Dihydrotanshinone I Attenuates Atherosclerosis in ApoE-Deficient Mice: Role of NOX4/NF-κB Mediated Lectin-Like Oxidized LDL Receptor-1 (LOX-1) of the Endothelium

A peripheral system disease-Pulmonary hypertension

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a cardiovascular disorder characterized by substantial morbidity and mortality rates. It is a chronic condition characterized by intricate pathogenesis and uncontrollable factors. We summarized the pathological effects of estrogen, genetics, neuroinflammation, intestinal microbiota, metabolic reorganization, and histone modification on PH. PH is not only a pulmonary vascular disease, but also a systemic disease. The findings emphasize that the onset of PH is not exclusively confined to the pulmonary vasculature, consequently necessitating treatment approaches that extend beyond targeting pulmonary blood vessels. Hence, the research on the pathological mechanism of PH is not limited to target organs such as pulmonary vessels, but also focuses on exploring other fields (such as estrogen, genetics, neuroinflammation, intestinal microbiota, metabolic reorganization, and histone modification).

Dihydrotanshinone I reduces H9c2 cell damage by regulating AKT and MAPK signaling pathways

Cardiovascular disease is the deadliest disease in the world. Previous studies have shown that Dihydrotanshinone I (DHT) can improve cardiac function after myocardial injury. This study aimed to observe the protective effect and mechanism of DHT on H9c2 cells by establishing an oxygen-glucose deprivation/reoxygenation (OGD/R) injury model. By constructing OGD/R injury simulation of H9c2 cells in a myocardial injury model, the proliferation of H9c2 cells treated with DHT concentrations of 0.1 μmol/L were not affected at 24, 48, and 72 h. DHT can significantly reduce the apoptosis of H9c2 cells caused by OGD/R. Compared with the OGD/R group, DHT treatment significantly reduced the level of MDA and increased the level of SOD in cells. DHT treatment of cells can significantly reduce the levels of ROS and Superoxide in mitochondria in H9c2 cells caused by OGD/R and H2O2. DHT significantly reduced the phosphorylation levels of P38MAPK and ERK in H9c2 cells induced by OGD/R, and significantly increased the phosphorylation levels of AKT in H9c2 cells. DHT can significantly reduce the oxidative stress damage of H9c2 cells caused by H2O2 and OGD/R, thereby reducing the apoptosis of H9c2 cells. And this may be related to regulating the phosphorylation levels of AKT, ERK, and P38MAPK.

Bioactive components and molecular mechanisms of Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge in promoting blood circulation to remove blood stasis

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge (SM) is an outstanding herbal medicine with various traditional effects, especially promoting blood circulation to remove blood stasis. It has been widely used for centuries to treat blood stasis syndrome (BSS)-related diseases. BSS is one of the basic pathological syndromes of diseases such as cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases in traditional East Asian medicine, which is characterized by disturbance of blood circulation. However, the bioactive components and mechanisms of SM in the treatment of BSS have not been systematically reviewed. Therefore, this article outlines the anti-BSS effects of bioactive components of SM, concentrating on the molecular mechanisms.

AIM OF THE REVIEW

To summarize the bioactive components of SM against BSS and highlight its potential targets and signaling pathways, hoping to provide a modern biomedical perspective to understand the efficacy of SM on enhancing blood circulation to remove blood stasis.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A comprehensive literature search was performed to retrieve articles published in the last two decades on bioactive components of SM used for BSS treatment from the online electronic medical literature database (PubMed).

RESULTS

Phenolic acids and tanshinones in SM are the main bioactive components in the treatment of BSS, including but not limited to salvianolic acid B, tanshinone IIA, salvianolic acid A, cryptotanshinone, Danshensu, dihydrotanshinone, rosmarinic acid, protocatechuic aldehyde, and caffeic acid. They protect vascular endothelial cells by alleviating oxidative stress and inflammatory damage and regulating of NO/ET-1 levels. They also enhance anticoagulant and fibrinolytic capacity, inhibit platelet activation and aggregation, and dilate blood vessels. Moreover, lowering blood lipids and improving blood rheological properties may be the underlying mechanisms of their anti-BSS. More notably, these compounds play an anti-BSS role by mediating multiple signaling pathways such as Nrf2/HO-1, TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB, PI3K/Akt/eNOS, MAPKs (p38, ERK, and JNK), and Ca2+/K+ channels.

CONCLUSIONS

Both phenolic acids and tanshinones in SM may act synergistically to target different signaling pathways to achieve the effect of promoting blood circulation.

A Pharmacological Review of Tanshinones, Naturally Occurring Monomers from Salvia miltiorrhiza for the Treatment of Cardiovascular Diseases

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are a set of heart and blood vessel disorders that include coronary heart disease (CHD), rheumatic heart disease, and other conditions. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has definite effects on CVDs due to its multitarget and multicomponent properties, which are gradually gaining national attention. Tanshinones, the major active chemical compounds extracted from Salvia miltiorrhiza, exhibit beneficial improvement on multiple diseases, especially CVDs. At the level of biological activities, they play significant roles, including anti-inflammation, anti-oxidation, anti-apoptosis and anti-necroptosis, anti-hypertrophy, vasodilation, angiogenesis, combat against proliferation and migration of smooth muscle cells (SMCs), as well as anti-myocardial fibrosis and ventricular remodeling, which are all effective strategies in preventing and treating CVDs. Additionally, at the cellular level, Tanshinones produce marked effects on cardiomyocytes, macrophages, endothelia, SMCs, and fibroblasts in myocardia. In this review, we have summarized a brief overview of the chemical structures and pharmacological effects of Tanshinones as a CVD treatment to expound on different pharmacological properties in various cell types in myocardia.

Therapeutic potential of traditional Chinese medicine in atherosclerosis: A review

Atherosclerosis is the onset of endothelial cell damage and is characterized by abnormal accumulation of fibrinogen and lipid in large and middle arteries. Recent researches indicate that traditional Chinese medicine including Notoginseng Radix et Rhizoma, Astragali Radix, Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma, Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma, Fructus Crataegi, Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma, Polygoni Multiflori Radix, Fructus Lycii, and Coptidis Rhizoma have therapeutic effects on atherosclerosis. Furthermore, the pharmacological roles of these kinds of traditional Chinese medicine in atherosclerosis refer to endothelial function influences, cell proliferation and migration, platelet aggregation, thrombus formation, oxidative stress, inflammation, angiogenesis, apoptosis, autophagy, lipid metabolism, and the gut microbiome. Traditional Chinese medicine may serve as potential and effective anti-atherosclerosis drugs. However, a critical study has shown that Notoginseng Radix et Rhizoma may also have toxic effects including pustules, fever, and elevate circulating neutrophil count. Further high-quality studies are still required to determine the clinical safety and efficacy of traditional Chinese medicine and its active ingredients.

