Neuroprotective and Cytotoxic Phthalides from Angelicae Sinensis Radix

Triangesinenolides A-C: Trimeric Phthalides with Anti-Renal Fibrosis Potential from Angelica sinensis

Trimeric phthalides in nature are rarely reported. This research successfully isolated three novel trimeric phthalides, triangesinenolides A-C (1-3), from Angelica sinensis. These compounds, derived from Z-ligustilide via diverse linkage patterns, display intricate polycyclic skeletons. Their structures were confirmed by spectroscopic and crystallographic analyses. Unlike previously identified trimeric phthalides, triangesinenolide C (3) is the first trimeric phthalide synthesized via [2 + 2]/[4 + 2] cycloaddition. In vitro assays evaluated the anti-renal fibrosis activity of trimeric phthalides for the first time.

Structural diversity, biological activities and biosynthetic pathways of [2 + 2] and [4 + 2] amide alkaloid dimers from Piperaceae: An updated review

The Piperaceae family is distributed widely in tropical and subtropical areas. It encompasses around 5 genera and over 3000 species. They are distinguished by the substantial chemical diversity and potential medicinal applications. Amide alkaloids, as the main secondary metabolites in the Piperaceae family, exhibit various biological activities, and the discovery of [2 + 2] and [4 + 2] amide alkaloid dimers has led to a surge in phytochemical research on Piperaceae plants. Although the identification of these dimers has been gradually increasing in recent years, there remains a lack of comprehensive and systematic evaluations of these compounds. This review aims to summarize the latest advancements in the research on natural amide alkaloid dimers, focusing on their structural diversity, biological activities and biosynthetic pathways, and the enzymatic advances of [2 + 2] and [4 + 2] cyclase enzymes. Until October 2024, research has documented 99 amide alkaloid dimers, including 37 dimers possessing [2 + 2] cyclobutanes skeletons and 62 [4 + 2] cyclohexene skeletons derived from the Piperaceae family. These compounds demonstrate a range of in vitro biological activities including anti-inflammatory, anticancer, acetylcholinesterase inhibitory, anti-platelet aggregation, hepatoprotective, antimalarial, antitubercular, anti-diabetic and notable interactions with CYP3A4 and CYP2D6 enzymes. A systematic review of these [2 + 2] and [4 + 2] amide alkaloid dimers in Piperaceae family can provide a critical scientific foundation and theoretical support for the discovery and development of novel pharmaceutical agents.

Siwu decoction mitigates radiation-induced immune senescence by attenuating hematopoietic damage

BACKGROUND

To investigate the long term effects of ionizing radiation (IR) on hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells (HSPCs), immune tissues and cells, and the effects of Siwu decoction (SWD) on immune senescence mice.

METHODS

C57BL/6 J mice were exposed to 6.0 Gy 60Co γ irradiation. After 8-weeks of IR, SWD (5, 10, 20 g/kg/d) was administered for 30 days. The changes of HSPCs in bone marrow (BM) and T, B type lymphocyte and natural killer (NK) cells in spleen were detected by flow cytometry. The changes of peripheral blood cells were also examined. Hematoxylin-eosin staining were used to detect the pathological lesions of hippocampus, spleen and thymus tissues. Absolute mouse telomere length quantification qPCR assay kit was used to measure the telomere length of BM cells. The expression of factors associated with inflammation and aging such as p16, β-galactosidase in spleen, thymus and BM was determined.

RESULTS

Administration of SWD could increase the proportion of LSK (Lin-, Sca-1 + , c-Kit-), multipotent progenitor cells and multipotent progenitor cells and decrease the proportion of common myeloid progenitors and granulocyte-macrophage progenitors in BM. The proportion of B cells and NK cells in spleen and the content of white blood cells, red blood cells, hemoglobin, lymphocytes and eosinophils in peripheral blood were increased, at the same time, the proportion of neutrophils and monocytes was reduced by SWD. The pathological lesions of hippocampus, spleen and thymus were improved. The expression of p16 and β-galactosidase in spleen, thymus and BM was reduced and shortening of the telomere of BM cells was inhibited after administration. In addition, SWD could reduce the content of Janus activated kinase (JAK) 1, JAK2 and signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) in BM and spleen.

