Moutan cortex radicis improves lipopolysaccharide-induced acute lung injury in rats through anti-inflammation

Moutan cortex exerts blood-activating and anti-inflammatory effects by regulating coagulation-inflammation cascades pathway in cells, rats and zebrafish

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

As a traditional Chinese medicine, raw Moutan Cortex (RMC) has been used in clinical practice for thousands of years. However, its blood-cooling and blood-activating medicinal effects as well as the underlying mechanisms have not been preliminarily verified until recent years.

AIM OF THE STUDY

Our group's previous network pharmacological studies suggested that RMC might exert its blood-activating and anti-inflammatory effects by modulating the coagulation-inflammation cascade pathway. Therefore, the present study aimed to further investigate the mechanisms relevant to the blood-activating and anti-inflammatory effects of RMC so as to provide more robust data supporting its clinical application.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The inflammation and coagulation models of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were induced by TNF-α; The rat models with blood-heat and blood-stasis syndrome (BHS) were constructed by ice-water bath with a combined use of epinephrine hydrochloride and dried yeast; The thrombus models of zebrafish were induced by arachidonic acid, and the inflammation models were established using LPS and CuSO4. The regulatory effects of RMC on the key targets in the pathway of the coagulation-inflammation cascade were investigated by combining ELISA, RT-PCR, and western blot techniques in an attempt to provide multiple validations concerning RMC's pharmacological efficacy and mechanism associated with cooling blood and activating blood circulation.

RESULT

The findings from the pharmacodynamic research demonstrated that RMC could inhibit the coagulation and inflammation process of HUVECs. Besides, it lowered the anal temperature and whole blood viscosity in BHS rats in addition to a prolongation of their prothrombin time (PT), thrombin time (TT), and activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT). Successfully constrained thrombotic area and reduced inflammatory cell counts were also observed in zebrafish models. Meanwhile, ELISA, RT-PCR and WB showed that RMC were capable of inhibiting the factors related to coagulation-MARK inflammation pathway-FⅡ, TF, FⅦ, FⅧ, FⅩ, and PAI, as well as down-regulating the expression of IL-6, COX-2, iNOS, TNF-α, ERK, JNK and p38.

CONCLUSION

RMC exerts blood-activating and anti-inflammatory effects through regulating the target genes of the coagulation-MARK inflammation cascade pathway.

Immune-boosting effect of Yookgong-dan against cyclophosphamide-induced immunosuppression in mice

Immune responses must be strictly regulated to prevent autoimmune and infectious diseases and to protect against infectious agents. As people age, their immunity wanes, leading to a decrease in lymphocyte production in bone marrow and thymus and a decline in the efficacy of mature lymphocytes in secondary lymphoid organs. This study explores the immune-boosting potential of Yookgong-dan (YGD) in enhancing the immune system by activating immune cells. In our in vitro experiments, cyclophosphamide (Cy) treatment led to a significant decrease in primary splenocyte viability. However, subsequent treatment with YGD significantly improved cell viability, with doses ranging between 1 and 25 μg/mL in Cy-treated splenocytes. Flow cytometry analysis demonstrated that the Cy group exhibited reduced positivity of CD3+ T cells and CD45+ leukocytes compared to the blank group. In contrast, treatment with YGD led to a notable, dose-responsive increase in these immune cell types. In our in vivo experiments, YGD was orally administered to Cy-induced immunosuppressed mice at 20 and 100 mg/kg doses for 10 days. The results indicated a dose-dependent elevation in immunoglobulin (Ig)G and IgM levels in the serum, emphasizing the immunostimulatory effect of YGD. Furthermore, the Cy-treated group showed decreased T cells, B (CD19+) cells, and leukocytes in the total splenocyte population. Yet, YGD treatment resulted in a dose-dependent reversal of this pattern, suggesting its ability to counter immunosuppression. Notably, YGD was found to effectively stimulate T (CD4+ and CD8+) lymphocyte subsets and natural killer cells, along with enhancing Th1/Th2 cytokines in immunosuppressed conditions. These outcomes correlated with the modulation of BCL-2 and BAX expression, which are critical for apoptosis. In conclusion, YGD has the potential to bolster immune functionality through the activation of immune cells, thereby enhancing the immune system's capacity to combat diseases and improve overall health and wellness.

High-quality assembly and methylome of a Tibetan wild tree peony genome (Paeonia ludlowii) reveal the evolution of giant genome architecture

Tree peony belongs to one of the Saxifragales families, Paeoniaceae. It is one of the most famous ornamental plants, and is also a promising woody oil plant. Although two Paeoniaceae genomes have been released, their assembly qualities are still to be improved. Additionally, more genomes from wild peonies are needed to accelerate genomic-assisted breeding. Here we assemble a high-quality and chromosome-scale 10.3-Gb genome of a wild Tibetan tree peony, Paeonia ludlowii, which features substantial sequence divergence, including around 75% specific sequences and gene-level differentials compared with other peony genomes. Our phylogenetic analyses suggest that Saxifragales and Vitales are sister taxa and, together with rosids, they are the sister taxon to asterids. The P. ludlowii genome is characterized by frequent chromosome reductions, centromere rearrangements, broadly distributed heterochromatin, and recent continuous bursts of transposable element (TE) movement in peony, although it lacks recent whole-genome duplication. These recent TE bursts appeared during the uplift and glacial period of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, perhaps contributing to adaptation to rapid climate changes. Further integrated analyses with methylome data revealed that genome expansion in peony might be dynamically affected by complex interactions among TE proliferation, TE removal, and DNA methylation silencing. Such interactions also impact numerous recently duplicated genes, particularly those related to oil biosynthesis and flower traits. This genome resource will not only provide the genomic basis for tree peony breeding but also shed light on the study of the evolution of huge genome structures as well as their protein-coding genes.

Integrative Approach to Identifying System-Level Mechanisms of Chung-Sang-Bo-Ha-Hwan's Influence on Respiratory Tract Diseases: A Network Pharmacological Analysis with Experimental Validation

Chung-Sang-Bo-Ha-Hwan (CSBHH) is an herbal prescription widely used to treat various chronic respiratory diseases. To investigate the system-level treatment mechanisms of CSBHH in respiratory tract diseases, we identified 56 active ingredients of CSBHH and evaluated the degree of overlap between their targets and respiratory tract disease-associated proteins. We then investigated the respiratory tract disease-related signaling pathways associated with CSBHH targets. Enrichment analysis showed that the CSBHH targets were significantly associated with various signaling pathways related to inflammation, alveolar structure, and tissue fibrosis. Experimental validation was conducted using phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate (PMA)-stimulated NCI-H292 cells by analyzing the mRNA expression levels of biomarkers (IL-1β and TNF-α for inflammation; GSTP1, GSTM1, and PTEN for apoptosis) derived from network pharmacological analysis, in addition to the mucin genes MUC5AC and MUC2, to investigate the phlegm-expelling effect of CSBHH. The mRNA expression levels of these genes were consistent with network pharmacological predictions in a concentration-dependent manner. These results suggest that the therapeutic mechanisms of CSBHH in respiratory tract diseases could be attributed to the simultaneous action of multiple active ingredients in the herbal prescription.

Traditional uses, phytochemistry, pharmacology, and pharmacokinetics of the root bark of Paeonia x suffruticosa andrews: A comprehensive review

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Moutan Cortex (MC), commonly known as "Mu dan pi", refers to the dried root bark of Paeonia x suffruticosa Andrews and is broadly used as a traditional herbal medication in China, Japan, and Korea. For thousands of years, it has been utilized to treat female genital, extravasated blood, cardiovascular, and stagnant blood disorders.

AIM OF THE REVIEW

The purpose of this review article was to summarize information on the traditional uses, phytochemistry, pharmacology and pharmacokinetics of MC, as well as to outline the further research directions for the development of new drugs and the associations between traditional uses and pharmacological effects.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The information involved in the study was gathered from a variety of electronic resources, including PubMed, Web of Science, ScienceDirect, SciFinder, China Knowledge Resource Integrated Database, and Google Scholar. The date was from 1992 to 2022.

RESULTS

Approximately 163 chemical compounds have been extracted and identified from MC, including monoterpenes, monoterpene glycosides, triterpenes, phenolics, flavonoids, volatile oils, alkaloids, and others. In these categories, the monoterpene glycosides and phenols being the most common. A wide variety of pharmacological effects have been described for MC crude extracts and active molecules, such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and antiviral, antitumor, antidiabetic, organ protection, and neuroprotective activities, as well as treating cardiovascular diseases. Pharmacokinetics has been also used in the study of MC, including its crude extracts or chemical constituents, in order to explore the therapeutic mechanism, direct clinically appropriate application and provide new ideas for the exploitation of innovative medicines.

