Gastrodin ameliorates subacute phase cerebral ischemia‑reperfusion injury by inhibiting inflammation and apoptosis in rats

Gastrodin against oxidative stress-inflammation crosstalk via inhibiting mtDNA/TLR9 and JAK2/STAT3 signaling to ameliorate ischemic stroke injury

The pathway of Janus-activated kinase 2 (JAK2) and signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) (termed as JAK2/STAT3) plays an active role in stroke-related inflammation induced by ischemic stress. Gastrodin, the primary compound in Gastrodia elata Bl, has been identified for its notable neuroprotective effects and demonstrated to ameliorate cerebral ischemia-reperfusion but its exact mechanisms governing this defense are still unclear. This study aims to investigate whether gastrodin can regulate mitochondrial function via the JAK2/STAT3 pathway to limit cerebral ischemia-reperfusion. In vivo, gastrodin significantly reduced infarct volume, improved neurobiological function, attenuated neuronal apoptosis, oxidative stress, mitochondrial impairment, mtDNA leakage, and inflammatory responses. At the cellular level, gastrodin administration rescued OGD/R-induced cell apoptosis, oxidative stress, and mitochondrial dysfunction. Mechanistically, gastrodin notably suppressed Toll-like receptor 9 (TLR9) expression, important for the recognition of disrupted endogenous DNA to produce inflammatory reactions. Furthermore, gastrodin mitigated inflammation by inhibiting JAK2/STAT3 signaling, influencing inflammatory factors to aggravate inflammation. Notably, the effects of gastrodin were abolished by Coumermycin A1 (C-A1), a JAK2 agonist, validating the role of JAK2/STAT3 signaling. In summary, gastrodin enhances the protective effect against mitochondrial damage in ischemic stroke by inhibiting JAK2/STAT3 signaling. Gastrodin is a possible therapy for cerebral ischemia.

Gastrodin: a comprehensive pharmacological review

Tianma is the dried tuber of Gastrodia elata Blume (G. elata), which is frequently utilized in clinical practice as a traditional Chinese medicine. Gastrodin (GAS) is the main active ingredient of Tianma, which has good pharmacological activity. Therefore, for the first time, this review focused on the extraction, synthesis, pharmacological effects, and derivatives of GAS and to investigate additional development options for GAS. The use of microorganisms to create GAS is a promising method. GAS has good efficacy in the treatment of neurological diseases, cardiovascular diseases, endocrine diseases, and liver diseases. GAS has significant anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, neuroprotective, vascular protective, blood sugar lowering, lipid-regulating, analgesic, anticancer, and antiviral effects. The mechanism involves various signaling pathways such as Nrf2, NF-κB, PI3K/AKT, and AMPK. In addition, the derivatives of GAS and biomaterials synthesized by GAS and PU suggested a broader application of GAS. The research on GAS is thoroughly summarized in this paper, which has useful applications for tackling a variety of disorders and exhibits good development value.

Targeting pyroptosis to treat ischemic stroke: From molecular pathways to treatment strategy

Ischemic stroke is the primary reason for human disability and death, but the available treatment options are limited. Hence, it is imperative to explore novel and efficient therapies. In recent years, pyroptosis (a pro-inflammatory cell death characterized by inflammation) has emerged as an important pathological mechanism in ischemic stroke that can cause cell death through plasma membrane rupture and release of inflammatory cytokines. Pyroptosis is closely associated with inflammation, which exacerbates the inflammatory response in ischemic stroke. The level of inflammasomes, GSDMD, Caspases, and inflammatory factors is increased after ischemic stroke, exacerbating brain injury by mediating pyroptosis. Hence, inhibition of pyroptosis can be a therapeutic strategy for ischemic stroke. In this review, we have summarized the relationship between pyroptosis and ischemic stroke, as well as a series of treatments to attenuate pyroptosis, intending to provide insights for new therapeutic targets on ischemic stroke.

Traditional Chinese medicines treat ischemic stroke and their main bioactive constituents and mechanisms

Ischemic stroke (IS) remains one of the leading causes of death and disability in humans. Unfortunately, none of the treatments effectively provide functional benefits to patients with IS, although many do so by targeting different aspects of the ischemic cascade response. The advantages of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) in preventing and treating IS are obvious in terms of early treatment and global coordination. The efficacy of TCM and its bioactive constituents has been scientifically proven over the past decades. Based on clinical trials, this article provides a review of commonly used TCM patent medicines and herbal decoctions indicated for IS. In addition, this paper also reviews the mechanisms of bioactive constituents in TCM for the treatment of IS in recent years, both domestically and internationally. A comprehensive review of preclinical and clinical studies will hopefully provide new ideas to address the threat of IS.

Gastrodin facilitates recovery of neurological function of MCAO rats through upregulating miR-20a-5p/XIAP pathway via exosome

Cerebral infarction (CI) is characterised by high morbidity, mortality, and disability rates. Recently, Chinese medicine has been widely used and has gained satisfactory results in the treatment of CI. Our previous study showed that gastrodin could facilitate the recovery of neurological function in middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) rats. This study explores this mechanism. SD rats were separated into control, sham, model, and gastrodin groups. After MCAO surgery, the gastrodin group was administered gastrodin (100 mg/kg), and after 1/3/7 days, the ischaemic hemisphere and serum was collected, and then we extracted the circulating exosomes from the serum. We then tested the levels of XIAP (x-linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein), IAP binding proteins (SMAC, HtrA2, ARTs), and miR-20a-5p (a gastrodin potential effect target) in the brain tissues, circulating exosomes, and serum using various methods. Our results showed that circulating exosomes can penetrate the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and that gastrodin can upregulate the amount of miR-20a-5p in circulating exosomes. The circulating exosomes penetrate the BBB and upregulate the expression of XIAP in the ischaemic hemisphere. Gastrodin can also decrease the amount of IAP binding proteins (SMAC, HtrA2, ARTs). Gastrodin can increase the amount of miR-20a-5p in circulating exosomes, which penetrates the BBB and upregulates XIAP expression in the ischaemic hemisphere. By inhibiting apoptosis of neurones, it can facilitate the recovery of neurological function in MCAO rats.

Review on pharmacological effects of gastrodin

Gastrodia elata Blume is a well-known traditional Chinese medicine that is mainly used to treat diseases related to the nervous system, such as stroke, epilepsy, and headache. Gastrodin is the main bioactive component of Gastrodia elata Blume, and studies have shown that it has extensive pharmacological activity. This narrative review aims to systematically review relevant studies on the pharmacological effects of gastrodin to provide researchers with the latest and most useful information. Studies have shown that gastrodin has prominent neuroprotective effects and can treat or improve epilepsy, Tourette syndrome, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, emotional disorders, cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury, cognitive impairment, and neuropathic pain. Gastrodin can also improve myocardial hypertrophy, hypertension, and myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury. In addition, gastrodin can mitigate liver, kidney, and bone tissue damage caused by oxidative stress and inflammation. In short, gastrodin is expected to treat many diseases, and it is worth investing more effort in research on this compound.

Gastrodin relieves cognitive impairment by regulating autophagy via PI3K/AKT signaling pathway in vascular dementia

Vascular dementia (VaD), the second most common type of dementia, is attributed to lower cerebral blood flow. To date, there is still no available clinical treatment for VaD. The phenolic glucoside gastrodin (GAS) is known for its neuroprotective effects, but the role and mechanisms of action on VD remains unclear. In this study, we aim to investigate the neuroprotective role and underlying mechanisms of GAS on chronic cerebral hypoperfusion (CCH)-mediated VaD rats and hypoxia-induced injury of HT22 cells. The study showed that GAS relieved learning and memory deficits, ameliorated hippocampus histological lesions in VaD rats. Additionally, GAS down-regulated LC3II/I, Beclin-1 levels and up-regulated P62 level in VaD rats and hypoxia-injured HT22 cells. Notably, GAS rescued the phosphorylation of PI3K/AKT pathway-related proteins expression, which regulates autophagy. Mechanistic studies verify that YP-740, a PI3K agonist, significantly resulted in inhibition of excessive autophagy and apoptosis with no significant differences were observed in the YP-740 and GAS co-treatment. Meantime, we found that LY294002, a PI3K inhibitor, substantially abolished GAS-mediated neuroprotection. These results revealed that the effects of GAS on VaD are related to stimulating PI3K/AKT pathway-mediated autophagy, suggesting a potentially beneficial therapeutic strategy for VaD.

