Protective Property of Scutellarin Against Liver Injury Induced by Carbon Tetrachloride in Mice

Pharmacodynamics and mechanism of Erigeron breviscapus granules in the treatment of ischemic stroke in mice by regulating sphingolipid metabolism based on metabolomics

AIM

Erigeron breviscapus (Vant.) Hand.-Mazz. (EB) granules is the extract preparation of EB, with clear curative effect and unclear mechanism. This study intends to systematically explore the specific mechanism of EB granules in the treatment of IS from the metabolic perspective.

METHODS

The model of transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (tMCAO) in mice was established by the suture-occluded method. The therapeutic effect of EB granules on tMCAO mice was evaluated by behavioral evaluation, brain water content determination, 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC) staining, hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining, and levels of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and neuron specific enolase (NSE) in serum. In order to screen differential metabolites, non-targeted metabolomics technology was used to detect the metabolites in serum before and after administration. Univariate statistics, multivariate statistics and bioinformatics were used to analyze the changes of metabolites in serum of tMCAO mice. The possible related mechanism of EB granules in treating IS was screened by pathway enrichment analysis, and the preliminary verification was carried out at animal level by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and western blot (WB).

RESULTS

EB granules could significantly improve behavior of tMCAO mice, reduce brain water content and cerebral infarction volume, improve morphology of brain tissue, reduce the levels of LDH and NSE in serum. A total of 232 differential metabolites were screened, which were mainly enriched in many biological processes such as sphingolipid metabolism. The differential metabolite S1P and its receptors S1PR1 and S1PR2 in sphingolipid metabolism were verified. The results showed that the level of S1P in brain tissue increased and the protein expression of S1PR1 decreased significantly after modeling, and reversed after administration, but there was no significant difference in the protein expression of S1PR2.

CONCLUSION

The therapeutic effects of EB granules may be related to affecting sphingolipid metabolism through regulating S1P/S1PR1.

Current advances on the therapeutic potential of scutellarin: an updated review

Scutellarin is widely distributed in Scutellaria baicalensis, family Labiatae, and Calendula officinalis, family Asteraceae, and belongs to flavonoids. Scutellarin has a wide range of pharmacological activities, it is widely used in the treatment of cerebral infarction, angina pectoris, cerebral thrombosis, coronary heart disease, and other diseases. It is a natural product with great research and development prospects. In recent years, with in-depth research, researchers have found that wild scutellarin also has good therapeutic effects in anti-tumor, anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidation, anti-virus, treatment of metabolic diseases, and protection of kidney. The cancer treatment involves glioma, breast cancer, lung cancer, renal cancer, colon cancer, and so on. In this paper, the sources, pharmacological effects, in vivo and in vitro models of scutellarin were summarized in recent years, and the current research status and future direction of scutellarin were analyzed.

Effect of Rhei Radix et Rhizoma and Eupolyphaga Steleophaga on liver protection mechanism based on pharmacokinetics and metabonomics

Objective

Based on metabonomics technology of high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS) and hydrogen nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H NMR), the pharmacokinetic characteristics and therapeutic mechanism of Rhei Radix et Rhizoma (RhRR, Dahuang in Chinese), Eupolyphaga Steleophaga (EuS, Tubiechong in Chinese) combined with RhRR acting on acute liver injury were explored.

Methods

Models of acute liver injury were established, and the pharmacokinetic methods of five components of RhRR-EuS in rats were found by HPLC-MS/MS. The liver tissues of different groups of mice were analyzed by 1H NMR spectroscopy combined with multivariate statistical analysis to investigate the metabolomics of RhRR-EuS and RhRR.

Results

Pharmacokinetic results showed there were different levels of bimodal phenomenon in different groups, and the absorption of free anthraquinone in RhRR increased after compatibility with EuS. In addition, the pathological state of acute liver injury in rats can selectively promote the absorption of emodin, chrysophanol, physcion and aloe emodin. Through 15 differential metabolites in the liver tissue of acute liver injury mice, it was revealed that RhRR-EuS and RhRR could protect the liver injury by regulating the metabolism of glutamine and glutamic acid, alanine, aspartic acid and glutamic acid, and phosphoinositide. However, the regulation of RhRR was weaker than that of RhRR-EuS.

