Antifatigue properties of tanshinone IIA in mice subjected to the forced swimming test

Exercise performance reduction and preventive measures in highland sports

The plateau is a special environment with low pressure, low oxygen, low temperature, and high ultraviolet radiation. The exercise performance of people on the plateau is generally reduced, which seriously affects the life and health of people living in the plateau and entering the plateau. In recent years, the prevention and treatment of injury caused by high altitude hypoxia has attracted wide attention. It has shown that the higher the altitude with the longer the duration of exercise, the faster the stationing, the greater the impact on people's sports performance. Rapid entry into the plateau and long-term stay in the plateau have an impact on people's explosive power, endurance and fine operation. Advances in medical technology enable various prevention methods to be used to acclimate to high altitude environments. However, in vitro intervention methods are costly, easy to rebound and possess limited effects. Therefore, drug prevention and treatment is obviously a more economical choice. Chemical drugs increase the efficiency of high altitude exercise by improving the ischemic and hypoxic symptoms of the heart and brain, increasing lung ventilation and arterial oxygenation capacity, and accelerating the elimination of adverse product accumulation after exercise. Single Chinese medicine, Chinese patent medicine, and compound preparations can improve exercise performance by promoting body metabolism, improving muscle endurance, enhancing immunity, and other mechanisms. Traditional Chinese medicine has unique advantage and application prospect in improving plateau sports performance damage.

Mitochondrial FAD shortage in SLC25A32 deficiency affects folate-mediated one-carbon metabolism

The SLC25A32 dysfunction is associated with neural tube defects (NTDs) and exercise intolerance, but very little is known about disease-specific mechanisms due to a paucity of animal models. Here, we generated homozygous (Slc25a32Y174C/Y174C and Slc25a32K235R/K235R) and compound heterozygous (Slc25a32Y174C/K235R) knock-in mice by mimicking the missense mutations identified from our patient. A homozygous knock-out (Slc25a32-/-) mouse was also generated. The Slc25a32K235R/K235R and Slc25a32Y174C/K235R mice presented with mild motor impairment and recapitulated the biochemical disturbances of the patient. While Slc25a32-/- mice die in utero with NTDs. None of the Slc25a32 mutations hindered the mitochondrial uptake of folate. Instead, the mitochondrial uptake of flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD) was specifically blocked by Slc25a32Y174C/K235R, Slc25a32K235R/K235R, and Slc25a32-/- mutations. A positive correlation between SLC25A32 dysfunction and flavoenzyme deficiency was observed. Besides the flavoenzymes involved in fatty acid β-oxidation and amino acid metabolism being impaired, Slc25a32-/- embryos also had a subunit of glycine cleavage system-dihydrolipoamide dehydrogenase damaged, resulting in glycine accumulation and glycine derived-formate reduction, which further disturbed folate-mediated one-carbon metabolism, leading to 5-methyltetrahydrofolate shortage and other folate intermediates accumulation. Maternal formate supplementation increased the 5-methyltetrahydrofolate levels and ameliorated the NTDs in Slc25a32-/- embryos. The Slc25a32K235R/K235R and Slc25a32Y174C/K235R mice had no glycine accumulation, but had another formate donor-dimethylglycine accumulated and formate deficiency. Meanwhile, they suffered from the absence of all folate intermediates in mitochondria. Formate supplementation increased the folate amounts, but this effect was not restricted to the Slc25a32 mutant mice only. In summary, we established novel animal models, which enabled us to understand the function of SLC25A32 better and to elucidate the role of SLC25A32 dysfunction in human disease development and progression.

Natural products: Potential therapeutic agents to prevent skeletal muscle atrophy

The skeletal muscle (SkM) is the largest organ, which plays a vital role in controlling musculature, locomotion, body heat regulation, physical strength, and metabolism of the body. A sedentary lifestyle, aging, cachexia, denervation, immobilization, etc. Can lead to an imbalance between protein synthesis and degradation, which is further responsible for SkM atrophy (SmA). To date, the understanding of the mechanism of SkM mass loss is limited which also restricted the number of drugs to treat SmA. Thus, there is an urgent need to develop novel approaches to regulate muscle homeostasis. Presently, some natural products attained immense attraction to regulate SkM homeostasis. The natural products, i.e., polyphenols (resveratrol, curcumin), terpenoids (ursolic acid, tanshinone IIA, celastrol), flavonoids, alkaloids (tomatidine, magnoflorine), vitamin D, etc. exhibit strong potential against SmA. Some of these natural products have been reported to have equivalent potential to standard treatments to prevent body lean mass loss. Indeed, owing to the large complexity, diversity, and slow absorption rate of bioactive compounds made their usage quite challenging. Moreover, the use of natural products is controversial due to their partially known or elusive mechanism of action. Therefore, the present review summarizes various experimental and clinical evidence of some important bioactive compounds that shall help in the development of novel strategies to counteract SmA elicited by various causes.