Regulatory mechanisms of natural compounds from traditional Chinese herbal medicines on the microglial response in ischemic stroke

BACKGROUND

Development of clinically effective neuroprotective agents for stroke therapy is still a challenging task. Microglia play a critical role in brain injury and recovery after ischemic stroke. Traditional Chinese herbal medicines (TCHMs) are based on a unique therapeutic principle, have various formulas, and have long been widely used to treat stroke. Therefore, the active compounds in TCHMs and their underlying mechanisms of action are attracting increasing attention in the field of stroke drug development.

PURPOSE

To summarize the regulatory mechanisms of TCHM-derived natural compounds on the microglial response in animal models of ischemic stroke.

METHODS

We searched studies published until 10 April 2023 in the Web of Science, PubMed, and ScienceDirect using the following keywords: natural compounds, natural products or phytochemicals, traditional Chinese Medicine or Chinese herbal medicine, microglia, and ischemic stroke. This review was prepared according to PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Item for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis) guidelines.

RESULTS

Natural compounds derived from TCHMs can attenuate the M1 phenotype of microglia, which is involved in the detrimental inflammatory response, via inhibition of NF-κB, MAPKs, JAK/STAT, Notch, TLR4, P2X7R, CX3CR1, IL-17RA, the NLRP3 inflammasome, and pro-oxidant enzymes. Additionally, the neuroprotective response of microglia with the M2 phenotype can be enhanced by activating Nrf2/HO-1, PI3K/AKT, AMPK, PPARγ, SIRT1, CB2R, TREM2, nAChR, and IL-33/ST2. Several clinical trials showed that TCHM-derived natural compounds that regulate microglial responses have significant and safe therapeutic effects, but further well-designed clinical studies are needed.

CONCLUSIONS

Further research regarding the direct targets and potential pleiotropic or synergistic effects of natural compounds would provide a more reasonable approach for regulation of the microglial response with the possibility of successful stroke drug development.

Anti-apoptosis effect of traditional Chinese medicine in the treatment of cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury

Cerebral ischemia, one of the leading causes of neurological dysfunction of brain cells, muscle dysfunction, and death, brings great harm and challenges to individual health, families, and society. Blood flow disruption causes decreased glucose and oxygen, insufficient to maintain normal brain tissue metabolism, resulting in intracellular calcium overload, oxidative stress, neurotoxicity of excitatory amino acids, and inflammation, ultimately leading to neuronal cell necrosis, apoptosis, or neurological abnormalities. This paper summarizes the specific mechanism of cell injury that apoptosis triggered by reperfusion after cerebral ischemia, the related proteins involved in apoptosis, and the experimental progress of herbal medicine treatment through searching, analyzing, and summarizing the PubMed and Web Of Science databases, which includes active ingredients of herbal medicine, prescriptions, Chinese patent medicines, and herbal extracts, providing a new target or new strategy for drug treatment, and providing a reference for future experimental directions and using them to develop suitable small molecule drugs for clinical application. With the research of anti-apoptosis as the core, it is important to find highly effective, low toxicity, safe and cheap compounds from natural plants and animals with abundant resources to prevent and treat Cerebral ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury (CIR) and solve human suffering. In addition, understanding and summarizing the apoptotic mechanism of cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury, the microscopic mechanism of CIR treatment, and the cellular pathways involved will help to develop new drugs.

Nitric oxide promotes cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury through upregulating hypoxia-inducible factor1-α-associated inflammation and apoptosis in rats

Nitric oxide (NO) was one of the key factors to sustain hypoxia-inducible factor-1- α (HIF-1α) activation during hypoxia. However, the mechanism by which NO production promotes upregulation of HIF-1α to cause cerebral ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury remains unclear. The present study investigated whether eliminating NO would decrease HIF-1α level, and then reduce the subsequent inflammatory actions as well as neuronal apoptotic death in middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) rats. Our results revealed that HIF-1α was correlated with 3-NT, a marker for nitrosative/oxidative stress, in the brain of MCAO rats. Treatment with NOS inhibitor L-NAME suppressed HIF-1α/3-NT double-positive cells, suggesting that HIF-1α was correlated with NO overproduction during cerebral I/R. Furthermore, pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-α, IL-1β and NF-κB p65 were significantly increased and colocalized with HIF-1α in the brain of MCAO rats, all of which could be attenuated by NO inhibition, suggesting that eliminating NO reduced MCAO-induced HIF-1α upregulation, which in turn exerted anti-inflammatory actions. Accordingly, cleaved caspase-3, as well as HIF-1α and TUNEL double-positive cells in ischemic brain were also decreased by L-NAME treatment. These results suggest that NO accumulation after cerebral ischemia leads to HIF-1α upregulation, which may activate pro-inflammatory cytokines, resulting in neuronal apoptotic death. These findings demonstrate a novel mechanism of NO-induced cerebral I/R injury.

Gastrodin Improves Cognitive Dysfunction in REM Sleep-Deprived Rats by Regulating TLR4/NF-κB and Wnt/β-Catenin Signaling Pathways

Gastrodin is the active ingredient in Gastrodia elata. Our previous studies demonstrated that gastrodin ameliorated cerebral ischemia-reperfusion and hypoperfusion injury and improved cognitive deficit in Alzheimer's disease. This study aims to examine the effects of gastrodin on REM sleep deprivation in rats. Gastrodin (100 and 150 mg/kg) was orally administered for 7 consecutive days before REM sleep deprivation. Seventy-two hours later, pentobarbital-induced sleep tests and a Morris water maze were performed to measure REM sleep quality and learning and memory ability. Histopathology was observed with hematoxylin-eosin staining, and the expression of the NF-κB and Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathways was examined using Western blot. After REM sleep deprivation, sleep latency increased and sleep duration decreased, and the ability of learning and memory was impaired. Neurons in the hippocampal CA1 region and the cortex were damaged. Gastrodin treatment significantly improved REM sleep-deprivation-induced sleep disturbance, cognitive deficits and neuron damage in the hippocampus CA1 region and cerebral cortex. A mechanism analysis revealed that the NF-κB pathway was activated and the Wnt/β-catenin pathway was inhibited after REM sleep deprivation, and gastrodin ameliorated these aberrant changes. Gastrodin improves REM sleep-deprivation-induced sleep disturbance and cognitive dysfunction by regulating the TLR4/NF-κB and Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathways and can be considered a potential candidate for the treatment of REM sleep deprivation.

Preparation of gastrodin-modified dendrimer-entrapped gold nanoparticles as a drug delivery system for cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury

OBJECTIVE

This study sought to evaluate the feasibility of multifunctional gastrodin (GAS)-containing nano-drug carrier system against cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury (CIRI).

METHODS

The drug-loaded nanocomposite (Au-G5.NHAc-PS/GAS) with certain encapsulation efficiency (EE) was prepared by physical adsorption method using different proportions of GAS and drug-carrying system (Au-G5.NHAc-PS). High-performance liquid chromatography was used to determine the drug loading and EE. Cultured rat astrocytes and hypothalamic neurons were assigned into four groups: PBS, Au-G5.NHAc-PS, Au-G5.NHAc-PS/GAS, and GAS. CCK-8 assay, flow cytometry, and quantitative real-time PCR were performed to examine the cell viability, apoptosis, and the expression of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), IL-1β, and IL-6 in the astrocytes and hypothalamic neurons, respectively. Cellular uptake of GAS and Au-G5.NHAc-PS/GAS was analyzed by using Hoechst 33342 staining. The animal model with focal cerebral ischemia was generated by middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) in healthy male Sprague Dawley (SD) rats, and pathological changes of brain tissue and major organs in the rats were identified by hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining. Apoptosis in rat astrocytes and hypothalamic neurons was detected by TUNEL staining and flow cytometry.

