Protective effects of salidroside fromRhodiola roseaon LPS-induced acute lung injury in mice

From Molecular Mechanisms to Clinical Therapy: Understanding Sepsis-Induced Multiple Organ Dysfunction

Sepsis-induced multiple organ dysfunction arises from the highly complex pathophysiology encompassing the interplay of inflammation, oxidative stress, endothelial dysfunction, mitochondrial damage, cellular energy failure, and dysbiosis. Over the past decades, numerous studies have been dedicated to elucidating the underlying molecular mechanisms of sepsis in order to develop effective treatments. Current research underscores liver and cardiac dysfunction, along with acute lung and kidney injuries, as predominant causes of mortality in sepsis patients. This understanding of sepsis-induced organ failure unveils potential therapeutic targets for sepsis treatment. Various novel therapeutics, including melatonin, metformin, palmitoylethanolamide (PEA), certain herbal extracts, and gut microbiota modulators, have demonstrated efficacy in different sepsis models. In recent years, the research focus has shifted from anti-inflammatory and antioxidative agents to exploring the modulation of energy metabolism and gut microbiota in sepsis. These approaches have shown a significant impact in preventing multiple organ damage and mortality in various animal sepsis models but require further clinical investigation. The accumulation of this knowledge enriches our understanding of sepsis and is anticipated to facilitate the development of effective therapeutic strategies in the future.

Salidroside alleviates cholestasis-induced liver fibrosis by inhibiting hepatic stellate cells via activation of the PI3K/AKT/GSK-3β signaling pathway and regulating intestinal flora distribution

Salidroside (SAL), a phenylpropanoid bioactive compound, has various pharmacological properties, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and hepatoprotective effects. However, the pharmacological effects and mechanisms of action of SAL on cholestatic liver injury are unclear. This study investigated the mechanism and effects of salidroside (SAL) on intestinal flora distribution and hepatic stellate cell (HSC) activation in cholestatic hepatic fibrosis. Bile duct ligation was used to cause cholestasis BALB/c mice. The therapeutic efficacy of SAL in liver fibrosis was assessed via serum/tissue biochemical analyses and liver tissue hematoxylin and eosin and Masson staining. Inflammation and oxidative stress were analyzed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and western blotting. HSC were activated in vitro using lipopolysaccharide, and the effects of SAL on HSC migration and inflammatory factor expression were detected via scratch, transwell, and western blotting assays. The effects of SAL on the PI3K/AKT/GSK-3β pathway in vivo and in vitro were detected using western blotting. 16sRNA sequencing was used to detect the effect of SAL on the diversity of the intestinal flora. Ileal histopathology and western blotting were used to detect the protective effect of SAL on the intestinal mucosal barrier. SAL reduces liver inflammation and oxidative stress and protects against liver fibrosis with cholestasis. It inhibits HSC activation and activates the PI3K/AKT/GSK-3β pathway in vitro and in vivo. Additionally, SAL restores the abundance of intestinal flora, which contributes to the repair of the intestinal mucosal barrier, inhibits endotoxin translocation, and indirectly inhibits HSC activation, reversing the course of cholestatic liver fibrosis. SAL inhibits HSC activation through the PI3K/AKT/GSK-3β pathway and improves intestinal flora distribution, thereby protecting and reversing the progression of hepatic fibrosis.

Multi-target drugs for the treatment of cognitive impairment and fatigue in post-COVID syndrome: focus on Ginkgo biloba and Rhodiola rosea

Cognitive impairment, depression and (mental) fatigue represent the most frequent neuropsychiatric symptoms of the post-COVID syndrome. Neuroinflammation, oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction have been identified as common pathophysiological mechanisms underlying these symptoms. Attempts to treat post-COVID-associated cognitive impairment and fatigue with different drugs available for other diseases have not yet been successful. One probable explanation could be that these drugs work by one specific mechanism of action only and not in a broad multi-target way. Therefore, they will not address the broad pathophysiological spectrum possibly responsible for cognitive impairment, depression and fatigue in post-COVID syndrome. Notably, nearly all drugs currently under investigation for fatigue in post-COVID syndrome are rather addressing one single target instead of the several pathomechanisms underlying this condition. Contrary to this approach, herbal drugs often consist of many different ingredients with different pharmacological properties and pharmacological targets. Therefore, these drugs might be a promising approach for the treatment of the broad symptomatic presentation and the pathophysiological mechanisms of cognitive impairment and fatigue following a SARS-CoV-2 infection. Of these herbal drugs, extracts of Ginkgo biloba and Rhodiola rosea probably are the best investigated candidates. Their broad pharmacological spectrum in vitro and in vivo includes anti-oxidative, anti-inflammatory, antidepressant as well as properties reducing cognitive impairment and fatigue. In several studies, both drugs showed positive effects on physical and mental fatigue and impaired cognition. Moreover, depressive symptoms were also reduced in some studies. However, even if these results are promising, the data are still preliminary and require additional proof by further studies.

Salidroside attenuates atrial fibrosis and atrial fibrillation vulnerability induced by angiotensin-II through inhibition of LOXL2-TGF-β1-Smad2/3 pathway

Aims and objectives

Salidroside (SAL), an active component isolated from the Chinese plant Rose Rhodiola, has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-cancer, neuroprotective, and renal protective properties. Atrial fibrosis developed due to angiotensin II (Ang II) plays a crucial function in developing atrial fibrillation (AF). This research investigates the involvement of SAL in AF, its vulnerability to AF, and Ang II-induced inflammatory atrial fibrosis.

Methods

Ang II (2 mg/kg/day) was infused underneath the skin into male C57BL/6 mice (8-10 weeks old, n = 40) for four weeks to create the AF model. SAL (50 mg/kg/day) was given intraperitoneally once per day for 28 days. Analyses of morphology, histology, and biochemical were carried out. Transesophageal burst pacing was used in vivo to induce AF.

Results

Ang II injection increased mice's heart rate and systolic blood pressure (SBP), whereas SAL treatment was significantly reduced. Ang II infusion increased left atrial diameter (LAD) in mice, which was attenuated after SAL treatment. SAL alone did not affect AF inducibility, but SAL therapy markedly decreased Ang II-induced AF inducibility. Additionally, the expression levels of interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) were inhibited with SAL therapy in mice. Compared to the Ang II group, Ang II infusion raised malondialdehyde (MDA) levels and reduced superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activity, but SAL therapy altered all of these effects. SAL treatment significantly reduced LOXL2, TGF-β1, p-Smad2 and p-Smad3 protein expression than the Ang II group mice.

