Chemical Profiles and Protective Effect of Hedyotis diffusa Willd in Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Renal Inflammation Mice

Phytochemistry, pharmacology, and medical uses of Oldenlandia (family Rubaceae): a review

The Oldenlandia genus comprises approximately 240 species of plants, yet only a limited number of these have been investigated for their chemical composition and medicinal properties. These species contain a wide range of compounds such as iridoids, anthraquinones, triterpenes, phytosterols, flavonoids, anthocyanidins, vitamins, essential oils, phenolic acids, and coumarins. These diverse phytochemical profiles underscore the pharmacological potential of Oldenlandia plants for various medical purposes. Among other chemical constituents, ursolic acid stands out as the most important active compound in Oldenlandia, owing to its proven anticancer, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and hepatoprotective properties. The evaluation of Oldenlandia's pharmacological prospects indicates that the holistic utilization of the entire plant yields the most significant effects. Oldenlandia diffusa showcases anticancer and anti-inflammatory capabilities attributed to its varying constituents. Across a broad spectrum of pharmacological capacities, anticancer research predominates, constituting the majority of medical uses. Oldenlandia diffusa emerges as a standout for its remarkable anticancer effects against diverse malignancies. Antioxidant applications follow, with O. corymbosa demonstrating potent antioxidant properties alongside O. umbellata and O. diffusa. Subsequent priority lies in anti-inflammatory studies, wherein O. diffusa exhibits noteworthy efficacy, trailed by O. corymbosa also takes the lead in antimicrobial activity, with O. umbellata as a strong contender. Additional investigation is essential to ascertain the relative significance of these species in various pharmacological applications. This comprehensive assessment underscores the multifaceted potential of Oldenlandia as a versatile herbal resource, offering diverse pharmacological capacities. The call for sustained exploration and research remains essential to unlock the full extent of Oldenlandia's medicinal benefits.

Asperulosidic Acid Restrains Hepatocellular Carcinoma Development and Enhances Chemosensitivity Through Inactivating the MEKK1/NF-κB Pathway

Asperulosidic acid (ASPA) is a plant-extracted iridoid terpenoid with tumor-suppressive and anti-inflammatory properties. At present, the antitumor function of ASPA and its related mechanisms in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells were explored. Human normal hepatocytes HL-7702 and HCC cells (Huh7 and HCCLM3) were treated with varying concentrations (0 to 200 μg/mL) of ASPA. Cell viability, proliferation, apoptosis, migration, and invasion were checked. The expression of proteins was detected by Western blot. Furthermore, the effect of ASPA (100 μg/mL) on the sensitivity of HCC cells to chemotherapeutic agents, including doxorubicin and cisplatin, was evaluated. A subcutaneous xenografted tumor model was set up in nude mice, and the antitumor effects of ASPA were evaluated. ASPA hindered HCC cells' proliferation, migration, and invasion, and amplified their apoptosis and sensitivity to chemotherapeutic agents. Additionally, ASPA inactivated the MEKK1/NF-κB pathway. Overexpression of MEKK1 increased HCC proliferation, migration, and invasion and facilitated chemoresistance. ASPA treatment alleviated the carcinogenic effect mediated by MEKK1 overexpression. MEKK1 knockdown slowed down HCC progression. However, ASPA could not exert additional antitumor effects in MEKK1 knockdown cells. In vivo results displayed that ASPA substantially curbed tumor growth and inactivated the MEKK1/NF-κB pathway in mice. All over, ASPA exerts antitumor effects in HCC by suppressing the MEKK1/NF-κB pathway.

Network Pharmacology Analysis and Experimental Verification on Antiangiogenesis Mechanism of Hedyotis diffusa Willd in Liver Cancer

Purpose

Hedyotis diffusa Willd (HDW) is one of the most well-known herbs used in the therapy of cancer. However, the potential mechanisms of its antiangiogenic effects have not been fully explored. Here, we applied a network pharmacology approach to explore the potential mechanisms of HDW against liver cancer angiogenesis (LCA) and used a mouse orthotopic liver cancer model for experimental verification accordingly.

Methods

The effective components, primary active compounds, and possible targets in the therapy of LCA were predicted using network pharmacology and bioinformatics. In vivo testing of the pharmacodynamic foundation of HDW in the treatment of LCA was performed. Hepa1-6 cells were implanted in C57BL/6 mice to establish an orthotopic liver cancer model to evaluate the antitumor and antiangiogenesis effects of the drug. Furthermore, protein levels were evaluated by western blotting, immunofluorescence, and immunohistochemistry.

Results

We firstly confirmed the therapeutic effect of HDW on LCA and subsequently screened 7 active compounds from HDW according to their pharmacokinetic properties. Network analysis and enrichment analysis indicated that these compounds exhibit antiangiogenic effect by acting on multiple targets and thereby regulating multiple pathways mainly involved in Akt1, IL-6, IL-1β, IL-17, hypoxia inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α), and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α). Importantly, we preliminarily verified the results of the network pharmacology analysis in vivo.

Conclusion

Collectively, our work initially explored the therapeutic mechanism of HDW on tumor angiogenesis, which lays an experimental reference for further exploring its pharmacological action and its clinical application.

Hedyotis diffusa alleviate aflatoxin B1-induced liver injury in ducks by mediating Nrf2 signaling pathway

Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), the most harmful aflatoxins, is a frequent contamination in feed and food items, raising global concerns in animal production and human public health. Also, AFB1 induces oxidative stress, cytotoxicity, mutations, and DNA lesions through its metabolic transformation into aflatoxin B1-8,9-epoxide (AFBO) by cytochrome P450 (CYP450). Hedyotis diffusa (HD) is a traditional Chinese herbal medicine known for its multiple pharmacological activities, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and immunomodulatory. Yet, the influence of HD on AFB1-induced liver injury in ducks is still unknown. Here, we investigated whether HD positively affects AFB1-induced liver injury in ducks. Results revealed that I) AFB1 caused significant changes in serum biochemical indices and decreased growth performance of ducks (such as ALT, AST, ALP, TP, ALB, final body weight, and body weight gain), whereas HD supplementation at 200 mg/kg mitigated these alterations. II) HD alleviated hepatic histopathological changes and liver index induced by AFB1 in ducks. III) HD significantly attenuated AFB1-induced oxidative stress, as measured by increased antioxidant enzyme activities such as SOD, GPx, and T-AOC and decreased MDA levels. Furthermore, HD reduced the level of AFB1-DNA adduct in duck liver. IV) HD significantly promoted the transcriptional expression of NF-E2-related nuclear factor 2 (Nrf2) and associated genes, including heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1), NAD(P)H dehydrogenase quinone 1 (NQO1), glutamate-cysteine ligase catalytic (GCLC). In conclusion, these results demonstrated that HD could activate the Nrf2 pathway in ducks to reduce the hepatotoxicity driven by AFB1. This finding also provides theoretical and data support for a deeper understanding of the toxic mechanisms of AFB1 and its prevention.

The anti-inflammatory effects of Hedyotis diffusa Willd on SLE with STAT3 as a key target

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Hedyotis diffusa Willd, also named Scleromitrion diffusum (Willd.) R.J. Wang, is one medical herb, which has been traditionally used by the She nationality in China. And H. diffusa represents a beneficial effect on Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) treatment in clinic.