RESULTS

Au-G5.NHAc-PS had a spherical shape with a uniform size of 157.3 nm. Among the nanoparticles, Au-G5.NHAc-PS/GAS with an EE of 70.3% displayed the best release delay effect. Moreover, we observed that in vitro cytotoxicity and cellular uptake of Au-G5.NHAc-PS/GAS were higher than those of GAS, whereas the expression of TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 was significantly downregulated in Au-G5.NHAc-PS/GAS group as compared to G5.NHAc-PS group. Notably, HE staining revealed that although Au-G5.NHAc-PS/GAS had no toxic and side effects on the main organs of rats, it alleviated the damage of brain tissue in the MCAO rats. Besides, Au-G5.NHAc/GAS markedly reduced MCAO-induced apoptosis.

CONCLUSION

Au-G5.NHAc-PS showed favorable surface morphology, sustained drug release ability, no measurable toxicity, and good biocompatibility, indicating that GAS exerts anti-inflammatory and antiapoptotic effects on CIRI.

Post treatment with Gastrodin suppresses oxidative stress and attenuates motor disorders following 6-OHDA induced Parkinson disease

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE

Researchers are currently trying to find new therapies with better symptomatic activity and fewer side effects to manage Parkinson's disease (PD). Although the protective effect of pre-treatment by Gastrodin (Gst) on a PD model has been evaluated, in the current experimental study, we investigated the symptomatic therapeutic effects of Gst microinjection in the same PD model but in the post-parkinsonism induction condition.

METHODS

Parkinsonism was induced by unilateral infusion of 6- hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA; 8 μg/ 2 μl/ rat) into the central region of the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNc). After the recovery period and confirmation of parkinsonism, daily Gst treatment in three doses (20, 40, 80 µg/ 2 µ/ rat, continued for ten days with motor monitoring by bar test and rotarod examinations. Moreover, lipid peroxidation and myeloperoxidase activity were evaluated.

RESULTS

In this model of 6-OHDA-induced parkinsonism, Gst treatment in all three doses showed a dose dependent symptomatic improvement in motor imbalance (P < 0.001) catalepsy (P < 0.001), decreased lipid peroxidation (P < 0.001) and SNc myeloperoxidase activity (P < 0.001) CONCLUSIONS: 6-OHDA induced parkinsonism symptomatically improved behaviorally with Gst post-induction treatment along with decreased markers of oxidative stress and microglial activation. We suggest that this agent is a candidate for symptomatic treatment of human PD.

Clinical Trials of New Drugs for Vascular Cognitive Impairment and Vascular Dementia

Population aging has challenged the treatment of cognitive impairment or dementia. Vascular dementia is the second leading cause of dementia after Alzheimer’s disease. Cognitive consequences after ischemic brain injury have been recognized as a preferred target for therapeutic strategies, prompting the search for potential agents. The keyword “vascular dementia” was used to search ClinicalTrials.gov to determine agents represented in phases I, II, III, and IV. The agents were classified on the basis of their mechanisms. Of the 17 randomized controlled trials meeting our inclusion criteria, 9 were completed in the past 10 years, and 8 are ongoing or in the planning stages. We also identified one trial in phase I, nine in phase II, six in phase III, and one in phase IV. Fewer trials of new drugs for improving cognition or ameliorating the behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia target vascular dementia than Alzheimer’s dementia. Drug trials on vascular dementia overlap with drug trials targeting functional outcomes in cerebrovascular disease. International pharmaceutical companies’ investment in new drugs targeting VCI and vascular dementia remains insufficient.

Dexmedetomidine attenuates oxygen-glucose deprivation/ reperfusion-induced inflammation through the miR-17-5p/ TLR4/ NF-κB axis

BACKGROUND

Dexmedetomidine (DEX) is a selective agonist of α2-adrenergic receptors with anesthetic activity and neuroprotective benefits. However, its mechanism of action at the molecular level remains poorly defined. In this study, we investigated the protective effects of DEX on oxygen-glucose deprivation/ reperfusion (OGD/R)-induced neuronal apoptosis in PC12 cells, and evaluated its underlying mechanism(s) of neuroprotection and anti-inflammation.

METHODS

An OGD/R model in PC12 cells was established. PC12 cells were cultured and divided into control, OGD/R, and OGD/R + DEX (1 μM, 10 μM, 50 μM) groups. Cell apoptosis was analyzed by flow cytometry and expression profiles were determined by qRT-PCR, western blot analysis, and enzyme linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA). The interaction between miRNA and its downstream targets was evaluated through luciferase reporter assays.

RESULTS

DEX significantly decreased apoptosis rates and inhibited interleukin 1 beta (IL-1β), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), and interleukin 6 (IL-6) release (P < 0.05). While expression of the pro-apoptotic proteins Bax and Caspase-3 was down-regulated, expression of Bcl-2 was upregulated in a dose-dependent manner (P < 0.05). Interestingly, miR-17-5p expression was down-regulated in the OGD/R group (compared to controls). Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), a key regulator of nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB) signaling, was identified as a novel target of miR-17-5p in PC12 cells. miR-17-5p expression was upregulated in the OGD/R + DEX group, suppressing TLR4 expression and reducing the secretion of proinflammatory cytokines.

CONCLUSION

DEX inhibits OGD/R-induced inflammation and apoptosis in PC12 cells by increasing miR-17-5p expression, downregulating TLR4, and inhibiting NF-κB signaling.

Gastrodin and Vascular Dementia: Advances and Current Perspectives

Gastrodia elata, a traditional Chinese medicine, has been widely used since ancient times to treat diseases such as dizziness, epilepsy, stroke, and memory loss. Gastrodin, one of the active components of Gastrodia elata, has been used in the treatment of migraine, epilepsy, Parkinson's disease, dementia, and depression in recent years. It can improve cognitive function and related neuropsychiatric symptoms through various effects and is considered as a promising treatment for dementia. Vascular dementia is a kind of severe cognitive impairment syndrome caused by vascular factors, and it is the dementia syndrome with the largest number of patients besides Alzheimer's disease. Although there is still a lack of evidence-based explorations, the paper reviewed the mechanism and methods of gastrodin in the treatment of vascular dementia, providing a reference for clinical therapy.

Recent Advances in Chinese Herbal Medicine for Cerebral Ischemic Reperfusion Injury

Cerebral ischemic reperfusion injury (CI/RI) is a critical factor that leads to a poor prognosis in patients with ischemic stroke. It is an extremely complicated pathological process that is clinically characterized by high rates of disability and mortality. Current available treatments for CI/RI, including mechanical and drug therapies, are often accompanied by significant side effects. Therefore, it is necessary to discovery new strategies for treating CI/RI. Many studies confirm that Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) was used as a potential drug for treatment of CI/RI with the advantages of abundant resources, good efficacy, and few side effects. In this paper, we investigate the latest drug discoveries and advancements on CI/RI, make an overview of relevant CHM, and systematically summarize the pathophysiology of CI/RI. In addition, the protective effect and mechanism of related CHM, which includes extraction of single CHM and CHM formulation and preparation, are discussed. Moreover, an outline of the limitations of CHM and the challenges we faced are also presented. This review will be helpful for researchers further propelling the advancement of drugs and supplying more knowledge to support the application of previous discoveries in clinical drug applications against CI/RI.

Gastrodin Alleviates Cerebral Ischaemia/Reperfusion Injury by Inhibiting Pyroptosis by Regulating the lncRNA NEAT1/miR-22-3p Axis

Cerebral ischaemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury-induced irreversible brain injury is a major cause of mortality and functional impairment in ageing people. Gastrodin (GAS), derived from the traditional Chinese herbal medicine Tianma, has been reported to inhibit the progression of stroke, but the mechanism whereby GAS modulates the progression of cerebral I/R remains unclear. The middle cerebral artery occlusion method was used as a model of I/R in vivo. Rats were pretreated with GAS by intraperitoneal injection 7 days before I/R surgery and were then treated with GAS for 7 days after I/R surgery. Additionally, an oxygen-glucose deprivation/reoxygenation model using neuronal cells was established in vitro to simulate I/R injury. 2,3,5-Triphenyltetrazolium chloride and Nissl staining were used to evaluate infarct size and neuronal damage, respectively. Lactate dehydrogenase release and cell counting kit-8 assays were used to assess neuronal cell viability. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, qPCR, flow cytometry and western blotting were performed to analyse the expression levels of inflammatory factors (IL-1β, IL-18), lncRNA NEAT1, miR-22-3p, NLRP3 and cleaved caspase-1. Luciferase reporter experiments were performed to verify the association between lncRNA NEAT1 and miR-22-3p. The results indicated that GAS could significantly improve the neurological scores of rats and reduce the area of cerebral infarction. Meanwhile, GAS inhibited pyroptosis by downregulating NLRP3, inflammatory factors (IL-1β, IL-18) and cleaved caspase-1. In addition, GAS attenuated I/R-induced inflammation in neuronal cells through the modulation of the lncRNA NEAT1/miR-22-3p axis. GAS significantly attenuated cerebral I/R injury via modulation of the lncRNA NEAT1/miR-22-3p axis. Thus, GAS might serve as a new agent for the treatment of cerebral I/R injury.

