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Duan ZW, Liu Y, Zhang PP, Hu JY, Mo ZX, Liu WQ, Ma X, Zhou XH, Wang XH, Hu XH, Wei SL. Da-Chai-Hu-Tang Formula inhibits the progression and metastasis in HepG2 cells through modulation of the PI3K/AKT/STAT3-induced cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY 2024; 331:118293. [PMID: 38705430 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2024.118293] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2024] [Revised: 04/21/2024] [Accepted: 05/02/2024] [Indexed: 05/07/2024]
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE Da-Chai-Hu-Tang (DCHT), a Chinese traditional herbal compound, has been utilized for the treatment of Hepatic diseases in China for over 1800 years. The DCHT formula contains eight herbals: Bupleurum chinense DC. (chaihu), Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi (huangqin), Paeonia lactiflora Pall. (baishao), Pinellia ternata (Thunb.) Makino (banxia), Rheum officinale Baill. (dahuang), Citrus × aurantium L. (zhishi), Zingiber officinale Roscoe (shengjiang), Ziziphus jujuba Mill. (dazao). Clinical studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of DCHT in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and its ability to enhance the immunity of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. A total of 20 Chinese articles have been published on the use of DCHT in treating HCC. AIM OF THE STUDY The study aimed to validate the effect of DCHT in HCC cells and to identify related targets (TP53, AKT1, BCL2, STAT3) in treating HCC by DCHT in vitro experiments. MATERIALS AND METHODS Cell proliferation and migration were investigated in vitro. Flow cytometry analysis was used to evaluate the cell cycle and apoptosis. Apoptotic bodies in HepG2 cells were observed using a confocal microscope. Biochemical detection was employed to analyze LDH release, MDA levels, and SOD levels. Bioinformatics analysis was used to predict core targets between DCHT and HCC, as well as potential signaling pathways. The protein levels of metastasis-associated, apoptosis, and PI3K, AKT, p-AKT, and STAT3 were further determined through Western blotting. RESULTS Following treatment with DCHT, the inhibition of viability, migration, and G2/M arrest was observed in HepG2 cells. Flow cytometry analysis and Morphological apoptosis studies provided evidence that DCHT could induce apoptosis in HepG2 cells. Biochemical detection revealed that DCHT could increase LDH release and the level of MDA, and inhibit the viability of the SOD. Bioinformatics analysis identified key targets such as TP53, AKT1, BCL2, STAT3. The PI3K/AKT/STAT3 signaling pathway emerged as a critical pathway in the KEGG enrichment analysis. Western blotting results indicated that DCHT could enhance the expression of E-cadherin, p53, and Bax, while reducing the content of N-cadherin, Bcl-2, PI3K, p-AKT, AKT1, and STAT3. CONCLUSIONS The results proved that DCHT could inhibit the progression and metastasis of HCC by regulating the expression of E-cadherin, N-cadherin, p53, Bax, Bcl-2, PI3K, p-AKT, AKT, and STAT3 through the PI3K/AKT/STAT3 signaling pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zi-Wei Duan
- School of Chinese Materia Medica, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, 102488, China.
| | - Yong Liu
- School of Chinese Materia Medica, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, 102488, China.
| | - Pei-Pei Zhang
- School of Chinese Materia Medica, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, 102488, China.
| | - Jing-Yan Hu
- School of Chinese Materia Medica, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, 102488, China.
| | - Zhi-Xin Mo
- School of Life Sciences, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, 102488, China.
| | - Wen-Qing Liu
- School of Chinese Materia Medica, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, 102488, China.
| | - Xin Ma
- School of Life Sciences, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, 102488, China.
| | - Xiao-Hui Zhou
- School of Life Sciences, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, 102488, China.
| | - Xiao-Hui Wang
- School of Chinese Materia Medica, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, 102488, China; Engineering Research Center of Good Agricultural Practice for Chinese Crude Drugs, Ministry of Education, Beijing, 100102, China.
| | - Xiu-Hua Hu
- School of Life Sciences, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, 102488, China; Engineering Research Center of Good Agricultural Practice for Chinese Crude Drugs, Ministry of Education, Beijing, 100102, China.
| | - Sheng-Li Wei
- School of Chinese Materia Medica, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, 102488, China; Engineering Research Center of Good Agricultural Practice for Chinese Crude Drugs, Ministry of Education, Beijing, 100102, China.
