Guhong injection promotes post-stroke functional recovery via attenuating cortical inflammation and apoptosis in subacute stage of ischemic stroke

Investigating the therapeutic effects of nimodipine on vasogenic cerebral edema and blood-brain barrier impairment in an ischemic stroke rat model

Vasogenic brain edema, a potentially life-threatening consequence following an acute ischemic stroke, is a major clinical problem. This research aims to explore the therapeutic benefits of nimodipine, a calcium channel blocker, in mitigating vasogenic cerebral edema and preserving blood-brain barrier (BBB) function in an ischemic stroke rat model. In this research, animals underwent the induction of ischemic stroke via a 60-min blockage of the middle cerebral artery and treated with a nonhypotensive dose of nimodipine (1 mg/kg/day) for a duration of five days. The wet/dry method was employed to identify cerebral edema, and the Evans blue dye extravasation technique was used to assess the permeability of the BBB. Furthermore, immunofluorescence staining was utilized to assess the protein expression levels of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1). The study also examined mitochondrial function by evaluating mitochondrial swelling, succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) activity, the collapse of mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), and the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Post-stroke administration of nimodipine led to a significant decrease in cerebral edema and maintained the integrity of the BBB. The protective effects observed were associated with a reduction in cell apoptosis as well as decreased expression of MMP-9 and ICAM-1. Furthermore, nimodipine was observed to reduce mitochondrial swelling and ROS levels while simultaneously restoring MMP and SDH activity. These results suggest that nimodipine may reduce cerebral edema and BBB breakdown caused by ischemia/reperfusion. This effect is potentially mediated through the reduction of MMP-9 and ICAM-1 levels and the enhancement of mitochondrial function.

Novel thiosemicarbazide-based β-carboline derivatives as α-glucosidase inhibitors: Synthesis and biological evaluation

In the quest for potent α-glucosidase inhibitors to combat diabetes, a series of novel thiosemicarbazide-based β-carboline derivatives (CTL1∼36) were synthesized and evaluated. CTL1∼36 exhibited remarkable inhibitory effects against α-glucosidase, with IC50 values ranging from 2.81 to 12.40 μM, significantly surpassing the positive control acarbose (IC50 = 564.28 μM). Notably, CTL26 demonstrated the most potent inhibition (IC50 = 2.81 μM) and was characterized as a non-competitive inhibitor. Through a combination assay with fluorescence quenching, 3D fluorescence spectra, CD spectra, and molecular docking, we elucidated that CTL26 formed a complex with α-glucosidase via hydrogen bondings and hydrophobic interactions, leading to α-glucosidase conformation changes that impaired enzymatic activity. In vivo studies revealed that oral administration of CTL26 (25 and 50 mg/kg/d) reduced fasting blood glucose levels, enhanced glucose tolerance, and ameliorated lipid abnormalities in diabetic mice. These findings positioned CTL26 as a promising candidate for the development of α-glucosidase inhibitors with anti-diabetic potential.

Effect of Long-Term Tai Chi Therapy on the Immune-Inflammatory Pathway in Patients with Schizophrenia with Antipsychotic-Stabilized

The primary objective of this study was to explore the influence of prolonged (24 weeks) supplementary Tai Chi therapy on cognitive capabilities and immune-inflammatory pathways in subjects diagnosed with schizophrenia. A total of 90 individuals who have been clinically diagnosed with schizophrenia were assigned to two treatment groups, namely the Tai Chi treatment (TT) group and the routine treatment (RT) group. Following a 24-week duration of intervention, the data obtained from 32 patients in the TT group and 30 patients in the RT group were meticulously analyzed. At the commencement of the investigation and upon completion of the 24-week intervention, blood samples were gathered, and clinical evaluations were executed. In plasma, the identification of nine cytokines (IL-10, IFN-γ, IL-5, GM-CSF, TNF-α, IL-13, IL-4, IL-2, and IL-12) was conducted using the multiple primer suspension chip method. The clinical evaluations encompassed CGI, WHOQUOL-BREF, SOFS, PSS, BPRS, SAPS, SANS, and RBANS. In comparison to the RT group, the patients in the TT group demonstrated decreased levels of TNF-α and IL-5 (P < 0.05). Moreover, they encountered more pronounced advancements in SAPS, SANS, PSS, SOFS, and RBANS scores (P < 0.05). Additionally, a positive connection was detected between the plasma TNF-α level in the TT group and both the SANS score and the SPFS score (P < 0.05). Tai Chi has been shown to improve clinical symptoms in patients with schizophrenia as an add-on therapy, potentially through its effects on immunomodulatory pathways.

