1.Effect and Mechanism of Cuscutae Semen Total Flavonoids Combined with Tripterygium wilfordii Polyglycoside Tablets on Ovarian Germline Stem Cells of Physiological Mice by Notch Signaling Pathway
Yibo YANG ; Ying XU ; Lu WANG ; Zhao ZOU ; Panyu XU ; Hanqian DU ; Jiashan LI ; Na LIN
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2023;29(5):9-15
ObjectiveTo observe the effect of Cuscutae Semen total flavonoids combined with Tripterygium wilfordii polyglycoside tablets (TWPT) on ovarian germline stem cells of female physiological mice through neurogenic locus notch homolog (Notch) signaling pathway. MethodSixty female Kunming mice (5 weeks old) were randomly divided into normal group, Tripterygium wilfordii polyglycoside tablets low-, high-dose groups (13.65 mg·kg-1·d-1 and 27.3 mg·kg-1·d-1, 1 and 2 times clinical equivalent dose), Cuscutae Semen total flavonoids low- and high-dose groups (150 mg·kg-1·d-1 and 300 mg·kg-1·d-1), and combination group (13.65 mg·kg-1·d-1 TWPT and 150 mg·kg-1·d-1 Cuscutae Semen total flavonoids), with 10 in each group. After 3 weeks of continuous administration, the uterus/brain and ovarian/brain indexes were calculated, and the pathological changes of ovarian tissue were observed under light microscope. The content of estradiol in serum was determined by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Immunofluorescence assay was performed to observe the expressions of germline stem cell markers in ovarian epithelium, including mouse vasa homologue (Mvh), octamer-binding transcription factor 4 (Oct4), tyrosine-protein kinase receptor (c-kit), Nanog, Notch signaling pathway molecules, neurogenic locus notch homolog protein 1 (Notch1), hes family BHLH transcription factor 1(Hes1), and jagged canonical Notch ligand 1 (JAG1). ResultCompared with the normal group, low and high doses of TWPT had no significant effect on the uterus/brain and ovary/brain indexes and the uterus and ovary morphologies of mice, while only the number of atretic follicles was increased (P<0.01). The expressions of ovarian germline stem cell markers and Notch signaling pathway molecules had a decreasing trend in TWPT low-dose group, while the expressions of Mvh, c-kit, and Nanog were down-regulated (P<0.05, P<0.01) and the expressions of Notch1 and Hes1 were also reduced (P<0.01) in TWPT high-dose group. However, the above indexes were increased in Cuscutae Semen total flavonoids low-dose group (P<0.05, P<0.01). Compared with the low does of TWPT group, the combination group had a decrease in the increased number of atretic follicles (P<0.01), an improvement in the down-regulated expressions of Mvh and Nanog (P<0.01), and an increase in the expressions of Notch1 and Hes1 (P<0.05, P<0.01). ConclusionOvarian germline stem cells are the source target of the reproductive toxicity of TWPT. Cuscutae Semen total flavonoids participate in the regulation of the germline stem cell pathways to alleviate the reproductive toxicity caused by TWPT, and its mechanism of action may be related to the Notch signaling pathway.
2.Analysis of Pharmacodynamic Material Basis of Qingyan Formula Based on UPLC-Q-Orbitrap-MS and Molecular Docking
Zhao ZOU ; Jiashan LI ; Ying XU ; Yibo YANG ; Panyu XU ; Hanqian DU ; Weifeng ZHU ; Na LIN
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2022;28(22):159-166
ObjectiveTo study the constituents migrating to blood of Qingyan formula by serum pharmacochemistry, and investigate the binding energy between these constituents and estrogen receptor (ER), so as to confirm the pharmacodynamic material basis of Qingyan formula in rats. MethodUltra-high performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole electrostatic field-orbital trap high resolution mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-Orbitrap-MS) was used to determine the constituents migrating to blood of Qingyan formula in rats by comparing the fingerprint differences of 70% ethanol extract of Qingyan formula, 70% ethanol extract of each single drug in this formula, blank serum and serum after administration of 70% ethanol extract of Qingyan formula, according to the retention time, relative molecular weight and the primary and secondary ion fragments provided by MS. Mobile phase was 0.1% formic acid aqueous solution (A)-acetonitrile(B) for gradient elution (0-5 min, 2%-20%B; 5-10 min; 20%-50%B; 10-15 min, 50%-80%B; 15-25 min, 80%-95%B; 25-26 min, 95%-2%B; 26-30 min, 2%B), the flow rate was 0.3 mL·min-1 and the injection volume was 5 μL, electrospray ionization was used with detection range of m/z 150-2 000, positive and negative ion scanning modes. Molecular docking technology was used to characterize the binding energy of constituents migrating to blood with ERα and ERβ, and to confirm the material basis of this formula. ResultAfter oral administration of Qingyan formula, 30 components were detected in serum, of which 9 were prototype components and 21 were metabolites. Nine prototype components were identified as monotropein, asperuloside, verbascoside, β-ecdysone, allantoin, deacetyl asperuloside acid, echinacoside, betaine and caffeic acid, 21 metabolites mainly included organic acids, amino acids, cholines and so on. The binding energies of the above 9 prototype components with ERα were -6.7, -8.9, -6.0, -5.7, -5.3, -4.9, -7.3, -3.3, -6.3 kcal·mol-1 (1 kcal≈4 184 J), and the binding energies of them with ERβ were -6.6, -7.2, -7.7, 8.0, -7.4, -5.5, -6.9, -3.6, -6.4 kcal·mol-1, respectively. ConclusionThese nine prototype components into blood are the active ingredients of Qingyan formula that play estrogen-like role in the body, which can provide experimental basis for the formulation of quality standards and subsequent research and development of Qingyan formula.