Network pharmacology and experimental analysis to reveal the mechanism of Dan-Shen-Yin against endothelial to mesenchymal transition in atherosclerosis

Atherosclerosis is a chronic inflammatory disease characterized by the formation of plaque and endothelial dysfunction. Under pro-inflammatory conditions, endothelial cells adopt a mesenchymal phenotype by a process called endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EndMT) which plays an important role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. Dan-Shen-Yin (DSY) is a well-known traditional Chinese medicine used in the treatment of cardiovascular disease. However, the molecular mechanism whereby DSY mitigates atherosclerosis remains unknown. Therefore, we employed a network pharmacology-based strategy in this study to determine the therapeutic targets of DSY, and in vitro experiments to understand the molecular pharmacology mechanism. The targets of the active ingredients of DSY related to EndMT and atherosclerosis were obtained and used to construct a protein-protein interaction (PPI) network followed by network topology and functional enrichment analysis. Network pharmacology analysis revealed that the PI3K/AKT pathway was the principal signaling pathway of DSY against EndMT in atherosclerosis. Molecular docking simulations indicated strong binding capabilities of DSY’s bioactive ingredients toward PI3K/AKT pathway molecules. Experimentally, DSY could efficiently modify expression of signature EndMT genes and decrease expression of PI3K/AKT pathway signals including integrin αV, integrin β1, PI3K, and AKT1 in TGF-β2-treated HUVECs. LASP1, which is upstream of the PI3K/AKT pathway, had strong binding affinity to the majority of DSY’s bioactive ingredients, was induced by EndMT-promoting stimuli involving IL-1β, TGF-β2, and hypoxia, and was downregulated by DSY. Knock-down of LASP1 attenuated the expression of integrin αV, integrin β1, PI3K, AKT1 and EndMT-related genes induced by TGF-β2, and minimized the effect of DSY. Thus, our study showed that DSY potentially exerted anti-EndMT activity through the LASP1/PI3K/AKT pathway, providing a possible new therapeutic intervention for atherosclerosis.

Network Pharmacology-Based Strategy Combined with Molecular Docking and in vitro Validation Study to Explore the Underlying Mechanism of Huo Luo Xiao Ling Dan in Treating Atherosclerosis

Background

Huo Luo Xiao Ling Dan (HLXLD), a famous Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) classical formula, possesses anti-atherosclerosis (AS) activity. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms remain obscure.

Aim

The network pharmacology approach, molecular docking strategy, and in vitro validation experiment were performed to explore the potential active compounds, key targets, main signaling pathways, and underlying molecular mechanisms of HLXLD in treating AS.

Methods

Several public databases were used to search for active components and targets of HLXLD, as well as AS-related targets. Crucial bioactive ingredients, potential targets, and signaling pathways were acquired through bioinformatics analysis. Subsequently, the molecular docking strategy and molecular dynamics simulation were carried out to predict the affinity and stability of active compounds and key targets. In vitro cell experiment was performed to verify the findings from bioinformatics analysis.

Results

A total of 108 candidate compounds and 321 predicted target genes were screened. Bioinformatics analysis suggested that quercetin, dihydrotanshinone I, pelargonidin, luteolin, guggulsterone, and β-sitosterol may be the main ingredients. STAT3, HSP90AA1, TP53, and AKT1 could be the key targets. MAPK signaling pathway might play an important role in HLXLD against AS. Molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulation results suggested that the active compounds bound well and stably to their targets. Cell experiments showed that the intracellular accumulation of lipid and increased secretory of TNF-α, IL-1β, and MCP-1 in ox-LDL treated RAW264.7 cells, which can be significantly suppressed by pretreating with dihydrotanshinone I. The up-regulation of STAT3, ERK, JNK, and p38 phosphorylation induced by ox-LDL can be inhibited by pretreating with dihydrotanshinone I.

Conclusion

Our findings comprehensively demonstrated the active compounds, key targets, main signaling pathways, and underlying molecular mechanisms of HLXLD in treating AS. These findings would provide a scientific basis for the study of the complex mechanisms underlying disease and drug action.

The structural basis of effective LOX-1 inhibition

Along with other scavenger receptors, splice variants of LOX-1 play an important role in modulating numerous subcellular mechanisms such as normal cell development, differentiation and growth in response to physiological stimuli. Thus, LOX-1 activity is a key regulator in determining the severity of many genetic, metabolic, cardiovascular, renal, and neurodegenerative diseases and/or cancer. Increased expression of LOX-1 precipitates pathological disorders during the aging process. Therefore, it becomes important to develop novel LOX-1 inhibitors based on its ligand binding polarity and/or affinity and disrupt the uptake of its ligand: oxidized low-density lipoproteins (ox-LDL). In this review, we shed light on the presently studied and developed novel LOX-1 inhibitors that may have potential for treatment of diseases characterized by LOX-1 activation.

Tanshinone ΙΙA-Incubated Mesenchymal Stem Cells Inhibit Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Inflammation of N9 Cells through TREM2 Signaling Pathway

Our previous study found that incubating mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) with tanshinone IIA (TIIA) before transplantation could significantly increase the inhibitory effect of MSC on neuroinflammation. Here, we investigated the possible mechanism of this effect. N9 cells and MSC were inoculated at a ratio of 1 : 1 into a Transwell coculture system. MSC were inoculated into the upper chamber, and N9 cells were inoculated into the lower chamber. In this experiment, N9 cells were treated with 1 μg/mL lipopolysaccharide (LPS) for 24 hours to induce inflammation, MSC were treated with 10 μM TIIA for 48 hours to prepare TIIA-incubated MSC (TIIA-MSC), and TREM2 siRNA was used to silence the TREM2 gene in MSC. The changes in IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α were evaluated by Western blotting. We found that LPS significantly increased the levels of IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α. While both MSC and TIIA-MSC downregulated the levels of (P = 0.092, P = 0.002), IL-6 (P = 0.014, P < 0.001), and TNF-α (P = 0.044, P = 0.003), TIIA-MSC downregulated IL-6 more significantly (P = 0.026). In addition, silencing TREM2 reduced the ability of TIIA-MSC to attenuate IL-6 (P = 0.005) and TNF-α (P = 0.033). These data suggest that the enhanced anti-inflammatory effect of TIIA-MSC on LPS-induced N9 cells may be mediated through the TREM2 signaling pathway.