AIM OF THE STUDY

The underlying mechanisms of the protective effects of H. diffusa on SLE remain unclear. In this study, we treated MRL/lpr mice with H. diffusa water extract (HDW) to assess its therapeutic effects and verified its regulating signalling pathway through cytological experiments.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In the present study, the constituents of HDW were analysed through ultra-performance liquid chromatography/quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-TOF-MS) and SCIEX OS software. The protective activity and underlying mechanisms were studied in a MRL/lpr lupus mouse model. The blood cells, autoantibodies, metabolites and the cytokines in serum were identified with a hematology analyzer, specific ELISA kit, GC/MS system and cytometric assays. The histological and immunohistochemical analysis were engaged in the morphologic, and the expression and translocation of the crucial protein observation. The dual luciferase reporter assay was applied to identifying the regulative activity of HDW. The transcription and translation expression of the protein was studied by real-time PCR and Western blot assays. The network pharmacology analysis was employed to predict the IL-6/STAT3 pathway regulators and the screen the STAT3 inhibitors in HDW.

RESULTS

The results revealed the capability of HDW to attenuate the production of autoantibodies, secretion of inflammatory cytokines (IL-6 and IFN-γ), and suppressed the IgG and C3 deposition, the development of glomerular lesions in MRL/lpr mice. Serum metabolomics study showed the improvement in serum metabolites, especially aminoacyl-tRNA biosynthesis, by HDW. IL-6 was clarified to be highly associated with the significantly changed metabolites in network analysis. We further demonstrated the effects of HDW on the IL-6/STAT3 pathway in vivo and in vitro.

CONCLUSIONS

This study suggested that HDW exerts a therapeutic effect in SLE model mice by suppressing the IL-6/STAT3 pathway.

Inhibitory effects of total triterpenoids isolated from the Hedyotis diffusa willd on H1975 cells

It is estimated that non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is responsible for 80% of human deaths related to lung cancer worldwide. Currently, it has been discovered that two transcription factors. Nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) and Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) were the main factors affecting inflammation and cancer, and their activation promoted lung cancer cell proliferation. Hedyotis diffusa Willd. (H. diffusa) is an herbal Chinese medicine, which has always been used for the treatment of malignant tumors in clinical. Previous research found that H. diffusa could inhibit the proliferation of H1975 cells, but the specific mechanisms remain elusive. We investigated the effects of total triterpenes extracted from H. diffusa (TTH) on the migration, proliferation and apoptosis of H1975 cells. Cell-cycle and immunofluorescence analysis showed that TTH could block H1975 cells at G0/G1 phase and induce apoptosis of experimental cells. The protein levels of Bcl-2 were decreased, while the levels of pro-apoptotic Bax were increased. In addition, TTH could also inhibit the migration of H1975 cells through downregulated MMP-2 and MMP-9 and upregulated TIMP-2. Further research found that the level of phospho-STAT3 was significantly decreased after administration of TTH. And protein expression level of NF-κB in nucleus was decreased after TTH treatment, while NF-κB in cytoplasm increased. These results suggested that TTH could inhibit the proliferation and migration of H1975 cells, and also could induce cell apoptosis. These effects were closely connected to the activation of NF-κB and the phosphorylation of STAT3.

Association of Chinese herbal medicine use with the depression risk among the long-term breast cancer survivors: A longitudinal follow-up study

Background

Breast cancer patients are at elevated risk of depression during treatment, thus provoking the chance of poor clinical outcomes. This retrospective cohort study aimed to investigate whether integrating Chinese herbal medicines citation(CHM) into conventional cancer therapy could decrease the risk of depression in the long-term breast cancer survivors.

Methods

A cohort of patients aged 20–70 years and with newly diagnosed breast cancer during 2000–2008 was identified from a nationwide claims database. In this study, we focused solely on survivors of breast cancer at least1 year after diagnosis. After one-to-one matching for age, sex, and baseline comorbidities, breast cancer patients who received (n = 1,450) and did not receive (n = 1,450) CHM treatment were enrolled. The incidence rate and hazard ratio citation(HR) for depression between the two groups was estimated at the end of 2012. A Cox proportional hazard model was constructed to examine the impact of the CHM use on the risk of depression.

Results

During the study period, the incidence rate of depression was significantly lower in the treated cohort than in the untreated cohort [8.57 compared with 11.01 per 1,000 person-years citation(PYs)], and the adjusted HR remained significant at 0.74 (95% CI 0.58–0.94) in a Cox proportional hazards regression model. The corresponding risk further decreasing to 43% among those using CHM for more than 1 year.

Conclusion

Finding from this investigation indicated that the lower risk of depression observed in breast cancer patients treated with CHM, suggesting that CHM treatment should be considered for disease management toward breast cancer. Yet, the optimal administered dose should be determined in further clinical trials.

The protective capability of Hedyotis diffusa Willd on lupus nephritis by attenuating the IL-17 expression in MRL/lpr mice

Lupus nephritis (LN), the most severe organ manifestation of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), is generally treated with glucocorticoids (GC) in clinical practice, leading to drug resistance and adverse effects in the long term. Fortunately, the combination of GC and traditional Chinese medical prescriptions can attenuate the adverse effects and improve therapeutic efficiency. Hedyotis diffusa Willd (HDW) is one of the most commonly used herbal compounds for LN treatment, which exhibits “heat-clearing” and “detoxification” effects. However, the underlying pharmacological mechanism remains unclear. The present study identified the chemical compounds in HDW extract with UPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS. A total of 49 components were identified in the HDW extract, and the IL-17 signaling pathway was highly enriched by network pharmacological analysis. MRL/lpr model mice, reflecting the spontaneous development of LN, were used to evaluate the protective activity and investigate the underlying mechanism of the combination treatment. The white blood cell content (WBC), including lymphocytes and neutrophils, cytokines (IL-6, MCP-1, TNF-a), and various autoantibodies (ANA, ab-dsDNA, ab-snRNP/sm) in the blood of MRL/lpr mice were significantly improved by the intragastric administration of HDW. Additionally, the expression of STAT3, IL-17, Ly6G, and MPO in the kidney and neutrophil NETosis were ameliorated with HDW treatment. The pathological and morphological analysis suggested that HDW application could reduce urinary protein levels and inflammatory cell infiltration and inhibit glomerular interstitial cell proliferation. Hence, HDW might ameliorate lupus nephritis by inhibiting IL-6 secretion and STAT3-induced IL-17 expression. The active compounds in HDW were predictively selected with computational methods. The docking affinity of asiatic acid, neoandrographolide to IL-6, glycyrrhetinic acid, oleanolic acid, ursolic acid, and wilforlide A to STAT3 are extremely high. In conclusion, the IL-6 and STAT3/IL-17signaling pathways could be critical regulative targets of HDW on LN.

Protective Effect of Hedyotis diffusa Willd. Ethanol Extract on Isoniazid-Induced Liver Injury in the Zebrafish Model

Objective

Methods

Results

Conclusion

Mechanism of Hedyotis Diffusa in the Treatment of Cervical Cancer

Cervical cancer is one of the most common malignant tumors among women in the world. In clinical practice, Hedyotis diffusa has pharmacological effects in treating cervical cancer, but its components are relatively complex, and the mechanism of Hedyotis diffusa in treating cervical cancer is still unclear. In this work, the potential active components and mechanism of Hedyotis diffusa in the treatment of cervical cancer were explored by means of network pharmacology. By constructing its active ingredient-target network, and enriching and analyzing the targets, we found the key targets and their effective components (beta-Sitosterol and Quercetin) that play a therapeutic role. Finally, we evaluated the prognostic value of the core target genes through survival analysis. Our work initially explored the therapeutic mechanism of cervical cancer, which lays a theoretical foundation for further exploring its pharmacological action and its clinical application.