Acute Effects of Salvia Supplementation on Cognitive Function in Athletes During a Fatiguing Cycling Exercise: A Randomized Cross-Over, Placebo-Controlled, and Double-Blind Study

Background:Salvia (sage) supplementation has been shown to improve the cognition function in healthy individuals or patients (e.g., attention, memory). To date, no study has explored its relevancy in the context of sporting performance. The aim of this study was to explore the acute effects of a combination of Salvia officinalis and Salvia lavandulaefolia on cognitive function in athletes performing a fatiguing cycling task.

Methods: Twenty-six volunteers were included in this cross-over, randomized, double-bind vs. placebo trial. Two hours before the two experimental sessions (here called SAGE and PLACEBO), volunteers randomly received a supplementation of sage or placebo. During each experimental session, participants were tested at four occasions while cycling during a warm-up, in the middle and at the end of a fatiguing task and after a short 5-min recovery. Tests included a Stroop task, a simple reaction time task, and a backward digit span memory task. Heart rate and rating of perceived exertion (RPE) were also measured at the beginning of the four test sessions.

Results: Heart rate was significantly greater during the fatiguing exercise than during warm-up and recovery (P < 0.001) without any supplementation effect. RPE was greater during the fatiguing exercise than during warm-up and recovery (P < 0.001). Moreover, RPE was significantly lower during the SAGE session as compared to PLACEBO (P = 0.002). Reaction time was not altered during the exercise but was significantly shorter with SAGE as compared to PLACEBO (P = 0.023). The Stroop task only revealed significantly longer reaction time during warm-up as compared to recovery (P = 0.02) independently of the supplementation. The digit span memory test revealed a significant greater span score with SAGE as compared to PLACEBO (P = 0.044).

Conclusion: The combination of Salvia improved the cognitive functions (perceived exertion, working memory, and reaction time). The positive effects were obtained in fresh condition and were maintained with fatigue.

Metabolomics study on the intervention effect of Radix Salviae Miltiorrhizae extract in exercise-induced exhaustion rat using gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry

The metabolomics approach based on the gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC-MS) was adopted to explore the underlying mechanism of the anti-fatigue effect of Radix Salviae Miltiorrhizae (RSM), a famous herbal medicine in China used for multiple biological functions, in load-weighted swimming test in rat, combined with biochemical parameters evaluations. As a result, the metabolomics study followed by orthogonal partial least-square (OPLS) analysis could differentiate metabolic profiling between the control and exhaustive exercise group, showing the rats underwent an obvious metabolic perturbation, whereas RSM treatment restored scores plot close to normal and showed regulatory effects on the muscle metabolic profiles. The changed metabolic pathways of the potential biomarkers in response to the effect of RSM treatment for exhaustive exercise rats included in glucose metabolism (glucose, lactic acid, alanine), glutathione metabolism (glycine, glutamate, 5-oxo-proline), TCA cycle (succinic acid), arginine biosynthesis (glutamine, ornithine, urea), glyoxylate and dicarboxylate metabolism (serine, glycine), oxidative stress (taurine) and purine metabolism (inosine). In addition, intervention of RSM increased hepatic glycogen, muscle glycogen and serum glucose, and decreased triglyceride and blood urea nitrogen levels, indicating RSM treatment may regulate energy metabolism by increasing the rate of fat utilization, decrease the protein and carbohydrate utilization. Furthermore, RSM reduced exhaustive exercise-induced accumulation of the lipid peroxidation byproduct malonaldehyde and elevated antioxidants' levels, including reduced glutathione and superoxide dismutase, which might be a positive reflection of improved oxidant-antioxidant balance. Moreover, RSM could protect against exercise-induced muscle damage by attenuating creatine kinase release. In summary, RSM provided a good anti-fatigue effect by regulating energy metabolism, oxidant-antioxidant balance, and the endogenous metabolites in the exercising muscle. This study demonstrates that metabolomics is an effective tool for the estimation of the potential anti-fatigue effect of RSM and for the illustration of its pharmacological mechanism.

