Total alkaloid fraction of Leonurus japonicus Houtt. Promotes angiogenesis and wound healing through SRC/MEK/ERK signaling pathway

Immunomodulatory Effect of Phytoactive Compounds on Human Health: A Narrative Review Integrated with Bioinformatics Approach

BACKGROUND

Immunomodulation is the modification of immune responses to control disease progression. While the synthetic immunomodulators have proven efficacy, they are coupled with toxicity and other adverse effects, and hence, the efforts were to identify natural phytochemicals with immunomodulatory potential.

OBJECTIVE

To understand the immunomodulatory properties of various phytochemicals and investigate them in Echinacea species extracts using an in silico approach.

METHODOLOGY

Several scientific database repositories were searched using different keywords: "Phytochemicals," "Alkaloids," "Polyphenols," "Flavonoids," "Lectins," "Glycosides," "Tannins," "Terpenoids," "Sterols," "Immunomodulators," and "Human Immune System" without any language restriction. Additionally, the study specifically investigated the immunomodulatory properties of Echinacea species extracts using gene expression analysis of GSE12259 from NCBI-GEO through the Bioconductor package GEOquery and limma.

RESULTS

A total of 182 studies were comprehensively analyzed to understand immunomodulatory phytochemicals. The in silico analysis highlighted key biological processes (positive regulation of cytokine production, response to tumor necrosis factor) and molecular functions (cytokine receptor binding, receptor-ligand activity, and cytokine activity) among Echinacea species extracts contributing to immune responses. Further, it also indicated the association of various metabolic pathways, i.e., pathways in cancer, cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction, NF-kappa B, PI3K-Akt, TNF, MAPK, and NOD-like receptor signaling pathways, with immune responses. The study revealed various hub targets, including CCL20, CCL4, GCH1, SLC7A11, SOD2, EPB41L3, TNFAIP6, GCLM, EGR1, and FOS.

CONCLUSION

The present study presents a cumulative picture of phytochemicals with therapeutic benefits. Additionally, the study also reported a few novel genes and pathways in Echinacea extracts by re-analyzing GSE 12259 indicating its anti-inflammatory, anti-viral, and immunomodulatory properties.

Rapid classification and identification of chemical constituents in Leonurus japonicus Houtt based on UPLC-Q-Orbitrap-MS combined with data post-processing techniques

Leonurus japonicus Houtt (LJH) is a bulk medicinal material commonly used in clinical practice, but its complex constituents have not been completely understood, posing challenges to pharmacology, pharmacokinetic research, and scientific and rational drug use. As a result, it is critical to develop an efficient and accurate method for classifying and identifying the chemical composition of LJH. In this study, ultra-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole electrostatic field-orbital trap high resolution mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-Orbitrap-MS) was successfully established, along with two data post-processing techniques, characteristic fragmentations (CFs) and neutral losses (NLs), to quickly classify and identify the chemical constituents in LJH. As a result, 44 constituents of LJH were identified, including four alkaloids, 20 flavonoids, two phenylpropanoids, 17 organic acids, and one amino acid. The method in this paper enables classification and identification of chemical compositions rapidly, providing a scientific foundation for further research on the effective and toxic substances of LJH.

A literature review: mechanisms of antitumor pharmacological action of leonurine alkaloid

