Screening and analyzing potential hepatotoxic compounds in the ethanol extract of Asteris Radix by HPLC/DAD/ESI-MSn technique

Ethanol Extract of Radix Asteris Suppresses Osteoclast Differentiation and Alleviates Osteoporosis

Radix Asteris, the root of Aster tataricus L. f., is historically significant in East Asian medicine for treating respiratory conditions. Yet, its implications on bone health remain uncharted. This research investigated the impact of an aqueous ethanol extract of Radix Asteris (EERA) on osteoclast differentiation and its prospective contribution to osteoporosis management. We discerned that EERA retards osteoclast differentiation by inhibiting receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-B ligand (RANKL) expression and obstructing RANKL-induced osteoclastogenesis. EERA markedly suppressed RANKL-induced expression of NFATc1, a pivotal osteoclastogenic factor, via modulating early RANK signaling. EERA's therapeutic potential was underscored by its defense against trabecular bone degradation and its counteraction to increased body and perigonadal fat in ovariectomized mice, mirroring postmenopausal physiological changes. In the phytochemical analysis of EERA, we identified several constituents recognized for their roles in regulating bone and fat metabolism. Collectively, our findings emphasize the potential of EERA in osteoclast differentiation modulation and in the management of osteoporosis and associated metabolic changes following estrogen depletion, suggesting its suitability as an alternative therapeutic strategy for postmenopausal osteoporosis intertwined with metabolic imbalances.

Antitumor astins originate from the fungal endophyte Cyanodermella asteris living within the medicinal plant Aster tataricus

Medicinal plants are a prolific source of natural products with remarkable chemical and biological properties, many of which have considerable remedial benefits. Numerous medicinal plants are suffering from wildcrafting, and thus biotechnological production processes of their natural products are urgently needed. The plant Aster tataricus is widely used in traditional Chinese medicine and contains unique active ingredients named astins. These are macrocyclic peptides showing promising antitumor activities and usually containing the highly unusual moiety 3,4-dichloroproline. The biosynthetic origins of astins are unknown despite being studied for decades. Here we show that astins are produced by the recently discovered fungal endophyte Cyanodermella asteris We were able to produce astins in reasonable and reproducible amounts using axenic cultures of the endophyte. We identified the biosynthetic gene cluster responsible for astin biosynthesis in the genome of C. asteris and propose a production pathway that is based on a nonribosomal peptide synthetase. Striking differences in the production profiles of endophyte and host plant imply a symbiotic cross-species biosynthesis pathway for astin C derivatives, in which plant enzymes or plant signals are required to trigger the synthesis of plant-exclusive variants such as astin A. Our findings lay the foundation for the sustainable biotechnological production of astins independent from aster plants.

Bioactive peptides derived from traditional Chinese medicine and traditional Chinese food: A review

There is an urgent treat of numerous chronic diseases including heart disease, stroke, cancer, chronic respiratory diseases and diabetes, which have a significant influence on the health of people worldwide. In addition to numerous preventive and therapeutic drug treatments, important advances have been achieved in the identification of bioactive peptides that may contribute to long-term health. Although bioactive peptides with various biological activities received unprecedented attention, as a new source of bioactive peptides, the significant role of bioactive peptides from traditional Chinese medicine and traditional Chinese food has not fully appreciated compared to other bioactive components. Hence, identification and bioactivity assessment of these peptides could benefit the pharmaceutical and food industry. Furthermore, the functional properties of bioactive peptides help to demystify drug properties and health benefits of traditional Chinese medicine and traditional Chinese food. This paper reviews the generation and biofunctional properties of various bioactive peptides derived from traditional Chinese medicine and traditional Chinese food. Mechanisms of digestion, bioavailability of bioactive peptides and interactions between traditional Chinese medicine and traditional Chinese food are also summarized in this review.

Systems pharmacology-based approach for dissecting the active ingredients and potential targets of the Chinese herbal Bufei Jianpi formula for the treatment of COPD

Background

The Chinese herbal Bufei Jianpi formula (BJF) provides an effective treatment option for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). However, the systems-level mechanism underlying the clinical effects of BJF on COPD remains unknown.

Methods

In this study, a systems pharmacology model based on absorption filtering, network targeting, and systems analyses was applied specifically to clarify the active compounds and therapeutic mechanisms of BJF. Then, a rat model of cigarette smoke- and bacterial infection-induced COPD was used to investigate the therapeutic mechanisms of BJF on COPD and its comorbidity.

Results

The pharmacological system successfully identified 145 bioactive ingredients from BJF and revealed 175 potential targets. There was a significant target overlap between the herbal constituents of BJF. These results suggested that each herb of BJF connected with similar multitargets, indicating potential synergistic effects among them. The integrated target–disease network showed that BJF probably was efficient for the treatment of not only respiratory tract diseases but also other diseases, such as nervous system and cardiovascular diseases. The possible mechanisms of action of BJF were related to activation of inflammatory response, immune responses, and matrix metalloproteinases, among others. Furthermore, we demonstrated that BJF treatment could effectively prevent COPD and its comorbidities, such as ventricular hypertrophy, by inhibition of inflammatory cytokine production, matrix metalloproteinases expression, and other cytokine production in vivo.

Conclusion

This study using the systems pharmacology method, in combination with in vivo experiments, helped us successfully dissect the molecular mechanism of BJF for the treatment of COPD and predict the potential targets of the multicomponent BJF, which provides a new approach to illustrate the synergetic mechanism of the complex prescription and discover more effective drugs against COPD.

Expectorant, antitussive, anti-inflammatory activities and compositional analysis of Aster tataricus

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

The root of Aster tataricus L. f., recorded in all versions of Chinese Pharmacopoeia, is a traditional Chinese medicine with the function of dispelling phlegm and relieving cough for more than 2000 years. This study was designed to evaluate the expectorant, antitussive, and anti-inflammatory activities of the root of A. tataricus and to explore the chemical substances responsible for these activities.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The 70% ethanol extract of the root of A. tataricus (RA-70) was divided into three fractions, Fr-0, Fr-50 and Fr-95. They were all orally administrated to the mice to investigate their potential expectorant activities by a tracheal phenol red secretion method. The most effective fraction, together with shionone, was evaluated the expectorant, antitussive and anti-inflammatory activities by the mouse models of phenol red secretion, ammonia-induced cough, and xylene-induced ear swelling. Furthermore, the chemical components of the effective fraction were analyzed and identified by an HPLC-Q-TOF/MS method.

RESULTS

Treatment with RA-70, Fr-0 and Fr-50 increased the amount of phenol red secretion by 65.3%, 56.5%, and 76.9%, respectively. Fr-50 was chosen for the further investigation and the results showed that Fr-50 at 40, 80 mg/kg significantly enhanced the phenol red secretion of tracheas, increased the latent period and decreased the frequency of cough and inhibited the ear edema in mice. Shionone at 80 mg/kg showed the trend of enhancing sputum secreting, but had no effect on ammonia-induced cough and xylene-induced ear edema. HPLC-Q-TOF/MS analysis indicated that Fr-50 was mainly composed of 12 caffeoylquinic acids (40.8%, in relative peak area), 7 astersaponins (12.0%) and 13 astins/asterinins (pentapeptides, 26.5%).

CONCLUSIONS

The root of A. tataricus has significant expectorant, antitussive and anti-inflammatory effects. Caffeoylquinic acids, astersaponins, and aster peptides, rather than shionone, may be the main constituents responsible for the expectorant and antitussive activities of A. tataricus and act in a synergistic way.