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Zhang XM, Huang YC, Chen BZ, Li Q, Wu PP, Chen WH, Wu RH, Li C. Water decoction of Pericarpium citri reticulatae and Amomi fructus ameliorates alcohol-induced liver disease involved in the modulation of gut microbiota and TLR4/NF-κB pathway. Front Pharmacol 2024; 15:1392338. [PMID: 38966547 PMCID: PMC11222602 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2024.1392338] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2024] [Accepted: 05/15/2024] [Indexed: 07/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Alcohol consumption alters the diversity and metabolic activities of gut microbiota, leading to intestinal barrier dysfunction and contributing to the development of alcoholic liver disease (ALD), which is the most prevalent cause of advanced liver diseases. In this study, we investigated the protective effects and action mechanism of an aqueous extraction of Pericarpium citri reticulatae and Amomi fructus (PFE) on alcoholic liver injury. Methods C57BL/6 mice were used to establish the mouse model of alcoholic liver injury and orally administered 500 and 1,000 mg/kg/d of PFE for 2 weeks. Histopathology, immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence, Western blotting, qRT-PCR, and 16S rDNA amplicon sequencing were used to analyze the mechanism of action of PFE in the treatment of alcohol-induced liver injury. Results Treatment with PFE significantly improved alcohol-induced liver injury, as illustrated by the normalization of serum alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, total triglyceride, and cholesterol levels in ALD mice in a dose-dependent manner. Administration of PFE not only maintained the intestinal barrier integrity prominently by upregulating mucous production and tight junction protein expressions but also sensibly reversed the dysregulation of intestinal microecology in alcohol-treated mice. Furthermore, PFE treatment significantly reduced hepatic lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and attenuated oxidative stress as well as inflammation related to the TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway. The PFE supplementation also significantly promoted the production of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) in the ALD mice. Conclusion Administration of PFE effectively prevents alcohol-induced liver injury and may also regulate the LPS-involved gut-liver axis; this could provide valuable insights for the development of drugs to prevent and treat ALD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xing-Min Zhang
- School of Pharmacy and Food Engineering, Wuyi University, Jiangmen, China
- International Healthcare Innovation Institute (Jiangmen), Jiangmen, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Large Animal Models for Biomedicine, Wuyi University, Jiangmen, China
| | - Yue-Chang Huang
- School of Pharmacy and Food Engineering, Wuyi University, Jiangmen, China
- International Healthcare Innovation Institute (Jiangmen), Jiangmen, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Large Animal Models for Biomedicine, Wuyi University, Jiangmen, China
| | - Bai-Zhong Chen
- Guangdong Xinbaotang Biotechnology Co., Ltd., Jiangmen, China
| | - Qian Li
- School of Pharmacy and Food Engineering, Wuyi University, Jiangmen, China
- International Healthcare Innovation Institute (Jiangmen), Jiangmen, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Large Animal Models for Biomedicine, Wuyi University, Jiangmen, China
| | - Pan-Pan Wu
- School of Pharmacy and Food Engineering, Wuyi University, Jiangmen, China
- International Healthcare Innovation Institute (Jiangmen), Jiangmen, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Large Animal Models for Biomedicine, Wuyi University, Jiangmen, China
| | - Wen-Hua Chen
- School of Pharmacy and Food Engineering, Wuyi University, Jiangmen, China
- International Healthcare Innovation Institute (Jiangmen), Jiangmen, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Large Animal Models for Biomedicine, Wuyi University, Jiangmen, China
| | - Ri-Hui Wu
- School of Pharmacy and Food Engineering, Wuyi University, Jiangmen, China
- International Healthcare Innovation Institute (Jiangmen), Jiangmen, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Large Animal Models for Biomedicine, Wuyi University, Jiangmen, China
| | - Chen Li
- School of Pharmacy and Food Engineering, Wuyi University, Jiangmen, China
- International Healthcare Innovation Institute (Jiangmen), Jiangmen, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Large Animal Models for Biomedicine, Wuyi University, Jiangmen, China
