The aim of this paper was to find out the active components of Epimedium brevicornum using network pharmacology, and find the potential targets and mechanisms. The TCMSP database was used to screen the active ingredients, and TTD and DrugBank databases were used to predict the potential targets with the literature mining. The pathway annotation was used to enrich and analyze the active ingredients and potential targets of E. brevicornum. The results showed that E. brevicornum had34 potential target active ingredients, including 21 flavones components, such as icariin, epimedin A, epimedin B, epimedin C, Yinyanghuo A, Yinyanghuo C and so on, 2 lignans involved in (+)-cycloolivil and olivil, 3 sterols consisting of sitosterol, 24-epicampesterol and poriferast-5-en-3beta-ol. The main predicted targets included Ptgs2, NCOA6, RANK, OPG, WNT9B, PTH1R, BMPs, SMAD4A and so on. There were 88 signaling pathways involved in 10 signaling pathways which was related to inflammation, such as NF-kappa B signaling pathway, T cell receptor signaling pathway, IL-17 signaling pathway and 10 pathways which was related to cancer included breast cancer, bladder cancer, pancreatic cancer and so on, and estrogen related signaling pathways included estrogen signaling pathway. This laid the foundation for the discovery of the active components of Epimedium and the study on its mechanism of action.
Epimedium ; classification ; metabolism ; Estrogens ; Flavonoids ; Signal Transduction

Phenylpropanoid metabolic pathway is one of the most important secondary metabolic pathways in plants. It directly or indirectly plays an antioxidant role in plant resistance to heavy metal stress, and can improve the absorption and stress tolerance of plants to heavy metal ions. In this paper, the core reactions and key enzymes of the phenylpropanoid metabolic pathway were summarized, and the biosynthetic processes of key metabolites such as lignin, flavonoids and proanthocyanidins and relevant mechanisms were analyzed. Based on this, the mechanisms of key products of phenylpropanoid metabolic pathway in response to heavy metal stress were discussed. The perspectives on the involvement of phenylpropanoid metabolism in plant defense against heavy metal stress provides a theoretical basis for improving the phytoremediation efficiency of heavy metal polluted environment.
Plants/metabolism* ; Metals, Heavy/metabolism* ; Flavonoids/metabolism* ; Biodegradation, Environmental ; Antioxidants

Microscopic and histochemical methods were used to investigate flavonoids localization in the leaf and the stem of the Sarcandra glabra. The results indicated that flavonoids distributed mainly in epidermis, collenchyma, vascular bundles, secretory cells and palisade tissue of leaf. In the stem, they distributed mainly in epidermis, collenchyma, phloem and secretory cells. Histochemical localization of flavonoids using 5% solution of NaOH is convenient, rapid and reliable. The content of flavonoids in the leaf was higher those than in the stem. For sustainable utilization of the resources we suggested that only the leaves could be harvested.
Flavonoids ; metabolism ; Magnoliopsida ; metabolism ; Microscopy ; Plant Leaves ; metabolism ; Plant Stems ; metabolism

OBJECTIVEThrough comparative study on contents of icariin and total flavonoid of Epimedium acuminatum in different habitats and parts, the distribution and correlation of the two components were observed.

METHODTwenty-four sample spots in four habitats were set up, and the whole plant of these samples was divided as following: leaf, root, stem and rhizome. Total flavonoid and icariin of samples were determined by using the UV method and the HPLC, respectively. The data was analyzed by SPSS 17.0.

RESULTThe distribution of icariin in different parts had the pattern: leaf > root > stem > rhizome, the total flavonoid content was higher in leaf, but it showed no difference in other parts. Habitat had certain effect on icariin accumulation in E. acuminatum. The significant differences of total flavonoid content in E. acuminatum from different parts were not observed.

