This study aims to explore the synergistic effects of the main components in salvianolic acids for Injection(SAFI) on key pathological events in cerebral ischemia, elucidating the pharmacological characteristics of SAFI in neuroprotection. Two major pathological gene modules related to endothelial injury and neuroinflammation in cerebral ischemia were mined from single-cell data. According to the topological distance calculated in network medicine, potential synergistic component combinations of SAFI were screened out. The results showed that the combination of caffeic acid and salvianolic acid B scored the highest in addressing both endothelial injury and neuroinflammation, demonstrating potential synergistic effects. The cell experiments confirmed that the combination of these two components at a ratio of 1∶1 significantly protected brain microvascular endothelial cells(bEnd.3) from oxygen-glucose deprivation/reoxygenation(OGD/R)-induced reperfusion injury and effectively suppressed lipopolysaccharide(LPS)-induced neuroinflammatory responses in microglial cells(BV-2). This study provides a new method for uncovering synergistic effects among active components in traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) and offers novel insights into the multi-component, multi-target acting mechanisms of TCM.
Brain Ischemia/metabolism* ; Neuroprotective Agents/pharmacology* ; Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/administration & dosage* ; Benzofurans/pharmacology* ; Mice ; Drug Synergism ; Caffeic Acids/pharmacology* ; Polyphenols/pharmacology* ; Humans ; Alkenes/pharmacology* ; Endothelial Cells/drug effects* ; Depsides

OBJECTIVE: To explore the anti-photoaging properties of salvianolic acid B (Sal B). METHODS: The optimal photoaging model of human immortalized keratinocytes (HaCaT cells) were constructed by expose to ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation. The cells were divided into control, model and different concentrations of Sal B groups. Cell viability was measured via cell counting kit-8. Subsequently, the levels of oxidative stress, including reactive oxygen species (ROS), hydroxyproline (Hyp), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) were detected using the relevant kits. Silent information regulator 1 (SIRT1) protein level was detected using Western blot. The binding pattern of Sal B and SIRT1 was determined via molecular docking. RESULTS: Sal B significantly increased the viability of UVB-irradiated HaCaT cells (P<0.05 or P<0.01). Sal B effectively scavenged the accumulation of ROS induced by UVB (P<0.05 or P<0.01). In addition, Sal B modulated oxidative stress by increasing the intracellular concentrations of Hyp and CAT and the activity of GSH-Px (P<0.05 or P<0.01). The Western blot results revealed a substantial increase in SIRT1 protein levels following Sal B administration (P<0.05). Moreover, Sal B exhibited good binding affinity toward SIRT1, with a docking energy of -7.5 kCal/mol. CONCLUSION Sal B could improve the repair of photodamaged cells by alleviating cellular oxidative stress and regulating the expression of SIRT1 protein.
Humans ; Sirtuin 1/metabolism* ; Ultraviolet Rays ; Oxidative Stress/radiation effects* ; Keratinocytes/metabolism* ; Molecular Docking Simulation ; Benzofurans/pharmacology* ; Skin Aging/radiation effects* ; Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism* ; Cell Survival/radiation effects* ; HaCaT Cells ; Hydroxyproline/metabolism* ; Glutathione Peroxidase/metabolism* ; Catalase/metabolism* ; Depsides