Conclusion

For the first time, we studied the pharmacokinetics and metabolomics differences of RhRR-EuS and RhRR in rats and mice with acute liver injury, in order to provide theoretical reference for clinical treatment of liver disease by DHZCP.

Synthesis and bioevaluation of Scutellarein-Tertramethylpyrazine hybrid molecules for the treatment of ischemic stroke

Ischemic stroke caused by insufficient blood supply to the brain may produce a sequence of cascade reactions, leading to oxidative stress and ultimately inducing nerve cell damage. Therefore, hybrid molecules with multiple therapeutic effects have irreplaceable advantages for the treatment of ischemic stroke. Based on the previous works, two types of Scutellarein and Tertramethylpyrazine hybrid molecules were designed and synthesized according to the PepT 1-based design. After systematic research, all synthesized hybrid molecules exhibited more excellent neuroprotective effect and antiplatelet activity compared to the original drugs. Among them, the selected compound 1e with superior neuroprotective and antiplatelet effects could significantly enhance the permeability on the Caco-2 monolayer membrane and inhibit the Gly-Sar uptake on Caco-2 cells. Meanwhile, the result of intestinal perfusion has also confirmed that the absorption of the selected compound 1e is indeed increased. Further, the selected compound 1e significantly reduce the cerebral infarction volume of middle cerebral artery occlusion/reperfusion rats. Especially, the cerebral infarction volume of the high-dose 1e group reduced to one fourth of the model group. Meanwhile, results of hematoxylin-eosin staining also indicated that the damage in the hippocampus CA1 region was significantly alleviated after treatment with the compound 1e. Accordingly, molecular hybridization strategy is one of the simple and feasible ways to improve the therapeutic effect of single targeted drug.

Integrated 16 S rRNA gene sequencing and serum metabolomics approaches to decipher the mechanism of Qingre Lidan decoction in the treatment of cholestatic liver injury

BACKGROUND

Cholestasis is a commonly occurring disorder induced by impaired bile flow, for which there is no effective treatment so far. Qingre Lidan decoction (QRLD) is a clinically used herbal compound for the long-term treatment of bile circulation disorders arising from inflammation and obstruction in the gallbladder and bile ducts. The objective of this study was to investigate the protective effect of QRLD on cholestatic liver injury and its possible mechanism.

METHODS

α-Naphthyl isothiocyanate (ANIT) was used to induce cholestatic liver injury in rats. Liver histopathology and serum biochemical markers were used to assess QRLD's protective impact. The possible biomarkers and mechanism of the therapeutic benefits of QRLD were investigated using a UHPLC-based Q-Exactive Orbitrap MS / MS untargeted serum metabolomics technique together with 16 S rRNA microbiota profiling. Afterwards, using RT-qPCR as well as Western Blot techniques, the expression of pertinent indicators was determined.

RESULTS

The intervention effect of QRLD was stronger at medium and high dosages than at low doses, and it dramatically decreased the levels of serum biochemical markers in cholestatic rats reflecting alterations in liver function and relieving ANIT-induced abnormalities in the liver's histopathology. Serum metabolomics showed that QRLD could affect the metabolic profile of cholestatic rats, mainly related to glycerophospholipid metabolism, taurine and hypotaurine metabolism, alanine, aspartate and glutamate metabolism, and histidine metabolic pathway. Additionally, analysis of 16 S rRNA gene sequencing indicated that QRLD could moderate ANIT-induced microbiota disorders, particularly Romboutsia, Bifidobacterium, Fusicatenibacter, Prevotella_9, Prevotellaceae_NK3B31_group and Prevotella_1. Other experimental results showed that QRLD significantly upregulated the mRNA and protein expression of PPARα, CYP7A1 and NTCP in the liver, inhibited the expression of p-IκBα, p-p65 and TNFα while increasing the anti-inflammatory factor IL-10, and downregulated the expression of MDA (a peroxidation product) and D-lactic acid (an intestinal barrier indicator) while increasing the expression of SOD and GSH.

CONCLUSIONS

QRLD can effectively regulate endogenous metabolites and microbiota disorders in cholestatic rats that are correlated with the attenuation of inflammation and oxidative stress.

