1.Exploration on Mechanism of Topical Treatment of Allergic Contact Dermatitis in Mice with Portulacae Herba Based on Nrf2/HO-1/NF-κB Signaling Pathway
Xiaoxue WANG ; Guanwei FAN ; Xiang PU ; Zhongzhao ZHANG ; Xia CHEN ; Ying TANG ; Nana WU ; Jiangli LUO ; Xiangyan KONG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(3):115-123
ObjectiveTo investigate the mechanism of topical treatment of allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) mice with Portulacae Herba based on the nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2)/heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1)/nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) signaling pathway. MethodsA total of 70 6-week-old specific pathogen free (SPF) female Kunming mice were adaptively fed for 1 week and randomly divided into blank group, model group, compound dexamethasone acetate cream group (2.075×10-2 g·g-1), blank matrix cream group, low-dose Portulacae Herba cream group (0.1 g·g-1), high-dose Portulacae Herba cream group (0.2 g·g-1), and Portulacae Herba + inhibitor group (0.2 g·g-1 + 30 mg·kg-1 ML385), with 10 mice in each group. One day before the experiment, the mice were shaved on the neck and back. Except for the blank group, the mice in the other groups were treated with 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB) to establish an ACD model. After respective administration, the skin lesion of the mice was scored, and the histopathological changes of the skin were stained with hematoxylin-eosin (HE). Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to detect the levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), reactive oxygen species (ROS), superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, and malondialdehyde (MDA) in serum of mice. The expression of Nrf2/HO-1/NF-κB signaling pathway-related proteins in mouse skin tissue was detected by immunohistochemistry (IHC), Western blot, and real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction (Real-time PCR). ResultsCompared with the blank group, the mice in the model group had an increased skin lesion score (P<0.01), severe pathological damage to skin tissue, increased content of IL-1β, IL-6, ROS, and MDA in their serum (P<0.01), and decreased content of SOD (P<0.01). In addition, the mRNA and protein expression levels of Nrf2, HO-1, and nuclear factor-κB inhibitor α (IκBα) in skin tissue were up-regulated (P<0.01), while the protein expression levels of phosphorylated (p)-IκBα and p-NF-κB p65 and the mRNA expression of NF-κB p65 were down-regulated (P<0.01). Compared with the model group and the blank matrix cream group, the mice treated with Portulacae Herba had a decreased skin lesion score (P<0.01), reduced pathological damage to skin tissue, decreased content of IL-1β, IL-6, ROS, and MDA in their serum (P<0.01), and increased content of SOD (P<0.01). Additionally, the mRNA and protein expression levels of Nrf2, HO-1, and IκBα in skin tissue were down-regulated (P<0.05,P<0.01), and the protein expression levels of p-IκBα and p-NF-κB p65 and the mRNA expression of NF-κB p65 were up-regulated (P<0.05,P<0.01). Compared with the Portulacae Herba + inhibitor group, the high-dose Portulacae Herba cream group had a decreased skin lesion score (P<0.01), alleviated pathological damage to skin tissue, decreased content of IL-1β, IL-6, ROS, and MDA in the serum of mice (P<0.05,P<0.01), and increased content of SOD (P<0.01). The protein expression levels of Nrf2, HO-1, and IκBα and the mRNA expression of Nrf2 and HO-1 in skin tissue were up-regulated (P<0.05,P<0.01), and the protein expression levels of p-IκBα and p-NF-κB p65 and the mRNA expression of NF-κB p65 were down-regulated (P<0.05). ConclusionPortulacae Herba can improve DNCB-induced ACD skin damage in mice by regulating the Nrf2/HO-1/NF-κB signaling pathway.