CONCLUSION

Modern pharmacological research has demonstrated that MC, as a significant therapeutic resource, has the ability to heal a wide range of diseases, particularly female genital and cardiovascular problems. These researches propose therapeutic ideas for the development of novel MC medicines. Furthermore, preclinical and clinical study have verified several observed pharmacological properties related with the traditional usages of MC.

Moutan Cortex Extract Modulates Macrophage Activation via Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Calcium Signaling and ER Stress-CHOP Pathway

Moutan Cortex, Paeonia suffruticosa root, has long been used as a medicine for the treatment of inflammatory diseases. The aim of this study was to evaluate the modulative properties of Moutan Cortex water extract (CP) on endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress-related macrophage activation via the calcium-CHOP pathway. RAW 264.7 mouse macrophages were activated by lipopolysaccharide (LPS), and the levels of various inflammatory mediators from RAW 264.7 were evaluated. The multiplex cytokine assay was used to investigate both cytokines and growth factors, and RT-PCR was used to investigate the expressions of inflammation-related genes, such as CHOP. Data represent the levels of NO and cytosolic calcium in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 were significantly inhibited by CP as well as hydrogen peroxide (p < 0.05). Minutely, NO production in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 incubated with CP at concentrations of 25, 50, 100, and 200 µg/mL for 24 h was 97.32 ± 1.55%, 95.86 ± 2.26%, 94.64 ± 1.83%, and 92.69 ± 2.31% of the control value (LPS only), respectively (p < 0.05). Calcium release in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 incubated with CP at concentrations of 25, 50, 100, and 200 µg/mL for 18 h was 95.78 ± 1.64%, 95.41 ± 1.14%, 94.54 ± 2.76%, and 90.89 ± 3.34% of the control value, respectively (p < 0.05). Hydrogen peroxide production in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 incubated with CP at concentrations of 25, 50, 100, and 200 µg/mL for 24 h was 79.15 ± 7.16%, 63.83 ± 4.03%, 46.27 ± 4.38%, and 40.66 ± 4.03% of the control value, respectively (p < 0.05). It is interesting that the production of IL-6, TNF-α, G-CSF, MIP-1α, MIP-2, and M-CSF in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 were significantly inhibited by CP (p < 0.05), while the production of LIX, LIF, RANTES, and MIP-1β showed a meaningful decrease. CP at concentrations of 25, 50, 100, and 200 µg/mL significantly reduced the transcription of Chop, Camk2α, NOS, STAT1, STAT3, Ptgs2, Jak2, c-Jun, Fas, c-Fos, TLR3, and TLR9 in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 (p < 0.05). CP at concentrations of 25, 50, and 100 µg/mL significantly reduced the phosphorylation of STAT3, p38 MAPK, and IκB-α in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 (p < 0.05). These results suggest that CP might modulate macrophage activation via LPS-induced calcium signaling and the ER stress-CHOP pathway.

Anti-Fungal Activity of Moutan cortex Extracts against Rice Sheath Blight (Rhizoctonia solani) and Its Action on the Pathogen's Cell Membrane

Rice sheath blight (RSB) caused by Rhizoctonia solani is one of the most destructive diseases of rice (Oryza sativa). Although chemical fungicides are the most important control methods, their long-term unreasonable application has brought about problems such as environmental pollution, food risks, and non-target poisoning. Therefore, considering the extraction of fungistatic substances from plants may be an alternative in the future. In this study, we found that the Moutan cortex ethanol extract has excellent antifungal activity against R. solani, with a 100% inhibition rate at 1000 μg/mL, which aroused our great exploration interest. In-depth exploration found that the antifungal active ingredients of M. cortex were mainly concentrated in the petroleum ether extract of the M. cortex ethanol extract, which still maintained a 100% inhibition rate with 250 μg/mL, and its effective medium concentration (EC₅₀) was 145.33 μg/mL against R. solani. Through the measurement of extracellular relative conductivity and OD₂₆₀, the petroleum ether extract induced leakage of intracellular electrolytes and nucleic acids, indicating that the cell membrane was ruined. Therefore, we preliminarily determined that the cell membrane may be the target of the petroleum ether extract. Moreover, we found that petroleum ether extract reduced the content of ergosterol, a component of the cell membrane, which may be one of the reasons for the cell membrane destruction. Furthermore, the increase of MDA content would lead to membrane lipid peroxidation, further aggravating membrane damage, resulting in increased membrane permeability. Also, the destruction of the cell membrane was observed by the phenomenon of the mycelium being transparent and broken. In conclusion, this is the first report of the M. cortex petroleum ether extract exhibiting excellent antifungal activity against R. solani. The effect of the M. cortex petroleum ether extract on R. solani may be on the cell membrane, inducing the disorder of intracellular substances and metabolism, which may be one of the antifungal mechanisms against R. solani.

Paeonia × suffruticosa (Moutan Peony)-A Review of the Chemical Composition, Traditional and Professional Use in Medicine, Position in Cosmetics Industries, and Biotechnological Studies

The aim of this review is to perform a systematic review of scientific papers and an in-depth analysis of the latest research related to Paeonia × suffruticosa Andrews as a valuable plant species, important in pharmacy and cosmetology. P. × suffruticosa bark root-Moutan cortex is a medicinal raw material formerly known from traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) but less common in official European medicine. It was introduced for the first time in the European Pharmacopoeia Supplement 9.4 in 2018. In this work, the numerous possible applications of this raw material were depicted based on modern professional pharmacological studies documenting its very valuable medicinal values, including antioxidant, cytoprotective, anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, cardioprotective, anti-atherosclerotic, anti-diabetic and hepatoprotective activities. The scientific studies indicated that the profile of raw material activity is mainly due to paeonol, paeoniflorin and 1,2,3,4,6-penta-O-galloyl-β-D-glucopyranose. Moreover, the significance of this plant (its different organs) in the production of cosmetics was underlined. P. × suffruticosa finds increasing application in cosmetology due to research on its chronic dermatitis, anti-aging and brightening effects. Furthermore, some biotechnological research has been described aimed at developing effective in vitro micropropagation protocols for P. × suffruticosa.

Combination therapy with budesonide and N-acetylcysteine ameliorates LPS-induced ALI by attenuating neutrophil recruitment through the miR-196b-5p/Socs3 molecular axis

Background

Neutrophil infiltration accelerates the inflammatory response and is highly correlated to the development of acute lung injury (ALI). Budesonide (BUD) and N-acetylcysteine (NAC) both inhibit the inflammatory response to alleviate ALI, so we further investigated whether their combination is better for ALI.

Methods

In this study, we investigated the effect and mechanism of Combined BUD and NAC therapy on LPS-induced ALI. Rat ALI model and neutrophil abnormal activation model were established by lipopolysaccharide (LPS). BUD and NAC were treated alone or in combination, or cells were transfected with miR-196b-5p mimic or si-Socs3 to evaluate the efficacy and mechanism of BUD and NAC alone or in combination. Histopathological observation of lungs was performed by Hematoxylin Eosin (HE) staining. The quantity of neutrophils and inflammatory factors level in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were determined by Richter-Gimza complex stain and Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbnent Assay (ELISA), respectively. ReverseTranscription-PolymeraseChainReaction (RT–qPCR) was utilized to assess miR-196b-5p and inflammatory factor mRNA levels. The expression level of Socs3 was detected by immunohistochemistry or Western Blot.

Results

BUD and NAC combined treatment had a better effect on neutrophil recruitment and inflammatory response in LPS-induced ALI than did BUD and NAC alone. Transfection of the miR-196b-5p mimic reversed the effect of combined BUD and NAC. In conclusion, the combination of BUD and NAC is a better treatment for ALI.

Conclusions

Combination therapy with BUD and NAC ameliorates LPS-induced ALI by attenuating neutrophil recruitment through the miR-196b-5p/Socs3 molecular axis.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12890-022-02185-7.

Unravelling the Therapeutic Potential of Botanicals Against Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD): Molecular Insights and Future Perspectives

Background: COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) is a serious health problem worldwide. Present treatments are insufficient and have severe side effects. There is a critical shortage of possible alternative treatments. Medicinal herbs are the most traditional and widely used therapy for treating a wide range of human illnesses around the world. In several countries, different plants are used to treat COPD. Purpose: In this review, we have discussed several known cellular and molecular components implicated in COPD and how plant-derived chemicals might modulate them. Methods: We have discussed how COVID-19 is associated with COPD mortality and severity along with the phytochemical roles of a few plants in the treatment of COPD. In addition, two tables have been included; the first summarizes different plants used for the treatment of COPD, and the second table consists of different kinds of phytochemicals extracted from plants, which are used to inhibit inflammation in the lungs. Conclusion: Various plants have been found to have medicinal properties against COPD. Many plant extracts and components may be used as novel disease-modifying drugs for lung inflammatory diseases.

