Chinese Medicinal Herb-Derived Carbon Dots for Common Diseases: Efficacies and Potential Mechanisms

Inhibitory effects of Curcumae Radix carbonisata-based carbon dots against liver fibrosis induced by carbon tetrachloride in mice

As a processed product of traditional Chinese medicine Curcumae Radix, Curcumae Radix Carbonisata (CRC) has been widely used in the treatment of liver diseases in ancient medical books. In this study, novel carbon dots (CDs) extending from 1.0 to 4.5 nm were separated from fluid extricates of CRC. Meanwhile, a liver fibrosis model induced by carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) was utilized to determine the inhibitory effects of CRC-CDs against liver fibrosis. The results exhibited the CRC-CDs with a quantum yield of 1.34% have a significant inhibitory effect on CCl4-induced liver fibrosis, as demonstrated by improving hepatocyte degeneration and necrosis, inflammatory cell infiltration and fibrotic tissue hyperplasia, downregulating the levels of alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), total bilirubin (TBIL), direct bilirubin (DBIL), total bile acid (TBA), triglyceride (TG), tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-1β in the serum, upregulating the contents of superoxide dismutase (SOD), reduced glutathione (GSH), and downregulating the concentration of malondialdehyde (MDA), which lays an important foundation for the development of CRC-CDs as a novel drug for the treatment of liver fibrosis, and provide a certain experimental basis for the clinical application of CRC-CDs in the future.

Bio-soft matter derived from traditional Chinese medicine: Characterizations of hierarchical structure, assembly mechanism, and beyond

Structural and functional explorations on bio-soft matter such as micelles, vesicles, nanoparticles, aggregates or polymers derived from traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has emerged as a new topic in the field of TCM. The discovery of such cross-scaled bio-soft matter may provide a unique perspective for unraveling the new effective material basis of TCM as well as developing innovative medicine and biomaterials. Despite the rapid rise of TCM-derived bio-soft matter, their hierarchical structure and assembly mechanism must be unambiguously probed for a further in-depth understanding of their pharmacological activity. In this review, the current emerged TCM-derived bio-soft matter assembled from either small molecules or macromolecules is introduced, and particularly the unambiguous elucidation of their hierarchical structure and assembly mechanism with combined electron microscopic and spectroscopic techniques is depicted. The pros and cons of each technique are also discussed. The future challenges and perspective of TCM-derived bio-soft matter are outlined, particularly the requirement for their precise in situ structural determination is highlighted.

Aurantii fructus immaturus carbonisata-derived carbon dots and their anti-depression effect

Introduction: Depression is a common illness worldwide. However, the current treatments available for depression only achieve relative success, often come with several side effects, and are associated with high costs. Aurantii Fructus Immaturus (AFI) has a rich historical legacy in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) for its traditional use as a treatment for depression. In this research, our primary objective is to examine the potential antidepressant properties and the mechanisms at play behind a particular bioactive compound found in AFI, which is referred to as carbon dots derived from AFI Carbonisata (AFIC-CDs). Methods: Extracted and isolated the AFIC-CDs from the decoction of AFIC, then characterized the morphological structure and functional groups comprehensively. We then utilized two distinct models to investigate the anti-depressive properties of AFIC-CDs: the chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) model and the reserpine-induced pain-depression dyad model. In the CUMS model, we assessed immobile time and measured neurotransmitter levels in the mouse brain cortex. In the pain-depression dyad model, we evaluated immobile time, neurotransmitter levels, interleukin-1 (IL-1β) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) levels, and the expression of mRNA of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and tryptophan hydroxylase 2 (Tph2). Results: AFIC-CDs were found to have abundant chemical groups, and their diameter ranged from 2 to 10 nm. In the CUMS model, AFIC-CDs demonstrated significant effects. They reduced the immobile time of the mice and increased the levels of serotonin (5-HT), dopamine (DA), and norepinephrine (NE) in the mouse brain cortex. In the pain-depression dyad model, the AFIC-CDs groups decreased the immobile time, showed effect in increasing both the neurotransmitters' levels and the expression of mRNA of BDNF and Tph2, and decreased the IL-1β and TNF-α levels in mouse brain cortex. Taken together, these results strongly indicate that AFIC-CDs possess significant antidepressant activity. Conclusion: AFIC-CDs demonstrate promising therapeutic potential in the treatment of depression, suggesting that they may become a valuable candidate for depression management. This not only extends the understanding of the biological activity of carbon dots (CDs) but also opens up new possibilities for the development of effective depression treatment strategies.

