Safety and efficacy of a feed additive consisting of a tincture derived from the dried fruit of Schisandra chinensis (Turcz.) Baill. (omicha tincture) for poultry, horses, dogs and cats (FEFANA asbl)

Following a request from the European Commission, EFSA was asked to deliver a scientific opinion on the safety and efficacy of a tincture from the dried fruit of Schisandra chinensis (Turcz.) Baill. (omicha tincture), when used as a sensory additive in feed for horses, cats, dogs, and in feed and in water for drinking for poultry. The product is a water/ethanol (55:45 v/v) solution, with a dry matter content of not more than 4% (w/w) and a content of 0.01%-0.15% (w/w) for the sum of schisandrin and deoxyschisandrin. The Panel on Additives and Products or Substances used in Animal Feed (FEEDAP) concluded that omicha tincture is safe at the following concentrations in complete feed: 16 mg/kg for turkeys for fattening, 12 mg/kg for chickens for fattening and other poultry for fattening or reared for laying/reproduction, 18 mg/kg for laying hens and other laying/reproductive birds, 56 mg/kg for dogs and 47 mg/kg for horses and cats. The additive is considered safe for consumers when used up to the highest safe level in feed for poultry species and horses. Omicha tincture should be considered as irritants to skin and eyes, and as dermal and respiratory sensitisers. The use of omicha tincture as a flavour in feed for poultry species and horses was not considered to be a risk to the environment. Since it was recognised that the fruit of S. chinensis can influence sensory properties of feedingstuffs, no further demonstration of efficacy was considered necessary for the tincture under assessment.

Inhibitory effect of Schisandrin on the pharmacokinetics of poziotinib in vivo and in vitro by UPLC-MS/MS

BACKGROUND

As a pan-HER tyrosine kinase inhibitor with a promising application prospect, poziotinib is likely to be coadministered with Schisandrins in clinical treatment due to its anticancer activities.

METHODS

Eighteen Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into three groups: Schisandrin A group and Schisandrin B group (20 mg/kg daily for 1 week), and control group (vehicle). On day 8, poziotinib (2 mg/kg) was administered by oral gavage 30 min later. An in vitro study was developed to identify the possible mechanisms of Schisandrins on poziotinib metabolism. All analytes were detected by UPLC/MS-MS, and molecular docking was performed by AutoDock Tools.

RESULTS

When rats were preadministered with Schisandrin A, AUC_(0-∞) and Cmax of poziotinib were obviously increased by 0.79- and 1.17-fold, whereas the Vz/F and CLz/F values were dramatically decreased. The results in Schisandrin B group presented similarly. Both Schisandrin A and Schisandrin B were mixed inhibitors of poziotinib in RLMs, and Schisandrin B showed stronger inhibitory activity with IC₅₀ values of 2.55 μM for M1 and 6.97 μM for M2. Molecular docking analysis demonstrated that Schisandrin A and Schisandrin B exhibited a strong binding ability towards CYP2D6 as compared to CYP3A4.

CONCLUSION

All results provided the direct evidence of the pharmacokinetic drug-drug interactions (DDIs) between Schisandrin and poziotinib. Thus, particular attention should be paid when poziotinib is taken together with Schisandrins in clinical practice.

Cardioprotective Potential of Berries of Schisandra chinensis Turcz. (Baill.), Their Components and Food Products

Schisandra chinensis (S. chinensis) berries, originally a component of traditional herbal medicine in China, Korea, and other east Asian countries, are also valuable agents in modern phototherapy. S. chinensis berry preparations, including extracts and their chemical components, demonstrate anti-cancer, hepatoprotective, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties, among others. These valuable properties, and their therapeutic potential, are conditioned by the unique chemical composition of S. chinensis berries, particularly their lignan content. About 40 of these compounds, mainly dibenzocyclooctane type, were isolated from S. chinensis. The most important bioactive lignans are schisandrin (also denoted as schizandrin or schisandrol A), schisandrin B, schisantherin A, schisantherin B, schisanhenol, deoxyschisandrin, and gomisin A. The present work reviews newly-available literature concerning the cardioprotective potential of S. chinensis berries and their individual components. It places special emphasis on the cardioprotective properties of the selected lignans related to their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory characteristis.