Modulating Effect of Paeonol on Piglets With Ulcerative Colitis

Piglet enteritis is a major problem that needs to be solved urgently in modern pig production. Paeonol (Pae) has been used as a novel treatment option due to its good medicinal value. This study purported to elucidate the regulatory mechanism of Pae on dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced ulcerative colitis (UC) in weaned piglets. A total of 36 crossbred (Duroc × Landrace × Yorkshire) weaned piglets were stochastically split into six groups: the control group, DSS group, 0.2% Pae group, 0.4% Pae group, 0.8% Pae group, and mesalazine group. The control and DSS groups were fed with a basic diet, the three Pae and mesalazine groups were fed with 0.2, 0.4, 0.8%, and 2 g mesalazine per kilogram of basic diet throughout the study. On the 15th day of the test period, the control group was gavaged with 10 ml of normal saline, while the remaining five groups were gavaged with 10 ml 5% DSS solution for 13 days. The study lasted for 27 days. The results showed that the 0.8% Pae group significantly increased the average daily feed intake (ADFI) and Occludin mRNA expression in the colon of piglets (P &lt; 0.05). The 0.2% Pae group markedly increased the average daily gain (ADG) and zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1) mRNA expression (P &lt; 0.05). In the 0.2% and 0.4% Pae groups, the feed-to-gain ratio (F/G) was significantly reduced and the mRNA expression levels of Caspase-8, respectively, markedly enhanced the mRNA expression levels of transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) and interleukins-4 (IL-4) (P &lt; 0.05). In the 0.8% Pae group, the relative abundance of Campilobacterota was significantly reduced (P &lt; 0.05). In the 0.4% Pae group, the relative abundance of Firmicutes was notably increased (P &lt; 0.05). In the 0.2 and 0.8% Pae groups, the relative abundance of Prevotella was markedly increased (P &lt; 0.05). In the 0.2% Pae group, the contents of propionic acid, butyric acid, and valerate acid were markedly higher (P &lt; 0.05). Thus, it is speculated that Pae may regulate the balance of anti-inflammatory/pro-inflammatory factors, improve intestinal tight junction expression, reduce apoptosis, and improve intestinal microflora structure and growth performance of piglets, thereby restoring intestinal barrier function and alleviating DSS-induced UC in piglets.

Extract of Moutan radicis cortex and Cinnamomi ramulus ameliorates laser-induced choroidal neovascularization in Brown-Norway rats

BACKGROUND

Moutan radicis cortex (MRC) and Cinnamomi ramulus (CR) are commonly used in eastern Asian traditional medicine to treat various diseases including cerebrovascular and cardiovascular, and have wide spectrum of pharmacological activities. However, the effect against laser-induced choroidal neovascularization (CNV) of extract of MRC and CR (1:1) (MRCCR) has not yet been studied.

PURPOSE

Our aim was to investigate the inhibitory effect of MRCCR on pathological CNV in laser-treated Brown-Norway (BN) rats.

METHODS

MRCCR (60, 90 mg/kg) was orally administered twice per day for 15 days from the day of CNV formation in laser-treated BN rats. Effects of MRCCR or its constituents on cell migration, tube formation, hyperpermeability and phosphorylation of FAK/p38 MAPK were confirmed in humane retinal microvascular endothelial cells or human retinal pigment epithelial cells.

RESULTS

MRCCR significantly reduced the CNV lesions areas and the extent of fluorescein leakage. MRCCR and its constituents such as ellagic acid, paeonol or gallic acid decreased cell migration, tube formation or hyperpermeability. MRCCR inhibited the phosphorylation of FAK and p38 MAPK.

CONCLUSION

Combining the oral MRCCR and intravitreal injection of anti-VEGF medicine may result in a more potent therapeutic effect and consequently bring the reduction in eye injection numbers for patients with wet AMD.

Dietary Moutan Cortex Radicis Improves Serum Antioxidant Capacity and Intestinal Immunity and Alters Colonic Microbiota in Weaned Piglets

Background:Moutan cortex radicis (MCR), as a common traditional Chinese medicine, has been widely used as an antipyretic, antiseptic, and anti-inflammatory agent in China.

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the effects of dietary MCR supplementation on the antioxidant capacity and intestinal health of the pigs and to explore whether MCR exerts positive effects on intestinal health via regulating nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB) signaling pathway and intestinal microbiota.

Methods: MCR powder was identified by LC-MS analysis. Selected 32 weaned piglets (21 d of age, 6.37 ± 0.10 kg average BW) were assigned (8 pens/diet, 1 pig/pen) to 4 groups and fed with a corn-soybean basal diet supplemented with 0, 2,000, 4,000, and 8,000 mg/kg MCR for 21 d. After the piglets were sacrificed, antioxidant indices, histomorphology examination, and inflammatory signaling pathway expression were assessed. The 16s RNA sequencing was used to analyze the effects of MCR on the intestinal microbiota structure of piglets.

Results: Supplemental 4,000 mg/kg MCR significantly increased (P < 0.05) the average daily weight gain (ADG), average daily feed intake (ADFI), total antioxidative capability, colonic short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) concentrations, and the crypt depth in the jejunum but decreased (P < 0.05) the mRNA expression levels of interferon γ, tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-1β, inhibiting kappa-B kinase β (IKKβ), inhibiting nuclear factor kappa-B (IκBα), and NF-κB in the jejunum and ileum. Microbiota sequencing identified that MCR supplementation significantly increased the microbial richness indices (Chao1, ACE, and observed species, P < 0.05) and the relative abundances of Firmicutes and Lactobacillus (P < 0.05), decreased the relative abundances of Bacteroides, Parabacteroides, unidentified_Lachnospiraceae, and Enterococcus (P < 0.05) and had no significant effects on the diversity indices (Shannon and Simpson, P > 0.05). Microbial metabolic phenotypes analysis also showed that the richness of aerobic bacteria and facultative anaerobic bacteria, oxidative stress tolerance, and biofilm forming were significantly increased (P < 0.05), and the richness of anaerobic bacteria and pathogenic potential of gut microbiota were reduced (P < 0.05) by MCR treatment. Regression analysis showed that the optimal MCR supplemental level for growth performance, serum antioxidant capacity, and intestinal health of weaned piglets was 3,420 ~ 4,237 mg/kg.

Conclusions: MCR supplementation improved growth performance and serum antioxidant capacity, and alleviated intestinal inflammation by inhibiting the IKKβ/IκBα/NF-κB signaling pathway and affecting intestinal microbiota in weaned piglets.

LncRNA ZFAS1 plays a role in regulating the inflammatory responses in sepsis-induced acute lung injury via mediating miR-193a-3p

OBJECTIVE

To explore the role of lncRNA ZFAS1-mediated miR-193a-3p in the regulation of inflammatory responses in rats with sepsis-induced acute lung injury (ALI).

METHODS

Sepsis-induced ALI models were constructed by LPS induction and then injected with ZFAS1 overexpression plasmid. Thereafter, lung injury score and the W/D weight ratio were calculated. Besides, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) was isolated from rats to perform the cell count and protein quantification, while qRT-PCR and ELISA were performed to detect the inflammatory cytokines expressions. In vitro, NR8383 cells were transfected and then treated with LPS, followed by the measurement of inflammatory cytokines, cell viability and cell apoptosis.

RESULTS

In comparison with the Control group, rats in the LPS group presented sharp increases in the W/D weight ratio and injury score of lung, total protein concentration and the count of neutrophils and macrophages in BALF. Besides, rats in LPS group also resulted in a decrease in ZFAS1 expression and increase in miR-193a-3p expression in lung tissues, with the increased pro-inflammatory cytokines. Dual luciferase reporter gene assay confirmed a target relation between miR-193a-3p and ZFAS1. As compared to the Blank group, NR8383 cells in the LPS group had up-regulated pro-inflammatory cytokines with declined cell viability and elevated cell apoptosis; and meanwhile, ZFAS1 and Bcl-2 were decreased but miR-193a-3p and Bax were increased. Overexpression of ZFAS1 could significantly improve LPS-induced ALI in vivo and in vitro with reduced levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines.