CONCLUSIONS

SWD could slow down IR-induced immune senescence by improving hematopoietic and immunologic injury. SWD might reduce the inflammation level of BM hematopoietic microenvironment by acting on JAK/STAT signaling pathway, while the immune damage of mice was improved by affecting the differentiation of HSPCs. The remission of hematopoietic and immunologic senescence was further demonstrated at the overall level.

Structurally diverse phthalides from fibrous roots of Ligusticum chuanxiong Hort. and their biological activities

Falonolide A (1) and B (2), two novel polyyne hybrid phthalides resulting from unprecedented carbon skeleton polymerized by Z-ligustilide and falcarindiol, along with six new related phthalides (3-8), were isolated from Ligusticum chuanxiong Hort. Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic analysis, computer-assisted structure elucidation (CASE) analysis, DP4+ probability analysis and electronic circular dichroism (ECD) calculations. A plausible biosynthetic pathway for 1-8 was proposed, and the production mechanism of 2 was revealed by density functional theory (DFT) method. Compounds 4 and 6 exhibited significant vasodilatory activity with EC50 of 8.00 ± 0.86 and 6.92 ± 1.02 μM, respectively. Compound 4 also displayed significant inhibitory effect of NO production with EC50 value of 8.82 ± 0.30 μM. Based on the established compounds library, structure-activity relationship analysis of phthalides was explored to provide insights into the drug development of vasodilators and anti-flammatory.

Research Progress in Pharmacological Effects and Mechanisms of Angelica sinensis against Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Diseases

Angelica sinensis (Oliv.) Diels (A. sinensis) is a medicinal and edible values substance, which could promote blood circulation and enrich blood. It possesses rich chemical components and nutrients, which have significant therapeutic effects on cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. It is commonly used for the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases in the elderly, especially in improving ischemic damage to the heart and brain, protecting vascular cells, and regulating inflammatory reactions. This article reviews the main pharmacological effects and clinical research of A. sinensis on cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases in recent years, explores the effect of its chemical components on cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases by regulating the expression of functional proteins and inhibiting inflammation, anti-apoptosis, and antioxidant mechanisms. It provides a reference for further research on A. sinensis and the development of related drugs. It provides a new reference direction for the in-depth research and application of A. sinensis in the prevention, improvement, and treatment of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases.

Treating Narcolepsy With Traditional Chinese Medicine

Narcolepsy is an uncommon brain condition characterized by falling asleep suddenly without any proper reason or time. In this chapter, the authors include a brief history of narcolepsy, clinical symptoms, pathophysiology, and current treatments for the disease. The review explains narcolepsy according to the theory of TCM. The authors review the curative effect, pharmacological properties, and clinical results of herbs and prescriptions against narcolepsy. The study searched keywords such as ‘narcolepsy,' ‘Traditional Chinese medicine,' ‘sleep disorder,' ‘excessive sleepiness,' and ‘medicinal treatment' using databases such as CNKI, PubMed, and Google Scholar. Based on the analysis of data obtained from 110 articles, the authors have classified the herbs and prescriptions by their curative effects, following the theory of traditional Chinese medicine. Some herbs can be used alone, while others can use in conjunction with other prescriptions.

Angelica sinensis extract induces telomere dysfunction, cell cycle arrest, and mitochondria-mediated apoptosis in human glioblastoma cells