Dihydrotanshinone Attenuates LPS-Induced Acute Lung Injury in Mice by Upregulating LXRα

Dihydrotanshinone (DIH) is an extract of Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge. It has been reported that DIH could regulate NF-κB signaling pathway. The aim of this study was to investigate whether DIH could protect mice from lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced acute lung injury (ALI) in mice. In this study, sixty mice were randomly divided into five groups, one group as blank control group, the second group as LPS control group, and the last three groups were pre-injected with different doses of DIH and then inhaled LPS for experimental comparison. After 12 h of LPS treatment, the wet-dry ratio, histopathlogical changes, and myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity of lungs were measured. In addition, ELISA kits were used to measure the levels of TNF-α and IL-1β inflammatory cytokines in bronchoalveolar lavage fluids (BALF), and western blot analysis was used to measure the activity of NF-κB signaling pathway. The results demonstrated that DIH could effectively reduce pulmonary edema, MPO activity, and improve the lung histopathlogical changes. Furthermore, DIH suppressed the levels of inflammatory cytokines in BALF, such as TNF-α and IL-1β. In addition, DIH could also downregulate the activity of NF-κB signaling pathway. We also found that DIH dose-dependently increased the expression of LXRα. In addition, DIH could inhibit LPS-induced IL-8 production and NF-κB activation in A549 cells. And the inhibitory effects were reversed by LXRα inhibitor geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate (GGPP). Therefore, we speculate that DIH regulates LPS-induced ALI in mice by increasing LXRα expression, which subsequently inhibiting NF-κB signaling pathway.

STAT3-mediated activation of mitochondrial pathway contributes to antitumor effect of dihydrotanshinone I in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma cells

BACKGROUND

Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is one of the most common malignancies with a poor prognosis, and its treatment remains a great challenge. Dihydrotanshinone I (DHTS) has been reported to exert antitumor effect in many cancers. However, the role of DHTS in ESCC remains unclear.

AIM

To investigate the antitumor effect of DHTS in ESCC and the underlying mechanisms.

METHODS

CCK-8 assay and cell cycle analysis were used to detect proliferation and cell cycle in ESCC cells. Annexin V-PE/7-AAD double staining assay and Hoechst 33258 staining were used to detect apoptosis in ESCC cells. Western blot was used to detect the expression of proteins associated with the mitochondrial pathway. Immunofluorescence was used to detect the expression of phosphorylated STAT3 (pSTAT3) in DHTS-treated ESCC cells. ESCC cells with STAT3 knockdown and overexpression were constructed to verify the role of STAT3 in DHTS induced apoptosis. A xenograft tumor model in nude mice was used to evaluate the antitumor effect of DHTS in vivo.

RESULTS

After treatment with DHTS, the proliferation of ESCC cells was inhibited in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Moreover, DHTS induced cell cycle arrest in the G0/1 phase. Annexin V-PE/7-AAD double staining assay and Hoechst 33258 staining revealed that DHTS induced obvious apoptosis in KYSE30 and Eca109 cells. At the molecular level, DHTS treatment reduced the expression of pSTAT3 and anti-apoptotic proteins, while increasing the expression of pro-apoptotic proteins in ESCC cells. STAT3 knockdown in ESCC cells markedly promoted the activation of the mitochondrial pathway while STAT3 overexpression blocked the activation of the mitochondrial pathway. Additionally, DHTS inhibited tumor cell proliferation and induced apoptosis in a xenograft tumor mouse model.

CONCLUSION

DHTS exerts antitumor effect in ESCC via STAT3-mediated activation of the mitochondrial pathway. DHTS may be a novel therapeutic agent for ESCC.

Effects of androgen on extracellular vesicles from endothelial cells in rat penile corpus cavernosum

BACKGROUND

The explicit mechanism of erectile dysfunction caused by low androgen status is unknown. It was reported that eNOS was expressed in extracellular vesicles (EVs). Androgen may regulate erectile function by affect the release of EVs from endothelial cells.

OBJECTIVES

To investigate whether androgen affects the production of EVs and nitric oxide (NO) in endothelial cells of rat penile corpus cavernosum.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Endothelial cells of rat penile corpus cavernosum were isolated and purified from 6-week-old healthy male Sprague Dawley (SD) rats. Endothelial cells were treated with different concentrations of dihydrotestosterone (DHT) in a cell culture medium as follows: no-androgen group (NA group, DHT 0 nmol/L), very-low androgen group (VLA group, DHT 0.1 nmol/L), low androgen group (LA group, DHT 1 nmol/L), and physiological concentrations androgen group (PA group, DHT 10 nmol/L). After 24 h, EVs of supernatant in each group were isolated and identified. The content of EVs and NO in the supernatant and the expression of CD9, CD63, TSG101, and eNOS in EVs were detected.

RESULTS

Positive expression of CD9, CD63, TSG101, and eNOS was found in isolated EVs. The concentration of EVs was lower in the NA group compared with other groups (p < 0.01). The expression of eNOS and the concentration of NO was lower in the NA group than that in other groups (p < 0.05); it was lower in the VLA group than that in the LA group (p < 0.05) and lower in LA group than that in PA group (p < 0.05). When the concentration of DHT in endothelial cell culture medium ranged from 0 to 10 nmol/L, the concentration of DHT was positively correlated with the content of EVs and NO.