Ellagic Acid and Schisandrins: Natural Biaryl Polyphenols with Therapeutic Potential to Overcome Multidrug Resistance in Cancer

Multidrug resistance (MDR) is one of the major clinical challenges in cancer treatment and compromises the effectiveness of conventional anticancer chemotherapeutics. Among known mechanisms of drug resistance, drug efflux via ATP binding cassette (ABC) transporters, namely P-glycoprotein (P-gp) has been characterized as a major mechanism of MDR. The primary function of ABC transporters is to regulate the transport of endogenous and exogenous small molecules across the membrane barrier in various tissues. P-gp and similar efflux pumps are associated with MDR because of their overexpression in many cancer types. One of the intensively studied approaches to overcome this mode of MDR involves development of small molecules to modulate P-gp activity. This strategy improves the sensitivity of cancer cells to anticancer drugs that are otherwise ineffective. Although multiple generations of P-gp inhibitors have been identified to date, reported compounds have demonstrated low clinical efficacy and adverse effects. More recently, natural polyphenols have emerged as a promising class of compounds to address P-gp linked MDR. This review highlights the chemical structure and anticancer activities of selected members of a structurally unique class of 'biaryl' polyphenols. The discussion focuses on the anticancer properties of ellagic acid, ellagic acid derivatives, and schisandrins. Research reports regarding their inherent anticancer activities and their ability to sensitize MDR cell lines towards conventional anticancer drugs are highlighted here. Additionally, a brief discussion about the axial chirality (i.e., atropisomerism) that may be introduced into these natural products for medicinal chemistry studies is also provided.

Schisandrin Inhibits NLRP1 Inflammasome-Mediated Neuronal Pyroptosis in Mouse Models of Alzheimer's Disease

BACKGROUND

In recent years, schisandrin (SCH) was proved to improve Alzheimer's Disease (AD). The aim of our study is to explore the effect of SCH on neuronal pyroptosis in the disease.

METHODS

A Morris water maze test was performed to evaluate the spatial learning and memory retention of AD mouse. ELISA was fulfilled to examine the concentration of Aβ, IL-1β, and IL-18. Western blot was performed to detect the expression of apoptosis- and pyroptosis-related proteins. Besides, the neuronal apoptosis rate was examined using TUNEL assay. Immunohistochemistry was utilized to detect the activation of NLRP1 inflammasome.

RESULTS

Here, AD mice have serious cognitive impairment. Meantime, Aβ was highly expressed in the brains of AD mice. SCH could effectively rescue the cognitive impairment in AD mice and impede the production of Aβ. Subsequently, we further demonstrated that SCH repressed neuronal apoptosis, pyroptosis-related proteins expression, and the activation of NLRP1 inflammasome in the hippocampus of AD mice. We also proved that Aβ induced neuronal apoptosis and pyroptosis in vitro. However, the effects of Aβ on neuronal apoptosis and pyroptosis were partly reversed by SCH treatment.

CONCLUSION

Overall, our data indicated that SCH improved cognitive impairment in AD mice through inhibition of NLRP1 inflammasome-mediated neuronal pyroptosis and neuronal apoptosis. Our works provided new evidence to support SCH acting as a potential treatment method in AD.

Schisandrin ameliorates cognitive deficits, endoplasmic reticulum stress and neuroinflammation in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced Alzheimer's disease rats

Schisandrin, an active component extracted from Schisandra chinensis (Turcz.) Baill has been reported to alleviate the cognitive impairment in neurodegenerative disorder like Alzheimer’s disease (AD). However, the mechanism by which schisandrin regulates the cognitive decline is still unclear. In our study, intracerebroventricular injection of streptozotocin (STZ) was employed to establish AD model in male Wistar rats, and indicated dose of schisandrin was further administered. The Morris water maze test was performed to evaluate the ability of learning and memory in rats with schisandrin treatment. The results indicated that schisandrin improved the capacity of cognition in STZ-induced rats. The contents of pro-inflammatory cytokines in brain tissue were determined by ELISA, and the expressions of these cytokines were assessed by western-blot and immunohistochemistry. The results showed that treatment of schisandrin significantly reduced the production of inflammation mediators including tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-1β and interleukin-6. Further study suggested a remarkable decrease in the expressions of ER stress maker proteins like C/EBP-homologous protein, glucose-regulated protein 78 and cleaved caspase-12 in the presence of schisandrin, meanwhile the up-regulation of sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) was also observed in the same group. Additionally, the results of western-blot and EMSA demonstrated that schisandrin inhibited NF-κB signaling in the brain of STZ-induced rats. In conclusion, schisandrin ameliorated STZ-induced cognitive dysfunction, ER stress and neuroinflammation which may be associated with up-regulation of SIRT1. Our study provides novel mechanisms for the neuroprotective effect of schisandrin in AD treatment.

