1.Integrating Transcriptomics and 3D Organoids to Investigate Mechanism of Periplaneta americana Extract Against Lung Adenocarcinoma
Qiong MA ; Chunxia HUANG ; Jiawei HE ; Yuting BAI ; Xingyue LIU ; Yuxuan XIONG ; Yang ZHONG ; Hengzhou LAI ; Yuling JIANG ; Xueke LI ; Qian WANG ; Yifeng REN ; Xi FU ; Funeng GENG ; Taoqing WU ; Ping XIAO ; Fengming YOU
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(11):124-132
ObjectiveTo evaluate the antitumor activity of Periplaneta americana extract(PAE) against human-derived lung adenocarcinoma organoids(LUAD-PDOs) and to elucidate its potential mechanism based on transcriptomics. MethodsFresh tumor and adjacent normal tissues from patients with LUAD were collected to construct LUAD-PDOs and normal lung organoid(Nor-PDOs) models using 3D organoid culture technology. The effective intervention concentration of PAE was determined using the cell counting kit-8(CCK-8) assay. Experimental groups included the model group(LUAD-PDOs), normal group, model administration group(LUAD-PDOs+PAE), and normal administration group(Nor-PDOs+PAE). Hematoxylin-eosin(HE) staining was used to observe the pathological structures of PDOs, immunohistochemistry(IHC) was performed to detect the expressions of the proliferation marker Ki-67 and lung adenocarcinoma differentiation markers cytokeratin-7(CK-7) and Napsin A, TUNEL staining was applied to detect cell apoptosis. RNA sequencing(RNA-Seq) was conducted to identify differentially expressed genes(DEGs), followed by Gene Ontology(GO), Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG), and Gene Set Enrichment Analysis(GSEA), alongside protein-protein interaction(PPI) network analysis to screen core mechanisms. Finally, key targets were validated by integrating external database analysis with immunofluorescence(IF). ResultsNor-PDOs and LUAD-PDOs that highly recapitulated the pathological characteristics of the primary tissues were successfully established. The CCK-8 assay determined that the effective intervention concentration of PAE was 16 g·L-1. Morphological observation showed that Nor-PDOs exhibited lumen-forming structures, whereas LUAD-PDOs displayed dense, solid structures. CCK-8 and TUNEL assays revealed that, compared with the model group, PAE intervention inhibited the proliferation of LUAD-PDOs and promoted apoptosis in LUAD cells, while showing no significant effect on the viability of Nor-PDOs. Transcriptomic analysis identified 719 DEGs that were significantly reversed after PAE intervention(347 up-regulated and 372 down-regulated)(P<0.05). GO enrichment analysis indicated that DEGs in the model administration group were significantly enriched in biological processes related to cell cycle regulation compared to the model group. KEGG pathway analysis revealed that PAE affected pathways related to proliferation and metabolism, including pathways in cancer and the p53 signaling pathway. GSEA further confirmed that PAE significantly enhanced the activity of the p53 signaling pathway(P<0.05). PPI network analysis indicated that breast cancer type 1 susceptibility protein(BRCA1) and checkpoint kinase 1(CHEK1) were the core down-regulated targets in the p53 pathway. IF verified the high expression of BRCA1 and CHEK1 in LUAD-PDOs and their significant downregulation after PAE intervention(P<0.05). Furthermore, survival analysis based on The Cancer Genome Atlas(TCGA) database indicated that low expression of BRCA1 and CHEK1 was significantly associated with prolonged overall survival in patients with LUAD(P<0.05). ConclusionPAE effectively inhibits proliferation of LUAD-PDOs and promotes their apoptosis, its anti-tumor mechanism is potentially associated with the activation of the p53 signaling pathway, with BRCA1 and CHEK1 genes likely serving as key downstream targets for the effects of PAE.