Leonurine refers to the desiccated aerial portion of a plant in the Labiatae family. The primary bioactive constituent of Leonurine is an alkaloid, Leonurine alkaloid (Leo), renowned for its substantial therapeutic efficacy in the treatment of gynecological disorders, in addition to its broad-spectrum antineoplastic capabilities. Over recent years, the pharmacodynamic mechanisms of Leo have garnered escalating scholarly interest. Leo exhibits its anticancer potential by means of an array of mechanisms, encompassing the inhibition of neoplastic cell proliferation, induction of both apoptosis and autophagy, and the containment of oncogenic cell invasion and migration. The key signal transduction pathways implicated in these processes include the Tumor Necrosis Factor-Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand (TRAIL), the Phosphoinositide3-Kinase/Serine/Threonine Protein Kinase (PI3K/AKT), the Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription 3 (STAT3), and the Mitogen-Activated Protein/Extracellular Signal-Regulated Kinase (MAP/ERK). This paper commences with an exploration of the principal oncogenic cellular behaviors influenced by Leo and the associated signal transduction pathways, thereby scrutinizing the mechanisms of Leo in the antineoplastic sequence of events. The intention is to offer theoretical reinforcement for the elucidation of more profound mechanisms underpinning Leo's anticancer potential and correlating pharmaceutical development.

Stachydrine Relieved the Inflammation and Promoted the Autophagy in Diabetes Retinopathy Through Activating the AMPK/SIRT1 Signaling Pathway

Background

Diabetes retinopathy (DR) is a chronic, progressive, and potentially harmful retinal disease associated with persistent hyperglycemia. Autophagy is a lysosome-dependent degradation pathway that widely exists in eukaryotic cells, which has recently been demonstrated to participate in the DR development. Stachydrine (STA) is a water-soluble alkaloid extracted from Leonurus heterophyllus. This study aimed to explore the effects of STA on the autophagy in DR progression in vivo and in vitro.

Methods

High glucose-treated human retinal microvascular endothelial cells (HRMECs) and STA-treated rats were used to establish DR model. The reactive oxygen species (ROS) and inflammatory factor levels (TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6) were determined using corresponding kits. Additionally, the cell growth was analyzed using CCK-8 and EdU assays. Besides, LC3BII, p62, p-AMPKα, AMPKα, and SIRT1 protein levels were measured using Western blot. The LC3BII and SIRT1 expressions were also determined using immunofluorescence.

Results

The results showed that STZ decreased the ROS and inflammatory factor levels in the HG-treated HRMECs. Besides, after STA treatment, the beclin-1, LC3BII, p-AMPKα, and SIRT1 levels were increased, and p62 was decreased in the HG-treated HRMECs and the retinal tissue of STZ-treated rats.

Conclusion

In conclusion, this study demonstrated that STA effectively relieved the inflammation and promoted the autophagy in DR progression in vivo and in vitro through activating the AMPK/SIRT1 signaling pathway.

The role of the ERK signaling pathway in promoting angiogenesis for treating ischemic diseases

The main treatment strategy for ischemic diseases caused by conditions such as poor blood vessel formation or abnormal blood vessels involves repairing vascular damage and encouraging angiogenesis. One of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathways, the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) pathway, is followed by a tertiary enzymatic cascade of MAPKs that promotes angiogenesis, cell growth, and proliferation through a phosphorylation response. The mechanism by which ERK alleviates the ischemic state is not fully understood. Significant evidence suggests that the ERK signaling pathway plays a critical role in the occurrence and development of ischemic diseases. This review briefly describes the mechanisms underlying ERK-mediated angiogenesis in the treatment of ischemic diseases. Studies have shown that many drugs treat ischemic diseases by regulating the ERK signaling pathway to promote angiogenesis. The prospect of regulating the ERK signaling pathway in ischemic disorders is promising, and the development of drugs that specifically act on the ERK pathway may be a key target for promoting angiogenesis in the treatment of ischemic diseases.

Garcinia oligantha: A comprehensive overview of ethnomedicine, phytochemistry and pharmacology

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Garcinia oligantha Merr. is an ethnomedicine plant mainly distributed in Guangdong and Hainan, China. It has the effects of heat-clearing and detoxicating, which has been used by local ethnic minorities to treat a variety of diseases, including inflammation, internal heat, toothache and scald.

THE AIM OF THE REVIEW

This review summarizes and discusses the progress of the chemical compounds and biological activities of G. oligantha that have been studied in recent years to provide the direction for the prospective research and applications of G. oligantha.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The relevant literature about G. oligantha was accessible from ancient Chinese medical books and records, theses, as well as major scientific databases such as Google Scholar, PubMed, Web of Science, ScienceDirect, SciFinder, Baidu Scholar and China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI).