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Sun W, Mei X, Wang J, Mai Z, Xu D. Zn(II)-curcumin prevents cadmium-aggravated diabetic nephropathy by regulating gut microbiota and zinc homeostasis. Front Pharmacol 2024; 15:1411230. [PMID: 38903987 PMCID: PMC11188322 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2024.1411230] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2024] [Accepted: 05/13/2024] [Indexed: 06/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Background: Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is known as the most common complication of diabetes, resulting from a complex inheritance-environment interaction without effective clinical treatments. Herein, we revealed the protective effects and mechanisms of Zn(II)-curcumin, a curcumin derivative, against streptozotocin-induced DN in rats in the presence or absence of cadmium exposure. Methods: The present study focused on investigating the therapy of Zn(II)-curcumin against cadmium-aggravated DN by regulating gut microbiota, metabolism, inflammation and zinc homeostasis based on pathological changes, TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway, inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), 16S rRNA gene sequencing and gas chromatography-mass spectrometer (GC-MS). Results: We found Zn(II)-curcumin significantly mitigated the cadmium-aggravated phenotypes of diabetic nephropathy, as indicated by the remission of renal dysfunction, pathological changes, inflammation and zinc dyshomeostasis in streptozotocin-treated rats exposed to cadmium. Administration of Zn(II)-curcumin significantly alleviated the dysbiosis of gut microbiota and the changes of serum metabolite profiles in rats treated with streptozotocin in combination with cadmium. Notably, fecal microbial transplantation identified the ability of Zn(II)-curcumin to regulate renal function, inflammation and zinc homeostasis was partly dependent on the gut microbiota. Conclusion: These findings revealed that Zn(II)-curcumin alleviated cadmium-aggravated diabetic nephropathy by reshaping the gut microbiota and zinc homeostasis, which provided unique insights into the mechanisms of the treatment and prevention of diabetic nephropathy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenjia Sun
- Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Marine Drugs, Institute of Aquatic Economic Animals and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory for Aquatic Economic Animals, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xueting Mei
- Laboratory Animal Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jiasheng Wang
- Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Marine Drugs, Institute of Aquatic Economic Animals and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory for Aquatic Economic Animals, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zhicong Mai
- Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Marine Drugs, Institute of Aquatic Economic Animals and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory for Aquatic Economic Animals, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Donghui Xu
- Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Marine Drugs, Institute of Aquatic Economic Animals and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory for Aquatic Economic Animals, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
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Song X, Wang W, Liu L, Zhao Z, Shen X, Zhou L, Zhang Y, Peng D, Nian S. Poria cocos Attenuated DSS-Induced Ulcerative Colitis via NF-κB Signaling Pathway and Regulating Gut Microbiota. Molecules 2024; 29:2154. [PMID: 38731645 PMCID: PMC11085930 DOI: 10.3390/molecules29092154] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2024] [Revised: 04/24/2024] [Accepted: 05/03/2024] [Indexed: 05/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Ulcerative colitis (UC), as a chronic inflammatory disease, presents a global public health threat. However, the mechanism of Poria cocos (PC) in treating UC remains unclear. Here, LC-MS/MS was carried out to identify the components of PC. The protective effect of PC against UC was evaluated by disease activity index (DAI), colon length and histological analysis in dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced UC mice. ELISA, qPCR, and Western blot tests were conducted to assess the inflammatory state. Western blotting and immunohistochemistry techniques were employed to evaluate the expression of tight junction proteins. The sequencing of 16S rRNA was utilized for the analysis of gut microbiota regulation. The results showed that a total of fifty-two nutrients and active components were identified in PC. After treatment, PC significantly alleviated UC-associated symptoms including body weight loss, shortened colon, an increase in DAI score, histopathologic lesions. PC also reduced the levels of inflammatory cytokines TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β, as evidenced by the suppressed NF-κB pathway, restored the tight junction proteins ZO-1 and Claudin-1 in the colon, and promoted the diversity and abundance of beneficial gut microbiota. Collectively, these findings suggest that PC ameliorates colitis symptoms through the reduction in NF-κB signaling activation to mitigate inflammatory damage, thus repairing the intestinal barrier, and regulating the gut microbiota.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaojun Song
- School of Pharmacy, Wannan Medical College, Wuhu 241002, China; (X.S.); (W.W.); (L.L.); (Z.Z.); (X.S.)