Glioblastoma (GB) is one of the most aggressive and malignant tumors of the central nervous system. Conventional treatment for GB requires surgical resection followed by radiotherapy combined with temozolomide chemotherapy; however, the median survival time is only 12-15 months. Angelica sinensis Radix (AS) is commonly used as a traditional medicinal herb or a food/dietary supplement in Asia, Europe, and North America. This study aimed to investigate the effect of AS-acetone extract (AS-A) on the progression of GB and the potential mechanisms underlying its effects. The results indicated that AS-A used in this study showed potency in growth inhibition of GB cells and reduction of telomerase activity. In addition, AS-A blocked the cell cycle at the G₀/G₁ phase by regulating the expression of p53 and p16. Furthermore, apoptotic morphology, such as chromatin condensation, DNA fragmentation, and apoptotic bodies, was observed in AS-A-treated cells, induced by the activation of the mitochondria-mediated pathway. In an animal study, AS-A reduced tumor volume and prolonged lifespans of mice, with no significant changes in body weight or obvious organ toxicity. This study confirmed the anticancer effects of AS-A by inhibiting cell proliferation, reducing telomerase activity, altering cell cycle progression, and inducing apoptosis. These findings suggest that AS-A has great potential for development as a novel agent or dietary supplement against GB.

Levistolide A ameliorates fibrosis in chronic kidney disease via modulating multitarget actions in vitro and in vivo

AIMS

The increasing incidence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) urgently calls for effective nephroprotective agents. Traditional Chinese Medicine Angelica sinensis and its formula are well known for CKD therapy, but the underlying mechanisms and effective substances of reno-protective effects remain unclear. To this end, we isolated eleven ligustilide dimers (1-11) from A. sinensis and examined the molecular mechanism of their nephroprotective effects.

MAIN METHODS

Because of internal RAS playing an important role in CKD, we used renin expression as a target and screened preliminarily for antifibrotic effects of ligustilide dimers (1-11) by constructing a dual luciferase reporter gene in vitro. Furthermore, the reno-protective effects of the ligustilides and their underlying mechanism were investigated in TGF-β1-stimulated HK-2 cells and 5/6 nephrectomy (Nx) mice.

KEY FINDINGS

The ligustilide dimers exhibited anti-fibrotic effects by inhibiting human renin (hREN) promoter activity to decrease renin expression and down-regulate the expression of fibrosis-related factors, including α-SMA, collagen I, and fibronectin in vitro. Levistolide A (LA) and angeolide keto ester (AK) were screened out to identify their ability and underlying mechanism for treating CKD. Experimental validation further indicated that LA or AK treatment inhibited the expression of key molecules in RAS, TGF-β1/Smad, and MAPK pathways to downregulate ECM deposition. Furthermore, LA obviously meliorated renal injury in 5/6 Nx mice through ameliorating oxidant stress, inflammation, apoptosis and renal fibrosis.

SIGNIFICANCE

The experimental results demonstrated that ligustilide dimers were potential nephroprotective agents. LA might be an attractive drug candidate for renin-targeted CKD therapy.

[2 + 2]-Cycloaddition-derived cyclobutane natural products: structural diversity, sources, bioactivities, and biomimetic syntheses

This review summarizes the structural diversity, bioactivities, and biomimetic synthesis of [2 + 2]-type cyclobutane natural products, along with discussion of their biosynthesis, stereochemical analysis, racemic occurrence, and biomimetic synthesis.

Comparison of Volatile Oil between the Ligusticum sinese Oliv. and Ligusticum jeholense Nakai et Kitag. Based on GC-MS and Chemical Pattern Recognition Analysis

Ligustici Rhizoma et Radix (LReR) is the dried rhizomes and roots of Ligusticum sinese Oliv. (LS) or Ligusticum jeholense Nakai et Kitag. (LJ). However, in the market, LS and LJ are frequently confused with each other. Since the volatile oils are both the main active components and quality control indicators of LReR, a strategy combining gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and chemical pattern recognition (CPR) was used to compare the volatile components of LJ and LS. Total ion chromatography (TIC) revealed that phthalides (i.e., neocnidilide) and phenylpropanoids (i.e., myristicin) could be thought of as the most critical components in the volatile oils of LJ and LS, respectively. In addition, the chemical components of the volatile oils in LJ and LS were successfully distinguished by hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) and principal component analysis (PCA). Moreover, two quality markers, including myristicin and neocnidilide, with a very high discriminative value for the classification of LJ and LS, were found by orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA). The relative contents of myristicin and neocnidilide were 10.86 ± 6.18% and 26.43 ± 19.63% for LJ, and 47.43 ± 12.66% and 2.87 ± 2.31% for LS. In conclusion, this research has developed an effective approach to discriminating LJ and LS based on volatile oils by combining GC-MS with chemical pattern recognition analysis.

