Salvia miltiorrhiza in Treating Cardiovascular Diseases: A Review on Its Pharmacological and Clinical Applications

MAPK3-MYB36-ARF1 module regulates the tanshinone formation in Salvia miltiorrhiza

Salvia miltiorrhiza, known as Danshen, is a traditional Chinese medicinal plant with significant cardiovascular benefits, attributed to its secondary metabolites, particularly tanshinones. Despite their medicinal value, tanshinones occur in low natural abundance, necessitating research to increase their content. This study explores the role of the ARF transcription factor (SmARF1) in tanshinone accumulation in Danshen. Overexpressing SmARF1 in hairy roots significantly increased tanshinone levels. EMSA and Dual-LUC assays revealed that SmMYB36, a transcription factor interacting with SmMAPK3, binds to and regulates the SmARF1 promoter. SmMYB36 alone inhibited the expression of SmARF1 gene, while its interaction with SmMAPK3 enhanced SmARF1 promoter activity. This MAPK3-MYB36-ARF1 module elucidates a complex regulatory mechanism for tanshinone biosynthesis, offering insights for targeted enhancement of tanshinone content through advanced biotechnological approaches.

Dietary Chinese herbal formula supplementation improves yolk fatty acid profile in aged laying hens

Chinese herbal formula (CHF) has the potential to improve the performance of aged laying hens through integrated regulation of various physiological functions. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of dietary CHF supplementation on the yolk fatty acid profile in aged laying hens. A total of 144 healthy 307-day-old Xinyang black-feather laying hens were randomly allocated into two groups: a control group (CON, fed a basal diet) and a CHF group (fed a basal diet supplemented with 1% CHF; contained 0.30% Leonurus japonicus Houtt., 0.20% Salvia miltiorrhiza Bge., 0.25% Ligustrum lucidum Ait., and 0.25% Taraxacum mongolicum Hand.-Mazz. for 120 days). The fatty acid concentrations in egg yolks were analyzed using a targeted metabolomics technology at days 60 and 120 of the trial. The results showed that dietary CHF supplementation increased (p < .05) the concentrations of several saturated fatty acids (SFA, including myristic acid and stearic acid), monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA, including petroselinic acid, elaidic acid, trans-11-eicosenoic acid, and cis-11-eicosenoic acid), polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA, including linolelaidic acid, linoleic acid, γ-linolenic acid, α-linolenic acid, 11c,14c-eicosadienoic acid, eicosatrienoic acid, homo-γ-linolenic acid, arachidonic acid, and docosapentaenoic acid), and fatty acid indexes (total MUFA, n-3 and n-6 PUFA, PUFA/SFA, hypocholesterolemic/hypercholesterolaemic ratio, health promotion index, and desirable fatty acids) in egg yolks. Collectively, these findings suggest that dietary CHF supplementation could improve the nutritional value of fatty acids in egg yolks of aged laying hens, which would be beneficial for the production of healthier eggs to meet consumer demands.

The efficacy and safety of pH-responsive and photothermal-sensitive multifunctional nanoparticles loaded with cryptotanshinone for the treatment of gastric cancer

A multifunctional polydopamine/mesoporous silica nanoparticles loaded cryptotanshinone (PDA/MSN@CTS) was synthesized and subjected to investigating its physicochemical properties and anti-gastric cancer (GC) effects. Utilizing network pharmacology and molecular docking techniques, CTS was identified as our final research target. The structural morphology and physicochemical properties of PDA/MSN@CTS were examined. Near-infrared (NIR) laser was employed to evaluate the photothermal properties of the PDA/MSN@CTS, along with pH-responsive and NIR-triggered release assessments. In vitro experiments evaluated the impact of PDA/MSN@CTS on the malignant behavior of AGS gastric cells. A subcutaneous tumor model was further established to evaluate the in vivo safety of PDA/MSN@CTS. Furthermore, the in vivo photothermal efficacy of PDA/MSN@CTS, in addition to its combined effect with photothermal therapy (PTT), was investigated. Uniform and stable PDA/MSN@CTS had been successfully synthesized and demonstrated efficient release under tumor environment and NIR irradiation. Upon increasing NIR laser conditions, in vivo cytotoxicity, apoptosis rate, reactive oxygen species scavenging ability, and suppression of migration and invasion of AGS cells by PDA/MSN@CTS were significantly enhanced. In vivo assessments revealed excellent blood compatibility and biosafety of PDA/MSN@CTS, alongside robust tumor tissue targeting. Combining nanoparticles with PTT facilitated the anti-GC effects of PDA/MSN@CTS. Compared to free drugs, PDA/MSN@CTS exhibits higher selectivity towards cancer cells, demonstrating effective anticancer activity and biocompatibility both in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, our nanomaterial possesses excellent photothermal properties, and under NIR conditions, PDA/MSN@CTS exhibits synergistic therapeutic effects.

Ethyl Acetate Fractions of Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge (Danshen) Crude Extract Modulate Fibrotic Signals to Ameliorate Diabetic Kidney Injury

Diabetic nephropathy, a leading cause of end-stage renal disease, accounts for significant morbidity and mortality. It is characterized by microinflammation in the glomeruli and myofibroblast activation in the tubulointerstitium. Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge, a traditional Chinese medicine, is shown to possess anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic properties, implying its renal-protective potential. This study investigates which type of component can reduce the damage caused by diabetic nephropathy in a single setting. The ethyl acetate (EtOAc) layer was demonstrated to provoke peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)-α and PPAR-γ activities in renal mesangial cells by dual luciferase reporter assay. In a high glucose (HG)-cultured mesangial cell model, the EtOAc layer substantially inhibited HG-induced elevations of interleukin-1β, transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1), and fibronectin, whereas down-regulated PPAR-γ was restored. In addition, among the extracts of S. miltiorrhiza, the EtOAc layer effectively mitigated TGF-β1-stimulated myofibroblast activation. The EtOAc layer also showed a potent ability to attenuate renal hypertrophy, proteinuria, and fibrotic severity by repressing diabetes-induced proinflammatory factor, extracellular matrix accumulation, and PPAR-γ reduction in the STZ-induced diabetes mouse model. Our findings, both in vitro and in vivo, indicate the potential of the EtOAc layer from S. miltiorrhiza for future drug development targeting diabetic nephropathy.

Efficacy of tanshinone IIA in rat models with myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury: a systematic mini-review and meta-analysis

Background

Myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury (MIRI) refers to severe damage to the ischemic myocardium following the restoration of blood flow, and it is a major complication of reperfusion therapy for myocardial infarction. Notably, drugs such as metoprolol have been utilized to reduce ischemia-reperfusion injury. Tanshinone IIA is a major constituent extracted from Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge. Recently, tanshinone IIA has been studied extensively in animal models for controlling MIRI. Therefore, we conducted a meta-analysis on the application of tanshinone IIA in rat models with MIRI to evaluate the therapeutic effects of tanshinone IIA.

Methods

A comprehensive search was conducted across PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, the Cochrane Library, the China National Knowledge Infrastructure database, the Wanfang database, and the Chinese Scientific Journal Database to gather studies on tanshinone IIA intervention in rat models with MIRI.We employed SYRCLE's risk of bias tool to assess study quality. The primary outcome indicators were superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA). Myocardial infarction area was a secondary outcome indicator. This study was registered at PROSPERO (registration number CRD 42022344447).

Results

According to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 15 eligible studies were selected from 295 initially identified studies. In rat models with MIRI, tanshinone IIA significantly increased SOD levels while reducing MDA levels and myocardial infarction area. Moreover, the duration of myocardial ischemia influenced the effectiveness of tanshinone IIA. However, additional high-quality research studies are needed to establish the efficacy and definitive guidelines for the use of tanshinone IIA. Animal studies demonstrated that tanshinone IIA exerted a significant therapeutic effect when the ischemia duration was less than 40 minutes. Tanshinone IIA was found to be more effective when administered via intravenous, intraperitoneal, and intragastric routes at doses above 5 mg/kg. Additionally, treatment with tanshinone IIA at all stages-prior to myocardial ischemia, after ischemia but before reperfusion, prior to ischemia and after reperfusion, and after reperfusion-showed satisfactory results.

Conclusions

Tanshinone IIA enhanced SOD activity and reduced MDA levels, thereby ameliorating oxidative stress damage during MIRI. Additionally, it reduced the myocardial infarction area, indicating its effectiveness in mitigating MIRI-induced damage in rats and demonstrating a myocardial protective effect. These findings contribute valuable insights for developing MIRI treatment strategies.

Salvia miltiorrhiza suppresses cardiomyocyte ferroptosis after myocardial infarction by activating Nrf2 signaling

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Ferroptosis, a recently identified non-apoptotic form of cell death reliant on iron, is distinguished by an escalation in lipid reactive oxygen species (ROS) that are iron-dependent. This phenomenon has a strong correlation with irregularities in iron metabolism and lipid peroxidation. Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge (DS), a medicinal herb frequently utilized in China, is highly esteemed for its therapeutic effectiveness in enhancing blood circulation and ameliorating blood stasis, particularly during the treatment of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). Numerous pharmacological studies have identified that DS manifests antioxidative stress effects as well as inhibits lipid peroxidation. However, ambiguity persists regarding the potential of DS to impede ferroptosis in cardiomyocytes and subsequently improve myocardial damage post-myocardial infarction (MI).