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the molecular mechanism by which salvianolic acid B (Sal-B) modulates mitochondrial functional homeostasis and alleviates myocardial ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury in mice. METHODS: Mouse cardiomyocyte HL-1 cells were pretreated with 5 μmol/L Sal-B with or without sh-Sirt1 transfection before exposure to hypoxia-reoxygenation (HR), and the changes in ATP production, mitochondrial superoxide activity, substrate oxidation level were evaluated. In the animal experiment, 36 C57BL/6J mice were randomized into 3 groups (n=12) for sham operation or ligation of the left anterior coronary artery to induce myocardial I/R injury with or without intravenous injection of Sal-B+I/R (50 mg/kg). In the rescue experiment, 60 adult C57BL/6J mice were randomized into 5 groups (n=12): sham-operated group, myocardial I/R group, Sal-B+I/R group, I/R+Sal-B+Sirt1fl/fl group, and I/R+Sal-B+cKO-Sirt1 group. Myocardial injury was evaluated with HE staining, and cardiac function was assessed by measurement of the ejection fraction and fractional shortening using echocardiography. RESULTS: In HL-1 cells with HR injury, Sal-B pretreatment significantly increased cellular ATP production, reduced mitochondrial superoxide anion levels, and enhanced oxygen consumption level. In the mouse models of myocardial I/R injury, Sal-B pretreatment markedly ameliorated I/R-induced structural disarray of the cardiac myocytes and improved cardiac ejection. Cycloheximide chase with Western blotting and ubiquitination assays after Sirt1-IP showed that Sal-B significantly inhibited Sirt1 degradation in HL-1 cells. Sirt1 knock-down reversed Sal-B-induced increases in ATP production, reduction in superoxide, and elevation of OCR in HL-1 cells. Cardiomyocyte-specific Sirt1 knockout obviously reversed Sal-B-mediated improvement in cardiac ejection function and myocardial structure damage in mice with myocardial I/R injury. CONCLUSIONS Sal-B promotes mitochondrial functional homeostasis in cardiomyocytes with HR injury and improves cardiac function in mice after myocardial I/R by inhibiting Sirt1 protein degradation.
Animals ; Sirtuin 1/metabolism* ; Myocardial Reperfusion Injury/physiopathology* ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Mice ; Myocytes, Cardiac/drug effects* ; Benzofurans/pharmacology* ; Homeostasis/drug effects* ; Male ; Mitochondria/drug effects* ; Depsides

Cerebral edema is characterized by fluid accumulation, and the glymphatic system (GS) plays a pivotal role in regulating fluid transport. Using the Tenecteplase system, magnesium salt of salvianolic acid B/ginsenoside Rg1 (SalB/Rg1) was injected intravenously into mice 4.5 h after middle cerebral artery occlusion and once every 24 h for the following 72 h. GS function was assessed by Evans blue imaging, near-infrared fluorescence region II (NIR-II) imaging, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). SalB/Rg1 had significant effects on reducing the infarct volume and hemorrhagic transformation score, improving neurobehavioral function, and protecting tissue structure, especially inhibiting cerebral edema. Meanwhile, the influx/efflux drainage of GS was enhanced by SalB/Rg1 according to NIR-II imaging and MRI. SalB/Rg1 inhibited matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) activity, reduced cleaved β-dystroglycan (β-DG), and stabilized aquaporin-4 (AQP4) polarity, which was verified by colocalization with CD31. Our findings indicated that SalB/Rg1 treatment enhances GS function and attenuates cerebral edema, accompanying the regulation of the MMP9/β-DG/AQP4 pathway.
Animals ; Ginsenosides/administration & dosage* ; Brain Edema/etiology* ; Male ; Benzofurans/administration & dosage* ; Glymphatic System/diagnostic imaging* ; Mice ; Infarction, Middle Cerebral Artery/drug therapy* ; Aquaporin 4/metabolism* ; Disease Models, Animal ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 9/metabolism* ; Neuroprotective Agents/pharmacology* ; Depsides

Anthoceros angustus Steph. is rich in phenolic acids such as rosmarinic acid (RA). Phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL) is an entry enzyme in the phenylpropanoid pathway of plants, playing an important role in the biosynthesis of RA. To investigate the important role of PAL in rosmarinic acid synthesis, two PAL genes (designated as AanPAL1 and AanPAL2) were cloned from A. angustus, encoding 755 and 753 amino acid residues, respectively. The AanPAL deduced amino acid sequences contain the conserved domains of PAL and the core active amino acid residues Ala-Ser-Gly. The phylogenetic analysis indicated that AanPAL1 and AanPAL2 were clustered with PALs from bryophytes and ferns and had the shortest evolutionary distance with the PALs from Physcomitrella patens. Quantitative real-time PCR results showed that the expression of AanPAL1 and AanPAL2 was induced by exogenous methyl jasmonate (MeJA). HPLC results showed that the MeJA treatment significantly increased the accumulation of RA. AanPAL1 and AanPAL2 were expressed in Escherichia coli and purified by histidine-tag affinity chromatography. The recombinant proteins catalyzed the conversion of L-phenylalanine to generate trans-cinnamic acid with high efficiency, with the best performance at 50 ℃ and pH 8.0. The K_m and k_cat of AanPAL1 were 0.062 mmol/L and 4.35 s^-1, and those of AanPAL2 were 0.198 mmol/L and 14.48 s^-1, respectively. The specific activities of AanPAL1 and AanPAL2 were 2.61 U/mg and 8.76 U/mg, respectively. The two enzymes had relatively poor thermostability but good pH stability. The high activity of AanPAL2 was further confirmed via whole-cell catalysis with recombinant E. coli, which could convert 1 g/L L-phenylalanine into trans-cinnamic acid with a yield of 100% within 10 h. These results give insights into the regulatory role of AanPAL in the biosynthesis of RA in A. angustus and provide candidate enzymes for the biosynthesis of cinnamic acid.
Phenylalanine Ammonia-Lyase/metabolism* ; Cloning, Molecular ; Cinnamates/metabolism* ; Recombinant Proteins/metabolism* ; Rosmarinic Acid ; Depsides/metabolism* ; Escherichia coli/metabolism* ; Amino Acid Sequence ; Plant Proteins/metabolism* ; Phylogeny ; Acetates/pharmacology* ; Cyclopentanes ; Oxylipins