CONCLUSION

Decrease in eNOS-expressing EVs is one mechanism of NO reduction in endothelial cells of rat corpus cavernosum caused by low androgen levels.

microRNA-363-3p reduces endothelial cell inflammatory responses in coronary heart disease via inactivation of the NOX4-dependent p38 MAPK axis

Coronary heart disease (CHD) is one of the leading causes of heart-associated deaths worldwide. This study aimed to investigate the mechanism by which microRNA-363-3p (miR-363-3p) regulates endothelial injury induced by inflammatory responses in CHD. The expression patterns of miR-363-3p, NADPH oxidase 4 (NOX4), and p38 MAPK/p-p38 MAPK were examined in an established atherosclerosis (AS) model in C57BL/6 mice and in isolated coronary arterial endothelial cells (CAECs) after gain- or loss-of-function experiments. We also measured the levels of inflammatory factors (IL-6, ICAM-1, IL-10 and IL-1β), hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), and catalase (CAT) activity, followed by detection of cell viability and apoptosis. In AS, miR-363-3p was downregulated and NOX4 was upregulated, while miR-363-3p was identified as targeting NOX4 and negatively regulating its expression. The AS progression was reduced in NOX4 knockout mice. Furthermore, miR-363-3p resulted in a decreased inflammatory response, oxidative stress, and cell apoptosis in CAECs while augmenting their viability via blockade of the p38 MAPK signaling pathway. Overall, miR-363-3p hampers the NOX4-dependent p38 MAPK axis to attenuate apoptosis, oxidative stress injury, and the inflammatory reaction in CAECs, thus protecting CAECs against CHD. This finding suggests the miR-363-3p-dependent NOX4 p38 MAPK axis as a promising therapeutic target for CHD.

Dihydrotanshinone I Is Effective against Drug-Resistant Helicobacter pylori In Vitro and In Vivo

Helicobacter pylori is a major global pathogen and has been implicated in gastritis, peptic ulcer, and gastric carcinoma. The efficacy of the extensive therapy of H. pylori infection with antibiotics is compromised by the development of drug resistance and toxicity toward human gut microbiota, which urgently demands novel and selective antibacterial strategies. The present study was mainly performed to assess the in vitro and in vivo effects of a natural herbal compound, dihydrotanshinone I (DHT), against standard and clinical H. pylori strains. DHT demonstrated effective antibacterial activity against H. pylori in vitro (MIC_50/90, 0.25/0.5 μg/ml), with no development of resistance during continuous serial passaging. Time-kill curves showed strong time-dependent bactericidal activity for DHT. Also, DHT eliminated preformed biofilms and killed biofilm-encased H. pylori cells more efficiently than the conventional antibiotic metronidazole. In mouse models of multidrug-resistant H. pylori infection, dual therapy with DHT and omeprazole showed in vivo killing efficacy superior to that of the standard triple-therapy approach. Moreover, DHT treatment induces negligible toxicity against normal tissues and exhibits a relatively good safety index. These results suggest that DHT could be suitable for use as an anti-H. pylori agent in combination with a proton pump inhibitor to eradicate multidrug-resistant H. pylori.

Characterization of a novel polysaccharide from Moutan Cortex and its ameliorative effect on AGEs-induced diabetic nephropathy

This study aimed to investigate the structure of a new heteropolysaccharide (MC-Pa) from Moutan Cortex (MC), and its protection on diabetic nephropathy (DN). The MC-Pa composed of D-glucose and L-arabinose (3.31:2.25) was characterized with homogeneous molecular weight of 1.64 × 10⁵ Da, and the backbone was 4)-α-D-Glcp-(1 → 5-α-L-Araf-(1 → 3,5-α-L-Araf-(1→, branched partially at O-3 with α-L-Araf-(1 → residue with methylated-GC-MS and NMR. Furthermore, MC-Pa possessed strong antioxidant activity in vitro and inhibited the production of ROS caused by AGEs. In vivo, MC-Pa could alleviate mesangial expansion and tubulointerstitial fibrosis of DN rats in histopathology and MC-Pa could decrease significantly the serum levels of AGEs and RAGE. Western blot and immunohistochemical analysis showed that MC-Pa can reduce the expression of main protein (FN and Col IV) of extracellular-matrix, down-regulate the production of inflammatory factors (ICAM-1 and VCAM-1), and therefore regulate the pathway of TGF-β1. The above indicated that MC-Pa has an improving effect on DN.

Link between microbiota and hypertension: Focus on LPS/TLR4 pathway in endothelial dysfunction and vascular inflammation, and therapeutic implication of probiotics

High blood pressure (BP) presents a significant public health challenge. Recent findings suggest that altered microbiota can exert a hypertensive effect on the host. One of the possible mechanisms involved is the chronic translocation of its components, mainly lipopolysaccharides (LPS) into systemic circulation leading to metabolic endotoxemia. In animal models, LPS has been commonly used to induce endothelial dysfunction and vascular inflammation. In human studies, plasma LPS concentration has been positively correlated with hypertension, however, the mechanistic link has not been fully elucidated. It is hypothesised here that the LPS-induced direct alterations to the vascular endothelium and resulting hypertension are possible targets for probiotic intervention. The methodology of this review involved a systematic search of the literature with critical appraisal of papers. Three tranches of search were performed: 1) existing review papers; 2) primary mechanistic animal, in vitro and human studies; and 3) primary intervention studies. A total of 70 peer-reviewed papers were included across the three tranches and critically appraised using SIGN50 for human studies and the ARRIVE guidelines for animal studies. The extracted information was coded into key themes and summarized in a narrative analysis. Results highlight the role of LPS in the activation of endothelial toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) initiating a cascade of interrelated signalling pathways including: 1) Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase/ Reactive oxygen species (ROS)/ Endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) pathway leading to endothelial dysfunction; and 2) Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase (MAPK) and Nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) pathways leading to vascular inflammation. Findings from animal intervention studies suggest an improvement in vasorelaxation, vascular inflammation and hypertension following probiotic supplementation, which was mediated by downregulation of LPS-induced pathways. Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and systematic reviews provided some evidence for the anti-inflammatory effect of probiotics with statistically significant antihypertensive effect in clinical samples and may offer a viable intervention for the management of hypertension.

Screening and Analysis of Hypolipidemic Components from Shuangdan Capsule Based on Pancreatic Lipase

Background:

Some natural pancreatic lipase inhibitors with fewer side effects are proposed. As a traditional Chinese medicine, Shuangdan Capsule (SDC) has been used for the treatment of higher lipid in blood, which is mainly composed by Radix Salviae and Peony skin.