2.Analysis of soil-borne nematode infection status among rural communities in Yubei, Chongqing
Dan JIANG ; Yong-dong HAO ; Sen-ping YANG ; Xiao-yuan SU ; Hua-jun BAI ; Bo LYU ; Ya-ling RAN ; He-yi GUAN ; Ling HU
Acta Parasitologica et Medica Entomologica Sinica 2026;33(2):85-89
Objective To analyze the infection status and epidemic trends of soil-borne nematode infections in Yubei, Chongqing City, in 2010,2021, and 2022. Methods The local populations from four survey sites of four towns in 2010 and five sites of five towns in 2021 and 2022 were surveyed regarding their basic information using a unified form. Fecal samples of the participants were collected and tested for soil-borne nematode infections using the modified Kato-Katz thick smear method. Results In 2010, 2 049 participants were surveyed, followed by 1 000 participants in 2021 and 2022. The overall prevalence of parasitic infections declined significantly from 3.86% to 0.20%. In 2010, soil-transmitted nematode included hookworms(3.81%) and roundworms(0.29%). In 2021, the infection rates of roundworms and hookworms were 1.70% and 0.10% respectively. Notably, only Ascaris was identified in 2022(0.20%). The≥60 age group consistently exhibited the highest infection rates across all surveys, followed by the 40-59 age group. The infection rates of males in the three surveys were 3.31%,1.92%, and 0.20% respectively, and those of females were 4.37%, 1.46%, and 0.20% respectively. There was no statistically significant difference in the infection rates between males and females. Educational attainment was inversely associated with infection; in 2010, the highest prevalence was observed among those with primary education or below, whereas in 2021, illiterate or semi-literate individuals showed the highest susceptibility. The occupational distribution of infections in 2010 indicated that retirees (8.33%), farmers(4.86%), and homemakers or unemployed individuals(3.45%)were the most affected. However, in 2021 and 2022, farmers emerged as the predominant occupational group with soil-transmitted nematode infections. Conclusions The infection rate of soil-borne nematodes showed a decreasing trend in Yubei, and the infection species changed from hookworms in 2010 to Ascaris in 2022. Farmers, the elderly, and people with low education levels should continue to be the focus of preventive and control efforts.
3.Effect of Schisanlactone E on Neuroinflammation and Synaptic Damage in APP/PS1 Mice and Their Relationship with Th17/Treg Immune Balance
Wenjing YU ; Miao YANG ; Chunxiang HE ; Jiawei HE ; Zhenyan SONG ; Ping LI ; Shaowu CHENG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(22):112-123
ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of schisanlactone E in ameliorating neuroinflammation and synaptic injury in APP/PS1 mice and to elucidate whether its mechanism is related to the regulation of helper T cell 17 (Th17)/regulatory T cell (Treg) immune balance. MethodsAPP/PS1 transgenic mice were assigned into model, low- and high-dose (2 mg·kg-1·d-1 and 4 mg·kg-1·d-1, respectively) schisanlactone E, and donepezil (1 mg·kg-1·d-1) groups. C57BL/6J mice were used as the control group. Each group received the corresponding drug by gavage for 30 days. Learning and memory abilities were assessed by the Morris water maze and novel object recognition tests. The percentages of Th17 and Treg cells in the peripheral blood were analyzed by flow cytometry. The mRNA levels of retinoid-related orphan receptor γt (RORγt), interleukin (IL)-17A, forkhead box protein 3 (FoxP3), and IL-4 in the hippocampus were determined by Real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction (Real-time PCR). The synaptic ultrastructure in the hippocampus was observed by transmission electron microscopy. The protein levels of synapsin Ⅰ and postsynaptic density protein 95 (PSD95) in the hippocampus were measured by Western blot. Aβ aggregation and microglial activation in the hippocampus were observed by immunofluorescence staining. The mRNA levels of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, IL-6, and IL-1β in the hippocampus were determined by Real-time PCR. ResultsCompared with the control group, the model group showed prolonged escape latency (P<0.05), decreased time spent in the target quadrant, platform crossings, novel object exploration time, and percentage of novel object contact frequency (P<0.05, P<0.01), increased Aβ aggregation in the hippocampal tissue (P<0.01), an increased proportion of Th17 cells (P<0.05), a decreased proportion of Treg cells (P<0.05), and