Conclusion

SAL inhibits atrial fibrosis and potentially attenuates increased susceptibility to AF by suppressing the LOXL2-TGF-β1-Smad2/3 pathway.

Design and synthesis of salidroside analogs and their bioactivity against septic myocardial injury

Cardiac tissue suffers much from sepsis, and the incidence of myocardial injury is high in septic patients. The treatment of sepsis myocardial injury (SMI) has been the focus of clinical medicine. Salidroside shows myocardial cell protection, anti-oxidation and anti- inflammation effects, and it is thought as one of the potential compounds to treat sepsis myocardial injury. However, its anti-inflammatory activity is lower and its pharmacokinetic properties are not ideal, which is far from clinical application. Here, a series of salidroside analogs were synthesized, and their bioactivities were evaluated from several aspects, including their anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory activities in vitro and anti-sepsis myocardial injury activities in vivo. Of all the compounds which synthesized, compounds 2 and 3 exhibited stronger anti-inflammatory activities than the others; after treating LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 or H9c2 cells with each of them, the levels of IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α were down-regulated in a dose-dependent manner. In the anti-oxidative stress injury test, compounds 2 and 3 not only markedly increased the survival rate of cells, and but also improved the cellular oxidative stress-related indicators MDA, SOD and cell damage marker LDH in a dose-dependent manner. In the LPS-induced septic rat myocardial injury models (in vivo), the two compounds also showed good bioactivities. They also reduced the expression of IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α, and blocked cell damage by suppressing overhauled oxidation in septic rats. In addition, the myocardial injury was significantly improved and the inflammatory infiltration was reduced after treatment with the two compounds. In conclusion, the salidroside analogs (2 and 3) showed promising therapeutical effect on septic myocardial injury in LPS-model rats, and they could be good candidates for clinical trials against inflammation and septic myocardial injury.

Salidroside regulates tumor microenvironment of non-small cell lung cancer via Hsp70/Stub1/Foxp3 pathway in Tregs

BACKGROUND

The treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is challenging due to immune tolerance and evasion. Salidroside (SAL) is an extract in traditional Chinese medicine and has a potential antitumor effect. However, the mechanism of SAL in regulating the immunological microenvironment of NSCLC is yet to be clarified.

METHODS

The mouse model with Lewis lung cancer cell line (3LL) in C57BL/6 mice was established. And then, the percentage of tumor-infiltrating T cell subsets including Treg was detected in tumor-bearing mice with or without SAL treatment. In vitro, the effect of SAL on the expression of IL-10, Foxp3 and Stub1 and the function of Treg were detected by flow cytometry. Network pharmacology prediction and molecular docking software were used to predict the target of SAL and intermolecular interaction. Furthermore, the effect of SAL on the expression of Hsp70 and the co-localization of Stub1-Foxp3 in Treg was confirmed by flow cytometry and confocal laser microscopy. Finally, Hsp70 inhibitor was used to verify the above molecular expression.

RESULTS

We discovered that SAL treatment inhibits the growth of tumor cells by decreasing the percentage of tumor-infiltrated CD4⁺Foxp3⁺T cells. SAL treatment downregulates the expression of Foxp3 in Tregs, but increases the expression of Stub1, an E3 ubiquitination ligase upstream of Foxp3, and the expression of Hsp70. Inhibiting the expression of Hsp70 reverses the inhibition of SAL on Foxp3 and disrupts the colocalization of Stub1 and Foxp3 in the nucleus of Tregs.

CONCLUSIONS

SAL inhibits tumor growth by regulating the Hsp70/stub1/Foxp3 pathway in Treg to suppress the function of Treg. It is a new mechanism of SAL for antitumor therapy.

Salidroside protects mice from high-fat diet-induced obesity by modulating the gut microbiota

Obesity is a systemic disease with multisystem inflammation associated with gut dysbiosis. Salidroside (SAL) which is a major glycoside extracted from Rhodiola rosea L. has a wide range of pharmacological effects, but the role of gut microbiota in the protective effects of SAL on obesity has not been studied. Herein, we aim to explore whether SAL could ameliorate high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obesity in mice by modulating microbiota. Results showed that oral treatment with SAL alleviated HFD-induced obesity in mice as evidenced by body weight and fat weight. SAL supplementation effectively attenuated fat accumulation, lipid synthesis genes expression, liver inflammation, and metabolic endotoxemia. In addition, SAL treatment alleviated intestinal damage and increased the expression of mucin protein (Mucin-2) and tight junction (TJ) proteins (Occludin and Zonula Occludens-1). 16S rRNA sequencing analysis revealed that the gut microbiota of obese mice was also partly improved by SAL via restoring the microbial community structure and diversity. A fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) study was designed to verify the causality. Compared with fecal transplantation (FM) from the HFD-treated mice, FM from the SAL-treated mice significantly mitigate the symptoms of obese mice, including decreasing body weight, fat accumulation, and attenuating pathological damage in the gut. Thus, SAL could be a remarkable candidate to prevent obesity.

Salidroside attenuates lipopolysaccharide-induced neuroinflammation and cognitive impairment in septic encephalopathy mice

Salidroside (SAL) is a natural bioactive compound with anti-oxidative, anti-inflammatory, and neuroprotective properties. In the present study, we generate an experimental design to investigate SAL-mediated protective effect and underlying mechanism on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced neuroinflammation and cognitive impairment in the septic encephalopathy mice model (SEMM). In SEMM, Open-Field Test (OFT) and Novel Object Recognition Test evaluated LPS-induced cognitive impairment, behavioural phenotypes, and memory impairment (NOR). Cytokines and protein expression were assessed using ELISA assay, RT-qPCR, and Western blotting. Our results showed cognitive dysfunction could be reversed when treated with SAL in SEMM. SAL treatment significantly reduced apoptotic TUNEL-positive cells and related gene expression (BAX and BCL-2) and considerably improved neuronal damage in SEMM. In addition, it markedly reduced the production of inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6) and Iba-1-positive cells responsible for microglial activation in mice hippocampus (P < 0.05). The effects of SAL on ROS and oxidative stress markedly reduced malondialdehyde (MDA) content and increased superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) in the hippocampal tissues of mice. Besides, SAL treatment enhanced LPS-induced autophagy in mice's hippocampus and increased autophagy-related protein expression (Beclin-1 and P62). In addition, the NLRP3 inflammasome pathway and its related proteins (NLRP3, ASC, and cleaved caspase-1) were suppressed by SAL treatment. However, SAL activated the SIRT1/Nrf2 pathway and exerts protection by enhanced expression of the proteins (SIRT1 and Nrf2) and downstream genes (HO-1 and NQO1). Our finding demonstrated that SAL employed neuroprotective effects in SEMM by promoting autophagy via activation of the SIRT1 pathway.

