Total triterpene acids, active ingredients from Fructus Corni, attenuate diabetic cardiomyopathy by normalizing ET pathway and expression of FKBP12.6 and SERCA2a in streptozotocin-rats

Cornus officinalis Extract Enriched with Ursolic Acid Ameliorates UVB-Induced Photoaging in Caenorhabditis elegans

Ultraviolet B (UVB) exposure can contribute to photoaging of skin. Cornus officinalis is rich in ursolic acid (UA), which is beneficial to the prevention of photoaging. Because UA is hardly soluble in water, the Cornus officinalis extract (COE) was obtained using water as the antisolvent to separate the components containing UA from the crude extract of Cornus officinalis. The effect of COE on UVB damage was assessed using Caenorhabditis elegans. The results showed that COE could increase the lifespan and enhance the antioxidant enzyme activity of C. elegans exposed to UVB while decreasing the reactive oxygen species (ROS) level. At the same time, COE upregulated the expression of antioxidant-related genes and promoted the migration of SKN-1 to the nucleus. Moreover, COE inhibited the expression of the skn-1 downstream gene and the extension of the lifespan in skn-1 mutants exposed to UVB, indicating that SKN-1 was required for COE to function. Our findings indicate that COE mainly ameliorates the oxidative stress caused by UVB in C. elegans via the SKN-1/Nrf2 pathway.

Effect of Traditional Chinese Medicine Poge Heart-Saving Decoction on Cardiac Function in Heart Failure Rat Model

Background

Poge heart-saving decoction (PHSD) has been used as a medicine treating heart failure in China for many years. The study aimed to explore the effect of PHSD on cardiac function in heart failure conditions and its underlying mechanism.

Methods

Adriamycin was used to induce the model of heart failure (HF) in rats. Sixty rats were randomly divided into six groups: blank control group, sham group, 9.33 g/kg group (low-PHSD, test group), 13.995 g/kg group (moderate-PHSD, test group), 18.66 g/kg group (high-PHSD, test group), and fosinopril group (4.67 mg/kg, comparison test group). Cardiac ultrasound was used to evaluate the cardiac function of the rats, and radioimmunoassay was used to measure aldosterone (ALD) and angiotensin II (AngII) levels in the serum.

Results

Compared with the blank control group, the left ventricular end-diastolic dimension (LVEDd) and left ventricular end-systolic dimension (LVEDs) in the sham group were increased (1.04 ± 0.12 vs. 0.67 ± 0.13 cm; 0.75 ± 0.13 vs. 0.28 ± 0.10 cm; P < 0.05), and the left ventricular ejection fraction was decreased (36.65 ± 5.74 vs. 76.09 ± 4.23%; P < 0.05). The ejection fraction of HF rats was increased in 9.33 g/kg group, 13.995 g/kg group, and 18.66 g/kg group compared with those of the sham group (57.13 ± 1.63, 58.43 ± 1.98, and 59.21 ± 1.37 vs. 36.65 ± 5.74%; P < 0.05). PHSD also improved cardiac function by reducing the LVEDd and LVEDs (0.88 ± 0.11, 0.75 ± 0.13, and 0.72 ± 0.18 vs. 1.04 ± 0.12 cm; 0.62 ± 0.10, 0.63 ± 0.17, and 0.45 ± 0.11 vs. 0.75 ± 0.13 cm; P < 0.05). The levels of ALD and AngII in the serum of rats in the sham group were significantly higher than those in the blank control group (371.58 ± 39.25 vs. 237.12 ± 17.35 μg/L; 232.18 ± 16.33 vs. 159.44 ± 18.42 pg/L; P < 0.05). The ALD and AngII of the rats in all of the three PHSD groups and the fosinopril group were decreased (276.81 ± 25.63, 277.18 ± 21.35, 268.19 ± 19.28, and 271.47 ± 28.96 vs. 371.58 ± 39.25 μg/L; 169.41 ± 27.53, 168.81 ± 19.78, 164.23 ± 21.34, and 174.27 ± 22.84 vs. 232.18 ± 16.33 pg/L; P < 0.05). The histopathological changes of the myocardium in the sham group showed the disorganized fiber, shaded staining, fracture, and zonation. The fracture of the myocardium was relieved in all groups except the sham group and the blank control group.