CONCLUSION

Overexpression of ZFAS1, possibly via targeting the expression of miR-193a-3p, could inhibit the apoptosis and ameliorate the inflammatory responses of ALI in sepsis.

Protective Effects of Traditional Polyherbs on Cisplatin-Induced Acute Kidney Injury Cell Model by Inhibiting Oxidative Stress and MAPK Signaling Pathway

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a disease caused by sudden renal dysfunction, which is an important risk factor for chronic renal failure. However, there is no effective treatment for renal impairment. Although some traditional polyherbs are commercially available for renal diseases, their effectiveness has not been reported. Therefore, we examined the nephroprotective effects of polyherbs and their relevant mechanisms in a cisplatin-induced cell injury model. Rat NRK-52E and human HK-2 subjected to cisplatin-induced AKI were treated with four polyherbs, Injinhotang (IJ), Ucha-Shinki-Hwan (US), Yukmijihwang-tang (YJ), and Urofen^TM (Uro) similar with Yondansagan-tang, for three days. All polyherbs showed strong free radical scavenging activities, and the treatments prevented cisplatin-induced cell death in both models, especially at 1.2 mg/mL. The protective effects involved antioxidant effects by reducing reactive oxygen species and increasing the activities of superoxide dismutase and catalase. The polyherbs also reduced the number of annexin V-positive apoptotic cells and the expression of cleaved caspase-3, along with inhibited expression of mitogen-activated protein kinase-related proteins. These findings provide evidence for promoting the development of herbal formulas as an alternative therapy for treating AKI.

Ferulic acid alleviates lipopolysaccharide-induced acute lung injury through inhibiting TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway

Ferulic acid (FA) exhibits anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, antihyperlipidemic, antioxidant, neuroprotective, and antihypertensive effects. This study aimed to determine whether FA could ameliorate lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammatory responses and acute lung injury (ALI) in mice. Mice were challenged with LPS intratracheally to induce ALI 1 h after 3 days of FA (25, 50, and 100 mg/kg) or dexamethasone (DEX; 5 mg/kg) administration. The lung tissues and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were collected 12 h after the LPS challenge. Pretreatment with FA or DEX could attenuate lung histopathological change, complement deposition, and lung wet-to-dry weight ratio of mice injured by LPS. Meanwhile, the influx of neutrophils and macrophages, as well as the production of proinflammatory cytokine (tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin 1 beta [IL-1β], and IL-6), in BALF of ALI mice was significantly decreased. Moreover, FA or DEX markedly reversed the LPS-induced elevation of myeloperoxidase activity and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 level in lung tissues of ALI mice. In addition, the Western blot analysis demonstrated that FA or DEX effectively inhibited the LPS-induced activation of the toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)/nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) signaling pathway in lung tissues. The current study suggested that the alleviating effect of FA against LPS-induced ALI might be partially due to the inhibition of the inflammatory response via inactivation of the TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway.

Resveratrol oligomers from Paeonia suffruticosa protect mice against cognitive dysfunction by regulating cholinergic, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory pathways

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Paeonia suffruticosa Andr. has been widely used in traditional Chinese medicine as an anti-tumour, anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective agent. Resveratrol oligomers are the main components of the seed coat extracts of Paeonia suffruticosa (PSCE) and have DPPH free radical scavenging and β-secretase inhibitory activity. However, studies of its effect on ameliorating cognitive deficits are limited, and analyses of the underlying mechanisms are insufficient.

AIM OF STUDY

This study aimed to investigate the cholinesterase inhibitory activities of resveratrol oligomers from P. suffruticosa in vitro and their effects on diminishing the oxygen-glucose deprivation/reoxygenation (OGD/R) -induced cytotoxicity in PC12 cells and scopolamine-induced cognitive deficits in mice. Moreover, the underlying mechanisms were further explored.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In vitro, the inhibitory effects of PSCE and its 10 stilbenes on acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE) were evaluated using the Ellman's assay, and its protective effects on normal and OGD/R-injured PC12 cells were evaluated using the MTT assay. For the in vivo assay, C57BL/6 mice were orally administered with PSCE at doses of 150 and 600 mg/kg for 28 days, and injected with scopolamine (1.5 mg/kg) to induce cognitive deficits. The memory behaviours were evaluated using the novel object recognition, Morris water maze and inhibitory avoidance test. Levels of various biochemical markers were also examined, including AChE, choline acetyltransferase (ChAT), acetylcholine (ACh), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione (GSH) in the mouse brain and interleukin-1β (IL-1β), interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-4 (IL-4) in serum.

RESULTS

PSCE and its 10 stilbenes display good inhibition of AChE and BuChE activities and significantly increase the viability of normal and OGD/R-injured PC12 cells. PSCE improves the cognitive performance of scopolamine-treated mice in behavioural tests. Meanwhile, PSCE increases AChE, ChAT, SOD, and CAT activities and ACh, GSH, IL-4 levels, and decreases IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α levels in the model animals.

CONCLUSIONS

Resveratrol oligomers from P. suffruticosa show neuroprotective effect in vitro and in vivo by regulating cholinergic, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory pathways, may have promising application in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease.

The Scientific Foundation of Chinese Herbal Medicine against COVID-19

The recent coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic outbreak has caused a serious global health emergency. Supporting evidence shows that COVID-19 shares a genomic similarity with other coronaviruses, such as severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV) and Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV), and that the pathogenesis and treatment strategies that were applied 17 years ago in combating SARS-CoV and other viral infections could be taken as references in today's antiviral battle. According to the clinical pathological features of COVID-19 patients, patients can suffer from five steps of progression, starting with severe viral infection and suppression of the immune system and eventually progressing to cytokine storm, multi-organ damage, and lung fibrosis, which is the cause of mortality. Therefore, early prevention of disease progression is important. However, no specific effective drugs and vaccination are currently available, and the World Health Organization is urging the development of novel prevention and treatment strategies. Traditional Chinese medicine could be used as an alternative treatment option or in combination with Western medicine to treat COVID-19, due to its basis on historical experience and holistic pharmacological action. Here, we summarize the potential uses and therapeutic mechanisms of Chinese herbal formulas (CHFs) from the reported literature, along with patent drugs that have been recommended by institutions at the national and provincial levels in China, in order to verify their scientific foundations for treating COVID-19. In perspective, more basic and clinical studies with multiple high-tech and translational technologies are suggested to further confirm the therapeutic efficacies of CHFs.

Study protocol for daiobotanpito combined with antibiotic therapy for treatment of acute diverticulitis: a study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND

Colonic diverticular disease has been increasing in prevalence due to the rapidly aging global population, but standard treatment has not changed dramatically in recent years. Daiobotanpito (DBT; Da Huang Mu Dan Tang in Chinese) has been used in medical treatment of acute abdominal abscesses, such as appendicitis or diverticulitis in traditional Japanese (Kampo) medicine for many years, based on more than 3000 years of experience. Prior to this study, a retrospective open-label trial was conducted to compare patients with acute diverticulitis who received oral DBT combined with intravenous antibiotics with those who received intravenous antibiotic alone; it showed a positive effect of DBT on acute diverticulitis. We aim to investigate whether moderate to severe acute diverticulitis shows greater improvement with intravenous antibiotics plus orally administered DBT compared with intravenous antibiotics plus placebo.

METHODS

This is a two-group, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multi-center trial, which is designed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of DBT in patients with moderate to severe diverticulitis treated with intravenous antibiotics. Eligible participants will be randomized to either a treatment group receiving a 10-day oral DBT regimen plus conventional therapy or a control group receiving a 10-day placebo regimen plus conventional therapy. The primary outcome will be success in treating diverticulitis: the success rate will be defined as elimination of abdominal pain within 4 days in all patients, and in patients with fever (body temperature ≧ 37.5 °C) on inclusion into this study, fever relief with reduction in body temperature to < 37.5 °C within 3 days. Secondary endpoints will include the number of hospitalization days, changes in inflammatory response (C-reactive protein (CRP), white blood cell (WBC) and neutrophil counts), fever type, number of days before beginning food intake, recurrence rate (observation for 1 year after registration), and adverse event expression rate. Assessments will be performed at baseline and on the day of discharge. The recurrence rate will be recorded at 1 year after registration.

DISCUSSION

This study is expected to provide evidence to support the clinical benefits of DBT in the treatment of acute diverticulitis. It may also provide evidence on the efficacy and safety of DBT in the recurrence of acute diverticulitis.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

UMIN-CTR: UMIN000027381. Registered on 27 April 2017. https://upload.umin.ac.jp/cgi-bin/ctr/ctr_view_reg.cgi?recptno=R000031377, and changed to jRCTs041180063, registered on 30 July 2019; as a result of the revision of the domestic law in 2018 in Japan.

