Total alkaloids from Thesium chinense inhibit lipopolysaccharide-induced respiratory inflammation by modulating Nrf2/NF-κB/NLRP3 signaling pathway.
10.1016/S1875-5364(25)60834-X
- Author:
Guohui LI
1
;
Yueqin GUAN
2
;
Lintao XU
3
;
Guangcheng PENG
3
;
Qingtong HAN
3
;
Tian WANG
3
;
Zhenpeng XU
3
;
Xuesen WEN
3
;
Hongxiang LOU
4
;
Tao SHEN
5
Author Information
1. Key Lab of Chemical Biology (MOE), School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, China; Department of Pharmacy, Jinan Maternity and Child Care Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan 250218, China.
2. Jiuhua Huayuan Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Chuzhou 239011, China.
3. Key Lab of Chemical Biology (MOE), School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, China.
4. Key Lab of Chemical Biology (MOE), School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, China. Electronic address: louhongxiang@sdu.edu.cn.
5. Key Lab of Chemical Biology (MOE), School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, China. Electronic address: shentao@sdu.edu.cn.
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
Alkaloids;
Inflammation;
NF-κB;
NLRP3;
Nrf2;
Thesium chinense
- MeSH:
Animals;
Lipopolysaccharides/adverse effects*;
Alkaloids/pharmacology*;
NF-kappa B/metabolism*;
NF-E2-Related Factor 2/metabolism*;
NLR Family, Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 Protein/metabolism*;
Mice;
Signal Transduction/drug effects*;
Anti-Inflammatory Agents/pharmacology*;
Male;
Mice, Inbred C57BL;
Humans;
Drugs, Chinese Herbal/administration & dosage*;
Pneumonia/genetics*
- From:
Chinese Journal of Natural Medicines (English Ed.)
2025;23(4):421-430
- CountryChina
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Inflammation plays a pivotal role in the etiology and progression of various diseases. In traditional Chinese medicine, the whole plants of Thesium chinense Turcz. and its preparations (e.g. Bairui Granules) have been employed to manage inflammatory conditions. While flavonoids were previously considered the primary anti-inflammatory components, other potentially active constituents have been largely overlooked and not thoroughly investigated. This study presents a novel finding that the total alkaloids of T. chinense (BC-Alk) are potent active substances underlying the traditional and clinical applications of T. chinense and Bairui Granules as anti-inflammatory agents. UPLC-MS/MS analysis identified the composition of BC-Alk as quinolizidine alkaloids. The anti-inflammatory efficacy of BC-Alk was evaluated using a lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced lung inflammation model in mice. Results demonstrated that BC-Alk significantly mitigated LPS-induced lung inflammation, attenuated the overproduction of IL-1β and the overproduction of inflammatory factors (TNF-α), and ameliorated lung tissue hyperplasia in mice in vivo. Mechanistic studies in vitro revealed that BC-Alk upregulated the expression of Nrf2 and its downstream proteins NQO1 and glutamate-cystine ligase and modifier subunit (GCLM), inhibited NF-κB phosphorylation, and suppressed NLRP3 activation. Collectively, these findings indicate that BC-Alk exerts potent inhibitory effects against lung inflammation by modulating Nrf2, NF-κB, and NLRP3 pathways. This study provides new insights into the anti-inflammatory constituents of T. chinense and Bairui Granules.
