Radix Scrophulariae extracts (harpagoside) suppresses hypoxia-induced microglial activation and neurotoxicity

Unraveling the immune functions of large yellow croaker Tmem208 in response to Pseudomonas plecoglossicida: Insights from cloning, expression profiling, and transcriptome analysis

Pseudomonas plecoglossicida, the causative agent of Visceral White Spot Disease, poses substantial risks to large yellow croaker (Larimichthys crocea) aquaculture. Previous genome-wide association studies (GWAS), directed towards elucidating the resistance mechanisms of large yellow croaker against this affliction, suggested that the transmembrane protein 208 (named Lctmem208) may confer a potential advantage. TMEM proteins, particularly TMEM208 located in the endoplasmic reticulum, plays significant roles in autophagy, ER stress, and dynamics of cancer cell. However, research on TMEM's function in teleost fish immunity remains sparse, highlighting a need for further study. This study embarks on a comprehensive examination of LcTmem208, encompassing cloning, molecular characterization, and its dynamics in immune function in response to Pseudomonas plecoglossicida infection. Our findings reveal that LcTmem208 is highly conserved across teleost species, exhibiting pronounced expression in immune-relevant tissues, which escalates significantly upon pathogenic challenge. Transcriptome analysis subsequent to LcTmem208 overexpression in kidney cells unveiled its pivotal role in modulating immune-responsive processes, notably the p53 signaling pathway and cytokine-mediated interactions. Enhanced phagocytic activity in macrophages overexpressing LcTmem208 underscores its importance in innate immunity. Taken together, this is the first time reported the critical involvement of LcTmem208 in regulating innate immune responses of defensing P. plecoglossicida, thereby offering valuable insights into teleost fish immunity and potential strategies for the selective breeding of disease-resistant strains of large yellow croaker in aquaculture practices.

Epidural Injection of Harpagoside for the Recovery of Rats with Lumbar Spinal Stenosis

Epidural administration is the leading therapeutic option for the management of pain associated with lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS), which is characterized by compression of the nerve root due to narrowing of the spinal canal. Corticosteroids are effective in alleviating LSS-related pain but can lead to complications with long-term use. Recent studies have focused on identifying promising medications administered epidurally to affected spinal regions. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effectiveness of harpagoside (HAS) as an epidural medication in rats with LSS. HAS at various concentrations was effective for neuroprotection against ferrous sulfate damage and consequent promotion of axonal outgrowth in primary spinal cord neurons. When two concentrations of HAS (100 and 200 μg/kg) were administered to the rat LSS model via the epidural space once a day for 4 weeks, the inflammatory responses around the silicone block used for LSS were substantially reduced. Consistently, pain-related factors were significantly suppressed by the epidural administration of HAS. The motor functions of rats with LSS significantly improved. These findings suggest that targeted delivery of HAS directly to the affected area via epidural injection holds promise as a potential treatment option for the recovery of patients with LSS.

Effects of Rosa roxburghii Tratt on Ulcerative Colitis: An Integrated Analysis of Network Pharmacology and Experimental Validation

Rosa roxburghii Tratt is a traditional Chinese plant that has been used to treat different inflammatory diseases. The purpose of this study was to investigate the mechanism of action of Rosa roxburghii Tratt extract (RRTE) against ulcerative colitis (UC) using network pharmacology and experimental validation. HPLC-Q/Orbitrap MS was used to rapidly identify the substances contained in RRTE after extracting the active components from the fruit. Then, network pharmacology combined with molecular docking was used to explore the critical target and potential mechanism of RRTE against UC using the active ingredients in RRTE as the research object. Data are presented in a visual manner. Finally, the pharmacological effects of RRTE in alleviating UC were further verified using a DSS-induced UC model of NCM460. The results showed that 25 components in RRTE were identified. A total of 250 targets of the active components and 5376 targets associated with UC were collected. Furthermore, a systematic analysis of the Protein-Protein Interaction (PPI) networks suggests that epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), phosphoinositide-3-kinase regulatory subunit 1 (PIK3R1), and serine/threonine kinase 1 (AKT1) are critical targets for RRTE in the treatment of UC. A comprehensive regulatory network analysis showed that RRTE alleviated UC through the EGFR-mediated PI3K/Akt pathway, and molecular docking showed that active components could strongly bind to EGFR, PIK3R1, and AKT1. In addition, RRTE alleviated dextran sulfate sodium salt (DSS)-induced cell injury and significantly decreased the protein expression levels of EGFR, PIK3R1, and p-AKT in NCM460 cells in vitro. Furthermore, RRTE significantly regulated the expression of the apoptosis-related proteins Apoptotic protease-activating factor 1 (Apaf1), cleaved caspase-3, B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl2), and Bcl2 associated X protein (Bax). In conclusion, the components of RRTE are complex, and RRTE can relieve UC through the EGFR-mediated PI3K/Akt pathway.

