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Chen J, Ni Y, Yao W, Ding X. Clinical observations and mechanistic insights of traditional Chinese medicine in the management of diabetic retinopathy. PHARMACEUTICAL BIOLOGY 2024; 62:529-543. [PMID: 38921697 PMCID: PMC11210421 DOI: 10.1080/13880209.2024.2369292] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2024] [Accepted: 06/09/2024] [Indexed: 06/27/2024]
Abstract
CONTEXT Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is one of the leading causes of vision impairment and blindness among diabetic patients globally. Despite advancements in conventional treatments, the quest for more holistic approaches and fewer side effects persists. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has been used for centuries in managing various diseases, including diabetes and its complications. OBJECTIVE This review evaluated the efficacy and underlying mechanisms of TCM in the management of DR, providing information on its potential integration with conventional treatment methods. METHODS A comprehensive literature review was conducted using PubMed, Web of Science, and the China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) with the search terms 'traditional Chinese medicine', 'diabetic retinopathy', 'clinical efficacies' and their combinations. Studies published before 2023 without language restriction were included, focusing on clinical trials and observational studies that assessed the effectiveness of TCM in DR treatment. RESULTS The review synthesized evidence of empirical traditional Chinese formulas, traditional Chinese patent medicines, and isolated phytochemicals on DR treatment. The key mechanisms identified included the reduction of oxidative stress, inflammation, and neovascularization, as well as the improvement in neurovascular functionality and integrity of the retinal blood barrier. CONCLUSIONS TCM shows promising potential to manage DR. More large-scale, randomized controlled trials are recommended to validate these findings and facilitate the integration of TCM into mainstream DR treatment protocols.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Chen
- School of Basic Medicine and Clinical Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yadong Ni
- School of Basic Medicine and Clinical Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Wenhui Yao
- School of Basic Medicine and Clinical Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Xuansheng Ding
- School of Basic Medicine and Clinical Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China
- Precision Medicine Laboratory, School of Basic Medicine and Clinical Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China
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Zhang H, Zhao X, Wei W, Shen C. Nimbolide protects against diabetic cardiomyopathy by regulating endoplasmic reticulum stress and mitochondrial function via the Akt/mTOR pathway. Tissue Cell 2024; 90:102478. [PMID: 39053131 DOI: 10.1016/j.tice.2024.102478] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2024] [Revised: 06/07/2024] [Accepted: 07/14/2024] [Indexed: 07/27/2024]
Abstract
Nimbolide has been demonstrated to possess protective properties against gestational diabetes mellitus and diabetic retinopathy. However, the role and molecular mechanism of nimbolide in diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM) remain unknown. Diabetes was induced in rats via a single injection of streptozotocin (STZ) and then the diabetic rats were administered nimbolide (5 mg/kg and 20 mg/kg) or dimethyl sulfoxide daily for 12 weeks. H9c2 cardiomyocytes were exposed to high glucose (25 mM glucose) to mimic DCM in vitro. The protective effects of nimbolide against DCM were evaluated in vivo and in vitro. The potential molecular mechanism of nimbolide in DCM was further explored. We found that nimbolide dose-dependently decreased blood glucose and improved body weight of diabetic rats. Additionally, nimbolide dose-dependently improved cardiac function, alleviated myocardial injury/fibrosis, and inhibited endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and apoptosis in diabetic rats. Moreover, nimbolide dose-dependently improved mitochondrial function and activated the Akt/mTOR signaling. We consistently demonstrated the cardioprotective effects of nimbolide in an in vitro model of DCM. The involvement of ER stress and mitochondrial pathways were further confirmed by using inhibitors of ER stress and mitochondrial division. By applying a specific Akt inhibitor SC66, the cardioprotective effects of nimbolide were partially blocked. Our study indicated that nimbolide alleviated DCM by activating Akt/mTOR pathway. Nimbolide may be a novel therapeutic agent for DCM treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Wei Wei
- Hainan Second Health School, Wuzhishan 572200, China
| | - Chunjian Shen
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, The Fourth People's Hospital of Shenyang, Shenyang 110000, China.