Draft genome of the famous ornamental plant Paeonia suffruticosa

Tree peony (Paeonia Sect. Moutan) is a famous ornamental plant, with huge historical, cultural, and economic significance worldwide. In this study, we reported the ~13.79 Gb draft genome of a wide-grown Paeonia suffruticosa cultivar "Luo shen xiao chun," representing the largest sequenced genome in dicots to date. Phylogenetic analyses based on genome sequences demonstrated that P. suffruticosa was placed as sister to Vitales, and they together formed a clade that was sister to Rosids, weakly supporting a relationship of ((Saxifragales and Vitales) and Rosids). The identification and expression analysis of MADS-box genes based on the genome assembly and de novo transcriptome assembly of P. suffruticosa revealed that the function of C class genes was restricted in flower development, which might be responsible for the stamen petalody in tree peony cultivars. Overall, the first sequenced genome in the family Paeoniaceae provides an important resource for the origin, domestication, and evolutionary study as well as cultivar breeding in tree peony.

The effectiveness of traditional Japanese medicine Goshajinkigan in irradiation-induced aspermatogenesis in mice

Background

Infertility and gonadal dysfunction are well known side-effects by cancer treatment in males. In particularly, chemotherapy and radiotherapy induced testicular damage, resulting in prolonged azoospermia. However, information regarding therapeutics to treat spermatogenesis disturbance after cancer treatment is scarce. Recently, we demonstrated that Goshajinkigan, a traditional Japanese medicine, can completely rescue severe busulfan-induced aspermatogenesis in mice. In this study, we aimed to detect the effects of Goshajinkigan on aspermatogenesis after irradiation.

Methods

This is animal research about the effects of traditional Japanese medicine on infertility after cancer treatment. C57BL/6 J male mice received total body irradiation (TBI: a single dose of 6Gy) at 4 weeks of age and after 60 days were reared a Goshajinkigan (TJ107)-containing or TJ107-free control diet from day 60 to day 120. Then, two untreated females were mated with a single male from each experimental group. On day 60, 120 and 150, respectively, the sets of testes and epididymis of the mice in each group after deep anesthetization were removed for histological and cytological examinations.

Results

Histological and histopathological data showed that 6Gy TBI treatment decreased the fertility rate (4/10) in the control diet group; in contrast, in the TJ107-diet group, the fertility rate was 10/10 (p < 0.05 vs. 6Gy group). Supplementation with TJ107 was found to rescue the disrupted inter-Sertoli tight junctions via the normalization of claudin11, occludin, and ZO-1 expression and reduce serum anti-germ cell autoantibodies.

Conclusions

These findings show the therapeutic effect on TBI-induced aspermatogenesis and the recovering disrupted gonadal functions by supplementation with TJ107.

Research progress on classical traditional Chinese medicine formula Liuwei Dihuang pills in the treatment of type 2 diabetes

In traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is regarded as Xiao Ke disease. Liuwei Dihuang pills (LWP), a classical TCM formula, with the function of nourishing kidney yin, has been used for treating Xiao Ke disease in clinic. In this review, we systematically highlighted recent evidence on LWP and T2DM data from clinical and animal studies, summarized the clinical application, pharmacological mechanism and the active compounds of LWP for the treatment of T2DM. This systematic review will provide an insightful understanding of TCM formulas, pharmacological mechanisms, medicinal-disease interactions, and will lay a foundation for the development of new drug therapy for T2DM.

The Screening Research of NF-κB Inhibitors from Moutan Cortex Based on Bioactivity-Integrated UPLC-Q/TOF-MS

Inflammation is a common and important pathological process, and nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) is a key mediator of it. Moutan Cortex (MC), the dried root cortex of Paeonia suffruticosa Andr., is widely used as a remedy for the treatment of inflammatory diseases in Asian region. However, there are few studies on the systematic identification of NF-κB inhibitors of MC. In this study, the effect of inhibiting NF-κB activation of MC was assessed at the cellular level using a tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) induced inflammatory model. Subsequently, ultra-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole/time of flight-mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q/TOF-MS) combined with biological activity assay was established to screen and identify potential anti-inflammatory ingredients in MC. The results revealed that MC significantly inhibited the activation of NF-κB. Seven potential NF-κB inhibitors were screened from MC, including oxypaeoniflorin, paeoniflorin, galloylpaeoniflorin, benzoyloxypaeoniflorin, mudanpioside C, gallic acid, and paeonol. Among them, the NF-κB inhibitor activity of galloylpaeoniflorin, benzoyloxypaeoniflorin, and mudanpioside C is first reported here. In conclusion, the anti-inflammatory activity of MC was associated with the seven components mentioned above. And the bioactivity-integrated UPLC-Q/TOF which contains both chemical and bioactive details is suitable for screening active ingredients from natural medicines.

Adjuvant therapy with traditional Chinese medicine in a heart failure patient complicated by hospital-acquired pneumonia: A case report

Objective

We report a case of congestive heart failure complicated by hospital-acquired pneumonia that was successfully treated with traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and antibiotics.

Clinical features and outcome

A 33-year-old man with a history of heart failure developed pneumonia during hospitalization. After the standard antibiotic therapy for 3 days, he continued to experience persistent fever and progressive cough with purulent sputum. Broad spectrum antibiotics did not relieve the fever or the purulent sputum; therefore, the patient requested TCM for integrated therapy, and was subsequently treated with a regiment of “clearing heat and damp excreting” decoction according to TCM theory. After three days of TCM combination therapy, the pneumonia patches significantly improved on chest X-ray. His sputum was obviously decreased in amount and the fever was complete remission in the 5^th day of TCM adjuvant therapy.

Conclusion

Integrated therapy with a “clearing heat and damp excreting” decoction may have improved hospital-acquired pneumonia in a patient comorbid with congestive heart failure. The anti-pyretic, anti-inflammatory, antitussive and diuretic effects of TCM may be responsible for the observed improvement. Further experimental studies are warranted to confirm the efficacy and mechanism of TCM action in the treatment of pneumonia.

Development of a MD-LC-MS/MS Method to Analyze 3 Bioactive Compounds in Huoxuezhitong Rubber Patch and Application to a Pharmacokinetic Study in Rats

Huoxuezhitong rubber patch, a well-known traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) prescription, is utilized to treat pain and inflammation. In this study, a microdialysis-ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (MD-LC-MS/MS) method was designed for the simultaneous determination of active constituents in the rubber patch, such as paeonol (Pae), eugenol (Eug), and piperine (Pip). A microdialysis probe was implanted in the subcutaneous tissue of a rat, which is intended to detect the subcutaneous concentrations of target components. Saline containing 30% ethanol acted as perfusion fluid. Analytes in the microdialysate were completely separated over an ACQITY UPLC RBEH C₁₈ column (2.1mm×100mm, 1.7μm). The mobile phase was composed of 0.01% ammonia aqueous and acetonitrile-0.01% ammonia with gradient elution. The single-run analysis time was 10.0 minutes. The linear regression displayed good linear relationships in the ranges of 0.25-100 ng/mL for paeonol and eugenol and 0.001-5 ng/mL for piperine. The interday and intraday precision of the quality control samples exhibited relative standard deviations (RSD) <13.56%. The accuracy values ranged from -14.92% to 14.00%. The present method was successfully applied in pharmacokinetics studies following dermal administration of Huoxuezhitong rubber patch in rats. Pip's T_max (488.00±150.73) min was greater than that of Pae (186.67±48.44) min and Eug (240.00±138.56) min, and the rank order of t_1/2 was Pae > Pip > Eug. The rank order of AUC_0-720 and C_max was both Eug > Pae > Pip. MRT_0-∞ of Pip was higher than that of Pae and Eug. Eugenol showed a faster elimination and a shorter half-life. Paeonol showed a stronger drug reservoir function after removing the drug source.

Clinical research on the efficacy and safety of Bosinji for low back pain with radiculopathy caused by herniated intervertebral disc of the lumbar spine: A protocol for a multicenter, randomized, controlled equivalence trial

BACKGROUND

A lumbar herniated intervertebral disc (LHIVD) is a common problem that usually causes low back pain and radiating pain. The effectiveness of Bosinji, one of the herbal medicines used for low back pain and radiating pain in patient with LHIVD, has been reported in several studies; however, little clinical evidence is available owing to the methodological limitations in previous studies. Hence, the present study aims to establish the clinical evidence regarding the efficacy and safety of Bosinji in improving pain, function, and quality of life in LHIVD patients.