Yiqifumai injection and its main ingredients attenuate lipopolysaccharide-induced cerebrovascular hyperpermeability through a multi-pathway mode

OBJECTIVE

Yiqifumai injection is a compound Chinese medicine used to treat microcirculatory disturbance-related diseases clinically. Our previous study proved that Yiqifumai injection pretreatment inhibited lipopolysaccharide-induced venular albumin leakage in rat mesentery. This study aimed to investigate whether Yiqifumai injection attenuated cerebral microvascular hyperpermeability and corresponding contribution of its main ingredients.

METHODS

Rats were challenged by lipopolysaccharide infusion (5 mg/kg/h) for 90 minutes. Yiqifumai injection (160 mg/kg/h), Rb1 (5 mg/kg/h), Sch (2.5 mg/kg/h), and Rb1 (5 mg/kg/h) + Sch (2.5 mg/kg/h) were infused 30 minutes before (pretreatment) or after (post-treatment) lipopolysaccharide administration.

RESULTS

Both pretreatment and post-treatment with Yiqifumai injection attenuated cerebral venular albumin leakage during lipopolysaccharide infusion and cerebrovascular hyperpermeability at 72 hours after lipopolysaccharide infusion. Yiqifumai injection restrained the decreased junction protein expression, adenosine triphosphate content, and mitochondria complex I, II, IV, and V activities. Moreover, Yiqifumai injection inhibited toll-like receptor-4 expression, Src phosphorylation, and caveolin-1 expression. Its main ingredients Rb1 and Sch alone worked differently, with Rb1 being more effective for enhancing energy metabolism, while Sch attenuating toll-like receptor-4 expression and Src activation.

CONCLUSION

Yiqifumai injection exerts a protective and ameliorated effect on cerebral microvascular hyperpermeability, which is more effective than any of its ingredients, possibly due to the interaction of its main ingredients through a multi-pathway mode.

[Analysis of traditional Chinese medicine components by high performance liquid chromatography with diode array detection based on double qualitative principles]

The double qualitative principle is a new composite qualitative method based on retention time and the characteristic peaks of the absorption spectra. Using a self-designed and assembled diode array detector (DAD), a high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) system was constructed. The illegal additive auramine O in six kinds of herbal slices and the active ingredient schisandrin in Jujube kernel Tianma capsules were separated and qualitative analyzed using the HPLC-DAD system. The results showed that there were similar peaks in the chromatograms of pollen typhae and Jujube kernel Tianma capsules when comparing the target analytes. However, the probabilities of the targets were excluded by comparing the absorption spectra. The application results indicated that, based on the double qualitative principle of retention time/absorption spectrum, the interference of impurities in the samples could be well eliminated and the false positives could be avoided. This provides a reference method for the study of traditional Chinese medicine components.

Comparative Effects of Schisandrin A, B, and C on Acne-Related Inflammation

Inflammatory responses induced by Propionibacterium acnes are a major etiological factor in the pathogenesis of acne vulgaris. Schisandrin A, schisandrin B, and schisandrin C are the representative lignans of Schisandra chinensis (Turcz.) Baill. extract. Although anti-inflammatory effects of the lignans have been shown, their effects on acne-related inflammation caused by P. acnes have not been investigated and compared. We pretreated THP-1 human monocytic cells with 5, 10, and 20 μM schisandrin A, B, and C, and stimulated the cells with P. acnes. Schisandrin B and C inhibited the release of inflammatory cytokines at a concentration of 5 μM, while schisandrin A required a concentration of 10 μM to exert the effects. All of the schisandrins decreased the levels of toll-like receptor 2, and schisandrin B and C reduced the intracellular mRNA expression of the receptor gene. We also studied the influence of schisandrins on the MAPK signaling pathway. Schisandrin A suppressed the P. acnes-induced activation of JNK, while exerting only a weak effect on ERK and p38. Schisandrin B exerted a strong effect on p38, a lesser effect on ERK, and almost no effect on JNK. Schisandrin C inhibited the phosphorylation of all three proteins, especially ERK. Furthermore, the three lignans also prevented the nuclear translocation of NF-κB. These results contribute to our understanding of the mechanisms underlying the effects of the three lignans on P. acnes-induced inflammation and suggest that schisandrins might be developed as pharmacological agents for acne therapy.

