Astragaloside IV suppresses inflammatory mediator production in synoviocytes and collagen‑induced arthritic rats

Natural anti-inflammatory products for osteoarthritis: From molecular mechanism to drug delivery systems and clinical trials

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a degenerative joint disease that affects millions globally. The present nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug treatments have different side effects, leading researchers to focus on natural anti-inflammatory products (NAIPs). To review the effectiveness and mechanisms of NAIPs in the cellular microenvironment, examining their impact on OA cell phenotype and organelles levels. Additionally, we summarize relevant research on drug delivery systems and clinical randomized controlled trials (RCTs), to promote clinical studies and explore natural product delivery options. English-language articles were searched on PubMed using the search terms "natural products," "OA," and so forth. We categorized search results based on PubChem and excluded "natural products" which are mix of ingredients or compounds without the structure message. Then further review was separately conducted for molecular mechanisms, drug delivery systems, and RCTs later. At present, it cannot be considered that NAIPs can thoroughly prevent or cure OA. Further high-quality studies on the anti-inflammatory mechanism and drug delivery systems of NAIPs are needed, to determine the appropriate drug types and regimens for clinical application, and to explore the combined effects of different NAIPs to prevent and treat OA.

The Melatonin-Mitochondrial Axis: Engaging the Repercussions of Ultraviolet Radiation Photoaging on the Skin's Circadian Rhythm

Sunlight is a vital element in modulating the central circadian rhythm, such as the regulation of the host's sleep-awake state. Sunlight is also considered to have a significant influence on the circadian rhythm of the skin. Over-exposure or prolonged exposure to sunlight can lead to skin photodamage, including hyperpigmentation, collagen degradation, fibrosis, and even skin cancer. Thus, this review will focus on the adverse effects of sunlight on the skin, not only in terms of photoaging but also its effect on the skin's circadian rhythm. Mitochondrial melatonin, regarded as a beneficial anti-aging substance for the skin, follows a circadian rhythm and exhibits a powerful anti-oxidative capacity, which has been shown to be associated with skin function. Thus, the review will focus on the influence of sunlight on skin status, not only in terms of ultraviolet radiation (UVR)-induced oxidative stress but also its mediation of circadian rhythms regulating skin homeostasis. In addition, this article will address issues regarding how best to unleash the biological potential of melatonin. These findings about the circadian rhythms of the skin have broadened the horizon of a whole new dimension in our comprehension of the molecular mechanisms of the skin and are likely to help pharmaceutical companies to develop more effective products that not only inhibit photoaging but keep valid and relevant throughout the day in future.

Astragaloside IV as a novel CXCR4 antagonist alleviates osteoarthritis in the knee of monosodium iodoacetate-induced rats

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

C-X-C chemokine receptor type 4 (CXCR4) inhibition protects cartilage in osteoarthritis (OA) animal models. Therefore, CXCR4 has becoming a novel target for OA drug development. Since dietary and herbal supplements have been widely used for joint health, we hypothesized that some supplements exhibit protective effects on OA cartilage through inhibiting CXCR4 signaling.

METHODS

The single-cell RNA sequencing data of OA patients (GSE152805) was re-analyzed by Scanpy 1.9.0. The docking screening of CXCR4 antagonists was conducted by Autodock Vina 1.2.0. The CXCR4 antagonistic activity was evaluated by calcium response in THP-1 cells. Signaling pathway study was conducted by bulk RNA sequencing and western blot analysis in human C28/I2 chondrocytes. The anti-OA activity was evaluated in monosodium iodoacetate (MIA)-induced rats.

RESULTS

Astragaloside IV (ASN IV), the predominate phytochemical in Astragalus membranaceus, has been identified as a novel CXCR4 antagonist. ASN IV reduced CXCL12-induced ADAMTS4,5 overexpression in chondrocytes through blocking Akt signaling pathway. Furthermore, ASN IV administration significantly repaired the damaged cartilage and subchondral bone in MIA-induced rats.

CONCLUSION

The blockade of CXCR4 signaling by ASN IV could explain anti-OA activities of Astragalus membranaceus by protection of cartilage degradation in OA patients. Since ASN IV as an antiviral has been approved by China National Medical Products Administration for testing in people, repurposing of ASN IV as a joint protective agent might be a promising strategy for OA drug development.

