A novel coumarin, (+)-3'-angeloxyloxy-4'-keto-3',4'-dihydroseselin, isolated from Bupleurum malconense (Chaihu) inhibited NF-κB activity

Successful complementary therapy with Chinese herbal medicine in a patient with refractory symptoms from systemic lupus erythematosus: A case report

BACKGROUND

This study presents a unique case of a patient diagnosed with systemic lupus erythematosus and a relatively rare type of traditional Chinese medicine known as Qi deficiency and cold-dampness syndrome. The patient's condition was successfully treated using a combination of complementary therapies, specifically the modified Buzhong Yiqi decoction and the Erchen decoction.

CASE PRESENTATION

A 34-year-old female patient experienced intermittent arthralgia and skin rash over three years. She also developed recurrent arthralgia and skin rashes in the last month, followed by low-grade fever, vaginal bleeding, alopecia, and fatigue. The patient was diagnosed with systemic lupus erythematosus and was prescribed prednisone, tacrolimus, anti-allergic medications (ebastine and loratadine), and norethindrone. While the arthralgia improved, the low-grade fever and rash persisted and, in some instances, worsened. Based on the evaluation of tongue coating and pulses, the patient's symptoms were attributed to Qi deficiency and cold-dampness syndrome. Consequently, the modified Buzhong Yiqi decoction and the Erchen decoction were added to her treatment regimen. The former was used to tonify Qi, while the latter was employed to resolve the phlegm dampness. As a result, the patient's fever subsided after three days, and all symptoms resolved within five days.

CONCLUSION

The modified Buzhong Yiqi decoction and the Erchen decoction could be considered complementary therapy in systemic lupus erythematosus patients with Qi deficiency and cold-dampness syndrome.

Study on the function of Huazhuo Jiedu Decoction in promoting the homing of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells and contributing to the treatment of ulcerative colitis

Objective

To study the function of Huazhuo Jiedu Decoction (HZJD) in promoting the homing of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) and contributing to the reconstruction of the intestinal mucosal barrier in ulcerative colitis.

Methods

Bone mesenchymal stem cells derived from mice were isolated and cultured, osteogenic and adipogenic assays to study the differentiation ability of BMSCs, and flow cytometry was used to detect the surface marker of the third generation cells. 30 mice were selected and divided into blank group, model group, HZJD group, BMSCs group, and HZJD combined with BMSCs group. Mouse colon length, body weight, and DAI score were used to assess efficacy. The levels of IL-6, IL-1β, TNF-α, and IFN-γ in serum were measured by ELISA. BMSCs transfected with GFP were used to mark the homing of BMSCs in mice. The BMSCs tagging protein CD90+/CD29+ was detected by immunofluorescence. H&E staining detects damage to the colon and the inflammatory response. The expression levels of claudin-2, claudin-4, occludin, and ZO-1 in colon tissues were detected by Western blot.

Results

After subculture, the cell grew with adherence. Flow cytometry showed that the cells were CD73+/CD90+/CD29+/CD45-/CD34-, which belonged to bone mesenchymal stem cells. ELISA showed that the treatment with HZJD and BMSCs suppressed the DSS-induced inflammatory response. BMSCs carrying GFP can be detected in intestinal tissues. Immunofluorescence showed that the HZJD combined with the BMSCs group had more BMSCs homing to the colonic tissue. The results of H&E and Western blot showed that DSS-induced intestinal mucosal damage in UC mice was repaired by HZJD and BMSCs, and the abnormal tight junction proteins claudin-2, claudin-4, occludin, and ZO-1 were normalized.

Conclusion

HZJD has a therapeutic effect on ulcerative colitis by promoting the migration of BMSCs to ulcers of the colon and contributing to the reconstruction of the intestinal mucosal barrier in ulcerative colitis.

Synergism and Subadditivity of Verbascoside-Lignans and -Iridoids Binary Mixtures Isolated from Castilleja tenuiflora Benth. on NF-κB/AP-1 Inhibition Activity

Pharmacodynamic interactions between plant isolated compounds are important to understand the mode of action of an herbal extract to formulate or create better standardized extracts, phytomedicines, or phytopharmaceuticals. In this work, we propose binary mixtures using a leader compound to found pharmacodynamic interactions in inhibition of the NF-κB/AP-1 pathway using RAW-Blue™ cells. Eight compounds were isolated from Castilleja tenuiflora, four were new furofuran-type lignans for the species magnolin, eudesmin, sesamin, and kobusin. Magnolin (60.97%) was the most effective lignan inhibiting the NF-κB/AP-1 pathway, followed by eudesmin (56.82%), tenuifloroside (52.91%), sesamin (52.63%), and kobusin (45.45%). Verbascoside, a major compound contained in wild C. tenuiflora showed an inhibitory effect on NF-κB/AP-1. This polyphenol was chosen as a leader compound for binary mixtures. Verbacoside-aucubin and verbascoside-kobusin produced synergism, while verbascoside-tenuifloroside had subadditivity in all concentrations. Verbascoside-kobusin is a promising mixture to use on NF-κB/AP-1 related diseases and anti-inflammatory C. tenuiflora-based phytomedicines.

Botany, traditional uses, phytochemistry, analytical methods, processing, pharmacology and pharmacokinetics of Bupleuri Radix: A systematic review

Bupleuri Radix (BR) is the dry root of Bupleurum chinense DC. and Bupleurum scorzonerifolium Willd. It has the functions of evacuation and antipyretic, soothing liver and relieving depression and often used to treat cold fever, chest and rib swelling pain, irregular menstruation, uterine prolapse, rectocele and other diseases. In this paper, the botany, traditional application, phytochemistry, pharmacology and toxicity of BR were reviewed. On the basis of limited literature, the analytical method, quality control, processing method, processing effect and pharmacokinetics of BR were summarized and analyzed for the first time. This review makes an in-depth discussion on the shortcomings of the current research on BR, and puts forward its own views and solutions. This has never been summarized in the previous review of BR. It is of great practical significance for future scholars to find a breakthrough point in the study of BR. So far, its mechanism has not been satisfactorily explained. Moreover, the comprehensive quality evaluation and multi-target network pharmacology of BR need to be further studied. In the future, more in vitro and in vivo experiments are needed to give full play to the therapeutic potential of BR.