an increased Th17/Treg ratio (P<0.01) in the peripheral blood. Furthermore, the hippocampal tissue in the model group exhibited upregulated mRNA levels of RORγt and IL-17A (P<0.05, P<0.01), downregulated mRNA levels of FoxP3 and IL-4 (P<0.01), decreased synapses (P<0.05), decreased PSD density, synaptic interface curvature, and active zone length (P<0.05, P<0.01), and increased synaptic cleft width (P<0.05), downregulated protein levels of Synapsin Ⅰ and PSD95 (P<0.01), increased microglial activation (P<0.01), and upregulated mRNA levels of TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β (P<0.05). Compared with the model group, the high-dose schisanlactone E group and the donepezil group exhibited shortened escape latency and increased time in the target quadrant and platform crossings (P<0.05, P<0.01). The schisanlactone E groups and the donepezil group showed increased novel object exploration time (P<0.05, P<0.01) and percentage of novel object contact frequency (P<0.05, P<0.01), and reduced hippocampal Aβ aggregation (P<0.05, P<0.01). The schisanlactone E groups showed a decreased proportion of Th17 cells (P<0.05) and an increased proportion of Treg cells (P<0.05) in the peripheral blood, and all treatment groups showed a decreased Th17/Treg ratio (P<0.05, P<0.01). The high-dose schisanlactone E group showed a downregulated mRNA level of RORγt in the hippocampal tissue (P<0.05), and all treatment groups showed a downregulated mRNA level of IL-17A (P<0.05, P<0.01), and upregulated mRNA levels of FoxP3 and IL-4 (P<0.05, P<0.01). The schisanlactone E groups and the donepezil group showed increased synapses, active zone length, synaptic interface curvature, and PSD density, decreased synaptic cleft width (P<0.05, P<0.01), and upregulated protein levels of synapsin Ⅰ and PSD95 (P<0.05, P<0.01). The high-dose schisanlactone E group and the donepezil group showed decreased microglial activation in the hippocampus (P<0.01). The schisanlactone E groups and the donepezil group showed downregulated mRNA levels of TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β in the hippocampal tissue (P<0.05, P<0.01). ConclusionSchisanlactone E significantly improves the cognitive function in APP/PS1 mice by regulating the Th17/Treg immune balance, inhibiting neuroinflammation, and ameliorating synaptic injury.
4.Aspirin Curcumin Ester Inhibits High Glucose/Aβ1-42-induced Microglial Inflammatory Response by Regulating Glucose Metabolism Reprogramming
Wenjing YU ; Miao YANG ; Chunxiang HE ; Ze LI ; Jiawei HE ; Ping LI ; Zhenyan SONG ; Shaowu CHENG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(22):124-137
ObjectiveTo observe the effect of aspirin curcumin ester (CA) on the activation and glucose metabolism reprogramming of the mouse microglia (BV2) model of inflammation induced by high glucose/β-amyloid (Aβ)1-42, and to explore the potential mechanism of CA in reducing neuroinflammatory response in the brain. MethodsThe BV2 activation model was constructed by high glucose combined with Aβ1-42 oligomers. BV2 cells were treated with Aβ1-42 oligomers (10 μmol·L-1) in a high glucose (50 mmol·L-1) environment and allocated into normal, high glucose, Aβ, and high glucose + Aβ groups. The cell morphology of each group was observed under a bright field. Real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction (Real-time PCR) was adopted to assess the mRNA levels of inflammatory factors including tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) as well as glycolysis-related glucose transporter type 1 (GLUT1), hexokinase 2 (HK2), phospofructokinase-2/fructose-2,6-bisphosphatase 3 (PFKFB3), and pyruvate kinase M2 (PKM2). To reveal the effects of CA on inflammatory response and glucose metabolism in BV2 cells exposed to high glucose/Aβ1-42, this study established the BV2 cell model of inflammatory activation by high glucose and Aβ1-42 oligomer intervention. The cells were allocated into normal, model (50 mmol·L-1 glucose + 10 μmol·L-1 Aβ1-42), CA (10 μmol·L-1), 2DG (0.2 mmol·L-1), and DADA (1 mmol·L-1) groups. Cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) was used to detect cell survival rate. The cell morphology of each group was observed under a bright field. The expression of inflammatory factors TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β and glycolysis-related key enzymes GLUT1, HK2, PFKFB3, and PKM2 at the mRNA level in each group was measured by real-time PCR. The protein levels of GLUT1, HK2, PFKFB3, and PKM2 were determined by Western blot. The glycolysis rate in each group was