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Zhao Y, Chen Y, Yan N. The Role of Natural Products in Diabetic Retinopathy. Biomedicines 2024; 12:1138. [PMID: 38927345 PMCID: PMC11200400 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines12061138] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2024] [Revised: 05/07/2024] [Accepted: 05/18/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is one of the most severe complications of diabetes mellitus and potentially leads to significant visual impairment and blindness. The complex mechanisms involved in the pathological changes in DR make it challenging to achieve satisfactory outcomes with existing treatments. Diets conducive to glycemic control have been shown to improve outcomes in diabetic patients, thus positioning dietary interventions as promising avenues for DR treatment. Investigations have demonstrated that natural products (NPs) may effectively manage DR. Many types of natural compounds, including saponins, phenols, terpenoids, flavonoids, saccharides, alkaloids, and vitamins, have been shown to exert anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-neovascular, and antiapoptotic effects in vivo and in vitro. Nevertheless, the clinical application of NPs still faces challenges, such as suboptimal specificity, poor bioavailability, and a risk of toxicity. Prospective clinical studies are imperative to validate the therapeutic potential of NPs in delaying or preventing DR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuxuan Zhao
- Research Laboratory of Ophthalmology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China; (Y.Z.); (Y.C.)
- Department of Optometry and Visual Science, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Yi Chen
- Research Laboratory of Ophthalmology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China; (Y.Z.); (Y.C.)
| | - Naihong Yan
- Research Laboratory of Ophthalmology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China; (Y.Z.); (Y.C.)
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Rajendran P, Renu K, Abdallah BM, Ali EM, Veeraraghavan VP, Sivalingam K, Rustagi Y, Abdelsalam SA, Ibrahim RIH, Al-Ramadan SY. Nimbolide: promising agent for prevention and treatment of chronic diseases (recent update). Food Nutr Res 2024; 68:9650. [PMID: 38571915 PMCID: PMC10989234 DOI: 10.29219/fnr.v68.9650] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2023] [Revised: 10/09/2023] [Accepted: 10/16/2023] [Indexed: 04/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Nimbolide, a bioactive compound derived from the neem tree, has garnered attention as a potential breakthrough in the prevention and treatment of chronic diseases. Recent updates in research highlight its multifaceted pharmacological properties, demonstrating anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anticancer effects. With a rich history in traditional medicine, nimbolide efficacy in addressing the molecular complexities of conditions such as cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and cancer positions it as a promising candidate for further exploration. As studies progress, the recent update underscores the growing optimism surrounding nimbolide as a valuable tool in the ongoing pursuit of innovative therapeutic strategies for chronic diseases. Methods The comprehensive search of the literature was done until September 2020 on the MEDLINE, Embase, Scopus and Web of Knowledge databases. Results Most studies have shown the Nimbolide is one of the most potent limonoids derived from the flowers and leaves of neem (Azadirachta indica), which is widely used to treat a variety of human diseases. In chronic diseases, nimbolide reported to modulate the key signaling pathways, such as Mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs), Wingless-related integration site-β (Wnt-β)/catenin, NF-κB, PI3K/AKT, and signaling molecules, such as transforming growth factor (TGF-β), Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF), inflammatory cytokines, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) proteins. Nimbolide has anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, and anti-cancer properties, which make it an intriguing compound for research. Nimbolide demonstrated therapeutic potential for osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, cardiovascular, inflammation and cancer. Conclusion The current review mainly focused on understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying the therapecutic effects of nimbolide in chronic diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peramaiyan Rajendran
- Department of Biological Sciences, College of Science, King Faisal University, Al Ahsa, Saudi Arabia
- Centre of Molecular Medicine and Diagnostics (COMManD), Department of Biochemistry, Saveetha Dental College & Hospitals, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, Saveetha University, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Kaviyarasi Renu
- Centre of Molecular Medicine and Diagnostics (COMManD), Department of Biochemistry, Saveetha Dental College & Hospitals, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, Saveetha University, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Basem M. Abdallah
- Department of Biological Sciences, College of Science, King Faisal University, Al Ahsa, Saudi Arabia
| | - Enas M. Ali
- Department of Biological Sciences, College of Science, King Faisal University, Al Ahsa, Saudi Arabia