AIM OF THE STUDY

The present work focused on investigating whether DS could be used to prevent the ferroptosis of cardiomyocytes and improve post-MI myocardial damage.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In vivo experiments: Through ligation of the left anterior descending coronary artery, we constructed both a wild-type (WT) and NF-E2 p45-related factor 2 knockout (Nrf2-/-) mouse model of MI. Effects of DS and ferrostatin-1 (Fer-1) on post-MI cardiomyocyte ferroptosis were examined through detecting ferroptosis and myocardial damage-related indicators as well as Nrf2 signaling-associated protein levels. In vitro experiments: Erastin was used for stimulating H9C2 cardiomyocytes to construct an in vitro ferroptosis cardiomyocyte model. Effects of DS and Fer-1 on cardiomyocyte ferroptosis were determined based on ferroptosis-related indicators and Nrf2 signaling-associated protein levels. Additionally, inhibitor and activator of Nrf2 were used for confirming the impact of Nrf2 signaling on DS's effect on cardiomyocyte ferroptosis.

RESULTS

In vivo: In comparison to the model group, DS suppressed ferroptosis in cardiomyocytes post-MI and ameliorated myocardial damage by inducing Nrf2 signaling-related proteins (Nrf2, xCT, GPX4), diminishing tissue ferrous iron and malondialdehyde (MDA) content. Additionally, it enhanced glutathione (GSH) levels and total superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, effects that are aligned with those of Fer-1. Moreover, the effect of DS on alleviating cardiomyocyte ferroptosis after MI could be partly inhibited through Nrf2 knockdown. In vitro: Compared with the erastin group, DS inhibited cardiomyocyte ferroptosis by promoting the expression of Nrf2 signaling-related proteins, reducing ferrous iron, ROS, and MDA levels, but increasing GSH content and SOD activity, consistent with the effect of Fer-1. Additionally, Nrf2 inhibition increased erastin-mediated ferroptosis of cardiomyocytes through decreasing Nrf2 signaling-related protein expressions. Co-treatment with DS and Nrf2 activator failed to further enhance the anti-ferroptosis effect of DS.

CONCLUSION

MI is accompanied by cardiomyocyte ferroptosis, whose underlying mechanism is probably associated with Nrf2 signaling inhibition. DS possibly suppresses ferroptosis of cardiomyocytes and improves myocardial damage after MI through activating Nrf2 signaling.

Astrocyte modulation in cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury: A promising therapeutic strategy

Cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury (CIRI) poses significant challenges for drug development due to its complex pathogenesis. Astrocyte involvement in CIRI pathogenesis has led to the development of novel astrocyte-targeting drug strategies. To comprehensively review the current literature, we conducted a thorough analysis from January 2012 to December 2023, identifying 82 drugs aimed at preventing and treating CIRI. These drugs target astrocytes to exert potential benefits in CIRI, and their primary actions include modulation of relevant signaling pathways to inhibit neuroinflammation and oxidative stress, reduce cerebral edema, restore blood-brain barrier integrity, suppress excitotoxicity, and regulate autophagy. Notably, active components from traditional Chinese medicines (TCM) such as Salvia miltiorrhiza, Ginkgo, and Ginseng exhibit these important pharmacological properties and show promise in the treatment of CIRI. This review highlights the potential of astrocyte-targeted drugs to ameliorate CIRI and categorizes them based on their mechanisms of action, underscoring their therapeutic potential in targeting astrocytes.

Genomic analysis of PIN-FORMED genes reveals the roles of SmPIN3 in root architecture development in Salvia miltiorrhiza

Salvia miltiorrhiza is a widely utilized medicinal herb in China. Its roots serve as crucial raw materials for multiple drugs. The root morphology is essential for the quality of this herb, but little is known about the molecular mechanism underlying the root development in S. miltiorrhiza. Previous study reveals that the polar auxin transport is critical for lateral root development in S. miltiorrhiza. Whether the auxin efflux carriers PIN-FORMEDs (PINs) are involved in this process is worthy investigation. In this study, we identified nine SmPIN genes in S. miltiorrhiza, and their chromosome localization, physico-chemical properties, and phylogenetic relationship were analyzed. SmPINs were unevenly distributed across four chromosomes, and a variety of hormone responsive elements were detected in their promoter regions. The SmPIN proteins were divided into three branches according to the phylogenetic relationship. SmPINs with close evolutionary distance showed similar conserved motif features. The nine SmPINs showed distinct tissue-specific expression patterns and most of them were auxin-inducible genes. We generated SmPIN3 overexpression S. miltiorrhiza seedlings to investigate the function of SmPIN3 in the root development in this species. The results demonstrated that SmPIN3 regulated the root morphogenesis of S. miltiorrhiza by simultaneously affecting the lateral root development and the root anatomical structure. The root morphology, patterns of root xylem and phloem as well as the expressions of genes in the auxin signaling pathway all altered in the SmPIN3 overexpression lines. Our findings provide new insights for elucidating the regulatory roles of SmPINs in the auxin-mediated root development in S. miltiorrhiza.

A review of tanshinone compounds in prostate cancer treatment

Prostate cancer (PCa) is one of the most common malignant epithelial tumors in men worldwide. PCa patients are initially sensitive to chemotherapy, but patients in the advanced stages of PCa eventually develop resistance, leaving them with limited therapeutic options. Therefore, it is very important to screen new drugs for treating PCa. Salvia miltiorrhiza is a common Chinese herbal medicine used in some Asian countries. It has many functions and is widely used to treat a variety of diseases, including heart diseases and cancers. For the past few years, research has shown that liposoluble constituents of tanshinones (TANs), including cryptotanshinone, TAN IIA, dihydrotanshinone I, and TAN I, exhibit good anticancer activity in PCa. In this study, we review the progress of TAN compounds (cryptotanshinone, TAN IIA, dihydrotanshinone I, and TAN I) in treating PCa over the past decade. These compounds can act on the same molecular mechanisms, as they have a very similar structure; they are also found to work slightly differently in PCa. According to current studies, compared with other TAN compounds, TAN IIA appears to hold more potential for treating PCa. The toxicity, side effects or biodistribution of Salvia miltiorrhiza and these four TANs need to be confirmed with further research. Findings obtained in this study may provide important information for the potential clinical application of cryptotanshinone, TAN IIA, dihydrotanshinone I, and TAN I in the treatment of PCa.

High-Altitude Medicinal Plants as Promising Source of Phytochemical Antioxidants to Combat Lifestyle-Associated Oxidative Stress-Induced Disorders

Oxidative stress, driven by reactive oxygen, nitrogen, and sulphur species (ROS, RNS, RSS), poses a significant threat to cellular integrity and human health. Generated during mitochondrial respiration, inflammation, UV exposure and pollution, these species damage cells and contribute to pathologies like cardiovascular issues, neurodegeneration, cancer, and metabolic syndromes. Lifestyle factors exert a substantial influence on oxidative stress levels, with mitochondria emerging as pivotal players in ROS generation and cellular equilibrium. Phytochemicals, abundant in plants, such as carotenoids, ascorbic acid, tocopherols and polyphenols, offer diverse antioxidant mechanisms. They scavenge free radicals, chelate metal ions, and modulate cellular signalling pathways to mitigate oxidative damage. Furthermore, plants thriving in high-altitude regions are adapted to extreme conditions, and synthesize secondary metabolites, like flavonoids and phenolic compounds in bulk quantities, which act to form a robust antioxidant defence against oxidative stress, including UV radiation and temperature fluctuations. These plants are promising sources for drug development, offering innovative strategies by which to manage oxidative stress-related ailments and enhance human health. Understanding and harnessing the antioxidant potential of phytochemicals from high-altitude plants represent crucial steps in combating oxidative stress-induced disorders and promoting overall wellbeing. This study offers a comprehensive summary of the production and physio-pathological aspects of lifestyle-induced oxidative stress disorders and explores the potential of phytochemicals as promising antioxidants. Additionally, it presents an appraisal of high-altitude medicinal plants as significant sources of antioxidants, highlighting their potential for drug development and the creation of innovative antioxidant therapeutic approaches.

Medicinal Plant Extracts against Cardiometabolic Risk Factors Associated with Obesity: Molecular Mechanisms and Therapeutic Targets

Obesity has increasingly become a worldwide epidemic, as demonstrated by epidemiological and clinical studies. Obesity may lead to the development of a broad spectrum of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), such as coronary heart disease, hypertension, heart failure, cerebrovascular disease, atrial fibrillation, ventricular arrhythmias, and sudden cardiac death. In addition to hypertension, there are other cardiometabolic risk factors (CRFs) such as visceral adiposity, dyslipidemia, insulin resistance, diabetes, elevated levels of fibrinogen and C-reactive protein, and others, all of which increase the risk of CVD events. The mechanisms involved between obesity and CVD mainly include insulin resistance, oxidative stress, inflammation, and adipokine dysregulation, which cause maladaptive structural and functional alterations of the heart, particularly left-ventricular remodeling and diastolic dysfunction. Natural products of plants provide a diversity of nutrients and different bioactive compounds, including phenolics, flavonoids, terpenoids, carotenoids, anthocyanins, vitamins, minerals, fibers, and others, which possess a wide range of biological activities including antihypertensive, antilipidemic, antidiabetic, and other activities, thus conferring cardiometabolic benefits. In this review, we discuss the main therapeutic interventions using extracts from herbs and plants in preclinical and clinical trials with protective properties targeting CRFs. Molecular mechanisms and therapeutic targets of herb and plant extracts for the prevention and treatment of CRFs are also reviewed.