measured by seahorse. LC-MS was employed to identify the glucose metabolism intermediates. The morphology of mitochondria in cells was observed by electron microscopy. ResultsConstruction of the BV2 cell model: Compared with the normal group, the Aβ group and the high glucose + Aβ group showed more amoeboid-shaped cells and cell aggregation. The high glucose + Aβ group exhibited increased the mRNA levels of TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 (P<0.05, P<0.01), as well as those of key glycolytic enzymes GLUT1, HK2, PFKFB3, and PKM2 (P<0.01). The Aβ group also showed significantly increased mRNA levels of PKM2 and PFKFB3 (P<0.01). Effects of CA on the inflammatory response and glucose metabolism in BV2 cells exposed to high glucose/Aβ1-42: Compared with the normal group, the model group exhibited amoeboid-shaped cells and cell aggregation, upregulated mRNA levels of TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, iNOS, GLUT1, HK2, PFKFB3, and PKM2 (P<0.01) and protein levels of GLUT1, HK2, and PFKFB3 (P<0.05, P<0.01), an increased basal glycolysis rate (P<0.01), a decreased compensatory glycolysis rate (P<0.01), increased glycolytic intermediates and reduced TCA cycle intermediates. In addition, the mitochondria in the model group exhibited a decreased number (P<0.05), impaired crista integrity (P<0.01), an increased proportion of vacuolization (P<0.01), and abnormal mitochondrial morphology. Compared with those in the model group, the number of amoeboid-shaped BV2 cells reduced in the CA and 2DG groups, while most BV2 cells in the DADA group became elongated spindle-shaped. All the three treatment groups showed downregulated mRNA levels of TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, GLUT1, HK2, PFKFB3, and PKM2 (P<0.05, P<0.01), downregulated protein levels of GLUT1, HK2, and PFKFB3 (P<0.05, P<0.01), and slow compensatory glycolysis and basal glycolysis (P<0.05, P<0.01). Glycolytic intermediates were decreased and TCA cycle intermediates were increased in the CA and 2DG groups. Mitochondrial morphology largely returned to the normal level in all the three treatment groups, with an increase in mitochondrial number (P<0.05), improved crista integrity (P<0.05, P<0.01), and a decreased proportion of vacuolization (P<0.05). ConclusionAβ1-42 oligomers can activate BV2 cells and enhance glycolytic activity in the high glucose environment. CA can reduce the expression of inflammatory factors and inhibit the activation of BV2 cells by regulating the glucose metabolism reprogramming in BV2 cells.
5.Research progress on the effect of miRNA-mediated PPARγ-related signaling pathways on lipid metabolism in steroid-induced osteonecrosis of femoral head.
Hai-Yuan GAO ; Xiao-Ping WANG ; Ming-Wang ZHOU ; Xing YANG ; Bang-Jing HE
Acta Physiologica Sinica 2025;77(3):493-503
Steroid-induced osteonecrosis of femoral head (SONFH) is a disease characterized by femoral head collapse and local pain caused by excessive use of glucocorticoids. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPARγ) is mainly expressed in adipose tissue. Wnt/β-catenin, AMPK and other related signaling pathways play an important role in regulating adipocyte differentiation, fatty acid uptake and storage. Bone marrow mesenchymal cells (BMSCs) have the ability to differentiate into adipocytes or osteoblasts, and the use of hormones upregulates PPARγ expression, resulting in BMSCs biased towards adipogenic differentiation. The increase of adipocytes affects the blood supply and metabolism of the femoral head, and the decrease of osteoblasts leads to the loss of trabecular bone, which eventually leads to partial or total ischemic necrosis and collapse of the femoral head. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of short non-coding RNAs that regulate gene expression by inhibiting the transcription or translation of target genes, thereby affecting cell function and disease progression. Studies have shown that miRNAs affect the progression of SONFH by regulating PPARγ lipid metabolism-related signaling pathways. Therefore, it may be an accurate and feasible SONFH treatment strategy to regulate adipogenic-osteoblast differentiation in BMSCs by targeted intervention of miRNA differential expression to improve lipid metabolism. In this paper, the miRNA-mediated PPARγ-related signaling pathways were classified and summarized to clarify their effects on lipid metabolism in SONFH, providing a theoretical reference for miRNA targeted therapy of SONFH, and then providing scientific evidence for SONFH precision medicine.