Syringin: a naturally occurring compound with medicinal properties

Syringin, a phenylpropanoid glycoside, is widely distributed in various plants, such as Acanthopanax senticosus (Rupr. et Maxim.) Harms, Syringa reticulata (BL) Hara var. mandshurica (Maxim.) Hara, and Ilex rotunda Thumb. It serves as the main ingredient in numerous listed medicines, health products, and foods with immunomodulatory, anti-tumor, antihyperglycemic, and antihyperlipidemic effects. This review aims to systematically summarize syringin, including its physicochemical properties, plant sources, extraction and separation methods, total synthesis approaches, pharmacological activities, drug safety profiles, and preparations and applications. It will also cover the pharmacokinetics of syringin, followed by suggestions for future application prospects. The information on syringin was obtained from internationally recognized scientific databases through the Internet (PubMed, CNKI, Google Scholar, Baidu Scholar, Web of Science, Medline Plus, ACS Elsevier, and Flora of China) and libraries. Syringin, extraction and separation, pharmacological activities, preparations and applications, and pharmacokinetics were chosen as the keywords. According to statistics, syringin can be found in 23 families more than 60 genera, and over 100 species of plants. As a key component in many Chinese herbal medicines, syringin holds significant research value due to its unique sinapyl alcohol structure. Its diverse pharmacological effects include immunomodulatory activity, tumor suppression, hypoglycemic action, and hypolipidemic effects. Additionally, it has been shown to provide neuroprotection, liver protection, radiation protection, cardioprotection, and bone protection. Related preparations such as Aidi injection, compound cantharidin capsule, and Tanreqing injection have been widely used in clinical settings. Other studies on syringin such as extraction and isolation, total synthesis, safety profile assessment, and pharmacokinetics have also made progress. It is crucial for medical research to deeply explore its mechanism of action, especially regarding immunity and tumor therapy. Meanwhile, more robust support is needed to improve the utilization of plant resources and to develop extraction means adapted to the needs of industrial biochemistry to further promote economic development while protecting people's health.

Honokiol as an α-glucosidase inhibitor

Honokiol, a naturally occurring compound from Magnolia obovata Thunb., has many biological activities, but its anti-α-glucosidase activity is still unclear. Therefore, we determined its inhibitory effects against α-glucosidase. Activity assays showed that honokiol was a reversible mixed-type inhibitor of α-glucosidase, and its IC50 value was 317.11 ± 12.86 μM. Fluorescence results indicated that the binding of honokiol to α-glucosidase caused a reduction in α-glucosidase activity. 3D fluorescence and CD spectra results indicated that the binding of honokiol to α-glucosidase caused conformational change in α-glucosidase. Docking simulated the detailed interactions between honokiol and α-glucosidase, including hydrogen and hydrophobic bonds. All findings showed that honokiol could be used as a natural inhibitor to develop α-glucosidase agents.

Inhibition mechanism investigation of quercetagetin as a potential tyrosinase inhibitor

Tyrosinase is one important rate limiting enzyme in melanin synthesis, directly affecting the melanin synthesis. Quercetagetin is one active ingredient from marigold. Thence, the inhibition effects of quercetagetin against tyrosinase were investigated. The results showed quercetagetin could inhibit tyrosinase activity with IC50 value of 0.19 ± 0.01 mM and the inhibition type was a reversible mixed-type. Results of fluorescence quenching showed quercetagetin could quench tyrosinase fluorescence in static process. CD and 3D fluorescence results showed the interaction of quercetagetin to tyrosinase could change tyrosinase conformation to inhibit activity. Moreover, docking revealed details of quercetagetin's interactions with tyrosinase.

Icariin inhibits apoptosis in OGD-induced neurons by regulating M2 pyruvate kinase

Background

Ischaemic stroke can lead to many complications, but treatment options are limited. Icariin is a traditional Chinese medicine with reported neuroprotective effects against ischaemic cerebral injury; however, the underlying mechanisms by which icariin ameliorates cell apoptosis require further study.

Purpose

This study aimed to investigate the therapeutic potential of icariin after ischaemic stroke and the underlying molecular mechanisms.

Methods

N2a neuronal cells were used to create an in vitro oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD) model. The effects of icariin on OGD cells were assessed using the CCK-8 kit to detect the survival of cells and based on the concentration, apoptosis markers, inflammation markers, and M2 pyruvate kinase isoenzyme (PKM2) expression were detected using western blotting, RT-qPCR, and flow cytometry. To investigate the underlying molecular mechanisms, we used the PKM2 agonist TEPP-46 and detected apoptosis-related proteins.

Results

We demonstrated that icariin alleviated OGD-induced apoptosis in vitro. The expression levels of the apoptosis marker proteins caspase-3 and Bax were upregulated and Bcl-2 was downregulated. Furthermore, icariin reduced inflammation and downregulated the expression of PKM2. Moreover, activation of the PKM2 by pretreatment with the PKM2 agonist TEPP-46 enhanced the effects on OGD induced cell apoptosis in vitro.

Conclusion

This study elucidated the underlying mechanism of PKM2 in OGD-induced cell apoptosis and highlighted the potential of icariin in the treatment of ischaemic stroke.