Pharmacologic therapies of ARDS: From natural herb to nanomedicine

Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a common critical illness in respiratory care units with a huge public health burden. Despite tremendous advances in the prevention and treatment of ARDS, it remains the main cause of intensive care unit (ICU) management, and the mortality rate of ARDS remains unacceptably high. The poor performance of ARDS is closely related to its heterogeneous clinical syndrome caused by complicated pathophysiology. Based on the different pathophysiology phases, drugs, protective mechanical ventilation, conservative fluid therapy, and other treatment have been developed to serve as the ARDS therapeutic methods. In recent years, there has been a rapid development in nanomedicine, in which nanoparticles as drug delivery vehicles have been extensively studied in the treatment of ARDS. This study provides an overview of pharmacologic therapies for ARDS, including conventional drugs, natural medicine therapy, and nanomedicine. Particularly, we discuss the unique mechanism and strength of nanomedicine which may provide great promises in treating ARDS in the future.

Dietary Supplementation of Salidroside Alleviates Liver Lipid Metabolism Disorder and Inflammatory Response to Promote Hepatocyte Regeneration via PI3K/AKT/Gsk3-β Pathway

Fatty liver hemorrhagic syndrome (FLHS) is a chronic hepatic disease which occurs when there is a disorder in lipid metabolism. FLHS is often observed in caged laying hens and characterized by a decrease in egg production and dramatic increase of mortality. Salidroside (SDS) is an herbal drug which has shown numerous pharmacological activities, such as protecting mitochondrial function, attenuating cell apoptosis and inflammation, and promoting antioxidant defense system. We aimed to determine the therapeutic effects of SDS on FLHS in laying hens and investigate the underlying mechanisms through which SDS operates these functions. We constructed oleic acid (OA)-induced fatty liver model in vitro and high-fat diet-induced FLHS of laying hens in vivo. The results indicated that SDS inhibited OA-induced lipid accumulation in chicken primary hepatocytes, increased hepatocyte activity, elevated the mRNA expression of proliferation related genes PCNA, CDK2, and cyclinD1 and increased the protein levels of PCNA and CDK2 (P < 0.05), as well as decreased the cleavage levels of Caspase-9, Caspase-8, and Caspase-3 and apoptosis in hepatocytes (P < 0.05). Moreover, SDS promoted the phosphorylation levels of PDK1, AKT, and Gsk3-β, while inhibited the PI3K inhibitor (P < 0.05). Additionally, we found that high-fat diet-induced FLHS hens had heavier body weight, liver weight, and abdominal fat weight, and severe steatosis in histology, compared with the control group (Con). However, hens fed with SDS maintained lighter body weight, liver weight, and abdominal fat weight, as well as normal liver without hepatic steatosis. In addition, high-fat diet-induced FLHS hens had high levels of serum total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), alanine transaminase (ALT), and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) compared to the Con group, however, in the Model+SDS group, the levels of TC, TG, ALT, and AST decreased significantly, whereas the level of superoxide dismutase (SOD) increased significantly (P < 0.05). We also found that SDS significantly decreased the mRNA expression abundance of PPARγ, SCD, and FAS in the liver, as well as increased levels of PPARα and MTTP, and decreased the mRNA expression of TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, and IL-8 in the Model+SDS group (P < 0.05). In summary, this study showed that 0.3 mg/mL SDS attenuated ROS generation, inhibited lipid accumulation and hepatocyte apoptosis, and promoted hepatocyte proliferation by targeting the PI3K/AKT/Gsk3-β pathway in OA-induced fatty liver model in vitro, and 20 mg/kg SDS alleviated high-fat-diet-induced hepatic steatosis, oxidative stress, and inflammatory response in laying hens in vivo.

Salidroside protects against ventilation-induced lung injury by inhibiting the expression of matrix metalloproteinase-9

CONTEXT

Salidroside, a compound extracted from Rhodiola rosea L. (Crassulaceae), possesses many beneficial pathological effects.

OBJECTIVE

To explore the effect of salidroside on ventilator-induced lung endothelial dysfunction in vivo and in vitro.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In vivo, male ICR mice were divided into sham, ventilation, salidroside, and ventilation plus salidroside groups. The mice were ventilated for 4 h, salidroside (50 mg/kg) was administrated intraperitoneally before ventilation, dexamethasone (Dex) (5 mg/kg) was used as a positive control. In vitro, mouse lung vascular endothelial cells (MLVECs) were treated with salidroside, MMP-9 siRNA, and BAY11-7082 (10 μM), and then exposed to cyclic stretch for 4 h. Afterward, lung tissues and MLVECs were collected for further analysis.

RESULTS

Salidroside pre-treatment significantly reversed the expression of vascular endothelial cadherin (VE-cadherin) and zonula occluden-1 (ZO-1) proteins in cyclic stretch-treated MLVECs (0.46 ± 0.09 vs. 0.80 ± 0.14, 0.49 ± 0.05 vs. 0.88 ± 0.08) and ventilated lung tissues (0.56 ± 0.06 vs. 0.83 ± 0.46, 0.49 ± 0.08 vs. 0.80 ± 0.12). The results further indicated that salidroside inhibited the expression of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), whereas knockdown of its expression restored the expression levels of VE-cadherin (0.37 ± 0.08 vs. 0.85 ± 0.74) and ZO-1 (0.48 ± 0.08 vs. 0.81 ± 0.11) in stretched MLVECs. Meanwhile, salidroside inhibited the NF-κB signalling pathway and alleviated lung injury.

CONCLUSIONS

Salidroside protected against stretch-induced endothelial barrier function, improving lung injury after ventilation. Thus, salidroside may be a promising therapeutic agent for patients with MV-induced lung injury.