Phytochemical composition and anti-aging activity of n-butanol extract of Hedyotis diffusa in Caenorhabditis elegans

Hedyotis diffusa Willd. ( H. diffusa ), a kind of traditional Chinese medicine, has been evaluated to potential display antioxidant and anti-aging effects in vitro experiments. In this work, we investigated the effects on lifespan and stress resistance of the N-butanol extract from H. diffusa (NHD) in vivo using a Caenorhabditis elegans ( C. elegans ) model. The phytochemicals of NHD were identified by UPLC-ESI-qTOF-MS/MS method. NHD-treated wild-type N2 worms showed an increase in survival time under both normal and stress conditions. Meanwhile, NHD promoted the healthspan of nematodes by stimulating growth and development, reducing the deposition of age pigment, increasing the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase dismutase (GSH-Px), and decreasing the level of ROS without impairing fertility. Moreover, the upregulating of the expression of daf-16 , gst-4 , sod-3 , hsp12.6 genes and the downregulating of the expression of daf-2 were involved in the NHD-mediated lifespan extension. Finally, the increasing of the expression of GST-4::GFP in CL2166 transgenic nematodes and the life-span-extending activity of NHD was completely abolished in daf-2 and daf-16 mutants further revealed that the potential roles for these genes in NHD-induced longevity in C. elegans . Collectively, our findings suggest that NHD may have an active effect in healthy aging and age-related diseases.

Pulicaria crispa mitigates nephrotoxicity induced by carbon tetrachloride in rats via regulation oxidative, inflammatory, tubular and glomerular indices

CONTEXT

Carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄) induces oxidative stress in various tissues by altering antioxidants defense system. Recently, there has been a substantial use of phytotherapy to treat different diseases.

OBJECTIVE

This study was designed to evaluate the curative effect of Pulicaria crispa (Forssk.) Benth et Hook (Family Asteraceae) aerial parts ethanol extract against CCl₄ induced toxicity in rats kidneys.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Nephrotoxicity was induced by intraperitoneal injection with CCl₄ in a dose of 0.5 mL/kg b.wt./twice a week for six consecutive weeks. Serum kidney function tests, oxidative stress markers, inflammatory cytokines, nephrotoxicity biomarkers and histopathological observation were evaluated.

RESULTS

CCl₄ increased serum kidney function parameters, malondialdehyde level, inflammatory cytokines, and nephrotoxicity markers, while decreased certain oxidative stress indices as superoxide dismutase and glutathione refereeing to the control group (p < 0.0001). Administration of P. crispa ethanol extract to CCl₄ injured rats attenuated these changes with variable degrees. The results were confirmed through the observed amelioration of the renal histological architectures.

CONCLUSION

P. crispa ethanol extract possesses potent curative effect against CCl₄-induced nephropathy through improvement of kidney function, oxidative stress, inflammatory and nephrotoxicity index and the renal histopathological features. To establish the therapeutic and pharmacological applications of the plant, additional researches are required.

Imperatae rhizoma-Hedyotis diffusa Willd. herbal pair alleviates nephrotic syndrome by integrating anti-inflammatory and hypolipidaemic effects

BACKGROUND

Nephrotic syndrome (NS) is a common nephropathy with a complex and diverse aetiology. Both Imperatae rhizoma and Hedyotis diffusa Willd. are herbs that are widely used as medicine and functional food. In traditional Chinese medicine theory, they are used as an herbal pair (HP) to treat inflammation-related diseases in the clinic, especially disorders of the kidney.

PURPOSE

This study aimed to investigate the anti-inflammatory and hypolipidaemic effects of HP in an NS rat model and provide scientific data for its clinical application.

METHODS

An NS model was established by two-dose injection of Sprague-Dawley rats with adriamycin. Seven groups, including the sham, model, HP treatment (0.25, 0.5 and 1.0 g/kg/d), prednisone (positive control, 5 mg/kg/d), and atorvastatin (positive control, 4 mg/kg/d) groups, were tested. The biochemical indexes of renal function and inflammatory cytokines were determined by ELISA kits and/or qPCR assays, and the crucial protein involved in the signalling pathway were subsequently tested by qPCR and/or Western blotting. Based on specific compounds identified by LC-Q-TOF-MS, network pharmacological study was carried out.

RESULTS

The levels of BUN, Scr, Upro, UA, Alb, TC, TG, and LDL-C were significantly elevated in model rats. HP treatment for four weeks improved the renal function and the dyslipidaemia by decreasing the levels of all parameters, except BUN and Scr. HP treatment (0.5 and 1.0 g/kg/d) upregulated the expression of PPARγ, CYP7b1, and LDLR in the liver, while it down-regulated PCSK9, showing a regulatory effect on lipid metabolism disorder. The levels of TNF-α and IL-1β in the plasma and the mRNA expression of TNF-α, IL-1β, MCP-1, and TGF-β1 in the kidney were decreased in HP groups, revealing its anti-inflammatory effect in NS rats. The HP exerted an alleviation effect on the inflammatory response through the NF-κB pathway by inhibiting the mRNA and protein expression of p50 and p65. There were 34 compounds identified or tentatively characterized in HP. In the network pharmacological study, PPARG(PPARγ), PCSK9, RELA(p65), and NF-κB1(p50) were the top 20 targets for HP, supporting the animal experimental results.

CONCLUSION

HP exhibited protective effects on NS rats. These effects might be closely related to the inhibition of NF-κB and PCSK9-LDLR and activation of the PPARγ-CYP7B1 signalling pathways.

Isolation, purification, structural characteristics, pharmacological activities, and combined action of Hedyotis diffusa polysaccharides: A review

Hedyotis diffusa polysaccharides, as the main component and an important bioactive substance of Hedyotis diffusa, are effective immunomodulators with various pharmacological activities, including antitumour, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-fatigue and immunity-enhancing activities. The total polysaccharides extracted from Hedyotis diffusa and Scutellaria barbata have great effects in treating liver cancer, gastric cancer, rectal cancer, glioma and nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Moreover, different materials and extraction methods result in differences in the structure and bioactivity of Hedyotis diffusa polysaccharides. Therefore, this paper summarizes the isolation, purification, structural characteristics, pharmacological activities, and combined action of Hedyotis diffusa polysaccharides to provide a reference for further study.

The effectiveness of Hedyotis diffusa Willd extract in a mouse model of experimental autoimmune prostatitis

Chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS) is a frustrating and often debilitating disease. Current studies have shown that Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) can improve patients' quality of life and alleviate CP/CPPS symptoms. In this study, the efficacy of Hedyotis diffusa Willd aqueous extraction in experimental autoimmune prostatitis (EAP) mice models was revealed. The C57BL/6 mice were randomly assigned to three groups. Except for the control group, all other groups were subcutaneously injected with 0.2 ml emulsion of T2 peptide, on day 0 and day 14, for inducing EAP models. After the EAP modelling, oral saline was given to the model group, while the H. diffusa group was treated with aqueous extract of H. diffusa Willd. Micturition habits and withdrawal response frequencies were measured. Haematoxylin and eosin staining and immunohistochemistry were used to investigate inflammatory cell infiltration and TNF-α in the prostate tissue respectively. TNF-α levels in the serum were evaluated by ELISA. The H. diffusa Willd aqueous extraction considerably reduced the urine spots number and increased the pain threshold in H. diffusa group. H. diffusa group showed significantly reduced inflammatory lesion and inflammatory cell infiltration than the model group. The levels of TNF-α in H. diffusa group were considerably reduced.