Objective:

This work is aimed to investigate the molecular mechanism of the constituents from this SDC against metabolic disorders, the molecular flexibility and intermolecular interactional characteristics of these components in the active sites.

Methods:

The small molecules were obtained from the Traditional Chinese Medicine Database TCM database, the systems-level pharmacological database for Traditional Chinese Medicine TCMSP server was used to calculate the ADME-related properties. Autodock Vina was used to perform virtual screening of the selected molecules and to return energy values in several ligand conformations. The network parameters were calculated using the network analyzer plug-in in Cytoscape.

Results:

The most active six molecules are all enclosed by amino acids ASP79, TYR114, GLU175, PRO180, PHE215, GLY216 and LUE264, among which, hydrophobic interaction, hydrogen bond and repulsive forces play extremely important roles. It is worth noting that most of the local minima of molecular electrostatic potentials on van der Waals (vdW) surface are increased while the maxima negative ones are decreased simultaneously, implying that the electrostatic potential tends to be stable. From the topological analysis of the Protein-Protein Interaction (PPI) network, PNLIP related genes are also proved to be pivotal targets for hyperlipidemia, such as LPL, AGK, MGLL, LIPE, LIPF and PNPLA2. Further GO analysis indicated that lipophilic terpenoid compounds may reduce the blood lipid by taking part in the lipid catabolic process, the extracellular space and the cellular components of the extracellular region part and the triacylglycerol lipase activity.

Conclusion:

This study provides some useful information for the development and application of natural hypolipidemic medcines. Further pharmacologically active studies are still needed both in vivo and in vitro.

Dihydrotanshinone I Ameliorates Cardiac Hypertrophy in Diabetic Mice Induced by Chronic High-Fat Feeding

Salvia miltiorrhiza Bge. (Danshen) is widely used to improve blood circulation and the dredge meridian in traditional Chinese medicine. In the present study, we evaluated the effects of dihydrotanshinone I (DHTS), a natural product from Danshen, on chronic high-fat feeding-induced cardiac remodeling and dysfunction. DHTS (25 mg/kg, intraperitoneal) did not affect blood glucose, insulin levels, and glucose intolerance. However, it alleviated diastolic dysfunction induced by the high-fat diet, as indicated by the increase in the ratio of peak early filling velocity to peak late filling velocity of the mitral and suppression of the extension of the isovolumic relaxation phase of the left ventricle. Further investigations revealed that DHTS ameliorated high-fat induced cardiac hypertrophy in mice and suppressed insulin-induced enlargement of cardiomyocytes in vitro. In neonatal cardiomyocytes, DHTS restored insulin-induced suppression of CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein beta-2 isoform (CEBPβ) and the phosphorylation of glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK3β) and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK). Taken together, our results indicated that DHTS ameliorated cardiac hypertrophy and diastolic dysfunction in high-fat-fed mice, probably through the inhibition of insulin-induced suppression of CEBPβ and phosphorylation of GSK3β and ERK in cardiomyocytes.

TFEB-NF-κB inflammatory signaling axis: a novel therapeutic pathway of Dihydrotanshinone I in doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity

BACKGROUND

Doxorubicin is effective in a variety of solid and hematological malignancies. Unfortunately, clinical application of doxorubicin is limited due to a cumulative dose-dependent cardiotoxicity. Dihydrotanshinone I (DHT) is a natural product from Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge with multiple anti-tumor activity and anti-inflammation effects. However, its anti-doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity (DIC) effect, either in vivo or in vitro, has not been elucidated yet. This study aims to explore the anti-inflammation effects of DHT against DIC, and to elucidate the potential regulatory mechanism.

METHODS

Effects of DHT on DIC were assessed in zebrafish, C57BL/6 mice and H9C2 cardiomyocytes. Echocardiography, histological examination, flow cytometry, immunochemistry and immunofluorescence were utilized to evaluate cardio-protective effects and anti-inflammation effects. mTOR agonist and lentivirus vector carrying GFP-TFEB were applied to explore the regulatory signaling pathway.

RESULTS

DHT improved cardiac function via inhibiting the activation of M1 macrophages and the excessive release of pro-inflammatory cytokines both in vivo and in vitro. The activation and nuclear localization of NF-κB were suppressed by DHT, and the effect was abolished by mTOR agonist with concomitant reduced expression of nuclear TFEB. Furthermore, reduced expression of nuclear TFEB is accompanied by up-regulated phosphorylation of IKKα/β and NF-κB, while TFEB overexpression reversed these changes. Intriguingly, DHT could upregulate nuclear expression of TFEB and reduce expressions of p-IKKα/β and p-NF-κB.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results demonstrated that DHT can be applied as a novel cardioprotective compound in the anti-inflammation management of DIC via mTOR-TFEB-NF-κB signaling pathway. The current study implicates TFEB-IKK-NF-κB signaling axis as a previously undescribed, druggable pathway for DIC.

LOX-1: Regulation, Signaling and Its Role in Atherosclerosis

Atherosclerosis has long been known to be a chronic inflammatory disease. In addition, there is intense oxidative stress in atherosclerosis resulting from an imbalance between the excess reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and inadequate anti-oxidant defense forces. The excess of the oxidative forces results in the conversion of low-density lipoproteins (LDL) to oxidized LDL (ox-LDL), which is highly atherogenic. The sub-endothelial deposition of ox-LDL, formation of foamy macrophages, vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) proliferation and migration, and deposition of collagen are central pathophysiologic steps in the formation of atherosclerotic plaque. Ox-LDL exerts its action through several different scavenger receptors, the most important of which is LOX-1 in atherogenesis. LOX-1 is a transmembrane glycoprotein that binds to and internalizes ox-LDL. This interaction results in variable downstream effects based on the cell type. In endothelial cells, there is an increased expression of cellular adhesion molecules, resulting in the increased attachment and migration of inflammatory cells to intima, followed by their differentiation into macrophages. There is also a worsening endothelial dysfunction due to the increased production of vasoconstrictors, increased ROS, and depletion of endothelial nitric oxide (NO). In the macrophages and VSMCs, ox-LDL causes further upregulation of the LOX-1 gene, modulation of calpains, macrophage migration, VSMC proliferation and foam cell formation. Soluble LOX-1 (sLOX-1), a fragment of the main LOX-1 molecule, is being investigated as a diagnostic marker because it has been shown to be present in increased quantities in patients with hypertension, diabetes, metabolic syndrome and coronary artery disease. LOX-1 gene deletion in mice and anti-LOX-1 therapy has been shown to decrease inflammation, oxidative stress and atherosclerosis. LOX-1 deletion also results in damage from ischemia, making LOX-1 a promising target of therapy for atherosclerosis and related disorders. In this article we focus on the different mechanisms for regulation, signaling and the various effects of LOX-1 in contributing to atherosclerosis.