MicroRNAs/physiology*
;
PPAR gamma/metabolism*
;
Femur Head Necrosis/metabolism*
;
Humans
;
Signal Transduction/physiology*
;
Lipid Metabolism/physiology*
;
Animals
;
Cell Differentiation
;
Mesenchymal Stem Cells/cytology*
;
Glucocorticoids/adverse effects*
6.Mechanism of Huanglian Jiedu Decoction in treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus based on intestinal flora.
Xue HAN ; Qiu-Mei TANG ; Wei WANG ; Guang-Yong YANG ; Wei-Yi TIAN ; Wen-Jia WANG ; Ping WANG ; Xiao-Hua TU ; Guang-Zhi HE
China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica 2025;50(1):197-208
The effect of Huanglian Jiedu Decoction on the intestinal flora of type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM) was investigated using 16S rRNA sequencing technology. Sixty rats were randomly divided into a normal group(10 rats) and a modeling group(50 rats). After one week of adaptive feeding, a high-fat diet + streptozotocin was given for modeling, and fasting blood glucose >16.7 mmol·L~(-1) was considered a sign of successful modeling. The modeling group was randomly divided into the model group, high-, medium-, and low-dose groups of Huanglian Jiedu Decoction, and metformin group. After seven days of intragastric treatment, the feces, colon, and pancreatic tissue of each group of rats were collected, and the pathological changes of the colon and pancreatic tissue of each group were observed by hematoxylin-eosin staining. The changes in the intestinal flora structure of each group were observed by the 16S rRNA sequencing method. The results showed that compared with the model group, the high-, medium-, and low-dose of Huanglian Jiedu Decoction reduced fasting blood glucose levels to different degrees and showed no significant changes in body weight. The number of islet cells increased, and intestinal mucosal damage attenuated. Alpha diversity analysis revealed that Huanglian Jiedu Decoction reduced the abundance and diversity of intestinal flora in rats with T2DM; at the phylum level, low-and mediam-dose of Huanglian Jiedu Decoction reduced the abundance of Bacteroidota, Proteobacteria, and Desulfobacterota and increased the abundance of Firmicute and Bacteroidota/Firmicutes, while the high-dose of Huanglian Jiedu Decoction increased the relative abundance of Proteobacteria and Bacteroidota/Firmicutes ratio, and decreaseal the relative; abundance of Firmicute; at the genus level, Huanglian Jiedu Decoction increased the relative abundance of Allobaculum, Blautia, and Lactobacillus; LEfse analysis revealed that the biomarker of low-and medium-dose groups of Huanglian Jiedu Decoction was Lactobacillus, and the structure of the intestinal flora of the low-dose group of Huanglian Jiedu Decoction was highly similar to that of the metformin group. PICRUSt2 function prediction revealed that Huanglian Jiedu Decoction mainly affected carbohydrate and amino acid metabolic pathways. It suggested that Huanglian Jiedu Decoction could reduce fasting blood glucose and increase the number of islet cells in rats with T2DM, and its mechanism of action may be related to increasing the abundance of short-chain fatty acid-producing strains and Lactobacillus and affecting carbohydrate and amino acid metabolic pathways.
Animals
;
Drugs, Chinese Herbal/administration & dosage*
;
Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/metabolism*
;
Gastrointestinal Microbiome/drug effects*
;
Rats
;
Male
;
Rats, Sprague-Dawley
;
Humans
;
Bacteria/drug effects*
;
Blood Glucose/metabolism*
7.Identification and functional analysis of β-amyrin synthase gene in Dipsacus asper.
