Salvianolic acids from Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge and their anti-inflammatory effects through the activation of α7nAchR signaling

Content Determination and Chemical Clustering Analysis of Tanshinone and Salvianolic Acid in Salvia spp

Salvia miltiorrhiza is one of the famous traditional Chinese medicines for treating cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. Tanshinone and phenolic acids are the main active compounds of Salvia miltiorrhiza, whereas the distribution patterns of the two kinds of components are still unclear among Salvia spp. In this work, high-performance liquid chromatography was applied to analyze the distribution patterns of major components in the roots and leaves of 58 Salvia spp. The results showed that the distribution patterns of tanshinone and phenolic acids in Salvia spp. varied significantly. Phenolic acid components such as rosmarinus acid, caffeic acid, and danshensu are widely distributed in the roots and leaves, and phenolic acids in the leaves of Salvia spp. are generally higher than that in roots. Tanshinones are mainly detected in the roots of Salvia przewalskii, Salvia trijuga, Salvia castanea, and Salvia yunnanensis. The content of major components of the different species varied significantly. The content of phenolic acids in most Salvia spp. generally followed the pattern of salvianolic acid B > rosmarinic acid > danshensu > caffeic acid both in the roots and leaves. Tanshinone IIA and cryptotanshinone were the main lipophilic components of Salvia spp. distributed in southwest China. A correlation between the distribution pattern of tanshinone and the genetic relationship of species was indicated in the work. This research systematically reveals the distribution patterns of tanshinone and phenolic acids in Salvia spp., providing a theoretical basis for the development and utilization of medicinal resources of Salvia.

Study on therapeutic mechanism of total salvianolic acids against myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury based on network pharmacology, molecular docking, and experimental study

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Radix Salviae miltiorrhizae, also known as Danshen in Chinese, effectively activates the blood and resolves stasis. Total salvianolic acids (SA) is the main active ingredient of Danshen, and related preparations, such as salvianolate injection are commonly used clinically to treat myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury (MIRI). However, the potential targets and key active ingredients of SA have not been sufficiently investigated.

AIM OF THE STUDY

This study aimed to investigate the mechanism of action of SA in treating MIRI.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Network pharmacology and molecular docking techniques were used to predict SA targets against MIRI. The key acting pathway of SA were validated by performing experiments in a rat MIRI model.

RESULTS

Twenty potential ingredients and 54 targets of SA in treating MIRI were identified. Ingredient-target-pathway network analysis revealed that salvianolic acid B and rosmarinic acid had the highest degree value. Pathway enrichment analysis showed that SA may regulate MIRI through the IL-17 signaling pathway, and this result was confirmed in the rat MIRI experiment.

CONCLUSION

The results of this study indicate that SA may protect MIRI by regulating the IL-17 pathway.

Salvia miltiorrhiza ameliorates endometritis in dairy cows by relieving inflammation, energy deficiency and blood stasis

Introduction: According to traditional Chinese veterinary medicine, endometritis is caused by a combination of Qi deficiency, blood stasis, and external evil invasion. Salvia miltiorrhiza is a traditional Chinese medicine that counteracts blood stasis and has additional demonstrated effects in boosting energy and restraining inflammation. Salvia miltiorrhiza has been employed in many traditional Chinese prescriptions that have proven effective in healing clinical dairy cow endometritis. Methods: the in vivo effect of Salvia miltiorrhiza in treating endometritis was evaluated in dairy cows. In addition, bovine endometrial epithelium cell inflammation and rat blood stasis models were employed to demonstrate the crosstalk between energy, blood circulation and inflammation. Network analysis, western blotting, qRT-PCR and ELISA were performed to investigate the molecular mechanism of Salvia miltiorrhiza in endometritis treatment. Results: The results demonstrate that treatment with Salvia miltiorrhiza relieves uterine inflammation, increases blood ATP concentrations, and prolongs blood clotting times. Four of the six Salvia miltiorrhiza main components (SMMCs) (tanshinone IIA, cryptotanshinone, salvianolic acid A and salvianolic acid B) were effective in reversing decreased ATP and increased IL-1β, IL-6, and IL-8 levels in an in vitro endometritis model, indicating their abilities to ameliorate the negative energy balance and external evil invasion effects of endometritis. Furthermore, in a blood stasis rat model, inflammatory responses were induced in the absence of external infection; and all six SMMCs inhibited thrombin-induced platelet aggregation. Network analysis of SMMC targets predicted that Salvia miltiorrhiza may mediate anti-inflammation via the Toll-like receptor signaling pathway; anti-aggregation via the Platelet activation pathway; and energy balance via the Thermogenesis and AMPK signaling pathways. Multiple molecular targets within these pathways were verified to be inhibited by SMMCs, including P38/ERK-AP1, a key molecular signal that may mediate the crosstalk between inflammation, energy deficiency and blood stasis. Conclusion: These results provide mechanistic understanding of the therapeutic effect of Salvia miltiorrhiza for endometritis achieved through Qi deficiency, blood stasis, and external evil invasion.