Dihydrotanshinone I Alleviates Crystalline Silica-Induced Pulmonary Inflammation by Regulation of the Th Immune Response and Inhibition of STAT1/STAT3

Occupational exposure to crystalline silica (CS) results in a persistent pulmonary inflammatory response that eventually leads to abnormal tissue repair, disability, and death. The inflammatory-immune responses occur in the early stages of CS exposure, and both innate and adaptive immunity are involved. CD4+ T cells play a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of CS-induced pulmonary disease, which has no proven curative therapy. Dihydrotanshinone I (DHI), a natural product isolated from Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge (Danshen), has anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties. However, whether DHI has a protective effect on CS-induced lung disease, how it influences the Th immune response, and the potential underlying molecular mechanism(s) have not been fully clarified. In this study, DHI treatment of CS-exposed mice reduced the expression of proinflammatory cytokines and the infiltration of immune cells. It significantly ameliorated CS-induced pulmonary inflammation by attenuating T helper (Th)1 and Th17 responses, which were tightly related to the inhibition of STAT1 and STAT3. DHI significantly altered Th2 cytokines but not the Th2 nuclear transcription factor. Furthermore, our study found that DHI treatment also affected regulatory T cell activity in CS-injured mice. Taken together, our findings indicated that DHI could modulate Th responses and alleviate CS-induced pulmonary inflammation, suggesting a novel application of DHI in CS-induced pulmonary disease.

Targeting Mechanics-Induced Fibroblast Activation through CD44-RhoA-YAP Pathway Ameliorates Crystalline Silica-Induced Silicosis

Silicosis is pneumoconiosis of the lung, usually resulting from prolonged exposure to crystalline silica (CS). The hallmark of silicosis is excessive extracellular matrix (ECM) deposition produced by activated fibroblasts. Recent work demonstrated that excessive ECM-forming mechanical cues play an essential role in promoting fibroblast activation and perpetuating fibrotic pathologies. However, the detailed molecular mechanism still needs to be uncovered.

Methods: NIH-3T3 fibroblasts were cultured on either 1 kappa (soft) or 60 kappa (stiff) gel-coated coverslips. A series of knockdown and reverse experiments in vitro were performed to establish the signaling for mechanics-induced fibroblast activation. An experimental model of silicosis was established by one-time intratracheal instillation of CS suspension. The cluster of differentiation 44 (CD44) antibody (IM7), dihydrotanshinone I (DHI) and verteporfin (VP) were used to explore the effect of CD44-RhoA-YAP signaling blockade on mechanics-induced fibroblast activation and CS-induced pulmonary fibrosis.

Results: Matrix stiffness could induce nuclear translocation of the Yes-associated protein (YAP) through CD44 in fibroblasts. This effect required RhoA activity and F-actin cytoskeleton polymerization but was independent of Hippo pathway kinases, Mst 1 and Lats 1, forming CD44-RhoA-YAP signaling pathway. Pharmacological upstream blocking by CD44 antibody or downstream blockade of YAP by DHI or VP could attenuate fibroblast migration, invasion, proliferation, and collagen deposition. Furthermore, CD44-RhoA-YAP signaling blockade could alleviate CS-induced fibrosis and improve pulmonary function in vivo.

Conclusion: CD44-RhoA-YAP signaling mediates mechanics-induced fibroblast activation. Targeting this pathway could ameliorate crystalline silica-induced silicosis and provide a potential therapeutic strategy to mitigate fibrosis.

Pharmacological activities of dihydrotanshinone I, a natural product from Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge

Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge (Danshen), a famous traditional Chinese herb, has been used clinically for the treatment of various diseases for centuries. Document data showed that tanshinones, a class of lipophilic abietane diterpenes rich in this herb, possess multiple biological effects in vitro and in vivo models. Among which, 15,16-dihydrotanshinone I (DHT) has received much attention in recent years. In this systematical review, we carefully selected, analyzed, and summarized high-quality publications related to pharmacological effects and the underlying mechanisms of DHT. DHT has anti-cancer, cardiovascular protective, anti-inflammation, anti-Alzheimer's disease, and other effects. Furthermore, several molecules such as hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF-1α), human antigen R (HuR), acetylcholinesterase (AchE), etc. have been identified as the potential targets for DHT. The diverse pharmacological activities of DHT provide scientific evidence for the local and traditional uses of Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge. We concluded that DHT might serve as a lead compound for drug discovery in related diseases while further in-depth investigations are still needed.

Targeting LOX-1 in atherosclerosis and vasculopathy: current knowledge and future perspectives

LOX-1 (lectin-like oxidized low-density lipoprotein receptor-1; also known as OLR1) is the dominant receptor that recognizes and internalizes oxidized low-density lipoproteins (ox-LDLs) in endothelial cells. Several genetic variants of LOX-1 are associated with the risk and severity of coronary artery disease. The LOX-1-ox-LDL interaction induces endothelial dysfunction, leukocyte adhesion, macrophage-derived foam cell formation, smooth muscle cell proliferation and migration, and platelet activation. LOX-1 activation eventually leads to the rupture of atherosclerotic plaques and acute cardiovascular events. In addition, LOX-1 can be cleaved to generate soluble LOX-1 (sLOX-1), which is a useful diagnostic and prognostic marker for atherosclerosis-related diseases in human patients. Of therapeutic relevance, several natural products and clinically used drugs have emerged as LOX-1 inhibitors that have antiatherosclerotic actions. We hereby provide an updated overview of role of LOX-1 in atherosclerosis and associated vascular diseases, with an aim to highlighting the potential of LOX-1 as a novel theranostic tool for cardiovascular disease prevention and treatment.