- Department of Botany and Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Vishnu Priya Veeraraghavan
- Centre of Molecular Medicine and Diagnostics (COMManD), Department of Biochemistry, Saveetha Dental College & Hospitals, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, Saveetha University, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Kalaiselvi Sivalingam
- Department of Developmental, Molecular and Chemical Biology, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Yashika Rustagi
- Centre for Cancer Genomics, Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Salaheldin Abdelraouf Abdelsalam
- Department of Biological Sciences, College of Science, King Faisal University, Al Ahsa, Saudi Arabia
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt
| | - Rashid Ismael Hag Ibrahim
- Department of Biological Sciences, College of Science, King Faisal University, Al Ahsa, Saudi Arabia
- Department of Botany, Faculty of Science, University of Khartoum, Sudan
| | - Saeed Yaseen Al-Ramadan
- Department of Anatomy, College of Veterinary Medicine, King Faisal University, Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia
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Xue L, Hu M, Zhu Q, Li Y, Zhou G, Zhang X, Zhou Y, Zhang J, Ding P. GRg1 inhibits the TLR4/NF-kB signaling pathway by upregulating miR-216a-5p to reduce growth factors and inflammatory cytokines in DR. Mol Biol Rep 2023; 50:9379-9394. [PMID: 37819496 PMCID: PMC10635910 DOI: 10.1007/s11033-023-08895-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2023] [Accepted: 10/04/2023] [Indexed: 10/13/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a common diabetic neurodegenerative disease that affects vision in severe cases. Current therapeutic drugs are ineffective for some patients with severe side effects, and ginsenoside-Rg1 (GRg1) has been shown to protect against DR and may serve as a new potential drug for DR. This study aimed to confirm the protective effect of GRg1 against DR and its molecular mechanism. METHODS Human retinal microvascular endothelial cells (hRMECs) and rats were used to construct DR models in vitro and in vivo. Cell proliferation was detected by BrdU assays, the cell cycle was detected by flow cytometry, and TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-1β levels were detected by ELISA. qRT‒PCR, Western blotting and immunohistochemistry were used to detect the expression of related genes and proteins, and angiogenesis assays were used to assess angiogenesis. RIP and RNA pull down assays were used to determine the relationship between miR-216a-5p and TLR4; retinal structure and changes were observed by HE staining and retinal digestive spread assays. RESULTS GRg1 effectively inhibited HG-induced hRMEC proliferation, cell cycle progression and angiogenesis and reduced the levels of intracellular inflammatory cytokines and growth factors. HG downregulated the expression of miR-216a-5p and upregulated the expression of TLR4/NF-kB signaling pathway-related proteins. Importantly, GRg1 inhibited TLR4/NF-kB signaling pathway activation by upregulating miR-216a-5p, thereby inhibiting HG-induced cell proliferation, cell cycle progression, angiogenesis, and the production of inflammatory cytokines and growth factors. In addition, animal experiments confirmed the results of the cell experiments. CONCLUSIONS GRg1 inhibits TLR4/NF-kB signaling by upregulating miR-216a-5p to reduce growth factors and inflammatory cytokines in DR, providing a potential therapeutic strategy for DR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liping Xue
- Department of Pediatric Ophthalmology, The Affiliated Hospital of Yunnan University; The Second People's Hospital of Yunnan; The Affiliated Ophthalmology Hospital of Yunnan University, Kunming, 650021, Yunnan, China
| | - Min Hu
- Department of Pediatric Ophthalmology, The Affiliated Hospital of Yunnan University; The Second People's Hospital of Yunnan; The Affiliated Ophthalmology Hospital of Yunnan University, Kunming, 650021, Yunnan, China
| | - Qin Zhu
- Department of Pediatric Ophthalmology, The Affiliated Hospital of Yunnan University; The Second People's Hospital of Yunnan; The Affiliated Ophthalmology Hospital of Yunnan University, Kunming, 650021, Yunnan, China
| | - Yadi Li
- Department of Pediatric Ophthalmology, The Affiliated Hospital of Yunnan University; The Second People's Hospital of Yunnan; The Affiliated Ophthalmology Hospital of Yunnan University, Kunming, 650021, Yunnan, China
| | - Guanglong Zhou
- Department of Pediatric Ophthalmology, The Affiliated Hospital of Yunnan University; The Second People's Hospital of Yunnan; The Affiliated Ophthalmology Hospital of Yunnan University, Kunming, 650021, Yunnan, China
| | - Xiaofan Zhang
- Department of Pediatric Ophthalmology, The Affiliated Hospital of Yunnan University; The Second People's Hospital of Yunnan; The Affiliated Ophthalmology Hospital of Yunnan University, Kunming, 650021, Yunnan, China
| | - Yuan Zhou
- Department of Pediatric Ophthalmology, The Affiliated Hospital of Yunnan University; The Second People's Hospital of Yunnan; The Affiliated Ophthalmology Hospital of Yunnan University, Kunming, 650021, Yunnan, China
| | - Jieying Zhang
- Department of Pediatric Ophthalmology, The Affiliated Hospital of Yunnan University; The Second People's Hospital of Yunnan; The Affiliated Ophthalmology Hospital of Yunnan University, Kunming, 650021, Yunnan, China
| | - Peng Ding
- Department of Neurosurgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, 650032, Yunnan, China.