Conclusion

Therefore, PHSD could shorten LVEDd and LVEDs of rats and reverse ventricular remodeling. The mechanism might be related to the inhibition of the activation level of renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (especially ALD and AngII) and decreasing the postload of the heart.

Ultrasonic-microwave assisted extraction of total triterpenoid acids from Corni Fructus and hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic activities of the extract in mice

Triterpene acids, the main component of Corni Fructus, could improve diabetes mellitus, for which the underlying hypoglycemic mechanism is still unclear, in patients. In this study, total triterpenoid acids were extracted by ultrasonic-microwave assisted extraction optimized by the response surface methodology. The extract was then purified with an X-5 macroporous resin, and the yield of total triterpenoid acids increased to 281.24 mg g^-1 as compared with the 35.71 mg g^-1 obtained by unassisted extraction. The contents of five components were determined by ultrafast performance liquid chromatography. In addition, the hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic activities of total triterpenoid acids in diabetic mice induced by streptozotocin and a high fat diet were studied. The results indicated that all parameters (oral glucose tolerance, insulin resistance and liver damage) related to diabetes were significantly improved by total triterpenoid acids. Furthermore, total triterpenoid acids significantly recovered the expression level of AMP-activated protein kinase and its downstream proteins, including acetyl-CoA carboxylase, carnitine palmityltransferase-1, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha, sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1c and fatty acid synthase. Altogether, total triterpenoid acids could ameliorate hyperlipidemia and hyperglycemia in diabetic mice, probably by activating the AMP-activated protein kinase-peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor signaling pathway and inhibiting the sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1c and fatty acid synthase signaling pathways. Therefore, total triterpene acids, isolated from Corni Fructus which is a prevailing health food, could be a functional food ingredient with therapeutic and commercial values.

Network Pharmacology-Based Identification of the Mechanisms of Shen-Qi Compound Formula in Treating Diabetes Mellitus

Aim

The purpose of this research is to identify the mechanisms of Shen-Qi compound formula (SQC), a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), for treating diabetes mellitus (DM) using system pharmacology.

Methods

The active components and therapeutic targets were identified, and these targets were analyzed using gene ontology (GO) enrichment analysis, Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analysis, and protein-protein interaction (PPI) analysis. Finally, an integrated pathway was constructed to show the mechanisms of SQC.

Results

A total of 282 active components and 195 targets were identified through a database search. The component-target network was constructed, and the key components were screened out according to their degree. Through the GO, PPI, and KEGG analyses, the mechanism network of SQC treating DM was constructed.

Conclusions

This study shows that the mechanisms of SQC treating DM are related to various pathways and targets. This study provides a good foundation and basis for further in-depth verification and clinical application.

Corni Fructus: a review of chemical constituents and pharmacological activities

Cornus officinalis Sieb. et Zucc. is part of the genus Cornus of the family Cornaceae. Ripening and dry fruits (Corni Fructus) are recognized as an essential herb medicine in the traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and have been widely used for over 2000 years. This review provides a comprehensive summary of Corni Fructus (CF), including the botany, phytochemistry, traditional use, and current pharmacological activities. According to the basic theory of TCM, CF usually participates in various Chinese medicinal formulae to exert the essential roles in replenishing liver and kidney, arresting seminal emission and sweat. Based on modern pharmacological studies, about 90 compounds have been isolated and identified from CF. In vivo and in vitro experimental studies indicate that CF exhibits extensive pharmacological activities including hypoglycemic, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, neuroprotective, hepatoprotective, and nephroprotective activities. However, only about 18% of chemical constituents in CF were tested. It means the potential pharmacological activities and clinical values of CF need to be further investigated.

