Geniposide Alleviates Oxidative Damage in Hepatocytes through Regulating miR-27b-3p/Nrf2 Axis

Marine anticancer drugs in modulating miRNAs and antioxidant signaling

Several marine drugs exert anticancer effects by inducing oxidative stress, which becomes overloaded and kills cancer cells when redox homeostasis is imbalanced. The downregulation of antioxidant signaling induces oxidative stress, while its upregulation attenuates oxidative stress. Marine drugs have miRNA-modulating effects against cancer cells. However, the potential antioxidant targets of such drugs have been rarely explored. This review aims to categorize the marine-drug-modulated miRNAs that downregulate their antioxidant targets, causing oxidative stress in anticancer treatments. We also categorize the downregulation of oxidative-stress-inducing miRNAs in antioxidant protection among non-cancer cells. We summarize the putative antioxidant targets of miRNA-modulating marine drugs by introducing a bioinformatics tool (miRDB). Finally, the marine drugs affecting antioxidant targets are surveyed. In this way, the connections between marine drugs and their modulating miRNA and antioxidant targets are innovatively categorized to provide a precise network for exploring their potential anticancer functions and protective effects on non-cancer cells.

A metabolomics study on the mechanisms of Gardeniae fructus against α-naphthylisothiocyanate-induced cholestatic liver injury

Gardeniae fructus (GF) is known for its various beneficial effects on cholestatic liver injury (CLI). However, the biological mechanisms through which GF regulates CLI have not been fully elucidated. This study aimed to explore the potential mechanisms of GF against α-naphthylisothiocyanate (ANIT)-induced CLI. First, HPLC technology was used to analyze the chemical profile of the GF extract. Second, the effects of GF on serum biochemical indicators and liver histopathology were examined. Lastly, metabolomics was utilized to study the changes in liver metabolites and clarify the associated metabolic pathways. In chemical analysis, 10 components were identified in the GF extract. GF treatment regulated serum biochemical indicators in ANIT-induced CLI model rats and alleviated liver histological damage. Metabolomics identified 26 endogenous metabolites as biomarkers of ANIT-induced CLI, with 23 biomarkers returning to normal levels, particularly involving primary bile acid biosynthesis, glycerophospholipid metabolism, tryptophan metabolism, and arachidonic acid metabolism. GF shows promise in alleviating ANIT-induced CLI by modulating multiple pathways.

Genipin Activates Autophagy and Promotes Myoblast Differentiation by Activating AMPK Pathway

Cultured meat technology is expected to solve problems such as resource shortages and environmental pollution, but the muscle fiber differentiation efficiency of cultured meat is low. Genipin is the active compound derived from Gardenia jasminoides Ellis, which has a variety of activities. Additionally, genipin serves as a noncytotoxic agent for cross-linking, which is suitable as a foundational scaffold for in vitro tissue regeneration. However, the impact of genipin on myoblast differentiation remains to be studied. The research revealed that genipin was found to improve the differentiation efficiency of myoblasts. Genipin improved mitochondrial membrane potential by activating the AMPK signaling pathway of myoblasts, promoting mitochondrial biogenesis, and mitochondrial network remodeling. Genipin activated autophagy in myoblasts and maintained cellular homeostasis. Autophagy inhibitors blocked the pro-differentiation effect of genipin. These results showed that genipin improved the differentiation efficiency of myoblasts, which provided a theoretical basis for the development of cultured meat technology.

Geniposide ameliorates psoriatic skin inflammation by inhibiting the TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB p65 signaling pathway and MMP9

Psoriasis is an incurable immune-mediated disease affecting the skin or the joints. There are continuing studies on drugs for psoriasis prevention and treatment. This research found that Geniposide (GE) significantly thinned IMQ mice's skin lesions, reduced the scales, and lowered the presence of inflammatory cells in the pathology in a dose-dependent manner. GE inhibited IL-23, IL-22, IL-17A, IL-12, IL-6, and TNF-α levels in psoriatic mice serum. AKT1, TNF, TLR4, MMP9, MAPK3, and EGFR were selected as the top 6 targets of GE against psoriasis via network pharmacology, and GE-TLR4 has the most robust docking score value by molecular docking. Taken together, GE significantly inhibited TLR4 and MMP9 protein expression and influenced MyD88/NF-κB p65 signaling pathway. Finally, TLR4 was verified as the critical target of GE, which engaged in immunomodulatory activities and reduced MMP9 production in LPS and TAK-242-induced HaCaT cells. GE had a medium affinity for TLR4, and the KD value was 1.06 × 10-5 M. GE is an effective treatment and preventative strategy for psoriasis since it impacts TLR4.