Salvianolic acid extract prevents Tripterygium wilfordii polyglycosides-induced acute liver injury by modulating bile acid metabolism

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Tripterygium wilfordii polyglycosides (TWP) tablet is the most widely used traditional Chinese medicine preparation for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), but the hepatotoxicity often limits its widespread application. In traditional use, Salvia miltiorrhiza has cardioprotective and hepatoprotective effects. Salvianolic acid extract (SA) is a hydrophilic component of Salvia miltiorrhiza and has significant antioxidant and hepatoprotective effects.

AIM OF THE STUDY

To investigate the protective effects of SA on the TWP-induced acute liver injury in rats and to explore the related mechanisms by integration of metabolomics and transcriptomics.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

SA and TWP extracts were identified by UPLC-Q/TOF-MS. SA (200 mg/kg) was administered for consecutive 7 days. On day 7, TWP (360 mg/kg) was administered by gavage to induce the acute liver injury in rats. Serum biochemical assay and H&E staining were used to evaluate liver damage. Liver metabolomics and transcriptomics were used to explore the potential mechanisms, and further molecular biological experiments such as qPCR and IHC were utilized to validate the relevant signaling pathways.

RESULTS

SA can prevent liver injury symptoms caused by TWP, such as elevated liver index, elevated ALT and AST, and pathological changes in liver tissue. Liver metabolomics studies showed that TWP can significantly alter the content of individual bile acid in the liver and SA had the most significant impact on the biosynthetic pathway of bile acids. The transcriptomics results of the liver indicated that the genes changed in the SA + TWP group were mainly involved in sterol metabolism, lipid regulation and bile acid homeostasis pathways. The gene expression of Nr1h4, which encodes farnesoid X receptor (FXR), an important regulator of bile acid homeostasis, was significantly changed. Further studies confirmed that SA can prevent the downregulation of FXR and its downstream signaling induced by TWP, thereby regulating bile acid metabolism, ultimately preventing acute liver injury caused by TWP.

CONCLUSION

Our results demonstrated that SA could protect the liver from TWP-induced hepatic injury by modulation of the bile acid metabolic pathway. SA may provide a new strategy for the protection against TWP-induced acute liver injury.

Genome-wide identification of the SAUR gene family and screening for SmSAURs involved in root development in Salvia miltiorrhiza

KEY MESSAGE

SmSAUR4, SmSAUR18, SmSAUR28, SmSAUR37, and SmSAUR38 were probably involved in the auxin-mediated root development in Salvia miltiorrhiza. Salvia miltiorrhiza is a widely utilized medicinal plant in China. Its roots and rhizomes are the main medicinal portions and are closely related to the quality of this herb. Previous studies have revealed that auxin plays pivotal roles in S. miltiorrhiza root development. Whether small auxin-up RNA genes (SAURs), which are crucial early auxin response genes, are involved in auxin-mediated root development in S. miltiorrhiza is worthy of investigation. In this study, 55 SmSAUR genes in S. miltiorrhiza were identified, and their physical and chemical properties, gene structure, cis-acting elements, and evolutionary relationships were analyzed. The expression levels of SmSAUR genes in different organs of S. miltiorrhiza were detected using RNA-seq combined with qRT‒PCR. The root development of S. miltiorrhiza seedlings was altered by the application of indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), and Pearson correlation coefficient analysis was conducted to screen SmSAURs that potentially participate in this physiological process. The diameter of primary lateral roots was positively correlated with SmSAUR4. The secondary lateral root number was positively correlated with SmSAUR18 and negatively correlated with SmSAUR4. The root length showed a positive correlation with SmSAUR28 and SmSAUR37 and a negative correlation with SmSAUR38. The fresh root biomass exhibited a positive correlation with SmSAUR38 and a negative correlation with SmSAUR28. The aforementioned SmSAURs were likely involved in auxin-mediated root development in S. miltiorrhiza. Our study provides a comprehensive overview of SmSAURs and provides the groundwork for elucidating the molecular mechanism underlying root morphogenesis in this species.

Exploring the potential mechanisms of Danshen against COVID-19 via network pharmacology analysis and molecular docking

Danshen, a prominent herb in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), is known for its potential to enhance physiological functions such as blood circulation, immune response, and resolve blood stasis. Despite the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccination efforts, some individuals still face severe complications post-infection, including pulmonary fibrosis, myocarditis arrhythmias and stroke. This study employs a network pharmacology and molecular docking approach to investigate the potential mechanisms underlying the therapeutic effects of candidate components and targets from Danshen in the treatment of complications in COVID-19. Candidate components and targets from Danshen were extracted from the TCMSP Database, while COVID-19-related targets were obtained from Genecards. Venn diagram analysis identified common targets. A Protein-Protein interaction (PPI) network and gene enrichment analysis elucidated potential therapeutic mechanisms. Molecular docking evaluated interactions between core targets and candidate components, followed by molecular dynamics simulations to assess stability. We identified 59 potential candidate components and 123 targets in Danshen for COVID-19 treatment. PPI analysis revealed 12 core targets, and gene enrichment analysis highlighted modulated pathways. Molecular docking showed favorable interactions, with molecular dynamics simulations indicating high stability of key complexes. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves validated the docking protocol. Our study unveils candidate compounds, core targets, and molecular mechanisms of Danshen in COVID-19 treatment. These findings provide a scientific foundation for further research and potential development of therapeutic drugs.

Recent advancements in deciphering the therapeutic properties of plant secondary metabolites: phenolics, terpenes, and alkaloids

Plants produce a diverse range of secondary metabolites that serve as defense compounds against a wide range of biotic and abiotic stresses. In addition, their potential curative attributes in addressing various human diseases render them valuable in the development of pharmaceutical drugs. Different secondary metabolites including phenolics, terpenes, and alkaloids have been investigated for their antioxidant and therapeutic potential. A vast number of studies evaluated the specific compounds that possess crucial medicinal properties (such as antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, anticancerous, and antibacterial), their mechanisms of action, and potential applications in pharmacology and medicine. Therefore, an attempt has been made to characterize the secondary metabolites studied in medicinal plants, a brief overview of their biosynthetic pathways and mechanisms of action along with their signaling pathways by which they regulate various oxidative stress-related diseases in humans. Additionally, the biotechnological approaches employed to enhance their production have also been discussed. The outcome of the present review will lead to the development of novel and effective phytomedicines in the treatment of various ailments.

Metabolomics analysis reveals the effects of Salvia Miltiorrhiza Bunge extract on ameliorating acute myocardial ischemia in rats induced by isoproterenol

Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge (SM) is a widespread herbal therapy for myocardial ischemia (MI). Nevertheless, the therapeutic signaling networks of SM extract on MI is yet unknown. Emerging evidences suggested that alterations in cardiac metabolite influences host metabolism and accelerates MI progression. Herein, we employed an isoproterenol (ISO)-induced acute myocardial ischemia (AMI) rat model to confirm the pharmacological effects of SM extract (0.8, 0.9, 1.8 g/kg/day) via assessment of the histopathological alterations that occur within the heart tissue and associated cytokines; we also examined the underlying SM extract-mediated signaling networks using untargeted metabolomics. The results indicated that 25 compounds with a relative content higher than 1 % in SM aqueous extract were identified using LC-MS/MS analysis, which included salvianolic acid B, lithospermic acid, salvianolic acid A, and caffeic acid as main components. An in vivo experiment showed that pretreatment with SM extract attenuated ISO-induced myocardial injury, shown as decreased myocardial ischemic size, transformed electrocardiographic, histopathological, and serum biochemical aberrations, reduced levels of proinflammatory cytokines, inhibited oxidative stress (OS), and reversed the trepidations of the cardiac tissue metabolic profiles. Metabolomics analysis shows that the levels of 24 differential metabolites (DMs) approached the same value as controls after SM extract therapy, which were primarily involved in histidine; alanine, aspartate, and glutamate; glycerophospholipid; and glycine, serine, and threonine metabolisms through metabolic pathway analysis. Correlation analysis demonstrated that the levels of modulatory effects of SM extract on the inflammation and OS were related to alterations in endogenous metabolites. Overall, SM extract demonstrated significant cardioprotective effects in an ISO-induced AMI rat model, alleviating myocardial injury, inflammation and oxidative stress, with metabolomics analysis indicating potential therapeutic pathways for myocardial ischemia.

