Cryptotanshinone enhances wound healing in type 2 diabetes with modulatory effects on inflammation, angiogenesis and extracellular matrix remodelling

Hydrogel-based cardiac repair and regeneration function in the treatment of myocardial infarction

A life-threatening illness that poses a serious threat to human health is myocardial infarction. It may result in a significant number of myocardial cells dying, dilated left ventricles, dysfunctional heart function, and ultimately cardiac failure. Based on the development of emerging biomaterials and the lack of clinical treatment methods and cardiac donors for myocardial infarction, hydrogels with good compatibility have been gradually applied to the treatment of myocardial infarction. Specifically, based on the three processes of pathophysiology of myocardial infarction, we summarized various types of hydrogels designed for myocardial tissue engineering in recent years, including natural hydrogels, intelligent hydrogels, growth factors, stem cells, and microRNA-loaded hydrogels. In addition, we also describe the heart patch and preparation techniques that promote the repair of MI heart function. Although most of these hydrogels are still in the preclinical research stage and lack of clinical trials, they have great potential for further application in the future. It is expected that this review will improve our knowledge of and offer fresh approaches to treating myocardial infarction.

Carrier-Free Binary Self-Assembled Nanomedicines Originated from Traditional Herb Medicine with Multifunction to Accelerate MRSA-Infected Wound Healing by Antibacterial, Anti-Inflammation and Promoting Angiogenesis

Background

Deaths from bacterial infections have risen year by year. This trend is further aggravated as the overuse antibiotics and the bacterial resistance to all known antibacterial agents. Therefore, new therapeutic alternatives are urgently needed.

Methods

Enlightenment the combination usage of traditional herb medicine, one carrier-free binary nanoparticles (GA-BBR NPs) was discovered, which was self-assembled from gallic acid and berberine through electrostatic interaction, π-π stacking and hydrophobic interaction; and it could be successfully prepared by a green, cost-effective and "one-pot" preparation process.

Results

The nanoparticles exhibited strong antibacterial activity and biofilm removal ability against multidrug-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) by downregulating mRNA expression of rpsF, rplC, rplN, rplX, rpsC, rpmC and rpsH to block bacterial translation mechanisms in vitro and in vivo, and it had well anti-inflammatory activity and a promising role in promoting angiogenesis to accelerate the wound healing on MRSA-infected wounds model in vivo. Additionally, the nanoparticles displayed well biocompatibility without cytotoxicity, hemolytic activity, and tissue or organ toxicity.

Conclusion

GA-BBR NPs originated from the drug combination has potential clinical transformation value, and this study provides a new idea for the design of carrier-free nanomedicine derived from natural herbals.

A narrative review: CXC chemokines influence immune surveillance in obesity and obesity-related diseases: Type 2 diabetes and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease

Adipose tissue develops lipids, aberrant adipokines, chemokines, and pro-inflammatory cytokines as a consequence of the low-grade systemic inflammation that characterizes obesity. This low-grade systemic inflammation can lead to insulin resistance (IR) and metabolic complications, such as type 2 diabetes (T2D) and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Although the CXC chemokines consists of numerous regulators of inflammation, cellular function, and cellular migration, it is still unknown that how CXC chemokines and chemokine receptors contribute to the development of metabolic diseases (such as T2D and NAFLD) during obesity. In light of recent research, the objective of this review is to provide an update on the linkage between the CXC chemokine, obesity, and obesity-related metabolic diseases (T2D and NAFLD). We explore the differential migratory and immunomodulatory potential of CXC chemokines and their mechanisms of action to better understand their role in clinical and laboratory contexts. Besides that, because CXC chemokine profiling is strongly linked to leukocyte recruitment, macrophage recruitment, and immunomodulatory potential, we hypothesize that it could be used to predict the therapeutic potential for obesity and obesity-related diseases (T2D and NAFLD).

