Gambogic acid, a caged xanthone compound derived from Garcinia, has been proven to be an important substance basis for the pharmacological effects of the plant. In recent years, it has received continuous attention due to its broad and significant pharmacological activities. Modern pharmacological investigations have demonstrated that gambogic acid endows various therapeutic effects such as anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anti-tumor activities, as well as benefits in retinopathy, organ protection, anti-microbial infection, bone protection, and neuropathic pain relief. Nevertheless, there is currently a lack of systematic summary and integration of the pharmacological effects and mechanisms of gambogic acid, which is critical for advancing the clinical application of this natural product. In addition, current research has raised concerns about potential safety risks associated with gambogic acid, such as organ toxicity, developmental toxicity, and hemolysis. Given this, this paper systematically reviewed and summarized the pharmacological effects, mechanisms, and toxicological profiles of gambogic acid, aiming to provide reference and data support for its clinical translation.
Xanthones/toxicity* ; Humans ; Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/toxicity* ; Garcinia/chemistry*

To optimize the technology of Gardeniae Fructus processed with ginger juice,establish fingerprints and simultaneously determine seven compounds( geniposidic acid,chlorogenic acid,genipin-1-β-D-gentiobioside,geniposide,rutin,crocin Ⅰ,and crocin Ⅱ) by using ultra high performance liquid chromatography( UPLC). Waters ACQUITY UPLC BEH C18( 2. 1 mm×50 mm,1. 7μm) column was used with acetonitrile and 0. 1% formic acid solution as mobile phase for gradient elution at the flow rate of 0. 4 m L·min-1. The data was comprehensively processed and analyzed with similarity evaluation,principal component analysis( PCA) and partial least squares discriminant analysis( PLS-DA) methods. Twenty common peaks were identified in this study,and the similarity of samples was over 0. 97. The results of PCA and PLS-DA showed that there were differences in chemical compositions and contents between the raw Gardeniae Fructus and those processed with ginger juice,with 9 potential differentiated chromatographic peaks. After being processed with ginger juice,the contents of chlorogenic acid,crocin Ⅰ and crocin Ⅱ were less than before and the contents of other four compositions were higher than before. The optimized preparation for Gardeniae Fructus processed with ginger juice was stable and feasible. The methods of UPLC fingerprints and simultaneous determination of seven components can be effectively carried out to distinguish Gardeniae Fructus and Gardeniae Fructus processed with ginger juice.
Carotenoids/analysis* ; Chlorogenic Acid/analysis* ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/chemistry* ; Fruit/chemistry* ; Gardenia/chemistry* ; Zingiber officinale ; Technology, Pharmaceutical/methods*

The present study was designed to isolate and characterize the analgesic compounds of Artemisa sacrorum Ledeb. The EtOAc crude extracts from the aerial parts of Artemisa sacrorum Ledeb were separated by chromatography and the structures of new compounds were elucidated based on spectral analyses. Analgesic activities of the isolated compounds were assessed in rats with hot plate test and paw pressure assay. Two new flavone C-glycosides, named as Sacroroside A and B (Compounds 1 and 2) were isolated from the EtOAc crude extract of the aerial parts ofArtemisa sacrorum Ledeb. They showed significant analgesic effects. In conclusion, Compounds 1 and 2 are new natural products, which show significant analgesic effects in a dose-dependent manner.
Analgesics ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Animals ; Artemisia ; chemistry ; Disaccharides ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Flavanones ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Flavones ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Hot Temperature ; Male ; Molecular Structure ; Pain ; drug therapy ; Phytotherapy ; Plant Components, Aerial ; Plant Extracts ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Pressure ; Rats, Wistar

OBJECTIVETo establish a model of smooth muscle cells differentiated from bone mesenchymal stem cells (BMSC-SMCs) in vitro and explore the relationship between scavenger receptors A (SR-A) and caveolin-1.

METHODSBMSCs were isolated from the femoral bone of SD rats by adherent culture. After treatment of the BMSC-SMCs with 80 mg/L ox-LDL for 72 h, Western blotting was performed to detect the expression of scavenger receptor SR-A, cell cholesterol transport protein ATP-binding cassette transporter Al (ABCA1) and caveolin-1.

RESULTSBMCS-SMCs became foam cells after treatment with ox-LDL. BMSC-SMC gave rise to more foam cell formation than VSMCs did. Western blotting showed that treatment with 80 mg/L ox-LDL for 72 h resulted in significantly increased expression of SR-A and significantly decreased expressions of ABCA1 and caveolin-1.

CONCLUSIONSTreatment of BMCS-SMCs with ox-LDL results in cholesterol ester accumulation in the cells to result in foam cells, the mechanism of which involves up-regulation of scavenger receptor SR-A expression and down-regulation of the reverse cholesterol transport protein ABCA1 and caveolin-1 expression.

ATP Binding Cassette Transporter 1 ; ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters ; metabolism ; Animals ; Bone Marrow Cells ; cytology ; Caveolin 1 ; metabolism ; Cell Differentiation ; Cells, Cultured ; Female ; Foam Cells ; cytology ; Lipoproteins, LDL ; pharmacology ; Male ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; cytology ; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular ; cytology ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Scavenger Receptors, Class A ; metabolism