CONCLUSIONThe distribution of icariin from different parts and habitats has high selectivity. Metabolism and accumulation of flavonoid content in each part have no difference. Flavonoid content is less affected by environment. Considering the distribution of icariin and flavonoid content in every part and the growth strategy in different habitats comprehensively, it is reasonable to harvest the aerial part for the sustainable utilization of E. acuminatum.

Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Ecosystem ; Epimedium ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Flavonoids ; analysis ; metabolism ; Plant Structures ; chemistry ; metabolism

This experiment aimed to explore and research the process of preparing baicalein and wogonin through liquid fermentation with Bacillus natto. Active enzymes of produced by B. natto was used for the biological transformation of baclin and wogonoside, in order to increase the content of the haicalein and wogonin in the scutellaria. With the content of the baicalein and wogonin as evaluating indexes, the effects of carbon source, nitrogen source, the types and suitable concentration of inorganic salt, medium pH, granularities of medical materials, liquid volume in flask, shaking speed, liquid-to-solid ratio, fermentation time on the fermentation process were studied. The optimal process conditions for liquid fermentation of scutellaria were 1.0% of peptone, 0.05% of NaCl, pH at 6, the granularities of medical materials of the scutellaria screened through 40-mesh sifter, 33% of liquid, shaker incubator speed at 200 r x min(-1), liquid-to-solid ratio of 5:1, temperature at 37 degrees C, fermentation for 6 days, baclin's conversion rate at 97.6% and wogonoside's conversion rate at 97% in the scutellaria. According to the verification test, the process was stable and feasible, and could provide data reference for the industrial production.
Bacillus subtilis ; metabolism ; Biotransformation ; Fermentation ; Flavanones ; metabolism ; Flavonoids ; metabolism ; Glucosides ; metabolism ; Soy Foods ; microbiology

OBJECTIVETo study the extraction flavonoids distribution in different parts of Prunella vulgaris from different populations.

METHODThe optimal extraction condition was selected by response surface method (RSM). The amounts of flavonoids were determined by colorimetric method.

RESULTThe optimum extraction condition was using 35% ethanol at 25 times of sawple volume, refluxing at 87 degrees C for 3.5 h. The amount of flavonoids was 2.16% -10.29% in P. vulgaris. The content of flavonoids was the highest in leaf while that in root was the lowest. And the content of flavonoids in spike after removed seeds was 27.6% higher than the one reserved seeds.

CONCLUSIONThe RSM was feasible for optimum extraction condition and the amount of flavonoids showed a signiticant regional distribution pattern in various populations of P. vulgaris.

Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; metabolism ; Feasibility Studies ; Flavonoids ; isolation & purification ; metabolism ; Plant Structures ; metabolism ; Prunella ; metabolism

Plenty of data and tests suggested that flavonoids have strong physiological and pharmacological activities. In this paper, the absorption, distribution and metabolism of flavonoids in gaster, gut and liver were introduced. The research of absorption, distribution and metabolism on flavonoids will provide theoretical basis for developing new drugs of flavoniods.
Animals ; Flavonoids ; metabolism ; pharmacokinetics ; Humans ; Intestinal Absorption ; Intestines ; metabolism ; Liver ; metabolism ; Stomach ; metabolism ; Tissue Distribution