2.Effects of imperatorin on malignant biological behavior of gastric cancer cells by regulating ThPOK expression
Lan CHEN ; Lingli XIA ; Ying CHEN ; Gang ZHANG ; Feng WEN
China Pharmacy 2025;36(2):191-196
OBJECTIVE To investigate the effects of imperatorin (IMP-SD) on malignant biological behavior of gastric cancer (GC) cells by regulating zinc finger and BTB domain 7B (ThPOK). METHODS Human GC cells MKN-7 were used as the research object and then divided into control group (no treatment), IMP-SD low-, medium- and high-concentration groups (40, 80 and 160 μmol/L IMP-SD), si-ThPOK and si-NC group [treated with 160 μmol/L IMP-SD and then transfected with ThPOK small interfering RNA (si-ThPOK) or its negative control (si-NC)]. After treatment, cell clone formation, migration and invasion abilities and apoptosis of MKN-7 cells were detected; the killing activity of NK cells, T cells classification, the protein expressions of ThPOK, programmed death-1 (PD-1) and programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) were all determined. RESULTS Compared with the control group, the number of cell clones, migration number, invasion number, and the protein expressions of PD-1 and PD-L1 were decreased or down-regulated significantly in IMP-SD groups, while the cell apoptotic rate, NK cell killing activity, CD4+ T proportion, the ratio of CD4+ T proportion and CD8+ T proportion (CD4+ T/CD8+ T), and the protein expression of ThPOK were increased or up-regulated significantly, in a concentration-dependent manner (P<0.05). Compared with IMP-SD high-concentration group and si-NC group, the number of cell clones, migration number, invasion number, and the protein expressions of PD-1 and PD-L1 were increased or up-regulated significantly in si-ThPOK group, while the cell apoptotic rate, NK cell killing activity, CD4+ T proportion, CD4+ T/CD8+ T, and the protein expression of ThPOK were decreased or down-regulated significantly (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS IMP-SD may reduce the clonal formation, migration and invasion abilities of GC cells, promote their apoptosis and inhibit their immune escape by promoting ThPOK expression.
3.Effects of imperatorin on malignant biological behavior of gastric cancer cells by regulating ThPOK expression
Lan CHEN ; Lingli XIA ; Ying CHEN ; Gang ZHANG ; Feng WEN
China Pharmacy 2025;36(2):191-196
OBJECTIVE To investigate the effects of imperatorin (IMP-SD) on malignant biological behavior of gastric cancer (GC) cells by regulating zinc finger and BTB domain 7B (ThPOK). METHODS Human GC cells MKN-7 were used as the research object and then divided into control group (no treatment), IMP-SD low-, medium- and high-concentration groups (40, 80 and 160 μmol/L IMP-SD), si-ThPOK and si-NC group [treated with 160 μmol/L IMP-SD and then transfected with ThPOK small interfering RNA (si-ThPOK) or its negative control (si-NC)]. After treatment, cell clone formation, migration and invasion abilities and apoptosis of MKN-7 cells were detected; the killing activity of NK cells, T cells classification, the protein expressions of ThPOK, programmed death-1 (PD-1) and programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) were all determined. RESULTS Compared with the control group, the number of cell clones, migration number, invasion number, and the protein expressions of PD-1 and PD-L1 were decreased or down-regulated significantly in IMP-SD groups, while the cell apoptotic rate, NK cell killing activity, CD4+ T proportion, the ratio of CD4+ T proportion and CD8+ T proportion (CD4+ T/CD8+ T), and the protein expression of ThPOK were increased or up-regulated significantly, in a concentration-dependent manner (P<0.05). Compared with IMP-SD high-concentration group and si-NC group, the number of cell clones, migration number, invasion number, and the protein expressions of PD-1 and PD-L1 were increased or up-regulated significantly in si-ThPOK group, while the cell apoptotic rate, NK cell killing activity, CD4+ T proportion, CD4+ T/CD8+ T, and the protein expression of ThPOK were decreased or down-regulated significantly (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS IMP-SD may reduce the clonal formation, migration and invasion abilities of GC cells, promote their apoptosis and inhibit their immune escape by promoting ThPOK expression.