An Ethnopharmaceutical Study on the Hypolipidemic Formulae in Taiwan Issued by Traditional Chinese Medicine Pharmacies

Globally, approximately one-third of ischemic heart diseases are due to hyperlipidemia, which has been shown to cause various metabolic disorders. This study was aimed to disassemble and analyze hypolipidemic formulae sold by traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) pharmacies. Using commonly used statistical parameters in ethnopharmacology, we identified the core drug combination of the hypolipidemic formulae, thereby exploring the strategy by which the Taiwanese people select hypolipidemic drugs. Most important of all, we preserved the inherited knowledge of TCM. We visited 116 TCM pharmacies in Taiwan and collected 91 TCM formulae. The formulae were mainly disassembled by macroscopical identification, and the medicinal materials with a relative frequency of citation (RFC) >0.2 were defined as commonly used medicinal materials. Subsequently, we sorted the information of medicinal materials recorded in the Pharmacopeia, searched for modern pharmacological research on commonly used medicinal materials using PubMed database, and visualized data based on the statistical results. Finally, the core hypolipidemic medicinal materials used in folk medicine were obtained. Of the 91 TCM formulae collected in this study, 80 traditional Chinese medicinal materials were used, belonging to 43 families, predominantly Lamiaceae. Roots were the most commonly used part as a medicinal material. There were 17 commonly used medicinal materials. Based on medicinal records in Pharmacopeia, most flavors and properties were warm and pungent, the majority traditional effects were “tonifying and replenishing” and “blood-regulating.” Besides, the targeted diseases searching from modern pharmacological studies were diabetes mellitus and dyslipidemia. The core medicinal materials consisted of Astragalus mongholicus Bunge and Crataegus pinnatifida Bunge, and the core formulae were Bu-Yang-Huan-Wu-Tang and Xie-Fu-Zhu-Yu-Tang. In addition, 7 groups of folk misused medicinal materials were found. Although these TCMs have been used for a long period of time, their hypolipidemic mechanisms remain unclear, and further studies are needed to validate their safety and efficacy.

A Comprehensive Review of Natural Compounds for Wound Healing: Targeting Bioactivity Perspective

Wound healing is a recovering process of damaged tissues by replacing dysfunctional injured cellular structures. Natural compounds for wound treatment have been widely used for centuries. Numerous published works provided reviews of natural compounds for wound healing applications, which separated the approaches based on different categories such as characteristics, bioactivities, and modes of action. However, current studies provide reviews of natural compounds that originated from only plants or animals. In this work, we provide a comprehensive review of natural compounds sourced from both plants and animals that target the different bioactivities of healing to promote wound resolution. The compounds were classified into four main groups (i.e., anti-inflammation, anti-oxidant, anti-bacterial, and collagen promotion), mostly studied in current literature from 1992 to 2022. Those compounds are listed in tables for readers to search for their origin, bioactivity, and targeting phases in wound healing. We also reviewed the trend in using natural compounds for wound healing.

An Update on the Potential Application of Herbal Medicine in Promoting Angiogenesis

Angiogenesis, the formation of new capillaries from pre-existing vascular networks, plays an important role in many physiological and pathological processes. The use of pro-angiogenic agents has been proposed as an attractive approach for promoting wound healing and treating vascular insufficiency-related problems, such as ischemic heart disease and stroke, which are the leading causes of death worldwide. Traditional herbal medicine has a long history; however, there is still a need for more in-depth studies and evidence-based confirmation from controlled and validated trials. Many in vitro and in vivo studies have reported that herbal medicines and their bioactive ingredients exert pro-angiogenic activity. The most frequently studied pro-angiogenic phytochemicals include ginsenosides from Panax notoginseng, astragalosides and calycosin from Radix Astragali, salvianolic acid B from Salvia miltiorrhiza, paeoniflorin from Radix Paeoniae, ilexsaponin A1 from Ilex pubescens, ferulic acid from Angelica sinensis, and puerarin from Radix puerariae. This review summarizes the progress in research on these phytochemicals, particularly those related to pro-angiogenic mechanisms and applications in ischemic diseases, tissue repair, and wound healing. In addition, an outline of their limitations and challenges during drug development is presented.

Ruyi Jinhuang Powder accelerated diabetic ulcer wound healing by regulating Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway of fibroblasts In Vivo and In Vitro

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Diabetic ulcer is a common complication of diabetes. Therapies of diabetic ulcer are still challenging due to the complicated aetiology. Ruyi Jinhuang Powder (RJP) is gradually adopted to treat diabetic ulcer and has a significant therapeutic effect.

