Effect of Musk Tongxin Dropping Pill on Myocardial Remodeling and Microcirculation Dysfunction in Diabetic Cardiomyopathy

Effect of Tricin on cardiomyocyte damage caused by diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM)

OBJECTIVES

Flavonoid compounds exhibit remarkable antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties in DCM and various other diseases. However, the specific mechanisms by which Tricin, 4',5,7-trihydroxy-3',5'-dimethoxyflavone, exerts its effects in the context of DCM remain to be elucidated.

METHODS

Rat H9C2 cells were cultured and subjected to high glucose conditions to establish a DCM cell model. Tricin was administered in varying concentrations to evaluate its effects on cellular oxidative stress markers, including ROS, LDH, and SOD. Additionally, the levels of inflammatory cytokines TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6, as well as the expression of TLR4, MYD88, and p-NF-κB, were assessed through ELISA and Western blotting.

RESULTS

Tricin treatment significantly ameliorated high glucose-induced oxidative stress in H9C2 cells, evidenced by reduced ROS and LDH levels and increased SOD levels in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, Tricin effectively suppressed the elevation of pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6. Tricin also inhibited the overactivation of the TLR4-MYD88-NF-κB signaling pathway, suggesting its role in modulating key inflammatory processes in DCM.

CONCLUSIONS

Tricin exhibits a protective role against high glucose-induced cardiac damage in a DCM cell model. By reducing oxidative stress and inflammation, and inhibiting the TLR4-MYD88-NF-κB pathway, Tricin shows significant therapeutic potential for DCM treatment. This study underscores the value of Tricin as a novel therapeutic approach for managing diabetic cardiomyopathy, warranting further research and clinical investigation.

CLINICAL TRIAL NUMBER

Not applicable.

Musk Tongxin Dripping Pills for treating Ticagrelor in Patients After Percutaneous Coronary Intervention: Echocardiography Combined with Untargeted Metabolomics

Objectives: As current clinical practice guidelines, ticagrelor is the suggested therapeutic scheme to prevent adverse cardiovascular events in acute myocardial infarction (AMI) patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) treatment. However, this therapeutic strategy still fails, and around 30% patients display inadequate antiplatelet responses. Musk Tongxin Dripping Pill (MTDP) in Chinese hospital was usually considered as the combination with ticagrelor to improve the treatment effect. Unfortunately, the mechanism has not been elucidated.

Methods: The untargeted metabolomic method was introduced based on liquid chromatography–high-resolution mass spectrometry (HPLC-HRMS) coupled with STI for the research of the drug combination mechanism between ticagrelor and MTDP. 28 patients with a confirmed diagnosis of AMI were selectively collected, who were then divided into two different dosage regimen groups, and the serum samples were collected for the untargeted metabolomics assay. Then the differential metabolites were associated with blood biochemical indicators.

Results: The GLS values in both groups increased after treatment and those in the ticagrelor and MTDP combination group after treatment were higher than those in the ticagrelor group (p < 0.05), suggesting that the combination medication has better therapeutic effect on patients with myocardial infarction. From metabolomics analysis, the species of metabolites changed in two groups before and after treatment. Moreover, 93 differential metabolites changed in the drug combination group compared with the ticagrelor group after treatment (p < 0.05), which mainly related to changes in fatty acid metabolism pathways. Then the differential metabolites were found to be related with blood biochemical indicators, such as lipid, high-density lipoprotein (HDL), and low-density lipoprotein (LDL).

Conclusion: This work will provide a possible mechanism of the drug combination interaction between ticagrelor and MTDP from two angles of echocardiography and metabonomics. Several potential metabolic pathways were also found to have a relationship with MTDP, which will provide a new perspective in clinical medication.