1.Study on the anti-hepatitis mechanism of Abrus pulchellus subsp. cantoniensis (Hance) Verdc. and Abrus pulchellus subsp. mollis (Hance) Verdc. based on serum pharmacochemistry and network pharmacology
Qiaowen ZHOU ; Xue WANG ; Mingjuan HUANG ; Li LI ; Wenya CHEN ; Zhengtao WANG ; Zijia ZHANG ; Lanlan FAN
China Pharmacy 2025;36(22):2772-2777
OBJECTIVE To compare the anti-hepatitis mechanisms of Abrus pulchellus subsp. cantoniensis (Hance) Verdc. (AC) and Abrus pulchellus subsp. mollis(Hance) Verdc. (AM). METHODS SD rats were randomly divided into blank group, AC- treated group, and AM-treated group, with each group consisting of 10 rats. The rats’ orbital venous blood was collected at 5, 15, 30 minutes, and 1, 1.5, 2, 4, 6, 8, 12 hours after gavage administration of 24 g/kg of the corresponding drug (calculated by crude drug) or water, respectively. Ultra-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry technology was utilized to identify the prototype components present in the serum. The network pharmacology method was adopted to predict the anti-hepatitis active components, key targets, and signaling pathways of AC and AM. Additionally, molecular docking technology was utilized to verify the binding activity of the core active components with key targets. RESULTS A total of 35 prototype components migrating to the blood of AC and AM were identified in the serum of administered rats, among which 24 were common components. The active components in AC, such as acetylanguidine, physcion, soyasaponin A3 and soyasaponin Ⅰ, as well as those in AM, including vicenin 3, acetylanguidine,soyasaponin Ⅰ and schaftoside, all acted on key targets such as steroid receptor coactivator, phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate 3-kinase catalytic subunit alpha, epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), and protein kinase B1(Akt1). These components modulated pathways in cancer, EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor resistance, and the phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) -Akt pathway, thereby exerting anti-hepatitis effects. Furthermore, the binding energies between these active components and their key targets were all less than -5 kJ/mol. CONCLUSIONS There are differences in the active components of AC and AM against hepatitis, but their mechanisms of action are similar. Both may exert their anti-hepatitis effects through pathways in cancer, EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor resistance, and the PI3K-Akt pathway.
2.Role of Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress in Atherosclerosis and Its Regulation by Traditional Chinese Medicine: A Review
Qingzhi LIANG ; Zhengtao CHEN ; Ruoran ZHOU ; Jiying LI ; Yuan ZHANG ; Chunguang XIE ; Qiyue YANG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2024;30(5):226-235
Atherosclerosis (AS) is a chronic inflammatory pathological process in which lipid and/or fibrous substances are deposited in the intima of arteries, and it is one of the pathological bases of many cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. Endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) is a protective mechanism of cell adaptation. Moderate ERS can reduce abnormal protein aggregation and increase the degradation of misfolded proteins to repair and stabilize the internal environment, while excessive ERS can cause unfolded protein reaction, activate inflammation, oxidative stress, apoptosis, autophagy, and other downstream pathways, and lead to cell damage, or even apoptosis. A large number of studies have shown that ERS mediates a variety of pathological processes related to AS, affects endothelial cells, smooth muscle cells, macrophages, endothelial progenitor cells, and other cell components closely related to its occurrence and development, influences the progress of AS by regulating cell function, and promotes the formation of AS plaque, the transformation of stable plaque to unstable plaque, and the rupture of unstable plaque. Regulation of ERS may be a key target for the prevention and treatment of AS, and it is a research hotspot at present. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) believes that the origin of AS is the imbalance of Yin and Yang, the disharmony of Zangfu organs, and the abnormal operation of Qi, blood, and body fluid, which leads to the accumulation of phlegm, blood stasis, and other pathological products in the pulse channels, making the blood flow blocked or misfunction and causing the disease, which belongs to the syndrome of deficiency in origin and excess in superficiality. As the pathogenesis of AS is complex, and the symptoms are diverse, TCM has significant advantages in treating AS because of its multiple targets, multiple pathways, stable efficacy, strong individualization, and high safety. This paper systematically elaborated on the role of ERS in the occurrence and development of AS and summarized the mechanism research on the regulation and control of ERS by Chinese herbal monomer, Chinese herbal extract, Chinese herbal compound, and proprietary medicine, so as to provide a theoretical basis for clinical research and drug development in the prevention and treatment of AS.