Chromolaena odorata flavonoids attenuate experimental nephropathy: Involvement of pro-inflammatory genes downregulation

Nephropathy is a serious complication comorbid with a number of life-threatening diseases such as diabetes. Flavonoids are well known cytoprotective phytochemicals. Here, nephropathy associated with streptozotocin (STZ) treatment in experimental animals was challenged by flavonoids (CoF) isolated from Chromolaena odorata. Experimental animals were divided into control (n = 5), STZ (40 mg/kg b.w. i.p. n = 5) and STZ-CoF (CoF = 30 mg/kg b.w. oral, 60 days, n = 7) groups. Blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and serum creatinine (SC) levels were quantified using ELISA. Kidney function, inflammatory marker, and antioxidant gene expression levels were also evaluated using reverse-transcription and polymerase chain reaction protocols. Histological assessment was also performed using Haematoxylin and Eosin (H&E) staining protocols. CoF improved kidney function by restoring BUN/SC levels to pre-STZ treatment states. KIM-1, TNF-α, and MCP-1 but not TNF-R and IL-10 genes were significantly downregulated in STZ-CoF treated group in comparison with STZ-treated group (p < 0.05). Anti-oxidant genes (GPx-1, CAT) significantly (p < 0.05 vs. control) upregulated in STZ-treatment did not respond to CoF treatment. STZ treatment associated Bowman's space enlargement, thickened basement membrane, and glomerulosclerosis were completely reversed in STZ-CoF group. Finally, CoF has demonstrable anti-nephropathic via downregulation of proinflammatory genes and may represent new management option in clinical nephropathy.

Micheliolide Attenuates Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Inflammation by Modulating the mROS/NF-κB/NLRP3 Axis in Renal Tubular Epithelial Cells

Chronic kidney disease is a common disease closely related to renal tubular inflammation and oxidative stress, and no effective treatment is available. Activation of the nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome is an important factor in renal inflammation, but the mechanism remains unclear. Micheliolide (MCL), which is derived from parthenolide, is a new compound with antioxidative and anti-inflammatory effects and has multiple roles in tumors and inflammatory diseases. In this study, we investigated the effect of MCL on lipopolysaccharide- (LPS-) induced inflammation in renal tubular cells and the related mechanism. We found that MCL significantly suppressed the LPS-induced NF-κB signaling and inflammatory expression of cytokines, such as tumor necrosis factor-α and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 in a rat renal proximal tubular cell line (NRK-52E). MCL also prevented LPS- and adenosine triphosphate-induced NLRP3 inflammasome activation in vitro, as evidenced by the inhibition of NLRP3 expression, caspase-1 cleavage, and interleukin-1β and interleukin-18 maturation and secretion. Additionally, MCL inhibited the reduction of mitochondrial membrane potential and decreases the release of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Moreover, MCL can prevent NLRP3 inflammasome activation induced by rotenone, a well-known mitochondrial ROS (mROS) agonist, indicating that the mechanism of MCL's anti-inflammatory effect may be closely related to the mROS. In conclusion, our study indicates that MCL can inhibit LPS-induced renal inflammation through suppressing the mROS/NF-κB/NLRP3 axis in tubular epithelial cells.

Therapeutic effects of Qianlie Tongli decoction on chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome induced by peptide T2 in mice

Objectives

This study was undertaken to reveal therapeutic effects and the preliminary mechanism of Chinese medicine formula Qianlie Tongli decoction (QTD) in chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS).

Methods

A total of 50 male C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into five groups. All groups except the control group were injected subcutaneously T2 peptide emulsion, which induced the CP/CPPS model. After the induction of CP/CPPS, the model group was given normal saline by oral gavage while low-dose, medium-dose and high-dose groups were treated with Chinese medicine formula. Micturition habits and pain behaviour of mice were analysed for each group. Haematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining was used to investigate prostate inflammation. The serum level of tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit.

Key findings

Chinese medicine formula significantly reduced the number of urine spots and improved pain response frequency in the medium-dose and high-dose group. The high-dose group showed reduced considerably inflammatory lesion and inflammatory cell infiltration than the low-dose and medium-dose groups. Serum levels of TNF-α in the high-dose group were significantly reduced compared with the model group.

Conclusions

The results demonstrated the therapeutic effects of Qianlie Tongli decoction in CP/CPPS mice by analysing clinically relevant symptoms (urinary tract system, pelvic pain and prostate inflammation) and preliminarily explored the inflammatory-related treatment mechanisms by measuring TNF-α.

Protective Antioxidant Effects of Amentoflavone and Total Flavonoids from Hedyotis diffusa on H2 O2 -Induced HL-O2 Cells through ASK1/p38 MAPK Pathway

In this study, total flavonoids and total triterpenoid acid were extracted with ethyl acetate from Hedyotis diffusa Willd, and hepatoprotective activities of them and five compounds from total flavonoids against H₂ O₂ induced hepatocyte damage on HL-02 cells were determined. In particular, amentoflavone and total flavonoids had influence on the leakage of ALT, AST, LDH, the activities of SOD and the content of MDA. They effectively reduced the loss of MMP, the release of Cyt C, and then inhibited activation of caspase-3/caspase-9 cascade in hepatotoxic cells. The contents of ROS were significantly reduced to inhibit p38 in amentoflavone and flavonoids groups which decreased ASK1 and p-p38 levels through increasing thioredoxin Trx1 and reductase TrxR1. These results suggesting that the antioxidant protection of amentoflavone and flavonoids might be reducing ROS to inhibit the H₂ O₂ -induced upstream of pathway via increasing levels of Trx1 and TrxR1, which were pivotal in blocking the down streaming effectors of ASK1/p38 MAPK pathway and alleviating hepatotoxicity.

A Potential Herbal Adjuvant Combined With a Peptide-Based Vaccine Acts Against HPV-Related Tumors Through Enhancing Effector and Memory T-Cell Immune Responses

Viral infection is associated with many types of tumorigenesis, including human papillomavirus (HPV)-induced cervical cancer. The induction of a specific T-cell response against virus-infected cells is desired to develop an efficient therapeutic approach for virus-associated cancer. Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) has a long history in the treatment of cancer patients in Asian countries. Hedyotis diffusa Willd (Bai Hua She She Cao, BHSSC) is frequently used clinically and has been shown to inhibit tumor growth in vitro. However, in vivo data demonstrating the antitumor efficacy of BHSSC are still lacking. We showed that BHSSC induces murine and human antigen-presenting cell (APC) activation via the MAPK signaling pathway and enhances antigen presentation in bone marrow-derived dendritic cells (BMDCs) in vitro. Furthermore, we identified that treatment with BHSSC leads to improved specific effector and memory T-cell responses in vivo. Variant peptide-based vaccines combined with BHSSC improved antitumor activity in preventive, therapeutic, and recurrent HPV-related tumor models. Furthermore, we showed that rutin, one of the ingredients in BHSSC, induces a strong specific immune response against HPV-related tumors in vivo. In summary, we demonstrated that BHSSC extract and its active compound, rutin, can be used as adjuvants in peptide-based vaccines to increase immunogenicity and to bypass the requirement of a conditional adjuvant.