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Li W, Xing Q, Liu Z, Liu R, Hu Y, Yan Q, Liu X, Zhang J. The signaling pathways of traditional Chinese medicine in treating diabetic retinopathy. Front Pharmacol 2023; 14:1165649. [PMID: 37405050 PMCID: PMC10315578 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2023.1165649] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2023] [Accepted: 06/06/2023] [Indexed: 07/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is one of the common diabetic microvascular complications that occurs in the eyes and is closely associated with vision loss in working adults. However, the clinical treatment of DR is limited or accompanied by a large number of complications. Therefore, the development of new drugs for the treatment of DR is urgently needed. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is widely used to treat DR in China, and its multi-pathway and multi-level characteristics can effectively address the complex pathogenesis of DR. Growing evidence suggests that inflammation, angiogenesis, and oxidative stress are the core pathological mechanisms in the development of DR. This study innovatively considers the aforementioned processes as the fundamental unit and sheds light on the molecular mechanisms and potential of TCM against DR in terms of signaling pathways. The results showed that NF-κB, MAPK/NF-κB, TLR4/NF-κB, VEGF/VEGFR2, HIF-1α/VEGF, STAT3, and Nrf2/HO-1 are the key signaling pathways for the treatment of DR by TCMs, which involved curcumolide, erianin, quercetin, blueberry anthocyanins, puerarin, arjunolic acid, ethanol extract of Scutellaria barbata D. Don, Celosia argentea L. extract, ethanol extract of Dendrobium chrysotoxum Lindl., Shengpuhuang-tang, and LuoTong formula. The purpose of this review is to update and summarize the signaling pathways of TCM in the treatment of DR and provide ideas for the development of new drugs against DR in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wencan Li
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Xiangtan Central Hospital, Xiangtan, Hunan, China
| | - Qichang Xing
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Xiangtan Central Hospital, Xiangtan, Hunan, China
| | - Zheng Liu
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Xiangtan Central Hospital, Xiangtan, Hunan, China
| | - Renzhu Liu
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Xiangtan Central Hospital, Xiangtan, Hunan, China
| | - Yixiang Hu
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Xiangtan Central Hospital, Xiangtan, Hunan, China
| | - Qingzi Yan
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Xiangtan Central Hospital, Xiangtan, Hunan, China
| | - Xiang Liu
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Xiangtan Central Hospital, Xiangtan, Hunan, China
| | - Jiani Zhang
- Department of Pharmacy, Xiangtan Central Hospital, Xiangtan, Hunan, China
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Ren J, Zhang S, Pan Y, Jin M, Li J, Luo Y, Sun X, Li G. Diabetic retinopathy: Involved cells, biomarkers, and treatments. Front Pharmacol 2022; 13:953691. [PMID: 36016568 PMCID: PMC9396039 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.953691] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2022] [Accepted: 07/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Diabetic retinopathy (DR), a leading cause of vision loss and blindness worldwide, is caused by retinal neurovascular unit dysfunction, and its cellular pathology involves at least nine kinds of retinal cells, including photoreceptors, horizontal and bipolar cells, amacrine cells, retinal ganglion cells, glial cells (Müller cells, astrocytes, and microglia), endothelial cells, pericytes, and retinal pigment epithelial cells. Its mechanism is complicated and involves loss of cells, inflammatory factor production, neovascularization, and BRB impairment. However, the mechanism has not been completely elucidated. Drug treatment for DR has been gradually advancing recently. Research on potential drug targets relies upon clear information on pathogenesis and effective biomarkers. Therefore, we reviewed the recent literature on the cellular pathology and the diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers of DR in terms of blood, protein, and clinical and preclinical drug therapy (including synthesized molecules and natural molecules). This review may provide a theoretical basis for further DR research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiahui Ren
- Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, Peking Union Medical College and Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Innovative Drug Discovery of Traditional Chinese Medicine (Natural Medicine) and Translational Medicine, Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substances and Resource Utilization of Chinese Herbal Medicine, Ministry of Education, Beijing, China
- Yunnan Branch, Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Jinghong, China
- Yunnan Key Laboratory of Southern Medicine Utilization, Kunming, China
| | - Shuxia Zhang
- Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, Peking Union Medical College and Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Innovative Drug Discovery of Traditional Chinese Medicine (Natural Medicine) and Translational Medicine, Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substances and Resource Utilization of Chinese Herbal Medicine, Ministry of Education, Beijing, China