RESULTS

To date, more than 150 chemical compounds were isolated from this plant, including xanthones, volatile oil, fatty acid, benzofurane derivative and biphenyl compounds. Xanthones are the main bioactive compounds that exhibit diverse biological effects, such as antitumor, analgesic, anti-inflammatory, antioxidative, neuroprotective, antimalarial and antibacterial effects, which are consistent with its traditional uses as a folk medicine. Modern pharmacological studies show that these compounds participate in a variety of signaling pathways underlying different pathophysiologies, making them a valuable medicinal resource.

CONCLUSION

G. oligantha is an ethnomedicine with a long history. However, due to regional and cultural constraints, the popularisation and use of ethnomedicine are still limited. Modern pharmacological and chemical research suggest that G. oligantha contains a variety of bioactive compounds and showed diverse biological functions, which is worthy of comprehensive and in-depth research. This review summarizes and discusses the recent progress in studies on G. oligantha, looking forward to promote further research and sustainable development of folk medicinal plants.

Wound healing activity and flavonoid contents of purslane (Portulaca grandiflora) of various varieties

Purslane has various varieties with different active metabolite contents that need to be explored further to find each variety's activity in wound healing. Different purslane herbs showed different antioxidant activities, suggesting they will have different flavonoid content and wound healing activity. This research aimed to evaluate purslane's total flavonoid content and wound-healing activity. The wounds induced on the rabbit back skin were divided into 6 treatment groups such as negative control, positive control, 10 and 20% purslane herbs extract varieties A, and 10 and 20% purslane herbs extract varieties C. Wounds were treated twice daily for 2 weeks, and measured on day 0, 7, 11, and 14. Total flavonoid content was measured with the AlCl3 colorimetric method. The wounds treated with 10 and 20% purslane herbs extract varieties A (Portulaca grandiflora magenta flower) have 0.32 ± 0.55 and 1.63 ± 1.96 mm wound diameters on day 7 and healed on day 11. The wounds treated with 10 and 20% purslane herbs extract varieties C (Portulaca grandiflora pink flower) showed 2.88 ± 0.51 and 0.84 ± 1.45 mm diameter and healed on day 11. The purslane herb A showed the highest wound healing activity, and purslane varieties A and C total flavonoid contents were 0.55 ± 0.02 and 1.58 ± 0.02% w/w, respectively.

Activating Blood Circulation, Anti-Inflammatory and Diuretic Effects of Leonurus japonicus Extract on a Rat Model of Trauma Blood Stasis and Its Phytochemical Profiling

Leonurus japonicus Houtt. has been traditionally used to treat many ailments. This study evaluated the activating blood circulation, anti-inflammatory, and diuretic effects of L. japonicus extract (LJ) and identified its phytochemicals. In this work, the phytochemicals in LJ were identified using liquid chromatography mass spectrometry. Rats were randomly assigned to three groups (n=8): Control group was treated with saline, while the Model group (saline) and LJ group (426 mg/kg) had induced traumatic injury. All rats were treated with once by daily oral gavage for one week. The biochemical indices and protein expression were measured. Herein, 79 constituents were identified in LJ, which were effective in elevating body weight, food consumption, water intake, and urinary excretion volume, as well as in ameliorating traumatic muscle tissues in model rats. In addition, LJ prominently decreased the contents of plasma viscosity, platelet aggregation rate, thrombin time, prothrombin time, activated partial thromboplastin time, fibrinogen, thromboxane B2 (TXB2), TXB2/6-keto-prostaglandin F1α (6-keto-PGF1α), urokinase-type plasminogen activator (u-PA), plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 (PAI-1), PAI-1/tissue-type PA (t-PA), and PAI-1/u-PA, while significantly increasing antithrombin III, 6-keto-PGF1α, and t-PA contents. Furthermore, LJ notably inhibited tumor necrosis factor alpha, interleukin 6 (IL-6), IL-8, angiotensin II, antidiuretic hormone, aldosterone, aquaporin 1 (AQP1), AQP2, and AQP3 levels, and markedly elevating IL-10 and natriuretic peptide levels. Finally, LJ markedly reduced the protein expression of AQP1, AQP2, and AQP3 compared to the model group. Collectively, LJ possessed prominent activating blood circulation, anti-inflammatory, and diuretic effects, thus supporting the clinical application of L. japonicus.