JAK2 deficiency improves erectile function in diabetic mice through attenuation of oxidative stress, apoptosis, and fibrosis

Background

Janus kinase 2 (JAK2) is activated in diabetic mellitus (DM) conditions and may enhance oxidative stress, apoptosis and fibrosis in many tissues. Whether JAK2 activation is involved in the occurrence of diabetic erectile dysfunction (ED) is unknown.

Objectives

We performed this study to investigate the effect of JAK2 deficiency on diabetic ED.

Materials and methods

Conditional JAK2 gene knockout mice (Cre^+/+‐JAK2^fl/fl) were used, in which JAK2 gene knockout could be induced by tamoxifen. Mice fell into four groups: control, JAK2 knockout (JAK2^−/−), DM, and DM with JAK2^−/−. DM was induced by intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin. Two months later, JAK2 gene knockout was induced with tamoxifen in Cre^+/+‐JAK2^fl/fl mice. After another 2 months, erectile function was measured by electrical stimulation of the cavernous nerve, and penile tissues were harvested. Ratio of maximal intracavernosal pressure (MIP) to mean arterial blood pressure (MAP), expression and phosphorylation of JAK2, oxidative stress level, NO/Cyclic Guanosine Monophosphate (cGMP) pathway, apoptosis, fibrosis, and transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF‐β1)/Smad/Collagen IV pathway in corpus cavernosum, were measured.

Results

JAK2 expression was remarkably decreased after induction with tamoxifen. JAK2 was activated in penile tissues of diabetic mice, and JAK2 deficiency could improve the impaired erectile function caused by DM. However, in mice without DM, JAK2 deficiency had no apparent influence on erectile function. Levels of oxidative stress, apoptosis, fibrosis, and TGF‐β1/Smad/Collagen IV pathway were all elevated by DM, whereas JAK2 deficiency lessened these alterations in diabetic mice. Moreover, JAK2 deficiency improved the expression of the down‐regulated NO/cGMP pathway in diabetic mice. In non‐diabetic mice, no apparent changes were found in aforementioned parameters after JAK2 gene knockout.

Discussion and conclusion

Our study showed that JAK2 deficiency could improve erectile function in diabetic mice, which might be mediated by reduction in oxidative stress, apoptosis, and fibrosis in corpus cavernosum.

Hsa Circ 001839 Promoted Inflammation in Renal Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury Through NLRP3 by miR-432-3p

BACKGROUND

In recent years, increasing discovery of the extremely important regulatory effects of circular RNAs on biological development, angiogenesis, tumor genesis, and development, as well as stem cell proliferation and differentiation has provided new opportunities for investigating regulation mechanism in angiogenesis.

OBJECTIVES

This study explored the expression of circ 001839 in renal ischemia-reperfusion injury (RI-RI) rats and whether its upstream microRNA-432-3p (miR-432-3p) affects inflammation in both RI-RI rats and NRK52E cells.

METHODS

Rat model of RI-RI was made, and circ 001839 was identified by the gene-chip analysis in RI-RI rats. Expression of circ 001839 and miR-432-3p was measured by reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction, protein expression of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-1β, interferon (IFN)-γ, IL-6, and IL-18 in rat serum and cell supernatant was determined by ELISA, and the expression of NOD-like receptor 3 (NLRP3) and other gap-associated proteins in NRK52E cells was evaluated by Western blot analysis. Next, to verify the regulatory relationship between circ 001839 and miR-432-3p, 2 luciferase reporters were constructed.

RESULTS

Circ 001839 expression of RI-RI rats and NRK52E cells was significantly upregulated, compared with the control group. Circ 001839 overexpression significantly increased inflammation through promoting TNF-α, IFN-γ, and IL-6 expression levels in NRK52E cells. Overexpression of miR-432-3p significantly promoted inflammation in NRK52E cells via induction of NLRP3. Moreover, miR-432-3p decreased the effects of circ 001839-induced inflammation in NRK52E cells.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings suggested that circ 001839 promoted inflammation in RI-RI through NLRP3 by miR-432-3p.

Galectin-3 Mediated Inflammatory Response Contributes to Neurological Recovery by QiShenYiQi in Subacute Stroke Model

Effective therapies for stroke are still limited due to its complex pathological manifestations. QiShenYiQi (QSYQ), a component-based Chinese medicine capable of reducing organ injury caused by ischemia/reperfusion, may offer an alternative option for stroke treatment and post-stroke recovery. Recently, we reported a beneficial effect of QSYQ for acute stroke via modulation of the neuroinflammatory response. However, if QSYQ plays a role in subacute stroke remains unknown. The pharmacological action of QSYQ was investigated in experimental stroke rats which underwent 90 min ischemia and 8 days reperfusion in this study. Neurological and locomotive deficits, cerebral infarction, brain edema, and BBB integrity were assessed. TMT-based quantitative proteomics were performed to identify differentially expressed proteins following QSYQ treatment. Immunohistochemistry, western blot analysis, RT-qPCR, and ELISA were used to validate the proteomics data and to reveal the action mechanisms. Therapeutically, treatment with QSYQ (600 mg/kg) for 7 days significantly improved neurological recovery, attenuated infarct volume and brain edema, and alleviated BBB breakdown in the stroke rats. Bioinformatics analysis indicated that protein galectin-3 and its mediated inflammatory response was closely related to the beneficial effect of QSYQ. Specially, QSYQ (600 mg/kg) markedly downregulated the mRNA and protein expression levels of galectin-3, TNF-α, and IL-6 in CI/RI brain as well as serum levels of TNF-α and IL-6. Overall, our findings showed that the effective action of QSYQ against the subacute phase of CI/RI occurs partly via regulating galectin-3 mediated inflammatory reaction.

Classical Active Ingredients and Extracts of Chinese Herbal Medicines: Pharmacokinetics, Pharmacodynamics, and Molecular Mechanisms for Ischemic Stroke

Stroke is a leading cause of death and disability worldwide, and approximately 87% of cases are attributed to ischemia. The main factors that cause ischemic stroke include excitotoxicity, energy metabolism disorder, Ca⁺ overload, oxidative damage, apoptosis, autophagy, and inflammation. However, no effective drug is currently available for the comprehensive treatment of ischemic stroke in clinical applications; thus, there is an urgent need to find and develop comprehensive and effective drugs to treat postischemic stroke. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has unique advantages in treating ischemic stroke, with overall regulatory effects at multiple levels and on multiple targets. Many researchers have studied the effective components of TCMs and have achieved undeniable results. This paper reviews studies on the anticerebral ischemia effects of TCM monomers such as tetramethylpyrazine (TMP), dl-3-n-butylphthalide (NBP), ginsenoside Rg1 (Rg1), tanshinone IIA (TSA), gastrodin (Gas), and baicalin (BA) as well as effective extracts such as Ginkgo biloba extract (EGB). Research on the anticerebral ischemia effects of TCMs has focused mostly on their antioxidative stress, antiapoptotic, anti-inflammatory, proangiogenic, and proneurogenic effects. However, the research on the use of TCM to treat ischemic stroke remains incompletely characterized. Thus, we summarized and considered this topic from the perspective of pharmacokinetics, pharmacological effects, and mechanistic research, and we have provided a reference basis for future research and development on anticerebral ischemia TCM drugs.