8-prenylnaringenin (8-PN) is a potent estrogen with high medicinal values. It also serves as an important precursor for many prenylated flavonoids. Microbial synthesis of 8-PN is mainly hindered by the low catalytic activity of prenyltransferases (PTS) and insufficient supply of precursors. In this work, a SfN8DT-1 from Sophora flavescens was used to improve the efficiency of (2S)-naringenin prenylation. The predicted structure of SfN8DT-1 showed that its main body is comprised of 9 α-helices and 8 loops, along with a long side chain formed by nearly 120 amino acids. SfN8DT-1 mutants with different side-chain truncated were tested in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. A mutant expressing the truncated enzyme at K62 site, designated as SfND8T-1-t62, produced the highest 8-PN titer. Molecular docking of SfN8DT-1-t62 with (2S)-naringenin and dimethylallyl diphosphate (DMAPP) showed that K185 was a potentially crucial residue. Alanine scanning within a range of 0.5 nm around these two substrates showed that the mutant K185A may decrease its affinity to substrates, which also indicated K185 was a potentially critical residue. Besides, the mutant K185W enhanced the affinity to ligands implied by the simulated saturation mutation, while the saturated mutation of K185 showed a great decrease in 8-PN production, indicating K185 is vital for the activity of SfN8DT-1. Subsequently, overexpressing the key genes of Mevalonate (MVA) pathway further improved the titer of 8-PN to 31.31 mg/L, which indicated that DMAPP supply is also a limiting factor for 8-PN synthesis. Finally, 44.92 mg/L of 8-PN was produced in a 5 L bioreactor after 120 h, which is the highest 8-PN titer reported to date.
Dimethylallyltranstransferase/metabolism* ; Flavonoids/metabolism* ; Molecular Docking Simulation ; Prenylation ; Saccharomyces cerevisiae/metabolism* ; Sophora/metabolism*

OBJECTIVETo analyze and compare the cell growth and accumulation of flavonoids and chlorogenic acid in the callus and suspension cell of Eucommia ulmoides.

METHODThe callus induced from the leaf of E. ulmoides seedlings were suspended in liquid medium. The time courses of cell growth and yields of flavonoids and chlorogenic acid were studied.

RESULTThe highest contents of flavonoids and chlorogenic acid in the callus were 13.46, 1.712 mg x g(-1), respectively, while the contents of these two secondary metabolites were 16.63, 3.93 mg x g(-1) in suspension cell culture correspondingly.

CONCLUSIONComparing with callus, the suspension cell showed a short growth period and high growth rate with a remarkable high content of flavonoids and chlorogenic acid.

Cell Culture Techniques ; Cells, Cultured ; Chlorogenic Acid ; analysis ; metabolism ; Eucommiaceae ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Flavonoids ; analysis ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo obtain the information on the glucuronidation of Ginkgo flavonoid and the interaction profile of Ginkgo flavones with other drugs in vitro.

METHODSGinkgo flavonoids (quercetin, isorhamnetin and keampferol) and other drugs were co-incubated with rat hepatic microsome at 25 degree; the residual concentrations of flavonoids were determined by HPLC. The enzymatic parameters of quercetin, isorhamnetin and keampferol metabolism were assessed. The interactions between flavonoids and these drugs on glucuronidation were observed.

RESULTThe K(m) values were ( 24+/-0.05), (148+/-0.09) and (110+/-0.03) micromol/L and the V(max) values were (60+/-0.21), (48+/-0.02) and (34+/-0.02) micromol x g(-1) x min(-1) for quercetin, isorhamnetin and kaempferol, respectively. The IC(50) of nifedipine propafenone ipriflavone and diphenytriazol on flavonoids metabolism were 54 - 70, 69 - 122, 85 - 98 and 210 - 362 micromol, respectively. The inhibition constants (Ki) of diphenytriazol propafenone and ipriflavone on quercetin, isorhamnetin and keampferol metabolism were (57.6, 50.5, 33.1) (33.6, 59.5, 45.2) and(13.7,24.0,15.7) microg/ml respectively. The ratio [I]/[Ki] of the plasma concentration and inhibition constant for propafenone was 0.002 - 0.003.

CONCLUSIONThe metabolic level of quercetin is the strongest among three Ginkgo flavonoids. Nifedipine propafenone and ipriflavone inhibit the metabolism of quercetin, isorhamnetin and keampferol at different levels. Because of the interaction between Ginkgo flavonoids with nifedipine, caution must be taken when two drugs are used together clinically.

Animals ; Drug Interactions ; Flavonoids ; metabolism ; Ginkgo biloba ; Glucuronides ; metabolism ; Microsomes, Liver ; metabolism ; Rats