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Zhao X, Ge W, Miao Z. Integrative metabolomic and transcriptomic analyses reveals the accumulation patterns of key metabolites associated with flavonoids and terpenoids of Gynostemma pentaphyllum (Thunb.) Makino. Sci Rep 2024; 14:8644. [PMID: 38622163 PMCID: PMC11018608 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-57716-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2024] [Accepted: 03/21/2024] [Indexed: 04/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Gynostemma pentaphyllum (Thunb.) Makino (G. pentaphyllum) is a medicinal and edible plant with multiple functions of liver protection, anti-tumor, anti-inflammation, balancing blood sugar and blood lipids. The nutritional value of the G. pentaphyllum plant is mainly due to its rich variety of biologically active substances, such as flavonoids, terpenes and polysaccharides. In this study, we performed a comprehensive analysis combining metabolomics and root, stem and leaf transcriptomic data of G. pentaphyllum. We used transcriptomics and metabolomics data to construct a dynamic regulatory network diagram of G. pentaphyllum flavonoids and terpenoids, and screened the transcription factors involved in flavonoids and terpenoids, including basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH), myb-related, WRKY, AP2/ERF. Transcriptome analysis results showed that among the DEGs related to the synthesis of flavonoids and terpenoids, dihydroflavonol 4-reductase (DFR) and geranylgeranyl diphosphate synthases (GGPPS) were core genes. This study presents a dynamic image of gene expression in different tissues of G. pentaphyllum, elucidating the key genes and metabolites of flavonoids and terpenoids. This study is beneficial to a deeper understanding of the medicinal plants of G. pentaphyllum, and also provides a scientific basis for further regulatory mechanisms of plant natural product synthesis pathways and drug development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaomeng Zhao
- School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300350, People's Republic of China
| | - Weiwei Ge
- School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300350, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhi Miao
- School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300350, People's Republic of China.
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Madhukar G, Subbarao N. Potential inhibitors of RPS6KB2 and NRF2 in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. J Biomol Struct Dyn 2024; 42:1875-1900. [PMID: 37160694 DOI: 10.1080/07391102.2023.2205946] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2022] [Accepted: 04/08/2023] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
Among the major altered pathways in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, AKT/mTORC1/S6K and NRF2/KEAP1 pathway are quite significant. The overexpression and overstimulation of proteins from both these pathways makes them the promising candidates in cancer therapeutics. Inhibiting mTOR has been in research from past several decades but the tumour heterogeneity, and upregulation of several compensatory feed-back mechanisms, encourages to explore other downstream targets for inhibiting the pathway. One such downstream effectors of mTOR is S6K2. It is reported to be overexpressed in cancers such as head and neck cancer, breast cancer and prostate cancer. In case of NRF2/KEAP1 pathway, nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NFE2L2 or NRF2) is overexpressed in ∼90% of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) cases. It associates with poor survival rate and therapeutic resistance in HNSCC treatment. NRF2 pathway is the primary antioxidant pathway in the cell which also serves pro-tumorigenic functions, such as repression of apoptosis, cell proliferation support and chemoresistance. The aim of this work was to explore S6K2 and NRF2 and identify novel and potential inhibitors against them for treating head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Since the crystal structure of S6K2 was not available at the time of this study, we modelled its structure using homology modelling and performed high throughput screening, molecular dynamics simulations, free energy calculations and protein-ligand interaction studies to identify the inhibitors. We identified natural compounds Crocin and Gypenoside XVII against S6K2 and Chebulinic acid and Sennoside A against NRF2. This study provides a significant in-depth understanding of the two studied pathways and therefore can be used in the development of potential therapeutics against HNSCC.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Geet Madhukar
- School of Computational and Integrative Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India
| | - Naidu Subbarao
- School of Computational and Integrative Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India
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Liu Y, Yang Y, Wang H, Li H, Lv Q, Wang X, Wu D, Hu L, Zhang Y. Dammarane-type triterpenoid saponins isolated from Gynostemma pentaphyllum ameliorate liver fibrosis via agonizing PP2Cα and inhibiting deposition of extracellular matrix. Chin J Nat Med 2023; 21:599-609. [PMID: 37611978 DOI: 10.1016/s1875-5364(23)60395-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2023] [Indexed: 08/25/2023]
Abstract