METHOD/DESIGN

This is a multicenter, open-label, randomized, controlled, and equivalence trial with 2 parallel arms. A total of 74 patients who have low back pain and radiating pain due to LHIVD will be recruited and randomly allocated to the experimental group and control group. The patients in the experimental group and control group will take 2.5 g of Bosinji granule (1.523 g of Bosinji extract) or Loxonin tablet (60 mg of loxoprofen) 3 times a day for 6 weeks. Additionally, both groups will receive the same acupuncture treatment once a week for 6 weeks as a concurrent treatment. Changes in the 100-mm visual analogue scale (VAS) for low back pain after 6 weeks from baseline will be assessed as the primary outcome. Furthermore, the 100-mm VAS for radiating pain, Oswestry disability index (ODI), Roland-Morris disability questionnaire (RMDQ), EuroQol 5 Dimensions 5 Levels (EQ-5D-5L), global perceived effect (GPE), and deficiency syndrome of kidney index (DSKI) will be used to evaluate secondary outcomes. Outcomes will be assessed at baseline and at 3, 6, and 10 weeks after screening. For the safety evaluation, laboratory examinations including complete blood count, liver function test, renal function test, blood coagulation test, inflammation test, and urine analysis will be conducted before and after taking the medications.

DISCUSSION

The results of this trial will be used to establish clinical evidence regarding the use of Bosinji with acupuncture treatment in the treatment of patients with LHIVD.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

NCT03386149 (clinicaltrials.gov) and KCT0002848 (Clinical Research Information Service of the Republic of Korea).

Moutan Cortex Radicis inhibits the nigrostriatal damage in a 6-OHDA-induced Parkinson's disease model

The traditionally used oriental herbal medicine Moutan Cortex Radicis [MCR; Paeonia Suffruticosa Andrews (Paeoniaceae)] exerts anti-inflammatory, anti-spasmodic, and analgesic effects. In the present study, we investigated the therapeutic effects of differently fractioned MCR extracts in a 6-hydroxydopamine (OHDA)-induced Parkinson's disease model and neuro-blastoma B65 cells. Ethanol-extracted MCR was fractionated by n-hexane, butanol, and distilled water. Adult Sprague-Dawley rats were treated first with 20 μg of 6-OHDA, followed by three MCR extract fractions (100 or 200 mg·kg^-1) for 14 consecutive days. In the behavioral rotation experiment, the MCR extract-treated groups showed significantly decreased number of net turns compared with the 6-OHDA control group. The three fractions also significantly inhibited the reduction in tyrosine hydroxylase-positive cells in the substantia nigra pars compacta following 6-OHDA neurotoxicity. Western blotting analysis revealed significantly reduced tyrosine hydroxylase expression in the substantia nigra pars compacta in the 6-OHDA-treated group, which was significantly inhibited by the n-hexane or distilled water fractions of MCR. B65 cells were exposed to the extract fractions for 24 h prior to addition of 6-OHDA for 30 min; treatment with n-hexane or distilled water fractions of MCR reduced apoptotic cell death induced by 6-OHDA neurotoxicity and inhibited nitric oxide production and neuronal nitric oxide synthase expression. These results showed that n-hexane- and distilled water-fractioned MCR extracts inhibited 6-OHDA-induced neurotoxicity by suppressing nitric oxide production and neuronal nitric oxide synthase activity, suggesting that MCR extracts could serve as a novel candidate treatment for the patients with Parkinson's disease.

Rapid characterization of chemical markers for discrimination of Moutan Cortex and its processed products by direct injection-based mass spectrometry profiling and metabolomic method

BACKGROUND

Processing of herbal medicines is a characteristic pharmaceutical technique in Traditional Chinese Medicine, which can reduce toxicity and side effect, improve the flavor and efficacy, and even change the pharmacological action entirely. It is significant and crucial to perform a method to find chemical markers for differentiating herbal medicines in different processed degrees.

PURPOSE

The aim of this study was to perform a rapid and reasonable method to discriminate Moutan Cortex and its processed products, and to reveal the characteristics of chemical components depend on chemical markers.

METHODS

Thirty batches of Moutan Cortex and its processed products, including 11 batches of Raw Moutan Cortex (RMC), 9 batches of Moutan Cortex Tostus (MCT) and 10 batches of Moutan Cortex Carbonisatus (MCC), were directly injected in electrospray ionization quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (ESI-QTOF MS) for rapid analysis in positive and negative mode. Without chromatographic separation, each run was completed within 3 min. The raw MS data were automatically extracted by background deduction and molecular feature (MF) extraction algorithm. In negative mode, a total of 452 MFs were obtained and then pretreated by data filtration and differential analysis. After that, the filtered 85 MFs were treated by principal component analysis (PCA) to reduce the dimensions. Subsequently, a partial least squares discrimination analysis (PLS-DA) model was constructed for differentiation and chemical markers detection of Moutan Cortex in different processed degrees. The positive mode data were treated as same as those in negative mode.

RESULTS

RMC, MCT and MCC were successfully classified. Moreover, 14 and 3 chemical markers from negative and positive mode respectively, were screened by the combination of their relative peak areas and the parameter variable importance in the projection (VIP) values in PLS-DA model. The content changes of these chemical markers were employed in order to illustrate chemical changes of Moutan Cortex after processed.

CONCLUSION

These results showed that the proposed method which combined non-targeted metabolomics analysis with multivariate statistics analysis is reasonable and effective. It could not only be applied to discriminate herbal medicines and their processing products, but also to reveal the characteristics of chemical components during processing.

Evaluation of LPS-Induced Acute Lung Injury Attenuation in Rats by Aminothiazole-Paeonol Derivatives

Paeonol is a key phenolic compound in the root bark of Moutan Cortex Radicis that has been used in traditional Chinese Medicine to ameliorate inflammation. A series of aminothiazole-paeonol derivatives (APDs) were synthesized in this work and subjected to preliminary evaluation in cells followed by verification in animals. Quantification of monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in culture media of LPS-activated A549 cells, a lung epithelial adenocarcinoma cell line, were used to investigate the anti-inflammatory capability of APDs. ALI-bearing rats were employed to verify therapeutic efficacy of APDs according to observations of total cells, protein amounts, MCP-1 and IL-6 in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF). Histopathological examinations of lung tissues were consequently applied for validation of APDs. Among these compounds, 2-(2-aminothiazol-4-yl)-5-methoxyphenol (4) had the most potent activity, showing comparable inhibition of MCP-1/IL-6 and superior elimination of neutrophil infiltration and protein exudation in lungs compared to others as well as dexamethasone. This study demonstrated a comprehensive strategy to evaluate APDs through integration of cell-based screening and animal-based verification. In order to fulfill unmet needs of treating acute lung injury (ALI) and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), APDs introduced in this work could be promising lead compounds to develop high potent anti-inflammation agents.

Origins, Phytochemistry, Pharmacology, Analytical Methods and Safety of Cortex Moutan (Paeonia suffruticosa Andrew): A Systematic Review

Cortex Moutan (CM), a well-known traditional Chinese medicine, is commonly used for treating various diseases in China and other eastern Asian countries. Recorded in Pharmacopeias of several countries, CM is now drawing increasing attention and under extensive studies in various fields. Phytochemical studies indicate that CM contains many valuable secondary metabolites, such as monoterpene glycosides and phenols. Ample evidence from pharmacological researches suggest that CM has a wide spectrum of activities, such as anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, anti-tumor, anti-diabetic, cardiovascular protective, neuroprotective, hepatoprotective effects. Moreover, various analytical methods were established for the quality evaluation and safety control of CM. This review synopsizes updated information concerning the origins, phytochemistry, pharmacology, analytical method and safety of CM, aiming to provide favorable references for modern CM research and application. In conclusion, continuing pharmacological investigations concerning CM should be conducted to unravel its pharmacological mechanisms. Further researches are necessary to obtain comprehensive and applicable analytical approach for quality evaluation and establish harmonized criteria of CM.