Effects of Compound Probiotics on Cecal Microbiota and Metabolome of Swine

Complex probiotics are made from various single probiotics mixed in scientific formula. The long-term intake of different probiotics is beneficial to maintain the intestinal microecological balance, inhibiting harmful pathogenic flora and facilitating organism health. Based on the limited research on intestinal flora and related metabolites after the long-term intake of the probiotic complex, in this study, 16S rRNA gene sequencing and untargeted metabolomics were used to further investigate the effects of the probiotic complex on the intestinal flora and metabolome of pigs. The results demonstrated that the content of flora in the intestinal tract or metabolites of pigs varied greatly and was related to cellular metabolic pathways after the long-term feeding of complex probiotics. This study provides a valuable theoretical basis for farmers to raise pigs scientifically and healthily.

Scrophulariae Radix-Atractylodes sinensis pair and metformin inhibit inflammation by modulating gut microbiota of high-fat diet/streptozotocin-induced diabetes in rats

INTRODUCTION

Type 2 mellitus (T2DM), a chronic metabolic disorder, causes severe impairment of patients' quality of life and has attracted global attention. Many studies have suggested the importance of the gut microbiota in the occurrence of T2DM. The Scrophulariae Radix and Atractylodes sinensis (XC) pair, recommended in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), have been used for treating diabetes for many years. However, research on the role of the XC pair in modulating gut microbial communities is lacking, but it is important to elucidate the underlying mechanism.

METHODS

In this study, we detected bacterial communities by high-throughput 16S rRNA gene sequencing.

RESULTS

The results showed that XC + MET reduced postprandial hyperglycemia and inflammatory response in diabetic rats more effectively than metformin (MET) alone. The XC + MET treatment reshaped the intestinal microbial composition of diabetic rats. XC can help MET regulate carbohydrate, amino acid, and lipid metabolism, particularly the insulin signaling pathway.

DISCUSSION

This research would help elucidate potential mechanisms and the treatment methods.

Circular RNAs as emerging regulators in COVID-19 pathogenesis and progression

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), an infectious acute respiratory disease caused by a newly emerging RNA virus, is a still-growing pandemic that has caused more than 6 million deaths globally and has seriously threatened the lives and health of people across the world. Currently, several drugs have been used in the clinical treatment of COVID-19, such as small molecules, neutralizing antibodies, and monoclonal antibodies. In addition, several vaccines have been used to prevent the spread of the pandemic, such as adenovirus vector vaccines, inactivated vaccines, recombinant subunit vaccines, and nucleic acid vaccines. However, the efficacy of vaccines and the onset of adverse reactions vary among individuals. Accumulating evidence has demonstrated that circular RNAs (circRNAs) are crucial regulators of viral infections and antiviral immune responses and are heavily involved in COVID-19 pathologies. During novel coronavirus infection, circRNAs not only directly affect the transcription process and interfere with viral replication but also indirectly regulate biological processes, including virus-host receptor binding and the immune response. Consequently, understanding the expression and function of circRNAs during severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection will provide novel insights into the development of circRNA-based methods. In this review, we summarize recent progress on the roles and underlying mechanisms of circRNAs that regulate the inflammatory response, viral replication, immune evasion, and cytokines induced by SARS-CoV-2 infection, and thus highlighting the diagnostic and therapeutic challenges in the treatment of COVID-19 and future research directions.