4.Self-face Advantage Processing and Its Mechanisms
Xiao-Xia TANG ; Shu-Jia ZHANG ; Ying ZHANG ; Li WANG
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2025;52(7):1771-1791
Self-face is a unique and highly distinctive stimulus, not shared with others, and serves as a reliable marker of self-awareness. Compared to other faces, self-face processing exhibits several advantages, including the self-face recognition advantage, self-face attention advantage, and self-face positive processing advantage. The self-face recognition advantage manifests as faster and more accurate identification across different orientations and spatial frequency components, supported by enhanced early event-related potential (ERP) components, such as N170. Attentional biases toward self-face are evident in target detection during spatial tasks and the attentional blink effect in temporal paradigms. However, measurement sensitivity, perceptual load, and task demands contribute to some mixed findings. Positive biases further characterize the self-face processing advantage, with individuals perceiving their faces as more attractive or trustworthy than objective representations. These biases even extend to self-similar others, influencing social behaviors such as trust and voting preferences. Self-face processing advantages have been observed at an unconscious level and are regulated by several factors, including self-esteem, cultural differences, and multisensory integration. Cultural and individual differences play a crucial role in shaping self-face advantages. Individuals from Western cultures, which emphasize independent self-construal, exhibit stronger self-face biases compared to those from East Asian collectivist contexts. Self-esteem also modulates self-face advantages: high-self-esteem individuals generally maintain their self-face recognition advantage despite interference, exhibit attentional prioritization of self-faces, and demonstrate enhanced positive associations with subliminal self-faces. In contrast, low-self-esteem individuals display recognition vulnerabilities to social cues, show context-dependent attentional divergence (prioritizing others’ faces in task-oriented settings while prioritizing self-face in free-viewing tasks), and exhibit reversed positive associations with subliminal self-faces. Multisensory integration, such as synchronized visual-tactile cues, enhances self-face advantages and induces perceptual plasticity. This phenomenon is exemplified by the enfacement illusion, in which synchronous visual and tactile inputs update the mental representation of the self-face, leading to assimilation with another face. Neuroanatomically, self-face processing is predominantly lateralized to the right hemisphere and involves a network of brain regions, including the occipital lobe, temporal lobe, frontal lobe, insula, and cingulate gyrus. Disruptions in these networks are linked to self-face processing deficits in socio-cognitive disorders. For instance, autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and schizophrenia are associated with attenuated self-face advantages and abnormal neural activity in regions such as the right inferior frontal gyrus, insula, and posterior cingulate cortex. These findings suggest that self-face processing could serve as a potential biomarker for the early diagnosis and intervention of such disorders. In recent years, researchers have proposed various theoretical explanations for self-face processing and its advantage effects. However, some studies have reported no significant behavioral or neural advantages of self-faces over familiar faces, leaving the specificity of self-face a subject of debate. Further elucidation of self-face specificity requires the adoption of a face association paradigm, which controls for facial familiarity and helps determine whether qualitative differences exist between self-faces and familiar faces. Given the close relationship between self-face processing advantages and socio-cognitive disorders (e.g., ASD, schizophrenia), a deeper understanding of self-face specificity has the potential to provide critical insights into the early identification, classification, and intervention of these disorders. This research holds both theoretical significance and substantial social value.
5.Differences in growth and secondary metabolite accumulation of Panax quinquefolius between understory and field planting in Shandong, China.
Yue WANG ; Xin-Ying MAO ; Yu DING ; Hong-Xia YU ; Zhi-Fang RAN ; Xiao-Li CHEN ; Jie ZHOU
China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica 2025;50(6):1524-1533
In order to compare the differences in growth and secondary metabolite accumulation of Panax quinquefolius between understory and field planting, growth indexes, photosynthetic characteristics, soil enzyme activities, secondary metabolite contents, and antioxidant activities of P. quinquefolius under different planting modes were examined and compared, and One-way analysis of variance(ANOVA) and correlation analyses were carried out by using the software SPSS 25.0 and GraphPad Prism 9.5. The Origin 2021 software was used for plotting. The results showed that compared with those under field planting, the plant height, leaf length, leaf width, photosynthetic rate, and chlorophyll content of P. quinquefolius under understory planting were significantly reduced, and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi(AMF) infestation rate and infestation intensity, ginsenoside content, and antioxidant activity were significantly increased. The activities of inter-root soil urease, sucrase, and catalase increased, while the activities of non-inter-root soil urease and alkaline phosphatase increased. Correlation analyses showed that the plant height and leaf length of P. quinquefolius plant were significantly positively correlated with net photosynthetic rate, transpiration rate, chlorophyll content, and electron transfer rate(P<0.05), while ginsenoside content was significantly negatively correlated with net photosynthetic rate, chlorophyll content, and electron transfer rate(P<0.05) and significantly positively correlated with AMF infestation rate and infestation intensity(P<0.05). In addition, ginsenoside content was significantly positively correlated with the activities of inter-root soil sucrase, urease, and catalase(P<0.05). This study provides basic data for revealing the mechanism of secondary metabolite accumulation in P. quinquefolius under understory planting and for exploring and practicing the ecological mode of P. quinquefolius under understory planting.