| | - Yunfeng Pan
- Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, Peking Union Medical College and Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Innovative Drug Discovery of Traditional Chinese Medicine (Natural Medicine) and Translational Medicine, Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substances and Resource Utilization of Chinese Herbal Medicine, Ministry of Education, Beijing, China
| | - Meiqi Jin
- Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, Peking Union Medical College and Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Innovative Drug Discovery of Traditional Chinese Medicine (Natural Medicine) and Translational Medicine, Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substances and Resource Utilization of Chinese Herbal Medicine, Ministry of Education, Beijing, China
| | - Jiaxin Li
- Yunnan Key Laboratory of Southern Medicine Utilization, Kunming, China
- College of Pharmacy, Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine, Harbin, China
| | - Yun Luo
- Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, Peking Union Medical College and Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Innovative Drug Discovery of Traditional Chinese Medicine (Natural Medicine) and Translational Medicine, Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substances and Resource Utilization of Chinese Herbal Medicine, Ministry of Education, Beijing, China
- *Correspondence: Yun Luo, ; Xiaobo Sun , ; Guang Li,
| | - Xiaobo Sun
- Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, Peking Union Medical College and Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Innovative Drug Discovery of Traditional Chinese Medicine (Natural Medicine) and Translational Medicine, Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substances and Resource Utilization of Chinese Herbal Medicine, Ministry of Education, Beijing, China
- *Correspondence: Yun Luo, ; Xiaobo Sun , ; Guang Li,
| | - Guang Li
- Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, Peking Union Medical College and Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
- Yunnan Branch, Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Jinghong, China
- Yunnan Key Laboratory of Southern Medicine Utilization, Kunming, China
- *Correspondence: Yun Luo, ; Xiaobo Sun , ; Guang Li,
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Ram AK, Vairappan B, Srinivas BH. Nimbolide attenuates gut dysbiosis and prevents bacterial translocation by improving intestinal barrier integrity and ameliorating inflammation in hepatocellular carcinoma. Phytother Res 2022; 36:2143-2160. [PMID: 35229912 DOI: 10.1002/ptr.7434] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2021] [Revised: 02/04/2022] [Accepted: 02/16/2022] [Indexed: 09/25/2023]
Abstract
Gut microbiota imbalance plays a key pathological role in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) progression; however, the mechanism is poorly understood. We previously showed nimbolide impede tumor development by improving hepatic tight junction (TJ) proteins expression and attenuating inflammation in HCC mice. Here, we aimed to study the role of nimbolide in regulating gut microbiota imbalance and bacterial translocation (BT) through modulating intestinal TJ proteins in an experimental hepatocarcinogenesis. Nimbolide (6 mg/kg) was administered orally for 4 weeks following induction of HCC in mice at the 28th week. Nimbolide treatment attenuated the gut microbiota imbalance by decreasing 16 s rRNA levels of Escherichia coli, Enterococcus, Bacteroides and increasing Bifidobacterium, and Lactobacillus in the intestinal tissue, which was otherwise altered in HCC mice. Furthermore, nimbolide improved intestinal barrier integrity in HCC mice by upregulating TJ proteins such as occludin and ZO-1 expression and subsequently prevented hepatic BT and decreased BT markers such as LBP, sCD14, and procalcitonin in the plasma of HCC mice. Moreover, nimbolide ameliorated intestinal and hepatic inflammation by downregulating TLR4, MyD88, and NF-κB protein expression in HCC mice. Thus, nimbolide represents a novel therapeutic drug for HCC treatment by targeting the gut-liver axis, which plays an imperative role in HCC pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amit Kumar Ram
- Liver Diseases Research Lab, Department of Biochemistry, Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research (JIPMER), Pondicherry, India
| | - Balasubramaniyan Vairappan
- Liver Diseases Research Lab, Department of Biochemistry, Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research (JIPMER), Pondicherry, India
| | - Bheemanathi Hanuman Srinivas
- Department of Pathology, Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research (JIPMER), Pondicherry, India