Multi-Pharmaceutical Activities of Chinese Herbal Polysaccharides in the Treatment of Pulmonary Fibrosis: Concept and Future Prospects

Pulmonary fibrosis is a fatal chronic progressive respiratory disease, characterized by continuous scarring of the lung parenchyma, leading to respiratory failure and death. The incidence of PF has increased over time. There are drugs, yet, there are some limitations. Hence, it is of importance to find new therapies and new drugs to replace the treatment of pulmonary fibrosis. In recent years, there have been a great number of research reports on the treatment of traditional Chinese medicine polysaccharides in various system fields. Among them, the treatment of PF has also gained extensive attention. This review summarized the source of polysaccharides, the drug activity of traditional Chinese medicine, and the protective effects on targets of Pulmonary fibrosis. We hope it can inspire researchers to design and develop polysaccharides, serving as a reference for potential clinical therapeutic drugs.

Do inflammaging and coagul-aging play a role as conditions contributing to the co-occurrence of the severe hyper-inflammatory state and deadly coagulopathy during COVID-19 in older people?

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a new infectious respiratory disease, which has caused a pandemic that has become the world's leading public health emergency, threatening people of all ages worldwide, especially the elderly. Complications of COVID-19 are closely related to an upregulation of the inflammatory response revealed by the pro-inflammatory profile of plasma cytokines (to the point of causing a cytokine storm), which is also a contributing cause of the associated coagulation disorders with venous and arterial thromboembolisms, causing multiple organ dysfunction and failure. In severe fulminant cases of COVID-19, there is an activation of coagulation and consumption of clotting factors leading to a deadly disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC). It is well established that human immune response changes with age, and also that the pro-inflammatory profile of plasma cytokines is upregulated in both healthy and diseased elderly people. In fact, normal aging is known to be associated with a subclinical, sterile, low-grade, systemic pro-inflammatory state linked to the chronic activation of the innate immune system, a phenomenon known as “inflammaging”. Inflammaging may play a role as a condition contributing to the co-occurrence of the severe hyper-inflammatory state (cytokine storm) during COVID-19, and also in other severe infections (sepsis) in older people. Moreover, we must consider the impact of inflammation on coagulation due to the crosstalk between inflammation and coagulation. The systemic inflammatory state and coagulation disorders are closely related, a phenomenon that here we call “coagul-aging” (Giunta S.). In this review, we discuss the various degrees of inflammation in older adults after being infected with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), and the adverse effects of aging on the inflammatory response and coagulation system.

It is important to note that although there is no gender difference in susceptibility to COVID-19 infection, however, due to differences in angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) expression, innate immunity, and comorbidities, older men exhibit more severe disease and higher mortality than older women.

There are currently no FDA-approved specific antiviral drugs that can be used against the virus. Therapies used in patients with COVID-19 consist of remdesivir, dexamethasone, low-molecular-weight heparin, in addition to monoclonal antibodies against the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2 in the early phase of the disease. Future pharmacological research should also consider targeting the possible role of the underlying scenario of inflammaging in healthy older people to prevent or mitigate disease complications. It is worth mentioning that some specific cytokine antagonists and traditional Chinese medicine preparations can reduce the elderly's inflammatory state.

Ligand fishing based on cell surface display of enzymes for inhibitor screening

Ligand fishing for screening of enzyme inhibitors from complex chemical systems using baits prepared by cell surface display of the enzyme is herein demonstrated for the first time. Tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B), used as a model enzyme in this work, is displayed on the surface of E. coli cells by using ice nucleation protein (INP) as the anchoring motif. Infusion of PTP1B is characterized by western blot, immunofluorescence, proteinase K accessibility, and enzyme activity assays. Surface displayed PTP1B exhibits a maximum of 5.62 ± 0.251 U/OD₆₀₀ enzymatic activity and a better stability compared with free enzyme. PTP1B displayed cells are used as solid-phase extraction adsorbent in combination with HPLC-MS to screen the inhibitors from the extracts of Rhodiola rosea, a traditional Chinese medicinal plant. Among many well-known active ingredients only arbutin is fished out with an IC₅₀ value of 20.5 ± 0.873 μM, showing the inhibitor screening is highly selective. Furthermore, the equilibrium dissociation constant (K_D) of the complex of arbutin and PTP1B was determined to be 79.6 μM by localized surface plasma resonance (LSPR) assay. The proposed ligand fishing technique using recombinant cells as baits opens a new avenue for screening of active compounds from natural products with accuracy and specificity.

Rhodiola rosea L. Attenuates Cigarette Smoke and Lipopolysaccharide-Induced COPD in Rats via Inflammation Inhibition and Antioxidant and Antifibrosis Pathways

The root cause behind the development of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is cigarette smoke that induces the inflammation of the lung tissue and alveolar destruction. Long-term cigarette smoking can lead to deterioration in lung parenchymal function and cause structural changes in the lung, further resulting in pulmonary fibrosis. Rhodiola rosea L., a traditional medicinal perennial herb, is well known for its numerous pharmacological benefits, including anti-inflammation, antioxidant, antifatigue, antidepressive, and antifibrotic properties. Here, we evaluated the pharmacological effects and mechanisms of the Rhodiola rosea L. (RRL) macroporous resin extract on COPD caused by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and cigarette smoke (CS) in rats. The RRL significantly improved the pathological structure of the lung tissue. Additionally, RRL decreased the infiltration of inflammatory cells and, subsequently, oxidative stress. Furthermore, the RNAseq assay indicated that RRL attenuated the CS and LPS-induced COPD via anti-inflammatory, antifibrotic, and antiapoptotic activities. Western blot analysis substantiated that the RRL resulted in upregulated levels of Nrf2 and HO-1 as well as downregulated levels of IκBα, NF-κB p65, α-SMA, and TGF-β1. Interestingly, the RRL could protect rats from CS and LPS-induced COPD by inhibiting the ERK1/2 and Smad3 signaling pathways and apoptosis. Thus, the RRL could attenuate CS and LPS-induced COPD through inflammation inhibition and antioxidant and antifibrosis pathways.