Traditional Chinese medicine suppresses left ventricular hypertrophy by targeting extracellular signal-regulated kinases signaling pathway in spontaneously hypertensive rats

Chinese herbal medicine Bu-Shen-Jiang-Ya decoction (BSJYD) is reported to be beneficial for hypertension. Over expression of extracellular signal regulated kinases (ERK) pathway plays an important role in left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH). This study aimed to observe effects of BSJYD on LVH in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs) and explore its possible mechanism on regulation of ERK pathway. Sixty 12-week-old SHRs were randomly allocated into 5 groups: BSJYD high dose group, middle dose group, low dose group, captopril group, and control group. Besides, a control group of Wistar-Kyoto rats was established. All rats were treated for 8 weeks. Systolic blood pressure (SBP), heart rate (HR), pathology, and left ventricular mass index (LVMI) were measured. Western blotting and Real-time PCR were used to assess the expressions of BDNF, Ras, ERK1/2, and c-fox levels. SBP and HR were significantly decreased compared with the control group and LVMI was markedly improved by BSJYD treatment in a dose-dependent manner. BSJYD inhibited the expression of BDNF, Ras, ERK1/2, and c-fox mRNA in LVH. In conclusion, BSJYD suppressed hypertension-induced cardiac hypertrophy by inhibiting the expression of ERK pathway. These changes in gene expression may be a possible mechanism by which BSJYD provides myocardial protection from hypertension.

Simultaneous determination of loganin, morroniside, catalpol and acteoside in normal and chronic kidney disease rat plasma by UPLC-MS for investigating the pharmacokinetics of Rehmannia glutinosa and Cornus officinalis Sieb drug pair extract

A sensitive and rapid method for determination of loganin, morroniside, catalpol and acteoside in rat plasma after oral administration of Rehmannia glutinosa Libosch and Cornus officinalis Sieb drug pair based on ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS). Chromatographic separation was achieved using an Acquity UPLC BEH C18 column (100mm×2.1mm, 1.7μm) at a flow rate of 0.4mL/min, using gradient mode containing 0.1% formic acid in water and acetonitrile were used as the mobile phase A and B. Loganin, morroniside, catalpol, acteoside and the internal standard (chloramphenicol) were detected by selected reaction monitoring in the negative ion mode with the mass transition of m/z 451.0→179.0 (morroniside), m/z 435.0→227.0 (loganin), m/z 407.1→199.1 (catalpol), m/z 623.2→161.0 (acteoside) and m/z 320.8→151.9 (chloramphenicol), respectively. All calibration curves showed good linearity (r>0.991). The precision was evaluated by intra-day and inter-day assays and the RSD% were all within 9.58%. The recovery ranged from 67.62 to 80.14%. The method was successfully applied to pharmacokinetic study of the analytes in normal and doxorubicin-induced chronic kidney disease rat plasma.

Management of diabetic complications: a chemical constituents based approach

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Long term hyperglycemia leads to development of complications associated with diabetes. Diabetic complications are now a global health problem without effective therapeutic approach. Hyperglycemia and oxidative stress are important components for the development of diabetic complications. Over the past few decades, herbal medicines have attracted much attention as potential therapeutic agents in the prevention and treatment of diabetic complications due to their multiple targets and less toxic side effects. This review aims to assess the current available knowledge of medicinal herbs for attenuation and management of diabetic complications and their underlying mechanisms.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Bibliographic investigation was carried out by scrutinizing classical text books and peer reviewed papers, consulting worldwide accepted scientific databases (SCOPUS, PUBMED, SCIELO, NISCAIR, Google Scholar) to retrieve available published literature. The inclusion criteria for the selection of plants were based upon all medicinal herbs and their active compounds with attributed potentials in relieving diabetic complications. Moreover, plants which have potential effect in ameliorating oxidative stress in diabetic animals have been included.

RESULTS

Overall, 238 articles were reviewed for plant literature and out of the reviewed literature, 127 articles were selected for the study. Various medicinal plants/plant extracts containing flavonoids, alkaloids, phenolic compounds, terpenoids, saponins and phytosterol type chemical constituents were found to be effective in the management of diabetic complications. This effect might be attributed to amelioration of persistent hyperglycemia, oxidative stress and modulation of various metabolic pathways involved in the pathogenesis of diabetic complications.

