Effect of Cryptotanshinone on Measures of Rat Cardiomyocyte Oxidative Stress and Gene Activation Associated with Apoptosis

Mechanism of cryptotanshinone to improve endocrine and metabolic functions in the endometrium of PCOS rats

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Cryptotanshinone is the main bioactive component of Salvia miltiorrhiza, with various mechanisms of action, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, cardiovascular protection, neuroprotection, and hepatoprotection. Salvia miltiorrhiza is used clinically by gynecologists in China.

AIM OF THE STUDY

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) has a significant impact on women's quality of life, leading to infertility and reproductive disorders. Hence, this study aims to assess the pharmacological activity of cryptotanshinone in the treatment of PCOS and investigate its therapeutic mechanism.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) combined with insulin is used to simulate a PCOS-like rat model and attempt to discover the abnormal changes that occur and the means by which the pathway acts in this model.

RESULTS

The transcriptome sequencing method is used to identify 292 differential genes that undergo significant changes, of which 219 were upregulated and 73 were downregulated. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analysis of the signaling pathways reveals that differential expressed genes are significantly enriched in 23 typical pathways. Estrogen signaling pathways are screened in the cryptotanshinone and model groups, and significant differential changes in Fos, ALOX12, and AQP8 are found. This suggests that these signaling pathways and molecules may be the main signaling targets for regulating the differences in endometrial tissue.

CONCLUSION

These results indicate that cryptotanshinone has targets for regulating the proliferation of endometrial tissue via estrogen signaling pathways in PCOS-like rats, providing an experimental basis for the clinical application of cryptotanshinone in the treatment of PCOS.

Antihypertensive, antioxidant, and renal protective impact of integrated GJD with captopril in spontaneously hypertensive rats

Hypertension is the most prevalent chronic disease World-wide, and the leading preventable risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD). Few patients accomplish the objective of decreasing blood pressure and avoiding hypertensive target organ damage after treatments with antihypertensive agents which opens the door for other treatments, such as herbal-and antihypertensive combination therapy. Captopril (CAP), as a-pril which inhibits angiotensin converting enzyme has long been used in the management of hypertension and CVD. Gedan Jiangya Decoction (GJD) is known for antihypertensive effects in prior studies. The research is aimed to determine whether GJD in combination with captopril has antihypertensive, kidney protective, antioxidant, and vasoactive effects in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). Regular measurements of systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SBP and DBP), and body weight were monitored weekly. H&E staining was utilized to examine histopathology. The combined effects were studied using ELISA, immunohistochemistry, and qRT-PCR. Significant reductions in SBP, DBP, aortic wall thickness, and improvement in renal tissue were observed following GJD + CAP treatment, with increased serum levels of NO, SOD, GSH-Px, and CAT and decreases in Ang II, ET-1, and MDA. Similarly, GJD + CAP treatment of SHR's significantly decreased ET-1 and AGTR1 mRNA and protein expression while increasing eNOS mRNA and protein expression in thoracic aorta and kidney tissue. In conclusion, the present investigation found that GJD + CAP treatment decreases SHR blood pressure, improves aorta remodeling and renal protection, and that this effect could be attributable, in part, due to antioxidant and vascular tone improvement.

Resveratrol as a Promising Polyphenol in Age-Associated Cardiac Alterations

According to a widely accepted theory, oxidative stress is considered to be the number one trigger of aging-associated degenerative processes including cardiovascular diseases. In the context of aging-research, resveratrol receives special attention with its surprising number of health benefits. The aim of our study was to examine the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects of this dietary polyphenol in aging rat heart. 20-month-old female and male Wistar rats were divided into control (untreated) and resveratrol-treated groups. Resveratrol was administered at a dose of 0.05 mg/ml for 12 weeks dissolved in drinking water, while the control rats received ad libitum water. Cardiac level of reactive oxygen species (ROS), nuclear factor kappa B (NFκB), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), and glutathione (GSH) parameters, as well as the activity of myeloperoxidase (MPO) and heme oxygenase (HO) enzymes were detected. Together with the biochemical measurements, hearts were isolated and used for an exposure of ischemic-reperfusion injury via Langendorff perfusion system. 12 week of resveratrol treatment suppressed the age-related inflammatory pathways including the expression of TNF-α, NFκB, and the activity of MPO while intensified the endogenous antioxidant defenses through the induction of GSH and HO system. Presumably, as a result of these processes, the necrotic area of the heart in response to an acute injury was also significantly reduced in the resveratrol-treated groups. Our findings confirmed that resveratrol has cardioprotective effects at several points by counteracting the aging-associated cellular malfunctions in the heart.

Cryptotanshinone ameliorates MPP+-induced oxidative stress and apoptosis of SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells: the role of STAT3 in Parkinson's disease

Cryptotanshinone (CTN) has shown its neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory qualities in non-genetic mouse model of Alzheimer's disease. According to bioinformatics analysis, CTN and Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription 3 (STAT3) may interact to form a drug-target network. This study was conducted to identify the role of CTN-STAT3 interaction in Parkinson's disease (PD). PD model was established with MMP⁺-stimulated SH-SY5Y cells. After pre-treatment with CTN or co-treatment with CTN and STAT3 agonist, MTT assay was performed to observe cell viability; ELISA kit was used to measure the expression level of pro-inflammatory cytokines; DCFH-DA and corresponding assay kits were employed to determine the production of ROS, SOD, CAT and GSH-px; TUNEL assay and western blot were performed to detect cell apoptosis. STAT3 activity was also detected by western blot. Treatment with CTN alone had no impact on SH-SY5Y cell viability, but CTN pre-treatment effectively improved MPP⁺-induced loss of viability in SH-SY5Y cells. Moreover, pre-treatment with CTN inhibited MPP⁺-induced oxidative stress, apoptosis and STAT3 activity in SH-SY5Y cells, whereas this inhibitory effect was diminished after additional treatment with STAT3 agonist. CTN ameliorates MPP⁺-induced oxidative stress and apoptosis of SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells by inhibiting the expression of STAT3. Therefore, CTN could be a promising therapeutic agent, and STAT3 could be a potential target for PD treatment.

Bevacizumab-Induced Mitochondrial Dysfunction, Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress, and ERK Inactivation Contribute to Cardiotoxicity

The molecular mechanisms underlying the cardiotoxicity associated with bevacizumab, a first-line immunotherapeutic agent used to treat lung cancer, are not fully understood. Here, we examined intracellular signal transduction in cardiomyocytes after exposure to different doses of bevacizumab in vitro. Our results demonstrated that bevacizumab significantly and dose-dependently reduces cardiomyocyte viability and increases cell apoptosis. Bevacizumab treatment also led to mitochondrial dysfunction in cardiomyocytes, as evidenced by the decreased ATP production, increased ROS production, attenuated antioxidative enzyme levels, and reduced respiratory complex function. In addition, bevacizumab induced intracellular calcium overload, ER stress, and caspase-12 activation. Finally, bevacizumab treatment inhibited the ERK signaling pathway, which, in turn, significantly reduced cardiomyocyte viability and contributed to mitochondrial dysfunction. Together, our results demonstrate that bevacizumab-mediated cardiotoxicity is associated with mitochondrial dysfunction, ER stress, and ERK pathway inactivation. These findings may provide potential treatment targets to attenuate myocardial injury during lung cancer immunotherapy.