Influence of sulfur fumigation on glycoside profile in Platycodonis Radix (Jiegeng)

Rapid visual detection of sulfur dioxide residues in food using acid-sensitive CdTe quantum dots-loaded alginate hydrogel beads

Acid-sensitive CdTe quantum dots-loaded alginate hydrogel (CdTe QDs-AH) beads were designed for the visual detection of SO2 residues. As proof of concept, two types of CdTe QDs were selected as model probes and embedded in AH beads. The entire test was performed within 25 min in a modified double-layer test tube with one bead fixed above the sample solution. Adding citric acid and heating at 70 ℃ for 20 min transformed the sulfites in the solution into SO2 gas, which then quenched the fluorescence of the CdTe QDs-AH beads. Using this assay, qualitative, naked-eye detection of SO2 residues was achieved in the concentration range of 25-300 ppm, as well as precise quantification was possible based on the difference in the average fluorescence brightness of the beads before and after the reaction. Five food types were successfully analysed using this method, which is simpler and more economical than existing methods, and does not require complex pretreatment.

Platycodonis Radix Alleviates LPS-Induced Lung Inflammation through Modulation of TRPA1 Channels

Platycodonis Radix (PR), a widely consumed herbal food, and its bioactive constituents, platycodins, have therapeutic potential for lung inflammation. Transient Receptor Potential Ankyrin 1 (TRPA1), which is essential for the control of inflammation, may be involved in the development of inflammation in the lungs. The aim of this study was to determine the TRPA1-targeted effects of PR against pulmonary inflammation and to investigate the affinity of PR constituents for TRPA1 and their potential mechanisms of action. Using a C57BL/6J mouse lipopolysaccharides (LPS) intratracheal instillation pneumonia model and advanced analytical techniques (UPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS, molecular docking, immuno-fluorescence), five platycodins were isolated from PR, and the interaction between these platycodins and hTRPA1 was verified. Additionally, we analyzed the impact of platycodins on LPS-induced TRPA1 expression and calcium influx in BEAS-2B cells. The results indicated that PR treatment significantly reduced the severity of LPS-triggered inflammation in the mouse model. Interestingly, there was a mild increase in the expression of TRPA1 caused by PR in healthy mice. Among five isolated platycodins identified in the PR extract, Platycodin D₃ (PD₃) showed the highest affinity for hTRPA1. The interaction between platycodins and TRPA1 was verified through molecular docking methods, highlighting the significance of the S5-S6 pore-forming loop in TRPA1 and the unique structural attributes of platycodins. Furthermore, PD₃ significantly reduced LPS-induced TRPA1 expression and calcium ion influx in BEAS-2B cells, substantiating its own role as an effective TRPA1 modulator. In conclusion, PR and platycodins, especially PD₃, show promise as potential lung inflammation therapeutics. Further research should explore the precise mechanisms by which platycodins modulate TRPA1 and their broader therapeutic potential.

Polygalacin D inhibits the growth of hepatocellular carcinoma cells through BNIP3L-mediated mitophagy and endogenous apoptosis pathways

Platycodon grandiflorum (Jacq.) A. DC. is a famous medicinal plant commonly used in East Asia. Triterpene saponins isolated from P. grandiflorum are the main biologically active compounds, among which polygalacin D (PGD) has been reported to be an anti-tumor agent. However, its anti-tumor mechanism against hepatocellular carcinoma is unknown. This study aimed to explore the inhibitory effect of PGD in hepatocellular carcinoma cells and related mechanisms of action. We found that PGD exerted significant inhibitory effect on hepatocellular carcinoma cells through apoptosis and autophagy. Analysis of the expression of apoptosis-related proteins and autophagy-related proteins revealed that this phenomenon was attributed to the mitochondrial apoptosis and mitophagy pathways. Subsequently, using specific inhibitors, we found that apoptosis and autophagy had mutually reinforcing effects. In addition, further analysis of autophagy showed that PGD induced mitophagy by increasing BCL2 interacting protein 3 like (BNIP3L) levels.In vivo experiments demonstrated that PGD significantly inhibited tumor growth and increased the levels of apoptosis and autophagy in tumors. Overall, our findings showed that PGD induced cell death of hepatocellular carcinoma cells primarily through mitochondrial apoptosis and mitophagy pathways. Therefore, PGD can be used as an apoptosis and autophagy agonist in the research and development of antitumor agents.