The difference between three representative components of total salvianolic acids in pharmacodynamic activity were compared by three different pharmacological experiments: HUVECs oxidative damage experiment, 4 items of blood coagulation in vitro experiment in rabbits and experimental myocardial ischemia in rats. And the effects of contribution rate of each component were calculated by multi index comprehensive evaluation method based on CRITIC weights. The contribution rates of salvianolic acid B, rosmarinic acid and Danshensu were 28.85%, 30.11%, 41.04%. Apparent oil/water partition coefficient of each representative components of total salvianolic acids in n-octyl alcohol-buffer was tested and the total salvianolic acid components were characterized based on a combination of the approach of self-defined weighting coefficient with effects of contribution rate. Apparent oil/water partition coefficient of total salvianolic acids was 0.32, 1.06, 0.89, 0.98, 0.90, 0.13, 0.02, 0.20, 0.56 when in octanol-water/pH 1.2 dilute hydrochloric acid solution/ pH 2.0, 2.5, 5.0, 5.8, 6.8, 7.4, 7.8 phosphate buffer solution. It provides a certain reference for the characterization of components.
Animals ; Benzofurans ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Cinnamates ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Depsides ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Lactates ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Male ; Rabbits ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Solubility

OBJECTIVE: To exlpore the eff ect of depsides salts from Salvia miltiorrhiza on human hepatoma cell line SMMC-7721 xenograft tumors and the possible mechanisms. METHODS: A total of 36 nude mice were divided into 6 groups: A model group, a negative control group, a positive control group, and 3 treatment groups at low, middle or high dose (n=6). The tumor model of nude mice was given depsides salts at a dose of 10, 20 or 50 mg/kg every 3 day for 16 days. Then samples of subcutaneous tumors in nude mice were collected. The morphological changes of tumor samples were observed by HE staining and the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and the tumor antigen Ki67 was detected by immunohistochemical method. RESULTS: The tumor growth was inhibited by all doses of depsides salts. The morphology of tumors was shrinkage, broken and irregularly arranged compared with the tumors in the model group and the negative control group. Morphological changes were more obvious in tumors with treatment at high dose. Expression of VEGF and Ki67 in treatment groups and the positive control group were lower than that in the model group and the negative control group, with a significant difference (P<0.05). CONCLUSION Depsides salts from Salvia miltiorrhiza can inhibit the growth of human hepatoma cell line SMMC-7721 tumor in nude mice, which is related to the inhibition of Ki67 and VEGF.
Animals ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; pathology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; drug effects ; Depsides ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Ki-67 Antigen ; metabolism ; Liver Neoplasms ; pathology ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Mice, Nude ; Salts ; Salvia miltiorrhiza ; chemistry ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; metabolism ; Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays

OBJECTIVETo study the protective effect of rosmarinic acid (Ros A) on the primary cardiomyocyte hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R) injury.

METHODPrimary cardiomyocytes of rats were cultured in vitro to establish the H/R injury of cardiomyocytes and observe the changes in the cell viability and LDH leakage. The changes in ATP content and ROS in cardiomyocytes were measured by using chemiluminescence and fluorescent probe technique. The effects of rosmarinic acid on the apoptosis of cardiomyocytes, cleaved-caspase 3, Akt and p-Akt protein expression were further detected by flow cytometry and western blot analysis.

RESULTAccording to the experimental results, Ros A at doses of 25, 50, 100 mg x L(-1) could inhibit the decrease in H/R-induced cell viability, LDH leakage and excessive ROS generation, and maintain the ATP level in cells. Ros A at doses of 50, 100 mg x L(-1) could remarkably inhibit the H/R-induced cardiomyocyte apoptosis and down-regulate the expression of cleaved caspase-3. Moreover, Ros A at doses of 100 mg x L(-1) could significantly up-regulate the expression of p-Akt.