AIM OF THE STUDY

To investigate the therapeutic potential for diabetic ulcer in vivo and in vitro, we explored whether and how RJP influences wound healing in mice and fibroblasts at the tissular, cellular and molecular levels.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The chemical composition of RJP was identified by HPLC. Streptozotocin (STZ) induced diabetic mice were used to confirm the curative effect of RJP in vivo. Besides, the impact of RJP in stimulating fibroblasts proliferation, migration and reducing inflammation was studied through CCK-8 assay, cell scratch assay, PCR, WB, etc. RESULTS: A total of 17 compounds were identified in RJP by HPLC. Our data indicated that RJP promoted fibroblasts proliferation and migration via activating Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. Consistently, RNA-seq analysis of mice skin samples also showed that the shared differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between RJP group and control group were most enriched in wnt signaling pathway. These DEGs were closely related with wound repair. In addition, the anti-inflammation effect of RJP was also confirmed through downregulation of IL-1α, IL-1β, IL-6 and IL-10 expression levels. These biological effects were reduced when the Wnt/β-catenin signaling was blocked. The in vivo study also demonstrated the effect of RJP in improving epidermal wound closure, which was consistent with the in vitro results.

CONCLUSIONS

Topical application of RJP was effective in treating diabetic ulcer. This research is helpful to provide new insights and evidence into the role of RJP in accelerating unhealing wound and reducing wound inflammation.

Therapeutic Effect and Mechanism of Negative Pressure Wound Therapy with Huoxue Shengji Decoction Instillation for Chronic Skin Ulcers

Background

Negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) with instillation (NPWTi) is a new treatment for chronic skin ulcers (CSUs), but the choice of perfusate is still investigated. The clinical application of Huoxue Shengji (HXSJ) decoction has been proved to promote the formation of granulation. The formation of fresh granulation, angiogenesis, and proliferation of vascular endothelial cells are closely related. The purpose of this study was to observe the clinical efficacy of NWPT with HXSJ decoction instillation in the treatment of CSUs and to explore the potential mechanism by which HXSJ decoction promotes proliferation of vascular endothelial cells at the cellular level.

Methods

In the clinical study, the random number table was used to divide the patients into three groups (patients were numbered by visit time and assigned a random number and grouped by the remainder after the random number was divided by 3, and when the number of patients in one group reached 20, the enrolment of this group is stopped), including NPWT combined with HXSJ decoction instillation (group A), NPWT combined with normal saline instillation (group B), and NPWT (group C). Related indexes were examined, including the wound cavity volume, bacterial culture, histopathology examination, time periods of debridement, repair methods, and the time of ulcer healing. In the basic research, the effect of HXSJ decoction on the proliferation of HUVECs was analysed by CCK-8 assay and RT-PCR and western blot were used to quantify the VEGF and VEGFR-2 expression in the relevant signalling pathway.

Results

There was no significant difference in the improvement rate of invasive cavity volume (P > 0.05) between groups A and B, but a significant difference was observed between groups A and C (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in microbial reduction among groups (all P > 0.05). Histopathological examination showed that the microvascular count in group A was significantly higher than that in groups B and C (both P < 0.01) and there was no statistical difference between groups B and C (P > 0.05). There were no significant differences in the number of invasive lesions and repair methods among the groups (all P > 0.05). The healing time of group A was significantly faster than those of groups B and C (compared to group B, P < 0.05; compared to group C, P < 0.01), and there was no statistical difference between groups B and C (P > 0.05). In the cellular experiments, concentration screening was performed and 125 μg/mL HXSJ decoction showed the most significant effect on the proliferation of HUVECs and also enhanced the expression of VEGF and VEGFR-2.

Conclusion

HXSJ decoction can enhance the expression of VEGF and VEGFR-2 and promote the proliferation of HUVECs. Treatment with NWPT with HXSJ decoction instillation can further reduce the wound cavity volume; meanwhile, it can promote blood vessel formation in ulcer wounds, thus accelerating the healing of CSUs.

Production and Functionalities of Specialized Metabolites from Different Organic Sources

Medicinal plants are rich sources of specialized metabolites that are of great importance to plants, animals, and humans. The usefulness of active biological compounds cuts across different fields, such as agriculture, forestry, food processing and packaging, biofuels, biocatalysts, and environmental remediation. In recent years, research has shifted toward the use of microbes, especially endophytes (bacteria, fungi, and viruses), and the combination of these organisms with other alternatives to optimize the production and regulation of these compounds. This review reinforces the production of specialized metabolites, especially by plants and microorganisms, and the effectiveness of microorganisms in increasing the production/concentration of these compounds in plants. The study also highlights the functions of these compounds in plants and their applications in various fields. New research areas that should be explored to produce and regulate these compounds, especially in plants and microbes, have been identified. Methods involving molecular studies are yet to be fully explored, and next-generation sequencing possesses an interesting and reliable approach.