Characterization and Discrimination of Ophiopogonis Radix with Different Levels of Sulfur Fumigation Based on UPLC-QTOF-MS Combined Molecular Networking with Multivariate Statistical Analysis

Ophiopogonis Radix, also known as "Maidong" (MD) in China, is frequently sulfur-fumigated (SF) in the pretreatment process of MD to improve the appearance and facilitate preservation. However, the process leads to changes in chemical composition, so it is essential to develop an approach to identify the chemical characteristics between nonfumigated and sulfur-fumigated products. This paper provided a practical method based on UPLC-QTOF-MS combined Global Natural Products Social Molecular Networking (GNPS) with multivariate statistical analysis for the characterization and discrimination of MD with different levels of sulfur fumigation, high concentration sulfur fumigation (HS), low concentration sulfur fumigation (LS) and without sulfur fumigation (WS). First, a number of 98 compounds were identified in those MD samples. Additionally, the results of Principal component analysis (PCA) and Orthogonal partial least-squares-discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) demonstrated that there were significant chemical differences in the chemical composition of MD with different degrees of SF. Finally, fourteen and sixteen chemical markers were identified upon the comparison between HS and WS, LS and WS, respectively. Overall, these results can be able to discriminate MD with different levels of SF as well as establish a solid foundation for further quality control and pharmacological research.

Components study on antitussive effect and holistic mechanism of Platycodonis Radix based on spectrum-effect relationship and metabonomics analysis

The antitussive effect of Platycodonis Radix is closely related to the components in saponins fraction of Platycodonis Radix extract (SFPRE); however, these active components and their holistic mechanism remain unknown. Hence, a new method by integrating spectrum-effect relationship analysis with metabolomics analysis was applied to study the active components and their holistic mechanism simultaneously. For spectrum-effect relationship analysis, chemical fingerprints of ten batches of SFPRE were developed using UHPLC-LTQ-Orbitrap MSn; antitussive effect were evaluated using a classic mice-cough model induced by ammonia liquor. Spectrum-effect relationship was analyzed by partial least squares regression (PLSR) analysis. For metabolomics analysis, the altered metabolites related to cough in serum were identified by UHPLC-Q-TOF/MS and orthogonal partial least squares-discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA); metabolic pathway analysis was depended on MetaboAnalyst 4.0, KEGG database, METLIN database and HMDB database. Our findings showed that 10 identified components of Polygalacin D (peak 26), Deapio-platycodin D (peak 21), Platycodin D (peak 23), β-Gentiotriosyl platycodigenin (peak 37), Platycoside G3 (peak 17), Platycoside C (peak 25), Platycodin D3 (peak 16), 3-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl platycodigenin (peak 33), Platycoside F (peak 19) and 3″-O-acetyl platycodin D3 (peak 15), and 2 unidentified components (peak 45 and 44) possessed antitussive effects. The metabolomics analysis result showed that 19 metabolites were potential biomarkers related to the cough, 16 of which could be restored to normal levels by SFPRE. These biomarkers were involved in arachidonic acid metabolism, linoleic acid metabolism and glycerophospholipid metabolism. The current study may facilitate the development of antitussive medicines with fewer side-effects based on Platycodonis Radix.

Chemical profile of Xian-He-Cao-Chang-Yan formula and its effects on ulcerative colitis

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Xian-He-Cao-Chang-Yan formula (XHCF) is consisting of six crude drugs including Agrimoniae Herba, Coptidis Rhizoma, Aucklandiae Radix, Cicadae Periostracum, Acori Tatarinowii Rhizoma, and Platycodonis Radix at the ratio of 5:1.5:1.5:1.5:1.5:1. It has been used to improve syndromes of ulcerative colitis (UC) for many years.

AIM OF THE STUDY

This study was designed to study the bioactive ingredients and therapeutic mechanisms of XHCF.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The chemical profile of XHCF was characterized by UHPLC-QTOF-MS/MS. The effects and mechanisms of XHCF on UC were investigated in colitis mice induced by dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) and LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells.

RESULTS

A total of 103 compounds were characterized in XHCF. XHCF could effectively improve acute colitis induced by DSS. More importantly, XHCF significantly decreased M1 macrophage markers (CD11c, IL-6 and IL-1β) whereas increased M2 macrophage markers (CD206) in colitis mice, suggesting it could regulate macrophage polarization. Furthermore, the levels of HK2 and lactic acid in colon tissues were significantly reduced by XHCF, indicating that XHCF could inhibit glycolysis. It also down-regulated HK2 expression in macrophages challenged by LPS. In addition, XHCF enhanced the phosphorylation of AMPK both in vivo and in vitro, suggesting the involvement of AMPK in XHCF function.

CONCLUSIONS

XHCF ameliorated DSS-induced colitis in mice via inhibition of M1 macrophage polarization, probably by the modulation of macrophage metabolic reprogramming via AMPK, contributing to its anti-inflammatory activity. The synergistic actions of multiple ingredients might be responsible for the therapeutic benefits of XHCF on UC.