Huan LEI ; Hua HE ; Jiao XU ; Chang-Gui YANG ; Wei-Ke JIANG ; Tao ZHOU ; Lan-Ping GUO
China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica 2025;50(4):1043-1050
Dipsaci Radix is a commonly used Chinese herbal medicine in China, with triterpenoid saponins as the main active components. β-Amyrin synthase, a member of the oxidosqualene cyclase superfamily, plays a crucial role in the biosynthesis of oleanane-type triterpenoid saponins. Asperosaponin Ⅵ is an oleanane-type triterpenoid saponin. To explore the β-amyrin synthase genes involved in the biosynthesis of asperosaponin Ⅵ in Dipsacus asper, this study screened the candidate genes from the transcriptome data of D. asper. Two β-amyrin synthase genes, Da OSC1 and Da OSC2, were identified by phylogenetic analysis and correlation analysis. The coding sequences of Da OSC1 and Da OSC2 were 2 286 bp and 2 295 bp in length, encoding 761 and 764 amino acids,respectively. Multiple sequence alignments showed that Da OSC1 and Da OSC2 had three conserved motifs( DCTAE, QW, and MWCYCR) unique to the oxidosqualene cyclase family. Real-time quantitative PCR results showed that Da OSC1 and Da OSC2 had the highest expression levels in the roots. Compared with normal growth conditions, the low-temperature treatment significantly upregulated the expression of Da OSC1 and Da OSC2. Agrobacterium-mediated transient expression of Da OSC1 and Da OSC2 in Nicotiana benthamiana resulted in the production of β-amyrin, which suggested that Da OSC1 and Da OSC2 were able to catalyze the synthesis of β-amyrin. This study clarified the catalytic functions of two β-amyrin synthases in D. asper, analyzed their expression patterns in different tissue and at low temperatures. The findings provide a foundation for further studying the biosynthetic pathway and regulatory mechanism of asperosaponin Ⅵ in D. asper.
Intramolecular Transferases/chemistry*
;
Phylogeny
;
Plant Proteins/chemistry*
;
Gene Expression Regulation, Plant
;
Dipsacaceae/classification*
;
Saponins/metabolism*
;
Oleanolic Acid/metabolism*
8.Current status and suggestions on regulation of traditional Chinese medicine raw materials and preparations under regulatory system of drugs.
Li-Ping QU ; Yong-Dan XU ; Wei-Jing HE ; Ding-Kun ZHANG ; Nan YANG ; Min-Xian SONG ; Zhi-Qiang MIN ; Ting-Mo ZHANG
China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica 2025;50(3):824-832
At present, the cause of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) in China has entered a new period of high-quality development. How to strengthen the foundation for the TCM industry from the source is an important issue that deserves the attention of the authorities, industry, and academia. This study systematically analyzed the regulatory system of TCM raw materials and preparations. The study took the TCM industry chain and the product life cycle as a clue and focused on the dimensions of TCM resource protection and plant cultivation(farming), production and quality supervision of TCM raw materials and preparations, and their market access and distribution. It analyzed the current situation of the regulation of TCM raw materials and preparations under the regulatory system of drugs, discussed the main problems, and put forward corresponding suggestions. The results can provide an important reference value for the subsequent improvement of the regulatory system of drugs and the construction of a prominent regulatory system of drugs in accordance with TCM characteristics.
Drugs, Chinese Herbal/economics*
;
Medicine, Chinese Traditional/standards*
;
China
;
Quality Control
;
Humans
;
Plants, Medicinal/chemistry*
9.Effect of Biyan Jiedu Capsules on proliferation and apoptosis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells based on PI3K/Akt pathway.
Ting LIN ; Yang-Yang TAO ; Ying-Gang TANG ; Ju YUAN ; Hui-Ping DU ; Lin-Yu DENG ; Fang-Liang ZHOU ; Ying-Chun HE
China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica 2025;50(7):1920-1927
To investigate the effects of Biyan Jiedu Capsules on the proliferation and apoptosis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells and their molecular mechanism, nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells CNE1 and CNE2 were used. They were divided into control group(30% blank serum medium), low-(10% drug-containing serum + 20% blank serum medium), medium-(20% drug-containing serum + 10% blank serum medium), and high-(30% drug-containing serum medium) concentration group of Biyan Jiedu Capsules according to in vitro experiment. After 24 h of intervention, the effects of Biyan Jiedu Capsules on the proliferation of CNE1 and CNE2 were detected by CCK-8 assay, clonal formation experiment, and EdU staining. The effect of Biyan Jiedu Capsules on apoptosis of CNE1 and CNE2 was detected by flow cytometry. Western blot was used to detect the effect of Biyan Jiedu Capsules on the expression of X-linked apoptosis inhibitor protein(XIAP), survivin, proliferating cell nuclear antigen(PCNA), and PI3K/Akt pathway-related proteins in CNE1 and CNE2. The results showed that compared with the control group, the survival rate of CNE1 and CNE2 in the medium and high concentration groups of Biyan Jiedu Capsules could be decreased in a concentration-dependent way(P<0.05, P<0.01). At the same time, EdU staining and clonal formation experiments showed that the proliferation of CNE1 and CNE2 was significantly inhibited in the medium and high concentration groups of Biyan Jiedu Capsules(P<0.05, P<0.01). Flow cytometry showed that the apoptosis rate of CNE1 and CNE2 was significantly increased in all concentration groups of Biyan Jiedu Capsules(P<0.01), and the apoptosis rate was concentration-dependent. Western blot showed that the expressions of XIAP, survivin, PCNA, p-PI3K, and p-Akt in all concentration groups of Biyan Jiedu Capsules were significantly down-regulated(P<0.05, P<0.01). In conclusion, Biyan Jiedu Capsules can inhibit the proliferation and induce apoptosis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells possibly by down-regulating the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway.