Panax/microbiology*
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China
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Secondary Metabolism
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Soil/chemistry*
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Photosynthesis
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Plant Leaves/metabolism*
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Chlorophyll/metabolism*
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Mycorrhizae
6.Randomized, double-blind, parallel-controlled, multicenter, equivalence clinical trial of Jiuwei Xifeng Granules(Os Draconis replaced by Ostreae Concha) for treating tic disorder in children.
Qiu-Han CAI ; Cheng-Liang ZHONG ; Si-Yuan HU ; Xin-Min LI ; Zhi-Chun XU ; Hui CHEN ; Ying HUA ; Jun-Hong WANG ; Ji-Hong TANG ; Bing-Xiang MA ; Xiu-Xia WANG ; Ai-Zhen WANG ; Meng-Qing WANG ; Wei ZHANG ; Chun WANG ; Yi-Qun TENG ; Yi-Hui SHAN ; Sheng-Xuan GUO
China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica 2025;50(6):1699-1705
Jiuwei Xifeng Granules have become a Chinese patent medicine in the market. Because the formula contains Os Draconis, a top-level protected fossil of ancient organisms, the formula was to be improved by replacing Os Draconis with Ostreae Concha. To evaluate whether the improved formula has the same effectiveness and safety as the original formula, a randomized, double-blind, parallel-controlled, equivalence clinical trial was conducted. This study enrolled 288 tic disorder(TD) of children and assigned them into two groups in 1∶1. The treatment group and control group took the modified formula and original formula, respectively. The treatment lasted for 6 weeks, and follow-up visits were conducted at weeks 2, 4, and 6. The primary efficacy endpoint was the difference in Yale global tic severity scale(YGTSS)-total tic severity(TTS) score from baseline after 6 weeks of treatment. The results showed that after 6 weeks of treatment, the declines in YGTSS-TSS score showed no statistically significant difference between the two groups. The difference in YGTSS-TSS score(treatment group-control group) and the 95%CI of the full analysis set(FAS) were-0.17[-1.42, 1.08] and those of per-protocol set(PPS) were 0.29[-0.97, 1.56], which were within the equivalence boundary [-3, 3]. The equivalence test was therefore concluded. The two groups showed no significant differences in the secondary efficacy endpoints of effective rate for TD, total score and factor scores of YGTSS, clinical global impressions-severity(CGI-S) score, traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) response rate, or symptom disappearance rate, and thus a complete evidence chain with the primary outcome was formed. A total of 6 adverse reactions were reported, including 4(2.82%) cases in the treatment group and 2(1.41%) cases in the control group, which showed no statistically significant difference between the two groups. No serious suspected unexpected adverse reactions were reported, and no laboratory test results indicated serious clinically significant abnormalities. The results support the replacement of Os Draconis by Ostreae Concha in the original formula, and the efficacy and safety of the modified formula are consistent with those of the original formula.
Adolescent
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Child
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Child, Preschool
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Female
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Humans
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Male
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Double-Blind Method
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Drugs, Chinese Herbal/therapeutic use*
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Tic Disorders/drug therapy*
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Treatment Outcome
7.Effect and mechanism of salt-processed Phellodendri Chinensis Cortex in improving insulin resistance based on network pharmacology and experimental verification.