Polygalacin D suppresses esophageal squamous cell carcinoma growth and metastasis through regulating miR-142-5p/Nrf2 axis

Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is a common malignancy worldwide with poor survival. High expression of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) is an antioxidant transcript factor that protects malignant cells from death. Polygalacin D (PGD), a bioactive compound isolated from Platycodongrandiflorum (Jacq.), has recently been reported to be an anti-tumor agent. This study aimed to investigate the anti-cancer effects of PGD and its underlying molecular mechanisms in human ESCC. Here, we confirmed that Nrf2 was over-expressed in clinical ESCC tissues and cell lines. PGD treatments markedly reduced Nrf2 expression in a dose- and time-dependent manner in ESCC cell lines. Importantly, we found that PGD significantly reduced proliferation, and induced G2/M cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in ESCC cells. Also, PGD dramatically triggered autophagy in ESCC cells, and autophagy inhibitor bafilomycinA1 (BafA1) greatly abrogated the inhibitory role of PGD in cell viability and apoptosis. In addition, PGD evidently provoked reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation in ESCC cells, and pre-treatment of ROS scavenger N-acetyl-l-cysteine (NAC) markedly abolished PGD-triggered cell death. PGD also dramatically repressed migration and invasion in ESCC cells. Mechanistic investigation revealed that Nrf2 gene was directly targeted by miR-142-5p. MiR-142-5p negatively regulated Nrf2 expression in ESCC cells. We notably found that PGD-inhibited proliferation, migration and invasion in ESCC were considerably rescued by miR-142-5p knockdown; however, ROS production, apoptosis and autophagy induced by PGD were almost eliminated when miR-142-5p was silenced. On the contrast, over-expressing miR-142-5p could remarkably promote the anti-ESCC effects of PGD. Experiments in vivo by the tumor xenograft model confirmed that miR-142-5p effectively improved the activity of PGD to repress tumor growth and lung metastasis. Both in vitro and in vivo studies showed that PGD had few side effects on normal cells and major organs. Collectively, our findings provided the first evidence that PGD could be an effective therapeutic strategy for ESCC treatment by regulating miR-142-5p/Nrf2 axis with few adverse effects.

A strategy to comprehensively and quickly identify the chemical constituents in Platycodi Radix by ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with traveling wave ion mobility quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry

Quick identification of the complex composition of traditional Chinese medicine only through liquid-mass spectrometry technology is difficult. Especially the identification of isomers and co-eluting compounds is even more difficult. In this study, an approach of multidimensional data modes based on ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with traveling wave ion mobility quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry was proposed to quickly and comprehensively identify the compounds in Platycodi Radix. First, data-independent acquisition, high-definition acquisition, and tandem mass spectrometry acquisition modes were used to acquire integrated multidimensional mass spectral data. Second, summarize the diagnostic ions of compounds according to the fragmentation pathway of references. Third, unknown compounds and isomers were identified via the UNIFI™ software with an in-house library. Finally, a total of 87 compounds were identified, seven compounds were explicitly identified by comparing the retention time and fragment ions with the references. Fourteen compounds were first detected in the Platycodi Radix, four of them tentatively were identified by comparing with previous literature, eight compounds were observed and reported for the first time by comparing typical fragmentation pathway with the known standard substances in this paper. This research strategy has a certain potential for the analysis of complex components of other traditional Chinese medicine.

Effects of sulfur fumigation and heating desulfurization on quality of medicinal herbs evaluated by metabolomics and glycomics: Codonopsis Radix, a pilot study

Sulfur fumigation and heating desulfurization are used together in the post-harvest processing of many medicinal herbs. However, little is known about the effects of sulfur fumigation on saccharide components, nor about the effects of heating desulfurization on all herbal constituents. In this study, metabolomics and glycomics were integrated to investigate the effects of these two processes on the chemistry of Codonopsis Radix (CR) as a pilot study. The results showed that both sulfur fumigation and heating desulfurization significantly changed the non-saccharide small-molecule metabolome and the glycome of CR in different ways. Chemical mechanisms, such as esterification, glycosidic hydrolysis, esterolysis, amide bond hydrolysis, oxidation and dehydration, are proposed to be involved. These facts strongly inspire that, in addition to investigations of how sulfur fumigation impacts non-saccharide small-molecule metabolites, researches on heating desulfurization and saccharides should be conducted so as to enable accurate, comprehensive evaluation of the quality of sulfur-fumigated herbs.