Indian Medicinal Plants and Formulations and Their Potential Against COVID-19-Preclinical and Clinical Research

The cases of COVID-19 are still increasing day-by-day worldwide, even after a year of its first occurrence in Wuhan city of China. The spreading of SARS-CoV-2 infection is very fast and different from other SARS-CoV infections possibly due to structural differences in S proteins. The patients with severe diseases may die due to acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) caused by systemic inflammatory reactions due to the excessive release of pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines by the immune effector cells. In India too, it is spreading very rapidly, although the case fatality rate is below 1.50% (https://www.statista.com), which is markedly less than in other countries, despite the dense population and minimal health infrastructure in rural areas. This may be due to the routine use of many immunomodulator medicinal plants and traditional AYUSH formulations by the Indian people. This communication reviews the AYUSH recommended formulations and their ingredients, routinely used medicinal plants and formulations by Indian population as well as other promising Indian medicinal plants, which can be tested against COVID-19. Special emphasis is placed on Indian medicinal plants reported for antiviral, immunomodulatory and anti-allergic/anti-inflammatory activities and they are categorized for prioritization in research on the basis of earlier reports. The traditional AYUSH medicines currently under clinical trials against COVID-19 are also discussed as well as furtherance of pre-clinical and clinical testing of the potential traditional medicines against COVID-19 and SARS-CoV-2. The results of the clinical studies on AYUSH drugs will guide the policymakers from the AYUSH systems of medicines to maneuver their policies for public health, provide information to the global scientific community and could form a platform for collaborative studies at national and global levels. It is thereby suggested that promising AYUSH formulations and Indian medicinal plants must be investigated on a priority basis to solve the current crisis.

Salidroside: A review of its recent advances in synthetic pathways and pharmacological properties

Salidroside has been identified as one of the most potent compounds isolated from various Rhodiola plants, which have been used for a long time as adaptogens in traditional Chinese medicine. However, due to the severe growing environment of herbal medicine and large-scale excavation, the content of natural salidroside is extremely small. Most of the previous studies focused on herbal medicine, and there were few reviews on the synthesis of its main active ingredient salidroside. This paper presents different synthetic routes of salidroside to resolve the contradiction between supply and demand and lays the foundation for new drug research and development. Furthermore, emerging evidence indicates that salidroside, a promising environmentally-adapted drug with low toxicity and few side effects, possesses a wide spectrum of pharmacological properties, including activities on the cardiovascular system and central nervous system, anti-hypoxia, anti-fatigue and anti-aging activities, anticancer activity, anti-inflammatory activity, antioxidant activity, antivirus and immune stimulation activities, antidiabetic activity, anti-osteoporotic activity, and so on. Although the former researches have summarized the pharmacological effects of salidroside, focusing on the central nervous system, diabetes, and cancer, the overall pharmacological aspects of it have not been analyzed. This review highlights biological characteristics and mechanisms of action from 2009 to now as well as toxicological and pharmacokinetic data of the analyzed compound reported so far, with a view to providing a reference for further development and utilization of salidroside.

Salidroside regulates inflammatory pathway of alveolar macrophages by influencing the secretion of miRNA-146a exosomes by lung epithelial cells

The purpose of this study was to explore the investigative mechanism of salidroside (SAL) on LPS-induced acute lung injury (ALI)/acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). The exosomes from RLE-6TN are extracted and identified by transmission electron microscopy, particle size analysis and protein marker detection, and co-cultured with NR8383 cells. The ALI/ARDS model of SD rats was established by LPS (10 mg/kg) intratracheal instillation. Following a four-hour intratracheal instillation of LPS, 50 μl of RLE-6TN exosomes were injected through the tail vein. After that, SAL and miR-146a antagomir were injected into the tail vein for 72 h, respectively. As the changes of HE stain, body weight and ALI score are observed. The expression of miR-146a, TLR4, NF-kB, IRAK1, TRAF6 and their related proteins were detected by RT-PCR and Western blot, respectively. TNF-α, IL-6, IL-8 and IL-1 β inflammatory factors were detected by ELISA. The expression of miR-146a, NF-kB, IRAK, TRAF6 and related inflammatory factors in LPS-induced NR8383 was significantly higher than that in the control group, while SAL has greatly reduced the expression of TLR4 mediated NF-kB inflammatory pathway and related inflammatory factors. SAL can significantly improve the LPS-induced lung morphological abnormalities, slowed down the rate of weight loss in rats, and reducing the ALI score. The expression trend of NF-kB, IRAK, TRAF6 and related inflammatory factors in rats’ lung tissues was consistent with that in NR8383 cells. SAL has a protective effect on ALI/ARDS caused by sepsis, which is likely to be developed to a potential treatment for the disease. To sum up, this study provides a new theoretical basis for the treatment of ALI/ARDS with SAL.

Phytochemicals: Potential Therapeutic Interventions Against Coronavirus-Associated Lung Injury

Since the outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in December 2019, millions of people have been infected and died worldwide. However, no drug has been approved for the treatment of this disease and its complications, which urges the need for finding novel therapeutic agents to combat. Among the complications due to COVID-19, lung injury has attained special attention. Besides, phytochemicals have shown prominent anti-inflammatory effects and thus possess significant effects in reducing lung injury caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Also, the prevailing evidence reveales the antiviral effects of those phytochemicals, including anti-SARS-CoV activity, which could pave the road in providing suitable lead compounds in the treatment of COVID-19. In the present study, candidate phytochemicals and related mechanisms of action have been shown in the treatment/protection of lung injuries induced by various methods. In terms of pharmacological mechanism, phytochemicals have shown potential inhibitory effects on inflammatory and oxidative pathways/mediators, involved in the pathogenesis of lung injury during COVID-19 infection. Also, a brief overview of phytochemicals with anti-SARS-CoV-2 compounds has been presented.

Effects of Salidroside on Trabecular Meshwork Cell Extracellular Matrix Expression and Mouse Intraocular Pressure

Purpose

Excessive accumulation of extracellular matrix (ECM) in the trabecular meshwork (TM) reduces aqueous humor outflow, which likely contributes to elevation of IOP in primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG). Salidroside, a phenolic glycoside isolated from Rhodiola rosea is reported to prevent profibrotic responses by inhibiting Smad signaling pathway activated by TGF-β in liver, lung, and kidney tissues. We tested if salidroside can (1) inhibit TGF-β2-induced ECM expression in cultured human TM cells, and (2) lower TGF-β2-induced ocular hypertension in the mouse.

Methods

Cultured human TM cells stimulated with 5 ng/mL TGF-β2 for 48 hours were treated with salidroside for 24 hours. The expressions of fibronectin (FN), collagen type IV (COL-IV), and laminin (LN) were evaluated by quantitative PCR, Western blot, and immunocytochemistry. BALB/cJ mice were injected intravitreally with an adenoviral vector encoding a bioactive mutant of TGF-β2 (Ad.hTGF-β2226/228) in one eye to induce ocular hypertension, with the uninjected contralateral or Ad.Empty-injected eyes serving as controls. Mice were treated with a daily intraperitoneal injection of 40 mg/kg salidroside. Conscious mouse IOP values were measured using a TonoLab rebound tonometer.