Exploring the Potential Mechanisms of Guanxinshutong Capsules in Treating Pathological Cardiac Hypertrophy based on Network Pharmacology, Computer-Aided Drug Design, and Animal Experiments

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are significant causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide, and pathological cardiac hypertrophy (PCH) is an essential predictor of many heart diseases. Guanxinshutong capsule (GXST) is a Chinese patent medicine widely used in the clinical treatment of CVD, In our previous research, we identified 111 compounds of GXST. In order to reveal the potential molecular mechanisms by which GXST treats PCH, this study employed network pharmacology methods to screen for the active ingredients of GXST in treating PCH and predicted the potential targets. The results identified 26 active ingredients of GXST and 110 potential targets for PCH. Through a protein-protein interaction (PPI) network, gene ontology (GO), and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analysis, we confirmed AKT1, MAPK1, and MAPK3 as the core proteins in GXST treatment of PCH, thus establishing the PI3K/AKT and MAPK signaling pathways as the significant mechanisms of GXST in treating PCH. The results of molecular docking (MD) demonstrate that flavonoid naringenin and diterpenoid tanshinone iia have the highest binding affinity with the core protein. Before performing molecular dynamics simulations (MDSs), the geometric structure of naringenin and tanshinone iia was optimized using density functional theory (DFT) at the B97-3c level, and RESP2 atomic charge calculations were carried out at the B3LYP-D3(BJ)/def2-TZVP level. Further MDS results demonstrated that in the human body environment, the complex of naringenin and tanshinone iii with core proteins exhibited high stability, flexibility, and low binding free energy. Additionally, naringenin and tanshinone iia showed favorable absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and toxicity (ADMET) characteristics and passed the drug similarity (DS) assessment. Ultrasound cardiograms and cardiac morphometric measurements in animal experiments demonstrate that GXST can improve the PCH induced by isoproterenol (ISO). Protein immunoblotting results indicate that GXST increases the expression of P-eNOS and eNOS by activating the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway and the MAPK signaling pathway, further elucidating the mechanism of action of GXST in treating PCH. This study contributes to the elucidation of the key ingredients and molecular mechanisms of GXST in treating PCH.

Role and molecular mechanism of Salvia miltiorrhiza associated with chemical compounds in the treatment of diabetes mellitus and its complications: A review

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is one of the most prevalent diseases worldwide, greatly impacting patients' quality of life. This article reviews the progress in Salvia miltiorrhiza, an ancient Chinese plant, for the treatment of DM and its associated complications. Extensive studies have been conducted on the chemical composition and pharmacological effects of S miltiorrhiza, including its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities. It has demonstrated potential in preventing and treating diabetes and its consequences by improving peripheral nerve function and increasing retinal thickness in diabetic individuals. Moreover, S miltiorrhiza has shown effectiveness when used in conjunction with angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs), and statins. The safety and tolerability of S miltiorrhiza have also been thoroughly investigated. Despite the established benefits of managing DM and its complications, further research is needed to determine appropriate usage, dosage, long-term health benefits, and safety.

Overexpression of AtMYB2 Promotes Tolerance to Salt Stress and Accumulations of Tanshinones and Phenolic Acid in Salvia miltiorrhiza

Salvia miltiorrhiza is a prized traditional Chinese medicinal plant species. Its red storage roots are primarily used for the treatment of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. In this study, a transcription factor gene AtMYB2 was cloned and introduced into Salvia miltiorrhiza for ectopic expression. Overexpression of AtMYB2 enhanced salt stress resistance in S. miltiorrhiza, leading to a more resilient phenotype in transgenic plants exposed to high-salinity conditions. Physiological experiments have revealed that overexpression of AtMYB2 can decrease the accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) during salt stress, boost the activity of antioxidant enzymes, and mitigate oxidative damage to cell membranes. In addition, overexpression of AtMYB2 promotes the synthesis of tanshinones and phenolic acids by upregulating the expression of biosynthetic pathway genes, resulting in increased levels of these secondary metabolites. In summary, our findings demonstrate that AtMYB2 not only enhances plant tolerance to salt stress, but also increases the accumulation of secondary metabolites in S. miltiorrhiza. Our study lays a solid foundation for uncovering the molecular mechanisms governed by AtMYB2 and holds significant implications for the molecular breeding of high-quality S. miltiorrhiza varieties.

DNA methylation regulates biosynthesis of tanshinones and phenolic acids during growth of Salvia miltiorrhiza

DNA methylation plays a crucial role in the regulation of plant growth and the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites. Danshen (Salvia miltiorrhiza) is a valuable Chinese herbal medicine commonly used to treat cardiovascular diseases; its active ingredients are tanshinones and phenolic acids, which primarily accumulate in roots. Here, we conducted a targeted metabolic analysis of S. miltiorrhiza roots at 3 distinct growth stages: 40 d old (r40), 60 d old (r60), and 90 d old (r90). The contents of tanshinones (cryptotanshinone, tanshinone I, tanshinone IIA, and rosmariquinone) and phenolic acids (rosmarinic acid and salvianolic acid B) gradually increased during plant development. Whole-genome bisulfite sequencing and transcriptome sequencing of roots at the 3 growth stages revealed an increased level of DNA methylation in the CHH context (H represents A, T, or C) context at r90 compared with r40 and r60. Increased DNA methylation levels were associated with elevated expression of various genes linked to epigenetic regulations, including CHROMOMETHYLASE2 (SmCMT2), Decrease in DNA Methylation 1 (SmDDM1), Argonaute 4 (SmAGO4), and DOMAINS REARRANGED METHYLTRANSFERASE 1 (SmDRM1). Moreover, expression levels of many genes involved in tanshinone and salvianolic acid biosynthesis, such as copalyldiphosphate synthase 5 (SmCPS5), cytochrome P450-related enzyme (SmCYP71D464), geranylgeranyl diphosphate synthase (SmGGPPS1), geranyl diphosphate synthase (SmGPPS), hydroxyphenylpyruvate reductase (SmHPPR), and hydroxyphenylpyruvate dioxygenase (SmHPPD), were altered owing to hyper-methylation, indicating that DNA methylation plays an important role in regulating tanshinone and phenolic acid accumulation. Our data shed light on the epigenetic regulation of root growth and the biosynthesis of active ingredients in S. miltiorrhiza, providing crucial clues for further improvement of active compound production via molecular breeding in S. miltiorrhiza.

Comprehensive effect of Naoxintong capsule combined with Western medicine on coronary heart disease after percutaneous coronary intervention: a meta-analysis

Aims

To systematically evaluate the comprehensive effect of combining Naoxintong capsule (NXT) with Western medicine (WM) on coronary heart disease post-percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

Methods

Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of NXT for patients with CHD after PCI were systematically searched across multiple databases, including the Cochrane Library, PubMed, Embase, Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Chinese Science and Technology Journal Database (VIP), and Wan Fang, from inception until 31 January 2023. Study selection, data extraction, and quality assessment were performed by two independent reviewers. The quality of the included studies was evaluated using version 2 of the Cochrane risk-of-bias tool (RoB 2), and data analysis was performed using R4.2.2.

Results

Fifteen RCTs conducted between 2011 and 2022 and involving 1,551 patients were identified, with 774 and 777 patients in the experimental and control groups respectively. It was found that the NXT and WM combination was superior to the WM therapy alone in terms of the effective clinical rate (odds ratio [OR] = 4.69, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 2.13-10.30), effective rate in electrocardiogram (OR = 6.92, 95% CI = 3.44-13.92), effective rate in angina (OR = 5.90, 95% CI = 3.04-11.46), left ventricular ejection fraction (mean difference [MD] = 4.94, 95% CI = 2.89-6.99), brain natriuretic peptide (MD = -294.00, 95% CI = -584.60 to -3.39), creatine kinase-MB (MD = -7.82, 95% CI = -13.26 to -2.37), major adverse cardiovascular events (OR = 0.24, 95% CI = 0.14-0.43), maximum platelet aggregation rate (MD = -8.33, 95% CI = -11.64 to -5.01), and Chinese medicine evidence score (OR = 9.79, 95% CI = 3.57-26.85). However, there was no significant difference in cardiac troponin I level reduction (MD = -0.13, 95% CI = 0.35-0.09) or the occurrence of adverse medicine events (OR = 0.92, 95% CI = 0.41-2.05). Meta-regression and subgroup analyses indicated that NXT capsule dosage, treatment duration, and patient baseline characteristics contributed to the heterogeneity.

Conclusion

A combination of NXT and WM can improve clinical outcomes in patients undergoing PCI. However, further studies are needed to confirm the reliability and safety of this combined treatment approach.

Systematic Review Registration

PROSPERO, https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/display_record.php?RecordID=369174, Identifier CRD42022369174.

Efficacy of a mixed extract of Salvia miltiorrhiza and Paeonia lactiflora in inhibiting the aging of vascular wall through in vitro and in vivo experiments

Vascular wall aging has been strongly associated with cardiovascular diseases. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the efficacy of USCP-GVH-014, a mixed extract of Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge and Paeonia lactiflora Pall., in inhibiting vascular wall aging through in vitro and in vivo experiments. The results revealed that USCP-GVH-014 inhibited abnormal cell proliferation, collagen overproduction, and MMP-2 and MMP-9 overexpression caused by various stimuli and recovered the antioxidant enzyme superoxide dismutase on human aortic smooth muscle cells. In addition, it inhibited the increase in ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 expression induced by tumor necrosis factor alpha on human aortic endothelial cells and prevented the aging of the vascular wall by regulating related proteins such as epidermal growth factor and interleukin-1ß. Furthermore, it reduced vascular aging in in vivo studies. These results demonstrate that USCP-GVH-014 effectively reduces vascular aging, thereby rendering it a potential therapeutic candidate for cardiovascular diseases.