Kaempferol regulates apoptosis and migration of neural stem cells to attenuate cerebral infarction by O-GlcNAcylation of β-catenin

Ischemic stroke remains a major cause of disability and death. Kaempferol (Kae) is a neuroprotective flavonoid compound. Thus, this study aimed to explore the impact of Kae on cerebral infarction. We generated the middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) mouse model to study the effects of Kae on infarction volume and neurological function. The oxygen and glucose deprivation (OGD)/reoxygenation (R) model of neural stem cells (NSCs) was established to study the effects of Kae on cell viability, migration, and apoptosis. Cell processes were assessed by cell counting kit-8, Transwell assay, flow cytometry, and TUNEL analysis. The molecular mechanism was assessed using the Western blot. The results indicated that Kae attenuated MCAO-induced cerebral infarction and neurological injury. Besides, Kae promoted cell viability and migration and inhibited apoptosis of OGD/R-treated NSCs. Moreover, OGD/R suppressed total O-GlcNAcylation level and O-GlcNAcylation of β-catenin, thereby suppressing the Wnt/β-catenin pathway, whereas Kae reversed the suppression. Inactivation of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway abrogated the biological functions of NSCs mediated by Kae. In conclusion, Kae suppressed cerebral infarction by facilitating NSC viability, migration, and inhibiting apoptosis. Mechanically, Kae promoted O-GlcNAcylation of β-catenin to activate the Wnt/β-catenin pathway. Kae may have a lessening effect on ischemic stroke.

Tetrahydropiperine, a natural alkaloid with neuroprotective effects in ischemic stroke

BACKGROUND

Ischemic stroke (IS) is a life-threatening neurological disease with various pathological mechanisms. Tetrahydropiperine (THP) is a natural alkaloid with protective effects against multiple diseases, such as seizure, and pain. This study was to examine the impact of THP on IS and investigate its potential mechanism.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

We employed network pharmacology and molecular docking techniques to identify the target proteins of THP for intervention in IS. Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were used to create a permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion model. PC-12 cells were chosen to establish an oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD) cell model. Disease modeling followed by nimodipine (NIMO); 3-methyladenine (3-MA) and rapamycin (RAP) interventions. Open field test, Longa score, balance beam test, and forelimb grip test were used to measure motor and neurological functions. The degree of neurological damage recovery was assessed through behavioral analysis, and cerebral infarction volume was determined using TTC staining. Morphological changes were examined through HE and Nissl staining, and ultrastructural changes in neurons were observed using transmission electron microscopy. The protein expression of autophagy and related pathways was analyzed through Western blot (WB). The appropriate hypoxia time and drug concentration were determined using CCK-8 assay, which also measured cell survival rate.

RESULTS

The network pharmacology findings indicated that the impact of THP on IS was enhanced in the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway. THP demonstrated robust docking capability with proteins associated with the autophagy and PI3K/Akt/mTOR, as indicated by the molecular docking outcomes. THP significantly improved behavioral damage, reduced the area of cerebral infarction, ameliorated histopathological damage from ischemia, increase neuronal survival, and alleviated ultrastructural damage in neurons (P < 0.05). THP enhanced the survival of PC-12 cells induced by OGD and ameliorated the morphological harm to the cells (P < 0.05). THP was found to elevate the quantities of P62, LC3-Ⅰ, PI3K, P-AKt/Akt, and P-mTOR/mTOR proteins while reducing the levels of Atg7 and Beclin1 proteins. The results of transmission electron microscopy showed no autophagosomes in the THP, 3-MA, and 3-MA + THP groups.

CONCLUSION

The activation of the PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway by THP inhibits autophagy and provides relief from neurological damage in IS.

Traditional Chinese Medicine formula, Sanwujiao granule, attenuates ischemic stroke by promoting angiogenesis through early administration

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Ischemic stroke (IS) is one of the most lethal diseases with the insufficient pharmacology therapeutic approach. Sanwujiao granule (SW) is widely used for IS in China with little known about its underlying mechanism.

AIM OF THE STUDY

To investigate the characteristics of therapeutic effects and potential mechanisms of SW against IS.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The fingerprint of SW was applied by high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS). Three different drug treatment strategies, including prophylactic administration, early administration and delayed administration, were applied in rats' permanent middle cerebral occlusion (pMCAO) model. The Garcia neurological deficit test, adhesive removal test, rotarod test, TTC and TUNEL staining were performed to evaluate the pathological changes. The transcriptomic analysis was used to predict the potential mechanism of SW. The vascular deficiency model of Tg(kdrl:eGFP) zebrafish larvae and oxygen-glucose deprivation model on bEnd.3 cells were used to verify SW's pharmacological effect. qRT-PCR, immunofluorescent staining and Western Blot were applied to detect the expression of genes and proteins. The network pharmacology approach was applied to discover the potential bioactive compounds in SW that contribute to its pharmacological effect.