Results

In cultured human TM cells, treatment with TGF-β2 increased expressions of FN, COL-IV, and LN, as assessed by quantitative PCR, Western blotting, and immunocytochemistry, all of which were significantly and completely ameliorated by 30 μM salidroside. Daily intraperitoneal injections of salidroside (40 mg/kg), starting either at day 0 (same day as Ad.hTGF-β2226/228 injection) or at day 14, significantly lowered TGF-β2-induced ocular hypertension in the mouse. In contrast, salidroside did not affect IOP of control eyes.

Conclusions

These results demonstrated that salidroside is capable of minimizing TGF-β2-induced ECM expression in cultured human TM cells. It also reduced TGF-β2-induced ocular hypertension in the mouse. These findings indicate that this phenolic glycoside may be useful as a novel treatment for POAG.

Salidroside Inhibits Lipopolysaccharide-ethanol-induced Activation of Proinflammatory Macrophages via Notch Signaling Pathway

Activation of macrophages is a key event for the pathogenesis of various inflammatory diseases. Notch signaling pathway recently has been found to be a critical pathway in the activation of proinflammatory macrophages. Salidroside (Sal), one of main bioactive components in Rhodiola crenulata (Hook. F. et Thoms) H. ohba, reportedly possesses anti-inflammatory activity and ameliorates inflammation in alcohol-induced hepatic injury. However, whether Sal regulates the activation of proinflammatory macrophages through Notch signaling pathway remains unknown. The present study investigated the effects of Sal on macrophage activation and its possible mechanisms by using both alcohol and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) to mimic the microenvironment of alcoholic liver. Detection of THP-1-derived macrophages exhibited that Sal could significantly decrease the expression of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β) and IL-6 in the macrophages at both mRNA and protein levels. Furthermore, Sal significantly suppressed NF-κB activation via Notch-Hes signaling pathway in a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, in the microenvironment of alcoholic liver, the expression of Notch-dependent pyruvate dehydrogenase phosphatase 1 (PDP1) was elevated, and that of M1 gene expression [inducible NO synthase (NOS2)] was up-regulated. These changes could all be effectively ameliorated by Sal. The aforementioned findings demonstrated that Sal could inhibit LPS-ethanol-induced activation of proinflammatory macrophages via Notch signaling pathway.

Salidroside protects ATDC5 cells against lipopolysaccharide-induced injury through up-regulation of microRNA-145 in osteoarthritis

BACKGROUND

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a kind of degenerative disease characterized by the degeneration of the articular cartilage. Salidroside (SAL) is an active component of Rhodiola rosea L., which exhibits diverse pharmacological effects in different diseases. However, the effects of SAL on OA remain largely unclear. The study aimed to investigate the roles of SAL in lipopolysaccharides (LPS)-induced inflammatory injury in murine ATDC5 chondrocyte cells.

METHODS

LPS induced ATDC5 cell injury model was constructed by determining cell viability, apoptosis, apoptosis-associated factors as well as inflammatory cytokines expressions and concentrations. Then, the various concentrations of SAL were used to treat ATDC5 cells, and the effect of SAL on LPS-induce inflammatory injury was detected. After treatment with SAL, the expression level of miR-145 was measured by qRT-PCR. Subsequently, miR-145 inhibitor and corresponding control were transfected into ATDC5 cells to explore the influences of miR-145 in LPS-induce inflammatory injury. Besides, the key signaling pathways of NF-κB and p38MAPK were analyzed by using western blot.

RESULTS

LPS inhibited cell viability, induced apoptosis, activated cleaved-caspase-3/-9 expression, as well as increased IL-6, MCP-1 and TNF-α expressions and secretions in ATDC5 cells. SAL significantly alleviated LPS-induced inflammatory injury. Meanwhile, the expression of miR-145 was up-regulated by SAL. The protective effect of SAL on LPS-induced injury was obviously reversed by miR-145 inhibition. Furthermore, SAL inactivated NF-κB and p38MAPK signaling pathways by regulating miR-145.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings suggested that SAL could protect ATDC5 cells against LPS-induced injury via up-regulation of miR-145 in ATDC5 chondrocyte cells.

Complete Pathway Elucidation and Heterologous Reconstitution of Rhodiola Salidroside Biosynthesis

Salidroside is a bioactive tyrosine-derived phenolic natural product found in medicinal plants under the Rhodiola genus. In addition to their anti-fatigue and anti-anoxia roles in traditional medicine, Rhodiola total extract and salidroside have also displayed medicinal properties as anti-cardiovascular diseases and anti-cancer agents. The resulting surge in global demand of Rhodiola plants and salidroside has driven some species close to extinction. Here, we report the full elucidation of the Rhodiola salidroside biosynthetic pathway utilizing the first comprehensive transcriptomics and metabolomics datasets for Rhodiola rosea. Unlike the previously proposed pathway involving separate decarboxylation and deamination enzymatic steps from tyrosine to the key intermediate 4-hydroxyphenylacetaldehyde (4-HPAA), Rhodiola contains a pyridoxal phosphate-dependent 4-HPAA synthase that directly converts tyrosine to 4-HPAA. We further identified genes encoding the subsequent 4-HPAA reductase and tyrosol:UDP-glucose 8-O-glucosyltransferase, respectively, to complete salidroside biosynthesis in Rhodiola. We show that heterologous production of salidroside can be achieved in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae as well as the plant Nicotiana benthamiana through transgenic expression of Rhodiola salidroside biosynthetic genes. This study provides new tools for engineering sustainable production of salidroside in heterologous hosts.