Endophytic fungus Penicillium steckii DF33 promoted tanshinones biosynthesis in Salvia miltiorrhiza by regulating the expression of CYP450 genes

Salvia miltiorrhiza, a prominent traditional Chinese medicinal resource, has been extensively employed in the management of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular ailments. Ensuring the consistency of S. miltiorrhiza raw materials revolves around the imperative task of maintaining stable tanshinones content and composition. An effective approach in this regard involves the utilization of endophytic fungi as inducers. Within this context, our study spotlights an endophytic fungus, Penicillium steckii DF33, isolated from the roots of S. miltiorrhiza. Remarkably, this fungus has demonstrated a significant capacity to boost the biosynthesis and accumulation of tanshinones. The primary objective of this investigation is to elucidate the underlying regulatory mechanism by which DF33 enhances and regulates the biosynthesis and accumulation of tanshinones. This is achieved through its influence on the differential expression of crucial CYP450 genes within the S. miltiorrhiza hairy roots system. The results revealed that the DF33 elicitor not only promotes the growth of hairy roots but also enhances the accumulation of tanshinones. Notably, the content of cryptotanshinone was reached 1.6452 ± 0.0925 mg g-1, a fourfold increase compared to the control group. Our qRT-PCR results further demonstrate that the DF33 elicitor significantly up-regulates the expression of most key enzyme genes (GGPPS, CPS1, KSL1, CYP76AH1, CYP76AH3, CYP76AK1, CYP71D411) involved in the tanshinone biosynthesis pathway. This effect is particularly pronounced in certain critical CYP450 genes and Tanshinone ⅡA synthase (SmTⅡAS), with their expression levels peaking at 7 days or 14 days, respectively. In summary, endophytic P. steckii DF33 primarily enhances tanshinone biosynthesis by elevating the expression levels of pivotal enzyme genes associated with the modification and transformation stages within the tanshinone biosynthesis pathway. These findings underscore the potential of employing plant probiotics, specifically endophytic and root-associated microbes, to facilitate the biosynthesis and transformation of vital constituents in medicinal plants, and this approach holds promise for enhancing the quality of traditional Chinese medicinal materials.

Nanopore analysis of salvianolic acids in herbal medicines

Natural herbs, which contain pharmacologically active compounds, have been used historically as medicines. Conventionally, the analysis of chemical components in herbal medicines requires time-consuming sample separation and state-of-the-art analytical instruments. Nanopore, a versatile single molecule sensor, might be suitable to identify bioactive compounds in natural herbs. Here, a phenylboronic acid appended Mycobacterium smegmatis porin A (MspA) nanopore is used as a sensor for herbal medicines. A variety of bioactive compounds based on salvianolic acids, including caffeic acid, protocatechuic acid, protocatechualdehyde, salvianic acid A, rosmarinic acid, lithospermic acid, salvianolic acid A and salvianolic acid B are identified. Using a custom machine learning algorithm, analyte identification is performed with an accuracy of 99.0%. This sensing principle is further used with natural herbs such as Salvia miltiorrhiza, Rosemary and Prunella vulgaris. No complex sample separation or purification is required and the sensing device is highly portable.

Potential antithrombotic effect of two new phenylpropanoid sucrose esters and other secondary metabolites of Canna indica L. rhizome

Canna indica L. has been traditionally used to treat various diseases. Based on previously reported antithrombotic effect for this plant, two new phenylpropanoid sucrose esters (canindicoside A (1) and canindicoside B (2)) and seven known compounds: nepetoidin B (3), caffeic acid (4), ferulic acid (5), (R)-(+)-rosmarinic acid (6), isorinic acid (7), (S)-(-)-rosmarinic acid (8) and (S)-(-)-rosmarinic acid methyl ester (9) were isolated from the ethyl acetate extract. Compounds were elucidated by NMR and MS spectroscopic methods. The antiplatelet effect was evaluated using turbidimetric method. Anticoagulant activity was examined by measuring activated partial thromboplastine time (APTT), prothrombin time, and thrombine time (TT). It was shown for the first time that both new phenylpropanoid sucrose esters 1 and 2, 7 and 9 displayed dose-dependent antiplatelet effects. 2 and 9 had the highest inhibitory activity on both adenosine diphosphate (ADP)- and collagen-induced platelet aggregation. Moreover, 1, 7 and 9 also exhibited anticoagulant activity. At 0.4 mg/mL, both 1 and 7 prolonged APTT compared to the negative control (p < 0.05), suggesting the possible inhibitory impact on the intrinsic coagulation pathway. Moreover, 9 at 0.4 mg/mL exerted higher TT values than the negative control (p < 0.05). C. indica and its bioactive phytochemicals are potential candidates for development of anti-thrombosis therapy.

Progress in approved drugs from natural product resources

Natural products (NPs) have consistently played a pivotal role in pharmaceutical research, exerting profound impacts on the treatment of human diseases. A significant proportion of approved molecular entity drugs are either directly derived from NPs or indirectly through modifications of NPs. This review presents an overview of NP drugs recently approved in China, the United States, and other countries, spanning various disease categories, including cancers, cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, central nervous system disorders, and infectious diseases. The article provides a succinct introduction to the origin, activity, development process, approval details, and mechanism of action of these NP drugs.

Saponins as therapeutic candidates for atherosclerosis

Drug development for atherosclerosis, the underlying pathological state of ischemic cardiovascular diseases, has posed a longstanding challenge. Saponins, classified as steroid or triterpenoid glycosides, have shown promising therapeutic potential in the treatment of atherosclerosis. Through an exhaustive examination of scientific literature spanning from May 2013 to May 2023, we identified 82 references evaluating 37 types of saponins in terms of their prospective impacts on atherosclerosis. These studies suggest that saponins have the potential to ameliorate atherosclerosis by regulating lipid metabolism, inhibiting inflammation, suppressing apoptosis, reducing oxidative stress, and modulating smooth muscle cell proliferation and migration, as well as regulating gut microbiota, autophagy, endothelial senescence, and angiogenesis. Notably, ginsenosides exhibit significant potential and manifest essential pharmacological attributes, including lipid-lowering, anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptotic, and anti-oxidative stress effects. This review provides a comprehensive examination of the pharmacological attributes of saponins in atherosclerosis, with particular emphasis on their role in the regulation of lipid metabolism regulation and anti-inflammatory effects. Thus, saponins may warrant further investigation as a potential therapy for atherosclerosis. However, due to various reasons such as low oral bioavailability, the clinical application of saponins in the treatment of atherosclerosis still needs further exploration.

A review of using Traditional Chinese Medicine in the management of glaucoma and cataract

Traditional Chinese Medicine has a long history in ophthalmology in China. Over 250 kinds of Traditional Chinese Medicine have been recorded in ancient books for the management of eye diseases, which may provide an alternative or supplement to current ocular therapies. However, the core holistic philosophy of Traditional Chinese Medicine that makes it attractive can also hinder its understanding from a scientific perspective - in particular, determining true cause and effect. This review focused on how Traditional Chinese Medicine could be applied to two prevalent ocular diseases, glaucoma, and cataract. The literature on preclinical and clinical studies in both English and Chinese on the use of Traditional Chinese Medicine to treat these two diseases was reviewed. The pharmacological effects, safety profile, and drug-herb interaction of selected herbal formulas were also investigated. Finally, key considerations for conducting future Traditional Chinese Medicine studies are discussed.

Comparison of Protective Effect of Tri-circulator and Coenzyme Q10 on Myocardial Injury and the Mechanism Study by Zebrafish Model

Tri-Circulator (TC) is a product comprising coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), Salvia miltiorrhiza, and Panax notoginseng. Individually, each of these constituents has demonstrated protective effects on myocardial injury. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the protective efficacy of TC on heart function and compare the differential effects between CoQ10 and TC. Two myocardial injury models of zebrafish, the hypoxia-reoxygenation model (H/R) and the isoproterenol (ISO, a β-receptor agonist) model, were used in this experiment. The zebrafish subjects were divided into 4 groups: control, H/R, TC, and CoQ10. Heart rate, stroke volume (SV), cardiac output (CO), ejection fraction (EF), fractional area change (FAC), and pericardial height were monitored to assess changes in heart function. The gene expression of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) and brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) was studied as markers of injury/stress. TC significantly suppresses elevated heart rate induced by H/R and prevents the decrease of heart rate induced by ISO. It alleviates the pericardial infusion induced by ISO, whereas CoQ10 does not possess a similar effect. Both TC and CoQ10 significantly inhibit the decline in SV, CO, EF, and FAC induced by H/R and ISO, and suppress the expression of ANP and BNP in cardiomyocytes induced by ISO. It is noteworthy that TC demonstrates a more pronounced effect on EF, FAC, ANP, and BNP gene expression compared to CoQ10. Both TC and CoQ10 have a protective effect on myocardial injury of zebrafish. However, TC exhibits a greater efficacy compared to CoQ10 alone in mitigating myocardial injury.