Schisandrin ameliorates cognitive impairment and attenuates Aβ deposition in APP/PS1 transgenic mice: involvement of adjusting neurotransmitters and their metabolite changes in the brain

Neurotransmitters (NTs) in the brain are involved in neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease (AD). Schisandrin is a major ingredient of Schisandra chinensis (Turcz.) Baill and has been used for the treatment of AD. In this study we examined the therapeutic effects of schisandrin in APP/PS1 transgenic mice, and correlated the beneficial effects on cognitive impairment with the adjustments in NTs and their metabolites in the mouse brains. APP/PS1 mice were treated with schisandrin (2 mg·kg-1·d-1, ip) for 2 weeks. In Morris Water Maze test; untreated APP/PS1 mice displayed significant cognitive impairment compared with normal mice; schisandrin administration ameliorated the cognitive impairment and significantly decreased Aβ deposition in the hippocampus. In order to assess the effects of schisandrin on NTs and their metabolites, we developed a rapid and sensitive UPLC-MS/MS method for simultaneous determination of serotonin, 5-hydroxyindole acetic acid, dopamine, norepinephrine, γ-aminobutyric acid, glutamic acid, homovanillic acid, 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid and acetylcholine in mouse brains. This method conformed to methodology validation requirements. We found that there were statistically significant differences in these NTs and their metabolites between untreated APP/PS1 mice and normal mice, whereas schisandrin administration restored the abnormal NTs and their metabolites levels. These results suggest that schisandrin could alter the levels of these NTs and their metabolites in the brain, thus ameliorating learning and memory impairments in APP/PS1 mice.

Ultra-performance liquid-chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry for rapid analysis of pharmacokinetics, biodistribution and excretion of schisandrin after oral administration of Shengmaisan

This study aimed to investigate the in vivo behaviors of the main components in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) fomulae. The plasma pharmacokinetics, tissue distribution and excretion of the main component-schisandrin in rats after oral administration of a classical TCM prescription, shengmaisan (SMS), were studied by a developed and validated UPLC-MS/MS method. The separation of schisandrin was achieved on a UPLC HSS T3 column with a mobile phase consisting of acetonitrile and water at a flow rate of 0.5 mL/min by linear gradient elution. The MS/MS detection was carried out by monitoring the fragmentation of m/z 415.22 → 384.26 for schisandrin on a triple quadrupole mass spectrometer. The result showed that the method was suitable for the quantification of schisandrin in plasma, tissue and excreta samples with satisfactory selectivity, precision, accuracy, sensitivity, linearity and recovery. Pharmacokinetic results showed a rapid absorption phase with the mean Tmax of 0.17 h and a relatively slow elimination proceeding with a half-life (T1/2 ) of 5.24 ± 1.28 h. The tissue distribution showed the maximum concentration distributions of schisandrin after oral administration of SMS were in the order of small intestine > large intestine > lung > liver > kidney > spleen > heart > brain. Only 0.005-0.006% of schisandrin was recovered in feces and was not detected in urine.

Inhibitory effect of schisandrin on spontaneous contraction of isolated rat colon

This study examined the effect of schisandrin, one of the major lignans isolated from Schisandra chinensis, on spontaneous contraction in rat colon and its possible mechanisms. Schisandrin produced a concentration-dependent inhibition (EC₅₀=1.66 μM) on the colonic spontaneous contraction. The relaxant effect of schisandrin could be abolished by the neuronal Na+ channel blocker tetrodotoxin (1 μM) but not affected by propranolol (1 μM), phentolamine (1 μM), atropine (1 μM) or nicotine desensitization, suggesting possible involvement of non-adrenergic non-cholinergic (NANC) transmitters released from enteric nerves. N(ω)-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester (100-300 μM), a nitric oxide synthase inhibitor, attenuated the schisandrin response. The role of nitric oxide (NO) was confirmed by an increase in colonic NO production after schisandrin incubation, and the inhibition on the schisandrin responses by soluble guanylyl cyclase inhibitor 1H-[1,2,4] oxadiazolo[4,3-α]-quinoxalin-1-one (1-30 μM). Non-nitrergic NANC components may also be involved in the action of schisandrin, as suggested by the significant inhibition of apamin on the schisandrin-induced responses. Pyridoxal phosphate-6-azo(benzene-2,4-disulfonic acid) tetrasodium salt hydrate (100 μM), a selective P2 purinoceptor antagonist, markedly attenuated the responses to schisandrin. In contrast, neither 8-cyclopentyl-1,3-dipropylxanthine, an antagonist for adenosine A₁ receptors, nor chymotrypsin, a serine endopeptidase, affected the responses. All available results have demonstrated that schisandrin produced NANC relaxation on the rat colon, with the involvement of NO and acting via cGMP-dependent pathways. ATP, but not adenosine and VIP, likely plays a role in the non-nitrergic, apamin-sensitive component of the response.