Action Sites and Clinical Application of HIF-1α Inhibitors

Hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) is widely distributed in human cells, and it can form different signaling pathways with various upstream and downstream proteins, mediate hypoxia signals, regulate cells to produce a series of compensatory responses to hypoxia, and play an important role in the physiological and pathological processes of the body, so it is a focus of biomedical research. In recent years, various types of HIF-1α inhibitors have been designed and synthesized and are expected to become a new class of drugs for the treatment of diseases such as tumors, leukemia, diabetes, and ischemic diseases. This article mainly reviews the structure and functional regulation of HIF-1α, the modes of action of HIF-1α inhibitors, and the application of HIF-1α inhibitors during the treatment of diseases.

4-Methoxycinnamic acid attenuates schizophrenia-like behaviors induced by MK-801 in mice

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Scrophularia buergeriana has been used for traditional medicine as an agent for reducing heat in the blood and for nourishing kidney 'Yin'. Therefore, S. buergeriana might be a potential treatment for mental illness, especially schizophrenia, which may be attenuated by supplying kidney Yin and reducing blood heat. In a pilot study, we found that S. buergeriana alleviated sensorimotor gating dysfunction induced by MK-801.

AIM OF THE STUDY

In the present study, we attempted to reveal the active component(s) of S. buergeriana as a candidate for treating sensorimotor gating dysfunction, and we identified 4-methoxycinnamic acid. We explored whether 4-methoxycinnamic acid could affect schizophrenia-like behaviors induced by hypofunction of the glutamatergic neurotransmitter system.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Mice were treated with 4-methoxycinnamic acid (3, 10, or 30 mg/kg, i.g.) under MK-801-induced schizophrenia-like conditions. The effect of 4-methoxycinnamic acid on schizophrenia-like behaviors were explored using several behavioral tasks. We also used Western blotting to investigate which signaling pathway(s) is involved in the pharmacological activities of 4-methoxycinnamic acid.

RESULTS

4-Methoxycinnamic acid ameliorated MK-801-induced prepulse inhibition deficits, social interaction disorders and cognitive impairment by regulating the phosphorylation levels of PI3K, Akt and GSK-3β signaling in the prefrontal cortex. And there were no adverse effects in terms of catalepsy and motor coordination impairments.

CONCLUSION

Collectively, 4-methoxycinnamic acid would be a potential candidate for treating schizophrenia with fewer adverse effects, especially the negative symptoms and cognitive dysfunctions.

East Asian Herbal Medicine to Reduce Primary Pain and Adverse Events in Cancer Patients : A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis With Association Rule Mining to Identify Core Herb Combination

Objective: Cancer pain is an important factor in cancer management that affects a patient’s quality of life and survival-related outcomes. The aim of this review was to systematically evaluate the efficacy and safety of oral administration of East Asian herbal medicine (EAHM) for primary cancer pain and to explore core herb patterns based on the collected data.

Methods: A comprehensive literature search was conducted in 11 electronic databases, namely, PubMed, Cochrane Library, Cumulative Index to Nursing & Allied Health Literature, EMBASE, Korean Studies Information Service System, Research Information Service System, Oriental Medicine Advanced Searching Integrated System, Korea Citation Index, Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure Database (CNKI), Wanfang Data, and CiNii for randomized controlled trials from their inception until August 19, 2021. Statistical analysis was performed in R version 4.1.1 and R studio program using the default settings of the meta-package. When heterogeneity in studies was detected, the cause was identified through meta-regression and subgroup analysis. Methodological quality was independently assessed using the revised tool for risk of bias in randomized trials (Rob 2.0).