The Role of Probiotics in Skin Photoaging and Related Mechanisms: A Review

Solar ultraviolet radiation (UVR) is the primary pathogenetic factor in skin photoaging. It can disrupt cellular homeostasis by damaging DNA, inducing an inflammatory cascade, immunosuppression, and extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling, resulting in a variety of dermatologic conditions. The skin microbiome plays an important role in the homeostasis and maintenance of healthy skin. Emerging evidence has indicated that highly diverse gut microbiome may also have an impact on the skin health, referred to as the gut-skin axis (GSA). Oral and topical probiotics through modulating the skin microbiome and gut-skin microbial interactions could serve as potential management to prevent and treat the skin photoaging by multiple pathways including reducing oxidative stress, inhibiting ECM remodeling, inhibiting the inflammatory cascade reaction, and maintaining immune homeostasis. In this review, the effects of oral and topical probiotics in skin photoaging and related mechanisms are both described systematically and comprehensively.

Cycloastragenol as an Exogenous Enhancer of Chondrogenic Differentiation of Human Adipose-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells. A Morphological Study

Stem cell therapy and tissue engineering represent a promising approach for cartilage regeneration. However, they present limits in terms of mechanical properties and premature de-differentiation of engineered cartilage. Cycloastragenol (CAG), a triterpenoid saponin compound and a hydrolysis product of the main ingredient in Astragalus membranaceous, has been explored for cartilage regeneration. The aim of this study was to investigate CAG’s ability to promote cell proliferation, maintain cells in their stable active phenotype, and support the production of cartilaginous extracellular matrix (ECM) in human adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hAMSCs) in up to 28 days of three-dimensional (3D) chondrogenic culture. The hAMSC pellets were cultured in chondrogenic medium (CM) and in CM supplemented with CAG (CAG–CM) for 7, 14, 21, and 28 days. At each time-point, the pellets were harvested for histological (hematoxylin and eosin (H&E)), histochemical (Alcian-Blue) and immunohistochemical analysis (Type I, II, and X collagen, aggrecan, SOX9, lubricin). After excluding CAG’s cytotoxicity (MTT Assay), improved cell condensation, higher glycosaminoglycans (sGAG) content, and increased cell proliferation have been detected in CAG–CM pellets until 28 days of culture. Overall, CAG improved the chondrogenic differentiation of hAMSCs, maintaining stable the active chondrocyte phenotype in up to 28 days of 3D in vitro chondrogenic culture. It is proposed that CAG might have a beneficial impact on cartilage regeneration approaches.

Astragaloside IV alleviates the symptoms of experimental ulcerative colitis in vitro and in vivo

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic and relapsing inflammatory intestinal disease. Although the morbidity of UC has increased notably in recent years, effective therapeutic treatment remains unsatisfactory. Astragaloside IV (ASI), a monomeric compound isolated from the traditional Chinese medicine herb Ligusticum chuanxiong, exhibits anti-inflammatory effects. The present study aimed to investigate the therapeutic effects of ASI on experimental UC in vitro and in vivo. Cell proliferation was detected via a Cell Counting Kit-8 assay in vitro. In addition, the concentrations of the inflammatory factors myeloperoxidase (MPO), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and nitric oxide (NO) in the colon tissues were determined by ELISA. Western blot analysis was used to examine phosphorylated transcription factor p65 (p-p65), p-inhibitor of NF-κB (IκB), claudin-1 and tight junction protein ZO-1 (ZO-1) protein levels in vitro and in vivo, respectively. The results indicated that lipopolysaccharide (LPS) significantly increased the pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6 in CCD-18Co cells, which was markedly ameliorated by ASI. In addition to the inhibition of pro-inflammatory cytokines, ASI decreased the levels of p-p65 and p-IκB proteins. In addition, ASI decreased the disease activity index scores, and increased colon lengths in dextran sulfate sodium-induced UC mice. ASI also decreased the levels of the pro-inflammatory factors MPO, TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6 and NO, and upregulated the expression of claudin-1 and ZO-1 in colon tissues. Therefore, ASI was effective in ameliorating experimental UC in vitro and in vivo via the inhibition of inflammatory molecules, and the downregulation of NF-κB signaling. In conclusion, ASI may serve as a potential therapeutic agent for the treatment of UC.