Integrated serum pharmacochemistry, 16S rRNA sequencing and metabolomics to reveal the material basis and mechanism of Yinzhihuang granule against non-alcoholic fatty liver disease

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Yinzhihuang granule (YZHG) has liver protective effect and can be used for clinical treatment of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), but its material basis and mechanism need to be further clarified.

AIM OF THE STUDY

This study aims to reveal the material basis and mechanism of YZHG treating NAFLD.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Serum pharmacochemistry were employed to identify the components from YZHG. The potential targets of YZHG against NAFLD were predicted by system biology and then preliminarily verified by molecular docking. Furthermore, the functional mechanism of YZHG in NAFLD mice was elucidated by 16S rRNA sequencing and untargeted metabolomics.

RESULTS

From YZHG, 52 compounds were identified, of which 42 were absorbed into the blood. Network pharmacology and molecular docking showed that YZHG treats NAFLD with multi-components and multi-targets. YZHG can improve the levels of blood lipids, liver enzymes, lipopolysaccharide (LPS), and inflammatory factors in NAFLD mice. YZHG can also significantly improve the diversity and richness of intestinal flora and regulate glycerophospholipid and sphingolipid metabolism. Moreover, Western Blot experiment showed that YZHG can regulate liver lipid metabolism and enhance intestinal barrier function.

CONCLUSIONS

YZHG may treat NAFLD by improving the disruption of intestinal flora and enhancing the intestinal barrier. This will reduce the invasion of LPS into the liver subsequently regulate liver lipid metabolism and reduce liver inflammation.

Effects of breviscapine on cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury and intestinal flora imbalance by regulating the TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB signaling pathway in rats

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

The plant Erigeron breviscapus (Vant.) Hand.-Mazz.,a Chinese herbal medicine with multiple pharmacological effects and clinical applications, has been traditionally used in the treatment of paralysis caused by stroke and joint pain from rheumatism by the Yi minority people of Southwest China for generations.However, its mechanism involves many factors and has not been fully clarified.

AIM OF THE STUDY

Taking intestinal flora as the target, the protective effect of extract(breviscapine) of E. breviscapus on cerebral ischemia and its possible mechanism were discussed from the perspective of brain inflammatory pathway and intestinal CYP3A4, which depends on intestinal flora.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In this study, we first verified the binding ability between major active ingredient of Erigeron breviscapus and the core target TLR4 protein by molecular docking using Vina software.We established a rat model of cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury in vivo.The neurological function of rats was scored by Bederson score table, the cerebral infarction volume was detected by TTC staining, and the serum NSE level was detected by ELASA. 16S rRNA sequencing was used to detect the intestinal flora of rats in each group.The expression levels of cerebral TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB and CYP3A4 mRNA and protein in different intestinal segments were detected by qRT-PCR and Western blot.

RESULTS

Compared with the model group, the neurological injury score, infarct volume and serum NSE concentration of breviscapine low, medium and high dose groups and nimodipine groups decreased significantly. Meanwhile, breviscapine could significantly reduce the expression level of the TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB in brain tissue and CYP3A4 in different intestinal segments of rats with cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury. In addition, breviscapine also significantly ameliorated intestinal flora dysbiosis of rats with cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury.

CONCLUSIONS

Breviscapine can protect rats from cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury by regulating intestinal flora, inhibiting brain TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB inflammatory pathway and intestinal CYP3A4 expression.

Qinggan Huoxue Recipe Protects against Experimental Alcoholic Liver Fibrosis through CXCL16 Inhibition

Background

Qinggan Huoxue recipe (QGHXR), a traditional Chinese medicinal formula, has a protective effect against liver fibrosis. However, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear.

Objective

This study investigated the antifibrotic role of QGHXR and its underlying mechanisms.

Methods

The composition of QGHXR was determined using ultra performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS). Female C57BL/6J mice were fed either a Lieber-DeCarli liquid diet or pair-fed control diet and intraperitoneally injected with CCl₄ for 8 weeks (n = 8). In week 5, the mice were administered 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg QGHXR via oral gavage daily for 4 weeks.

