Comprehensive metabolomics and lipidomics profiling uncovering neuroprotective effects of Ginkgo biloba L. leaf extract on Alzheimer's disease

Efficacy of ginkgo diterpene lactone meglumine on cognitive function in patients with acute ischemic stroke: a predefined exploratory analysis of a multicenter, double-blind, randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND

Ginkgo diterpene lactone meglumine (GDLM) could improve the functional outcome in patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS). This study aimed to investigate the efficacy of GDLM on cognitive function in patients with AIS.

METHODS

This is a predefined exploratory analysis of the Efficacy and Safety of Ginkgo Diterpene Lactone Meglumine in Acute Ischemic Stroke trial, which was primarily designed to investigate the efficacy and safety of GDLM versus placebo on functional outcome at 100 centers in China. Cognitive function was measured using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) test. The primary outcomes were changes of MoCA from baseline to Day 14 and Day 90 after randomization.

RESULTS

A total of 3163 patients with completed data on MoCA were enrolled. There was statistically significant difference of changes in MoCA scores between the GDLM group and the placebo group from baseline to Day 14 (mean difference, 0.31; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.08-0.53; P = 0.007) and to Day 90 after randomization (mean difference, 0.47; 95% CI, 0.22-0.72; P < 0.001). Additionally, GDLM was associated with a higher proportion of patients who reached a clinically significant level of improvement in MoCA from baseline to Day 14 (odds ratio [OR], 1.25; 95% CI, 1.08-1.44; P = 0.002) and Day 90 after randomization (OR, 1.21; 95% CI, 1.03-1.41; P = 0.02). Specially, GDLM could significantly improve the scores of visuo-spatial and executive function and language.

CONCLUSIONS

In this predefined analysis of patients with AIS, GDLM could improve the 14-day and 90-day cognitive function compared with the placebo.

Novel quinazolinone Derivatives: Design, synthesis and in vivo evaluation as potential agents targeting Alzheimer disease

Since Alzheimer disease is one of the most prevalent types of dementia with a high mortality and disability rate, so development of multi-target drugs becomes the major strategy for battling AD. This study shows the development of a series of quinazolinone based derivatives as novel, multifunctional anti-AD drugs that exhibit both cholinesterase inhibitoryand anti-inflammatory properties. The preliminary results of the in vitro AChE inhibition activity showed that compounds 4b, 5a, 6f, 6h and 7b were better represented for further evaluation. Furthermore, in-vivo AChE inhibition activity and behavior Morris water maze test against donepezil as reference drug were evaluated. Additionally, hippocampal inflammatory markers; TNF-α, NFĸB, IL-1β and IL-6 and antioxidant markers; SOD and MDA were assessed to evaluate the efficacy of quinazolinone derivatives against AD hallmarks. The results showed that 6f, 6h and 7b have promising anti-acetylcholinesterase, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities thus, have a significant effect in treatment of AD. Moreover, Histopathological examination revealed that 6f, 6h and 7b derivatives have neuroprotective effect against neuronal damage caused by induced scopolamine model in mice. Finally, the binding ability of the synthesized derivatives to the target, AChE was investigated through molecular docking which reflected significant interactions to the target based on their docking binding scores. Hence, the newly designed quinazolinone derivatives possess promising anti-acetylcholinesterase activity and challenging for the management of AD in the future.

Development of an Efficient and Seamless Genetic Manipulation Method for Xenorhabdus and Its Application for Enhancing the Production of Fabclavines

Xenorhabdus can produce numerous natural products, but their development has been hampered by the lack of a seamless genetic manipulation method. In this study, we compared several lethal genes and determined the sacB gene as the most effective counter-selection marker and then established a dual selection/counter-selection system by integrating neo and sacB genes into one cassette. This provides an efficient and seamless genetic manipulation method for Xenorhabdus. Using this method, DNA fragments ranging from 205 to 47,788 bp in length were seamlessly knocked out or replaced with impressively high positive rates of 80 to 100% in Xenorhabdus budapestensis XBD8. In addition, the method was successfully applied with good efficiency (45-100%) in Xenorhabdus nematophila CB6. To further validate the method, different constitutive promoters were used to replace the native fclC promoter in a batch experiment. The positivity rate remained consistently high, at 46.3%. In comparison to WT XBD8, the recombinant strain MX14 demonstrated a significant increase in the production of fabclavine 7 and fabclavine 8 by 4.97-fold and 3.22-fold, respectively, while the overall production of fabclavines was enhanced by 3.52-fold.