Results: A total of 38 trials with 3,434 cancer pain patients met the selection criteria. Meta-analysis favored EAHM-combined conventional medicine on response rate (risk ratio: 1.06; 95% CI: 1.04 to 1.09, p < 0.0001), continuous pain intensity (standardized mean difference: −1.74; 95% CI: −2.17 to −1.30, p < 0.0001), duration of pain relief (standardized mean difference: 0.96, 95% CI: 0.69 to 1.22, p < 0.0001), performance status (weighted mean difference: 10.71; 95% CI: 4.89 to 16.53, p = 0.0003), and opioid usage (weighted mean difference: −20.66 mg/day; 95% CI: −30.22 to −11.10, p < 0.0001). No significant difference was observed between EAHM and conventional medicine on response rate and other outcomes. Patients treated with EAHM had significantly reduced adverse event (AE) incidence rates. In addition, based on the ingredients of herb data in this meta-analysis, four combinations of herb pairs, which were frequently used together for cancer pain, were derived.

Conclusion: EAHM monotherapy can decrease adverse events associated with pain management in cancer patients. Additionally, EAHM-combined conventional medicine therapy may be beneficial for patients with cancer pain in increasing the response rate, relieving pain intensity, improving pain-related performance status, and regulating opioid usage. However, the efficacy and safety of EAHM monotherapy are difficult to conclude due to the lack of methodological quality and quantity of studies. More well-designed, multicenter, double-blind, and placebo-controlled randomized clinical trials are needed in the future. In terms of the core herb combination patterns derived from the present review, four combinations of herb pairs might be promising for cancer pain because they have been often distinctly used for cancer patients in East Asia. Thus, they are considered to be worth a follow-up study to elucidate their actions and effects.

Systematic Review Registration:https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/, identifier CRD42021265804

Scrophularia ningpoensis Hemsl: a review of its phytochemistry, pharmacology, quality control and pharmacokinetics

OBJECTIVES

Scrophularia ningpoensis Hemsl (SNH) is a commonly used medicinal plant in East Asia. Scrophulariae Radix (SR) is the dried roots of SNH, and is one of the most commonly used medicinal parts of SNH, and is an essential traditional medicine and widely used in East Asia for more than 2000 years. SR is used for clearing away heat and cooling blood, nourishing Yin and reducing fire, detoxicating and resolving a mass. The purpose of this paper is to systematically review the phytochemistry, pharmacology, quality control and pharmacokinetics of SNH based on the surveyed and summarized literature.

KEY FINDINGS

Up to now, iridoids, phenolic glycosides, phenolic acids, alkaloids, flavonoids, triterpenes and other compounds have been isolated and identified from SNH. The extract and chemical components of SNH exerts multiple pharmacological effects, such as hepatoprotective effect, anti-inflammatory effect, neuroprotective effect, anti-ventricular remodeling effect and other activities. Various methods have been developed for the quality control of SNH, mainly for SR. Some bioactive compounds in SNH exhibited different pharmacokinetic behaviours and individual metabolic transformation profiles.

SUMMARY

This review will contribute to understanding the correlation between the pharmacological activities and the traditional usage of SNH, and useful to rational use and drug development in the future.

Polysaccharides of Scrophularia ningpoensis Hemsl.: Extraction, Antioxidant, and Anti-Inflammatory Evaluation

The roots of Scrophularia ningpoensis Hemsl. are a famous traditional Chinese medicinal herb and are also used as health food. However, information about polysaccharides from S. ningpoensis (SNPS) is very limited. We applied the ultrasonic-assisted extraction (UAE) process to extract SNPS. The UAE conditions were optimized using single-factor experiments and response surface analysis. Under the optimized conditions of ultrasonic power of 550 W, extraction time of 26 min, and extraction temperature at 50°C, the highest yield of 13.47% ± 1.63% was obtained, which was in accordance with the predicted value of 13.71%. In comparison with traditional hot water extraction, the optimized UAE method significantly increased the extraction yield with lower extraction temperature and shorter extraction time. Furthermore, the in vitro antioxidant evaluation showed that EC50 values of SNPS were 2.43 ± 0.21, 4.40 ± 0.35, and 0.56 ± 0.062 mg/mL for 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical (DPPH) radical, hydroxyl free radical, and 2,2'-azinobis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) radical scavenging assay, respectively. The anti-inflammatory potential of SNPS was detected in lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induced ICR mice. Real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay showed that SNPS significantly improved LPS-stimulated inflammatory response by decreasing mRNA and protein expression of interleukin (IL)-6 and tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α in a dose-dependent manner. In conclusion, the extraction process of SNPS established in this study is reliable, and SNPS possesses potential antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities, which will provide a theoretical basis for guiding the clinical application of S. ningpoensis.