3.Curculiginis Rhizoma Ameliorates Kidney-Yang Deficiency in Castrated Rats via PI3K/Akt Signaling Pathway
Meng YANG ; Lu WANG ; Zijia ZHANG ; Zhengtao WANG ; Ying XU
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2024;30(20):46-53
ObjectiveTo study the effect and mechanism of Curculiginis Rhizoma in ameliorating kidney-Yang deficiency in castrated rats. MethodThe targets of Curculiginis Rhizoma and male reproductive diseases due to kidney-Yang deficiency were screened from relevant databases by network pharmacology, and key targets were screened out according to topological eigenvalues. After that, gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analyses were performed to obtain the pathways of Curculiginis Rhizoma in treating kidney-Yang deficiency. The rat model of kidney-Yang deficiency was established by castration. The rats were assigned into model, testosterone propinate (2 mg·kg-1), and low-, medium-, high-dose (0.14, 0.28, 0.56 g·kg-1, respectively) Curculiginis Rhizoma groups. Another 8 healthy male rats with first incising and then suturing were used as the sham group. The rats were administrated with corresponding agents by gavage once a day for 6 consecutive weeks. During the experiment, the general conditions of rats in each group were observed, and their body mass was recorded. At the end of the experiment, the indexes of accessory sex organs were calculated, and the pathological changes of the seminal vesicle glands and prostate glands were observed by hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining. The serum levels of luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), testosterone (T), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The results of the network pharmacological prediction were verified by animal experiments, and the expression levels of related genes and proteins were determined by real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blot, respectively. ResultThe biological functions enriched mainly involved four overexpression modules including regulation of cell responses to various stimuli, metabolic responses, regulation of intracellular signal transduction, and regulation of reproduction. Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/protein kinase B (PI3K/Akt) signaling pathway was a significantly enriched pathway for the core target and also a pathway with the highest enrichment factor in the biological process of regulating cell responses to stimuli. The results of animal experiments showed that compared with the model group, low-dose Curculiginis Rhizoma group increased the body weight gain (P<0.05). In addition, high-dose Curculiginis Rhizoma group increased the seminal vesicle gland index and epididymis index (P<0.05). The administration with Curculiginis Rhizoma ameliorate epithelial cell hyperplasia of the seminal vesicle glands, did not attenuate the vacuolar degeneration, mitigated the enlarged vesicular lumen of the prostate gland, changing of epithelial cells of the glands from flattened to cubic and columnar shapes, and cellular disarrangement, and reduced the mesenchymal stroma thickness. Compared with the model group, all the intervention measures elevated the levels of FSH, LH, T, and IL-6 (P<0.05, P<0.01) and up-regulated the mRNA and protein levels of PI3K and the mRNA levels of Akt in the epididymis tissue (P<0.05). ConclusionCurculiginis Rhizoma can alleviate the T level reduction and accessory sex organ atrophy in castrated rats by regulating the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway.
4.Preliminary exploration of the differential diagnostic value of otoacoustic emissions in early Meniere's disease and vestibular migraine
Zhengtao SUN ; Bo LIU ; Yi ZHANG
Chinese Archives of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery 2024;31(8):497-500
OBJECTIVE To analyze the distortion product otoacoustic emissions(DPOAE) characteristics in patients with Ménière disease(MD) and vestibular migraine(VM),and explore the diagnostic value of DPOAE in MD and VM. METHODS There were 35 unilateral MD patients[age (41.86±10.77)years;21 males,14 females]and 32 VM patients[age (39.97±8.99)years;7 males,25 females]who were diagnosed at Beijing Tongren Hospital were included. Pure-tone audiometry thresholds and DPOAE response amplitudes and signal-to-noise ratios(SNR) were analyzed. Further analysis was conducted on DPOAE results in patients with normal average hearing thresholds in both groups. RESULTS 1. DPOAE results of all included patients indicated that DPOAE response amplitudes and SNR in the MD group were lower than those in the VM group within the 0.7-8 kHz range(P<0.05);2. Comparative analysis of the two groups with normal average hearing thresholds revealed a lower DPOAE SNR at 1 kHz in the MD group compared to the VM group(Z=-2.495,P=0.013). CONCLUSION The MD group exhibited lower DPOAE response amplitudes and smaller SNR;a comparison of the two groups with normal mean hearing thresholds also showed a reduced SNR at 1 kHz in the MD group. These findings suggest that DPOAE assessment can be a valuable tool in evaluating cochlear function and aiding in the early differential diagnosis of MD and VM.