Antinociceptive Effects of Shenling Baizhu through PI3K-Akt-mTOR Signaling Pathway in a Mouse Model of Bone Metastasis with Small-Cell Lung Cancer

Shenling Baizhu additive powder (SLBZ-AP), a formulation of a variety of natural medicinal plants, has clinical efficacy in treating cancers in previous studies. We explored the effect of SLBZ-AP in bone metastasis of lung cancer (BMLC) mice, and the possible mechanism involved was further investigated in the present study. Mice model of BMLC was made and treated with SLBZ-AP. Pain behavioral tests were performed to explore the effect on BMLC-induced pain in mice. TUNEL staining was used to investigate apoptosis. The mRNA expression of markers in the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway was measured by qPCR, and protein expression was detected by western blotting and immunohistochemistry analysis. SLBZ-AP relieved BMLC-induced pain and prolonged animals' survival, promoted cell apoptosis in the marrow from the tibia of BMLC mice, and inhibited mRNA and protein expression of AKT, mTOR, P70S6, and VEGF, as well as protein expression of p-AKT, p-mTOR, p-P70S6, and VEGF upregulation in the marrow of tibia induced by BMLC, an effect which was similar to rapamycin. Our results suggested that SLBZ-AP may have antinociceptive effect and prolong survival of BMLC mice at least partially by inhibiting cell proliferation and promoting apoptosis through the PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway. SLBZ-AP may be a potential candidate for BMLC therapy.

Proposed mechanisms for the extracellular release of PD-L1 by the anticancer saponin platycodin D

Platycodin D (PTD) is an oleanane-type terpenoid saponin, isolated from the plant Platycodon grandiflorus. PTD displays multiple pharmacological effects, notably significant anticancer activities in vitro and in vivo. Recently, PTD was shown to trigger the extracellular release of the immunologic checkpoint glycoprotein PD-L1. The reduction of PD-L1 expression at the surface of cancer cells leads to interleukin-2 secretion and T cells activation. In the present review, we have analyzed the potential origin of this atypical PTD-induced PD-L1 release to propose a mechanistic explanation. For that, we considered all published scientific information, as well as the physicochemical characteristics of the natural product (a modeling analysis of PTD and the related saponin β -escin is provided). On this basis, we raise the hypothesis that the capacity of PTD to induce PD-L1 extracellular release derives from two main mechanisms: (i) a drug-promoted shedding of membrane PD-L1 by metalloproteases or more likely, (ii) a cholesterol binding-related effect, that would lead to perturbation of membrane raft domains, limiting the recruitment of proteins like TLR4. The drug-induced membrane effects (frequently observed with saponin drugs), associated with a production of interferon-γ,can favor the release of proteins like PD-L1 into membrane vesicles. Our analysis supports the hypothesis that PTD is a cholesterol-dependent lipid raft-modulating agent able to promote the formation of PD-L1 containing extracellular vesicles. The anticancer potential of PTD and its capacity to modulate the functioning of the PD-1/PD-L1 checkpoint should be further considered.

The Pharmacological Effects and Health Benefits of Platycodon grandiflorus-A Medicine Food Homology Species

Platycodon grandiflorus is a widely used edible, traditional Chinese medicinal herb. It is rich in saponins, flavonoids, phenolic acids, and other compounds. It contains a large number of fatty acids such as linoleic acid (up to 63.24%), a variety of amino acids, vitamins, and multiple essential trace elements. P. grandiflorus has several biological applications, such as in hypotension, lipid reduction, atherosclerosis, inflammation, relieving cough and phlegm, promoting cholic acid secretion, and as an antioxidant. Further, P. grandiflorus is often used in the development of cold mixed vegetables, canned vegetables, preserved fruit, salted vegetables, and cosmetics in northeast China, South Korea, Japan, and Korea. In this paper, the active chemical components and the health benefits of P. grandiflorus have been reviewed, providing new ideas for the further development of nutraceutical products to prevent and manage chronic diseases.

Rapid characterization of chemical constituents of Platycodon grandiflorum and its adulterant Adenophora stricta by UPLC-QTOF-MS/MS

Platycodon grandiflorum (PG) is extensively used for treating cough, excessive phlegm, sore throat, bronchitis and asthma, whereas Adenophora stricta (AS) is commonly used to reduce phlegm, clear lung and tonify stomach. Due to similar appearances, PG is sometimes adulterated with cheap AS so as to gain profits. And this will inevitably result in different pharmacological property. In order to further clarify the differences in the chemical composition of these two Chinese herbs, the ultra-high performance liquid chromatography combined with quadrupole time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry coupled with UNIFI platform was used to establish a reliable, simple, sensitive and rapid analytical method. Seventy-five compounds, including triterpenoid saponins, organic acids, flavonoids, steroids, phenols, etc., were identified from PG based on MS^E data and retention time under the optimized conditions. Meanwhile, 57 compounds including triterpenoid saponins, organic acids, steroids, phenols, alkaloids, etc. were identified from AS. Among all the identified compounds, there were only 14 common components (mainly organic acids) existing in two herbs, and most of the other chemical compositions are totally different between the two herbs. Based on the results, AS cannot substitute for PG. In addition, PG adulterated with AS will lead a poor efficacy in clinical application. In addition, the systematic comparison of similarities and differences between two Chinese herbs will provide reliable characterization profiles to clarify the pharmacological fundamental substances.