RESULTS

SW early and delayed administration attenuated cerebral infarction, neurological deficit and cell apoptosis. The transcriptomic analysis revealed that SW activated angiogenesis-associated biological processes specifically by early administration. CD31 immunofluorescent staining further confirmed the microvessel intensity in peri-infarct regions was significantly elevated after SW early treatment. Additionally, on the vascular deficiency model of zebrafish larvae, SW showed the angiogenesis effect. Next, the cell migration and tube formation were also observed in the bEnd.3 cells with the oxygen-glucose deprivation induced cell injury. It's worth noting that both mRNA and protein levels of angiogenesis factor, insulin-like growth factor 1, were significantly elevated in the pMCAO rats' brains treated with SW. The network pharmacology approach was applied and chasmanine, karacoline, talatisamine, etc. were probably the main active compounds of SW in IS treatment as they affected the angiogenesis-associated targets.

CONCLUSIONS

These results demonstrate that SW plays a critical role in anti-IS via promoting angiogenesis through early administration, indicating that SW is a candidate herbal complex for further investigation in treating IS in the clinical.

Machine learning integration of multi-modal analytical data for distinguishing abnormal botanical drugs and its application in Guhong injection

BACKGROUND

Determination of batch-to-batch consistency of botanical drugs (BDs) has long been the bottleneck in quality evaluation primarily due to the chemical diversity inherent in BDs. This diversity presents an obstacle to achieving comprehensive standardization for BDs. Basically, a single detection mode likely leads to substandard analysis results as different classes of structures always possess distinct physicochemical properties. Whereas representing a workaround for multi-target standardization using multi-modal data, data processing for information from diverse sources is of great importance for the accuracy of classification.

METHODS

In this research, multi-modal data of 78 batches of Guhong injections (GHIs) consisting of 52 normal and 26 abnormal samples were acquired by employing HPLC-UV, -ELSD, and quantitative 1H NMR (q1HNMR), of which data obtained was then individually used for Pearson correlation coefficient (PCC) calculation and partial least square-discriminant analysis (PLS-DA). Then, a mid-level data fusion method with data containing qualitative and quantitative information to establish a support vector machine (SVM) model for evaluating the batch-to-batch consistency of GHIs.

RESULTS

The resulting outcomes showed that datasets from one detection mode (e.g., data from UV detectors only) are inadequate for accurately assessing the product's quality. The mid-level data fusion strategy for the quality evaluation enabled the classification of normal and abnormal batches of GHIs at 100% accuracy.

CONCLUSIONS

A quality assessment strategy was successfully developed by leveraging a mid-level data fusion method for the batch-to-batch consistency evaluation of GHIs. This study highlights the promising utility of data from different detection modes for the quality evaluation of BDs. It also reminds manufacturers and researchers about the advantages of involving data fusion to handle multi-modal data. Especially when done jointly, this strategy can significantly increase the accuracy of product classification and serve as a capable tool for studies of other BDs.

Huperzine A injection ameliorates motor and cognitive abnormalities via regulating multiple pathways in a murine model of Parkinson's disease

As a common progressive neurodegenerative disorder, the satisfied therapies for Parkinson's disease (PD) are still unavailable. As a natural acetylcholinesterase inhibitor, the neuroprotective characteristic of Huperzine A (HupA) was supported by previous studies. However, questions remain on whether HupA injection (HAI, a main preparation of HupA) intervention conduces to PD treatment and if so, the potential molecular mechanisms. In this study, the efficacies of HAI treatment on PD-like pathological phenotypes were evaluated in a MPTP-induced PD murine model. The network pharmacology, transcriptome sequencing and experimental verification were integrated to comprehensively reveal the primary molecular mechanisms. Therapeutically, HAI intervention significantly improved the impaired locomotor behaviors as well as learning and memory abilities, and prevented the degeneration of dopaminergic neurons of PD mice. The network pharmacology analysis combined with experimental results showed that HAI treatment could effectively restore the disordered transcriptional levels of inflammatory factors and apoptosis related genes in the SNpc and striatum tissues of PD mice. Transcriptome sequencing results found that inflammation and oxidative phosphorylation served as significant functional mechanisms involved in HAI administration. The experimental verification indicated that HAI treatment effectively regulated the abnormal transcription levels of inflammation and oxidative phosphorylation related hub genes in the hippocampal samples of PD mice. In addition, molecular docking suggested strong affinity between HupA and the above core targets. Overall, this work displayed the reliable therapeutic effects of HAI on ameliorating the pathological symptoms of PD mice via modulating multiple pathways. The current findings were expected to provide a potential anti-PD agent.

