19 cinnamamide/ester-triazole compounds were designed, synthesized and evaluated for their anti-Alzheimer's disease (AD) activity. Among them, compound 4f displayed excellent anti-β-amyloid protein (Aβ)-mediated cytotoxicity (EC₅₀ = 2.03 ± 2.45 μmol·L^-1) in APPswe cells and acetylcholinesterase inhibiton (IC₅₀ = 4.88 ± 4.70 μmol·L^-1). Further study indicated that, at dosages of (1, 5 and 25 mg·kg^-1), compound 4f was effective in improving spatial learning and memory deficits in Aβ_1-42-impaired mice, which was achieved by promoting the nonamyloidogenic signaling and inhibiting the amyloidogenic pathway, along with the suppression of Aβ-induced Tau phosphorylation. All animal experiments in this study were approved by the Experimental Animal Care and Use Committee of the Institute of Medicinal Biotechnology (IMB-20220908D701). In conclusion, compound 4f holds promise as a lead candidate for AD treatment, and the present study lays the foundation for its subsequent development.

The mechanism of L-perilla alcohol(L-POH) in intervening hypoxic pulmonary hypertension(HPAH) was discussed based on network pharmacology, and experimental verification. The active components and potential targets of the volatile oil of Rhodiola tangutica(VORA) in the intervention of HPAH were screened by network pharmacology. The biological process of Gene Ontology(GO) and the signaling pathway enrichment of Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG) were analyzed for the core targets, and a "component-common target-disease" network was constructed. Four active components were screened from VORA: L-POH, linalool, geraniol, and(-)-myrtenol. The core targets for treating HPAH were HSP90AA1, AKT1, ESR1, PIK3CA, EP300, EGFR, and JAK2. GO enrichment analysis mainly involved biological processes such as reaction to hypoxia, heme binding, and steroid binding. KEGG enrichment analysis mainly involved hypoxia-inducing factor 1(HIF-1) signaling pathway, phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/protein kinase B(PI3K/AKT) signaling pathway, and Janus kinase/activator of signal transduction and transcription(JAK/STAT) signaling pathway. The vasodilation effects of the four active components were screened by perfusion experiment of extracorporeal vascular rings, and the mechanism of the main active component L-POH was studied by channel blockers. The inhibitory effects of the four active components on the proliferation of pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells(PASMCs) induced by hypoxia were screened by cell proliferation experiment, and the mechanism of the main active component L-POH was studied by flow cytometry, cell cycle experiment, and Western blot. The results showed that L-POH could directly act on vascular smooth muscle to relax pulmonary arterioles, induce ATP-sensitive potassium channels to open, and inhibit extracellular Ca~(2+) influx through voltage-gated calcium channels to relax blood vessels. In addition, L-POH could inhibit the abnormal proliferation of PASMCs induced by hypoxia and promote its apoptosis, and its mechanism may be related to the increase in Bax protein expression and the decrease in p-JAK2, p-STAT3, Bcl-2, and cyclinA2 protein expression. In summary, L-POH can interfere with HPAH by relaxing pulmonary arterioles and inhibiting the proliferation of smooth muscle cells.
Network Pharmacology ; Animals ; Hypertension, Pulmonary/physiopathology* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/administration & dosage* ; Rats ; Hypoxia/metabolism* ; Rhodiola/chemistry* ; Signal Transduction/drug effects* ; Humans ; Monoterpenes/chemistry* ; Male ; Cell Proliferation/drug effects* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