Modified Qing’e Formula protects against UV-induced skin oxidative damage via the activation of Nrf2/ARE defensive pathway

Exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light triggers the rapid generation and accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in skin cells, which increases oxidative stress damage and leads to photoaging. Nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) modulates the antioxidant defense of skin cells against environmental factors, especially ultraviolet radiation. Natural products that target Nrf2-regulated antioxidant reactions are promising candidates for anti-photoaging. The aim of this study was to investigate the protective effect of Modified Qing’e Formula (MQEF) on UV-induced skin oxidative damage and its molecular mechanisms. In this study, the photoaging models of human keratinocytes (HaCaT) and ICR mice were established by UV irradiation. In vitro models showed that MQEF displayed potent antioxidant activity, significantly increased cell viability and reduced apoptosis and excess ROS levels. Meanwhile, the knockdown of Nrf2 reversed the antioxidant and anti-apoptotic effects of MQEF. In vivo experiments indicated that MQEF could protect the skin against UV-exposed injury which manifested by water loss, sensitivity, tanning, wrinkling, and breakage of collagen and elastic fibers. The application of MQEF effectively increased the activity of antioxidant enzymes and reduced the content of malondialdehyde (MDA) in mice. In addition, MQEF was able to activate Nrf2 nuclear translocation in mouse skin tissue. In summary, MQEF may attenuate UV-induced photoaging by upregulating Nrf2 expression and enhancing antioxidant damage capacity. MQEF may be a potential candidate to prevent UV-induced photoaging by restoring redox homeostasis.

Autologous Bioactive Compound Concentrated Growth Factor Ameliorates Fistula Healing of Anal Fistula in a Pig Model and Promotes Proliferation and Migration of Human Skin Fibroblasts via Regulating the MEK/ERK Pathway

Recent evidence suggested that autologous concentrated growth factor (CGF), a new bioactive compound from autologous blood is used widely as an ingenious biomaterial in tissue regeneration with anti-inflammatory properties. This study investigated whether CGF could be involved in the treatment of fistula healing in the anal fistula. For this purpose, the porcine anal fistula model was conducted using the rubber band ligation method and collected pig autogenic CGF to treat the fistulas. CGF treatment promoted fistula healing, which was reflected in the downregulation of inflammatory factors, upregulation of growth factors, and promoted epithelial-mesenchymal transition with increased collagen synthesis. Besides, 16S rRNA gene sequencing analysis of fistula tissues between the control and CGF groups showed that the microbial populations exhibiting significant differences were VadinCA02, Blastomonas, Deinococcus, Devosia, Sphingomonas, Rubrobacteria, and GW_34. CGF of volunteers were collected to process small interfering RNA- (siRNA-) ERK or siRNA-negative control transfected human skin fibroblasts (HSF). The results showed that CGF also promoted the proliferation and extracellular matrix-related functions in HSF, as well as activated the MEK/ERK pathway in vitro and in vivo. Finally, knockdown ERK reversed the effects of CGF in promoting wound healing in HSF. Collectively, our results suggest that the CGF as the bioactive compound from autologous blood exhibited great potential for repairing fistulas as well as promoting the proliferation and migration of human skin fibroblasts by triggering MEK/ERK signaling. These findings provided a fresh perspective for understanding the role of CGF in the management of fistulas.