CONCLUSION

Screening chemical candidate from herbal medicine might be a promising approach for new drug discovery to treat the diabetic complications. There is still a dire need to explore the mechanism of action of various plant extracts and their toxicity profile and to determine their role in therapy of diabetic complications. Moreover, a perfect rodent model which completely mimics human diabetic complications should be developed.

Depressed calcium-handling proteins due to endoplasmic reticulum stress and apoptosis in the diabetic heart are attenuated by argirein

Diabetic cardiomyopathy (DC) is a unique disease frequently complicated to diabetes mellitus, manifesting endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and depressed calcium-handling proteins. We hypothesized that the abnormal FKBP12.6, SERCA2a, and CASQ2 are consequent to ER stress and apoptosis that are likely due to an entity of inflammation. These abnormalities may be attributed to reactive oxygen species genesis from activated NADPH oxidase which could respond to argirein (AR) through its anti-inflammatory activity. Sprague Dawley rats were randomly divided into six groups. Except the normal group, rats were injected with streptozotocin (STZ; 60 mg/kg, i.p.) once. During weeks 5 to 8 following STZ injection, rats were treated (in milligrams per kilogram per day, i.g.) with aminoguanidine (AMG, 100; an inducible nitric oxide synthase and AGEs inhibitor) or three doses of AR (50, 100, and 200). FKBP12.6, SERCA2a, and CASQ2 and ER stress chaperones Bip and PERK and apoptotic molecules were monitored in vivo and in vitro. Impaired cardiac performance and downregulated FKBP12.6, SERCA2a, and CASQ2 were significant in DC in vivo, and abnormal calcium-handling proteins were also found in high-glucose-incubated myocytes in vitro. ER stress manifested by upregulated Bip and PERK was predominant in association with DNA ladder and upregulated Bax and downregulated BCL-2 in vivo and in vitro. AR is effective to attenuate these abnormalities compared to AMG. Diabetic myocardium has inflammatory entity expressed as ER stress contributing to downregulated calcium-handling proteins. AR has potential in managing DC through attenuating depressed calcium-handling proteins, activated ER stress, and apoptosis in the myocardium.

Effect of the Best Compatibility of Components in Corni Fructus on WT1 Expression in Glomerular Podocytes of Type 2 Diabetic Rats with Early Nephropathy

Our previous studies have shown that the best compatibility of components in Corni Fructus (PC) had a protective effect on vascular endothelial cells. In this study, the effect of PC on WT1 expression in glomerular podocytes and the mechanism of PC on early nephropathy in type 2 diabetic rats have been investigated. Type 2 diabetic rats were generated by high-fat diet combined with intraperitoneal injection of 30 mg/kg streptozotocin (STZ), then fed aminoguanidine (100 mg/kg), glimepiride (0.4 mg/kg), low-dose (60 mg/kg) or high-dose (120 mg/kg) of PC once a day for 12 weeks. Fasting blood glucose (FBG) was examined regularly. Insulin (INS) was measured by a radioimmunoassay. Microalbuminuria (mALB) was measured by an ELISA assay. Urinary creatinine (UCr), blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and N-acetyl-β-D-glucosaminidase (NAG) were measured by colorimetric assays. Renal morphological changes were observed by optical microscopy. The expression index of Wilms tumor 1 (WT1EI) in glomeruli was examined by immunohistochemistry. The results showed that PC led to a decrease in FBG (p < 0.01), NAG (p < 0.05) and mALB (p < 0.05) and an increase in INS (p < 0.01) and WT1EI (p < 0.05) compared to the diabetic group. PC could improve renal damage and greatly reduce the renal morphology score (p < 0.05). These results suggested that PC had the protective effect on early nephropathy in type 2 diabetic rats, which was closely related to the regulation of podocytes.

Comparison of sildenafil with strontium fructose diphosphate in improving erectile dysfunction against upregulated cavernosal NADPH oxidase, protein kinase Cε, and endothelin system in diabetic rats

Objectives

Phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors are potent in relieving erectile dysfunction (ED), however, they are less satisfactory in diabetic patients, probably due to the pro-inflammatory biomarkers caused by diabetes. Therefore, it was interesting to compare the effects of sildenafil with strontium fructose 1,6-diphosphate (FDP-Sr) on cavernosal vascular activity and expressions of pro-inflammatory biomarkers in diabetic rats.