Administration of Rhodiola kirilowii Extracts during Mouse Pregnancy and Lactation Stimulates Innate but Not Adaptive Immunity of the Offspring

The use of antibiotics during pregnancy and lactation is associated with an increased risk of developmental disorders. One of the natural medicinal plants—Rhodiola kirilowii, widely used as an immunostimulant in adults—might be a good alternative to antibiotic treatment. The aim of present study was to assess whether daily oral administration of 20 mg/kg of Rhodiola kirilowii aqueous (RKW) or 50% hydroalcoholic (RKW-A) extracts affected hematological and immunological parameters of 6-week-old mouse progeny. There was no significant change in hematological parameters of blood with the exception of hemoglobin, which was significantly higher (about 4%) in RKW group. Offspring of mothers fed Rhodiola kirilowii extracts had increased percentage of granulocytes and decreased percentage of lymphocytes. These changes correlated with decreased percentage of CD3⁺/CD4⁺ T-cells (RKW and RKW-A), decrease of CD8⁺ cells, and increase percentage of NK cells in RKW group. In addition, both types of Rhodiola kirilowii extracts stimulated granulocyte phagocytosis and increased level of respiratory burst. In conclusion, the long-term supplementation of mouse mothers during pregnancy and lactation with RKW or RKW-A extracts affects the immune system of their progeny. These results should be taken into consideration before administration of Rhodiola kirilowii to pregnant and lactating women.

Salidroside ameliorates sepsis-induced acute lung injury and mortality via downregulating NF-κB and HMGB1 pathways through the upregulation of SIRT1

Sepsis is a life-threatening medical condition. Salidroside, a substance isolated from Rhodiola rosea, possesses antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. The effect and mechanism of salidroside on sepsis-induced acute lung injury still remains to be well clarified. Here, we investigated the effect and mechanism of salidroside on septic mouse models and explored the role of salidroside-upregulated SIRT1. Salidroside inhibited the inflammatory responses and HMGB1 productions in bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-treated macrophages and mice. Salidroside could also reverse the decreased SIRT1 protein expression in LPS-treated macrophages and mice. Salidroside also alleviated the sepsis-induced lung edema, lipid peroxidation, and histopathological changes and the mortality, and improved the lung PaO₂/FiO₂ ratio in cecal ligation and puncture (CLP)-induced septic mice. Salidroside significantly decreased the serum TNF-α, IL-6, NO, and HMGB1 productions, pulmonary inducible NO synthase (iNOS) and phosphorylated NF-κB-p65 protein expressions, and pulmonary HMGB1 nuclear translocation in CLP septic mice. Moreover, sepsis decreased the SIRT1 protein expression in the lungs of CLP septic mice. Salidroside significantly upregulated the SIRT1 expression and inhibited the inflammatory responses in CLP septic mouse lungs. These results suggest that salidroside protects against sepsis-induced acute lung injury and mortality, which might be through the SIRT1-mediated repression of NF-κB activation and HMGB1 nucleocytoplasmic translocation.

Salidroside Protects Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Acute Lung Injury in Mice

Salidroside (SDS) has been reported to have anti-inflammatory properties. The objective of this study was to investigate the protective effect of SDS on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced acute lung injury (ALI) in mice. BALB/c mice were pretreated with SDS 1 hour before intranasal instillation of LPS. Seven hours after LPS administration, the myeloperoxidase in histology of lungs, lung wet/dry ratio, and inflammatory cells in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were determined. The levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL 1β), and IL-6 in the BALF were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The expression of Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), inhibitor of nuclear factor-kappa B (IκB-α), and nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) p65 was detected by Western blot. The SDS reduced the inflammatory cells in BALF, decreased the wet/dry ratio of lungs, attenuated the LPS-induced histological alterations in the lung, and inhibited the production of TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6. Western blot showed that SDS efficiently inhibited the phosphorylation of IκB-α, p65 NF-κB, and the expression of TLR4. These data show that the anti-inflammatory effects of SDS (at least 20 mg/kg) against LPS-induced ALI due to its ability to inhibit TLR4 mediated the NF-κB signaling pathways. The SDS may represent a novel strategy for treating LPS-induced ALI.

Salidroside protects against bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis: activation of Nrf2-antioxidant signaling, and inhibition of NF-κB and TGF-β1/Smad-2/-3 pathways

Pulmonary fibrosis (PF) can severely disrupt lung function, leading to fatal consequences. Salidroside is a principal active ingredient of Rhodiola rosea and has recently been reported to protect against lung injures. The present study was aimed at exploring its therapeutic effects on PF. Lung fibrotic injuries were induced in SD rats by a single intratracheal instillation of 5 mg/kg bleomycin (BLM). Then, these rats were administrated with 50, 100, or 200 mg/kg salidroside for 28 days. BLM-triggered structure distortion, collagen overproduction, excessive inflammatory infiltration, and pro-inflammatory cytokine release, and oxidative stress damages in lung tissues were attenuated by salidroside in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, salidroside was noted to inhibit IκBα phosphorylation and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) p65 nuclear accumulation while activating Nrf2-antioxidant signaling in BLM-treated lungs. Downregulation of E-cadherin and upregulation of vimentin, fibronectin, and α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) indicated an epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT)-like shift in BLM-treated lungs. These changes were suppressed by salidroside. The expression of TGF-β1 and the phosphorylation of its downstream targets, Smad-2/-3, were enhanced by BLM, but weakened by salidroside. Additionally, salidroside was capable of reversing the recombinant TGF-β1-induced EMT-like changes in alveolar epithelial cells in vitro. Our study reveals that salidroside's protective effects against fibrotic lung injuries are correlated to its anti-inflammatory, antioxidative, and antifibrotic properties.

Adjunctive Treatment with Rhodiola Crenulata in Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease--A Randomized Placebo Controlled Double Blind Clinical Trial

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a low grade systemic inflammatory disease characterized by dyspnea and exercise intolerance even under standard therapy. Rhodiola crenulata (RC) has been shown to exert anti-inflammatory effects and to enhance exercise endurance, thereby having the potential to treat COPD. In this 12-week, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial, 57 patients with stable moderate-to-severe COPD aged 70±8.8 years were given RC (250 mg twice/day) (n=38) or a placebo (250 mg twice/day) (n=19) in addition to their standard regimen. There were no significant differences in anthropometrics, quality of life, lung function, six-minute walk and incremental exercise tests between the two groups at enrollment. Over the 12 weeks, RC was well tolerated, significantly reduced triceps skin thickness (Δ=-1 mm, p=.04), change of FEV1 (4.5%, p=.03), and improved workload (Δ=10%, p=.01); although there were no significant differences in these factors between the two groups. However, there were significant between-group differences in tidal volume and ventilation-CO2-output ratio at peak exercise (both p=.05), which were significantly related to peak work rate (both p<.0001). RC tended to protect against acute exacerbation of COPD (p=.1) but not other measurements. RC did not improve the six-minute walk test distance but significantly improved tidal breathing and ventilation efficiency, most likely through improvements in work rate. Further studies with a larger patient population are needed in order to confirm these findings.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov number NCT02242461.