5.The effectiveness of different interventions in post-percutaneous coronary intervention patients with kinesiophobia: a network Meta-analysis
Lili HAO ; Yanqiu MA ; Zhengtao ZHANG ; Baofeng LIANG ; Tiane FA
Chinese Journal of Practical Nursing 2024;40(20):1542-1549
Objective:To evaluate the effect of different interventions in post-percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) patients with kinesiophobia using network Meta-analysis.Methods:Computerized search of randomized controlled trials and quasi-experiment related to kinesiophobia interventions for post-PCI patients in WanFang database, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, China Biology Medicine, VIP database, Web of Science, PubMed, Cochrane Library and Embase was conducted with a time frame of searching from the establishment of the library to August 3, 2023. Literature screening, data extraction and literature quality evaluation were carried out independently by two researchers. Network Meta-analysis was performed using Stata 17.0 software.Results:A total of 13 literatures were included, including 9 randomized controlled trials and 4 quasi-experiments.Network Meta-analysis showed that cognitive behavioral therapy ( SMD = -4.08, 95% CI -6.49 --1.67), cognitive behavioral therapy combined with cardiac rehabilitation ( SMD = - 3.02, 95% CI -5.43 -- 0.61), dual heart medical intervention ( SMD = - 2.48, 95% , - 4.87 - - 0.09) can reduce the level of exercise fear in patients after PCI, and the difference were statistically significant compared with routine nursing (all P< 0.05). Ranked probability plots showed that the effects of the nine interventions in reducing kinesiophobia in post-PCI patients were cognitive behavioral therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy combined with cardiac rehabilitation, adaptive leadership theory-based intervention, dual heart medical intervention, COX health behavior interaction model, health education based on the behavioral change wheel, graded exposure therapy, mindfulness intervention, and high-intensity interval training in descending order of effectiveness. Conclusions:Cognitive behavioral therapy was the most effective intervention for kinesiophobia in post-PCI patients, but more high-quality randomized controlled trials are needed to further verify this conclusion.
6.Analysis of the current sitnation and influencing factors of nurses ′ ethical competence
Junhui XU ; Yue MA ; Nan ZHANG ; Lili HAO ; Jing WANG ; Yan ZHANG ; Junkun BAN ; Zhengtao ZHANG
Chinese Journal of Practical Nursing 2024;40(24):1903-1909
Objective:To understand the current state of ethical competence levels of nurses and analyse the factors that influence them, in order to inform the development of targeted training programmes.Methods:This study adopted a cross-sectional survey method and used convenience sampling to select 825 clinical nurses from Tianjin Chest Hospital as the survey objects from July to August, 2023, and a questionnaire survey was conducted using the General Information Questionnaire, the Ethical Competence Scale, Ethical Competence Support Scale, and Ethical Safety Scale.Results:A total of 818 valid questionnaires were retracted. Among the 818 nurses, 48 were males and 770 were females, the age was (33.19 ± 7.40) years. The total score of nurses ′ Ethical Competence, Ethical Competence Support and Ethical Safety were (118.08 ± 19.96), (215.07 ± 32.02), (48.93 ± 7.55) points, all of which were at a high level. The total score of nurses ′ ethical competence were positively correlated with ethical competence support and ethical safety ( r=0.856, 0.830, both P<0.01); multivariate linear regression analysis showed that the department, the level of ethical competence support, and the level of ethical safety were the influencing factors of the level of ethical competence ( t=5.19, 12.35, 3.88, all P<0.01). Conclusions:Nurses ′ ethical competence, ethical competence support, and ethical safety were at a high level, and the department, the level of ethical competence support, and the level of ethical safety were the factors influencing the level of ethical competence. Nursing managers can provide more ethical education and address ethical issues in multiprofessional discussions, strengthen organizational and personal support for nurses ′ ethical competence, improve nurses ′ ethical safety, and help them implement good ethical care.
7.Autophagy of Vascular Endothelial Cells Influences Diabetic Macroangiopathy: Based on Theory of Qi Deficiency and Stagnation
Qingzhi LIANG ; Zhengtao CHEN ; Yulin LENG ; Zehua ZHANG ; Qiyue YANG ; Hong GAO ; Chunguang XIE
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2023;29(3):178-185
The basic pathological change of diabetic macroangiopathy is atherosclerosis (AS), which is mainly associated with vascular endothelial cells (VECs) injury, oxidative stress, glucose and lipid metabolism disorders, hemorheological abnormalities, and endoplasmic reticulum stress. The injury and dysfunction of VECs are the initiating factors of diabetic macroangiopathy. Autophagy is a subcellular self-protection mechanism that regulates basic intracellular metabolism through lysosome-mediated degradation of proteins and damaged organelles to maintain homeostasis. Insufficient autophagy of VECs leads to enhanced inflammation, apoptosis, and oxidative stress of VECs, which promotes AS. According to the theory of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), diabetic macroangiopathy corresponds to the syndrome of internal deficiency and pathogen invasion, with Qi deficiency and stagnation as the key pathogenesis. Qi deficiency is the root cause, and Qi stagnation is the manifestation. The disease occurs with the initial cause of nutrient-defense disharmony and instability of vessels, the main cause of the deficiency of kidney Qi and the lack of source for generation and transformation, the internal cause of Qi and blood loss in the viscera and the stagnation of Qi, blood, and fluid, and the superficial cause of the stagnation of pathological products and the damage of vessels. Autophagy is a microscopic manifestation of Qi, which has the function of dispelling pathogens and maintaining homeostasis. Insufficient autophagy of VECs leads to Qi deficiency and stagnation, and the gradual deficiency and heavy stagnation of Qi lead to insufficient autophagy, which form a vicious cycle. Modern research has demonstrated that regulating the autophagy of VECs is the main way to prevent and treat AS, and TCM can exert the therapeutic effect in a multi-target and multi-pathway manner. Therefore, based on the theory of Qi deficiency and stagnation, the method of tonifying deficiency of and removing stagnation can be adopted to select prescriptions for regulating the autophagy of VECs and treating AS, which can slow down the procession of diabetic macroangiopathy.