The protective effect of gastrodin against the synergistic effect of HIV-Tat protein and METH on the blood-brain barrier via glucose transporter 1 and glucose transporter 3

Many individuals infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) are also afflicted with HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders (HANDs). Methamphetamine (METH) abuse puts HIV-1 patients at risk for HANDs because METH and HIV-1 proteins, such as trans-activator of transcription (Tat), can synergistically damage the blood-brain barrier (BBB). However, the underlying mechanism of METH- and HIV-Tat-induced BBB damage remains unclear. In this study, male adult tree shrews and human brain capillary endothelial cells were treated with HIV-Tat, METH, and gastrodin. We used western blotting to examine the expressions of glucose transporters (GLUT1 and GLUT3), tight junctions, and junctional adhesion molecule A (JAMA) and to evaluate the damage and detect Evans blue (EB) and fluorescein sodium in the brain to assess BBB permeability to study the effect of METH and the HIV-1 Tat protein on BBB function in vitro and in vivo. The results showed that the group treated with Tat and METH experienced a significant change at the ultrastructural level of the tree shrew cerebral cortex, decreased protein levels of occluding, claudin-5, Zonula occludens 1 (ZO1), and JAMA in vitro and in vivo, and increased levels of EB and fluorescein sodium in the tree shrew cerebral cortex. The protein levels of GLUT1 and GLUT3 was downregulated in patients with Tat- and METH-induced BBB damage. Pretreatment with gastrodin significantly increased the levels of EB and fluorescein sodium in the tree shrew cerebral cortex and increased the expressions of occluding, ZO1, JAMA, and GLUT1 and GLUT. These results indicate that gastrodin may offer a potential therapeutic option for patients with HANDs.

Gastrodin Promotes the Survival of Random-Pattern Skin Flaps via Autophagy Flux Stimulation

The random-pattern flap has a significant application in full mouth restoration (reconstructive surgery) and plastic surgery owing to an easy operation with no axial vascular restriction. However, distal necrosis after flap operation is still considered the most common complication which makes it the Achilles heel in the clinical application of random-pattern flaps. A Chinese medicinal herb named gastrodin is an effective active ingredient of Gastrodia. Herein, the existing study explored the significant potential of gastrodin on flap survival and its underlying mechanism. Our obtained results show that gastrodin will significantly improve flap survival, reduce tissue edema, and increase blood flow. Furthermore, our studies reveal that gastrodin can promote angiogenesis and reduce the apoptotic process as well as oxidative stress. The results of immunohistochemistry and immunoblotting revealed that gastrodin has a role in the elevation of autophagy flux which results in induced autophagy. The use of 3MA (3-methyladenine) for the inhibition of induced autophagy significantly weakened the underlying benefits of gastrodin treatment. Taken together, our obtained results confirmed that gastrodin is an effective drug that can considerably promote the survival rate of flaps (random pattern) via enhancing autophagy. Enhanced autophagy is correlated with the elevation of angiogenesis, reduced level of oxidative stress, and inhibition of cell apoptosis.

Network Pharmacology-Based Prediction of Catalpol and Mechanisms against Stroke

Aim

To apply the network pharmacology method to screen the target of catalpol prevention and treatment of stroke, and explore the pharmacological mechanism of Catalpol prevention and treatment of stroke.

Methods

PharmMapper, GeneCards, DAVID, and other databases were used to find key targets. We selected hub protein and catalpol which were screened for molecular docking verification. Based on the results of molecular docking, the ITC was used to determine the binding coefficient between the highest scoring protein and catalpol. The GEO database and ROC curve were used to evaluate the correlation between key targets.

Results

27 key targets were obtained by mapping the predicted catalpol-related targets to the disease. Hub genes (ALB, CASP3, MAPK1 (14), MMP9, ACE, KDR, etc.) were obtained in the key target PPI network. The results of KEGG enrichment analysis showed that its signal pathway was involved in angiogenic remodeling such as VEGF, neurotrophic factors, and inflammation. The results of molecular docking showed that ACE had the highest docking score. Therefore, the ITC was used for the titration of ACE and catalpol. The results showed that catalpol had a strong binding force with ACE.

Conclusion

Network pharmacology combined with molecular docking predicts key genes, proteins, and signaling pathways for catalpol in treating stroke. The strong binding force between catalpol and ACE was obtained by using ITC, and the results of molecular docking were verified to lay the foundation for further research on the effect of catalpol on ACE. ROC results showed that the AUC values of the key targets are all >0.5. This article uses network pharmacology to provide a reference for a more in-depth study of catalpol's mechanism and experimental design.

Natural Products for the Treatment of Neurodegenerative Diseases

Neurodegenerative diseases are a heterogeneous group of disorders characterized by the progressive degeneration of the structure and function of the central nervous system or peripheral nervous system. Alzheimer's Disease (AD), Parkinson's Disease (PD) and Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) are the common neurodegenerative diseases, which typically occur in people over the age of 60. With the rapid development of an aged society, over 60 million people worldwide are suffering from these uncurable diseases. Therefore, the search for new drugs and therapeutic methods has become an increasingly important research topic. Natural products especially those from the Traditional Chinese Medicines (TCMs), are the most important sources of drugs, and have received extensive interest among pharmacist. In this review, in order to facilitate further chemical modification of those useful natural products by pharmacists, we will bring together recent studies in single natural compound from TCMs with neuroprotective effect.

A simplified LC−MS/MS approach for simultaneous quantification and pharmacokinetics of five compounds in rats following oral administration of Gastrodia elata extract

Background

To support the multicomponent pharmacokinetics of Gastrodia elata, a rapid, simple, and sensitive ultra-performance liquid chromatography tandem with mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS) approach was established for simultaneous quantification of gastrodin, parishin A, parishin B, parishin C, and parishin E.

Methods

Five compounds were extracted from plasma by using one-step protein precipitation. The chromatographic separation was achieved on a C18 column with gradient mobile phase comprising acetonitrile and 0.05% formic acid. The detection was performed using negative electrospray ionization in multiple reaction monitoring mode.

Results

This new method maximizes assay throughput by using minimal sample clean-up procedures and a shorter analytical run time. The approach exhibited good linearity for the five compounds (r2 > 0.995) in the concentration ranges. The lower limits of quantification (LLOQ) were determined as 1.37 ng/mL for parishin A, parishin B, parishin C, and parishin E and 10 ng/mL for gastrodin. Then the method was fully validated with intra- and inter-day precision, accuracy, matrix effects, extraction recovery, and stability.

Conclusion

This validated approach was successfully applied to the pharmacokinetic study following oral administration of Gastrodia elata extract to rats. This investigation may provide some guidance for the clinical application and explanation of the pharmacological mechanism of Gastrodia elata.

Microglia mediated neuroinflammation - signaling regulation and therapeutic considerations with special reference to some natural compounds

Neuroinflammation plays a central role in multiple neurodegenerative diseases and neurological disorders such as Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD), cerebral ischemic injury etc. In this connection, microglia, the key players in the central nervous system, mediate the inflammatory response process. In brain injuries, activated microglia can clear the cellular debris and invading pathogens and release neurotrophic factors; however, prolonged microglia activation may cause neuronal death through excessive release of inflammatory mediators. Therefore, it is of paramount importance to understand the underlying molecular mechanisms of microglia activation to design an effective therapeutic strategy to alleviate neuronal injury. Recent studies have shown that some natural compounds and herbal extracts possess anti-inflammatory properties that may suppress microglial activation and ameliorate neuroinflammation and hence are neuroprotective. In this review, we will update some of the common signaling pathways that regulate microglia activation. Among the various signaling pathways, the Notch-1, mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs), and nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB) have been reported to exacerbate microglia mediated neuroinflammation that is implicated in different neuropathological diseases. The search for natural compounds or agents, specifically those derived from natural herbal extracts such as Gastrodin, scutellarin, RG1 etc. has been the focus of many of our recent studies because they have been found to regulate microglia activation. The pharmacological effects of these agents and their potential mechanisms for regulating microglia activation are systematically reviewed here for a fuller understanding of their biochemical action and therapeutic potential for treatment of microglia mediated neuropathological diseases.