Jin-Jie LEI ; Yang-Miao XIA ; Shang-Ling ZHAO ; Rui TAN ; Ling-Ying YU ; Zhi-Min CHEN
China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica 2025;50(9):2373-2381
This study explores the therapeutic differences and mechanisms of salt-processed Phellodendri Chinensis Cortex in improving insulin resistance(IR) based on network pharmacology, molecular docking, and cellular experiments. The components and intersection targets of Phellodendri Chinensis Cortex in improving IR were collected from databases, and a "drug-component-target-disease" network and protein-protein interaction(PPI) network were constructed to screen core components and targets. A total of 29 active components and 240 intersection targets were identified, of which 13 were core targets. Gene Ontology(GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG) pathway enrichment analyses were used to identify key signaling pathways, and molecular docking was performed to validate the binding activity between core components and targets. An IR model in HepG2 cells was induced using insulin combined with high glucose, and the effects of Phellodendri Chinensis Cortex before and after salt-processing on cell glucose consumption were evaluated. The expression of proteins related to the mitogen-activated protein kinase(MAPK) and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase(PI3K)-protein kinase B(AKT) signaling pathways was detected by Western blot. The cellular experimental results showed that, compared with the model group, glucose consumption in the drug-treated groups was significantly increased(P<0.01), the phosphorylation level of extracellular regulated protein kinase(ERK) was decreased(P<0.05), the phosphorylation levels of PI3K and AKT were increased, and the expression of glucose transporter 4(GLUT4) was also upregulated(P<0.05). Furthermore, the effect of salt-processed Phellodendri Chinensis Cortex was better than that of raw Phellodendri Chinensis Cortex. The study demonstrates that Phellodendri Chinensis Cortex, both before and after salt-processing, improves IR by regulating the expression of related proteins in the MAPK and PI3K-AKT signaling pathways, with enhanced effects after salt-processing.
Humans
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Network Pharmacology
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Phellodendron/chemistry*
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Insulin Resistance
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Drugs, Chinese Herbal/chemistry*
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Hep G2 Cells
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Signal Transduction/drug effects*
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Molecular Docking Simulation
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Protein Interaction Maps/drug effects*
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Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt/genetics*
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Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases/genetics*
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Glucose/metabolism*
8.Mechanism of Xiangsha Liujunzi Decoction in improving autophagy in interstitial cells of Cajal of rats with functional dyspepsia by regulation of IRE1/ASK1/JNK pathway.
Ming-Kai LYU ; Yong-Qiang DUAN ; Jin JIN ; Wen-Chao SHAO ; Qi WU ; Yong TIAN ; Min BAI ; Ying-Xia CHENG
China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica 2025;50(8):2237-2244
This study explored the mechanism of Xiangsha Liujunzi Decoction(XSLJZD) in the treatment of functional dyspepsia(FD) based on inositol-requiring enzyme 1(IRE1)/apoptosis signal-regulating kinase 1(ASK1)/c-Jun N-terminal kinase(JNK) pathway-mediated autophagy in interstitial cells of Cajal(ICC). Forty-eight SPF-grade male SD suckling rats were randomly divided into a blank group and a modeling group, and the integrated modeling method(iodoacetamide gavage + disturbance of hunger and satiety + swimming exhaustion) was used to replicate the FD rat model. After the model replications were successfully completed, the rats were divided into a model group, high-dose, medium-dose, and low-dose groups of XSLJZD(12, 6, and 3 g·kg~(-1)·d~(-1)), and a positive drug group(mosapride of 1.35 mg·kg~(-1)·d~(-1)), and the intervention lasted for 14 days. The gastric emptying rate and intestinal propulsion rate of rats in each group were measured. The histopathological changes in the gastric sinus tissue of rats in each group were observed by hematoxylin-eosin(HE) staining. The ultrastructure of ICC was observed by transmission electron microscopy. The immunofluorescence double staining technique was used to detect the protein expression of phospho-IRE1(p-IRE1), TNF receptor associated factors 2(TRAF2), phospho-ASK1(p-ASK1), phospho-JNK(p-JNK), p62, and Beclin1 in ICC of gastric sinus tissue of rats in each group. Western blot was used to detect the related protein expression of gastric sinus tissue of rats in each group. Compared with those in the blank group, the rats in the model group showed decreased body weight, gastric emptying rate, and intestinal propulsion rate, and transmission electron microscopy revealed damage to the endoplasmic reticulum structure and increased autophagosomes in ICC. Immunofluorescence staining revealed that the ICC of gastric sinus tissue showed a significant elevation of p-IRE1, TRAF2, p-ASK1, p-JNK, and Beclin1 proteins and a significant reduction of p62 protein. Western blot revealed that the expression levels of relevant proteins in gastric sinus tissue were consistent with those of proteins in ICC. Compared with the model group, the body weight of rats in the high-dose and medium-dose groups of XSLJZD was increased, and the gastric emptying rate and intestinal propulsion rate were increased. Transmission electron microscopy observed amelioration of structural damage to the endoplasmic reticulum of ICC and reduction of autophagosomes, and the p-IRE1, TRAF2, p-ASK1, p-JNK, and Beclin1 proteins in the ICC of gastric sinus tissue were significantly decreased. The p62 protein was significantly increased. Western blot revealed that the expression levels of relevant proteins in gastric sinus tissue were consistent with those of proteins in ICC. XSLJZD can effectively treat FD, and its specific mechanism may be related to the inhibition of the expression of molecules related to the endoplasmic reticulum stress IRE1/ASK1/JNK pathway in ICC and the improvement of autophagy to promote gastric motility in ICC.