Chemical composition, pharmacology and pharmacokinetic studies of GuHong injection in the treatment of ischemic stroke

GuHong injection is composed of safflower and N-acetyl-L-glutamine. It is widely used in clinical for cerebrovascular diseases, such as ischemic stroke and related diseases. The objective of this review is to comprehensively summarize the most recent information related to GuHong in the treatment of stroke, including chemical composition, clinical studies, potential pharmacological mechanisms and pharmacokinetics. Additionally, it examines possible scientific gaps in current study and aims to provide a reliable reference for future GuHong studies. The systematic review reveals that the chemical composition of safflower in GuHong is more than 300 chemical components in five categories. GuHong injection is primarily used in clinical applications for acute ischemic stroke and related diseases. Pharmacological investigations have indicated that GuHong acts in the early and recovery stages of ischemic stroke by anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative stress, anti-coagulation, neuroprotective and anti-apoptotic mechanisms simultaneously. Pharmacokinetic studies found that the main exposed substances in rat plasma after GuHong administration are hydroxysafflor yellow A and N-acetyl-L-glutamine, and N-acetyl-L-glutamine could exert its pharmacological effect across the blood-brain barrier. As a combination of Chinese herb and chemical drug, GuHong injection has great value in drug research and clinical treatment, especially for ischemic stroke disease. This article represents a comprehensive and systematic review of existing studies on GuHong injection, including chemical composition, pharmacological mechanism, and pharmacokinetics, which provides reference significance for the clinical treatment of ischemic stroke with GuHong, as well as provides guidance for further study.

Bilateral globus pallidus interna deep brain stimulation in the treatment of mixed cerebral palsy in ataxia with dyskinesia: a case report

Background

Cerebral palsy (CP), a complex syndrome with multiple etiologies, is characterized by a range of movement disorders within the hypokinetic and hyperkinetic spectrum (dystonia or choreoathetosis). CP is often accompanied by neurological and psychiatric signs, such as spasticity, ataxia, and cognitive disorders. Although current treatment options for CP include pharmacological interventions, rehabilitation programs, and spasticity relief surgery, their effectiveness remains limited. Deep brain stimulation (DBS) has demonstrated significant effectiveness in managing dyskinesia; however, its potential therapeutic effect on CP remains determined.

Methods

We present a case of a 44-year-old Asian female who was born as a twin with neonatal ischemic-hypoxic encephalopathy due to prolonged labor and delivery. She was diagnosed with CP at the age of 1 year. The patient exhibited delayed development compared to her peers and presented with various symptoms, including slurred speech, broad-based gait, horseshoe inversion of the right lower extremity, involuntary shaking of the upper extremities bilaterally, and hypotonia and showed no improvement with levodopa therapy. Two years ago, she developed progressive head tremors, which worsened during periods of tension and improved during sleep. As medical treatments proved ineffective and there were no contraindications to surgery, we performed bilateral globus pallidus interna DBS (GPi-DBS) to alleviate her motor dysfunction.

Results

Following a 6-month follow-up, the patient demonstrated significant improvements in motor symptoms, including head and limb tremors and dystonia. In addition, significant improvement was observed in her overall psychological well-being, as evidenced by reduced anxiety and depression levels.

Conclusion

DBS is an effective treatment for dyskinesia symptoms associated with CP in adults. Moreover, its effectiveness may continue to increase over time.

Single-cell RNA sequencing reveals that VIM and IFITM3 are vital targets of Dengzhan Shengmai capsule to protect against cerebral ischemic injury

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Ischemic stroke is one of the leading causes of mortality, but therapies are limited. Dengzhan Shengmai capsule (DZSM) was included by the Chinese Pharmacopoeia 2020 and has been broadly used for the treatment of ischemic stroke. However, the mechanism of DZSM against ischemic stroke is unclear.

AIM OF THE STUDY

This study used RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) and single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) to investigate the mechanism of action of DZSM against ischemic stroke.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The rats were randomly divided into six groups: the Sham, I/R (water), I/R + DZSM-L (0.1134g/kg), I/R + DZSM-H (0.4536g/kg), I/R + NMDP (20mg/kg), and I/R + Ginaton (20mg/kg). The rats were administrated drugs for 5 days then followed by the ischemic brain injury caused by middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO). The neuroprotective effect was assessed by infraction rate, neurological deficit scores, regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF), hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining, and Nissl staining. Based on RNA-seq and scRNA-seq, the vital biological processes and core targets of DZSM against cerebral ischemia were revealed. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and immunofluorescence (IF) staining were used to investigate the vital biological processes and core targets of DZSM against ischemic stroke.

RESULTS

Administration of DZSM significantly reduced the infarction rate and Zea Longa score, Garcia JH score, and ameliorated the reduction in rCBF. And alleviated the neuronal damage, such as increased neuronal density level and Nissl bodies density level. RNA-seq analysis revealed that DZSM played important roles in inflammation and apoptosis. ELISA and IF straining validation confirmed that DZSM significantly decreased the expression of IL-6, IL-1β, TNF-α, ICAM-1, IBA-1, MMP9, and Cleaved caspase-3 in MCAO rats. ScRNA-seq analysis identified 8 core targets in neurons including HSPB1, SPP1, MT2A, GFAP, IFITM3, VIM, CRIP1, and GPD1, and VIM and IFITM3 was verified to be decreased by DZSM in neurons.