The improvement effect of gastrodin on LPS/GalN-induced fulminant hepatitis via inhibiting inflammation and apoptosis and restoring autophagy

Fulminant hepatitis (FH), characterized by overwhelmed inflammation and massive hepatocyte apoptosis, is a life-threatening and high mortality rate. Gastrodin (GTD), a phenolic glucoside extracted from Gastrodiaelata Blume, exerts anti-apoptosis, and anti-inflammatory activities. In the present study, we aimed to evaluate whether GTD treatment could alleviate lipopolysaccharide and d-galactosamine (LPS/GalN)-induced FH in mice and its potential mechanisms. These data suggested that GTD treatment remarkably protected against LPS/GalN-induced FH by enhancing the survival rate of mice, reducing ALT and AST levels, attenuating histopathological changes, and suppressing interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α secretion. In addition, GTD treatment relieved hepatic apoptosis by the regulation of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs), P53 and caspase-3/9. Furthermore, GTD treatment could significantly inhibit inflammation-related signaling pathways activated by LPS/GalN, including the suppression of nucleotide-binding domain (NOD)-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) and nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) activation. Importantly, GTD treatment effectively restored but not induced LPS/GalN-reduced the expression of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC) phosphorylation, as well as the level of pro-autophagy proteins. Taken together, our investigation indicated that GTD played an essential role in liver protection by relieving hepatocyte apoptosis and inflammation reaction, which may be closely involved in the inhibition of NLRP3 inflammasome and NF-κB activation, regulation of apoptosis-related proteins expression, and the recovery of AMPK/ACC/autophagy.

The Potential Role of PKA/CREB Signaling Pathway Concerned with Gastrodin Administration on Methamphetamine-Induced Conditioned Place Preference Rats and SH-SY5Y Cell Line

To investigate the effects of gastrodin (GAS) on methamphetamine (MA)-induced conditioned place preference (CPP) in rats and explore its potential mechanisms. MA (10 mg/kg) was initially injected intraperitoneally (i.p.) in rats, after which they were administered either MA or saline alternately from day 4 to 13 (D4-13) for 10 days, followed by treatment with GAS (10 or 20 mg/kg, i.p.) on D15-21 for 7 days. The rats underwent CPP testing after MA and GAS treatment. In vitro, SH-SY5Y cells were exposed to MA (2.0 mM) for 24 h, followed by treatment with GAS (2.0 or 4.0 mM) for 24 h. The expression levels of PKA, P-PKA, CREB, and P-CREB proteins in the prefrontal cortex, nucleus accumbens, and ventral tegmental area of MA-induced CPP rats and in SH-SY5Y cells were detected by Western blot analysis. The MA-induced CPP rat model was successfully established. The administration of MA stimulated a significant alteration in behavior, as measured by the CPP protocol. After treatment with GAS, the amount of time rats spent in the MA-paired chamber was significantly reduced. Results also showed that MA increased the expression levels of PKA, P-PKA, CREB, and p-CREB proteins in the prefrontal cortex, nucleus accumbens, and ventral tegmental area of CPP rats and in SH-SY5Y cells (p < 0.05). GAS attenuated the effect of MA-induced CPP in rats and decreased the expression levels of proteins in vivo and in vitro. Our study suggests that GAS can attenuate the effects of MA-induced CPP in rats by regulating the PKA/CREB signaling pathway.

Effects of gastrodin against carbon tetrachloride induced kidney inflammation and fibrosis in mice associated with the AMPK/Nrf2/HMGB1 pathway

Gastrodin (GAS), the main phenolic glycoside extracted from Gastrodia elata Blume, exhibits potential renoprotective properties.

Iridoid glycosides from Radix Scrophulariae attenuates focal cerebral ischemia‑reperfusion injury via inhibiting endoplasmic reticulum stress‑mediated neuronal apoptosis in rats

Iridoid glycosides of Radix Scrophulariae (IGRS) are a group of the major bioactive components from Radix Scrophulariae with extensive pharmacological activities. The present study investigated the effects of IGRS on cerebral ischemia‑reperfusion injury (CIRI) and explored its potential mechanisms of action. A CIRI model in rats was established by occlusion of the right middle cerebral artery for 90 min, followed by 24 h of reperfusion. Prior to surgery, 30, 60 or 120 mg/kg IGRS was administered to the rats once a day for 7 days. Then, the neurological scores, brain edema and volume of the cerebral infarction were measured. The apoptosis index was determined by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase mediated dUTP nick end labeling. The effects of IGRS on the histopathology of the cortex in brain tissues and the endoplasmic reticulum ultrastructure in the hippocampus were analyzed. Finally, the expression of endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS)‑regulating mediators, endoplasmic reticulum chaperone BiP (GRP78), DNA damage‑inducible transcript 3 protein (CHOP) and caspase‑12, were detected by reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT‑qPCR) and western blot analysis. The volume of cerebral infarction and brain water content in the IGRS‑treated groups treated at doses of 60 and 120 mg/kg were decreased significantly compared with the Model group. The neurological scores were also significantly decreased in the IGRS‑treated groups. IGRS treatment effectively decreased neuronal apoptosis resulting from CIRI‑induced neuron injury. In addition, the histopathological damage and the endoplasmic reticulum ultrastructure injury were partially improved in CIRI rats following IGRS treatment. RT‑qPCR and western blot analysis data indicated that IGRS significantly decreased the expression levels of GRP78, CHOP and caspase‑12 at both mRNA and protein levels. The results of the present study demonstrated that IGRS exerted a protective effect against CIRI in brain tissue via the inhibition of apoptosis and ERS.

Gastrodin Attenuates Neuronal Apoptosis and Neurological Deficits after Experimental Intracerebral Hemorrhage

OBJECTIVE

Gastrodin, a glucoside of gastrodigenin, inhibits cerebral oxidant stress and apoptosis in multiple central nervous system injury, but its effect in intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) remains unclear. This study investigated the effect of gastrodin on neuronal apoptosis and neurological deficits in rat ICH model.

METHODS

In vitro experiments were performed using hematoma lysate-induced cell damage model in primary cortical neurons. Rat ICH model was produced by a caudatum injection of collagenase. Gastrodin was intraperitoneal injected after 2 hours following ICH. Cell viability, brain water content, neurological score, western blot, and immunofluorescence experiments were performed.

RESULTS

Gastrodin significantly decreased hematoma lysate-induced reduction of cell viability and cell apoptosis in primary cortical neurons. Gastrodin significantly improved brain edema and neurological deficits post-ICH. Moreover, gastrodin administration significantly reduced levels of ROS, 8-OHDG, 3-Nitrotyrosine and MDA, while increased GSH-Px and SOD activity, and stimulated the upregulation of Keap1, Nrf2, and HO-1 signaling at 72 hours post-ICH. Furthermore, gastrodin significantly increased Bcl-2 expression, while reduced level of Bax, active caspase-3 and active caspase-9, also reduced the number of active caspase-3 or TUNEL positive neurons at 72 hours post-ICH.

CONCLUSION

These results suggest that gastrodin is neuroprotective after ICH and the mechanism may be associated with the inhibition of oxidative stress and neuronal apoptosis.

Exploring the effects of Gastrodia elata Blume on the treatment of cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury using UPLC-Q/TOF-MS-based plasma metabolomics

Gastrodia elata Blume (Orchidaceae, GEB) is a medicinal plant that has been widely used in the treatment of cerebrovascular disease. This study explored the protective effects of GEB against cerebral ischemia-reperfusion using Information-Dependent Acquisition (IDA)-mediated UPLC-Q/TOF-MS-based plasma metabolomics. Cerebral ischemia-reperfusion (IR) injury was induced in male Wistar rats using the Zea Longa method. Biochemical and histological assays were performed to evaluate the therapeutic effects of GEB on IR rats. We found that the neurobehavioral scores and infarction areas of GEB and nimodipine treated groups were dramatically lower than those of the IR groups. Hematoxylin and Eosin (HE) staining and TdT-mediated dUTP Nick-End Labeling (TUNEL) showed that GEB significantly improved neuronal injury and prevented neuronal apoptosis. Biochemical analysis revealed that GEB prevented cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury by regulating inflammation and oxidative injury. Through ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry-metabolomics-based approaches, 43 plasma metabolites related to GEB treatment were detected, 6 of which significantly differed (p < 0.05) between the model and GEB groups. The levels of l-histidine, sphinganine, thymine, spermidine and deoxycytidine in the IR group were significantly higher than those in the sham group, but decreased following GEB treatment. Arachidonic acid levels were lower in the IR group, but dramatically increased in response to GEB. Pharmacodynamics and metabolomics confirmed that the mechanism of GEB in the treatment of cerebral ischemia was not only related to the reduction of inflammation, oxidation, neurotoxicity, and apoptosis, but also mediated through arachidonic acid metabolism, histidine metabolism, pyrimidine metabolism, arginine and proline metabolism, sphingolipid metabolism, and glycerophospholipid metabolism in vivo.