Six pairs of enantiomeric phthalide dimers from the rhizomes of Ligusticum chuanxiong and their absolute configurations and anti-inflammatory activities

Six pairs of enantiomeric phthalide dimers (1-6) were isolated from the rhizomes of Ligusticum chuanxiong. Their structures and absolute configurations were elucidated by NMR spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction analyses, and electronic circular dichroism calculations. Compounds (+)-1 and (-)-1 are new phthalide dimers, featuring two classes of monomeric units (a phthalide and an unusual 2,3-seco-phthalide) with an uncommon linkage (3,6'/8,3'a). Compounds (+)-2 and (-)-3 are also novel phthalide dimers that had not been reported previously. Although (-)-2 and (+)-3 have been successfully isolated in previous studies, their absolute configurations were not unambiguously determined. As for compound 4, it was reported as a racemate in one study, and one of its enantiomers was identified in a subsequent study. Herein, all enantiomeric phthalide dimers were successfully separated, and their absolute configurations were determined. The inhibitory effects of all isolates against lipopolysaccharide-induced nitric oxide production were tested using RAW264.7 cells. The results show that compounds (+)-2, (-)-2, (+)-3, (-)-3, (+)-4, (-)-4, (+)-5, (+)-6, and (-)-6 have inhibitory activities, with compound (+)-5 being the most active (IC₅₀ value of 4.3 ± 1.3 μM).

Isoindolines and phthalides from the rhizomes of Ligusticum chuanxiong and their relaxant effects on the uterine smooth muscle

Three undescribed isoindoline alkaloids, (+)-(R)-3-butyl-3-ethoxyisoindolin-1-one, (+)-(3S,6S,7R)-3-butyl-6,7-dihydroxy-3-methoxy-4,5,6,7-tetrahydroisoindolin-1-one, and (-)-(3R,6S,7R)-3-butyl-6,7-dihydroxy-3-methoxy-4,5,6,7-tetrahydroisoindolin-1-one, along with nine known phthalides were isolated from a water decoction of the rhizomes of Ligusticum chuanxiong using chromatographic methods. Their structures and absolute configurations were determined by extensive spectroscopic analyses and ECD data calculations. The relaxant effects of the isolated compounds on uterine contractions induced by oxytocin were investigated using a rat uterine smooth muscle contraction model. Furthermore, the effects of riligustilide on extracellular Ca²⁺ influx and intracellular Ca²⁺ release were assessed using high-KCl solution-induced and oxytocin-induced uterine smooth muscle contraction in a Ca²⁺-free balanced salt solution. The results showed that all the tested phthalides had inhibitory effects on oxytocin-induced uterine smooth muscle contraction. Riligustilide, a phthalide dimer, was the most active. Further examinations indicated that riligustilide reduced uterine smooth muscle contraction by inhibiting extracellular Ca²⁺ influx and intracellular Ca²⁺ release.

Recent advances in natural phthalides: Distribution, chemistry, and biological activities

Phthalides, an important class of bioactive natural products, are widely distributed in plants, fungi, lichens, and liverworts. Amon them, n-butylphthalide, a phthalide monomer, has been approved to cure ischemic stroke. Owing to their good bioactivities in anti-microbial, anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, anti-diabetic, and other aspects, a large number of researches have been conducted on phthalides from nature materials. In recent years, hundreds of novel natural phthalides were obtained. This review provides profiles of the advances in the distribution, chemistry, and biological activities of natural phthalides in 2016-2022.

Antioxidative role of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Parkinson's disease

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Neuroprotective Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has been practiced in alternative medicine from early days. TCM-derived neuroprotective compounds, such as Chrysin, Cannabidiol, Toonasinoids, and β-asaron, exert significant effectiveness's towards Parkinson's disease (PD). Further, these neuroprotective TCM showed antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, anti-septic, analgesic properties. Recent research showed that the reduction in the reactive oxygen species (ROS) decreased the α-synuclein (α-syn) toxicity and enhanced the dopaminergic neuron regenerations, the main hallmarks of PD. Therefore, the neuroprotective effects of novel TCM due to its antiradical activities needed deep investigations.