Synergistic Differential DNA Demethylation Activity of Danshensu (Salvia miltiorrhiza) Associated with Different Probiotics in Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a major hepatic disorder occurring in non-alcohol-drinking individuals. Salvianic acid A or Danshensu (DSS, 3-(3, 4-dihydroxyphenyl)-(2R)-lactic acid), derived from the root of Danshen (Salvia miltiorrhiza), has demonstrated heart and liver protective properties. In this work, we investigated the antioxidant activity and hepatoprotective activity of Danshensu alone and in combination with different agents, such as probiotic bacteria (Lactobacillus casei and Lactobacillus acidophilus), against several assays. The inhibition mechanism of the methylation gene biomarkers, such as DNMT-1, MS, STAT-3, and TET-1, against DSS was evaluated by molecular docking and RT-PCR techniques. The physicochemical and pharmacokinetic ADMET properties of DSS were determined by SwissADME and pkCSM. The results indicated that all lipid blood test profiles, including cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), were reduced after the oral administration of Danshensu combined with probiotics (L. casei and L. acidophilus) that demonstrated good, efficient free radical scavenging activity, measured using anti-oxidant assays. ADMET and drug-likeness properties certify that the DSS could be utilized as a feasible drug since DSS showed satisfactory physicochemical and pharmacokinetic ADMET properties.

A high-efficient protoplast transient system for screening gene editing elements in Salvia miltiorrhiza

KEY MESSAGE

A high-efficiency protoplast transient system was devised to screen genome editing elements in Salvia miltiorrhiza. Medicinal plants with high-value pharmaceutical ingredients have attracted research attention due to their beneficial effects on human health. Cell wall-free protoplasts of plants can be used to evaluate the efficiency of genome editing mutagenesis. The capabilities of gene editing in medicinal plants remain to be fully explored owing to their complex genetic background and shortfall of suitable transformation. Here, we took the Salvia miltiorrhiza as a representative example for developing a method to screen favorable gene editing elements with high editing efficiency in medical plants by a PEG-mediated protoplast transformation. Results indicated that using the endogenous SmU6.1 of S. miltiorrhiza to drive sgRNA and the plant codon-optimized Cas9 driven by the promoter SlEF1α can enhance the efficiency of editing. In summary, we uncover an efficacious transient method for screening editing elements and shed new light on increasing gene editing efficiency in medicinal plants.

Associations of exposure to disinfection by-products with blood coagulation parameters among women: Results from the Tongji reproductive and environmental (TREE) study

BACKGROUND

Experimental studies have shown that disinfection byproducts (DBPs) induce coagulotoxicity, but human evidence is scarce.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to explore the relationships of DBP exposures with blood coagulation parameters.

METHODS

Among 858 women from the Tongji Reproductive and Environmental (TREE) study, urinary dichloroacetic acid (DCAA) and trichloroacetic acid (TCAA) were detected as internal biomarkers of DBP exposures. We measured activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), fibrinogen (Fbg), international normalized ratio (INR), prothrombin time (PT), and thrombin time (TT) as blood coagulation parameters. Multivariable linear regression models were utilized to estimate the relationships between urinary DCAA and TCAA and blood coagulation parameters. The effect modifications by demographic and lifestyle characteristics were further explored.

RESULTS

Elevated tertiles of urinary DCAA concentrations were associated with increased PT and INR (11.29%, 95% CI: 1.66%, 20.92% and 0.99%, 95% CI: 0.08%, 1.90% for the third vs. first tertile, respectively; both P for trends < 0.05). Stratification analysis showed that the positive associations were only observed among younger (< 30 years), leaner (body mass index < 24.0 kg/m2), and non-passive smoking women. Moreover, elevated tertiles of urinary TCAA concentrations in positive associations with PT and INR were observed among younger women (17.89%, 95% CI: 2.50%, 33.29% and 1.82%, 95% CI: 0.34%, 3.30% for the third vs. first tertile, respectively; both P for trends < 0.05) but not among older women (both P for interactions < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Higher levels of urinary DCAA and TCAA are associated with prolonged clotting time among women.

Neurotrophic Natural Products

Neurotrophins (NGF, BDNF, NT3, NT4) can decrease cell death, induce differentiation, as well as sustain the structure and function of neurons, which make them promising therapeutic agents for the treatment of neurodegenerative disorders. However, neurotrophins have not been very effective in clinical trials mostly because they cannot pass through the blood-brain barrier owing to being high-molecular-weight proteins. Thus, neurotrophin-mimic small molecules, which stimulate the synthesis of endogenous neurotrophins or enhance neurotrophic actions, may serve as promising alternatives to neurotrophins. Small-molecular-weight natural products, which have been used in dietary functional foods or in traditional medicines over the course of human history, have a great potential for the development of new therapeutic agents against neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease. In this contribution, a variety of natural products possessing neurotrophic properties such as neurogenesis, neurite outgrowth promotion (neuritogenesis), and neuroprotection are described, and a focus is made on the chemistry and biology of several neurotrophic natural products.

Tanshinone IIA Facilitates Efficient Cartilage Regeneration under Inflammatory Factors Caused Stress via Upregulating LncRNA NEAT1_2

(1) Background: Osteoarthritis (OA) is a crippling condition characterized by chondrocyte dedifferentiation, cartilage degradation, and subsequent cartilage defects. Unfortunately, there is a lack of effective medicines to facilitate the repair of cartilage defects in OA patients. In this study, we investigated the role of lncRNA NEAT1_2 in maintaining the chondrocyte phenotype and identified tanshinone IIA(TAN) as a natural medicine that enhances NEAT1_2 levels, resulting in efficient cartilage regeneration under inflammatory cytokines. (2) Methods: The transcriptional levels of NEAT1_2 and cartilage phenotype-related genes were identified by RT-qPCR. The siRNA interference approach was utilized to silence NEAT1_2; the Alamar Blue assay was performed to determine chondrocyte viability under inflammatory conditions. To evaluate the concentrations of collagen type II and glycosaminoglycans distributed by chondrocytes in vitro and in vivo, immunohistochemical staining and Safranin O staining were used. (3) Results: IL-1β suppresses NEAT1_2 and genes related to the chondrocytic phenotype, whereas TAN effectively upregulates them in a NEAT1_2-dependent manner. Consistently, TAN alleviated chondrocyte oxidative stress inhibited cartilage degradation by modulating the relevant genes and promoted efficient cartilage regeneration in vitro and in vivo when chondrocytes are exposed to inflammatory cytokines. (4) Conclusions: TAN enhances the expression of NEAT1_2 inhibited by IL-1β and affects the transcription of chondrocytic phenotype-related genes, which promotes cartilage regeneration in an inflammatory environment.

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.

Puerarin-Tanshinone IIA Suppresses atherosclerosis inflammatory plaque via targeting succinate/HIF-1α/IL-1β axis

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Inflammatory injury is an important pathological factor for the formation of atherosclerotic plaque. It is well known that Puerarin and Tanshinone IIA (Pue-Tan) can significantly reduce interleukin-1β (IL-1β) levels and delay the atherosclerosis (AS) process clinically in China. Previous evidence has shown that the Succinate/HIF-1α/IL-1β inflammatory signaling axis (Succinate axis) promotes the progression of atherosclerotic inflammatory plaques. It is not clear whether Pue-Tan inhibits inflammatory plaques by reducing the level of IL-1β through the succinate signaling axis.

AIM OF STUDY

Find out the interaction between Pue-Tan targets and the succinate axis by means of network pharmacology and bioinformatics analysis and to further confirm whether Pue-Tan can inhibit vascular inflammation and delay the formation of atherosclerotic inflammatory plaques by targeting the succinate signaling axis.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Firstly, animal experiments were conducted to verify the changing relationship between Succinate and IL-1β under Pue-Tan intervention. Secondly, network pharmacology approach was employed to uncover the specific targets of Pue-Tan in the intervention of AS from multiple levels of components, proteins, and pathways, and at the same time, the target must be a key factor of the succinate signaling axis. Autodock vina1.5.6 was applied to molecular docking for Pue-Tan and target protein. Subsequently, cells experiment and animal experiment were performed to verify Pue-Tan inhibiting the inflammatory progression of atherosclerosis by targeting succinate signaling axis.

RESULTS

Firstly, we first found that the reduction of IL-1β was positively correlated with succinate in the serum of Pue-Tan-treated mice. Secondly, network pharmacology compared with molecular docking showed that hypoxia-induced factor-1α (HIF-1α) was the key target of Pue-Tan and the key node of succinate singling axis. Finally, in vitro study, Pue-Tan significantly reduced the factors of succinate axis just as HIF-1α siRNA; in vivo study, we confirmed a decreased expression of succinate axis and ICAM-1 in the aorta of ApoE-/- mice under Pue-Tan intervention, which was consistent with the in vitro results.

CONCLUSION

This study confirmed that Pue-Tan blocked the succinate axis by targeting HIF-1α to prevent the formation of atherosclerotic inflammatory plaques and delay the pathological process of AS. Network Pharmacology, Bioinformatics of Molecular Docking, and Molecular Biology Validation can be used as a effective way to discover and verify the pharmacological mechanism of TCM.

Effect the accumulation of bioactive constituents of a medicinal plant (Salvia Miltiorrhiza Bge.) by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi community

BACKGROUND

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) form symbiotic relationships with various terrestrial plants and have attracted considerable interest as biofertilizers for improving the quality and yield of medicinal plants. Despite the widespread distribution of AMFs in Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge's roots, research on the impact of multiple AMFs on biomass and active ingredient accumulations has not been conducted. In this study, the effects of five native AMFs (Glomus formosanum, Septoglomus constrictum, Rhizophagus manihotis, Acaulospora laevis, and Ambispora gerdemannii) and twenty-six communities on the root biomass and active ingredient concentrations of S. miltiorrhiza were assessed using the total factor design method.