CONCLUSION

Our study illustrates the neuroprotective effect of DZSM against ischemia stroke, and VIM and IFITM3 were identified as vital targets in neurons of DZSM in protecting against MCAO-induced I/R injury.

6-Shogaol from Dried Ginger Protects against Intestinal Ischemia/Reperfusion by Inhibiting Cell Apoptosis via the BDNF/TrkB/PI3K/AKT Pathway

SCOPE

Intestinal ischemia-reperfusion (II/R) injury is a common pathological process with high morbidity and mortality. Effective prevention and treatment therapies for II/R are clinically necessary. 6-Shogaol (6-SG), the main active ingredient in dried ginger, behaviors multiple biological activities, including anti-inflammation, antioxidation, and anti-apoptosis. This study aims to elucidate the protective effects and mechanism of 6-SG against II/R-induced injury.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Sprague-Dawley rats are pre-treated orally with 6-SG and subjected to II/R injury by clamping superior mesenteric artery for 1 h and reperfusion for 2 h. Caco-2 cells are challenged by hypoxia/reoxygenation to mimic II/R in vitro. 6-SG pre-treatment protects against II/R injury by reducing intestinal morphological damage and intestinal barrier injury via inhibiting cell apoptosis. Network pharmacology and molecular docking analyses reveal that 6-SG has a high affinity with brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) formed homodimer or heterodimer with NT4 instead of the monomer, and thus the dimer configuration is stabilized, activating BDNF/TrkB/PI3K/AKT signaling pathway and inhibiting II/R-induced cell apoptosis. The outcome is further validated both in vivo and in vitro.

CONCLUSION

6-Shogaol protects against II/R injury by inhibiting cell apoptosis through the BDNF/TrkB/PI3K/AKT pathway. This study offers a new understanding of the protection mechanism of 6-SG against II/R-induced injury.

Integrating network pharmacology and pharmacological evaluation to explore the protective mechanism of Ershiwuwei Zhenzhu pill in ischemic stroke

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Ershiwuwei Zhenzhu Pill (EZP), a representative and classic formula in Tibetan medicine, is commonly used in the treatment of various cerebrovascular diseases, including ischemic stroke (IS). Nevertheless, their efficacy and potential mechanism in treating IS have yet to be investigated.

AIM OF THE STUDY

This study aimed to investigate the potential mechanisms of EZP in the treatment of IS based on network pharmacology and experimental verification.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The chemical profile of EZP was characterized using ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-TOF-MS). The targets related to the compounds in EZP were predicted by the Swiss Target Prediction and Target Net platform, and targets of IS were collected from the Gene Cards and OMIM databases. Subsequently, a protein-protein interaction (PPI) network of targets was constructed and analyzed by the STRING database and Cytoscape software, version 3.7.1. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analyses were performed, and an ingredient-target-pathway network was constructed. Ultimately, the middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) model was established to evaluate the anti-IS effects of EZP by detecting the neurological deficit score, HE, Nissl and TCC staining, and inflammatory factors, and the expression of key protein targets was detected by western blotting.

RESULTS

A total of 129 components were identified in EZP. Network pharmacology revealed 3136 compound targets and 2826 disease-related targets, and 412 overlapping proteins were obtained as potential therapeutic targets. The PPI network results showed that 6 key targets (AKT1, SRC, VEGFA, TP53, TNF and EGFR) were core targets of EZP in the treatment of IS. Western blotting demonstrated that the expression levels of AKT1, VEGFA, TP53, SRC, TNF and EGFR in the brain tissue of MCAO rats were significantly changed after treatment with EZP compared to the model group.

CONCLUSIONS

EZP ameliorated IS in MCAO rats. The underlying mechanism might be associated with inhibiting inflammation and apoptosis, promoting angiogenesis and protecting neurons by regulating multiple targets and pathways.

Okanin from Coreopsis tinctoria Nutt. alleviates cognitive impairment in bilateral common carotid artery occlusion mice by regulating the miR-7/NLRP3 axis in microglia

Cognitive impairment is the main clinical feature following stroke, and microglia-mediated inflammatory response is a major contributor to it. Coreopsis tinctoria Nutt., an edible chrysanthemum, is commonly used as a functional ingredient in healthcare beverages and food. Okanin, the main active ingredient of Coreopsis tinctoria Nutt. flower, inhibits microglial activation. However, the role of okanin in cognitive impairment following ischemic stroke is still unknown. In this study, we investigated the effect of okanin on ischemic stroke and its underlying mechanism both in vivo and in vitro. Okanin was found to attenuate cognitive impairment in bilateral common carotid artery occlusion (BCCAO) mice, inhibit neuronal loss and microglial activation, decrease NOD-like receptor family pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome activation, and increase miR-7 expression. Okanin suppressed NLRP3 inflammasome activation in oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated microglia by increasing miR-7 expression and inhibited microglia-induced neuronal injury. This study provides new insights into the role of okanin in ischemic stroke and shows that the miR-7/NLRP3 axis plays an important role in mediating the beneficial effects of okanin on cerebral ischemia. These findings suggest that okanin has great potential as a functional food for stroke recovery.