AIMS OF THE STUDY

This review aims to enlighten the neuroprotective TCM and its components with their antioxidative properties to the scientific community for future research.

METHOD

The relevant information on the neuroprotective TCM was gathered from scientific databases (PubMed, Web of Science, Google Scholar, ScienceDirect, SciFinder, Wiley Online Library, ACS Publications, and CNKI). Information was also gained from MS and Ph.D. thesis, books, and online databases. The literature cited in this review dates from 2001 to June 2, 0201.

RESULTS

Novel therapies for PD are accessible, mostly rely on Rivastigmine and Donepezil, offers to slow down the progression of disease at an early stage but embraces lots of disadvantages. Researchers are trying to find a potential drug against PD, which is proficient at preventing or curing the disease progress, but still needed to be further identified. Oxidative insult and mitochondrial dysfunction are thought to be the main culprit of neurodegenerations. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are the only causative agent in all interactions, leading to PD, from mitochondrial dysfunctions, α-syn aggregative toxicity, and DA neurons degenerations. It is evident from the redox balance, which seems an imperative therapeutic approach against PD and was necessary for the significant neuronal activities.

CONCLUSION

Our study is explaining the newly discovered TCM and their neuroprotective and antioxidative properties. But also bring up the possible treatment approaches against PD for future researchers.

Dismantling Parkinson's disease with herbs: MAO-B inhibitory activity and quantification of chemical constituents using HPLC-MS/MS of Egyptian local market plants

Withania somnifera, Angelica sinensis, Glycyrrhiza glabra, and Simmondsia chinensis were acquired from the Egyptian market, profiled for their chemical constituents, screened for the in-vitro MAO-B inhibitory activity and evaluated for the total phenolic content. Thirty compounds were characterized in the selected herbs using HPLC-MS/MS. In-vitro MAO-B inhibitory activity and total phenolic content of the acquired herbs were compared with those of a prepared herbal formula consisting of a mixture of equal amounts of the four mentioned herbs. The most potent MAO-B inhibitory activity was exerted by the methanol extract of the prepared formula (IC₅₀ of 712.19 ± 13.90 ng/mL) compared to selegiline (IC₅₀ of 581.69 ± 11.35 ng/mL). The highest value of the total phenolic content was shown by Angelica sinensis methanolic extract (76.15 ± 0.1 mg/g) followed by Glycyrrhiza glabra methanolic extract (65.74 ± 0.1 mg/g), then the mixture's methanolic extract of the four herbs (37.04 ± 0.1 mg/g).

Enhancement of cytotoxicity and induction of apoptosis by cationic nano-liposome formulation of n-butylidenephthalide in breast cancer cells

Breast cancer is the second most common malignancy in women. Current clinical therapy for breast cancer has many disadvantages, including metastasis, recurrence, and poor quality of life. Furthermore, it is necessary to find a new therapeutic drug for breast cancer patients to meet clinical demand. n-Butylidenephthalide (BP) is a natural and hydrophobic compound that can inhibit several tumors. However, BP is unstable in aqueous or protein-rich environments, which reduces the activity of BP. Therefore, we used an LPPC (Lipo-PEG-PEI complex) that can encapsulate both hydrophobic and hydrophilic compounds to improve the limitation of BP. The purpose of this study is to investigate the anti-tumor mechanisms of BP and BP/LPPC and further test the efficacy of BP encapsulated by LPPC on SK-BR-3 cells. BP inhibited breast cancer cell growth, and LPPC encapsulation (BP/LPPC complex) enhanced the cytotoxicity on breast cancer by stabilizing the BP activity and offering endocytic pathways. Additionally, BP and LPPC-encapsulated BP induced cell cycle arrest at the G₀/G₁ phase and might trigger both extrinsic as well as intrinsic cell apoptosis pathway, resulting in cell death. Moreover, the BP/LPPC complex had a synergistic effect with doxorubicin of enhancing the inhibitory effect on breast cancer cells. Consequently, LPPC-encapsulated BP could improve the anti-cancer effects on breast cancer in vitro. In conclusion, BP exhibited an anti-cancer effect on breast cancer cells, and LPPC encapsulation efficiently improved the cytotoxicity of BP via an acceleration of entrapment efficiency to induce cell cycle block and apoptosis. Furthermore, BP/LPPC exhibited a synergistic effect in combination with doxorubicin.