Yan-Hou-Qing formula attenuates ammonia-induced acute pharyngitis in rats via inhibition of NF-κB and COX-2

BACKGROUND

Yan Hou Qing (YHQ) is a Chinese medicinal formula designed to alleviate sore throat symptoms, but underlying mechanism of YHQ treatment for pharyngitis is poorly defined up to now.

METHODS

In this study, the modulation of YHQ on pharyngitis is investigated in ammonia-induced acute pharyngitis rat models. After treatment with YHQ or dexamethasone respectively for five consecutive days, all rats were sacrificed for biomolecular and histopathologic study. Protein expressions of MAPKs, NF-κB, COX-2 and 5-LOX in pharyngitis tissue were evaluated by western blot analysis and the levels of TNF-α, IL-6, prostaglandin (PG) E₂, leukotrienes (LT)-B₄ and LT-D₄ in pharyngeal tissue were measured via ELISA assay. Evans blue (EB) dye exudation test was performed parallelly to assess the integrity of pharyngeal tissue.

RESULTS

Compared with normal control group, EB dye exudation, and inflammatory cytokines in the model group were significantly increased, and the pharynx tissue was obviously infiltrated by inflammatory cells. YHQ treatment improved the inflammatory infiltrate in pharyngeal tissue, and reduced EB dye exudation in AP rat models. The up-regulated TNF-α and IL-6 in pharyngeal tissue of AP were significantly reduced by YHQ through inhibition of phosphorylation of p38, Erk and NF-κB. YHQ treatment also reversed the increased level of PGE₂ through down-regulation of COX-2.

CONCLUSIONS

YHQ formula attenuated the pharyngitis related symptoms via suppression of COX-2 and phosphorylation of p38, Erk and NF-κB (p65).

Synergistic nourishing 'Yin' effect of iridoid and phenylpropanoid glycosides from Radix Scrophulariae in vivo and in vitro

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Radix Scrophulariae (RS), is a renowned traditional Chinese medicine used as nourishing 'Yin'. The iridoid glycosides (IG) and phenylpropanoid glycosides (PG) are main chemical constituents in RS. However, there had been no pharmacological experiment studies of synergy between IG and PG. Due to the constituents interactions, exploring their synergy profile is of great important for explaining the essence of nourishing 'Yin' efficacy of RS.

AIM OF STUDY

The present study was undertaken to evaluate synergistic nourishing 'Yin' effect of IG and PG from RS in vivo and in vitro through their immunoregulation and antioxidant activities.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In this study, IG and PG fractions in RS were isolated and identified by High Performance Liquid Chromatography coupled with tandem quadrupole time-of-flight Mass Spectrometry (HPLC-Q-TOF-MS). The synergistic nourishing 'Yin' effect of two fractions were investigated in vivo and in vitro with thyroxine-induced 'Yin' deficiency (YD) mice model and primary splenic lymphocyte, respectively. The exterior syndrome signs and serologic and cellular biomarkers changes were detected. Then, the synergistic coefficient (SC) of IG and PG on every pharmacodynamics index were calculated by Webb method.

RESULTS

Compared with model and mono-therapy group (IG or PG group), IG combined with PG group significantly ameliorated YD by exerting immunoregulation and antioxidant effects. Based on the SC, IG and PG possessed a synergistic effect on heart rate, average speed, upright times, spleen index, LPO, SOD, IL-6, Na⁺-K⁺-ATP enzyme in vivo, and cAMP/cGMP, IFN-γ/IL-10, and MDA in vitro with SC > 1.