Carbonized Platycladus orientalis Derived Carbon Dots Accelerate Hemostasis through Activation of Platelets and Coagulation Pathways

Achieving rapid and effective hemostasis remains a multidisciplinary challenge. Here, distinctive functional carbon dots derived from carbonized Platycladus orientalis (CPO-CDs) are developed using one-step hydrothermal method. The negatively charged surface of CPO-CDs retains partial functional groups from CPO precursor, exhibiting excellent water solubility and high biocompatibility. Both rat liver injury model and tail amputation model have confirmed the rapid and effective hemostatic performance of CPO-CDs on exogenous hemorrhage. Further, on endogenous blood-heat hemorrhage syndrome rat model, CPO-CDs could inhibit hemorrhage and alleviate inflammation response. Interestingly, the excellent hemostasis performance of CPO-CDs is ascribed to activate exogenous coagulation pathway and common coagulation pathway. More importantly, metabolomics of rat plasma suggests that the hemostasis effect of CPO-CDs is closely related to platelet functions. Therefore, the designed in vitro experiments are performed and it is discovered that CPO-CDs significantly promote platelets adhesion, activation, and aggregation. Further, the underlying mechanism investigation suggests that Src/Syk signal pathway plays a key role in platelets activation triggered by CPO-CDs. Overall, CPO-CDs with rapid and excellent hemostatic performance are discovered for the first time, which could be an excellent candidate for the treatment of hemorrhagic diseases.

Natural biomass-derived carbon dots as a potent solubilizer with high biocompatibility and enhanced antioxidant activity

Numerous natural compounds exhibit low bioavailability due to suboptimal water solubility. The solubilization methods of the modern pharmaceutical industry in contemporary pharmaceutical research are restricted by low efficiency, sophisticated technological requirements, and latent adverse effects. There is a pressing need to elucidate and implement a novel solubilizer to ameliorate these challenges. This study identified natural biomass-derived carbon dots as a promising candidate. We report on natural fluorescent carbon dots derived from Aurantia Fructus Immatures (AFI-CDs), which have exhibited a remarkable solubilization effect, augmenting naringin (NA) solubility by a factor of 216.72. Subsequent analyses suggest that the solubilization mechanism is potentially contingent upon the oration of a nanostructured complex (NA-AFI-CDs) between AFI-CDs and NA, mediated by intermolecular non-covalent bonds. Concomitantly, the synthesized NA-AFI-CDs demonstrated high biocompatibility, exceptional stability, and dispersion. In addition, NA-AFI-CDs manifested superior free radical scavenging capacity. This research contributes foundational insights into the solubilization mechanism of naringin-utilizing AFI-CDs and proffers a novel strategy that circumvents the challenges associated with the low aqueous solubility of water-insoluble drugs in the field of modern pharmaceutical science.

Anxiolytic effects of Chrysanthemum morifolium Ramat Carbonisata-based carbon dots in mCPP-induced anxiety-like behavior in mice: a nature-inspired approach

Introduction: Anxiety disorders have emerged as a predominant health concern, yet existing pharmacological treatments for anxiety still present various challenges. Chrysanthemum morifolium Ramat Carbonisata (CMRC) has been utilized in China for approximately 400 years as a therapeutic intervention for anxiety disorders. In this study, a novel type of carbon dots derived from the decoction of Chrysanthemum morifolium Ramat Carbonisata (CMRC-CDs) was identified and isolated, and their morphological structure and functional groups were characterized. Furthermore, the effects of CMRC-CDs on m-chlorophenylpiperazine (mCPP)-induced anxiety-like behaviour in mice were examined and quantified. In order to investigate the potential mechanisms of their anxiolytic effects, concentrations of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis hormones, amino acid neurotransmitters, and monoamine neurotransmitters were measured. Methods: In this study, we synthesized CMRC-CDs and evaluated their potential anti-anxiety effects in a controlled experiment involving 48 male ICR mice. The mice were randomly divided into six groups, treated with CMRC-CDs at different doses for 14 days, and subjected to Open-Field (OF) and Elevated Plus Maze (EPM) tests. Post-behavioral evaluations, blood samples and brain tissues were collected for neurotransmitter and Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) axis hormone quantification via ELISA. Additionally, cytotoxicity of CMRC-CDs was assessed using a Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assay on RAW 264.7 cells. Results and Discussion: CMRC-CDs were spherical and homogeneously dispersed, with diameters ranging from 1.4 to 4.0 nm and an abundance of chemical groups on their surface. In the open-field (OF) test, mice pre-treated with CMRC-CDs demonstrated an increased proportion of time spent in the central area and a higher frequency of entries into the central area. In the elevated plus maze (EPM) test, mice pre-treated with CMRC-CDs exhibited a greater number of entries into the open arm and an extended duration spent in the open arm. CMRC-CDs were observed to decrease serum concentrations of corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH), adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), and corticosterone (CORT). Furthermore, CMRC-CDs were found to increase γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) levels, while concurrently reducing glutamic acid (Glu) concentrations in brain tissue. CMRC-CDs demonstrated anxiolytic effects, which may be attributed to their modulation of hormones and neurotransmitters. This finding suggests the potential therapeutic value of CMRC-CDs in the clinical treatment of anxiety disorders.