Elucidating the mechanisms of formononetin in modulating atherosclerotic plaque formation in ApoE-/- mice

BACKGROUND

Atherosclerosis(AS) poses a pressing challenge in contemporary medicine. Formononetin (FMN) plays a crucial role in its prevention and treatment. However, the detailed impact of FMN on the stability of atherosclerotic plaques and its underlying mechanisms remain to be elucidated.

METHODS

An intervention consisting of FMN was given along with a high-fat food regimen in the ApoE-/- mouse model. The investigation included the evaluation of the degree of atherosclerotic lesion, the main components of the plaque, lipid profiles, particular markers indicating M1/M2 macrophage phenotypes, the quantities of factors related to inflammation, the infiltration of macrophages, and the identification of markers linked to the α7nAChR/JAK2/STAT3 axis effect molecules.

RESULTS

The evaluation of aortic morphology in ApoE-/-mice revealed that FMN significantly improved the plaque area, fibrous cap protrusion, lipid deposition, and structural alterations on the aortic surface, among other markers of atherosclerosis,and there is concentration dependence. Furthermore, the lipid content of mouse serum was assessed, and the results showed that the low-, medium-, and high-dosage FMN groups had significantly lower levels of LDL-C, ox-LDL, TC, and TG. The results of immunohistochemical staining indicated that the low-, medium-, and high-dose FMN therapy groups had enhanced CD206 expression and decreased expression of CD68 and iNOS. According to RT-qPCR data, FMN intervention has the potential to suppress the expression of iNOS, COX-2, miR-155-5p, IL-6, and IL-1β mRNA, while promoting the expression of IL-10, SHIP1, and Arg-1 mRNA levels. However, the degree of inhibition varied among dosage groups. Western blot investigation of JAK/STAT signaling pathway proteins and cholinergic α7nAChR protein showed that p-JAK2 and p-STAT3 protein expression was suppressed at all dosages, whereas α7nAChR protein expression was enhanced.

CONCLUSIONS

According to the aforementioned findings, FMN can reduce inflammation and atherosclerosis by influencing macrophage polarization, blocking the JAK/STAT signaling pathway, and increasing α7nAChR expression.

Guben Xiezhuo Decoction inhibits M1 polarization through the Raf1/p-Elk1 signaling axis to attenuate renal interstitial fibrosis

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Guben Xiezhuo Decoction (GBXZD) is an herbal compound used to treat chronic kidney disease (CKD) under the guidance of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). Its main components are Astragalus membranaceus (Fisch.) Bunge, Codonopsis pilosula (Franch.) Nannf., Centella asiatica (L.) Urb., Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge, Cuscuta chinensis Lam., and Rheum palmatum L.. Clinical studies have shown that it can relieve fatigue, nausea and other symptoms and improve kidney function in patients; however, its specific mechanism of action requires further study.

AIM OF THE STUDY

Renal interstitial fibrosis (RIF) is the ultimate characteristic manifestation of various CKD, that cannot be cured, and appropriate treatments to delay its progression require further exploration. GBXZD, widely used in clinical practice for RIF treatment, can effectively relieve the syndrome in patients with CKD. However, the specific mechanism of action of GBXZD in RIF is unknown and requires further study. This study aimed to explore the specific effects of GBXZD on RIF through the regulation of M1 macrophages.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

An in vivo RIF model was obtained through unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO), and the Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into sham operation, UUO, UUO + GBXZD-low dose (GBXZD-L) and UUO + GBXZD-high dose (GBXZD-H) groups. Pathological changes in rat kidney specimens were observed using hematoxylin and eosin (HE) and Masson staining. The expression of collagen I (COL I), fibronectin (FN), α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) was detected using immunohistochemistry, and immunofluorescence was used to detect the expression of CD86 and inducible nitric-oxide synthase (iNOS) in kidney tissue. An in vitro experiment was performed using M1 polarization model in RAW264.7 macrophages induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Cells were divided into control, LPS, LPS + GBXZD-low dose (GBXZD-L) and LPS + GBXZD-high dose (GBXZD-H) groups. The changes in expression of CD86, iNOS, IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α were measured using western blotting, flow cytometry, immunofluorescence and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). We analyzed the action pathway of GBXZD in regulating M1 polarization of macrophages using antibody microarray and verified the results using western blotting.

RESULTS

Histopathological results showed that the UUO group exhibited significant fibrotic injury compared to the sham group. After GBXZD treatment, the degree of kidney injury, RIF, and inflammatory factor expression were lower than those in the UUO group. Compared with LPS-treated cells, the expression of the M1 markers CD86, iNOS, and pathway proteins Raf1 and p-Elk1 was down-regulated in RAW 264.7 cells treated with LPS and GBXZD. The secretion of the inflammatory factors IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α in the LPS group was more than that in the control group. However, the levels of these factors were significantly reduced in the GBXZD-H group compared to those in the LPS group.

CONCLUSIONS

This study indicates that GBXZD ameliorates RIF and inhibits the inflammatory response and macrophage M1 polarization by a potential mechanism related to the downregulation of Raf1 and p-Elk1. GBXZD therefore has therapeutic potential value for patients with CKD.