Gastrodin combined with rhynchophylline inhibits cerebral ischaemia-induced inflammasome activation via upregulating miR-21-5p and miR-331-5p

BACKGROUND

The protective effects of gastrodin and rhynchophylline in ischaemic injury have been reported. However, the underlying mechanism and the effect of the combination of these two drugs in ischaemic injury remain unclear. Herein, we aimed to explore the effects of the combination of gastrodin and rhynchophylline on ischaemia-induced inflammasome activation as well as the underlying mechanism.

METHODS

Middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) mice and oxygen glucose deprivation (OGD)-treated BV2 cells were used as in vivo and in vitro models of ischaemia, respectively. Cerebral injury was determined by TTC staining, H&E staining and neurological deficit scores. The effects of the combination of gastrodin and rhynchophylline on inflammasome activation were measured by the MTT assay, Western blotting and ELISA. The expression of miR-21-5p and miR-331-5p was measured by qRT-PCR. The potential binding between miR-21-5p and TXNIP and between miR-331-5p and TRAF6 was analysed with Targetscan and a luciferase assay.

RESULTS

MCAO-induced tissue infarction, neurological deficits, inflammasome activation, and downregulation of miR-21-5p and miR-331-5p were all mitigated by the combination of gastrodin and rhynchophylline. In OGD-treated BV2 cells, the combination of gastrodin and rhynchophylline also alleviated inflammasome activation and restored the expression of miR-21-5p and miR-331-5p. TXNIP and TRAF6 were confirmed to be targets of miR-21-5p and miR-331-5p, respectively. Moreover, OGD-induced inflammasome activation was attenuated by the overexpression of either miR-331-5p or miR-21-5p and was further attenuated by the overexpression of both. Finally, we demonstrated that a miR-21-5p inhibitor and/or a miR-331-5p inhibitor counteracted the protective effects of gastrodin and/or rhynchophylline.

CONCLUSIONS

The combination of gastrodin and rhynchophylline exerts neuroprotective effects by preventing ischaemia-induced inflammasome activation via upregulating miR-21-5p and miR-331-5p.

Calpain inhibition improves erectile function in diabetic mice via upregulating endothelial nitric oxide synthase expression and reducing apoptosis

Calpain activation contributes to hyperglycemia-induced endothelial dysfunction and apoptosis. This study was designed to investigate the role of calpain inhibition in improving diabetic erectile dysfunction (ED) in mice. Thirty-eight-week-old male C57BL/6J mice were divided into three groups: (1) nondiabetic control group, (2) diabetic mice + vehicle group, and (3) diabetic mice + MDL28170 (an inhibitor of calpain) group. Type 1 diabetes was induced by intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin at 60 mg kg⁻¹ body weight for 5 consecutive days. Thirteen weeks later, diabetic mice were treated with MDL28170 or vehicle for 4 weeks. The erectile function was assessed by electrical stimulation of the cavernous nerve. Penile tissues were collected for measurement of calpain activity and the endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS)-nitric oxide (NO)-cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) pathway. Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase 2'-deoxyuridine 5'-triphosphate nick end labeling (TUNEL) staining was used to evaluate apoptosis. Caspase-3 expression and activity were also measured to determine apoptosis. Our results showed that erectile function was enhanced by MDL28170 treatment in diabetic mice compared with the vehicle diabetic group. No differences in calpain-1 and calpain-2 expressions were observed among the three groups. However, calpain activity was increased in the diabetic group and reduced by MDL28170. The eNOS-NO-cGMP pathway was upregulated by MDL28170 treatment in diabetic mice. Additionally, MDL28170 could attenuate apoptosis and increase the endothelium and smooth muscle levels in corpus cavernosum. Inhibition of calpain could improve erectile function, probably by upregulating the eNOS-NO-cGMP pathway and reducing apoptosis.

Huoluo Yinao decoction mitigates cognitive impairments after chronic cerebral hypoperfusion in rats

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Huoluo Yinao decoction (HLYND) has been used to ameliorate cognitive impairment induced by chronic cerebral hypoperfusion in clinical for years. However, the exact mechanisms remain unknown.

AIM OF THE STUDY

To investigate the effects and mechanisms underlying HLYND-mediated improvement in cognitive deficits associated with chronic cerebral hypoperfusion.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Thirty-six Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly allocated to three groups: sham, model, and HLYND. Daily administration of HLYND or volume-matched vehicle by gavage was initiated 1 day after bilateral carotid artery stenosis (BCAS) and continued for 42 days. The Morris water maze (MWM) test was used to assess cognitive functions from days 36-42. Via western blot and immunofluorescent staining, restoration of neuronal plasticity and remyelination of white matter were evaluated by analyzing the expression profiles of MAP-2, synaptophysin and MBP. In addition, macrophage/microglial activation was assessed by quantifying changes in Iba1, and macrophage/microglial polarization was assessed by changes in iNOS and CD16 (M1 markers), as well as Arg1 and CD206 (M2 markers).

RESULTS

In the MWM test, BCAS rats showed significantly extended escape latency and reduced platform crossing times, while those in the HLYND group had shortened escape latency and increased frequency of platform crossing. In addition, rats in the model group showed decreased levels and abnormal morphological changes of MAP-2, synaptophysin and MBP, whereas HLYND administration reversed these effects. As expected, Iba1 levels were elevated in both the model and HLYND groups but rats in the model group showed increased levels of the M1 markers, iNOS and CD16, and a correspondent decrease in the M2 marker, Arg1. In contrast, in the HLYND group, iNOS and CD16 levels were suppressed, while Arg1 levels were elevated.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings demonstrate that HLYND mitigates cognitive impairment after chronic cerebral hypoperfusion in rats through mechanisms involving increased neuronal plasticity and white matter remyelination, with a subtile modulation of macrophage/microglial polarization toward the M2 phenotype.

Nrf2 Mediates the Anti-apoptotic and Anti-inflammatory Effects Induced by Gastrodin in Hydrogen Peroxide-Treated SH-SY5Y Cells

Redox impairment, inflammation, and increased rates of cell death are central players during neurodegeneration. In that context, activation of the transcription factor nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) has been viewed as an interesting strategy in order to reduce the impact of redox dysfunction and neuroinflammation on cell fate. There is evidence indicating that the benefits caused by natural products in the brain may be due to the ability of these agents in upregulating Nrf2. Gastrodin (GAS) induces anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-apoptotic actions in brain cells. Nonetheless, the mechanisms underlying such effects are not clear yet. Therefore, we investigated here whether GAS would affect apoptosis and inflammation in the human neuroblastoma cell line (SH-SY5Y) exposed to hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂). GAS at 1-25 μM was administrated to the cells during 30 min before a challenge with H₂O₂ at 300 μM for additional 24 h. GAS prevented the activation of the intrinsic apoptotic pathway by modulating the levels of Bcl-2 and Bax, causing a decrease in the release of cytochrome c to the cytosol. GAS also prevented the activation of the pro-apoptotic enzymes caspase-9 and caspase-3. Consequently, GAS abrogated poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) cleavage and DNA fragmentation in the H₂O₂-treated SH-SY5Y cells. Moreover, GAS reduced the levels of interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and the activity of nuclear factor-κB in H₂O₂-treated cells. Silencing of Nrf2 by small interfering RNA (siRNA) suppressed the GAS-induced cytoprotection. Thus, GAS elicited anti-apoptotic and anti-inflammatory effects by a mechanism involving Nrf2 in SH-SY5Y cells.