RESULTS

Thirty-one treatment groups formed symbiotic relationships with S. miltiorrhiza based on the pot culture results, and the colonization rate ranged from 54.83% to 89.97%. AMF communities had higher colonization rates and total phenolic acid concentration than single AMF, and communities also appeared to have higher root fresh weight, dry weight, and total phenolic acid concentration than single inoculations. As AMF richness increased, there was a rising trend in root biomass and total tanshinone accumulations (ATTS), while total phenolic acid accumulations (ATP) showed a decreasing trend. This suggests that plant productivity was influenced by the AMF richness, with higher inoculation benefits observed when the communities contained three or four AMFs. Additionally, the affinities of AMF members were also connected to plant productivity. The inoculation effect of closely related AMFs within the same family, such as G. formosanum, S. constrictum, and R. manihotis, consistently yielded lower than that of mono-inoculation when any combinations were applied. The co-inoculation of S. miltiorrhiza with nearby or distant AMFs from two families, such as G. formosanum, R. manihotis, and Ac. laevis or Am. gerdemannii resulted in an increase of ATP and ATTS by more than 50%. AMF communities appear to be more beneficial to the yield of bioactive constituents than the single AMF, but overall community inoculation effects are related to the composition of AMFs and the relationship between members.

CONCLUSION

This study reveals that the AMF community has great potential to improve the productivity and the accumulation of bioactive constituents in S. miltiorrhiza, indicating that it is an effective way to achieve sustainable agricultural development through using the AMF community.

Research progress of quercetin in cardiovascular disease

Quercetin is one of the most common flavonoids. More and more studies have found that quercetin has great potential utilization value in cardiovascular diseases (CVD), such as antioxidant, antiplatelet aggregation, antibacterial, cholesterol lowering, endothelial cell protection, etc. However, the medicinal value of quercetin is mostly limited to animal models and preclinical studies. Due to the complexity of the human body and functional structure compared to animals, more research is needed to explore whether quercetin has the same mechanism of action and pharmacological value as animal experiments. In order to systematically understand the clinical application value of quercetin, this article reviews the research progress of quercetin in CVD, including preclinical and clinical studies. We will focus on the relationship between quercetin and common CVD, such as atherosclerosis, myocardial infarction, ischemia reperfusion injury, heart failure, hypertension and arrhythmia, etc. By elaborating on the pathophysiological mechanism and clinical application research progress of quercetin's protective effect on CVD, data support is provided for the transformation of quercetin from laboratory to clinical application.

Salviamilthone A-O, diterpenoid quinones from Salvia miltiorrhiza

Fifteen undescribed diterpenoid quinones salviamilthone A-O (1-15), together with three known diterpenoid quinones (16-18), were isolated from the roots of Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge. Their structures were elucidated using 1D and 2D NMR data, while the relative and absolute configurations were confirmed by NOESY correlations and comparison between experimental and calculated ECD spectra. In the evaluation of bioactivities, salviamilthone J (10), salviamone (18) (10 μM) significantly increased cell viability and decreased the expression of IL-1β in lipopolysaccharide-induced BEAS-2B cells. These data provide the molecular justification for the usage of Salvia miltiorrhiza in treating acute lung injury.

Fructus Lycii and Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge extract attenuate oxidative stress-induced photoreceptor ferroptosis in retinitis pigmentosa

AIM OF THE STUDY

To assess the impact of Fructus Lycii and Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge extract (FSE) on retinitis pigmentosa (RP) and to explore the mechanisms by which FSE can prevent oxidative stress-induced photoreceptor ferroptosis in RP.

METHODS

Hydrogen peroxide(H2O2) was used to induce oxidative stress in 661 W cells, which were then examined using flow cytometry and enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Changes in mitochondria were observed by using an electron microscope to characterize the ferroptosis of the cells. The protective effect of FSE on the retina function and structure of rd10 mice was evaluated using histopathological examination, fundus photographs, and electroretinography (ERG). Protein expression levels of Tumor Protein p53 (P53), Solute Carrier Family 7 Member 11 (SLC7A11), Glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4), Arachidonate-12-Lipoxygenase (ALOX12), and Dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DPP4) were evaluated by Western blot assays in Vivo and in Vitro.

RESULTS

H2O2-induced 661 W cells increased oxidative stress products and P53 and ALOX12, decreasing the expression of SLC7A11, GPX4, and DPP4. GPX4 activator does not reduce reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and has little effect on ferroptosis. Fer-1 and FSE attenuate ROS generation and inhibit ferroptosis of photoreceptors in RP via inhibited P53 expression and increased SLC7A11 and GPX4 expression.

CONCLUSION

FSE may be available in clinical therapeutics to alleviating RP and the mechanism by which inhibits ferroptosis of photoreceptors following oxidative stress via the P53/ SLC7A11 pathway.

Simultaneous Promotion of Salt Tolerance and Phenolic Acid Biosynthesis in Salvia miltiorrhiza via Overexpression of Arabidopsis MYB12

Transcription factors play crucial roles in regulating plant abiotic stress responses and physiological metabolic processes, which can be used for plant molecular breeding. In this study, an R2R3-MYB transcription factor gene, AtMYB12, was isolated from Arabidopsis thaliana and introduced into Salvia miltiorrhiza under the regulation of the CaMV35S promoter. The ectopic expression of AtMYB12 resulted in improved salt tolerance in S. miltiorrhiza; transgenic plants showed a more resistant phenotype under high-salinity conditions. Physiological experiments showed that transgenic plants exhibited higher chlorophyll contents, and decreased electrolyte leakage and O2- and H2O2 accumulation when subjected to salt stress. Moreover, the activity of reactive oxygen species (ROS)-scavenging enzymes was enhanced in S. miltiorrhiza via the overexpression of AtMYB12, and transgenic plants showed higher superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and peroxidase (POD) activities compared with those of the wild type (WT) under salt stress, coupled with lower malondialdehyde (MDA) levels. In addition, the amount of salvianolic acid B was significantly elevated in all AtMYB12 transgenic hair roots and transgenic plants, and qRT-PCR analysis revealed that most genes in the phenolic acid biosynthetic pathway were up-regulated. In conclusion, these results demonstrated that AtMYB12 can significantly improve the resistance of plants to salt stress and promote the biosynthesis of phenolic acids by regulating genes involved in the biosynthetic pathway.

Progress in the mechanism of autophagy and traditional Chinese medicine herb involved in alcohol-related liver disease

Alcohol-related liver disease (ALD) is chronic liver damage caused by long-term heavy drinking with, extremely complicated pathogenesis. The current studies speculated that excessive alcohol and its metabolites are the major causes of liver cell toxicity. Autophagy is evolutionarily conserved in eukaryotes and aggravates alcoholic liver damage, through various mechanisms, such as cellular oxidative stress, inflammation, mitochondrial damage and lipid metabolism disorders. Therefore, autophagy plays an critical role in the occurrence and development of ALD. Some studies have shown that traditional Chinese medicine extracts improve the histological characteristics of ALD, as reflected in the improvement of oxidative stress and lipid droplet clearance, which might be achieved by inducing autophagy. This article reviews the mechanisms of quercetin, baicalin, glycycoumarin, salvianolic acid A, resveratrol, ginsenoside rg1, and dihydromyricetin inducing autophagy and their participation in the inhibition of ALD. The regulation of autophagy in ALD by these traditional Chinese medicine extracts provides novel ideas for the treatment of the disease; however, its molecular mechanism needs to be elucidated further.

Treatment of Chronic Gastritis with Traditional Chinese Medicine: Pharmacological Activities and Mechanisms

Chronic gastritis (CG) is a common clinical digestive system disease, which is not easyily cured and is prone to recurrence. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) plays a significant role in the treatment of CG and has attracted increasing attention for clinical applications. In recent years, a large number of reports have shown that TCM has good therapeutic effect on CG. The aim of this paper is to investigate the pharmacological activities and mechanism of action of TCM in the treatment of CAG. Therefore, by searching the databases of Pubmed, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang, and Baidu academic databases, this paper has summarized the molecular mechanisms of TCM in improving CG. The results show that the improvement of GC by TCM is closely related to a variety of molecular mechanisms, including the inhibition of Helicobacter pylori (Hp) infection, alleviation of oxidative stress, improvement of gastric function, repair of gastric mucosa, inhibition of inflammatory response, and apoptosis. More importantly, IRF8-IFN-γ, IL-4-STAT6, Hedgehog, pERK1/2, MAPK, PI3K-Akt, NF-κB, TNFR-c-Src-ERK1/2-c-Fos, Nrf2/HO-1, and HIF-1α/VEGF signaling pathways are considered as important molecular targets for TCM in the treatment of GC. These important findings will provide a direction and a basis for further exploring the pathogenesis of GC and tapping the potential of TCM in clinical treatment. This review also puts forward a bright prospect for future research of TCM in the treatment of CG.