| | - Wei Wang
- School of Pharmacy, Wannan Medical College, Wuhu 241002, China; (X.S.); (W.W.); (L.L.); (Z.Z.); (X.S.)
| | - Li Liu
- School of Pharmacy, Wannan Medical College, Wuhu 241002, China; (X.S.); (W.W.); (L.L.); (Z.Z.); (X.S.)
| | - Zitong Zhao
- School of Pharmacy, Wannan Medical College, Wuhu 241002, China; (X.S.); (W.W.); (L.L.); (Z.Z.); (X.S.)
| | - Xuebin Shen
- School of Pharmacy, Wannan Medical College, Wuhu 241002, China; (X.S.); (W.W.); (L.L.); (Z.Z.); (X.S.)
| | - Lingyun Zhou
- School of Pharmacy, Wannan Medical College, Wuhu 241002, China; (X.S.); (W.W.); (L.L.); (Z.Z.); (X.S.)
| | - Yuanxiang Zhang
- School of Pharmacy, Wannan Medical College, Wuhu 241002, China; (X.S.); (W.W.); (L.L.); (Z.Z.); (X.S.)
| | - Daiyin Peng
- School of Pharmacy, Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei 230012, China
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Chinese Medicinal Formula, Hefei 230012, China
- Xin’an Medicine, Key Laboratory of Chinese Ministry of Education, Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei 230038, China
| | - Sihui Nian
- School of Pharmacy, Wannan Medical College, Wuhu 241002, China; (X.S.); (W.W.); (L.L.); (Z.Z.); (X.S.)
- Anhui Provincial Engineering Laboratory for Screening and Re-Evaluation of Active Compounds of Herbal Medicines in Southern Anhui, Wannan Medical College, Wuhu 241002, China
- Institute of Modern Chinese Medicine, Wannan Medical College, Wuhu 241002, China
- Center for Xin’an Medicine and Modernization of Traditional Chinese Medicine of IHM, Wannan Medical College, Wuhu 241002, China
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Zhang S, Zhu P, Yuan J, Cheng K, Xu Q, Chen W, Pan Z, Zheng Y. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease combined with rheumatoid arthritis exacerbates liver fibrosis by stimulating co-localization of PTRF and TLR4 in rats. Front Pharmacol 2023; 14:1149665. [PMID: 37346294 PMCID: PMC10279862 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2023.1149665] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2023] [Accepted: 05/25/2023] [Indexed: 06/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) has a high prevalence in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD); however, the underlying mechanism is unclear. To address this, our study established a rat model with both NAFLD and RA by feeding a high-fat diet (HFD) and administering intradermal injection of Freund's complete adjuvant (FCA) with bovine type II collagen. Collagen-induced RA (CIA) was confirmed by hind paw swelling and histological examination. The histomorphological characteristics of NAFLD were evaluated by Masson's trichrome and hematoxylin-eosin staining. The development of NAFLD was further evaluated by measuring serum concentrations of triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (T-CHO), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and lipopolysaccharide (LPS). The results showed that HFD feeding exacerbated secondary inflammation in CIA rats, whereas FCA/bovine type II collagen injection increased serum levels of ALT, AST, TG, T-CHO, and LPS and exacerbated hepatic fibrosis in both normal and NAFLD rats. Interestingly, NAFLD + CIA significantly promoted the expression of PTRF, a caveolae structure protein involved in hepatic lipid metabolism and affecting downstream signaling of Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) and PI3K/Akt activation. High resolution confocal microscopy revealed increased PTRF and TLR4 co-localization in hepatic small vessels of NAFLD + CIA rats. AAV9-mediated PTRF knockdown inhibited TLR4 signaling and alleviated hepatic fibrosis in NAFLD + CIA rats. Together, these findings indicate that NAFLD combined with CIA causes synovial injury and enhances non-alcoholic fatty liver fibrosis in rats. PTRF could attenuate the symptoms of NAFLD + CIA likely by affecting TLR4/PTRF co-expression and downstream signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Peng Zhu
- School of Pharmacy, Wannan Medical College, Wuhu, China
| | - Jianan Yuan
- School of Pharmacy, Wannan Medical College, Wuhu, China
| | - Kunming Cheng
- School of Pharmacy, Wannan Medical College, Wuhu, China
| | - Qixiang Xu
- School of Pharmacy, Wannan Medical College, Wuhu, China
| | - Wei Chen
- Boster Biological Technology Co., Ltd., Wuhan, China
| | - Zui Pan
- College of Nursing and Health Innovation, The University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX, United States
| | - Yongqiu Zheng
- School of Pharmacy, Wannan Medical College, Wuhu, China
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Chen XM, Lei XW, Wu XF. Therapeutic effects of microecological agents combined with metformin in type 2 diabetes mellitus with irritable bowel syndrome. Shijie Huaren Xiaohua Zazhi 2023; 31:326-333. [DOI: 10.11569/wcjd.v31.i8.326] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/28/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND In recent years, the role of intestinal flora in the occurrence and progression of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) has been gradually recognized, and, as recommended agents for the treatment of IBS, probiotics, which can promote intestinal motility and correct and maintain the balance of flora, have been proven effective in the treatment of gastrointestinal diseases.