CONCLUSIONS

The nourishing 'Yin' benefits were clearly produced when IG and PG were used in combination, which provided the scientific evidence of multiple-components and multiple-approach synergistic effect of Chinese traditional herbal medicine to control and management of diseases.

Infrared-assisted extraction followed by high performance liquid chromatography to determine angoroside C, cinnamic acid, and harpagoside content in Scrophularia ningpoensis

Background

Angoroside C, cinnamic acid, and harpagoside are bioactive constituents in Scrophularia ningpoensis. Currently, an infrared-assisted extraction (IRAE) method coupled with high-performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detection (HPLC-UV) for the analysis of bioactive constituents in this plant is lacking.

Methods

A method based on HPLC following IRAE has been developed for quantifying angoroside C, cinnamic acid, and harpagoside in Scrophularia ningpoensis. Four main factors, namely, extraction solvent, solid/liquid ratio, illumination time, and distance between the infrared lamp and the round-bottom flask, were optimized for extraction. Furthermore, conventional ultrasonic extraction (USE) and microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) were also investigated to validate the developed method.

Results

The optimal extraction conditions were as follows: ethanol concentration, 37.5%; solid/liquid ratio, 1:25; illumination time, 10 min; and distance between infrared lamp and round-bottom flask, 3 cm. The results of method validation demonstrated that the developed method meets the requirement of analysis.

Conclusion

The results show that the IRAE-HPLC is a simple, accurate, and green analytical preparatory method for the potential extraction and quantification of angoroside C, cinnamic acid, and harpagoside in Scrophularia ningpoensis.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1186/s12906-019-2552-2) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

High throughput metabolomics-proteomics investigation on metabolic phenotype changes in rats caused by Radix Scrophulariae using ultra-performance liquid chromatography with mass spectrometry

Radix Scrophulariae, a traditional Chinese herb, is used to treat various diseases, including H₂O₂-induced apoptosis in cardiomyocytes, HaCaT cells, hyperuricaemia, and depression. This study screened metabolites, proteins and common pathways to better understand both the therapeutic effects and side effects of this herb. Methods: Untargeted metabolomics based on UPLC-TOF-MS, coupled with proteomics based on nano-UPLC-Q-Exactive-MS/MS, were used to investigate the effects of R. Scrophulariae in rats. Fifty-one identified metabolites in urine samples and 76 modulated proteins in liver tissue were potential biomarkers for R. Scrophulariae treatment. The biomarkers and common pathways involved were steroid hormone biosynthesis, drug metabolism-cytochrome p450, drug metabolism-other enzymes, pentose and glucuronate interconversions, and starch and sucrose metabolism. Some biomarkers were beneficial for treating diseases such as cancer, tuberculosis and isovaleric acidaemia, while other biomarkers caused side effects. Metabolomic and proteomic analyses of R. Scrophulariae-treated rats provided valuable information on the biological safety and efficacy of using R. Scrophulariae clinically.

Radix Scrophulariae, a traditional Chinese herb, is used to treat various diseases, including H₂O₂-induced apoptosis in cardiomyocytes, HaCaT cells, hyperuricaemia, and depression.

An integrated metabolomics and 16S rRNA gene sequencing approach exploring the molecular pathways and potential targets behind the effects of Radix Scrophulariae