Animals
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Male
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Drugs, Chinese Herbal/administration & dosage*
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Autophagy/drug effects*
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Rats
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Rats, Sprague-Dawley
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Interstitial Cells of Cajal/metabolism*
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Dyspepsia/physiopathology*
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Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases/genetics*
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MAP Kinase Kinase Kinase 5/genetics*
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MAP Kinase Signaling System/drug effects*
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Humans
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Endoribonucleases/genetics*
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Multienzyme Complexes
9.Effects of combined use of active ingredients in Buyang Huanwu Decoction on oxygen-glucose deprivation/reglucose-reoxygenation-induced inflammation and oxidative stress of BV2 cells.
Tian-Qing XIA ; Ying CHEN ; Jian-Lin HUA ; Qin SU ; Cun-Yan DAN ; Meng-Wei RONG ; Shi-Ning GE ; Hong GUO ; Bao-Guo XIAO ; Jie-Zhong YU ; Cun-Gen MA ; Li-Juan SONG
China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica 2025;50(14):3835-3846
This study aims to explore the effects and action mechanisms of the active ingredients in Buyang Huanwu Decoction(BYHWD), namely tetramethylpyrazine(TMP) and hydroxy-safflor yellow A(HSYA), on oxygen-glucose deprivation/reglucose-reoxygenation(OGD/R)-induced inflammation and oxidative stress of microglia(MG). Network pharmacology was used to screen the effective monomer ingredients of BYHWD and determine the safe concentration range for each component. Inflammation and oxidative stress models were established to further screen the best ingredient combination and optimal concentration ratio with the most effective anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. OGD/R BV2 cell models were constructed, and BV2 cells in the logarithmic growth phase were divided into a normal group, a model group, an HSYA group, a TMP group, and an HSYA + TMP group. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA) was used to detect the levels of inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin-1β(IL-1β), tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α), and interleukin-6(IL-6). Oxidative stress markers, including superoxide dismutase(SOD), nitric oxide(NO), and malondialdehyde(MDA), were also measured. Western blot was used to analyze the protein expression of both inflammation-related pathway [Toll-like receptor 4(TLR4)/nuclear factor-kappa B(NF-κB)] and oxidative stress-related pathway [nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2(Nrf2)/heme oxygenase-1(HO-1)]. Immunofluorescence was used to assess the expression of proteins such as inducible nitric oxide synthase(iNOS) and arginase-1(Arg-1). The most effective ingredients for anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects in BYHWD were TMP and HSYA. Compared to the normal group, the model group showed significantly increased levels of IL-1β, TNF-α, IL-6, NO, and MDA, along with significantly higher protein expression of NF-κB, TLR4, Nrf2, and HO-1 and significantly lower SOD levels. The differences between the two groups were statistically significant. Compared to the model group, both the HSYA group and the TMP group showed significantly reduced levels of IL-1β, TNF-α, IL-6, NO, and MDA, lower expression of NF-κB and TLR4 proteins, higher levels of SOD, and significantly increased protein expression of Nrf2 and HO-1. Additionally, the expression of the M1-type MG marker iNOS was significantly reduced, while the expression of the M2-type MG marker Arg-1 was significantly increased. The results of the HSYA group and the TMP group had statistically significant differences from those of the model group. Compared to the HSYA group and the TMP group, the HSYA + TMP group showed further significant reductions in IL-1β, TNF-α, IL-6, NO, and MDA levels, along with significant reductions in NF-κB and TLR4 protein expression, an increase in SOD levels, and elevated Nrf2 and HO-1 protein expression. Additionally, the expression of the M1-type MG marker iNOS was reduced, while the M2-type MG marker Arg-1 expression increased significantly in the HSYA + TMP group compared to the TMP or HSYA group. The differences in the results were statistically significant between the HSYA + TMP group and the TMP or HSYA group. The findings indicated that the combined use of HSYA and TMP, the active ingredients of BYHWD, can effectively inhibit OGD/R-induced inflammation and oxidative stress of MG, showing superior effects compared to the individual use of either component.
