Potential effects of hydroxysafflor yellow A on reducing pulmonary inflammation and fibrosis due to SARS-COV2

Cytokine storm is a condition that is characterized by a massive production of proinflammatory cytokines. Failure in balancing the up-regulation and down-regulation causes excessive production of proinflammatory cytokines in the fight against SARS-CoV2 virus infection, leading to lung damage and acute respiratory distress syndrome; in addition, high levels of IL-6 can activate the clotting pathways and vascular endothelial cells, which can inhibit blood circulation and heart muscle function and cause pulmonary, kidney, and liver fibrosis. Hydroxysafflor Yellow A (HSYA) is a compound that has been shown to reduce tissue lung damage through Toll-Like Receptor (TLR) 4, inhibits phosphorylation of the NF-κB pathway, and plays a role in balancing the up-regulation and down-regulation of inflammatory cytokines. This review of literature discusses the ability of HSYA to reduce inflammation that causes pulmonary cell and tissue damage. HSYA can inhibit the activation of the NF-κB signaling pathway and suppress the binding of the TGF-β1 promoter. This molecular mechanism can reduce lung damage by attenuating the inflammatory response by inhibiting the TLR 4-dependent pathways that can improve the condition of mice affected by pulmonary fibrosis, including inflammation that leads to vascular tissue repair. The molecular mechanism of HSYA can inhibit inflammatory mechanisms in lung injury, vascular tissue damage, and liver and kidney fibrosis. Therefore, this literature review can be used as a reference for in vivo research and clinical trials for further research on the ability to heal patients with cytokine storm that causes cardiovascular tissue damage and lung injury in patients infected with SARS-CoV-19.

Bruceine D Identified as a Drug Candidate against Breast Cancer by a Novel Drug Selection Pipeline and Cell Viability Assay

The multi-target effects of natural products allow us to fight complex diseases like cancer on multiple fronts. Unlike docking techniques, network-based approaches such as genome-scale metabolic modelling can capture multi-target effects. However, the incompleteness of natural product target information reduces the prediction accuracy of in silico gene knockout strategies. Here, we present a drug selection workflow based on context-specific genome-scale metabolic models, built from the expression data of cancer cells treated with natural products, to predict cell viability. The workflow comprises four steps: first, in silico single-drug and drug combination predictions; second, the assessment of the effects of natural products on cancer metabolism via the computation of a dissimilarity score between the treated and control models; third, the identification of natural products with similar effects to the approved drugs; and fourth, the identification of drugs with the predicted effects in pathways of interest, such as the androgen and estrogen pathway. Out of the initial 101 natural products, nine candidates were tested in a 2D cell viability assay. Bruceine D, emodin, and scutellarein showed a dose-dependent inhibition of MCF-7 and Hs 578T cell proliferation with IC50 values between 0.7 to 65 μM, depending on the drug and cell line. Bruceine D, extracted from Brucea javanica seeds, showed the highest potency.

Greener extraction process and enhanced in vivo bioavailability of bioactive components from Carthamus tinctorius L. by natural deep eutectic solvents

Natural deep eutectic solvents (NaDESs) are promising green alternatives to conventional solvents widely applied in the extraction of natural products due to their physical and chemical superiorities. In present study, 22 NaDESs consisted from food grade ingredients were screened in ultrasonic assisted extraction (UAE) of bioactive compounds from safflower. The oral bioavailabilities of hydroxysafflor yellow A (HSYA) and anhydrosafflor yellow B (ASYB) in the extracts were then investigated in SD rats with the help of HPLC-MS technique. The results revealed that l-proline-acetamide (l-Pro-Am) was an effective solvent with the yields of HSYA and ASYB at 32.83 and 8.80 mg/g. Pharmacokinetic studies revealed that the blood level of HSYA and ASYB were significantly higher after oral administration of l-Pro-Am extract than that of aqueous extract. Especially, the relative bioavailabilities (to aqueous extract) of HSYA and ASYB were calculated 183.5% and 429.8%.

Hydroxysafflor Yellow A: A Promising Therapeutic Agent for a Broad Spectrum of Diseases

Hydroxysafflor yellow A (HSYA) is one of the major bioactive and water-soluble compounds isolated from Carthami Flos, the flower of safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.). As a natural pigment with favorable medical use, HSYA has gained extensive attention due to broad and effective pharmacological activities since first isolation in 1993. In clinic, the safflor yellow injection which mainly contains about 80% HSYA was approved by the China State Food and Drug Administration and used to treat cardiac diseases such as angina pectoris. In basic pharmacology, HSYA has been proved to exhibit a broad spectrum of biological effects that include, but not limited to, cardiovascular effect, neuroprotection, liver and lung protection, antitumor activity, metabolism regulation, and endothelium cell protection. Although a great number of studies have been carried out to prove the pharmacological effects and corresponding mechanisms of HYSA, a systemic review of HYSA has not yet been seen. Here, we provide a comprehensive summarization of the pharmacological effects of HYSA. Together with special attention to mechanisms of actions, this review can serve as the basis for further researches and developments of this medicinal compound.

Phytochemistry and Pharmacology of Carthamus tinctorius L

Carthamus tinctorius L. is a multifunctional cash crop. Its flowers and seeds are extensively used in traditional herbal medicine in China, Korea, Japan, and other Asian countries, for treating various ailments such as gynecological, cardiovascular, and cerebrovascular diseases as well as blood stasis and osteoporosis. More than 100 compounds have been isolated and identified from C. tinctorius. Flavonoids and alkaloids, especially the quinochalcone c-glycoside hydroxysafflor yellow A, N-(p-Coumaroyl)serotonin, and N-feruloylserotonin, are responsible for most of the pharmacological activities of C. tinctorius. In this paper, comprehensive and up-to-date information on the phytochemistry and pharmacology of C. tinctorius is presented. This information will be helpful for further explorations of the therapeutic potential of C. tinctorius and may provide future research opportunities.