Gypenosides, structurally analogous to ginsenosides and derived from a sustainable source, are recognized as the principal active compounds found in Gynostemma pentaphyllum, a Chinese medicinal plant used in the treatment of the metabolic syndrome. By bioactive tracking isolation of the plants collected from different regions across China, we obtained four new gypenosides (1-4), together with nine known gypenosides (5-13), from the methanol extract of the plant. The structures of new gypenosides were elucidated by one-dimensional (1D) and two-dimensional (2D) nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectra, complemented by chemical degradation experiments. Through comprehensive evaluation involving COL1A1 promoter assays and PP2Cα activity assays, we established a definitive structure-activity relationship for these dammarane-type triterpenoids, affirming the indispensability of the C-3 saccharide chain and C-17 lactone ring in effectively impeding extracellular matrix (ECM) deposition within hepatic stellate cells. Further in vivo study on the CCl4-induced liver damage mouse model corroborated that compound 5 significantly ameliorated the process of hepatic fibrosis by oral administration. These results underscore the potential of dammarane-type triterpenoids as prospective anti-fibrotic leads and highlight their prevalence as key molecular frameworks in the therapeutic intervention of chronic hepatic disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yue Liu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Functional Substances of Chinese Medicine, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Yating Yang
- Helmholtz International Lab, State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Shandong University, Qingdao 266237, China
| | - Hanghang Wang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Functional Substances of Chinese Medicine, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Han Li
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Functional Substances of Chinese Medicine, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Qi Lv
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Functional Substances of Chinese Medicine, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Xiachang Wang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Functional Substances of Chinese Medicine, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Dalei Wu
- Helmholtz International Lab, State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Shandong University, Qingdao 266237, China
| | - Lihong Hu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Functional Substances of Chinese Medicine, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, China.
| | - Yinan Zhang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Functional Substances of Chinese Medicine, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, China.
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Dammarane triterpenoids with rare skeletons from Gynostemma pentaphyllum and their cytotoxic activities. Fitoterapia 2022; 162:105280. [PMID: 35964850 DOI: 10.1016/j.fitote.2022.105280] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2022] [Revised: 08/09/2022] [Accepted: 08/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Three unreported dammarane-type triterpenoids with rare skeletons (1-3), along with one undescribed gypenoside (4), were isolated from the aerial parts of Gynostemma pentaphyllum using diverse chromatographic materials and pre-HPLC. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic and spectrometric data, while the absolute configurations of 1-3 were assessed via electronic circular dichroism (ECD) analyses. Notably, compounds 1-3 possess a 3,19-hemiketal bridge in the A ring. Saponin 4 possesses an unreported 20,25-oxa structural moiety. Their antiproliferative effects against HepG2, MCF-7, and DU145 cell lines were screened. Compounds 1-3 displayed moderate cytotoxicity with IC50 values ranging from 13.7 ± 0.2 to 32.0 ± 1.7 μM.
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Li H, Guo L, Ding X, An Q, Wang L, Hao S, Li W, Wang T, Gao Z, Zheng Y, Zhang D. Molecular Networking, Network Pharmacology, and Molecular Docking Approaches Employed to Investigate the Changes in Ephedrae Herba before and after Honey-Processing. Molecules 2022; 27:molecules27134057. [PMID: 35807303 PMCID: PMC9268138 DOI: 10.3390/molecules27134057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2022] [Revised: 06/20/2022] [Accepted: 06/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Raw Ephedrae herba (REH) and honey-processed Ephedrae herba (HEH) were the different decoction pieces of Ephedrae herba (EH). Honey-processing that changes REH into HEH has been shown to relieve cough and asthma to a synergistic extent. However, the chemical markers and the synergistic mechanism of HEH need to be further studied. In this study, the ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled with hybrid quadrupole time of flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-TOF-MS) and molecular networking (MN) were used to investigate the chemical composition of REH and HEH, which led to the identification of 92 compounds. A total of 38 differential chemical markers for REH and HEH were identified using principal component analysis (PCA) and orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA). Network pharmacology suggests that the synergistic effect of HEH in relieving cough and asthma may be due to 31 differential chemical markers acting through 111 biological targets. Among them, four compounds and two targets probably played an important role based on the results of molecular docking. This study enriched our knowledge about the chemical composition of REH and HEH, as well as the synergistic mechanism of HEH.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hengyang Li
- Traditional Chinese Medicine Processing Technology Innovation Center of Hebei Province, College of Pharmacy, Hebei University of Chinese Medicine, Shijiazhuang 050200, China; (H.L.); (L.G.); (X.D.); (Q.A.); (L.W.); (S.H.); (W.L.); (T.W.); (Z.G.)
| | - Long Guo
- Traditional Chinese Medicine Processing Technology Innovation Center of Hebei Province, College of Pharmacy, Hebei University of Chinese Medicine, Shijiazhuang 050200, China; (H.L.); (L.G.); (X.D.); (Q.A.); (L.W.); (S.H.); (W.L.); (T.W.); (Z.G.)
