Modulatory Effect of Guinep (Melicoccus bijugatus Jacq) Fruit Pulp Extract on Isoproterenol-Induced Myocardial Damage in Rats. Identification of Major Metabolites Using High Resolution UHPLC Q-Orbitrap Mass Spectrometry

A strategy for identifying effective and risk compounds of botanical drugs with LC-QTOF-MS and network analysis: A case study of Ginkgo biloba preparation

Botanical drugs have unique advantages in the treatment of complex diseases. In order to ensure the efficacy and safety of botanical drugs, ascertaining the effective and risk compounds is quite necessary. However, the conventional identification method is laborious, time-consuming, and inefficient. In this work, a 3-steps strategy was presented to rapidly identify the effective and risk compounds of botanical drugs, and a Ginkgo biloba preparation, Shu-Xue-Ning injection (SXNI), was taken as a case study. Firstly, mass spectral molecular networking was used to rapidly identify the compounds of SXNI. Secondly, three networks (i.e. the compound-target network, the indication-related biomolecule network, and the adverse drug reaction-related biomolecule network) are constructed. Finally, a novel network analysis algorithm was used to predict the effective and risk compounds in SXNI. By this strategy, a total of 138 compounds were identified including the firstly reported terpenoid glycosides and lignan glycosides. Among them 71 compounds were predicted as effective ones, and 42 compounds as risk ones. Especially, 31 compounds relevant to both efficacy and safety should be scientifically controlled during manufacturing. In addition, ten pathways were enriched to preliminarily explain the action mechanism of SXNI. This strategy for MS data analysis can be applied to provide important basis for the manufacturing and quality control, as well as valuable points for research on the pharmacological mechanisms of botanical drugs.

Hypotensive and antihypertensive effects of an aqueous extract from Guinep fruit (Melicoccus bijugatus Jacq) in rats

Melicoccus bijugatus Jacq (Mb) has been reported to have cardiovascular modulatory effects. In this study, we evaluated the antihypertensive effects and mechanism of action of Mb on N^G-Nitro-l-arginine Methyl Ester (l-NAME) and Deoxycorticosterone Acetate (DOCA) rat models. Aqueous extract of Mb fruit (100 mg/kg) was administered for 6 weeks to rats by gavage and blood pressure was recorded. Effects of the extract on vascular reactivity was evaluated using isolated organ baths, and tissues were collected for biochemical and histological analysis. The systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP) and mean arterial pressure (MAP) were significantly (P < 0.05) reduced with extract (100 mg/kg) administration and treatment compared to the hypertensive models. Mb (100 µg/mL) reduced the vascular contractility induced by phenylephrine (PE), and caused a dose-dependent relaxation of PE-induced contraction of aortic vascular rings. The vasorelaxation properties seemed to be endothelium dependent, as well as nitric oxide (NO) and guanylyl cyclase, but not prostaglandin dependent. Histomicrograph of transverse sections of the ventricles from the Mb group did not show abnormalities. The extract significantly (P < 0.05) reduced an l-NAME induced elevation of cardiac output and Creatine Kinase Muscle-Brain (CKMB), but had no significant impact on the activities of arylamine N-acetyltransferase. In conclusion, Mb significantly decreased blood pressure in hypertensive models. The extract possesses the ability to induce endothelium dependent vasodilation, which is dependent on guanylyl cyclase but not prostaglandins.

Cardioprotective effects of glycyrrhizic acid involve inhibition of calcium influx via L-type calcium channels and myocardial contraction in rats

Glycyrrhizic acid (GA) is one of the main active components in licorice and has often been reported to have cardioprotective effects. However, the underlying cellular mechanisms remain unclear. The aim of this study is to verify the protective effects of GA against isoproterenol (ISO)-induced myocardial ischemia injury in rats. Another aim is to explore the cellular mechanisms based on the L-type Ca²⁺ channel, myocardial cell contraction, and intracellular Ca²⁺ ([Ca²⁺]_i) transient. The results show that GA reduced the ST segment elevation, decreased the heart rate, prevented ISO-induced QT-interval shortening, improved heart morphology, and decreased the activity of CK and LDH. GA blocked I_Ca-L in a dose-dependent manner. The concentration for 50% of the maximal effect (EC₅₀) of GA was 145.54 μg/mL, and the maximal inhibition was 47.43 ± 0.75% at 1000 μg/mL. However, GA did not affect the dynamical properties of the Ca²⁺ channel. GA reversibly reduced the amplitude of cell contraction in a dose-dependent manner and slowed down its deflection and recovery, as well as the [Ca²⁺]_i transient. The data demonstrate that GA inhibits L-type Ca²⁺ channels, decreases the [Ca²⁺]_i transient, and shows a negative cardiac inotropic effect in the ventricular myocardial cells of adult rats. It also protects the myocardia from ischemia injury induced by ISO.

Cardio protective role of wogonin loaded nanoparticle against isoproterenol induced myocardial infarction by moderating oxidative stress and inflammation

Wogonin, one of the main active ingredients of Scutellaria radix, is a kind of flavonoid compound. In the present study, we report that wogonin nanoparticles (Wog np) protect Isoproterenol (ISO) induced Myocardial Infarction (MI) rats. Nanoparticles of sizes less than 200 nm with spherical shape were prepared using Polylactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA) and Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) respectively as polymer and stabilizer. Male Wistar rats were divided into 4 groups. Group 1 as a control group administered with physiological saline solution with 0.5 % carboxymethylcellulose (1 mL/day). Group 2 served as toxic group; rats received physiological saline solution with 0.5 % carboxymethylcellulose (1 mL/day) orally for 21 days Groups 3 and 4 received Wog np (25 and 50 mg/kg/day) orally for 21 days and on the 20th and 21 st days group 2, 3, and 4 were administered with ISO (85 mg/kg) through s.c. route at 24 h interval. pre-treatment with Wog np (25 and 50 mg/kg) could significantly reduce the cardiac infarct size, serum cardiac markers, lipid peroxidation product (MDA) and inflammatory markers as well as markedly upregulated the protein expression of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor (Nrf2)and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) to confer its strong cardioprotective activity against ISO induced myocardial damage.