Metabolomics analysis of Semen Cuscutae protection of kidney deficient model rats using ultra high-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight Mass Spectrometry

Study on the intervention effect of Epimedium before and after suet-oil-processed on kidney yang deficiency rats based on intestinal flora and fecal metabolomics

Epimedium is a Chinese herbal medicine commonly used in clinical practice to reinforce yang. Previous studies have shown that Epimedium fried with suet oil based has the best effect on warming kidney and promoting yang. Evidence suggests a relationship between kidney yang deficiency syndrome (KYDS) and metabolic disorders of the intestinal microflora. However, the specific interaction between KYDS and the intestinal microbiome, as well as the internal regulatory mechanism of the KYDS intestinal microbiome regulated by Epimedium fried with suet oil, remain unclear. The purpose of this study was to investigate the regulatory effects of different processed products of Epimedium on intestinal microflora and metabolites in rats with kidney yang deficiency, and to reveal the processing mechanism of Epimedium fried with suet oil warming kidney and helping yang. 16 S rRNA and LC-MS/MS technology were used to detect fecal samples. Combined with multivariate statistical analysis, differential intestinal flora and metabolites were screened. Then the content of differential bacteria was then quantified using quantitative real-time fluorescence PCR. Furthermore, the correlation between differential bacterial flora and metabolites was analyzed using Spearman's method. The study found that the composition of intestinal flora in rats with kidney yang deficiency changed compared to healthy rats. Epimedium fried with suet oil could increase the levels of beneficial bacteria, while significantly reducing the levels of harmful bacteria. Real-time quantitative PCR results were consistent with 16 S rRNA gene sequencing analysis. Fecal metabolomics revealed that KYDS was associated with 30 different metabolites, involving metabolic pathways steroid hormone biosynthesis etc. Moreover, differential bacteria were closely correlated with potential biomarkers. Epimedium could improve metabolic disorders associated with KYDS by acting on the intestinal flora, with Epimedium fried with suet oil demonstrating the most effective regulatory effect. Its potential mechanism may involve the regulation of abnormal metabolism and the impact on the diversity and structure of the intestinal flora.

LIPUS combined with TFSC alleviates premature ovarian failure by promoting autophagy and inhibiting apoptosis

OBJECTIVE

Premature ovarian failure (POF), also known as primary ovarian insufficiency, is a major cause of infertility in female worldwide. Excessive apoptosis and impaired autophagy in ovarian granulosa cells are the main pathological mechanisms of POF. The total flavonoids from semen cuscutae (TFSC) are often used in the treatment of gynecological endocrine disorders. In addition, low intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS) is report as an effective method to improve ovarian function. This study aims to investigate the protective effect of POF by the combined use of TFSC and LIPUS.

METHODS

POF rats model and granulosa cell model were successfully induced by tripterygium glycosides and cyclophosphamide, respectively. After that, model rats and cells received TFSC plus LIPUS administration. Then ovarian histomorphology, senescence, estrus cycle, and serum sex hormone levels were detected in rats. Ovarian tissue and granulosa cells autophagy and apoptosis levels were also assessed.

RESULTS

Disturbed sex hormone levels, atrophied and senescent ovaries, and abnormal estrous cycle were found in POF rats. Meanwhile, cell autophagy was inhibited and cell apoptosis was activated in POF ovarian tissue and granulosa cells. However, TFSC combined with LIPUS improved these changes, and this combination treatment exhibited synergistic effects. The abnormal expression of the cell apoptosis-, autophagy-, and PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway-related proteins were also improved by combination treatment.

CONCLUSION

The study found that the combination of TFSC and LIPUS can alleviate POF by modulating cell autophagy and apoptosis. The findings may provide a viable scientific basis for POF treatment.

Fu-Zheng-Tong-Luo formula promotes autophagy and alleviates idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis by controlling the Janus kinase 2/signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 pathway

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Fu-Zheng-Tong-Luo (FZTL) formula is a Chinese herbal prescription which is used to treat idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). We previously reported that the FZTL formula could improve IPF injury in rats; however, the mechanism remains unelucidated.

AIM OF THE STUDY

To elucidate the effects and mechanisms of the FZTL formula on IPF.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis rat model and transforming growth factor-β-induced lung fibroblast model were used. Histological changes and fibrosis formation were detected in the rat model after treatment with the FZTL formula. Furthermore, the effects of the FZTL formula on autophagy and lung fibroblast activation were determined. Moreover, the mechanism of FZTL was explored using transcriptomics analysis.

RESULTS

We observed that FZTL alleviated IPF injury in rats and inhibited inflammatory responses and fibrosis formation in rats. Moreover, it promoted autophagy and inhibited lung fibroblast activation in vitro. Transcriptomics analysis revealed that FZTL regulates the Janus kinase 2 (JAK)/signal transducer and activator of the transcription 3 (STAT) signaling pathway. The JAK2/STAT3 signaling activator interleukin 6 inhibited the anti-fibroblast activation effect of the FZTL formula. Combined treatment with the JAK2 inhibitor (AZD1480) and autophagy inhibitor (3-methyladenine) did not enhance the antifibrotic effect of FZTL.

CONCLUSIONS

The FZTL formula can inhibit IPF injury and lung fibroblast activation. Its effects are mediated via the JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway. The FZTL formula may be a potential complementary therapy for pulmonary fibrosis.

16S rDNA sequencing combined with metabolomics profiling with multi-index scoring method reveals the mechanism of salt-processed Semen Cuscuta in Bushen Antai mixture on kidney yang deficiency syndrome

Kidney yang deficiency syndrome (KYDS) is a classic syndrome of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). The salt-processed product of Semen Cuscuta (YP) is the monarch drug in Bushen Antai Mixture (BAM), can improve the reproductive dysfunction caused by KYDS, and the effect is better than that of raw products of Semen Cuscuta (SP). However, its mechanism is not completely clear yet. In this study, an integrated strategy combining untargeted metabolomics with microbiology was used to explore the mechanism of YP in the BAM improving KYDS. 16S rDNA gene sequencing showed that BAM containing YP (Y-BAM) had a significantly better regulatory effect on Desulfobacterota and Desulfovibrionaceae_unclassified than BAM containing SP (S-BAM). Untargeted metabolomics studies showed that Y-BAM significantly regulated 4 metabolites and 4 metabolic pathways. In addition, multi-index analysis showed that the effect of Y-BAM on arachidonic acid metabolism, tyrosine metabolism, purine metabolism, fructose and mannose metabolism and total metabolism was closer to that of the control group compared to S-BAM. The analysis of serum biochemical indexes showed that Y-BAM had more significant regulating effect on the levels of luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), testosterone (T) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) in serum of KYDS rats compared to S-BAM. Spearman correlation analysis showed that there was a significant correlation between intestinal microorganisms and metabolites and serum biochemical indexes. For example, Desulfovibrionaceae_unclassified was positively correlated with arachidonic acid, and negatively correlated with SOD and LH. This study suggests that YP may enhance the regulation of intestinal flora and endogenous metabolism of KYDS, so that BAM shows a better therapeutic effect on KYDS, which also reasonably explains why BAM uses Semen Cuscuta stir-baked with salt solution.