Data Mining-Based Analysis of Chinese Medicinal Herb Formulae in Chronic Kidney Disease Treatment

Background

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has long been used to treat chronic kidney disease (CKD) in Asia. Its effectiveness and safety for CKD treatment have been confirmed in documented studies. However, the prescription rule of formulae for Chinese medicinal herbs is complicated and remains uncharacterized. Thus, we used data mining technology to evaluate the treatment principle and coprescription pattern of these formulae in CKD TCM treatment.

Methods

Data on patients with CKD were obtained from the outpatient system of a TCM hospital. We established a Chinese herb knowledge base based on the Chinese Pharmacopoeia and the Chinese Materia Medica. Then, following extraction of prescription information, we deweighted and standardized each prescribed herb according to the knowledge base to establish a database of CKD treatment formulae. We analyzed the frequency with which individual herbs were prescribed, as well as their properties, tastes, meridian tropisms, and categories. Then, we evaluated coprescription patterns and assessed medication rules by performing association rule learning, cluster analysis, and complex network analysis.

Results

We retrospectively analyzed 299 prescriptions of 166 patients with CKD receiving TCM treatment. The most frequently prescribed core herbs for CKD treatment were Rhizoma Dioscoreae (Shanyao), Spreading Hedyotis Herb (Baihuasheshecao), Root of Snow of June (Baimagu), Radix Astragali (Huangqi), Poria (Fulin), Rhizoma Atractylodis Macrocephalae (Baizhu), Radix Pseudostellariae (Taizishen), and Fructus Corni (Shanzhuyu). The TCM properties of the herbs were mainly being warm, mild, and cold. The tastes of the herbs were mainly sweet, followed by bitter. The main meridian tropisms were Spleen Meridian of Foot-Taiyin, Liver Meridian of Foot-Jueyi, Lung Meridian of Hand-Taiyin, Stomach Meridian of Foot-Yangming, and Kidney Meridian of Foot-Shaoyin. The top three categories were deficiency-tonifying, heat-clearing, and dampness-draining diuretic.

Conclusion

Using an integrated analysis method, we confirmed that the primary TCM pathogeneses of kidney disease were deficiency and dampness-heat. The primary treatment principles were tonifying deficiency and eliminating dampness-heat.

Investigating the Multi-Target Pharmacological Mechanism of Hedyotis diffusa Willd Acting on Prostate Cancer: A Network Pharmacology Approach

Hedyotis diffusa Willd (HDW) is one of the most well-known herbs used in the treatment of prostate cancer. However, the potential mechanisms of its anti-tumor effects have not been fully explored. Here, we applied a network pharmacology approach to explore the potential mechanisms of HDW against prostate cancer (PCa). We obtained 14 active compounds from HDW and 295 potential PCa related targets in total to construct a network, which indicated that quercetin and ursolic acid served as the main ingredients in HDW. Mitogen-activated Protein Kinase 8 (MAPK8), Interleukin 6 (IL6), Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A (VEGFA), Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription 3 (STAT3), Jun Proto-Oncogene (JUN), C-X-C Motif Chemokine Ligand 8 (CXCL8), Interleukin-1 Beta (IL1B), Matrix Metalloproteinase-9 (MMP9), C-C Motif Chemokine Ligand 2 (CCL2), RELA Proto-Oncogene (RELA), and CAMP Responsive Element Binding Protein 1 (CREB1) were identified as key targets of HDW in the treatment of PCa. The protein-protein interaction (PPI) cluster demonstrated that CREB1 was the seed in this cluster, indicating that CREB1 plays an important role in connecting other nodes in the PPI network. This enrichment demonstrated that HDW was highly related to translesion synthesis, unfolded protein binding, regulation of mitotic recombination, phosphatidylinositol and its kinase-mediated signaling, nucleotide excision repair, regulation of DNA recombination, and DNA topological change. The enrichment results also showed that the underlying mechanism of HDW against PCa may be due to its coordinated regulation of several cancer-related pathways, such as angiogenesis, cell differentiation, migration, apoptosis, invasion, and proliferation.

Anti-renal fibrosis effect of asperulosidic acid via TGF-β1/smad2/smad3 and NF-κB signaling pathways in a rat model of unilateral ureteral obstruction

BACKGROUND

Renal fibrosis is the most common pathway leading to end-stage renal disease. It is characterized by excess extracellular matrix (ECM) accumulation and renal tissue damage, subsequently leading to kidney failure. Asperulosidic acid (ASPA), a bioactive iridoid glycoside, exerts anti-tumor, anti-oxidant, and anti-inflammatory activities, but its effects on renal fibrosis induced by unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) have not yet been investigated.

PURPOSE

This study aimed to investigate the protective effect of ASPA on renal fibrosis induced by UUO, and to explore its pharmacological mechanism.

METHODS

Thirty-six Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into six groups: sham group, UUO model group, three ASPA treatment groups (10, 20, and 40 mg/kg), and captopril group (20 mg/kg). Rats were administered vehicle, ASPA or captopril intraperitoneally once a day for 14 consecutive days. Urea nitrogen (BUN), uric acid (UA) and inflammatory factors in serum samples were evaluated on the 7th, 10th, and 14th day after renal fibrosis induction. In addition, the 12 h urine was collected to test the content of urinary protein (upro) on the 14th day. The obstructive renal tissues were collected for pathological analysis (hematoxylin and eosion (H&E) staining and Masson's Trichrome staining) and immunohistochemical analysis on the 14th day after renal fibrosis induction. The mRNA expression of related factors and the protein levels of smad2, smad3, and smad4 were measured in UUO-induced rats by real time PCR and Western blot, respectively.

RESULTS

The levels of BUN, UA, and upro were elevated in UUO-induced rats, but ASPA treatment improved renal function by reducing the levels of BUN, UA, and upro. The protein levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and IL-6, as well as the mRNA levels of TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) and interferon-γ (IFN-γ), were decreased after ASPA administration (10, 20 and 40 mg/kg) in a dose-dependent manner. The ASPA exerted an alleviation effect on the inflammatory response through inhibition of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) pathway. In addition, reductions in α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), collagen III, and fibronectin expression were observed after ASPA administration at doses of 20 and 40 mg/kg. Furthermore, the renal expression of transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1), smad2, smad3, and smad4 was down-regulated by ASPA treatment at doses of 20 and 40 mg/kg.

CONCLUSION

ASPA possessed protective effects on renal interstitial fibrosis in UUO-induced rats. These effects may be through inhibition of the activation of NF-κB and TGF-β1/smad2/smad3 signaling pathways.

Overcoming P-Glycoprotein-Mediated Multidrug Resistance in Colorectal Cancer: Potential Reversal Agents among Herbal Medicines

OBJECTIVES

Multidrug resistance (MDR) is the major reason for the failure of chemotherapy in colorectal cancer (CRC), and the primary determinant of MDR in CRC patients is active drug efflux owing to overexpression of P-glycoprotein (P-gp) in cancer tissues. Despite research efforts to overcome P-gp-mediated drug efflux, the high toxicity of P-gp inhibitors has been a major obstacle for the clinical use of these agents. The aim of this study was to review the literature for potential P-gp reversal agents among traditional herbal medicines, which offer the advantages of safety and potential synergetic effects in CRC chemotherapy.

METHODS

We searched ten databases including 3 English databases, 1 Chinese medical database, and 6 Korean medical databases up to July 2018 and included in vivo and in vitro studies evaluating the effects of herbal medicines as P-gp reversal agents in CRC.