Guhong injection mitigates myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury by activating GST P to inhibit ASK1-JNK/p38 pathway

BACKGROUND

Guhong injection (GHI), a novel compound preparation that is composed of a chemical drug, namely aceglutamide, and the aqueous extract of safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.), exhibits extreme antioxidative, antiapoptotic, anti-inflammatory, and neuroprotective effects. Since oxidative stress, apoptosis, and inflammatory response are all the dominant mechanisms of myocardial ischemia/reperfusion (MI/R) injury, we probe into the protective mechanism of GHI on MI/R injury for the first time.

METHODS

In this research, we first employed molecular docking to determine whether three active ingredients in GHI, acetylglutamine (NAG), hydroxysafflor yellow A (HSYA), and syringin, possessed the potential activity to modulate the protein, glutathione S-transferase P (GST P). We further identified the protective effect of GHI on myocardial tissue with TTC staining, HE staining, TUNEL staining, and ELISA, and on H9c2 with flow cytometry and ELISA. We next explored whether the cardioprotective effect of GHI on left anterior descending ligation-reperfusion in rats and hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R) in H9c2 cells was related to activate GST P to inhibit ASK1-JNK/p38 pathway via approaches of qRT-PCR and Western blot.

RESULTS

Results of molecular docking indicated that all three compounds spontaneously docked to GST P, among them the binding affinities of both HSYA and syringin to GST P were higher than NAG. In vivo, GHI reduced myocardial infarction size and mitigated myocardial pathological injury. In vitro, GHI enhanced cell viability and extenuated depolarization of mitochondrial membrane potential. In addition, the results of in vivo and in vitro studies demonstrated that the cardioprotection of GHI was associated with improving the mRNA and protein expression levels of GST P to modulate oxidative stress, and inhibiting the levels of mRNA expression and protein phosphorylation of ASK1, JNK, and p38. However, the suppressed effect of GHI on ASK1-JNK/p38 pathway was reversed by ethacrynic acid (EA, a GST inhibitor), indicating that the regulation of GHI on ASK1-JNK/p38 was related to the activity of GST P. Besides, the in vitro results of qRT-PCR and western-blot also certified that the inhibited JNK and p38 further reduced Bax expression and elevated Bcl-2 expression to reduce the expression of caspase-3 to exert anti-apoptosis effects.

CONCLUSION

Taken together, the cardioprotection of GHI mainly incarnated in activating GST P to relieve oxidation properties, thereby inhibiting ASK1-JNK/p38 pathway to suppress apoptosis.

Comprehensive evaluation of the mechanism of Gastrodia elata Blume in ameliorating cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury based on integrating fecal metabonomics and 16S rDNA sequencing

Gastrodia elata Blume was used to treat stroke and headaches caused by "Feng" for thousands of years. The present study has shown a significant effect of G. elata Blume in improving cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury (CIRI). However, the mechanism of G. elata Blume in improving CIRI by regulating the intestinal flora has not been reported until now. This research aimed to comprehensively evaluate the mechanism of G. elata Blume in CIRI based on fecal metabolomics and 16S rDNA sequencing. The rat model with CIRI was created based on the Zea Longa method. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to monitor the inflammatory factors in rat serum. Damages of brain tissues were observed using hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining. Cerebral infarction was observed by 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC) staining. The balance of intestinal flora in cecal contents of rats was evaluated by high-throughput sequencing. Changes of metabolites in the intestinal flora were evaluated by fecal metabolomics through Ultra high performance liquid chromatography-orbitrap exploris-mass spectrometer (UHPLC-OE-MS). The area of brain necrosis, cerebral infarction volume, and the contents of inflammatory factors in CIRI rats can be effectively reduced after oral administration of G. elata Blume. CIRI can cause disturbances in the intestinal flora and its associated metabolites. G. elata Blume can significantly regulate the composition of the intestinal microflora. It reversed CIRI-induced changes in the levels of multiple intestinal bacteria, including Prevotellaceae, Coriobacteriaceae; Prevotella, Gamma proteobacteria unclassified, Barnesiella, Escherichia, Shigella; uncultured Shigella sp., Flavonifractor sp., Escherichia sp. enrichment culture clone NBAR004, Veillonella sp. R-32, and Lactobacillus intestinalis. The levels of metabolites in cecal contents were disturbed in rats with CIRI, including amino acid, purine, and sphingolipid metabolism. The changes in the level of biomarkers in amino acid metabolism induced by CIRI were significantly reversed after treatment with G. elata Blume. Correlation studies show that Prevotellaceae was significantly positively correlated with interleukin (IL)-6, and L. intestinalis and L-phenylalanine were negatively interrelated to IL-1β. Beta-glycerophosphoric acid was significantly negatively interrelated to high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP). There were significantly negative correlations between L-phenylalanine and L. intestinalis, beta-glycerophosphoric acid and Prevotellaceae. G. elata Blume protected against CIRI, which may be related to improved intestinal microflora composition and metabolism, resulting in decreased inflammation.