Botanical Drugs in Traditional Chinese Medicine With Wound Healing Properties

Chronic and unhealed wound is a serious public problem, which brings severe economic burdens and psychological pressure to patients. Various botanical drugs in traditional Chinese medicine have been used for the treatment of wounds since ancient time. Nowadays, multiple wound healing therapeutics derived from botanical drugs are commercially available worldwide. An increasing number of investigations have been conducted to elucidate the wound healing activities and the potential mechanisms of botanical drugs in recent years. The aim of this review is to summarize the botanical drugs in traditional Chinese medicine with wound healing properties and the underlying mechanisms of them, which can contribute to the research of wound healing and drug development. Taken together, five botanical drugs that have been developed into commercially available products, and 24 botanical drugs with excellent wound healing activities and several multiherbal preparations are reviewed in this article.

Cryptotanshinone Protects against PCOS-Induced Damage of Ovarian Tissue via Regulating Oxidative Stress, Mitochondrial Membrane Potential, Inflammation, and Apoptosis via Regulating Ferroptosis

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common endocrine disorder in women of childbearing age. Cryptotanshinone (CRY) has been shown to be effective in reversing reproductive disorders, but whether it can be used in the treatment of polycystic ovary syndrome remains unclear. We aimed to explore whether the mechanism of cryptotanshinone (CRY) in the treatment of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) can be driven via regulating ferroptosis. A rat model of PCOS was established by daily injection of human chorionic gonadotropin and insulin for 22 days. An in vitro model of ischemia-reperfusion (IR) of granulosa cells was established. The in vitro and rat models of PCOS were subjected to different treatments including ferroptosis activators and inhibitors, CRY, and MAPK inhibitor. Oxidative stress was evaluated by measuring the activities of SOD, MDA, and GSH-PX. Total body weight and ovarian weight, as well as the levels of LH and the LH to FSH ratio, significantly increased in rats with PCOS, compared with controls. The expression of Bax was increased in PCOS tissues while PGC1α, NFR1, GPX4, catalase p-ERK, and Bcl-2 were all downregulated. Ferroptosis activator, erastin, had effects similar to those of PCOS while the contrary was found with CRY and ferroptosis inhibitor treatment groups. In vitro, CRY inhibited oxidative stress, MMP, and NF-κB and activated MAPK/ERK signaling by regulating ferroptosis. Overall, this study indicated that CRY protects against PCOS-induced damage of the ovarian tissue, via regulating oxidative stress, MMP, inflammation, and apoptosis via regulating ferroptosis.

Topical Application of Chinese Formula Yeliangen Promotes Wound Healing in Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Rats

Diabetic wound is one of the most severe complications of diabetes mellitus (DM). Despite the associated risks of wound healing impairment in diabetes, treatment strategies remain limited. Yeliangen (YLG) is a Chinese formulation mainly composed of the rhizome of Coptis chinensis, the root of Isatis tinctoria, and the leaf of Isatis indigotica. We investigated the wound healing effects of YLG in type 2 diabetic (T2DM) rats, which were induced by intraperitoneal administration of streptozotocin after a high-fat diet for four weeks. 3 × 3 cm² full-thickness excisional wounds were created on the dorsal surface of rats and then divided to control (DC), negative (DPJ), positive (DPC), and YLG-treated (DYLG) groups. Rat's wounds were treated twice daily for 21 days. Wound area and wound contraction were detected on days 0, 3, 7, 14, and 21. Histopathological examinations were performed by H&E staining and immunohistochemistry (IHC). The biochemical parameters, mRNAs, and protein expressions were analyzed through enzyme-linked immunoassays (ELISA), qPCR, and western blot, respectively. Compared with other groups, the histological changes of wound tissue in the DYLG group were improved, and the expressions of CD31, eNOS, and PCNA were significantly upregulated. Besides, YLG significantly reduced the inflammatory factors' expressions of TNF-α, NF-κB, MMP-9, and IL-1B on days 7, 14, and 21 postwounding. Moreover, YLG induced angiogenesis and neovascularization by significantly increasing the levels of VEGF, TGF-β1, EGF, PDGF, and SDF-1α on days 3, 7, and 14. In conclusion, YLG improved wound healing by reducing inflammation and increasing angiogenesis which may provide an alternative and effective approach for diabetic wound therapy.