Results

UPLC-MS result showed that QGHXR contained 45 compounds including salvianolic acid A, scutellarin, baicalin, rutin, and chai saponin D. QGHXR alleviated pathological alterations in the liver. The alanine aminotransferase (ALT) level was reduced to 44.88 ± 4.39 U/L, aspartate aminotransferase (AST) to 76.25 ± 4.17 U/L, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) to 60.75 ± 5.41 U/L, and acetaldehyde to 38.54 ± 1.01 U/L compared with that of the control group (ALT 72.38 ± 5.19 U/L, AST 119.63 ± 9.82 U/L, and ALP 98.63 ± 6.71 U/L and acetaldehyde 64.86 ± 4.70 U/L). QGHXR inhibited lipid overproduction and fibrotic gene expression. The serum concentration of chemokine C-X-C ligand 16 (CXCL16) was reduced to 62.83 ± 6.80 pg/ml compared with that of the control group (130.91 ± 13.72 pg/mL). QGHXR downregulated CXCL16 mRNA and protein expressions. Pharmacological CXCL16 treatment reversed the QGHXR-induced protective effects in ethanol plus CCl₄ fed mice. QGHXR reduced CXCL16 levels (91.97 ± 5.86 pg/ml) in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells compared with that of the control group (148.68 ± 8.62 pg/ml) and inhibited toll-like receptor 4 and nuclear factor-kappa B phosphorylation.

Conclusions

This study demonstrated that QGHXR mitigates experimental alcoholic liver fibrosis by CXCL16 inhibition, and may be considered a potential therapeutic agent for treating liver fibrosis.

Role of medicinal plants in inhibiting SARS-CoV-2 and in the management of post-COVID-19 complications

BACKGROUND

The worldwide corona virus disease outbreak, generally known as COVID-19 pandemic outbreak resulted in a major health crisis globally. The morbidity and transmission modality of COVID-19 appear more severe and uncontrollable. The respiratory failure and following cardiovascular complications are the main pathophysiology of this deadly disease. Several therapeutic strategies are put forward for the development of safe and effective treatment against SARS-CoV-2 virus from the pharmacological view point but till date there are no specific treatment regimen developed for this viral infection.

PURPOSE

The present review emphasizes the role of herbs and herbs-derived secondary metabolites in inhibiting SARS-CoV-2 virus and also for the management of post-COVID-19 related complications. This approach will foster and ensure the safeguards of using medicinal plant resources to support the healthcare system. Plant-derived phytochemicals have already been reported to prevent the viral infection and to overcome the post-COVID complications like parkinsonism, kidney and heart failure, liver and lungs injury and mental problems. In this review, we explored mechanistic approaches of herbal medicines and their phytocomponenets as antiviral and post-COVID complications by modulating the immunological and inflammatory states.

STUDY DESIGN

Studies related to diagnosis and treatment guidelines issued for COVID-19 by different traditional system of medicine were included. The information was gathered from pharmacological or non-pharmacological interventions approaches. The gathered information sorted based on therapeutic application of herbs and their components against SARSCoV-2 and COVID-19 related complications.

METHODS

A systemic search of published literature was conducted from 2003 to 2021 using different literature database like Google Scholar, PubMed, Science Direct, Scopus and Web of Science to emphasize relevant articles on medicinal plants against SARS-CoV-2 viral infection and Post-COVID related complications.

RESULTS

Collected published literature from 2003 onwards yielded with total 625 articles, from more than 18 countries. Among these 625 articles, more than 95 medicinal plants and 25 active phytomolecules belong to 48 plant families. Reports on the therapeutic activity of the medicinal plants belong to the Lamiaceae family (11 reports), which was found to be maximum reported from 4 different countries including India, China, Australia, and Morocco. Other reports on the medicinal plant of Asteraceae (7 reports), Fabaceae (8 reports), Piperaceae (3 reports), Zingiberaceae (3 reports), Ranunculaceae (3 reports), Meliaceae (4 reports) were found, which can be explored for the development of safe and efficacious products targeting COVID-19.

CONCLUSION

Keeping in mind that the natural alternatives are in the priority for the management and prevention of the COVID-19, the present review may help to develop an alternative approach for the management of COVID-19 viral infection and post-COVID complications from a mechanistic point of view.