20(R)-ginsenoside Rg3 attenuates cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury by mitigating mitochondrial oxidative stress via the Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway

Reducing mitochondrial oxidative stress has become an important strategy to prevent neuronal death in ischemic stroke. Previous studies have shown that 20(R)-ginsenoside Rg3 can significantly improve behavioral abnormalities, reduce infarct size, and decrease the number of apoptotic neurons in cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury rats. However, it remains unclear whether 20(R)-ginsenoside Rg3 can inhibit mitochondrial oxidative stress in ischemic stroke and the potential molecular mechanism. In this study, we found that 20(R)-ginsenoside Rg3 notably inhibited mitochondrial oxidative stress in middle cerebral artery occlusion/reperfusion (MCAO/R) rats and maintained the stability of mitochondrial structure and function. Treatment with 20(R)-ginsenoside Rg3 also decreased the levels of mitochondrial fission proteins (Drp1 and Fis1) and increased the levels of fusion proteins (Opa1, Mfn1, and Mfn2) in MCAO/R rats. Furthermore, we found that 20(R)-ginsenoside Rg3 promoted nuclear aggregation of nuclear factor erythroid2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) but did not affect Kelch-like ECH-associated protein-1 (Keap1), resulting in the downstream expression of antioxidants. In in vitro oxygen-glucose deprivation/reperfusion stroke models, the results of PC12 cells treated with 20(R)-ginsenoside Rg3 were consistent with animal experiments. After transfection with Nrf2 short interfering RNA (siRNA), the protective effect of 20(R)-ginsenoside Rg3 on PC12 cells was reversed. In conclusion, the inhibition of mitochondrial oxidative stress plays a vital position in the anti-cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury of 20(R)-ginsenoside Rg3, and its neuroprotective mechanism is related to the activation of the nuclear factor erythroid2-related factor 2/heme oxygenase 1 signaling pathway.

A comprehensive review of ethnopharmacology, chemical constituents, pharmacological effects, pharmacokinetics, toxicology, and quality control of gardeniae fructus

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Gardeniae Fructus (GF), the desiccative mature fruitage of Gardenia jasminoides J. Ellis (G. jasminoides), belongs to the Rubiaceae family. It has abundant medicinal value, such as purging fire and eliminating annoyance, clearing heat and diuresis, cooling blood, and detoxifying. GF is usually used in combination with other drugs to treat diseases such as fever and jaundice in damp heat syndrome in traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs) clinical practice.

THE AIM OF THE REVIEW

This review comprehensively summarizes the research progress in botany, traditional medical use, processing method, phytochemistry, pharmacological activity, quality control, pharmacokinetics, and toxicology, which aims to provide a scientific basis for the rational application and future research of GF.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

ScienceDirect, PubMed, Web of Science, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Embase, Scopus etc. databases were retrieved to gain the comprehensive information of GF.

RESULTS

At present, more than 215 compounds were isolated and identified from GF, including iridoids, diterpenes, triterpenoids, flavonoids, organic esters, and so on. The traditional application of GF mainly focused on clearing heat and detoxification. Pharmacological studies proved that GF had anti-inflammatory, antioxidation, antifatigue, antithrombotic, liver and gallbladder protection, and other pharmacological effects. In addition, many improved processing methods can alleviate the side effects and toxic reactions caused by long-term use of GF, so controlling its quality through multi-component content measurement has become an important means of research.