Protective Effects of Li-Fei-Xiao-Yan Prescription on Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Acute Lung Injury via Inhibition of Oxidative Stress and the TLR4/NF-κB Pathway

Li-Fei-Xiao-Yan prescription (LFXY) has been clinically used in China to treat inflammatory and infectious diseases including inflammatory lung diseases. The present study was aimed at evaluating the potential therapeutic effects and potential mechanisms of LFXY in a murine model of lipopolysaccharide- (LPS-) induced acute lung injury (ALI). In this study, the mice were orally pretreated with LFXY or dexamethasone (positive drug) before the intratracheal instillation of LPS. Our data indicated that pretreatment with LFXY enhanced the survival rate of ALI mice, reversed pulmonary edema and permeability, improved LPS-induced lung histopathology impairment, suppressed the excessive inflammatory responses via decreasing the expression of proinflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6) and chemokine (MIP-2) and inhibiting inflammatory cells migration, and repressed oxidative stress through the inhibition of MPO and MDA contents and the upregulation of antioxidants (SOD and GSH) activities. Mechanistically, treatment with LFXY significantly prevented LPS-induced TLR4 expression and NF-κB (p65) phosphorylation. Overall, the present study suggests that LFXY protected mice from acute lung injury induced by LPS via inhibition of TLR4/NF-κB p65 activation and upregulation of antioxidative enzymes and it may be a potential preventive and therapeutic agent for ALI in the clinical setting.

Therapeutic Potential of Medicinal Plants and Their Constituents on Lung Inflammatory Disorders

Acute bronchitis and chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (COPD) are essentially lung inflammatory disorders. Various plant extracts and their constituents showed therapeutic effects on several animal models of lung inflammation. These include coumarins, flavonoids, phenolics, iridoids, monoterpenes, diterpenes and triterpenoids. Some of them exerted inhibitory action mainly by inhibiting the mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway and nuclear transcription factor-κB activation. Especially, many flavonoid derivatives distinctly showed effectiveness on lung inflammation. In this review, the experimental data for plant extracts and their constituents showing therapeutic effectiveness on animal models of lung inflammation are summarized.

Anti-Inflammatory Activity of Sanghuangporus sanghuang Mycelium

Acute lung injury (ALI) is characterized by inflammation of the lung tissue and oxidative injury caused by excessive accumulation of reactive oxygen species. Studies have suggested that anti-inflammatory or antioxidant agents could be used for the treatment of ALI with a good outcome. Therefore, our study aimed to test whether the mycelium extract of Sanghuangporus sanghuang (SS-1), believed to exhibit antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, could be used against the excessive inflammatory response associated with lipopolysaccharides (LPS)-induced ALI in mice and to investigate its possible mechanism of action. The experimental results showed that the administration of SS-1 could inhibit LPS-induced inflammation. SS-1 could reduce the number of inflammatory cells, inhibit myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity, regulate the TLR4/PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway and the signal transduction of NF-κB and MAPK pathways in the lung tissue, and inhibit high mobility group box-1 protein 1 (HNGB1) activity in BALF. In addition, SS-1 could affect the synthesis of antioxidant enzymes Heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1) and Thioredoxin-1 (Trx-1) in the lung tissue and regulate signal transduction in the KRAB-associated protein-1 (KAP1)/nuclear factor erythroid-2-related factor Nrf2/Kelch Like ECH associated Protein 1 (Keap1) pathway. Histological results showed that administration of SS-1 prior to induction could inhibit the large-scale LPS-induced neutrophil infiltration of the lung tissue. Therefore, based on all experimental results, we propose that SS-1 exhibits a protective effect against LPS-induced ALI in mice. The mycelium of S. sanghuang can potentially be used for the treatment or prevention of inflammation-related diseases.

Anti-inflammatory activity of Sanghuangporus sanghuang by suppressing the TLR4-mediated PI3K/AKT/mTOR/IKKβ signaling pathway

Sanghuangporus sanghuang (SS) is a mushroom that belongs to the genus Sanghuangporus and it is commonly called “Sangwhang” in Taiwan.

Neuroprotective Effect of Paeonol Mediates Anti-Inflammation via Suppressing Toll-Like Receptor 2 and Toll-Like Receptor 4 Signaling Pathways in Cerebral Ischemia-Reperfusion Injured Rats

Paeonol is a phenolic compound derived from Paeonia suffruticosa Andrews (MC) and P. lactiflora Pall (PL). Paeonol can reduce cerebral infarction volume and improve neurological deficits through antioxidative and anti-inflammatory effects. However, the anti-inflammatory pathway of paeonol remains unclear. This study investigated the relationship between anti-inflammatory responses of paeonol and signaling pathways of TLR2 and TLR4 in cerebral infarct. We established the cerebral ischemia-reperfusion model in Sprague Dawley rats by occluding right middle cerebral artery for 60 min, followed by reperfusion for 24 h. The neurological deficit score was examined, and the brains of the rats were removed for cerebral infarction volume and immunohistochemistry (IHC) analysis. The infarction volume and neurological deficits were lower in the paeonol group (pretreatment with paeonol; 20 mg/kg i.p.) than in the control group (without paeonol treatment). The IHC analysis revealed that the number of TLR2-, TLR4-, Iba1-, NF-κB- (P50-), and IL-1β-immunoreactive cells and TUNEL-positive cells was significantly lower in the paeonol group; however, the number of TNF-α-immunoreactive cells did not differ between the paeonol and control groups. The paeonol reveals some neuroprotective effects in the model of ischemia, which could be due to the reduction of many proinflammatory receptors/mediators, although the mechanisms are not clear.

Go-sha-jinki-Gan (GJG) ameliorates allodynia in chronic constriction injury-model mice via suppression of TNF-α expression in the spinal cord

Background

Alternative medicine is noted for its clinical effect and minimal invasiveness in the treatment of neuropathic pain. Go-sha-jinki-Gan, a traditional Japanese herbal medicine, has been used for meralgia and numbness in elderly patients. However, the exact mechanism of GJG is unclear. This study aimed to investigate the molecular mechanism of the analgesic effect of GJG in a chronic constriction injury model.

Results

GJG significantly reduced allodynia and hyperalgesia from the early phase (von Frey test, p < 0.0001; cold-plate test, p < 0.0001; hot-plate test p = 0.011; two-way repeated measures ANOVA). Immunohistochemistry and Western blot analysis revealed that GJG decreased the expression of Iba1 and tumor necrosis factor-α in the spinal cord. Double staining immunohistochemistry showed that most of the tumor necrosis factor-α was co-expressed in Iba1-positive cells at day 3 post-operation. GJG decreased the phosphorylation of p38 in the ipsilateral dorsal horn. Moreover, intrathecal injection of tumor necrosis factor-α opposed the anti-allodynic effect of GJG in the cold-plate test.

Conclusions

Our data suggest that GJG ameliorates allodynia in chronic constriction injury model mice via suppression of tumor necrosis factor-α expression derived from activated microglia. GJG is a promising drug for the treatment of neuropathic pain induced by neuro-inflammation.

Protective effects of thoracic epidural anesthesia on hypoxia-induced acute lung injury in rabbits

The mechanism underlying the effect of thoracic epidural anesthesia (TEA) on hypoxia-induced acute lung injury (ALI) is currently unknown. In the present study, a rabbit acute lung injury model was established to investigate the effects of TEA on inflammatory factors, pulmonary surfactant and ultrastructure. A total of 56 rabbits were randomly assigned to four groups (n=14 per group): Control group (Group C), hypoxia group (Group H), sevoflurane group (Group S) and combined sevoflurane-epidural anesthesia group (Group ES). The ALI model was considered to have been successfully induced when the ratio of arterial oxygen partial pressure to fractional inspired oxygen was <300. The correct placement of a catheter for TEA was confirmed using epidurography. ALI was maintained for 3 h. Arterial blood samples were collected from all groups during spontaneous breathing (T₀) and at 3 h after ALI induction (T₅) in order to evaluate the serum levels of interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8 and IL-10. Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid was harvested to determine the total phospholipid, saturated phosphatidylcholine and total protein levels. Furthermore, the dry/wet weight ratio and the mRNA expression levels of IL-6, IL-8 and IL-10 in the lung tissue were determined using ELISA. In addition, light and transmission electron microscopy and histological techniques were used to examine the morphology of alveolar type II cells in the rat lung tissue. The results indicate that changes of serum IL-6, IL-8 and IL-10 levels following ALI were consistent with the changes in the mRNA expression levels of IL-6, IL-8 and IL-10 in the lung tissue. TEA attenuated these changes and thus reduced the severity of the ALI. In addition, TEA improved the alveolar structure, reduced the number of polymorphonuclear cells and mitigated the damage of lamellar bodies. In summary, the results of the present study indicate that TEA reduces lung tissue damage by inhibiting systemic and local inflammation, decreasing the inactivation of pulmonary surfactant and improving the alveolar ultrastructure following ALI.