Comparative efficacy of Honghua class injections for treating acute ischemic stroke: A Bayesian network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Background: Acute ischemic stroke (AIS) is associated with high morbidity, mortality, and disability. Clinical trials have shown that Honghua class injections (HCIs) combined with WM achieve better clinical efficacy than WM alone. In this study, we performed a Bayesian network meta-analysis (NMA) of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to evaluate the efficacy of different HCIs combined with WM in treating AIS.

Methods: First, the inclusion and exclusion criteria were established. From inception to 1 June 2022, a systematic literature search was conducted in multiple databases for the treatment of AIS with HCIs, including Honghua injection (HI), Safflower Yellow injection (SYI), Guhong injection (GHI), and Danhong injection (DHI). Subsequently, OpenBUGS 3.2.3 was applied to conduct a Bayesian algorithm, and Stata 16.0 was used to prepare the graphs. Multidimensional cluster analysis was performed using the “scatterplot3d” package in R 3.6.1 software.

Results: In this NMA, a total of 120 eligible RCTs were included, involving 12,658 patients, and evaluating the clinical effectiveness rates, activities of daily living (ADL), hemorheological indexes, and adverse reactions (ADRs). DHI + WM was the best intervention for improving the clinical effectiveness rate. Moreover, cluster analysis demonstrated that DHI + WM and SYI + WM had better comprehensive therapeutic effects. As most of the included RCTs did not monitor ADRs, the safety of the HCIs remains to be further explored.

Conclusion: DHI + WM and SYI + WM probably have a better clinical efficacy on AIS patients. Nevertheless, due to the limitation of this NMA, this conclusion may be biased. High-quality RCTs should be performed to validate our findings.

Systematic Review Registration:https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/, identifier CRD42021229599

The Yeast Fermentation Effect on Content of Bioactive, Nutritional and Anti-Nutritional Factors in Rapeseed Meal

The aim of this study was to evaluate the changes in the content of bioactive, nutritional and anti-nutritional factors in rapeseed meal that was fermented with Saccharomyces cerevisiae or Saccharomyces boulardii yeasts at two different periods of time, for improvement of nutritional characteristics in piglets’ feeding. The fermentation has reduced the content of two anti-nutritional factors, intact glucosinolates and 3-butyl isothiocyanate, by 51.60–66.04% and 55.21–63.39%, respectively, by fermentation with either Saccharomyces cerevisiae or Saccharomyces boulardii for 24 h. The fermentation by these yeasts also lowered the content of total polyphenolic compounds by 21.58–23.55% and antioxidant activity (DPPH) by 17.03–21.07%. Furthermore, the content of carbohydrates and organic acids has dramatically decreased between 89.20 and 98.35% and between 31.48 and 77.18%, respectively. However, the content of some individual phenolic acids (gallic, p-coumaric, sinapic) and crude protein content (10–13%) has been increased. Thus, the results showed that fermentation with Saccharomyces cerevisiae or Saccharomyces boulardii has reduced the content of antinutritive factors and increased the protein content of the rapeseed meal, without major adverse effects on its overall nutritive value.

Discovery of anti-stroke active substances in Guhong injection based on multi-phenotypic screening of zebrafish

Ischemic stroke is a leading cause of death worldwide, and it remains an urgent task to develop novel and alternative therapeutic strategies for the disease. We previously reported the positive effects of Guhong injection (GHI), composed of safflower extract and aceglutamide, in promoting functional recovery in ischemic stroke mice. However, the active substances and pharmacological mechanism of GHI is still elusive. Aiming to identify the active anti-stroke components in GHI, here we conducted a multi-phenotypic screening in zebrafish models of phenylhydrazine-induced thrombosis and ponatinib-induced cerebral ischemia. Peripheral and cerebral blood flow was quantified endogenously in erythrocytes fluorescence-labeled thrombosis fish, and baicalein and rutin were identified as major anti-thrombotic substances in GHI. Moreover, using a high-throughput video-tracking system, the effects of locomotion promotion of GHI and its main compounds were analyzed in cerebral ischemia model. Chlorogenic acid and gallic acid showed significant effects in preventing locomotor dyfunctions. Finally, GHI treatment greatly decreased the expression levels of coagulation factors F7 and F2, NF-κB and its mediated proinflammatory cytokines in the fish models. Molecular docking suggested strong affinities between baicalein and F7, and between active substances (baicalein, chlorogenic acid, gallic acid, and rutin) and NF-κB p65. In summary, our findings established a novel drug discovery method based on multi-phenotypic screening of zebrafish, provided endogenous evidences of GHI in preventing thrombus formation and promoting behavioral recovery after cerebral ischemia, and identified baicalein, rutin, chlorogenic acid, and gallic acid as active compounds in the management of ischemic stroke.