Plasma pharmacokinetics of isorhapontigenin, a novel derivative of stilbenes, in mice by LC-MS/MS method

Revealing the potential bioactive components and mechanism of Qianhua Gout Capsules in the treatment of gouty arthritis through network pharmacology, molecular docking and pharmacodynamic study strategies

Recent clinical studies have confirmed the effectiveness of Qianhua Gout Capsules (QGC) in the treatment of gouty arthritis (GA). However, the specific regulatory targets and mechanisms of action of QGC are still unclear. To address this gap, we utilized network pharmacology, molecular docking, and pharmacodynamic approaches to investigate the bioactive components and associated mechanisms of QGC in the treatment of GA. By employing UPLC-Q Exactive-MS, we identified the compounds present in QGC, with active ingredients defined as those with oral bioavailability ≥30 % and drug similarity ≥0.18. Subsequently, the targets of these active compounds were determined using the TCMSP database, while GA-related targets were identified from DisGeNET, GeneCards, TTD, OMIM, and DrugBank databases. Further analysis including PPI analysis, GO analysis, and KEGG pathway enrichment was conducted on the targets. Validation of the predicted results was performed using a GA rat model, evaluating pathological changes, inflammatory markers, and pathway protein expression. Our results revealed a total of 130 components, 44 active components, 16 potential shared targets, GO-enriched terms, and 47 signaling pathways related to disease targets. Key active ingredients included quercetin, kaempferol, β-sitosterol, luteolin, and wogonin. The PPI analysis highlighted five targets (PPARG, IL-6, MMP-9, IL-1β, CXCL-8) with the highest connectivity, predominantly enriched in the IL-17 signaling pathway. Molecular docking experiments demonstrated strong binding of CXCL8, IL-1β, IL-6, MMP9, and PPARG targets with the top five active compounds. Furthermore, animal experiments confirmed the efficacy of QGC in treating GA in rats, showing reductions in TNF-α, IL-6, and MDA levels, and increases in SOD levels in serum. In synovial tissues, QGC treatment upregulated CXCL8 and PPARG expression, while downregulating IL-1β, MMP9, and IL-6 expression. In conclusion, this study applied a network pharmacology approach to uncover the composition of QGC, predict its pharmacological interactions, and demonstrate its in vivo efficacy, providing insights into the anti-GA mechanisms of QGC. These findings pave the way for future investigations into the therapeutic mechanisms underlying QGC's effectiveness in the treatment of GA.

Inhibition of endothelial Nox2 activation by LMH001 protects mice from angiotensin II-induced vascular oxidative stress, hypertension and aortic aneurysm

Endothelial oxidative stress and inflammation attributable to the activation of a Nox2-NADPH oxidase are key features of many cardiovascular diseases. Here, we report a novel small chemical compound (LMH001, MW = 290.079), by blocking phosphorylated p47^phox interaction with p22^phox, inhibited effectively angiotensin II (AngII)-induced endothelial Nox2 activation and superoxide production at a small dose (IC50 = 0.25 μM) without effect on peripheral leucocyte oxidative response to pathogens. The therapeutic potential of LMH001 was tested using a mouse model (C57BL/6J, 7-month-old) of AngII infusion (0.8 mg/kg/d, 14 days)-induced vascular oxidative stress, hypertension and aortic aneurysm. Age-matched littermates of p47^phox knockout mice were used as controls of Nox2 inhibition. LMH001 (2.5 mg/kg/d, ip. once) showed no effect on control mice, but inhibited completely AngII infusion-induced excess ROS production in vital organs, hypertension, aortic walls inflammation and reduced incidences of aortic aneurysm. LMH001 effects on reducing vascular oxidative stress was due to its inhibition of Nox2 activation and was abrogated by knockout of p47^phox. LMH001 has the potential to be developed as a novel drug candidate to treat oxidative stress-related cardiovascular diseases.

Extracellular Vesicle Delivery of Neferine for the Attenuation of Neurodegenerative Disease Proteins and Motor Deficit in an Alzheimer’s Disease Mouse Model

Exosomes are nano-extracellular vesicles with diameters ranging from 30 to 150 nm, which are secreted by the cell. With their role in drug cargo loading, exosomes have been applied to carry compounds across the blood–brain barrier in order to target the central nervous system (CNS). In this study, high-purity exosomes isolated by the ultra-high-speed separation method were applied as the natural compound carrier, with the loading efficiency confirmed by UHPLC-MS analysis. Through the optimization of various cargo loading methods using exosomes, this study compared the efficiency of different ways for the separation of exosomes and the exosome encapsulation of natural compounds with increasing molecular weights via extensive in vitro and in vivo efficacy studies. In a pharmacokinetic study, our data suggested that the efficiency of compound’s loading into exosomes is positively correlated to its molecular weight. However, with a molecular weight of greater than 1109 Da, the exosome-encapsulated natural compounds were not able to pass through the blood–brain barrier (BBB). In vitro cellular models confirmed that three of the selected exosome-encapsulated natural compounds—baicalin, hederagenin and neferine—could reduce the level of neurodegenerative disease mutant proteins—including huntingtin 74 (HTT74), P301L tau and A53T α-synuclein (A53T α-syn)—more effectively than the compounds alone. With the traditional pharmacological role of the herbal plant Nelumbo nucifera in mitigating anxiety, exosome-encapsulated-neferine was, for the first time, reported to improve the motor deficits of APP/PS1 (amyloid precursor protein/ presenilin1) double transgenic mice, and to reduce the level of β-amyloid (Aβ) in the brain when compared with the same concentration of neferine alone. With the current trend in advocating medicine–food homology and green healthcare, this study has provided a rationale from in vitro to in vivo for the encapsulation of natural compounds using exosomes for the targeting of BBB permeability and neurodegenerative diseases in the future.

Isorhapontigenin Improves Diabetes in Mice via Regulating the Activity and Stability of PPARγ in Adipocytes

Isorhapontigenin is a natural bioactive stilbene isolated from various plants and fruits. It has been reported to exhibit several physiological activities including anticancer and anti-inflammation activity in vitro and in experimental animal models. This study aimed to investigate whether isorhapontigenin exerts antidiabetic effects in vivo. To this end, diabetic db/db mice were treated with either 25 mg kg^-1 of isorhapontigenin or vehicle intraperitoneally for a period of 5 weeks. The results show that isorhapontigenin treatment significantly reduced postprandial levels of glucose, insulin, as well as free fatty acid, three markers of diabetes. Further studies show that isorhapontigenin treatment markedly improves insulin sensitivity and glucose tolerance of db/db mice as shown by ITT and GTT. Together, these physiological results show that isorhapontigenin possesses antidiabetic properties in vivo. Mechanistically, the isorhapontigenin-mediated antidiabetic effect is caused by favorable changes in adipose tissue, including reductions in adipocyte diameter and improved adipose insulin sensitivity. Further studies with 3T3-L1 cells show that isorhapontigenin treatment promotes preadipocyte differentiation by upregulation of the activity of the master adipogenic regulator PPARγ and deceleration of its proteasomal degradation. Together, our results establish for the first time an important role of isorhapontigenin as a potential nutraceutical agent for diabetes treatment.