Predictive QSAR model confirms flavonoids in Chinese medicine can activate voltage-gated calcium (CaV) channel in osteogenesis

Research Progress of Tamarixetin and its Glycosides

Tamarixetin and its glycosides are widely distributed in natural plants, and they are also natural flavonoid derivatives of quercetin. Its main pharmacological effects include antioxidant, antiinflammatory, antiviral, anticancer, cardiovascular effects, etc. The pharmacokinetics showed that the distribution of direct absorption differed from that of biosynthesis. At the same time, research shows that tamarixetin is safe to use because it has little self-toxicity. In this paper, 181 articles on tamarixetin published from 1976 to 2023 are obtained from PubMed, China Knowledge Base Database, Wanfang Data, and other electronic databases. Tamarixetin is searched based on keywords, and 121 articles remain. Transformation synthesis, pharmacokinetics, pharmacological action, and structureactivity relationship of tamarixetin were reviewed.

Bioactivity, Molecular Mechanism, and Targeted Delivery of Flavonoids for Bone Loss

Skeletal disabilities are a prominent burden on the present population with an increasing life span. Advances in osteopathy have provided various medical support for bone-related diseases, including pharmacological and prosthesis interventions. However, therapeutics and post-surgery complications are often reported due to side effects associated with modern-day therapies. Thus, therapies utilizing natural means with fewer toxic or other side effects are the key to acceptable interventions. Flavonoids constitute a class of bioactive compounds found in dietary supplements, and their pharmacological attributes have been well appreciated. Recently, flavonoids' role is gaining renowned interest for its effect on bone remodeling. A wide range of flavonoids has been found to play a pivotal role in the major bone signaling pathways, such as wingless-related integration site (Wnt)/β-catenin, bone morphogenetic protein (BMP)/transforming growth factor (TGF)-β, mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), etc. However, the reduced bioavailability and the absorption of flavonoids are the major limitations inhibiting their use against bone-related complications. Recent utilization of nanotechnological approaches and other delivery methods (biomaterial scaffolds, micelles) to target and control release can enhance the absorption and bioavailability of flavonoids. Thus, we have tried to recapitulate the understanding of the role of flavonoids in regulating signaling mechanisms affecting bone remodeling and various delivery methods utilized to enhance their therapeutical potential in treating bone loss.

Scutellarein stimulates human sperm function by increasing the levels of intracellular calcium and tyrosine phosphorylation

As a kind of flavonoid, scutellarein is widely used to protect against various human diseases. Although the protective effects of scutellarein have been well studied, its influence on human reproduction remains unknown. In this research, we evaluated the effect of scutellarein on human sperm functions in vitro. Three different concentrations of scutellarein (1, 10, 100 μM) were applied to ejaculated human sperm. Fertilisation-essential functions, as well as the intracellular calcium concentration ([Ca²⁺ ]_i ) and protein-tyrosine phosphorylation, two factors which are vital for sperm function regulation, were evaluated. The results demonstrated that all concentrations of scutellarein utilised in this study could significantly increase sperm spontaneous capacitation and acrosome reaction through the enhancement of [Ca²⁺ ]_i . Besides, the level of tyrosine phosphorylation of sperm could also be increased by scutellarein. Meanwhile, the sperm motility could be improved by 10 and 100 μM scutellarein, which also make a significant enhancement in sperm penetration ability and hyperactivation. This is one of the limited studies showing the regulation of scutellarein on human spermatozoa functions and is helpful to enrich its application.