RESULTS

A total of 28 potentially related studies were identified and 16 articles were included. Involving 3 studies about Salvia miltiorrhiza and 2 studies about Curcuma longa, finally we found 14 kinds of traditional herbal medicines-Salvia miltiorrhiza, Curcuma longa, Sinomenium acutum, Stephania tetrandra, Bufo gargarizans, Coptis japonica, Piper nigrum and Piper longum, Hedyotis diffusa, Schisandra chinensis, Glycyrrhiza glabra, Glycyrrhiza inflate, Daphne genkwa, Stemona tuberosa Lour, and Andrographis paniculata-as showing efficacy as P-gp inhibitors in anticancer drug-resistant CRC cells in vitro and in vivo.

CONCLUSIONS

This brief account provides insight into the relationship between P-gp and CRC. Further studies on herbal medicines with demonstrated effects against P-gp overexpression will aid in improving the efficacy of chemotherapy in CRC.

Simultaneous determination of fourteen compounds of Hedyotis diffusa Willd extract in rats by UHPLC-MS/MS method: Application to pharmacokinetics and tissue distribution study

A rapid, sensitive and selective ultra high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry UHPLC-MS/MS method has been developed and validated for the simultaneous determination of fourteen bioactive ingredients (gallic acid, geniposidic acid, protocatechuic acid, caffeic acid, ferulic acid, scopoletin, apigenin-7-o-glucuronide, daidzein, apigenin, ursolic acid, oleanolic acid, β-sitosterol, coniferin, and stigmasterol) in the plasma and tissues of rats. Danshensu and icariin were used as internal standards (IS1 and IS2). The chromatographic separation was achieved by using an Agilent ZORBAX RRHD Eclipse Plus C18 column (2.1 mm × 50 mm, 1.8 μm) with gradient elution using mobile phase, which consisted of 0.1% acetic acid water (solvent A) and methanol (solvent B) and pumped at a flow rate of 0.3 mL/min. Mass spectrometric detection was performed in multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mode utilizing electrospray ionization (ESI) in positive and negative mode. The plasma samples were pretreated via protein precipitation with 300 μL of methanol containing 0.1% (v/v) formic acid and organ homogenates were processed by solid-phase extraction (SPE) with Waters Oasis HLB 3 cc (60 mg), respectively. The intra- and inter- day precisions (RSD%) were less than 10.3%, while the accuracy was ranged from -7.34% to 9.10%. Extraction recovery ranged from 85.02 to 112.0% and the matrix effects ranged from 85.12% to 109.6%. The present method exhibited excellent linearity and the lower limits of quantification (LLOQ) were 30.0 ng/mL, 15.0 ng/mL, 80.0 ng/mL, 30.0 ng/mL, 10.0 ng/mL, 3.0 ng/mL, 2.5 ng/mL, 2.5 ng/mL, 1.5 ng/mL, 15.0 ng/mL, 75.0 ng/mL, 15.0 ng/mL, 30.0 ng/mL, and 20.0 ng/mL for gallic acid, protocatechuic acid, geniposidic acid, caffeic acid, ferulic acid, scopoletin, apigenin-7-o-glucuronide, daidzein, apigenin, ursolic acid, oleanolic acid, β-sitosterol, coniferin, and stigmasterol, respectively. This analytical method was verified by the FDA guidelines for bioanalytical method validation and applied to investigate the pharmacokinetics and biodistribution of fourteen constituents of Hedyotis diffusa Willd extract in rats. These results provide useful information for improving the pharmacokinetics and biodistribution of fourteen bioactive ingredients of Hedyotis diffusa Willd extract in SD rats, supporting additional clinical application and Chinese herbal medicine safety evaluations.

Asperuloside and Asperulosidic Acid Exert an Anti-Inflammatory Effect via Suppression of the NF-κB and MAPK Signaling Pathways in LPS-Induced RAW 264.7 Macrophages

Hedyotis diffusa is a folk herb that is used for treating inflammation-related diseases in Asia. Previous studies have found that iridoids in H. diffusa play an important role in its anti-inflammatory activity. This study aimed to investigate the anti-inflammatory effect and potential mechanism of five iridoids (asperuloside (ASP), asperulosidic acid (ASPA), desacetyl asperulosidic acid (DAA), scandoside methyl ester (SME), and E-6-O-p-coumaroyl scandoside methyl ester (CSME)) that are presented in H. diffusa using lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced RAW 264.7 cells. ASP and ASPA significantly decreased the production of nitric oxide (NO), prostaglandin E₂ (PGE₂), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in parallel with the inhibition of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), TNF-α, and IL-6 mRNA expression in LPS-induced RAW 264.7 cells. ASP treatment suppressed the phosphorylation of the inhibitors of nuclear factor-kappaB alpha (IκB-α), p38, extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK). The inhibitory effect of ASPA was similar to that of ASP, except for p38 phosphorylation. In summary, the anti-inflammatory effects of ASP and ASPA are related to the inhibition of inflammatory cytokines and mediators via suppression of the NF-κB and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathways, which provides scientific evidence for the potential application of H. diffusa.

Flavonoids in Kidney Health and Disease

This review summarizes the latest advances in knowledge on the effects of flavonoids on renal function in health and disease. Flavonoids have antihypertensive, antidiabetic, and antiinflammatory effects, among other therapeutic activities. Many of them also exert renoprotective actions that may be of interest in diseases such as glomerulonephritis, diabetic nephropathy, and chemically-induced kidney insufficiency. They affect several renal factors that promote diuresis and natriuresis, which may contribute to their well-known antihypertensive effect. Flavonoids prevent or attenuate the renal injury associated with arterial hypertension, both by decreasing blood pressure and by acting directly on the renal parenchyma. These outcomes derive from their interference with multiple signaling pathways known to produce renal injury and are independent of their blood pressure-lowering effects. Oral administration of flavonoids prevents or ameliorates adverse effects on the kidney of elevated fructose consumption, high fat diet, and types I and 2 diabetes. These compounds attenuate the hyperglycemia-disrupted renal endothelial barrier function, urinary microalbumin excretion, and glomerular hyperfiltration that results from a reduction of podocyte injury, a determinant factor for albuminuria in diabetic nephropathy. Several flavonoids have shown renal protective effects against many nephrotoxic agents that frequently cause acute kidney injury (AKI) or chronic kidney disease (CKD), such as LPS, gentamycin, alcohol, nicotine, lead or cadmium. Flavonoids also improve cisplatin- or methotrexate-induced renal damage, demonstrating important actions in chemotherapy, anticancer and renoprotective effects. A beneficial prophylactic effect of flavonoids has been also observed against AKI induced by surgical procedures such as ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) or cardiopulmonary bypass. In several murine models of CKD, impaired kidney function was significantly improved by the administration of flavonoids from different sources, alone or in combination with stem cells. In humans, cocoa flavanols were found to have vasculoprotective effects in patients on hemodialysis. Moreover, flavonoids develop antitumor activity against renal carcinoma cells with no toxic effects on normal cells, suggesting a potential therapeutic role in patients with renal carcinoma.