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Sun R, Liang Y, Zhu S, Yin Q, Bian Y, Ma H, Zhao F, Yin G, Tang D. Homotherapy-for-heteropathy of Bupleurum Chinense DC.-Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi in treating depression and colorectal cancer: A network pharmacology and animal model approach. JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY 2024; 328:118038. [PMID: 38479544 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2024.118038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2023] [Revised: 01/26/2024] [Accepted: 03/09/2024] [Indexed: 03/25/2024]
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE Bupleurum chinense DC.-Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi (BS) is a classic drug pair that has good clinical effects on depression and many tumors. However, the concurrent targeting mechanism of how the aforementioned drug pair is valid in the two distinct diseases, has not been clarified yet. AIM OF THE STUDY The components of BS were detected by LC-MS, combined with network pharmacology to explore the active ingredients and common targeting mechanism of its multi-pathway regulation of BS in treating depression and CRC, and to validate the dual effects of BS using the CUMS mice model and orthotopic transplantation tumor mice model of CRC. RESULTS Twenty-nine components were screened, 84 common gene targets were obteined, and the top 5 key targets including STAT3, PIK3R1, PIK3CA, AKT1, IL-6 were identified by PPI network. GO and KEGG analyses revealed that PI3K/AKT and JAK/STAT signaling pathways might play a crucial role of BS in regulating depression and CRC. BS significantly modulated CUMS-induced depressive-like behavior, attenuated neuronal damage, and reduced serum EPI and NE levels in CUMS model mice. BS improved the pathological histological changes of solid tumors and liver tissues and inhibited solid tumors and liver metastases in tumor-bearing mice. BS significantly decreased the proteins' expression of IL-6, p-JAK2, p-STAT3, p-PI3K, p-AKT1 in hippocampal tissues and solid tumors, and regulated the levels of IL-2, IL-6 and IL-10 in serum of two models of mice. CONCLUSION BS can exert dual antidepressant and anti-CRC effects by inhibiting the expression of IL-6/JAK2/STAT3 and PI3K/AKT pathway proteins and regulating the release of inflammatory cytokines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruolan Sun
- School of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Yan Liang
- School of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Shijiao Zhu
- College of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Qihang Yin
- School of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Yong Bian
- Labthatory Animal Center, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Hongyue Ma
- College of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Fan Zhao
- School of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210023, China.
| | - Gang Yin
- School of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210023, China.
| | - Decai Tang
- School of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210023, China.