Synthesis of phthalide derivatives and evaluation on their antiplatelet aggregation and antioxidant activities

As part of our continuing efforts to discover structurally interesting bioactive phthalide derivatives, 23 of them with a structure incorporating thiophen or halogens were designed and synthesized, 17 of which are previously unreported. In vitro antiplatelet aggregation activity screening showed that 14b could significantly inhibit platelet aggregation induced by arachidonic acid, compared with edaravone (p < 0.01). Meanwhile, oxidative damage models using SH-SY5Y and PC12 cells induced by H₂O₂ were built to evaluate the antioxidant activity of the phthalide derivatives. In SH-SY5Y cells, compared with aspirin, 1a significantly increased the relative cell survival rate (p < 0.05). Compared with edaravone, 1a (p < 0.01) and 15b (p < 0.05) significantly increased the relative cell survival rate. In PC12 cells, 1a (p < 0.01), 15b (p < 0.01), and 12a (p < 0.05) remarkably increased the cell survival rate compared with edaravone. The present study identified lead structures to develop potential anti-ischemic stroke agents.

Positive Role of Chinese Herbal Medicine in Cancer Immune Regulation

Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) plays a critical role in treating cancer patients. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is the main component of CAM. TCM, especially Chinese Herbal Medicine (CHM), has been increasingly used in China, some other Asian countries and European countries. It has been proven to enhance the efficacy of chemotherapy, radiotherapy, targeted-therapy, and immunotherapy. It lessens the damage caused by these therapies. CHM functions on cancer by inhibiting tumor progression and improving an organism’s immune system. Increasing evidence has shown that many CHM exert favorable effects on the immune regulation. We will summarize the role of CHM on patient’s immune system when treating cancer patients. Our evidence reveals that single herbs, including their extracts, compound formulations, and preparations, will provide current advances on CHM study, especially from the perspective of immune regulation and novel insights for CHM application in clinic. The main herbs used to treat cancer patients are health-strengthening (Fu-Zheng) herbs and pathogen eliminating (Qu-Xie) herbs. The key mechanism is regulating the immune system of cancer patients. Firstly, health-strengthening herbs are mainly functioned as immune regulatory effectors on cancer. Secondly, some of the compound formulations mainly strengthen the health of patients by regulating the immune system of cancer patients. Lastly, some Chinese medicine preparations are widely used to treat cancer for their properties of spiriting vital energy and anti-cancer effects, mainly by improving immunity. CHM plays a positive role in regulating patients’ immune system, which helps cancer patients to fight against cancer itself and finally improves patients’ life quality.

Study on the Fingerprints and Quality Evaluation of Angelica Sinensis Radix by HPLC Coupled With Chemometrics Based on Traditional Decoction Process of ACPTCM

Objective

To establish a HPLC fingerprints evaluation method for Angelica Sinensis Radix (ASR) based on traditional decoction process of Ancient Classical Prescriptions of Traditional Chinese Medicine (ACPTCM).

Methods

The fingerprints of 10 batches of ASR were further evaluated by chemometrics methods. The similarity analyzed with "Similarity Evaluation System for Chromatographic Fingerprint of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2004A," and hierarchical clustering analysis (HCA) and principal component analysis (PCA) were performed by SPSS (version 22.0, SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA).

Results

There were 12 common peaks, and the similarity degrees of 10 batches of samples were more than 0.923 and showed that all the samples from different origins were of good consistency. The samples were divided into 4 clusters by HCA. The results of PCA showed that the 3 factors were chosen, the quality of samples could be evaluated basically. The comprehensive score results show that the ASR with Lot.Nos.DG-18007, DG-18008 in Weiyuan County, Gansu and DG-18009 produced in Minle County, Gansu Province rank among the top 3 in all samples.