Methods

Male Sprague-Dawley rats were injected with streptozocin (60 mg/kg, i.p.) to develop diabetes. The animals were diabetic for eight weeks with sildenafil (12 mg/kg per day) or FDP-Sr (200 mg/kg per day) being administered for the last four of those eight weeks.

Key findings

Sildenafil was more effective in relieving reduced vascular dilatation (relevant to ED), but less in attenuating over-expressions of NADPH oxidase p22, p47 and p67 subunits, and ETA/BR (endothelin receptor type A and type B) in the diabetic cavernosum. In contrast, FDP-Sr was less effective in improving ED, but more effective in normalizing the abnormal NADPH oxidase and ETA/BR.

Conclusions

The activated NADPH oxidase and upregulated ETAR and ETBR due to diabetic lesions played a minor or moderate role in ED. By offering extra ATP, FPD-Sr suppressed these abnormalities, however, sildenafil did not. A combined therapy of sildenafil with FDP-Sr may be more effective in relieving ED in diabetic patients through normalizing pro-inflammatory cytokines and improving the nitric oxide/cGMP pathway in the cavernosum.

Sildenafil and FDP-Sr attenuate diabetic cardiomyopathy by suppressing abnormal expression of myocardial CASQ2, FKBP12.6, and SERCA2a in rats

AIM

To study whether calcium-modulating proteins CASQ2, FKBP12.6 and SERCA2a participate in diabetic cardiomyopathy, and whether the beneficial actions of testosterone, sildenafil or fructose diphosphate Sr (FDP-Sr) in the treatment of diabetic cardiomyopathy result from suppressing these molecules.

METHODS

Fifty male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were divided into five groups. Except for the normal group (non-diabetic), the other four groups were injected with streptozotocin (STZ, 60 mg/kg, ip) to induce diabetes. Four weeks after STZ injection, the four groups received sildenafil (12 mg·kg(-1)·d(-1), ig, for 4 week), FDP-Sr (200 mg/kg, ig, for 4 week), testosterone propionate (4 mg·kg(-1)·d(-1), sc, for 4 week), or no treatment, respectively.

RESULTS

In the diabetic rats, blood glucose, free fatty acids, triglycerides, total cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) were significantly increased, while high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) was significantly reduced, as compared to the non-diabetic rats. Cardiac dysfunction and myocardial hypertrophy of the diabetic rats were associated with increased mRNA and protein expression of iNOS, OBRb, and PKCɛ, while expression of CASQ2, SERCA2a, and FKBP12.6 was significantly down-regulated. Sildenafil and FDP-Sr, but not testosterone, significantly attenuated the biomarker abnormalities, without changing the metabolic abnormalities.

CONCLUSION

CASQ2, FKBP12.6 and SERCA2a were down-regulated in diabetic cardiomyopathy. Sildenafil and FDP-Sr, but not testosterone, attenuated the cardiac dysfunction in diabetic cardiomyopathy, without changing the metabolic abnormalities, which may results from inhibiting oxidative and inflammatory cytokines and improving calcium homeostasis.

Qualitative and quantitative analysis of Fructus Corni using ultrasound assisted microwave extraction and high performance liquid chromatography coupled with diode array UV detection and time-of-flight mass spectrometry

The first successful combination of ultrasound assisted microwave extraction (UAME) with liquid chromatography analysis is described for the quality evaluation of Fructus Corni, a commonly used traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). Due to their multifarious biological activities, seven representative bioactive constituents (two phenolics and five iridoids) were chosen as targets for the quality assessment. The chromatographic separation was performed on a C18 Aq column with gradient elution using methanol and aqueous solution containing 0.2% acetic acid. The quantitative method developed was validated and successfully applied to determine the seven markers in 12 batches of Fructus Corni extract from various habitats. Significant variations were demonstrated in the contents of seven compounds. Further 13 components were tentatively identified by online TOF mass analysis.