Pulmonary vascular dysfunction in metabolic syndrome

Metabolic syndrome is a critically important precursor to the onset of many diseases, such as cardiovascular disease, and cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death worldwide. The primary risk factors of metabolic syndrome include hyperglycaemia, abdominal obesity, dyslipidaemia, and high blood pressure. It has been well documented that metabolic syndrome alters vascular endothelial and smooth muscle cell functions in the heart, brain, kidney and peripheral vessels. However, there is less information available regarding how metabolic syndrome can affect pulmonary vascular function and ultimately increase an individual's risk of developing various pulmonary vascular diseases, such as pulmonary hypertension. Here, we review in detail how metabolic syndrome affects pulmonary vascular function.

Neferine, a Bisbenzylisoquinoline Alkaloid, Ameliorates Dextran Sulfate Sodium-Induced Ulcerative Colitis

Both the incidence and prevalence of ulcerative colitis (UC) are increasing throughout the world. Neferine, a natural alkaloid, demonstrated a variety of biological activities. In this study, the anti-inflammatory effect of neferine was investigated. Raw264.7 cells were stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or LPS plus Z-VAD-fmk (Z-VAD). The inhibitory effect of neferine on secretion of nitrite, cytokines tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-[Formula: see text]) and interleukin 6 (IL-6), expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) was determined. The protective effect of neferine was investigated in dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced UC mouse model. Neferine significantly inhibited LPS and LPS plus Z-VAD induced secretion of nitrite, cytokines, and expression of iNOS and COX-2. Oral administration of neferine (10[Formula: see text]mg/kg and 25[Formula: see text]mg/kg) significantly reduced DSS-induced mouse weight loss, decreased disease activity index (DAI) scores, improved colon pathological changes, and decreased plasma cytokines. In addition, neferine significantly inhibited the protein expression of iNOS, COX-2, receptor-interacting protein 1 (RIP1), RIP3, mixed lineage kinase domain-like protein (MLKL), and increased the protein expression of caspase-8 in colon tissues. These data suggest that neferine was a potent anti-inflammatory agent against LPS and DSS induced inflammation both in vitro and in vivo.

The Signaling Pathways Involved in the Antiatherosclerotic Effects Produced by Chinese Herbal Medicines

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are considered to be the predominant cause of death in the world. Chinese herb medicines (CHMs) have been widely used for the treatment of CVDs in Asian countries for thousands of years. One reason of high efficacy of CHMs in treating CVDs is attributed to their inhibition in atherosclerosis (AS) development, a critical contributor to CVDs occurrence. Cumulative studies have demonstrated that CHMs alleviate atherogenesis via mediating pathophysiologic events involved in AS. However, there is deficiency in the summaries regarding antiatherogenic signal pathways regulated by CHMs. In this review, we focus on the signal cascades by which herb medicines and relevant extractives, derivatives, and patents improve proatherogenic processes including endothelium dysfunction, lipid accumulation, and inflammation. We mainly elaborate the CHMs-mediated signaling pathways in endothelial cells, macrophages, and vascular smooth muscle cells of each pathogenic event. Moreover, we briefly describe the other AS-related factors such as thrombosis, autophagy, immune response, and noncoding RNAs and effects of CHMs on them in the way of cascade regulation, which is helpful to further illustrate the molecular mechanisms of AS initiation and progression and discover newly effective agents for AS management.

Salvia miltiorrhizaBurge (Danshen): a golden herbal medicine in cardiovascular therapeutics

Salvia miltiorrhiza Burge (Danshen) is an eminent medicinal herb that possesses broad cardiovascular and cerebrovascular protective actions and has been used in Asian countries for many centuries. Accumulating evidence suggests that Danshen and its components prevent vascular diseases, in particular, atherosclerosis and cardiac diseases, including myocardial infarction, myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury, arrhythmia, cardiac hypertrophy and cardiac fibrosis. The published literature indicates that lipophilic constituents (tanshinone I, tanshinone IIa, tanshinone IIb, cryptotanshinone, dihydrotanshinone, etc) as well as hydrophilic constituents (danshensu, salvianolic acid A and B, protocatechuic aldehyde, etc) contribute to the cardiovascular protective actions of Danshen, suggesting a potential synergism among these constituents. Herein, we provide a systematic up-to-date review on the cardiovascular actions and therapeutic potential of major pharmacologically active constituents of Danshen. These bioactive compounds will serve as excellent drug candidates in small-molecule cardiovascular drug discovery. This article also provides a scientific rationale for understanding the traditional use of Danshen in cardiovascular therapeutics.

2,3,4′,5-tetrahydroxystilbene-2-O-β-d-glycoside attenuates atherosclerosis in apolipoprotein E-deficient mice: role of reverse cholesterol transport

The aim of this study was to evaluate the potential effects of 2,3,4′,5-tetrahydroxystilbene-2-O-β-d-glucoside (TSG) on the development of atherosclerotic plaque in ApoE−/− mice, and explore the mechanisms involved. Our data showed that after 8 weeks of treatment, TSG ameliorated serum levels of total cholesterol, triglyceride, and low density lipoprotein cholesterol, and increased serum levels of high density lipoprotein cholesterol in ApoE−/− mice. TSG suppressed hepatic steatosis, the formation of atherosclerotic lesions, and the formation of macrophage foam cells in ApoE−/− mice. Moreover, TSG improved the expressions of hepatic SR-BI, ABCG5, and CYP7A1, and up-regulated the protein expressions of aortic ABCA1 and ABCG1. An in-vitro study showed that TSG promoted macrophage cholesterol efflux and increased the protein expressions of ABCA1 and ABCG1. Our findings provide evidence for a positive role of TSG in preventing atherosclerosis by promoting reverse cholesterol transport. These effects may be achieved by stimulating cholesterol efflux through ABCA1 and ABCG1, promoting SR-BI-mediated cholesterol uptake in the liver, increasing secretion of cholesterol into bile by ABCG5, and improving cholesterol metabolism by the CYP7A1 pathway. In addition, antioxidative and anti-inflammatory effects of TSG may also contribute to its inhibitory effects on atherosclerosis. Further study is needed to investigate whether other potential mechanisms are involved in TSG-mediated atheroprotection.