A serum metabolomics analysis method based on gas chromatography-mass spectrometry(GC-MS) was used to investigate the metabolic regulation mechanism of Hericium erinaceus(H. erinaceus) polysaccharides on radiation injury. A mouse model of radiation injury was established by ~(60)Co-γ irradiation. High and low dose groups of H. erinaceus polysaccharide injection were designed, and Rubiae Radix et Rhizoma extract was set as the positive control group to investigate the therapeutic effects and metabolic reaction pathways of H. erinaceus polysaccharides on radiation injury. The metabolites of serum samples were collected by GC-MS, and principal component analysis(PCA) was conducted to establish the metabolic profiles of each group of mice. Partial least squares discriminant analysis(PLS-DA), t-test(P<0.05), and variable importance in the projection(VIP>1) were used to screen out the differential metabolite. Metabolite identification and construction of related metabolic pathways and metabolic networks were achieved by using online databases such as HMDB and METLIN. The results showed that 12 differential metabolites in the serum of mice irradiated at 6.5 Gy that were associated with the radiation injury model, including lactic acid, alanine, urea, serine, threonine, glycerol, L-5-oxoproline, L-lysine, stearic acid, stearic acid, oleic acid, and 1-monopalmitoylglucoside. Two metabolic pathways were enriched: glycerolipid metabolism and metabolism of glycine, serine, and threonine. 18 differential metabolites in the serum of mice irradiated at 8.5 Gy were associated with the radiation injury model, including lactic acid, alanine, urea, L-leucine, glycerol, nonanoic acid, serine, threonine, L-5-oxoproline, phenylalanine, L-ornithine, 1,5-dehydroorbital, L-lysine, L-tyrosine, pectic, oleic, stearic, and cholesterol. Four metabolic pathways were enriched: phenylalanine, tyrosine, and tryptophan synthesis, phenylalanine metabolism, glyceride metabolism, and glycine, serine, and threonine metabolism. It was suggested that H. erinaceus polysaccharides could intervene in radiation injury by altering amino acid and fatty acid synthesis in mice. It was assumed that H. erinaceus polysaccharides regulated the level of metabolic pathways through lipid metabolism and amino acid metabolism, thus affecting energy metabolism and amino acid metabolism and exerting its therapeutic effect on radiation damage.
Animals ; Mice ; Metabolomics/methods* ; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry/methods* ; Polysaccharides/pharmacology* ; Male ; Hericium/chemistry* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/administration & dosage* ; Metabolome/drug effects* ; Gamma Rays/adverse effects*

Ginsenoside Rg_2(GRg2) is a triterpenoid compound found in Panax notoginseng. This study explored its effects and mechanisms on diabetic retinopathy and angiogenesis. The study employed endothelial cell models induced by glucose or vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF), the chorioallantoic membrane(CAM) model, the oxygen-induced retinopathy(OIR) mouse model, and the db/db mouse model to evaluate the therapeutic effects of GRg2 on diabetic retinopathy and angiogenesis. Transwell assays and endothelial tube formation experiments were conducted to assess cell migration and tube formation, while vascular area measurements were applied to detect angiogenesis. The impact of GRg2 on the retinal structure and function of db/db mice was evaluated through retinal thickness and electroretinogram(ERG) analyses. The study investigated the mechanisms of GRg2 by analyzing the activation of Yes-associated protein(YAP) and Toll-like receptors(TLRs) pathways. The results indicated that GRg2 significantly reduced cell migration numbers and tube formation lengths in vitro. In the CAM model, GRg2 exhibited a dose-dependent decrease in the vascular area ratio. In the OIR model, GRg2 notably decreased the avascular and neovascular areas, ameliorating retinal structural disarray. In the db/db mouse model, GRg2 increased the total retinal thickness and enhanced the amplitudes of the a-wave, b-wave, and oscillatory potentials(OPs) in the ERG, improving retinal structural disarray. Transcriptomic analysis revealed that the TLR signaling pathway was significantly down-regulated following YAP knockdown, with PCR results consistent with the transcriptome sequencing findings. Concurrently, GRg2 downregulated the expression of Toll-like receptor 4(TLR4), TNF receptor-associated factor 6(TRAF6), and nuclear factor-kappaB(NF-κB) proteins in high-glucose-induced endothelial cells. Collectively, GRg2 inhibits cell migration and tube formation and significantly reduces angiogenesis in CAM and OIR models, improving retinal structure and function in db/db mice, with its pharmacological mechanism likely involving the down-regulation of YAP expression.
Animals ; Ginsenosides/pharmacology* ; Diabetic Retinopathy/physiopathology* ; Mice ; YAP-Signaling Proteins ; Humans ; Male ; Signal Transduction/drug effects* ; Cell Movement/drug effects* ; Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing/genetics* ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Neovascularization, Pathologic/metabolism* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/administration & dosage* ; Panax notoginseng/chemistry* ; Endothelial Cells/metabolism* ; Transcription Factors/genetics* ; Angiogenesis