Oxidative Stress/drug effects*
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Drugs, Chinese Herbal/pharmacology*
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Animals
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Mice
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Glucose/metabolism*
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Cell Line
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Inflammation/genetics*
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Oxygen/metabolism*
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Pyrazines/pharmacology*
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Microglia/metabolism*
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NF-E2-Related Factor 2/immunology*
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NF-kappa B/immunology*
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Toll-Like Receptor 4/immunology*
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Anti-Inflammatory Agents/pharmacology*
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Humans
10.Effect and mechanism of Liujunzi Pills on gut microbiota of rats with spleen Qi deficiency syndrome.
Tao ZHANG ; Nian CHEN ; Qin-Yao JIA ; Xiao-Xia LEI ; Jie WANG ; Jia-Qing ZHAO ; Ying WEI ; Jing WEN
China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica 2025;50(15):4333-4341
This article aims to explore the effect and mechanism of Liujunzi Pills on the intestinal microbiota of rats with spleen Qi deficiency syndrome. The raw Rhei Radix et Rhizoma water extract(1 g·mL~(-1)) was used to prepare spleen Qi deficiency rat models. A total of 44 SD male rats were randomly divided into a control group, a model group, Liujunzi Pills groups at high(3.24 g·kg~(-1)), medium(1.62 g·kg~(-1)), low(0.81 g·kg~(-1)) doses, and Shenling Baizhu San(2.50 g·kg~(-1)) group. The drug effect was evaluated by observing the following aspects: spleen index, fecal water content, body weight, and intestinal propulsion index. Gut microbiota analysis and 16S rRNA gene sequencing were conducted on feces. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA) and UV spectrophotometry were used to detect interleukin-1β(IL-1β) and adenosine triphosphate(ATP) levels in small intestine tissues. Hematoxylin-eosin staining and transmission electron microscopy were employed to observe changes in intestinal pathology and microstructure. The results show that, compared with the control group, fecal moisture content is significantly increased while spleen index, body weight, and intestinal propulsion index are significantly reduced in rats of the model group, indicating the successful establishment of the model. The above symptoms can be improved by both Shenling Baizhu San and Liujunzi Pills. Compared with the control group, in the model group, the gut microbiota abundance is changed with an unbalanced development: the abundance of beneficial bacteria within the Bacteroidetes phylum is reduced, accompanied by a significantly decreased Shannon index, and reduced signal levels of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate(NADPH)-related enzymes relevant to mitochondria. However, Liujunzi Pills and Shenling Baizhu San can significantly improve the Bacteroidetes phylum abundance in gut microbiota, microbial diversity, and NADPH activity in the model group. Additionally, compared with the control group, the ATP level is decreased and the IL-1β level is increased in small intestinal tissues of the model group, with shorter small intestinal epithelial villi and decreased mitochondrial number. The above symptoms can be improved by Liujunzi Pills and Shenling Baizhu San. In conclusion, Liujunzi Pills can treat spleen Qi deficiency syndrome by enhancing mitochondrial function to regulate gut microbiota balance and diversity.
Animals
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Gastrointestinal Microbiome/drug effects*
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Drugs, Chinese Herbal/pharmacology*
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Male
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Rats, Sprague-Dawley
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Rats
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Qi
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Spleen/metabolism*
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Splenic Diseases/metabolism*
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Humans
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Interleukin-1beta/genetics*
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Bacteria/drug effects*
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Feces/microbiology*
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Adenosine Triphosphate/metabolism*

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