Contribution of lectin-like oxidized low-density lipoprotein receptor-1 and LOX-1 modulating compounds to vascular diseases

The lectin-like oxidized low-density lipoprotein receptor-1 (LOX-1) is the major receptor for binding and uptake of oxidized low-density lipoprotein (oxLDL) in endothelial cells. LOX-1 is also expressed in macrophages, smooth muscle cells and platelets. Following internalization of oxLDL, LOX-1 initiates a vicious cycle from activation of pro-inflammatory signaling pathways, thus promoting an increased reactive oxygen species formation and secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines. LOX-1 plays a pivotal role in the development of endothelial dysfunction, foam cell and advanced lesions formation as well as in myocardial ischemia. Furthermore, it is known that LOX-1 plays a pivotal role in mitochondrial DNA damage, vascular cell apoptosis, and autophagy. A large number of studies provide evidence of a LOX-1's role in endothelial dysfunction, hypertension, diabetes, and obesity. In addition, novel insights into LOX-1 ligands and the activated signaling pathways have been gained. Recent studies have shown an interaction of LOX-1 with microRNA's, thus providing novel tools to regulate LOX-1 function. Because LOX-1 is increased in atherosclerotic plaques and contributes to endothelial dysfunction, several compounds were tested in vivo and in vitro to modulate the LOX-1 expression in therapeutic approaches.

Danshenol A inhibits TNF-α-induced expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) mediated by NOX4 in endothelial cells

ICAM-1 overexpression and subsequent adhesion of leukocytes to endothelial cells play critical roles in the early stage of atherosclerosis. Danshenol A (DA) is an abietane-type diterpenoid isolated from traditional Chinese herb Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge. The mechanisms under its regulation of adhesion of molecular expression are explored. Here, the effect of DA on TNF-α-induced ICAM-1 expression was investigated in endothelial cells. TNF-α-induced ICAM-1 expression and subsequent adhesion of monocytes, as well as elevated reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and NOX4 expression were all significantly reversed by DA, siNOX4 and NOX4 inhibitor GKT137831. Furthermore, TNF-α-induced ICAM-1 expression, which was increased via IKKβ/IκBα-mediated activation of NF-κB p65, was also inhibited by DA. Interestingly, NOX4 overexpression suppressed the ICAM-1 expression, and this finding may be ascribed to the activation of Nrf-2. Additionally, NF-κB inhibitor PDTC, siNOX4, or DA can decrease the TNF-α-induced ICAM-1 expression and suppress the adhesion of monocytes. In all, DA inhibited TNF-α-induced ICAM-1 expression and subsequent monocyte adhesion to endothelial cells through the NOX4-dependent IKKβ/NF-κB pathway. Besides, NOX4 played dual role in regulating ICAM-1 expression via diverse signal pathway. This novel bioactivity will make DA a good candidate to be further explored for therapeutic or preventive application for atherosclerosis.

Delivery of Antioxidant and Anti-inflammatory Agents for Tissue Engineered Vascular Grafts

The treatment of patients with severe coronary and peripheral artery disease represents a significant clinical need, especially for those patients that require a bypass graft and do not have viable veins for autologous grafting. Tissue engineering is being investigated to generate an alternative graft. While tissue engineering requires surgical intervention, the release of pharmacological agents is also an important part of many tissue engineering strategies. Delivery of these agents offers the potential to overcome the major concerns for graft patency and viability. These concerns are related to an extended inflammatory response and its impact on vascular cells such as endothelial cells. This review discusses the drugs that have been released from vascular tissue engineering scaffolds and some of the non-traditional ways that the drugs are presented to the cells. The impact of antioxidant compounds and gasotransmitters, such as nitric oxide and carbon monoxide, are discussed in detail. The application of tissue engineering and drug delivery principles to biodegradable stents is also briefly discussed. Overall, there are scaffold-based drug delivery techniques that have shown promise for vascular tissue engineering, but much of this work is in the early stages and there are still opportunities to incorporate additional drugs to modulate the inflammatory process.

Quality Evaluation and Chemical Markers Screening of Salvia miltiorrhiza Bge. (Danshen) Based on HPLC Fingerprints and HPLC-MSn Coupled with Chemometrics

Danshen, the dried root of Salvia miltiorrhiza Bge., is a widely used commercially available herbal drug, and unstable quality of different samples is a current issue. This study focused on a comprehensive and systematic method combining fingerprints and chemical identification with chemometrics for discrimination and quality assessment of Danshen samples. Twenty-five samples were analyzed by HPLC-PAD and HPLC-MSⁿ. Forty-nine components were identified and characteristic fragmentation regularities were summarized for further interpretation of bioactive components. Chemometric analysis was employed to differentiate samples and clarify the quality differences of Danshen including hierarchical cluster analysis, principal component analysis, and partial least squares discriminant analysis. Consistent results were that the samples were divided into three categories which reflected the difference in quality of Danshen samples. By analyzing the reasons for sample classification, it was revealed that the processing method had a more obvious impact on sample classification than the geographical origin, it induced the different content of bioactive compounds and finally lead to different qualities. Cryptotanshinone, trijuganone B, and 15,16-dihydrotanshinone I were screened out as markers to distinguish samples by different processing methods. The developed strategy could provide a reference for evaluation and discrimination of other traditional herbal medicines.

Atheroprotective Effects and Molecular Targets of Tanshinones Derived From Herbal Medicine Danshen

Medicinal plant-derived bioactive compounds modulate multiple therapeutic targets in cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), rendering herb-derived phytochemicals effective against one of the major CVDs-atherosclerosis. Danshen (Salvia milthiorriza Bunge) is a Chinese medicine that has been used in cardio- and cerebro-vascular therapeutic remedies in Asian countries for many years. Emerging evidence from cellular, animal, and clinical studies suggests that major lipophilic tanshinones from Danshen can treat atherosclerotic CVDs. In this review, we highlight recent advances in understanding the molecular mechanisms of tanshinones in treating atherosclerosis, ranging from endothelial dysfunction to chronic inflammation. We also overview new molecular targets of tanshinones, including endothelial nitric oxide synthase, AMP-activated protein kinase, ABC transporter A1, heme oxygenase 1, soluble epoxide hydrolase, 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase, estrogen receptor, and proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9. Thus, this review provides a new perspective for advancing our understanding of the "ancient" herb Danshen from "modern" biomedical perspectives, supporting the possibility of exploiting tanshinones and derivatives as effective therapeutics against atherosclerosis-related cardiovascular and metabolic diseases.