Tanshinone IIA: A Review of its Anticancer Effects

Tanshinone IIA (Tan IIA) is a pharmacologically lipophilic active constituent isolated from the roots and rhizomes of the Chinese medicinal herb Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge (Danshen). Tan IIA is currently used in China and other neighboring countries to treat patients with cardiovascular system, diabetes, apoplexy, arthritis, sepsis, and other diseases. Recently, it was reported that tan IIA could have a wide range of antitumor effects on several human tumor cell lines, but the research of the mechanism of tan IIA is relatively scattered in cancer. This review aimed to summarize the recent advances in the anticancer effects of tan IIA and to provide a novel perspective on clinical use of tan IIA.

The Anticancer Properties of Tanshinones and the Pharmacological Effects of Their Active Ingredients

Cancer is a common malignant disease worldwide with an increasing mortality in recent years. Salvia miltiorrhiza, a well-known traditional Chinese medicine, has been used for the treatment of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases for thousands of years. The liposoluble tanshinones in S. miltiorrhiza are important bioactive components and mainly include tanshinone IIA, dihydrodanshinone, tanshinone I, and cryptotanshinone. Previous studies showed that these four tanshinones exhibited distinct inhibitory effects on tumor cells through different molecular mechanisms in vitro and in vivo. The mechanisms mainly include the inhibition of tumor cell growth, metastasis, invasion, and angiogenesis, apoptosis induction, cell autophagy, and antitumor immunity, and so on. In this review, we describe the latest progress on the antitumor functions and mechanisms of these four tanshinones to provide a deeper understanding of the efficacy. In addition, the important role of tumor immunology is also reviewed.

Natural constituents from food sources: potential therapeutic agents against muscle wasting

Skeletal muscle wasting is highly correlated with not only reduced quality of life but also higher morbidity and mortality. Although an increasing number of patients are suffering from various kinds of muscle atrophy and weakness, there is still no effective therapy available, and skeletal muscle is considered as an under-medicated organ. Food provided not only essential macronutrients but also functional substances involved in the modulation of the physiological systems of our body. Natural constituents from commonly consumed dietary plants, either extracts or compounds, have attracted more and more attention to be developed as agents for preventing and treating muscle wasting due to their safety and effectiveness, as well as structural diversity. This review provides an overview of the mechanistic aspects of muscle wasting, and summarizes the extracts and compounds from food sources as potential therapeutic agents against muscle wasting.

Interactions of a medicinal climber Tinospora cordifolia with supportive interspecific plants trigger the modulation in its secondary metabolic profiles

Tinospora cordifolia (TC) is scientifically proven immunomodulatory drug being used for centuries. Ancient literature reported that inter-specific interactions change medicinal properties of TC. Thus, the current study is aimed to understand the influence of interspecific biotic interactions on chemo-profiles of TC. To explore it, TC samples collected from six co-occurring plants, i.e. Azarditchita indica, Acacia nilotica, Albezia lebbeck, Ficus benghalensis, Tamarandus indica and Acacia leucophloea were analyzed by HPLC-ESI-QTOF-MS. Mass data were subjected to multivariate analysis. Support vector machines (SVMs) was found to be best classifier (r² < 0.93). Data analysis showed the specific compounds in all TC due to inter-specific interactions. Data were further analyzed with SNK post-hoc test followed by permutative (n = 50) Bonferroni FDR multiple testing correction. The compound without any missing values reduced the number of variables to 133 (p < 0.01). Statistical analysis revealed that TC having interactions with A.lebbeck and A. nilotica formed the most distant groups. However, TC co-occurred with A. indica showed the highest number of up-regulated metabolites, including jatrorrhizine, chrysin, peonidin, 6-methylcoumarin and some terpenoids. Some metabolites, including jatrorrhizine and magnoflorine were quantified to confirm the accuracy of qualitative analysis. Results demonstrated the influence of inter-specific biotic interactions on TC chemo-profiles, hence its medicinal properties.