Humans
;
Apoptosis/drug effects*
;
Cell Proliferation/drug effects*
;
Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma
;
Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms/physiopathology*
;
Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt/genetics*
;
Cell Line, Tumor
;
Drugs, Chinese Herbal/pharmacology*
;
Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases/genetics*
;
Signal Transduction/drug effects*
;
Capsules
;
Carcinoma/drug therapy*
10.Identification of blood-entering components of Anshen Dropping Pills based on UPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS combined with network pharmacology and evaluation of their anti-insomnia effects and mechanisms.
Xia-Xia REN ; Jin-Na YANG ; Xue-Jun LUO ; Hui-Ping LI ; Miao QIAO ; Wen-Jia WANG ; Yi HE ; Shui-Ping ZHOU ; Yun-Hui HU ; Rui-Ming LI
China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica 2025;50(7):1928-1937
This study identified blood-entering components of Anshen Dropping Pills and explored their anti-insomnia effects and mechanisms. The main blood-entering components of Anshen Dropping Pills were detected and identified by UPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS. The rationality of the formula was assessed by using enrichment analysis based on the relationship between drugs and symptoms, and core targets of its active components were selected as the the potential anti-insomnia targets of Anshen Dropping Pills through network pharmacology analysis. Furthermore, protein-protein interaction(PPI) network, Gene Ontology(GO) enrichment analysis, and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG) pathway analysis were performed on the core targets. An active component-core target network for Anshen Dropping Pills was constructed. Finally, the effects of low-, medium-, and high-dose groups of Anshen Dropping Pills on sleep episodes, sleep duration, and sleep latency in mice were measured by supraliminal and subliminal pentobarbital sodium experiments. Moreover, total scores of the Pittsburgh sleep quality index(PSQI) scale was used to evaluate the changes before and after the treatment with Anshen Dropping Pills in a clinical study. The enrichment analysis based on the relationship between drugs and symptoms verified the rationality of the Anshen Dropping Pills formula, and nine blood-entering components of Anshen Dropping Pills were identified by UPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS. The network proximity revealed a significant correlation between eight components and insomnia, including magnoflorine, liquiritin, spinosin, quercitrin, jujuboside A, ginsenoside Rb_3, glycyrrhizic acid, and glycyrrhetinic acid. Network pharmacology analysis indicated that the major anti-insomnia pathways of Anshen Dropping Pills involved substance and energy metabolism, neuroprotection, immune system regulation, and endocrine regulation. Seven core genes related to insomnia were identified: APOE, ALB, BDNF, PPARG, INS, TP53, and TNF. In summary, Anshen Dropping Pills could increase sleep episodes, prolong sleep duration, and reduce sleep latency in mice. Clinical study results demonstrated that Anshen Dropping Pills could decrease total scores of PSQI scale. This study reveals the pharmacodynamic basis and potential multi-component, multi-target, and multi-pathway effects of Anshen Dropping Pills, suggesting that its anti-insomnia mechanisms may be associated with the regulation of insomnia-related signaling pathways. These findings offer a theoretical foundation for the clinical application of Anshen Dropping Pills.
Animals
;
Drugs, Chinese Herbal/administration & dosage*
;
Tandem Mass Spectrometry/methods*
;
Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders/metabolism*
;
Mice
;
Network Pharmacology
;
Male
;
Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid
;
Humans
;
Protein Interaction Maps/drug effects*
;
Sleep/drug effects*
;
Female
;
Adult


Result Analysis
Print
Save
E-mail