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Liu Q, Liu L, Xie L, Zheng L, Xu Q, Li W, Liu X. Screening and evaluation of quality markers of Radix Cudramiae for liver disease based on an integrated strategy of in vivo pharmacokinetics and in vitro HPLC fingerprint. J Pharm Biomed Anal 2024; 242:116055. [PMID: 38412792 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpba.2024.116055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2023] [Revised: 02/06/2024] [Accepted: 02/14/2024] [Indexed: 02/29/2024]
Abstract
Radix Cudramiae, the dried root of Cudrania cochinchinensis (Lour.) Kudo et Masam., is a valuable ethnomedicine with outstanding antihepatitis activity. However, the lack of reports on quality markers (Q-markers) hindered its quality evaluation and standardization, as a result restricted its clinical application. This paper aimed to discover the Q-markers of Radix Cudramiae with a comprehensive strategy based on in vivo pharmacokinetics and in vitro HPLC fingerprint. A rapid and sensitive ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS) analytical method was firstly developed and validated for simultaneous determination of six potential active ingredients (eriodictyol, dihydrokaempferol, dihydromorin, kaempferol, naringenin and morin) of Radix Cudramiae in rat plasma and tissues, which was successfully applied to the holistic comparison of pharmacokinetics and tissue distribution between normal and acute liver injury rats. On the other hand, a representative HPLC fingerprint of Radix Cudramiae was also established to elucidate the chemical profile for overall quality evaluation. Dihydrokaempferol-7-O-β-D-glucoside (the naturally existed chemical formation of dihydrokaempferol) and kaempferol screened out with high exposure levels in vivo and high resolution in HPLC fingerprint were finally selected as Q-markers of Radix Cudramiae. To the best of our knowledge, it was the first time for people to discover in vivo properties and pharmacokinetic parameters of components in Radix Cudramiae, as well as the first report on its representative HPLC fingerprint. Also, the integrated strategy could offer an effective way for TCMs Q-markers screening.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qing Liu
- School of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu, PR China; Engineering Center of State Ministry of Education for Standardization of Chinese Medicine Processing, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu, PR China; Anyang Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Anyang, Henan, PR China
| | - Luyao Liu
- School of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu, PR China; Engineering Center of State Ministry of Education for Standardization of Chinese Medicine Processing, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu, PR China
| | - Lintong Xie
- School of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu, PR China; Engineering Center of State Ministry of Education for Standardization of Chinese Medicine Processing, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu, PR China
| | - Linyu Zheng
- School of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu, PR China; Engineering Center of State Ministry of Education for Standardization of Chinese Medicine Processing, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu, PR China
| | - Qianwei Xu
- School of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu, PR China
| | - Weidong Li
- School of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu, PR China; Engineering Center of State Ministry of Education for Standardization of Chinese Medicine Processing, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu, PR China
| | - Xiao Liu
- School of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu, PR China; Engineering Center of State Ministry of Education for Standardization of Chinese Medicine Processing, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu, PR China.
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Han X, Bao J, Ni J, Li B, Song P, Wan R, Wang X, Hu G, Chen C. Qing Xia Jie Yi Formula granules alleviated acute pancreatitis through inhibition of M1 macrophage polarization by suppressing glycolysis. JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY 2024; 325:117750. [PMID: 38216100 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2024.117750] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2023] [Revised: 12/28/2023] [Accepted: 01/09/2024] [Indexed: 01/14/2024]
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE Herbal formulas from Traditional Chinese Medicine are common and well-established practice for treating acute pancreatitis (AP) patients. However, little is known about their bioactive ingredients and mechanisms, such as their targets and pathways to inhibit inflammation. AIM OF THE STUDY This study aimed to evaluate the effect of Qing Xia Jie Yi Formula (QXJYF) granules on AP and discuss the molecular mechanisms involved. MATERIALS AND METHODS Major compounds in QXJYF granules were identified using UPLC-quadrupole-Orbitrap mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-Orbitrap MS). The effect of QXJYF granules on experimental AP models both in vitro and in vivo, and detailed mechanisms were clarified. Two AP models were induced in mice by intraperitoneally injections of caerulein or L-arginine, and QXJYF granules were used to treat AP mice in vivo. Histological evaluation of pancreas and lung, serum amylase and lipase levels, serum inflammatory cytokines, inflammatory cell infiltration and macrophage phenotype were assessed. Bone marrow derived macrophages (BMDMs) were cultured and treated with QXJYF granules in vitro. BMDM phenotype and glycolysis levels were measured. Lastly, clinical effect of QXJYF granules on AP