Branched-Chain Amino Acids Catabolism Pathway Regulation Plays a Critical Role in the Improvement of Leukopenia Induced by Cyclophosphamide in 4T1 Tumor-Bearing Mice Treated With Lvjiaobuxue Granule

Collagen (peptide) extracted from sturgeon swim bladder: Physicochemical characterization and protective effects on cyclophosphamide-induced premature ovarian failure in mice

Premature ovarian failure (POF) is a common female reproductive disorder, with oxidative damage playing a significant role in its development. Studies had demonstrated the beneficial antioxidant, anti-aging, and other biological properties of swim bladder collagen (peptide). In this study, acid extraction, water extraction, and enzymatic hydrolysis methods were used to extract collagen (peptide) from sturgeon (Acipenser sinensis) swim bladder, all of which exhibited significant antioxidant activity. Moreover, the effects observed in POF mice were enhanced, including an increasing in the number of growing ovarian follicles, regulation of serum hormone levels, and alterations in signaling pathways, as evidenced by the up-regulation of Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/Protein Kinase B (PI3K/Akt) and B cell lymphoma-2/ Bcl-associated x protein (Bcl-2/Bax) pathways, alongside the down-regulation of the mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK) signaling pathway. Sturgeon swim bladder collagen (peptide) could protect against cyclophosphamide-induced POF in mice, which could be very beneficial in the future advancement of health products.

Effect of sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) and dissimilatory iron-reducing bacteria (DIRB) coexistence on the transport and transformation of arsenic in sediments

Sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRBs) and dissimilatory iron-reducing bacteria (DIRBs) are recognized as significant contributors to the occurrence of elevated arsenic (As) levels in groundwater. However, the precise effects and underlying mechanisms of their interactions on As behavior within sediments remain poorly understood. In this investigation, we compared the impacts and mechanisms of DIRBs, SRBs, and mixed bacterial consortia on the migration behavior of As and Fe/S species. Our findings revealed that during the initial phase of the reaction (0-8 days, Stage 1), the mixed bacterial consortium facilitated As release by intensifying the reduction of Fe (III) and sulfate, resulting in a maximum As concentration 1.5 times higher than that observed with either DIRBs or SRBs in isolation. Subsequently, in the intermediate phase (8-20 days, Stage 2), the mixed consortium suppressed the synthesis of sulfate reductase and the secretion of toxic substances (e.g., o-Methyltoluene) associated with steroid degradation pathways. This inhibition consequently reduced the formation of secondary Fe minerals and the fixation of As. Finally, in the latter stage (20-30 days, Stage 3), the system responded to the threat of toxic substances by secreting significant amounts of organic acids to facilitate their decomposition. However, this process also led to the re-decomposition of iron oxides, resulting in the release of As. These observations shed light on the intricate interplay between DIRBs and SRBs within bacterial consortia, elucidating their coordinated actions in inducing the migration and transformation of arsenic.

Neuroprotective and vasoprotective effects of herb pair of Zhiqiao-Danggui in ischemic stroke uncovered by LC-MS/MS-based metabolomics approach

Ischemic stroke is the most important cause of disability and death worldwide, but current treatments remain limited. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) including the herb pair of Zhiqiao-Danggui (ZD) offers a multifaceted treatment approach through promoting blood circulation, yet its specific anti-ischemic mechanism remains unclear. This study used the photochemically induced thrombosis (PIT) mouse model and the oxygen glucose deprivation/reoxygenation (OGD/R) cell model to explore the therapeutic effect of ZD on ischemic stroke. Mice were treated with high and low doses of ZD extract or positive control. Behavior was assessed using the grid test. The brain tissue was then subjected to infarct volume assessment, histopathology, oxidative stress marker detection, LC/MS metabolomic analysis and qRT-PCR validation. The therapeutic effect of ZD-medicated serum on OGD/R model was tested on cells. Experimental results show that ZD can improve motor function, reduce infarct size, neuronal damage and apoptosis as well as alleviate oxidative stress in mice. ZD-medicated serum promotes endothelial cell proliferation, improves cell survival against OGD/R-induced injury, reduces oxidative damage and protects mitochondrial function. Metabolomics reveals ZD regulation of metabolites in energy metabolism, amino acid metabolism, TCA cycle, and angiogenesis signaling pathways. qRT-PCR results also showed that ZD could attenuate abnormal conduction of angiogenic signals and enhance vessel stability. This study confirmed the neuroprotective and vasoprotective effects of ZD, highlighted its potential in treating ischemic stroke, and provided a scientific basis for the traditional use of ZD.