Scandoside Exerts Anti-Inflammatory Effect Via Suppressing NF-κB and MAPK Signaling Pathways in LPS-Induced RAW 264.7 Macrophages

The iridoids of Hedyotis diffusa Willd play an important role in the anti-inflammatory process, but the specific iridoid with anti-inflammatory effect and its mechanism has not be thoroughly studied. An iridoid compound named scandoside (SCA) was isolated from H. diffusa and its anti-inflammatory effect was investigated in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced RAW 264.7 macrophages. Its anti-inflammatory mechanism was confirmed by in intro experiments and molecular docking analyses. As results, SCA significantly decreased the productions of nitric oxide (NO), prostaglandin E₂ (PGE₂), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) and inhibited the levels of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), TNF-α and IL-6 messenger RNA (mRNA) expression in LPS-induced RAW 264.7 macrophages. SCA treatment suppressed the phosphorylation of inhibitor of nuclear transcription factor kappa-B alpaha (IκB-α), p38, extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK). The docking data suggested that SCA had great binding abilities to COX-2, iNOS and IκB. Taken together, the results indicated that the anti-inflammatory effect of SCA is due to inhibition of pro-inflammatory cytokines and mediators via suppressing the nuclear transcription factor kappa-B (NF-κB) and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathways, which provided useful information for its application and development.

Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Mediates the Protective Effect of the Dipeptidyl Peptidase IV Inhibitor on Renal Fibrosis via Reducing the Phenotypic Conversion of Renal Microvascular Cells in Monocrotaline-Treated Rats

Chronic kidney diseases are characterized by renal fibrosis with excessive matrix deposition, leading to a progressive loss of functional renal parenchyma and, eventually, renal failure. Renal microcirculation lesions, including the phenotypic conversion of vascular cells, contribute to renal fibrosis. Here, renal microcirculation lesions were established with monocrotaline (MCT, 60 mg/kg). Sitagliptin (40 mg/kg/d), a classical dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitor, attenuated the renal microcirculation lesions by inhibiting glomerular tuft hypertrophy, glomerular mesangial expansion, and microvascular thrombosis. These effects of sitagliptin were mediated by glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor (GLP-1R), since they were blocked by the GLP-1R antagonist exendin-3 (Ex-3, 40 ug/kg/d). The GLP-1R agonist liraglutide showed a similar renal protective effect in a dose-independent manner. In addition, sitagliptin, as well as liraglutide, alleviated the MCT-induced apoptosis of renal cells by increasing the expression of survival factor glucose-regulated protein 78 (GRP78), which was abolished by the GLP-1R antagonist Ex-3. Sitagliptin and liraglutide also effectively ameliorated the conversion of vascular smooth muscle cells (SMCs) from a synthetic phenotype to contractile phenotype. Moreover, sitagliptin and liraglutide inhibited endothelial-mesenchymal transition (EndMT) via downregulating transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1). Collectively, these findings suggest that DPP-4 inhibition can reduce microcirculation lesion-induced renal fibrosis in a GLP-1-dependent manner.

Metabolic regulations of a decoction of Hedyotis diffusa in acute liver injury of mouse models

Background

Dysfunctional metabolisms are contributed to LPS/GALN-induced hepatitis. However, whether Hedyotis diffusa (HD) employs metabolic strategies against hepatitis is unknown.

Methods

We use the cytokines expression, levels of serum alanine transaminase and aspartate transaminase, survival and histological analysis to measure the effect of decoction of HD on acute severe hepatitis of mouse induced by LPS/GALN. Meanwhile, we utilize GC/MS-based metabolomics to characterize the variation of metabolomes.

Results

The present study shows the relieving liver damage in HD decoction-treated mice. Metabolic category using differential metabolites indicates the lower percentage of carbohydrates in LPS/GALN + HD group than LPS/GALN group, revealing the value of carbohydrate metabolism in HD decoction-administrated mouse liver. Further pathway enrichment analysis proposes that citrate cycle, galactose metabolism, and starch and sucrose metabolism are three important carbohydrate metabolisms that involve in the protective effect of decoction of HD during acute hepatitis. Furthermore, other important enrichment pathways are biosynthesis of unsaturated fatty acids, alanine, aspartate and glutamate metabolism, and arginine and proline metabolism. Fatty acids or amino acids involved in above-mentioned pathways are also detected in high loading distribution on IC01 and IC02, thereby manifesting the significance of these metabolites. Other key metabolites detect in ICA analysis were cholesterol, lactic acid and tryptophan.

Conclusions

The variation tendency of above-mentioned metabolites is totally consistent with the protective nature of decoction of HD. These findings give a viewpoint that HD decoction-effected metabolic strategies are linked to underlying mechanisms of decoction of HD and highlight the importance of metabolic mechanisms against hepatitis.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1186/s13020-017-0159-4) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Iridoid glycosides fraction from Picrorhiza kurroa attenuates cyclophosphamide-induced renal toxicity and peripheral neuropathy via PPAR-γ mediated inhibition of inflammation and apoptosis

BACKGROUND

Picrorhiza kurroa Royle (Scrophulariaceae) is an important medicinal herb being widely used in variety of ailments.

PURPOSE

The present study was envisaged to evaluate the effects of iridoid glycosides enriched fraction (IGs) from Picrorhiza kurroa rhizome against cyclophosphamide (CP) -induced renal toxicity and peripheral neuropathy.

METHODS

Mice in different groups were pretreated with 25, 50 and 100 mg/kg; p.o. doses of IGs for 21 days, followed by cyclophosphamide intoxication for consecutive two days. Further, to identify the putative role of PPAR-γ receptors for the protective effect of IGs, an additional group of mice were pretreated with PPAR-γ antagonist BADGE (5 mg/kg; i.p.) followed by IGs (100 mg/kg; p.o.) for 21 days before CP intoxication.

RESULTS

IGs pretreatment decreased the hyperalgesic responses toward acetone and heat in acetone drop and tail immersion tests. The abolition of intramyelin odema, cytoplasmic vacuolization and axonal degeneration of sciatic nerve were observed in IGs pretreated mice in a dose-dependent manner. IGs treatment also attenuated the altered serum biochemical markers for renal injury. Furthermore, the treatment prevented renal tubular swelling, granular degeneration and glomerular damage. The levels of IL-1β and TNFα in different group revealed the anti-inflammatory effect of IGs, which was further confirmed by improvement in altered expressions of NF-kB in kidney and sciatic serve. Bax/Bcl-2 expressions and caspase 3/9 activity in renal tissues showed the anti-apoptotic effect of IGs. IGs pretreatment also improved the PPAR-γ expression in the kidney tissues. All the observed protective effects of IGs were suppressed after pretreatment with BADGE.

CONCLUSION

Present study concludes that IGs from Picrorhiza kurroa attenuates CP-induced renal toxicity and peripheral neuropathy via PPAR-γ -mediated pathways.

The Antitumor Constituents from Hedyotis Diffusa Willd

As a TCM, Hedyotis diffusa Willd. has been using to treat malignant tumors, and many studies also showed that the extracts from Hedyotis diffusa Willd. possessed evident antitumor activities. Therefore, we carried out chemical study on Hedyotis diffusa Willd. and investigated the cytotoxicity of the obtained compounds on a panel of eight tumor cell lines. As a result, four new compounds were isolated from Hedyotis diffusa Willd., including three iridoid glycosides of Shecaoiridoidside A–C (1–3) and a cerebroside of shecaocerenoside A (4). Also, six known iridoid compounds (5–10) were also obtained. The cytotoxicity of all compounds against human tumor cell lines of HL-60, HeLa, HCT15, A459, HepG2, PC-3, CNE-2, and BCG-823 were also evaluated in vitro. New compound 3 exhibited evident cytotoxicity to all tumor cell lines except the Hela, and the IC₅₀ values are from 9.6 µM to 62.2 µM, while new compound 4 showed moderate cytotoxicity to all the cell lines, and the IC₅₀ values are from 33.6 µM to 89.3 µM. By contrast, new compound 1 and known compound 9 showed moderate cytotoxicity to HCT15, A459, and HepG2 selectively. Known compound 7 also exhibited moderate cytotoxicity to HCT15 and A459 selectively.