patients was verified. Predicted severe AP (pSAP) patients eligible for inclusion were assessed for enrollment. RESULTS Nine major compounds were identified in QXJYF granules. Data showed that QXJYF granules significantly alleviated AP severity both in caerulein and L-arginine-induced AP models in vivo, pancreatic injury and inflammatory cell infiltration, systematic inflammation, lung injury and inflammatory cell infiltration were all improved after QXJYF treatment. QXJYF granules significantly reduced M1 macrophages during AP both in vivo and in vitro; besides, the mRNA expression levels of M1 genes such as inos, Tnfα, Il1β and Il6 were significantly lower after QXJYF treatment in M1 macrophages. Mechanistically, we found that HK2, PFKFB3, PKM, LDHα levels were increased in M1 macrophages, but significantly decreased after QXJYF treatment. Clinical data indicated that QXJYF granules could significantly reduce CRP levels and shorten the duration of organ failure, thereby reducing the incidence of SAP and preventing pSAP patients from progressing to SAP. CONCLUSION QXJYF granules alleviated AP through the inhibition of M1 macrophage polarization by suppressing glycolysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao Han
- Department of Gastroenterology, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Pancreatic Disease, Institute of Pancreatic Disease, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Jingpiao Bao
- Department of Gastroenterology, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Pancreatic Disease, Institute of Pancreatic Disease, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Jianbo Ni
- Department of Gastroenterology, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Pancreatic Disease, Institute of Pancreatic Disease, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Bin Li
- Department of Gastroenterology, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Pancreatic Disease, Institute of Pancreatic Disease, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Pengli Song
- Department of Gastroenterology, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Pancreatic Disease, Institute of Pancreatic Disease, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Rong Wan
- Department of Gastroenterology, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Pancreatic Disease, Institute of Pancreatic Disease, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Xingpeng Wang
- Department of Gastroenterology, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Pancreatic Disease, Institute of Pancreatic Disease, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Guoyong Hu
- Department of Gastroenterology, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Pancreatic Disease, Institute of Pancreatic Disease, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
| | - Congying Chen
- Department of Gastroenterology, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Pancreatic Disease, Institute of Pancreatic Disease, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
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Hao B, Yang Z, Liu H, Liu Y, Wang S. Advances in Flavonoid Research: Sources, Biological Activities, and Developmental Prospectives. Curr Issues Mol Biol 2024; 46:2884-2925. [PMID: 38666911 PMCID: PMC11049524 DOI: 10.3390/cimb46040181] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2024] [Revised: 03/06/2024] [Accepted: 03/07/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
At present, the occurrence of a large number of infectious and non-communicable diseases poses a serious threat to human health as well as to drug development for the treatment of these diseases. One of the most significant challenges is finding new drug candidates that are therapeutically effective and have few or no side effects. In this respect, the active compounds in medicinal plants, especially flavonoids, are potentially useful compounds with a wide range of pharmacological activities. They are naturally present in nature and valuable in the treatment of many infectious and non-communicable diseases. Flavonoids are divided into fourteen categories and are mainly derived from plant extraction, chemical synthesis and structural modification, and biosynthesis. The structural modification of flavonoids is an important way to discover new drugs, but biosynthesis is currently considered the most promising research direction with the potential to revolutionize the new production pipeline in the synthesis of flavonoids. However, relevant problems such as metabolic pathway analyses and cell synthesis protocols for flavonoids need to be addressed on an urgent basis. In the present review, new research techniques for assessing the biological activities of flavonoids and the mechanisms of their biological activities are elucidated and their modes of interaction with other drugs are described. Moreover, novel drug delivery systems, such as nanoparticles, bioparticles, colloidals, etc., are gradually becoming new means of addressing the issues of poor hydrophilicity, lipophilicity, poor chemical stability, and low bioavailability of flavonoids. The present review summarizes the latest research progress on flavonoids, existing problems with their therapeutic efficacy, and how these issues can be solved with the research on flavonoids.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Shengyi Wang
- Key Laboratory of New Animal Drug Project, Gansu Province, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Pharmaceutical Development, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Lanzhou Institute of Husbandry and Pharmaceutical Sciences of Chinese Academy of Agriculture Sciences, Lanzhou 730050, China; (B.H.); (Z.Y.); (H.L.); (Y.L.)
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