CONCLUSIONRos A has the significant effect in resisting the cardiomyocyte H/R injury, improve cardiomyocyte energy metabolism and reduce cell apoptosis, which is related to the activation of Akt pathway.

Adenosine Triphosphate ; metabolism ; Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Caspase 3 ; metabolism ; Cell Hypoxia ; drug effects ; Cell Survival ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Cinnamates ; pharmacology ; Depsides ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Hypoxia ; genetics ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; prevention & control ; Male ; Myocytes, Cardiac ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Oxygen ; metabolism ; Plant Extracts ; pharmacology ; Protective Agents ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; metabolism ; Rosmarinus ; chemistry

Rosmarinic acid (RA), a phenolic acid, is one of the important secondary metabolites produced in Salvia miltiorrhiza. To observe the influence of salicylic acid (SA), an elicitor, on the synthesis of RA and related enzymes, we treated the cell suspension cultures of S. miltiorrhiza with SA and L-a-aminooxy-beta-phenylpropionic acid (AOPP), a competitive inhibitor of tyrosine aminotransferase (TAT). Under this condition, the activities of related enzymes, such as phenylalanine ammonia-lyase and TAT were traced and assayed; the accumulative amount of RA was measured. The results showed that the PAL activity reached the peak at 4 h, 124% higher than that of the control, and the content of RA reached its maximum ((5.914 +/- 0.296) mg/g dry weight) at 8 h, after treated by 6.25 mg/L SA on day 6 of the suspension culture. The results of treatment with 0.1 micromol/L AOPP showed that AOPP affected little on the TAT activity, while the PAL activity was significantly influenced, with 44% lower than that of the control at 6 h. Meanwhile, the reduced accumulation of RA ((4.709 +/- 0.204) mg/g dry weight) paralleled with the decrease in PAL activity. The co-treatment by 0.1 micromol/L AOPP and 6.25 mg/L SA relieved the restriction imposed by AOPP on PAL, and made the cell cultures accumulate more RA than sole treatment with AOPP, indicated that SA induced the accumulation of RA in suspension cell culture of S. miltiorrhiza, and the rate-limiting effect of PAL was stronger than TAT.
Cell Culture Techniques ; methods ; Cinnamates ; metabolism ; Depsides ; metabolism ; Phenylalanine Ammonia-Lyase ; metabolism ; Plant Cells ; metabolism ; Salicylic Acid ; pharmacology ; Salvia miltiorrhiza ; cytology ; growth & development ; metabolism ; Suspensions ; Tyrosine Transaminase ; metabolism

We studied the influence of the concentration of Ca2+ (0-50 mmol/L) in culture medium on the synthesis of rosmarinic acid (RA) and related enzymes in Salvia miltiorrhiza suspension cultures. Using verpamil (VP, a calcium channel antagonist) and ionophore A23187, we studied the mechanism of secondary metabolites of Salvia miltiorrhiza suspension cultures influenced by the concentration of Ca2+ in the culture medium. The synthesis of intracellular RA in 6-day incubation was significantly dependent on the medium Ca2+ concentration. At the optimal Ca2+ concentration of 10 mmol/L, a maximal RA content of 20.149 mg/g biomass dry weight was reached, which was about 37.3% and 20.4% higher than that at Ca2+ concentrations of 1 and 3 mmol/L, respectively. The variation of the activity of PAL and TAT, two key enzymes of the two branches of RA, could be affected by the concentration of Ca2+ in culture medium. The change of their activity occurred prior to the accumulation of RA, which suggested both of the key enzymes be involved in the synthesis of RA. Meanwhile, the enzymatic action of PAL was more distinct than TAT. The treatment of VP and A23187, respectively, indicated that the influence of RA affected by the concentration of Ca2+ in the culture medium was accomplished by the intracellular Ca2+, and the flow of Ca2+ from the extracellular to the intracellular environment could also participate in this process.
Calcium ; pharmacology ; Cinnamates ; metabolism ; Culture Media ; Culture Techniques ; methods ; Depsides ; metabolism ; Phenylalanine Ammonia-Lyase ; metabolism ; Salvia miltiorrhiza ; chemistry ; enzymology ; growth & development ; Tyrosine Transaminase ; metabolism