AIM To investigate the therapeutic effects of microecological agents combined with metformin in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) with IBS and their modulatory effect on the intestinal flora and the Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)/myeloid differentiation factor 88 (MyD8)/nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) signaling pathway.
METHODS Two hundred patients with T2DM with IBS treated at our hospital from August 2018 to August 2022 were selected and randomly divided into either a control group or an observation group, with 100 cases in each group. The control group was treated with metformin alone, and the observation group was treated with microecological agents combined with metformin. Intestinal sensitivity, intestinal flora (Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, Escherichia coli, and Enterococcus faecalis), short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), blood glucose levels [fasting blood glucose (FPG), glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), and 2-hour postprandial glucose (2hPG)], and serum levels of TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB signaling pathway-related proteins were compared between the two groups before and after treatment. The incidence of adverse effects was recorded.
RESULTS After 4 wk and 8 wk of treatment, the numbers of Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium were higher, and the numbers of E. coli and Enterococcus faecalis, intestinal sensitivity, and serum MyD88, TLR4, and NF-κBp65 levels were lower in the observation group than in the control group (P < 0.05). After 8 wk of treatment, the levels of butyric acid and total SCFAs were higher, and the levels of FPG, HbA1c, and 2hPG were lower in the observation group than in the control group (P < 0.05). The incidence of adverse reactions did not differ significantly between the observation group (9.00%) and the control group (14.00%).
CONCLUSION Microecological agents combined with metformin can effectively reduce intestinal sensitivity, alleviate gastrointestinal symptoms, and enhance glucose control in patients with T2DM with IBS, which may be related to their ability to correct flora dysbiosis, regulate intestinal flora metabolites, and modulate the TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB signaling pathway by increasing the abundance of probiotics.