Iridoids and sfingolipids from Hedyotis diffusa

Seven new compounds were isolated from the aerial part of Hedyotis diffusa, including three iridoid glycosides, hedyoiridoidside A - C (1-3), two cerebrosides, hedyocerenoside F (4) and G (5), and two new ceramides, hedyoceramide A (6) and B (7). And six known iridoid glycosides (8-13) were also obtained. Their structures were established by their physico-chemical constants and spectroscopic analysis. The cytotoxicity of all compounds against tumor cell lines of human cervical cancer HeLa, human leukemia HL-60, human lung cancer A459, human hepatoma HepG2, human gastric gland carcinoma BCG-823, human nasopharyngeal cancer CNE-2, human colon cancer HCT15, and human prostate cancer PC-3 were also evaluated in vitro. As a result, new compound 1 exhibited evident cytotoxicity to all tumor cell lines, and the IC₅₀ values are from 9.5μM to 28.2μM, while new compound 2 exhibited evident cytotoxicity to Hela, HL-60, A459, HepG2, BGC-823, CNE-2, and HCT15, and the IC₅₀ values are from 15.8μM to 26.2μM. Known compound 11 also exhibited evident cytotoxicity to HL-60, A459, HepG2, BGC-823, CNE-2, and HCT15, and the IC₅₀ values are from 16.5μM to 40.4μM. New compounds 4-7 and known compounds 12 and 13 showed moderate cytotoxicity to some tumor cell lines.

Glycoproteins and Polysaccharides are the Main Class of Active Constituents Required for Lymphocyte Stimulation and Antigen-Specific Immune Response Induction by Traditional Medicinal Herbal Plants

Traditional herbal remedies stimulate and modulate the immune system, and it is thought that their glycoproteins and polysaccharides are responsible for this activity. We prepared crude water, protein, and polysaccharide extracts from Atractylodes macrocephala Koidz, Helianthus annuus L., Scutellaria barbata D. Don, and Hedyotis diffusa Willd, respectively, and compared their immune-stimulating activities in vitro and in vivo. All protein and polysaccharide samples of the plants led to greater lymphocyte proliferation and TNF-α and IL-6 production in cultured splenocytes than did the crude water extracts at the same concentrations tested. In addition, the protein and polysaccharide samples did not contain lectin- or lipopolysaccharide-like molecules, so glycoproteins were deduced to be responsible for the lymphocyte stimulation. Oral administration with each of the samples enhanced the hen egg-white lysozyme (HEL)-specific humoral immune and lymphocyte proliferative responses in HEL low-responder C57BL/6 mice. Splenocytes from the mice fed the samples showed significantly greater increases in the level of IFN-γ, but not IL-4, after stimulation with HEL compared with that from the untreated control. However, higher increases in HEL-specific IgG1, IgG2b, and IgG3 rather than IgG2a were found in the mice fed the samples. These results indicate that the sample-mediated enhancement of anti-HEL-specific humoral immune responses was due to the stimulation of B lymphocytes rather than a selective priming of helper T cell populations. Collectively, we suggest that glycoproteins and/or polysaccharides of traditional herbal remedies enhance cellular and humoral immune response induction and thus could be useful for patients who need enhanced immune function.

The anti-tumor effect and bioactive phytochemicals of Hedyotis diffusa willd on ovarian cancer cells

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Hedyotis diffusa willd (HDW) is a widely used medicinal herb in China. It processed various medicinal properties including antioxidative, anti-inflamatory and anti-cancer effects. This study aimed to investigate the anti-tumor effects of HDW on ovarian cancer cells and the underlying mechanisms as well as identify the bioactive compounds.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Effects of HDW on the viability of ovarian cancer A2780 cells were detected by MTT assay. Apoptosis was detected by cell morphologic observation through DAPI staining and flow cytometry analysis. The migration of ovarian cancer cells which exposed to HDW were detected by wound healing and transwell assays. The protein levels of caspase 3/9, Bcl-2 and MMP-2/9 in human ovarian cancer cells treated with HDW were assessed by western blotting analysis. The potential bioactive compounds were characterized by HPLC-Q-TOF-MS.

RESULTS

HDW significantly inhibited the growth of A2780 ovarian cancer cells and induced apoptosis. The induction of apoptosis by HDW was associated with down-regulation of anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2 and the activation of caspase 3/9. Wound healing and transwell chamber assays indicated HDW suppressed the migration of ovarian cancer cells. HDW dramatically decreased MMP-2/9 expression. A HPLC-Q-TOF-MS analysis of HDW indicated the presence of 13 flavonoids compounds and one anthraquinone compound, which may contribute to the anticancer activity of the HDW.

CONCLUSIONS

HDW effectively restricted the growth of ovarian cancer cells and induced apoptosis through the mitochondria-associated apoptotic pathway. Furthermore, HDW suppressed the migration of ovarian cancer cells through down-regulation of MMP-2 and MMP-9 expression. These results showed that HDW hold potential therapeutic effect for ovarian cancer patients.

Chemical Analysis of Dietary Constituents in Rosa roxburghii and Rosa sterilis Fruits

Both Rosa roxburghii and R. sterilis, belonging to the Rosaceae, are endemic species in Guizhou Province, China. The fruits of these two species are mixed-used as functional food in the region. Aiming to elucidate the phytochemical characteristics of R. roxburghii and R. sterilis fruits, the essential oils and constituents in a methanol extract have been analyzed and compared by GC-MS and UFLC/Q-TOF-MS, respectively. As a result, a total of 135 volatile compounds were identified by GC-MS and 91 components were different between R. roxburghii and R. sterilis fruits; a total of 59 compounds in methanol extracts were identified by UFLC/Q-TOF-MS, including 13 organic acids, 12 flavonoids, 11 triterpenes, nine amino acids, five phenylpropanoid derivatives, four condensed tannins, two stilbenes, two benzaldehyde derivatives and one benzoic acid derivative; and nine characteristic compounds were found between R. roxburghii and R. sterilis fruits. This systematic study plays an important role for R. roxburghii and R. sterilis fruits in the product development.

The Hedyotis diffusa Willd. (Rubiaceae): A Review on Phytochemistry, Pharmacology, Quality Control and Pharmacokinetics

Hedyotis diffusa Willd (H. diffusa) is a well-known Chinese medicine with a variety of activities, especially its anti-cancer effect in the clinic. Up to now, 171 compounds have been reported from H. diffusa, including 32 iridoids, 26 flavonoids, 24 anthraquinones, 26 phenolics and their derivatives, 50 volatile oils and 13 miscellaneous compounds. In vitro and in vivo studies show these phytochemicals and plant extracts to exhibit a range of pharmacological activities of anti-cancer, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-fibroblast, immunomodulatory and neuroprotective effects. Although a series of methods have been established for the quality control of H. diffusa, a feasible and reliable approach is still needed in consideration of its botanical origin, collecting time and bioactive effects. Meanwhile, more pharmacokinetics researches are needed to illustrate the characteristics of H. diffusa in vivo. The present review aims to provide up-to-date and comprehensive information on the phytochemistry, pharmacology, quality control and pharmacokinetic characteristics of H. diffusa for its clinical use and further development.