- International Joint Research Center on Resource Utilization and Quality Evaluation of Traditional Chinese Medicine of Hebei Province, Shijiazhuang 050200, China
| | - Xiaoying Ding
- Traditional Chinese Medicine Processing Technology Innovation Center of Hebei Province, College of Pharmacy, Hebei University of Chinese Medicine, Shijiazhuang 050200, China; (H.L.); (L.G.); (X.D.); (Q.A.); (L.W.); (S.H.); (W.L.); (T.W.); (Z.G.)
| | - Qi An
- Traditional Chinese Medicine Processing Technology Innovation Center of Hebei Province, College of Pharmacy, Hebei University of Chinese Medicine, Shijiazhuang 050200, China; (H.L.); (L.G.); (X.D.); (Q.A.); (L.W.); (S.H.); (W.L.); (T.W.); (Z.G.)
| | - Lei Wang
- Traditional Chinese Medicine Processing Technology Innovation Center of Hebei Province, College of Pharmacy, Hebei University of Chinese Medicine, Shijiazhuang 050200, China; (H.L.); (L.G.); (X.D.); (Q.A.); (L.W.); (S.H.); (W.L.); (T.W.); (Z.G.)
- International Joint Research Center on Resource Utilization and Quality Evaluation of Traditional Chinese Medicine of Hebei Province, Shijiazhuang 050200, China
| | - Shenghui Hao
- Traditional Chinese Medicine Processing Technology Innovation Center of Hebei Province, College of Pharmacy, Hebei University of Chinese Medicine, Shijiazhuang 050200, China; (H.L.); (L.G.); (X.D.); (Q.A.); (L.W.); (S.H.); (W.L.); (T.W.); (Z.G.)
| | - Wenjie Li
- Traditional Chinese Medicine Processing Technology Innovation Center of Hebei Province, College of Pharmacy, Hebei University of Chinese Medicine, Shijiazhuang 050200, China; (H.L.); (L.G.); (X.D.); (Q.A.); (L.W.); (S.H.); (W.L.); (T.W.); (Z.G.)
| | - Tao Wang
- Traditional Chinese Medicine Processing Technology Innovation Center of Hebei Province, College of Pharmacy, Hebei University of Chinese Medicine, Shijiazhuang 050200, China; (H.L.); (L.G.); (X.D.); (Q.A.); (L.W.); (S.H.); (W.L.); (T.W.); (Z.G.)
| | - Zetong Gao
- Traditional Chinese Medicine Processing Technology Innovation Center of Hebei Province, College of Pharmacy, Hebei University of Chinese Medicine, Shijiazhuang 050200, China; (H.L.); (L.G.); (X.D.); (Q.A.); (L.W.); (S.H.); (W.L.); (T.W.); (Z.G.)
| | - Yuguang Zheng
- Traditional Chinese Medicine Processing Technology Innovation Center of Hebei Province, College of Pharmacy, Hebei University of Chinese Medicine, Shijiazhuang 050200, China; (H.L.); (L.G.); (X.D.); (Q.A.); (L.W.); (S.H.); (W.L.); (T.W.); (Z.G.)
- Department of Pharmaceutical Engineering, Hebei Chemical and Pharmaceutical College, Shijiazhuang 050026, China
- Correspondence: (Y.Z.); (D.Z.); Tel.: +86-311-8511-0166 (Y.Z.); +86-311-8992-6466 (D.Z.)
| | - Dan Zhang
- Traditional Chinese Medicine Processing Technology Innovation Center of Hebei Province, College of Pharmacy, Hebei University of Chinese Medicine, Shijiazhuang 050200, China; (H.L.); (L.G.); (X.D.); (Q.A.); (L.W.); (S.H.); (W.L.); (T.W.); (Z.G.)
- International Joint Research Center on Resource Utilization and Quality Evaluation of Traditional Chinese Medicine of Hebei Province, Shijiazhuang 050200, China
- Correspondence: (Y.Z.); (D.Z.); Tel.: +86-311-8511-0166 (Y.Z.); +86-311-8992-6466 (D.Z.)
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