CONCLUSION

GF has a wide range of applications, the mechanisms by which some effective substances exert their pharmacological effects have not been clearly explained due to the complexity and diversity of its components. This review systematically elaborates on the traditional medical use, processing method, phytochemistry, pharmacological activity, quality control, and toxicology of GF, and it is expected to become a candidate drug for treating diseases, such as depression, pancreatitis, alcoholic or non-alcoholic fatty liver.

Recombinant bovine FGF1 promotes muscle satellite cells mitochondrial fission and proliferation in serum-free conditions

Cell cultured meat is a novel and promising technology, but developing specific culture medium for muscle cells remains one of the main technical obstacles. FGF1 signaling is reported to promote proliferation and maintain proliferative capacity of satellite cells. However, the effect of FGF1 as a supplement to serum-free medium on satellite cells in vitro culture is still unclear. In this study, an efficient method for the production of soluble and biologically active recombinant bovine FGF1 (rbFGF1) protein in Escherichia coli was established. The soluble expression level of TrxA-rbFGF1 fusion protein was 562 mg/L in shake flasks, resulting in 5.5 mg of pure rbFGF1 from 0.1 L of starting culture. In serum-free culture conditions, rbFGF1 effectively promoted the proliferation and regulated the mitochondrial morphology and function of C2C12 myoblasts.rbFGF1 activated extracellular signal-regulated kinases1/2 (ERK1/2) signaling in C2C12 myoblasts, which further stimulated dynamin related protein 1 (DRP1) Ser616 phosphorylation. These findings highlighted the potential application of rbFGF1 in developing effective serum-free medium for cultured meat production.

Geniposide promotes wound healing of skin ulcers in diabetic rats through PI3K/Akt pathway

Continuously hyperglycation-induced lesion and poor blood flow contributed to the wound incurable and susceptible to infection. About fifteen percent of people with diabetes would develop ulcers during their lifetime, especially on the feet, which could lead to severe tissue destruction and eventual amputation. Various strategies were limited to accelerate wound healing in diabetic patients for high cost and unsatisfied effects. Geniposide is well-known for its anti-inflammation and anti-apoptosis in several pathological tissues. This study is to explore the protective effect of geniposide on wound healing rate, inflammatory response, nutritional function and cellular apoptosis in diabetic rats. Diabetic rats was induced by streptozotocin and defined as plasma glucose >300 mg/dl. Western blot and immunostaining technologies were performed to mark and quantify the target proteins. The oral administration of geniposide (200 mg/kg and 500 mg/kg) could significantly promote wound healing by the increment of lesion retraction in diabetic rats compared to model group. In the apoptotic study of skin wound in diabetic rats, the TUNEL-positive cells were greatly decreased in geniposide subgroups (P < 0.05). The levels of TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6 were significantly inhibited by geniposide with the IC50 value of 470 mg/kg, 464 mg/kg and 370 mg/kg body weight respectively, which might be related to the enhancement of the phosphorylation of PI3K and Akt proteins. Geniposide enhanced the repairment of skin wound in diabetic rats by inhibiting inflammatory response and apoptosis.

Preparation process optimization and evaluation of bioactive peptides from Carya cathayensis Sarg meal

Carya cathayensis Sarg meal (CM) is a by-product of the edible kernel during oil manufacture. In order to improve wastes utilization, the CM derived peptides (CMPs) that showed an in vitro radical scavenging ability were firstly prepared by five different hydrolases. Alcalase treatment revealed the highest yield and the optimal conditions were further determined by response surface methodology (RSM), under which the yield reached 35.84%. Simulated gastrointestinal digestion led to an enrichment of low molecular weight (MW) peptides (<3 kDa), which was beneficial for protecting hepatocyte damaged by hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂). Furthermore, generated hydrolysates exhibited protective effects on paraquat-induced Caenorhabditis elegans via enhancing expressions of Skinhead-1 (SKN-1) and its downstream target including glutathione S-transferase (GST)-4 and superoxide dismutase (SOD)-3 to diminish oxidative stress. Taken together, our results demonstrated that simple enzymatic hydrolysis of crude protein powder from CM represents an efficient, eco-friendly and economical strategy for producing bioactive peptides, which can be supplemented in nutraceutical products and food preservation.