This paper aimed to investigate the therapeutic effect and mechanism of action of the Yiqi Fumai Formula(YQFM), a kind of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM), on mice with experimental heart failure based on the "heart-gut axis" theory. Based on the network pharmacology integrated with the group collaboration algorithm, the active ingredients were screened, a "component-target-disease" network was constructed, and the potential pathways regulated by the formula were predicted and analyzed. Next, the model of experimental heart failure was established by intraperitoneal injection of adriamycin at a single high dose(15 mg·kg~(-1)) in BALB/c mice. After intraperitoneal injection of YQFM(lyophilized) at 7.90, 15.80, and 31.55 mg·d~(-1) for 7 d, the protective effects of the formula on cardiac function were evaluated using indicators such as ultrasonic electrocardiography and myocardial injury markers. Combined with inflammatory factors in the cardiac and colorectal tissue, as well as targeted assays, the relevant indicators of potential pathways were verified. Meanwhile, 16S rDNA sequencing was performed on mouse fecal samples using the Illumina platform to detect changes in gut flora and analyze differential metabolic pathways. The results show that the administration of injectable YQFM(lyophilized) for 7 d significantly increased the left ventricular end-systolic internal diameter, fractional shortening, and ejection fraction of cardiac tissue of mice with experimental heart failure(P<0.05). Moreover, markers of myocardial injury were significantly decreased(P<0.05), indicating improved cardiac function, along with significantly suppressed inflammatory responses in cardiac and intestinal tissue(P<0.05). Additionally, the species of causative organisms was decreased, and the homeostasis of gut flora was improved, involving a modulatory effect on PI3K-Akt signaling pathway-related inflammation in cardiac and colorectal tissue. In conclusion, YQFM can affect the "heart-gut axis" immunity through the homeostasis of the gut flora, thereby exerting a therapeutic effect on heart failure. This finding provides a reference for the combination of TCM and western medicine to prevent and treat heart failure based on the "heart-gut axis" theory.
Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/administration & dosage* ; Heart Failure/microbiology* ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Male ; Disease Models, Animal ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/drug effects* ; Heart/physiopathology* ; Humans ; Signal Transduction/drug effects*

In the process of seeking new strategies to improve the efficacy of antidepressants,traditional Chinese medicine inter-vention has gradually revealed its unique prevention and treat-ment advantages.The dopamine reward system is closely in-volved in the pathological occurrence and development of depres-sion.Currently,research has mostly focused on the functional mechanism of a specific nucleus in the dopamine reward system,and there is less research focused on the functional mechanism of the neural circuit.In the current micro research on reward cir-cuits,the association between abnormal reward circuits and neg-ative emotions such as anxiety and depression has been widely recognized.Traditional Chinese medicine intervention can exert antidepressant effects by influencing reward circuits.This article provides a review on the loop mechanism of dopamine reward system involvement in depression and research on traditional Chinese medicine intervention.

Objective To investigate the effect of cinobufacini on immune escape of acute myeloid leukemia(AML)by regulating myosin heavy chain 9(MYH9)/ubiquitin-specific protease 7(USP7)/cellular-myelocytomatosis viral oncogene(c-MYC)pathway.Methods(1)In vivo experiment:a nude mouse xenograft tumor model was established to evaluate the effect of cinobufotalin on the growth and immune escape of AML cells in vivo.(2)In vitro experiments:human AML cell line HL-60 was treated with different concentrations of cinobufacini,cell viability was detected by cell counting kit 8(CCK-8),and HL-60 cell invasion was detected by Transwell assay.HL-60 cells were co-cultured with activated CD8+ T cells,the expression of CD25,the surface marker of CD8+ T cells,was detected by flow cytometry,the levels of cytokines[interleukin-2(IL-2)and interferon(IFN-γ)]in the co-culture supernatant were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA).CytoTox96 non-radioactive cytotoxicity assay was used to evaluate the cytotoxicity of CD8+ T cells to HL-60 cells.The protein expressions of MYH9,USP7 and c-MYC in HL-60 cells were detected by Western Blot.The interaction between MYH9,USP7 and ubiquitination was detected by co-immunoprecipitation(Co-IP)assay.The MYH9 overexpression plasmid was tranfected to verify the mechanism of cinobufacini in AML.Results Cinobufacini treatment inhibited xerograft tumor growth in nude mice and enhanced the anti-tumor ability of CD8+ T cells.Cinobufacini treatment inhibited HL-60 cell viability and invasion in a concentration-dependent manner.Cinobufacini treatment up-regulated the expression of CD25,a surface marker of CD8+ T cells,and also up-regulated the levels of IL-2 and IFN-γ.Cinobufotalin enhanced the toxicity of CD8+ T cells to HL-60 cells.Cinobufacini inhibits the protein expressions of MYH9,USP7 and c-MYC in HL-60 cells.MYH9 promotes c-MYC deubiquitination by recruiting USP7,but cinobufacini inhibits MYH9-mediated c-MYC deubiquitination.Conclusion Cinobufacini can reduce the recruitment of c-MYC by deubiquitinating enzyme USP7 by inhibiting the expression of MYH9,and promote the ubiquitination and degradation of c-MYC,thereby inhibiting the immune escape of AML cells.