The Immunoregulatory Effects of Traditional Chinese Medicine on Treatment of Asthma or Asthmatic Inflammation

Asthma is a chronic respiratory symptoms with variable airflow limitation and airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR), and causes high economic burden. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has a long-lasting history of using herbal medicine in the treatment of various respiratory diseases including asthma. In the last several decades, an increasing number of herbs have been shown to be effective in the treatment of asthma in clinical trials or asthmatic inflammation in animal models. Literature about the effects of TCM on the immune system were searched in electronic databases such as PubMed, Google Scholar and Scopus from 2000 to 2014. 'TCM' and 'asthma' were used as keywords for the searches. Over 400 literatures were searched and the literatures about the immune system were selected and reviewed. We only reviewed literatures published in English. Accumulating evidence suggests that TCM can directly inhibit the activation and migration of inflammatory cells, regulate the balance of Th1/Th2 responses, and suppress allergic hyperreactivity through inducing regulatory T cells or attenuating the function of dendritic cells (DCs). These studies provided useful information to facilitate the use of TCM to treat asthma. This review was conducted to classify the findings based on their possible mechanisms of action reported.

Moutan cortex extract exerts protective effects in a rat model of cardiac ischemia/reperfusion

Moutan cortex (MC) is a traditional Chinese medicine with diverse biological effects. The present study was performed to investigate the effects of MC on myocardial ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) in rats and to explore its possible mechanisms. Sprague-Dawley rats were administered MC extract (1.98 g/kg, i.g.) for 14 days and underwent a subsequent open-chest procedure involving 30 min of myocardial ischemia and 60 min of reperfusion. The cardioprotective effect of MC was demonstrated by reduced infarct size and marked improvement in the histopathological examination. The increase in the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione (GSH) as well as the reduction of malondialdehyde (MDA) indicated that MC effectively promoted the anti-oxidative defense system. Increased anti-oxidative defense was accompanied by decreased release of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and creatine kinase (CK). The reduction in TUNEL-positive myocytes demonstrated that MC decreased myocardial apoptosis. The mRNA expression of B cell leukemia-2 (Bcl-2) was upregulated by MC and the ratio of Bcl-2/Bcl-2-associated X protein (Bax) mRNA expression was increased. MC pretreatment decreased the mRNA expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS). The data from this study suggest that MC exerted protective effects on acute myocardial I/R injury via anti-oxidative and anti-apoptotic activities.

Xijiao Dihuang Decoction () and Rehmannia glutinosa Libosch. protect mice against lipopolysaccharide and tumor necrosis factor alpha-induced acute liver failure

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the hepatoprotective effect of Xijiao Dihuang Decoction (, XJDHD) on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)- and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α)-induced acute liver failure (ALF) as well as the underlying mechanism of action, and to clarify the key herbs and components of XJDHD.

METHODS

LPS/D-galactosamine (D-GalN) or TNF-α/D-GalN were intraperitoneally injected into C57BL/6J mice to induce ALF. Simultaneously, XJDHD or its individual herbs and components were orally administered. Survival rates, transaminase levels in serum, and hepatic histology were examined to evaluate the effects of XJDHD. The terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay and real-time polymerase chain reaction were additionally performed to expound the mechanism underlying the anti-apoptotic activity of XJDHD.

RESULTS

Oral administration of XJDHD protected mice from lethal liver failure induced by LPS and TNF-α, with notable amelioration of liver injury in histology and a significant decrease in transaminase levels in serum. XJDHD significantly inhibited apoptosis of hepatocytes and enhanced expression of the antiapoptosis genes, c-Flip, Iap1, Gadd45b and A20. In addition, Rehmannia glutinosa Libosch. was identified as the key herb of XJDHD and galactose as the effective component of Rehmannia glutinosa Libosch. that protects against ALF.

CONCLUSIONS

XJDHD inhibits TNF-α-induced apoptosis of hepatocytes by promoting the expression of nuclear factor κ B-regulated anti-apoptotic genes. Rehmannia glutinosa Libosch. is the effective herb of XJDHD and galactose is an active component in this protection.

Revealing metabolomic variations in Cortex Moutan from different root parts using HPLC-MS method

INTRODUCTION

The distribution of metabolites in the different root parts of Cortex Moutan (the root bark of Paeonia suffruticosa Andrews) is not well understood, therefore, scientific evidence is not available for quality assessment of Cortex Moutan.

OBJECTIVE

To reveal metabolomic variations in Cortex Moutan in order to gain deeper insights to enable quality control.

METHODS

Metabolomic variations in the different root parts of Cortex Moutan were characterised using high-performance liquid chromatography combined with mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS) and multivariate data analysis. The discriminating metabolites in different root parts were evaluated by the one-way analysis of variance and a fold change parameter.

RESULTS

The metabolite profiles of Cortex Moutan were largely dominated by five primary and 41 secondary metabolites . Higher levels of malic acid, gallic acid and mudanoside-B were mainly observed in the second lateral roots, whereas dihydroxyacetophenone, benzoyloxypaeoniflorin, suffruticoside-A, kaempferol dihexoside, mudanpioside E and mudanpioside J accumulated in the first lateral and axial roots. The highest contents of paeonol, galloyloxypaeoniflorin and procyanidin B were detected in the axial roots. Accordingly, metabolite compositions of Cortex Moutan were found to vary among different root parts.

CONCLUSION

The axial roots have higher quality than the lateral roots in Cortex Moutan due to the accumulation of bioactive secondary metabolites associated with plant physiology. These findings provided important scientific evidence for grading Cortex Moutan on the general market.

The total alkaloids of Aconitum tanguticum protect against lipopolysaccharide-induced acute lung injury in rats

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Aconitum tanguticum has been widely used as a remedy for infectious diseases in traditional Tibetan medicine in China. The total alkaloids of Aconitum tanguticum (TAA) are the main active components of Aconitum tanguticum and have been demonstrated to be effective in suppressing inflammation. Our aim was to investigate the protective effects of TAA on acute lung injury (ALI) induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in rats.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

TAA was extracted in 95% ethanol and purified in chloroform. After vacuum drying, the TAA powder was dissolved in dimethyl sulfoxide. Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into six groups. Rats were given dexamethasone (DXM, 4 mg/kg) or TAA (60 mg/kg, 30 mg/kg) before LPS injection. The PaO2and PaO2/FiO2 values, lung wet/dry (W/D) weight ratio and histological changes in lung tissue were measured. The cell counts, protein concentration, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), and myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity in lung tissue were determined at 6, 12 or 24 h after LPS treatment. In addition, the NF-κ B activation in lung tissue was analyzed by western blot.

RESULTS

In ALI rats, TAA significantly reduced the lung W/D ratio and increased the value of PaO2 or PaO2/FiO2 at 6, 12 or 24 h after LPS challenge. TAA also reduced the total protein concentration and the number of total cells, neutrophils or lymphocytes in BALF. In addition, TAA decreased MPO activity in the lung and attenuated histological changes in the lung. Furthermore, TAA inhibited the concentration of TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-1β in BALF at 6, 12 or 24 h after LPS treatment. Further study demonstrated that TAA significantly inhibited NF-κ B activation in lung tissue.

CONCLUSIONS

The current study proved that TAA exhibited a potent protective effect on LPS-induced ALI in rats through its anti-inflammatory activity.

Effectiveness of traditional Japanese herbal (kampo) medicine, daiobotanpito, in combination with antibiotic therapy in the treatment of acute diverticulitis: a preliminary study

In traditional Japanese herbal (Kampo) medicine, daiobotanpito (DBT) or Da Huang Mu Dan Tang in Chinese has been used in medical treatment of acute diverticulitis for many years based on the experience. Our aim was to investigate whether the treatment of acute diverticulitis can be treated with intravenous antibiotics plus orally administrated DBT than intravenous antibiotics alone. A retrospective nonrandomized open-label trial was established to compare patients with acute diverticulitis who received oral DBT associated with intravenous antibiotics with those who received intravenous antibiotic alone. We included 34 patients, eleven patients in group 1 with DBT and 23 patients in group 2 without DBT. Both groups were comparable in patient demographics and clinical characteristics. There was a significantly better outcome in the group treated with DBT than in the group without DBT when comparing duration of fever, abdominal pain, and antibiotics administration. A trend toward a day shorter mean hospital stay and fasting was seen in group 1, although this did not reach statistical significance. In conclusion, most patients with acute diverticulitis can be managed safely with oral DBT. Although randomized, double-blind study must be done, we could show the possibility to use daiobotanpito as an additional option in treating acute diverticulitis.