Conclusions

These results demonstrated that the combination of HPLC chromatographic fingerprint and chemometrics offers an efficient and reliable approach for quality evaluation of ASR from different sources as Ancient Classical Prescriptions ingredients.

Gut bacteria of Varanus salvator possess potential antitumour molecules

Pollution, unhygienic conditions and organic waste are detrimental to human health. On the contrary, animals living in polluted environments, feeding on organic waste and exposed to noxious agents such as heavy metals must possess remarkable properties against contracting diseases. Species such as cockroaches and water monitor lizards thrive in unhygienic conditions and feed on decaying matter. Here, we investigated the antitumour properties of metabolites produced by gut bacteria isolated from Varanus salvator (Asian water monitor lizard). An adult water monitor lizard and a juvenile water monitor lizard were acquired, and dissected. Their aerobic gut bacteria were isolated and identificated through 16S rDNA sequencing. Next, bacterial conditioned media (CM) were prepared and utilised for subsequent assays. Growth inhibition, MTT 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide cell viability assay, cytotoxicity and cell survival assays were accomplished against a panel of cancer cells as well as a normal cell line. Furthermore, liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) was employed to identify potential antitumour molecules. A plethora of bacteria were isolated from the gut of juvenile and adult V. salvator respectively. Moreover, CM prepared from selected bacteria exhibited antitumour activity. Of note, LC-MS results indicated the presence of several molecules with reported antitumour activity, namely, 3-butylidene-7-hydroxyphthalide, C75, enigmol, estrone 16-oxime, proglumide and S-allyl-L-cysteine. Furthermore, 356 potentially novel molecules from juvenile V. salvator and 184 from adult V. salvator were depicted. Thus, the gut microbiota of V. salvator might be considered as a great niche of antitumour molecules; however, further in vitro and in vivo studies are needed to assess the antitumour properties of these molecules.

Research Progress on Classical Traditional Chinese Medicine Jieyu Pills in the Treatment of Depression

Depression is a common clinical psychological disease, which is called "yu zheng" in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). TCM has a long history in the treatment of depression (yu zheng), which has unique advantages. Jieyu pill (JYP), a classical TCM formula, has been widely used for treating depression because of its clear clinical efficacy, low side effects, and high compliance. In this review, we systematically introduce recent clinical and animal experimental studies on JYP and depression, and review the pharmacological mechanism and active ingredients of JYP, as well as its clinical application in depression therapy. This systematic review provides a deep understanding of TCM prescriptions, pharmacological mechanisms, and disease-medicine interactions, and lays the foundation for developing new treatments for depression.

Studying Mass Balance and the Stability of (Z)-Ligustilide from Angelica sinensis Helps to Bridge a Botanical Instability-Bioactivity Chasm

Numerous reports assigning (Z)-ligustilide (1) the role of a major bioactive principle in Apiaceae botanicals are called into question by the recurrent demonstrations of 1 being an unstable, rapidly degrading compound, ultimately leading to dynamic residual complexity. While Angelica sinensis is recognized for its therapeutic value in (peri-)menopausal symptom management, its purported active principle, 1, represents a typical example of the instability-bioactivity chasm of botanicals. To help bridge the gap, this study used both the essential oil and purified 1 obtained from A. sinensis to investigate the factors that influence the chemical transformation of 1, the products formed, and the rationale for monitoring 1 in natural product preparations. Countercurrent separation was used to purify 1 from a supercritical fluid extract of A. sinensis, achieving 93.4% purity in a single step. Subsequent purification by preparative HPLC afforded 1 with a 98.0% purity. Providing a mass balance setting, we monitored chemical changes occurring to highly purified 1 under various conditions and at different time points, in sealed NMR tubes by quantitative 1H NMR (qHNMR). The nondestructive nature of NMR enabled a comprehensive assessment of degradation products. Moreover, in being a mole-based determination, the total intensity (integral) of all NMR signals intrinsically represents the theoretical mass balance within the sample solution. The results demonstrated that 1 is most stable while within the original plant material. Exposure to light had a profound impact on the chemical transformation of 1, leading to the formation of ligustilide dimers and trimers, as verified by both NMR and LC-HRMS studies. Moreover, the results shown for 1, augmented by other recent outcomes, have serious implications for the meaningful biological evaluation of NPs that exhibit instability/reactivity, while having a plethora of "promising" bioactivities reported in the literature and being frequently associated with unsubstantiated health claims.