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Wei H, Gu Q. SOX4 promotes high-glucose-induced inflammation and angiogenesis of retinal endothelial cells by activating NF-κB signaling pathway. Open Life Sci 2022; 17:393-400. [PMID: 35573654 PMCID: PMC9041534 DOI: 10.1515/biol-2022-0045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2021] [Revised: 11/26/2021] [Accepted: 01/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a type of main microvascular complication of diabetes mellitus (DM) and an important factor that causes blindness in adults. SOX4 is a transcription factor expressed in the pancreas and is essential for normal endocrine pancreatic development. However, the effect and the regulatory mechanism of SOX4 on DR have not been reported. In the present study, upregulation of SOX4 was found in DM patients, particularly in DR patients and mice models. The in vitro experiments showed that SOX4 depletion increased the viability and inhibited the inflammation level of human retinal endothelial cells (HRCECs) induced by high glucose. Besides, SOX4 knockdown inhibited the migration and angiogenesis of HRCECs upon high glucose treatment. Mechanically, depletion of SOX4 inhibited the NF-κB pathway. Therefore, SOX4 could serve as a promising target for DR treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haifeng Wei
- Department of Ophthalmology, Tongxiang First People’s Hospital , No. 1918 Jiaochang East Road , Jiaxing , Zhejiang Province, 314500 , China
| | - Quan Gu
- Department of Ophthalmology, Tongxiang First People’s Hospital , No. 1918 Jiaochang East Road , Jiaxing , Zhejiang Province, 314500 , China
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10
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Wylie MR, Windham IH, Blum FC, Wu H, Merrell DS. In vitro antibacterial activity of nimbolide against Helicobacter pylori. JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY 2022; 285:114828. [PMID: 34763046 PMCID: PMC8714693 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2021.114828] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2021] [Revised: 10/27/2021] [Accepted: 11/05/2021] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE Nimbolide is one of hundreds of phytochemicals that have been identified within the neem tree (Azadirachta indica A. Juss). As an evergreen tree native to the Indian subcontinent, components of the neem tree have been used for millennia in traditional medicine to treat dental, gastrointestinal, urinary tract, and blood-related ailments, ulcers, headaches, heartburn, and diabetes. In modern times, natural oils and extracts from the neem tree have been found to have activities against a variety of microorganisms, including human pathogens. AIM OF THE STUDY Helicobacter pylori, a prevalent gastric pathogen, shows increasing levels of antibiotic resistance. Thus, there is an increasing demand for novel therapeutics to treat chronic infections. The in vitro activity of neem oil extract against H. pylori was previously characterized and found to be bactericidal. Given the numerous phytochemicals found in neem oil extract, the present study was designed to define and characterize specific compounds showing bactericidal activity against H. pylori. MATERIALS AND METHODS Azadirachtin, gedunin, and nimbolide, which are all common in neem extracts, were tested for antimicrobial activity; the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) were determined for nine strains of H. pylori. The specific properties of nimbolide were further characterized against H. pylori strain G27. Bactericidal kinetics, reversibility, effectiveness at low pH, and activity under bacteriostatic conditions were examined. The hemolytic activity of nimbolide was also measured. Finally, neem oil extract and nimbolide effectiveness against H. pylori biofilms were examined in comparison to common antibiotics used to treat H. pylori infection. RESULTS Nimbolide, but not azadirachtin or gedunin, was effective against H. pylori; MICs and MBCs against the nine tested strains ranged between 1.25-5 μg/mL and 2.5-10 μg/mL, respectively. Additionally, neem oil extract and nimbolide were both effective against H. pylori biofilms. Nimbolide exhibited no significant hemolytic activity at biologically relevant concentrations. The bactericidal activity of nimbolide was time- and dose-dependent, independent of active H. pylori growth, and synergistic with low pH. Furthermore, nimbolide-mediated H. pylori cell death was irreversible after exposure to high nimbolide concentrations (80 μg/mL, after 2 h of exposure time and 40 μg/mL after 8 h of exposure). CONCLUSIONS Nimbolide has significant bactericidal activity against H. pylori, killing both free living bacterial cells as well as cells within a biofilm. Furthermore, the lack of hemolytic activity, synergistic activity at low pH and bactericidal properties even against bacteria in a state of growth arrest are all ideal pharmacological and biologically relevant properties for a potential new agent. This study underscores the potential of neem oil extract or nimbolide to be used as a future treatment for H. pylori infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marina R Wylie
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD, 20814, United States
| | - Ian H Windham
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD, 20814, United States
| | - Faith C Blum
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD, 20814, United States
| | - Hannah Wu
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD, 20814, United States
| | - D Scott Merrell
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD, 20814, United States.
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