxidation genes, including acyl-CoA dehydrogenase, cyl-CoA dehydrogenase long chain, carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1A, carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1B, peroxisomal proliferator-activated receptor-gamma coactivator-1α and peroxide proliferator activated receptor α.

CONCLUSION

JHP alleviates HFD-induced MAFLD through the protection of mitochondrial function.