Pharmacokinetics of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)is a discipline that adopts pharmacokinetic research methods and techniques under the guidance of TCM theories to elucidate the dynamic changes in the absorption,distribution,metabolism and excretion of active ingredients,active sites,single-flavour Chinese medicinal and compounded formulas of TCM in vivo.However,the sources and components of TCM are complex,and the pharmacodynamic substances and mechanisms of action of the majority of TCM are not yet clear,so the pharmacokinetic study of TCM is later than that of chemical medicines,and is far more complex than that of chemical medicines,and its development also confronts with challenges.The pharmacokinetic study of TCM originated in the 1950s and has experienced more than 70 years of development from the initial in vivo study of a single active ingredient,to the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic study of active ingredients,to the pharmacokinetic study of compound and multi-component of Chinese medicine.In recent years,with the help of advanced extraction,separation and analysis technologies,gene-editing animals and cell models,multi-omics technologies,protein purification and structure analysis technologies,and artificial intelligence,etc.,the pharmacokinetics of TCM has been substantially applied in revealing and elucidating the pharmacodynamic substances and mechanisms of action of Chinese medicines,research and development of new drugs of TCM,scientific and technological upgrading of large varieties of Chinese patent medicines,as well as guiding the rational use of medicines in clinics.Pharmacokinetic studies of TCM have made remarkable breakthroughs and significant development in theory,methodology,technology and application.In this paper,the history of the development of pharmacokinetics of TCM and the progress of cutting-edge research was reviewed,with the aim of providing ideas and references for the pharmacokinetics of TCM and related research.

177Lu-prostate specific membrane antigen(PSMA)radio-ligand therapy has been approved abroad for advanced prostate cancer and has been in several clinical trials in China.Based on domestic clinical practice and experimental data and referred to international experience and viewpoints,the expert group forms a consensus on the clinical application of 177Lu-PSMA radio-ligand therapy in prostate cancer to guide clinical practice.

Objective To explore the pharmacokinetic changes of single dose of fentanyl in rats in a simulated high-altitude and contributing factors.Methods Thirty-six healthy female SD rats(6～8 weeks old,250±20 g)were randomly divided into high-altitude-acute-exposure group(group A),high-altitude-chronic-exposure group(group S)and control group(group C)through random number table,with 12 rats in each group.The group A and S were housed in a low-pressure chamber simulating the high altitude of 5000 m above sea level for 3 and 30 d respectively,and the group C was housed out of the chamber(at an altitude of 300 m).A single dose of fentanyl was administered through the femoral vein to 6 rats randomly selected from each group.Liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry(LC-MS/MS)was used to detect blood concentrations of fentanyl and WinNonlin 8.2 software was used to calculate the pharmacokinetic parameters,while blood samples were taken through the femoral artery before and in 1,2,4,8,15,30,60,120 and 180 min after administration.The remaining 6 rats were ultrasonographically assessed for portal vein internal diameter(PVD),peak flow velocity(PVV)and blood flow(PVF),and liver tissues were collected for CYP3A1 protein content assay.Results The blood drug concentrations of fentanyl in the group A and group S were significantly lower than those in the group C at 60,120,and 180 min(P=0.002,P＜0.001,P= 0.001).Compared with the group C,the clearance rate(CL)of the group A was increased by 54.06%(P=0.021),and the mean residence time(MRTlast)was shortened by 24.21%(P=0.033);CL of the group S was increased by 50.10%(P=0.041),the area under the concentration-time curve(AUC0-t,AUC0-∞)and MRTlast were reduced by 18.92%(P=0.039),27.54%(P=0.018)and 33.61%(P= 0.004),respectively.PVD and PVF in the group S increased by 10.87%(P=0.006)and 42.50%(P= 0.006)when compared with the group C.The CYP3A1 protein content in the group A was 28.74%,which was higher than that in the group C(P=0.048).Conclusion Fentanyl is cleared significantly faster after a single dose in rats in simulated high-altitude,which may be related to the increased liver blood flow and increased CYP3A1 protein expression in liver.