To assess the impact of the caecal microbiota on faecal metabolic phenotypes in the presence of Radix Scrophulariae (Chinese name: Xuanshen), an integrated approach involving 16S rRNA gene sequencing combined with ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography/time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UHPLC/TOF-MS)-based faecal metabolomics was applied to Radix Scrophulariae-treated rats. Interestingly, Radix Scrophulariae led to significant gut microbiota changes at the phylum and genus levels in treated rats compared to control rats. Additionally, distinct changes in faecal metabolites, including linoleic acid (LA), guanosine, inosine, hypoxanthine, xanthine, 4-hydroxycinnamic acid, cholic acid, N-acetyl-d-glucosamine, l-urobilinogen and uridine, were observed in Radix Scrophulariae-treated rats. Of these, seven metabolites were up-regulated, and the remaining three metabolites were down-regulated. Moreover, there were substantial associations between altered levels of gut microbiota genera and discrepant levels of faecal metabolites, particularly for compounds involved in LA and purine metabolism. These results demonstrated that the gut microbiota is altered in association with faecal metabolism following treatment with Radix Scrophulariae. Our findings suggest that further application of this 16S rRNA gene sequencing and UHPLC/TOF-MS-based metabolomics approach will facilitate the assessment of the pharmacological action of Radix Scrophulariae and thus expand the scope of this herb.

An integrated approach to assess impact of caecal microbiota on faecal metabolic phenotypes in the presence of Radix Scrophulariae involving 16S rRNA gene sequencing combined with UHPLC/TOF-MS-based faecal metabolomics was applied to Radix Scrophulariae-treated rats.

SRVF, a novel herbal formula including Scrophulariae Radix and Viticis Fructus, disrupts focal adhesion and causes detachment-induced apoptosis in malignant cancer cells

When cells lose adhesion, they undergo detachment-induced apoptosis, known as anoikis. In contrast, tumor cells acquire resistance to anoikis, enabling them to survive, even after separating from neighboring cells or the ECM. Therefore, agents that restore anoikis sensitivity may serve as anti-cancer candidates. In this study, we constructed a novel herbal formula, SRVF, which contains Scrophulariae Radix (SR) and Viticis Fructus (VF). SRVF rapidly decreased cell adhesion, altered the cell morphology to round, and induced cell death; however, SR, VF, or their co-treatment did not. SRVF arrested HT1080 cells in G₂/M phase, increased the levels of pro-apoptotic proteins, and decreased the levels of anti-apoptotic proteins. Furthermore, SRVF efficiently reduced cell-cell and cell-ECM interactions by disrupting the F-actin cytoskeleton and down-regulating the levels of focal adhesion-related proteins, suggesting that SRVF efficiently triggers detachment-induced apoptosis (i.e., anoikis) in malignant cancer cells. In xenograft mouse models, daily oral administration of 50 or 100 mg/kg SRVF retarded tumor growth in vivo, and repeated administration of SRVF did not cause systemic toxicity in normal mice. These data collectively indicate that SRVF induces cancer cell death by restoring anoikis sensitivity via disrupting focal adhesion. Therefore, SRVF may be a safe and potent anti-cancer herbal decoction.

Protective Effects Induced by Microwave-Assisted Aqueous Harpagophytum Extract on Rat Cortex Synaptosomes Challenged with Amyloid β-Peptide

Harpagophytum procumbens is a plant species that displays anti-inflammatory properties in multiple tissues. The iridoid glycosides arpagoside, harpagide, and procumbide appear to be the most therapeutically important constituents. In addition, harpagoside treatment exerted neuroprotective effects both in vitro and in vivo. Considering these findings, the aim of the present work is to explore the possible protective role of the previously described microwave-assisted aqueous extract of H. procumbens on rat hypothalamic (Hypo-E22) cells, and in rat cortex challenged with amyloid β-peptide (1-40). In this context, we assayed the protective effects induced by H. procumbens by measuring the levels of malondialdehyde, 3-hydroxykynurenine (3-HK), brain-derived neurotrophic factor, and tumor necrosis factor-α, 3-HK. Finally, we evaluated the effects of H. procumbens treatment on cortex levels of dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin. H. procumbens extract was well tolerated by Hypo-E22 cells and upregulated brain-derived neurotrophic factor gene expression but down-regulated tumor necrosis factor-α gene expression. In addition, the extract reduced amyloid β-peptide stimulation of malondialdehyde and 3-HK and blunted the decrease of dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin, in the cortex. In this context, our work supports further studies for the evaluation and confirmation of Harpagophytum in the management of the clinical symptoms related to Alzheimer's disease. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.