ROS-Responsive Prodrug Micelle Co-Delivery System for Synergistic Antiatherosclerotic Therapy

Tanshinone IIA (TS-IIA) and salvianic acid A (SAA) are the main pharmacological active constituents of Danshen, which exhibit potent effects on atherosclerosis. A combination of TS-IIA and SAA might exert a synergistic antiatherosclerotic effect. However, the opposite solubility profiles of TS-IIA and SAA might lead to difficulty in achieving a synergistic combined effect of the two active components. Therefore, in this work, we fabricated a ROS-responsive prodrug micelle for the codelivery of TS-IIA and SAA (TS-IIA-PM) by self-assembling amphiphilic block copolymer PEG5000-SAA/PLA10000-APBA. The amphiphilic polymer was characterized by 1H NMR, FTIR, and alizarin red S competition tests. The ROS responsiveness of TS-IIA-PM was evidenced by time-course monitoring of particle size and morphology changes and drug release behavior in the presence of 1 mM H2O2. We found TS-IIA-PM was stable according to its critical micelle concentration and the unchanged particle sizes in 10% FBS for 7 days. The results of in vitro and in vivo tests revealed that TS-IIA-PM was safe and biocompatible. Furthermore, it was observed that TS-IIA and prodrug micelle could produce synergistic antiatherosclerotic effect based on the results of the antioxidant study, which was further confirmed by a series of pharmocodynamics studies, such as in vitro DiI-oxLDL uptake study, oil red O staining, cholesterol efflux study, inflammatory cytokine analysis, in vivo CD68 immunostaining, and lipid disposition staining studies. Collectively, TS-IIA-PM holds great potential for the safe and efficient codelivery of TS-IIA and SAA for synergistic antiatherosclerosis.

A Review: Methodologies to Promote the Differentiation of Mesenchymal Stem Cells for the Regeneration of Intervertebral Disc Cells Following Intervertebral Disc Degeneration

Intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration (IDD), a highly prevalent pathological condition worldwide, is widely associated with back pain. Treatments available compensate for the impaired function of the degenerated IVD but typically have incomplete resolutions because of their adverse complications. Therefore, fundamental regenerative treatments need exploration. Mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) therapy has been recognized as a mainstream research objective by the World Health Organization and was consequently studied by various research groups. Implanted MSCs exert anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptotic, and anti-pyroptotic effects and promote extracellular component production, as well as differentiation into IVD cells themselves. Hence, the ultimate goal of MSC therapy is to recover IVD cells and consequently regenerate the extracellular matrix of degenerated IVDs. Notably, in addition to MSC implantation, healthy nucleus pulposus (NP) cells (NPCs) have been implanted to regenerate NP, which is currently undergoing clinical trials. NPC-derived exosomes have been investigated for their ability to differentiate MSCs from NPC-like phenotypes. A stable and economical source of IVD cells may include allogeneic MSCs from the cell bank for differentiation into IVD cells. Therefore, multiple alternative therapeutic options should be considered if a refined protocol for the differentiation of MSCs into IVD cells is established. In this study, we comprehensively reviewed the molecules, scaffolds, and environmental factors that facilitate the differentiation of MSCs into IVD cells for regenerative therapies for IDD.

San-wei-tan-xiang capsule attenuates atherosclerosis by increasing lysosomal activity in adipose tissue macrophages

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Dyslipidemia is the leading risk factor of atherosclerosis (AS). Adipose tissue macrophages (ATMs) can regulate postprandial cholesterol levels via uptake and hydrolyzation of lipids and regulation of macrophage cholesterol efflux (MCE). San-wei-tan-xiang (SWTX) capsule, a Traditional Chinese medicine, exerts clinical benefits in patients with atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases.

AIM OF THE STUDY

This work is aimed to evaluate the chemical ingredients and mechanisms of SWTX in anti-AS.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The chemical ingredients of SWTX identified by liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry were used for network pharmacological analysis. The atheroprotective function of SWTX was evaluated in ApoE^-/- mice fed a cholesterol-enriched diet.

RESULTS

The chemical ingredients identified in SWTX were predicated to be important for lipid metabolism and AS. Animals studies suggested that SWTX effectively attenuated the atherosclerotic plaque growth, elevated postprandial HDL cholesterol levels, elevated the proportion of Tim4 and CD36-expressed ATMs, and upregulated the uptake of lipid and lysosomal activity in ATMs. SWTX-induced elevation of postprandial HDL cholesterol levels was dependent on increased lysosomal activity, since chloroquine, an inhibitor of lysosomal function, blocked the effect of SWTX. Lastly, some predicated bioactive compounds in SWTX can elevate lysosomal activity in vitro.

CONCLUSION

SWTX could attenuate atherosclerotic plaque formation by elevating lysosomal activity and enhancing MCE in ATMs.

Pharmaceutical Therapies for Necroptosis in Myocardial Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury

Cardiovascular disease morbidity/mortality are increasing due to an aging population and the rising prevalence of diabetes and obesity. Therefore, innovative cardioprotective measures are required to reduce cardiovascular disease morbidity/mortality. The role of necroptosis in myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury (MI-RI) is beyond doubt, but the molecular mechanisms of necroptosis remain incompletely elucidated. Growing evidence suggests that MI-RI frequently results from the superposition of multiple pathways, with autophagy, ferroptosis, and CypD-mediated mitochondrial damage, and necroptosis all contributing to MI-RI. Receptor-interacting protein kinases (RIPK1 and RIPK3) as well as mixed lineage kinase domain-like pseudokinase (MLKL) activation is accompanied by the activation of other signaling pathways, such as Ca²⁺/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII), NF-κB, and JNK-Bnip3. These pathways participate in the pathological process of MI-RI. Recent studies have shown that inhibitors of necroptosis can reduce myocardial inflammation, infarct size, and restore cardiac function. In this review, we will summarize the molecular mechanisms of necroptosis, the links between necroptosis and other pathways, and current breakthroughs in pharmaceutical therapies for necroptosis.

Unveiling the spatial distribution and molecular mechanisms of terpenoid biosynthesis in Salvia miltiorrhiza and S. grandifolia using multi-omics and DESI-MSI

Salvia miltiorrhiza and S. grandifolia are rich in diterpenoids and have therapeutic effects on cardiovascular diseases. In this study, the spatial distribution of diterpenoids in both species was analyzed by a combination of metabolomics and mass spectrometry imaging techniques. The results indicated that diterpenoids in S. miltiorrhiza were mainly abietane-type norditerpenoid quinones with a furan or dihydrofuran D-ring and were mainly distributed in the periderm of the roots, e.g. cryptotanshinone and tanshinone IIA. The compounds in S. grandifolia were mainly phenolic abietane-type tricyclic diterpenoids with six- or seven-membered C-rings, and were widely distributed in the periderm, phloem, and xylem of the roots, e.g. 11-hydroxy-sugiol, 11,20-dihydroxy-sugiol, and 11,20-dihydroxy-ferruginol. In addition, the leaves of S. grandifolia were rich in tanshinone biosynthesis precursors, such as 11-hydroxy-sugiol, while those of S. miltiorrhiza were rich in phenolic acids. Genes in the upstream pathway of tanshinone biosynthesis were highly expressed in the root of S. grandifolia, and genes in the downstream pathway were highly expressed in the root of S. miltiorrhiza. Here, we describe the specific tissue distributions and mechanisms of diterpenoids in two Salvia species, which will facilitate further investigations of the biosynthesis of diterpenoids in plant synthetic biology.

Exploring the active ingredients and mechanism of Shenzhi Tongxin capsule against microvascular angina based on network pharmacology and molecular docking

BACKGROUND

Microvascular angina (MVA) substantially threatens human health, and the Shenzhi Tongxin (SZTX) capsule demonstrates a remarkable cardioprotective effect, making it a potential treatment option for MVA. However, the precise mechanism of action for this medication remains unclear. This study utilized network pharmacology and molecular docking technology to investigate the active components and potential mechanisms underlying the efficacy of the SZTX capsule in alleviating MVA.

METHODS

The main ingredients of the SZTX capsule, along with their targets proteins and potential disease targets associated with MVA, were extracted from public available databases. This study utilized the STRING database and Cytoscape 3.7.2 software to establish a protein-protein interaction network and determine key signaling pathway targets. Subsequently, the DAVID database was utilized to conduct Gene Ontology and the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes analyses on the intersection targets. To further investigate the molecular interactions, Autodock and PyMOL software were employed to perform molecular docking and visualize the resulting outcomes.

RESULTS

A total of 130 and 142 bioactive ingredients and intersection targets were identified respectively. Six core targets were obtained through protein-protein interaction network analysis. Gene Ontology enrichment analysis showed that 610 biological processes, 75 cellular components, and 92 molecular functions were involved. The results of Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes enrichment analyses indicated that SZTX capsule molecular mechanism in the treatment of MVA may be related to several pathways, including mitogen-activated protein kinases, PI3K-Akt, HIF-1, and others. The results of molecular docking showed that the 7 key active ingredients of SZTX capsule had good binding ability to 6 core proteins.

CONCLUSION

SZTX capsule potentially exerts its effects by targeting multiple signaling pathways, including the mitogen-activated protein kinases signaling pathway, PI3K-Akt signaling pathway, and HIF-1 signaling pathway. This multi-target approach enables SZTX capsule to inhibit inflammation, alleviate oxidative stress, regulate angiogenesis, and enhance endothelial function.