Gastrodin pretreatment alleviates rat brain injury caused by cerebral ischemic-reperfusion

Brain damage, including blood-brain barrier (BBB) dysfunction, neurological behavior deficit, cerebral infarction and inflammation, is commonly caused by ischemic-reperfusion (I/R) injury. Prevention of the above biological process defects is considered beneficial for patient recovery after I/R injury. This study was aimed to assess the neuroprotective effect of Gastrodin (GAS), an herbal agent, in experimentally induced cerebral ischemia. Sprague-Dawley adult rats were randomly divided into six groups: Sham-operated control group (Sham), middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) group, GAS (50, 100, and 200 mg/kg) pretreatment + MCAO groups (GAS) and Nimodipine (NIM) + MCAO, namely, the NIM group. Additionally, an OGD/R model using BV-2 microglia was established in vitro to simulate I/R injury. We showed here that the neurological scores of rats in the GAS groups were significantly improved compared with the MCAO group. Moreover, the area of cerebral infarction in the GAS pretreatment groups and the NIM group was significantly reduced. Furthermore, Evans blue leakage volume was significantly reduced with GAS pretreatment notably at dose 100 mg/kg. Expression of matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP2) and MMP9 in GAS groups was markedly decreased when compared with MCAO group. In BV-2 microglia exposed to OGD/R given GAS pretreatment, MMP2 and MMP9 positive cells were reduced in numbers. The present results have shown that GAS pretreatment significantly compensated for neurological behavior defects in rats with I/R-induced injury, reduced brain infarction size, reversed BBB impairment, and attenuated inflammation. It is suggested that pretreatment with GAS before surgery is beneficial during recovery from I/R injury.

Post-stroke gastrodin treatment ameliorates ischemic injury and increases neurogenesis and restores the Wnt/β-Catenin signaling in focal cerebral ischemia in mice

Cerebral ischemic stroke is one of the leading causes of death and disability worldwide, and the only available drug treatment is limited to a short window following the ischemic event. Gastrodin is the major bioactive constituent extracted from thetuberGastrodia elata, and is currently used to treat dizziness in the clinic. "Early" application of gastrodin (before modeling or immediately after ischemic injury) has shown antioxidative and neuroprotective effects in a transient focal brain ischemia model in rodents; however, it is not known whether the delayed administration of gastrodin after permanent focal cerebral ischemia ameliorates neural injury and increases neurogenesis. In this study, we performed a permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) model for the study of cerebral ischemic stroke in adult male mice to examine the effects of gastrodin. Gastrodin treatment that was started "late" (one day after the ischemic injury) significantly improved neural function, reduced infarct volume and apoptosis, and increased the number of DCX/BrdU double-positive cells in permanent MCAO mice. Moreover, gastrodin treatment markedly preserved the Wnt/β-Catenin signaling pathway, which could promote neurogenesis and provide neuroprotection brain injury. Our findings suggest that gastrodin treatment following ischemic injury can induce neuroprotection, promote neurogenesis and restored the Wnt /β-Catenin signaling pathway.

Effect of Gastrodin on Early Brain Injury and Neurological Outcome After Subarachnoid Hemorrhage in Rats

Gastrodin is a phenolic glycoside that has been demonstrated to provide neuroprotection in preclinical models of central nervous system disease, but its effect in subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) remains unclear. In this study, we showed that intraperitoneal administration of gastrodin (100 mg/kg per day) significantly attenuated the SAH-induced neurological deficit, brain edema, and increased blood-brain barrier permeability in rats. Meanwhile, gastrodin treatment significantly reduced the SAH-induced elevation of glutamate concentration in the cerebrospinal fluid and the intracellular Ca²⁺ overload. Moreover, gastrodin suppressed the SAH-induced microglial activation, astrocyte activation, and neuronal apoptosis. Mechanistically, gastrodin significantly reduced the oxidative stress and inflammatory response, up-regulated the expression of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2, heme oxygenase-1, phospho-Akt and B-cell lymphoma 2, and down-regulated the expression of BCL2-associated X protein and cleaved caspase-3. Our results suggested that the administration of gastrodin provides neuroprotection against early brain injury after experimental SAH.

Gastrodin Alleviates Cognitive Dysfunction and Depressive-Like Behaviors by Inhibiting ER Stress and NLRP3 Inflammasome Activation in db/db Mice

Patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) suffer more risks from diabetic encephalopathy such as cognitive dysfunction and depressive-like behaviors. Numerous studies show that ER (endoplasmic reticulum) stress and inflammation play important roles in the development of diabetic encephalopathy. Gastrodin (Gas), one major component of Gastrodia elata, is traditionally used in central nervous system disorders and is believed to possess anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptotic, and other neuroprotective effects. This present study aims to explore the protective effects of Gas on diabetic encephalopathy. Gas was administrated daily (70 and 140 mg/Kg) for 12 weeks. Meanwhile, the fasting blood glucose and body weight of db/db mice were measured every two weeks. After Gas treatment, the Morris water maze (MWM) test and novel object recognition (NOR) test were performed to assess the learning and memory functions of db/db mice, and the forced swim test was performed to evaluate depressive-like behaviors of db/db mice. Additionally, the expression of ER stress and Nucleotide binding and oligomerization domain-like (Nod) receptor family pyrin domain-containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome related proteins were evaluated by using Western blot. Our study suggested that Gas attenuated blood glucose levels and dyslipidemia of db/db mice. It has been shown that Gas could improve learning and memory function and depressive-like behaviors of db/db mice. Moreover, Gas inhibited ER stress and NLRP3 inflammasome activation in the hippocampus. Taken together, this study demonstrates that Gas attenuates the diabetic encephalopathy by inhibiting ER stress and NLRP3 inflammasome activation.

Efficacy and safety of Tianmabianchunzhigan in mild to moderate vascular dementia: Protocol of a randomized controlled IIa trial

BACKGROUND

Vascular dementia (VaD) is the 2nd most common subtype of dementia after Alzheimer disease. Currently, there are no medications approved for treating patients with VaD. Tianmabianchunzhigan (TMBCZG) tablet is an active ingredient extracted from Gastrodia that has been reported to improve memory and other cognition. And the TBMCZG has been approved clinical trial with patients with VaD by center for drug evaluation of China (CFDA). To evaluate the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of TMBCZG tablets in the treatment of mild to moderate VaD, we designed and reported the methodology for a 24-week, randomized, double-blind, parallel, placebo-controlled, multicenter trial.

METHODS

A total of 160 patients with mild to moderate VaD will be enrolled. After a 2-week run-in period, the eligible patients will be randomized to receive either TMBCZG high-dose group (TBMCZG 3 tablets, twice per day); TMBCZG middle-dose group (TMBCZG 2 tablets and placebo 1 tablet twice per day); TMBCZG low-dose group (TMBCZG 1 tablet and placebo 2 tablets, twice per day); placebo group (placebo 3 tablets, twice per day) for 24 weeks, with a follow-up 12 weeks after withdrawn drug treatment. The primary efficacy measurement will be the vascular dementia assessment scale-cognitive subscale and the Clinical Dementia Rating-Sum of the Boxes scale. The secondary efficacy measurements will include the mini mental state examination and activities of daily living. Adverse events will also be reported.

DISCUSSION

This randomized trial will be the 1st rigorous study on the efficacy and safety of TMBCZG tablets for treating cognitive symptoms in patients with VaD using a rational design.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03230071. Registered on July 26, 2017.

Gastrodin exerts robust neuroprotection in the postischemic brain via its protective effect against Zn2+-toxicity and its anti-oxidative effects in astrocytes

Gastrodin (GAS) is a predominant bioactive constituent of the Chinese herbal medicine Tianma (Gastrodia elata Blume). Many authors have reported GAS has the beneficial effect on diverse diseases of the CNS, including epilepsy, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and cerebral ischemia. Here, we report GAS exhibited a robust neuroprotective effect in an Sprague-Dawley rat model of stroke (transient middle cerebral artery occlusion, tMCAO), and show that the underlying molecular mechanism involves its protective effect against Zn²⁺-toxicity and its anti-oxidative effects in astrocytes. Intraperitoneal administration of GAS (40 mg/kg) after MCAO reduced mean infarct volume to 30.1 ± 5.9% of that of MCAO controls and this neuroprotective effect was accompanied by neurological function recoveries which was measured using modified neurological severity score (mNSS). Interestingly, GAS induced up-regulation and nuclear translocation of Nrf2, and subsequently increased the expressions of anti-oxidative genes, such as, HO-1 and GCLM, in astrocytes. Furthermore, GAS co- or pre-treatment markedly suppressed Zn²⁺-induced cell death caused by excessive ROS production and PARP-1 induction. We found that GAS suppressed p67 expression and PAR formation in astrocytes, which might underlie the anti- Zn²⁺-toxicity and anti-oxidative effects of GAS in astrocytes. These findings indicate GAS protects astrocytes from Zn²⁺-induced toxicity and oxidative stress and these effects contribute to its neuroprotective effects in the postischemic brain.