Biologically active metabolite(s) from haemolymph of red-headed centipede Scolopendra subspinipes possess broad spectrum antibacterial activity

The discovery of novel antimicrobials from animal species under pollution is an area untapped. Chinese red-headed centipede is one of the hardiest arthropod species commonly known for its therapeutic value in traditional Chinese medicine. Here we determined the antibacterial activity of haemolymph and tissue extracts of red-headed centipede, Scolopendra subspinipes against a panel of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. Lysates exhibited potent antibacterial activities against a broad range of bacteria tested. Chemical characterization of biologically active molecules was determined via liquid chromatography mass spectrometric analysis. From crude haemolymph extract, 12 compounds were identified including: (1) L-Homotyrosine, (2) 8-Acetoxy-4-acoren-3-one, (3) N-Undecylbenzenesulfonic acid, (4) 2-Dodecylbenzenesulfonic acid, (5) 3H-1,2-Dithiole-3-thione, (6) Acetylenedicarboxylate, (7) Albuterol, (8) Tetradecylamine, (9) Curcumenol, (10) 3-Butylidene-7-hydroxyphthalide, (11) Oleoyl Ethanolamide and (12) Docosanedioic acid. Antimicrobial activities of the identified compounds were reported against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, fungi, viruses and parasites, that possibly explain centipede's survival in harsh and polluted environments. Further research in characterization, molecular mechanism of action and in vivo testing of active molecules is needed for the development of novel antibacterials.

Antitumor Effect of n-Butylidenephthalide Encapsulated on B16/F10 Melanoma Cells In Vitro with a Polycationic Liposome Containing PEI and Polyethylene Glycol Complex

Advanced melanoma can metastasize to distal organs from the skin and yield an aggressive disease and poor prognosis even after treatment with chemotherapeutic agents. The compound n-Butylidenephthalide (BP) is isolated from Angelica sinensis, which is used to treat anemia and gynecological dysfunction in traditional Chinese medicine. Studies have indicated that BP can inhibit cancers, including brain, lung, prostate, liver, and colon cancers. However, because BP is a natural hydrophobic compound, it is quickly metabolized by the liver within 24 h, and thus has limited potential for development in cancer therapy. This study investigated the anticancer mechanisms of BP through encapsulation with a novel polycationic liposome containing polyethylenimine (PEI) and polyethylene glycol complex (LPPC) in melanoma cells. The results demonstrated that BP/LPPC had higher cytotoxicity than BP alone and induced cell cycle arrest at the G₀/G₁ phase in B16/F10 melanoma cells. The BP/LPPC-treated cell indicated an increase in subG₁ percentage and TUNEL positive apoptotic morphology through induction of extrinsic and intrinsic apoptosis pathways. The combination of BP and LPPC and clinical drug 5-Fluorouracil had a greater synergistic inhibition effect than did a single drug. Moreover, LPPC encapsulation improved the uptake of BP values through enhancement of cell endocytosis and maintained BP cytotoxicity activity within 24 h. In conclusion, BP/LPPC can inhibit growth of melanoma cells and induce cell arrest and apoptosis, indicating that BP/LPPC has great potential for development of melanoma therapy agents.

Phthalide derivatives from Ligusticum chuanxiong

Eleven new phthalide derivatives (1–11) have been isolated from the rhizome of Ligusticum chuanxiong.

Divergent syntheses of iodinated isobenzofuranones and isochromenones by iodolactonization of 2-alkynylbenzoic acids in ionic liquids

2-Alkynylbenzoic acids can be divergently iodocyclized to either isobenzofuranones or isochromenones by changing the nature of the ionic liquid medium.