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Tian YQ, Zhang SP, Zhang KL, Cao D, Zheng YJ, Liu P, Zhou HH, Wu YN, Xu QX, Liu XP, Tang XD, Zheng YQ, Wang FY. Paeoniflorin Ameliorates Colonic Fibrosis in Rats with Postinfectious Irritable Bowel Syndrome by Inhibiting the Leptin/LepRb Pathway. EVIDENCE-BASED COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE : ECAM 2022; 2022:6010858. [PMID: 36225193 PMCID: PMC9550452 DOI: 10.1155/2022/6010858] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2022] [Accepted: 08/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Postinfectious irritable bowel syndrome (PI-IBS) is a highly prevalent gastrointestinal disorder associated with immune dysregulation and depression- and anxiety-like behaviors. Through traditional medicine, the active ingredient of Paeoniae Radix called paeoniflorin (PF) was previously found to prevent the symptoms of PI-IBS. However, there is limited information on the effects of PF on intestinal function and depression- and anxiety-like symptoms in PI-IBS animal models. Here, we aimed to determine the effects of PF treatment on the symptoms of PI-IBS in a rat model. The PI-IBS rat model was established via early postnatal sibling deprivation (EPSD), trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid (TNBS), and chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) stimulation and then treated with different dosages of PF (10, 20, and 40 mg/kg) and leptin (1 and 10 mg/kg). The fecal water content and body weight were measured to evaluate the intestinal function, while the two-bottle test for sucrose intake, open field test (OFT), and elevated plus maze test (EMT) were performed to assess behavioral changes. The serum leptin levels were also measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Furthermore, the expressions of leptin and its receptor, LepRb, were detected in colonic mucosal tissues through an immunohistochemical assay. The activation of the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway and the expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) were also detected via western blotting. After the experimental period, the PI-IBS rats presented decreased body weight and increased fecal water content, which coincided with elevated leptin levels and heightened depression- and anxiety-like behaviors (e.g., low sucrose intake, less frequency in the center areas during OFT, and fewer activities in the open arms during EMT). However, the PF treatment ameliorated these observed symptoms. Furthermore, PF not only inhibited leptin/LepRb expression but also reduced the PI3K/AKT phosphorylation and BDNF expression in PI-IBS rats. Notably, cotreatment with leptin (10 mg/kg) reduced the effects of PF (20 mg/kg) on colonic fibrosis, leptin/LepRb expression, and PI3K/AKT activation. Therefore, our findings suggest that leptin is targeted by PF via the leptin/LepRb pathway, consequently ameliorating the symptoms of PI-IBS. Our study also contributes novel insights for elucidating the pharmacological action of PF on gastrointestinal disorders and may be used for the clinical treatment of PI-IBS in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ya-Qing Tian
- Provincial Engineering Laboratory for Screening and Re-Evaluation of Active Compounds of Herbal Medicines in Southern Anhui, Teaching and Research Section of Traditional Chinese Medicine, School of Pharmacy, Wannan Medical College, Wuhu 241000, Anhui, China
| | - Sheng-Peng Zhang
- Provincial Engineering Laboratory for Screening and Re-Evaluation of Active Compounds of Herbal Medicines in Southern Anhui, Teaching and Research Section of Traditional Chinese Medicine, School of Pharmacy, Wannan Medical College, Wuhu 241000, Anhui, China
| | - Kun-Li Zhang
- China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Di Cao
- Provincial Engineering Laboratory for Screening and Re-Evaluation of Active Compounds of Herbal Medicines in Southern Anhui, Teaching and Research Section of Traditional Chinese Medicine, School of Pharmacy, Wannan Medical College, Wuhu 241000, Anhui, China
| | - Yi-Jun Zheng
- China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Ping Liu
- China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Hui-Hui Zhou
- Provincial Engineering Laboratory for Screening and Re-Evaluation of Active Compounds of Herbal Medicines in Southern Anhui, Teaching and Research Section of Traditional Chinese Medicine, School of Pharmacy, Wannan Medical College, Wuhu 241000, Anhui, China
| | - Ya-Ning Wu
- Provincial Engineering Laboratory for Screening and Re-Evaluation of Active Compounds of Herbal Medicines in Southern Anhui, Teaching and Research Section of Traditional Chinese Medicine, School of Pharmacy, Wannan Medical College, Wuhu 241000, Anhui, China
| | - Qi-Xiang Xu
- Provincial Engineering Laboratory for Screening and Re-Evaluation of Active Compounds of Herbal Medicines in Southern Anhui, Teaching and Research Section of Traditional Chinese Medicine, School of Pharmacy, Wannan Medical College, Wuhu 241000, Anhui, China
| | - Xiao-Ping Liu
- Provincial Engineering Laboratory for Screening and Re-Evaluation of Active Compounds of Herbal Medicines in Southern Anhui, Teaching and Research Section of Traditional Chinese Medicine, School of Pharmacy, Wannan Medical College, Wuhu 241000, Anhui, China
| | - Xu-Dong Tang
- China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yong-Qiu Zheng
- Provincial Engineering Laboratory for Screening and Re-Evaluation of Active Compounds of Herbal Medicines in Southern Anhui, Teaching and Research Section of Traditional Chinese Medicine, School of Pharmacy, Wannan Medical College, Wuhu 241000, Anhui, China
| | - Feng-Yun Wang
- China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
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