Rhodiola plants: Chemistry and biological activity

Rhodiola is a genus of medicinal plants that originated in Asia and Europe and are used traditionally as adaptogens, antidepressants, and anti-inflammatory remedies. Rhodiola plants are rich in polyphenols, and salidroside and tyrosol are the primary bioactive marker compounds in the standardized extracts of Rhodiola rosea. This review article summarizes the bioactivities, including adaptogenic, antifatigue, antidepressant, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antinoception, and anticancer activities, and the modulation of immune function of Rhodiola plants and its two constituents, as well as their potential to prevent cardiovascular, neuronal, liver, and skin disorders.

Rhodiola: an ordinary plant or a promising future therapy for pulmonary hypertension? a brief review

Abstract Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a chronic, complex, and progressive disease that eventuates in fatality. Research efforts over the past decades have resulted in therapeutic options that improve quality of life and prolong survival of patients, but they do not offer a cure. We propose a philosophical model that a disturbed balance of yin and yang results in pulmonary vascular remodeling, the hallmark of PH pathology. The model may be useful in exploring the wisdom of traditional Chinese medicine and incorporating it into mainstream PH research. In this context, the medicinal plant Rhodiola can be of profound interest owing to its variety of health-friendly attributes. Rhodiola has been shown to be beneficial in high-altitude-related symptoms and acute exacerbation of PH; moreover, improvement of PH has been demonstrated experimentally in chronically hypoxic rats. The beneficial effects of Rhodiola in PH may be attributable to its potential targeting of the signaling pathways, such as endothelin-1, nitric oxide, vascular endothelial growth factor, angiotensin-converting enzyme, nuclear factor κ-B, tumor necrosis factor α, and interleukin-6. Alterations in these mediators are implicated in PH pathogenesis, the characteristics of which include chronic pulmonary vasoconstriction, vasoproliferation, and vascular inflammation. Salidroside, one of the compounds extracted from Rhodiola, has been found to provide therapeutic benefits in experimental PH. As the data are limited and the field is in its infancy, further studies including in-depth analysis of the therapeutic effects on various animal models of PH are desirable. We believe that future PH research should place an adequate and special emphasis on exploring and promoting the potential of traditional Chinese medicine, and to this end, the medicinal plant Rhodiola offers a promising field on which to embark.

Salidroside attenuates LPS-stimulated activation of THP-1 cell-derived macrophages through down-regulation of MAPK/NF-kB signaling pathways

Excessive activation of macrophages is implicated in various inflammatory injuries. Salidroside (Sal), one of the main bioactive components of Rhodiola Sachalinensis, has been reported to possess anti-inflammatory activities. This study aimed to examine the effect of Sal on the activation of macrophages and the possible mechanism. The lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated phrobol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA)-differentiated THP-1 macrophage models were established. The changes in the inflammatory profiles of THP-1-derived macrophages were determined. The results showed that Sal significantly decreased the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX2), interleukin-1beta (IL-1β), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) at both mRNA and protein levels in THP-1-derived macrophages, and the effect was dose-depedent. Moreover, NF-κB activation was significantly suppressed and the phosphorylation of ERK, p38 and JNK was substantially down-regulated after Sal treatment. The findings suggested that Sal can suppress the activation of LPS-stimulated PMA-differetiated THP-1 cells, as evidenced by the decreased expression of iNOS, COX2, IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α, and the mechanism involves the inhibition of NF-κB activation and the phosphorylation of the MAPK signal pathway.

Regulation of podocalyxin expression in the kidney of streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats with Chinese herbs (Yishen capsule)

Background

Diabetic nephropathy is an emergent issue in China with increase in patients with type II diabetes. There are several successful Chinese herbal products for the treatment of patients with diabetic nephropathy in China. However, the mechanisms mediating the biological activity of these products are still unclear. Podocalyxin is a sialoprotein critical to maintaining integrity of filtration function of glomerulus.

Methods

By employing streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats and a Chinese herb formulation (Yishen capsule), we examined the regulation of podocalyxin expression in the kidney by Yishen capsule through immunofluorescent staining and reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction.

Results

After injection of STZ, there were significant increase in both blood glucose and urinary protein. Serum creatinine and BUN were also increased in rats with injection of STZ. Moreover, expression of podocalyxin in the glomerulus was gradually reduced after injection of STZ. There was also a loss of podocyte foot processes in the glomerular basement membrane. However, Yishen capsule or benazepril was able to restore the expression of podocalyxin and podocyte foot processes in the kidney. Although Yishen capsule could reduce urinary protein level, it has little effect on blood glucose level in the rats injected with STZ.

Conclusions

Yishen capsule could attenuate the loss of podocalyxin in the glomerulus of rats injected with STZ.

Salidroside attenuates beta amyloid-induced cognitive deficits via modulating oxidative stress and inflammatory mediators in rat hippocampus

Beta amyloid (Aβ)-induced oxidative stress and chronic inflammation in the brain are considered to be responsible for the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Salidroside, the major active ingredient of Rhodiola crenulata, has been previously shown to have antioxidant and neuroprotective properties in vitro. The present study aimed to investigate the protective effects of salidroside on Aβ-induced cognitive impairment in vivo. Rats received intrahippocampal Aβ1-40 injection were treated with salidroside (25, 50 and 75 mg/kg p.o.) once daily for 21 days. Learning and memory performance were assessed in the Morris water maze (days 17-21). After behavioral testing, the rats were sacrificed and hippocampi were removed for biochemical assays (reactive oxygen species (ROS), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), malondialdehyde (MDA), acetylcholinesterase (AChE), acetylcholine (ACh)) and molecular biological analysis (Cu/Zn-SOD, Mn-SOD, GPx, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase, nuclear factor κB (NF-κB), inhibitor of κB-alpha (IκBα), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE)). Our results confirmed that Aβ1-40 peptide caused learning and memory deficits in rats. Further analysis demonstrated that the NADPH oxidase-mediated oxidative stress was increased in Aβ1-40-injected rats. Furthermore, NF-κB was demonstrated to be activated in Aβ1-40-injected rats, and the COX-2, iNOS and RAGE expression were also induced by Aβ1-40. However, salidroside (50 and 75 mg/kg p.o.) reversed all the former alterations. Thus, the study indicates that salidroside may have a protective effect against AD via modulating oxidative stress and inflammatory mediators.