Astragaloside inhibits IL-1β-induced inflammatory response in human osteoarthritis chondrocytes and ameliorates the progression of osteoarthritis in mice

Background: Osteoarthritis (OA) is a chronic joint-degeneration disease and accounts for the most frequent arthritis in aging people. OA is characterized by the degeneration of articular cartilage, subchondral bone sclerosis and synovitis. Inflammation as an important role in OA progression, in that anti-inflammatory agents could effectively inhibit the development of OA with minimal side effects, therefore developing a nature anti-inflammatory compound will be a promising therapy for treating OA. Methods: We treated patient-derived chondrocytes and mouse models of OA with astragaloside, an effective component of astragalus membranaceus, and measured its effect on pro-inflammatory cytokines and OA progression in mice. Results: In vitro, astragaloside induced a dose-dependent inhibition of IL-1β-induced the production of inflammatory factors, including interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), nitric oxide (NO), prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), expression of MMP 13 and ADAMTS-5, and the activation of NF-κB signaling. In vivo, astragaloside ameliorate the degeneration of cartilage in mouse model of OA. Conclusion: Astragaloside potentially serve as a promising and effective therapeutic agent for treating OA patients.

Protective effect of Astragaloside IV to inhibit thiram-induced tibial dyschondroplasia

Tibial dyschondroplasia (TD) is most the common tibiotarsal bone disease in rapidly growing birds throughout the world. There is accumulating evidence that COX-2 abnormal expression in tibia plays an important role in TD progression. So, the regulation of COX-2 is an ever more appealing target for therapeutic intervention in TD. Astragaloside IV has an indispensable role in maintaining COX-2 expression in many diseases. So, we designed this study to use Astragaloside IV (AST-IV) against TD-affected chickens. A total of 180 Arbor Acres chickens were randomly divided in the control group, TD group, and Astr (AST-IV-treated chickens) group. During the experiment, mortality, feed conversion ratio, physiological changes, biochemical criterion, liver antioxidant enzymes, and gene expression of COX-2 were examined in all the chicken groups at various days. The results showed that AST-IV administration restored the growth performance and tibia lesions and decreased the mortality as compared with TD chickens. The biochemical criterion (ALP, AST, and ALT) of serum and liver antioxidant enzymes (SOD, GSH-Px, MDA, and T-AOC) improved after the administration of AST-IV. The COX-2 gene was upregulated significantly (P < 0.05) in TD chickens. Whereas, AST-IV treatment downregulated both gene and protein expression of COX-2 significantly (P < 0.05) in TD-affected chickens. AST-IV recovered tibial dyschondroplasia chickens by increasing the growth performance, ameliorating tibial cartilage damage, and decreasing COX-2 expression. In conclusion, AST-IV can be used to prevent thiram-induced TD in chickens.

Astragaloside IV attenuates orbital inflammation in Graves' orbitopathy through suppression of autophagy

INTRODUCTION

Graves' orbitopathy (GO) is an autoimmune inflammatory disorder affecting the orbit around the eye. Astragaloside IV (AS-VI) is the main active ingredient of the Chinese herbal medicine Huangqi (Radix Astragali Mongolici). AS-IV exhibits antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, and shows therapeutic potential in a number of ischemic and inflammatory diseases; however, its pharmaceutical activities in GO remain undefined.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In this study, we investigated the effects of AS-IV on interleukin (IL)-1β-induced orbital fibroblast inflammation in vitro and GO orbital inflammation and ocular histopathological changes in vivo, as well as the underlying mechanisms responsible for these effects.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSION

The results show that IL-1β increased mRNA expression of the inflammatory cytokines IL-6, IL-8, TNF-α, and MCP-1 in cultured orbital fibroblasts. This IL-1β-induced inflammation was accompanied by increased autophagic activity as reflected in increased Beclin-1 and Agt-5 expression, as well as LC3-I to LC3-II conversion. Pretreatment with the autophagy inhibitors 3-MA and bafilomycin A1, or silencing of autophagy-related proteins Beclin-1 and Atg-5, prevented IL-1β-induced orbital fibroblast inflammation, while pretreatment with the autophagy activator rapamycin had the opposite effects. These data suggested that autophagy was involved in GO orbital inflammation. AS-IV treatment significantly decreased IL-1β-induced inflammatory cytokine production in orbital fibroblasts in vitro and attenuated GO orbital inflammation, fat accumulation, collagen deposition, and macrophage infiltration in vivo. These in vitro and in vivo protective effects of AS-IV against GO were accompanied by decreased autophagic activities in orbital fibroblasts and GO orbital tissues, respectively. Collectively, our findings suggested that AS-IV protects against GO through suppression of autophagy. Thus, AS-IV may have preventive benefits for GO.