Prevention effect of total ginsenosides and ginseng extract from Panax ginseng on cyclophosphamide-induced immunosuppression in mice

Oral decoction is widely applied in traditional Chinese medicines. The polysaccharides of decoction promote the exposure of small molecules and increase their bioavailability. This study mainly compared the component and activities of total ginsenosides (TGS) and ginseng extract (GE) on immunosuppressed mice induced by cyclophosphamide. Thirty-two mice were randomly divided into control, model, TGS, and GE groups. The mice were orally administered for 28 days and then injected with cyclophosphamide on the last four days. The results of component analysis showed the total content of 12 ginsenosides in TGS (67.21%) was higher than GE (2.04%); the total content of 17 amino acids in TGS (1.41%) was lower than GE (5.36%); the total content of 10 monosaccharides was similar in TGS (74.12%) and GE (76.36%). The animal results showed that both TGS and GE protected the hematopoietic function of bone marrow by inhibiting cell apoptosis, and recovering the normal cell cycle of BM; maintained the dynamic balance between the Th1 and Th2 cells; also protected the spleen, thymus, and liver. Meanwhile, TGS and GE protected the intestinal bacteria of immunosuppressed mice by increasing the abundance of lactobacillus and decreasing the abundance of the odoribacter and clostridia_UCG-014. The prevention effect of GE was superior to TGS in some parameters. In conclusion, TGS and GE protected the immune function of immunosuppressed mice induced by cyclophosphamide. Meanwhile, GE showed higher bioavailability and bioactivity compared with TGS, because the synergistic effect of polysaccharides and ginsenosides plays an important role in protecting the immune function.

Prevention effect of total ginsenosides and ginseng extract from Panax ginseng on cyclophosphamide‐induced immunosuppression in mice

Oral decoction is widely applied in traditional Chinese medicines. The polysaccharides of decoction promote the exposure of small molecules and increase their bioavailability. This study mainly compared the component and activities of total ginsenosides (TGS) and ginseng extract (GE) on immunosuppressed mice induced by cyclophosphamide. Thirty‐two mice were randomly divided into control, model, TGS, and GE groups. The mice were orally administered for 28 days and then injected with cyclophosphamide on the last four days. The results of component analysis showed the total content of 12 ginsenosides in TGS (67.21%) was higher than GE (2.04%); the total content of 17 amino acids in TGS (1.41%) was lower than GE (5.36%); the total content of 10 monosaccharides was similar in TGS (74.12%) and GE (76.36%). The animal results showed that both TGS and GE protected the hematopoietic function of bone marrow by inhibiting cell apoptosis, and recovering the normal cell cycle of BM; maintained the dynamic balance between the Th1 and Th2 cells; also protected the spleen, thymus, and liver. Meanwhile, TGS and GE protected the intestinal bacteria of immunosuppressed mice by increasing the abundance of lactobacillus and decreasing the abundance of the odoribacter and clostridia_UCG‐014. The prevention effect of GE was superior to TGS in some parameters. In conclusion, TGS and GE protected the immune function of immunosuppressed mice induced by cyclophosphamide. Meanwhile, GE showed higher bioavailability and bioactivity compared with TGS, because the synergistic effect of polysaccharides and ginsenosides plays an important role in protecting the immune function.

Effects of Soy–Whey Protein Nutritional Supplementation on Hematopoiesis and Immune Reconstitution in an Allogeneic Transplanted Mice

Profound malnutrition and immunodeficiency are serious negative effects of radiotherapy and bone marrow transplantation for hematologic malignancy patients. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of nutritional supplementation with a soy–whey protein mixture on hematopoietic and immune reconstitution in an allogeneic transplant mouse model. Male BALB/c (H-2Kd) mice, 6–8 weeks-old, were divided randomly into five groups and then provided with different protein nutrition support. After 28 days, blood samples, bone marrow, spleen, and thymus were harvested to measure the effects. The results showed that soy–whey blended protein supplements promoted hematopoietic stem cell engraftment, body weight recovery, and the recovery of white blood cells, lymphocytes, and neutrophils; triggered the expansion of hematopoietic stem cells and progenitor cell pools by increasing the numbers of the c-kit⁺ progenitor, Lin-Sca1⁺c-kit⁺, short-term hematopoietic stem cells, and multipotent progenitors; enhanced thymus re-establishment and splenic subset recovery in both organ index and absolute number; improved overall nutritional status by increasing total serum protein, albumin, and globulin; protected the liver from radiation-induced injury, and increased antioxidant capacity as indicated by lower concentrations of alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, malondialdehyde, and 4-hydroxynonenal. This study indicated that soy–whey blended protein as important nutrients, from both plant and animal sources, had a greater positive effect on patients with hematological malignancies to accelerate hematopoiesis and immune reconstitution after bone marrow transplantation.