A Novel Drug with Potential to Treat Hyperbilirubinemia and Prevent Liver Damage Induced by Hyperbilirubinemia: Carbon Dots Derived from Platycodon grandiflorum

Platycodon grandiflorum (PG) is a traditional Chinese medicine with a long history, but its active compounds have not been reported. In this study, novel carbon dots (CDs), PG-based CDs (PGC-CDs), were discovered and prepared from PG via calcinations and characterized by transmission electron microscopy; high-resolution transmission electron microscopy; X-ray diffraction, fluorescence, ultraviolet-visible, and Fourier-transform infrared spectrometers; X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy; and high-performance liquid chromatography. In addition, the safety and antioxidant activity of PGC-CDs was evaluated by RAW264.7 cells and LO2 cells. The therapeutic effects of PGC-CDs on hyperbilirubinemia and liver protection were evaluated in a bilirubin-induced hyperbilirubinemia mice model. The experiment confirmed that the diameter range of PGC-CDs was from 1.2 to 3.6 nm. PGC-CDs had no toxicity to RAW264.7 cells and LO2 cells at a concentration of 3.91 to 1000 µg/mL and could reduce the oxidative damage of cells caused by H2O2. PGC-CDs could inhibit the increase levels of bilirubin and inflammation factors and increase the levels of antioxidants and survival rate, demonstrating that PGC-CDs possessed anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidation activity. PGC-CDs may reduce the content of bilirubin, so as to reduce a series of pathological lesions caused by bilirubin, which has potential in treating hyperbilirubinemia and preventing liver damage induced by hyperbilirubinemia.

Ultrasmall and highly biocompatible carbon dots derived from natural plant with amelioration against acute kidney injury

BACKGROUND

Acute kidney injury (AKI) refers to a tricky clinical disease, known by its high morbidity and mortality, with no real specific medicine for AKI. The carbonization product from Pollen Typhae (i.e., Pu-huang in China) has been extensively employed in clinic, and it is capable of relieving the renal damage and other diseases in China since acient times.

RESULTS

Inspired by the carbonization process of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), a novel species of carbon dots derived from Pollen Typhae (PT-CDs) was separated and then collected using a one-pot pyrolysis method. The as-prepared PT-CDs (4.85 ± 2.06 nm) with negative charge and abundant oxygenated groups exhibited high solubility, and they were stable in water. Moreover, the rhabdomyolysis (RM)-induced AKI rat model was used, and it was first demonstrated that PT-CDs had significant activity in improving the level of BUN and CRE, urine volume and kidney index, and histopathological morphology in RM-induced AKI rats. It is noteworthy that interventions of PT-CDs significantly reduced degree of inflammatory reaction and oxidative stress, which may be correlated with the basial potential mechanism of anti-AKI activities. Furthermore, cytotoxicity assay and biosafety evaluation exhibited high biocompatibility of PT-CDs.

CONCLUSION

This study offers a novel relieving strategy for AKI based on PT-CDs and suggests its potential to be a related candidate for clinical applications.

Honghua extract mediated potent inhibition of COVID-19 host cell pathways

Honghua (Carthami flos) and Xihonghua (Croci stigma) have been used in anti-COVID-19 as Traditional Chinese Medicine, but the mechanism is unclear. In this study, we applied network pharmacology by analysis of active compounds and compound-targets networks, enzyme kinetics assay, signaling pathway analysis and investigated the potential mechanisms of anti-COVID-19. We found that both herbs act on signaling including kinases, response to inflammation and virus. Moreover, crocin likely has an antiviral effect due to its high affinity towards the human ACE2 receptor by simulation. The extract of Honghua and Xihonghua exhibited nanozyme/herbzyme activity of alkaline phosphatase, with distinct fluorescence. Thus, our data suggest the great potential of Honghua in the development of anti-COVID-19 agents.

Potential applications of Chinese herbal medicines with hemostatic properties

Various herbal medicines with hemostatic properties have been applied for centuries to accelerate hemostasis and control bleeding. However, the mechanisms of action and active constituents remain unknown. This report provides an overview of current clinical hemostatic agents and their disadvantages, then focuses on the clinical value of Chinese herbal medicines with unique hemostatic features that modern medicines lack. A comprehensive review of hemostatic agents derived from Chinese herbal medicines and their potential medical applications is also presented.