8.Prevention and Treatment of Diabetic Nephropathy by Regulating Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress with Traditional Chinese Medicine: A Review
Zhengtao CHEN ; Qingzhi LIANG ; Yuan ZHANG ; Yan YANG ; Mengping WANG ; Chunguang XIE ; Hong GAO
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2023;29(1):227-239
Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is one of the serious and common microvascular complications of diabetes mellitus (DM) and the main cause of end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) is a common stress defense mechanism in eukaryotic cells. In the ERS state, cells activate the unfolded protein response (UPR) to enhance the folding of unfolded proteins and the degradation of misfolded proteins, so as to restore the normal physiological function of the endoplasmic reticulum and avoid cell damage. However, excessive or chronic persistent ERS can induce apoptosis, inflammation, oxidative stress and other pathways to eventually cause cell damage. In recent years, a large number of studies have confirmed that ERS is closely associated with the occurrence and development of DN. In the case of DN, ERS is involved in the damage or protection of podocytes, glomerular mesangial cells, renal tubular epithelial cells, and glomerular endothelial cells. The regulation of ERS has become one of the hotspots in the prevention and treatment of DN and has received extensive attention in the field of traditional Chinese medicine. This paper systematically expounds the role of ERS in the occurrence and development of DN and summarizes the ERS-targeted regulation of DN by traditional Chinese medicine, with a view to providing certain research ideas for the prevention and control of DN with traditional Chinese medicine.
9.Quality Evaluation and Suggestions on Pharmacopoeia Standard of Eucommiae Folium
Ping WANG ; Shaojia LIANG ; Wenwen ZHANG ; Weihong FENG ; Hong YI ; Chun LI ; Fengqian GUO ; Qin SI ; Dejing FU ; Man GONG ; Zhengtao WANG ; Hongchu ZHENG ; Xiaoqian LIU ; Zhimin WANG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2023;29(2):10-17
ObjectiveTo establish a quantitative analysis multi-components by single marker method (QAMS) for five main components (aucubin, geniposidic acid, chlorogenic acid, asperuloside and rutin) in Eucommiae Folium, to verify its feasibility and applicability in the determination of Eucommiae Folium, so as to provide a scientific basis for the development of quality standard of this herb. MethodHigh performance liquid chromatography was performed on a Welch Boltmatetm™ C18 column (4.6 mm×100 mm, 2.7 μm) with methanol (A)-0.2% phosphoric acid aqueous solution (B) as the mobile phase for gradient elution (0-8 min, 3%A; 8-10 min, 3%-11%A; 10-26 min, 11%A; 26-27 min, 11%-25%A; 27-60 min, 25%-32%A), the column temperature was set at 30 ℃, the flow rate was 0.6 mL·min-1, the detection wavelengths were at 210 nm and 254 nm. Chlorogenic acid was used as an internal reference to establish the relative correction factors (f) between it and the other four components, and the contents of the five components in 14 batches of Eucommiae Folium were determined by QAMS and external standard method (ESM), respectively. ResultThe f values of chlorogenic acid to aucubin, geniposidic acid, asperuloside and rutin were 3.13, 1.45, 2.64 and 0.56, respectively. Repeatability was good under different experimental conditions, relative standard deviation (RSD) was <5.0%. The contents of aucubin, geniposidic acid, chlorogenic acid, asperuloside and rutin in 14 batches of Eucommiae Folium were 1.340-28.975, 0.252-36.086, 10.016-27.443, 1.396-8.646, 0.533-1.766 mg·g-1, respectively. There were no significant difference between content results of QAMS and that of ESM (RSD<5.0%). ConclusionQAMS established with chlorogenic acid as the internal reference can be used to determine the contents of five components in Eucommiae Folium, and this method is simple and accurate. After comprehensive evaluation, the quality standard of Eucommiae Folium in subsequent editions of Chinese Pharmacopoeia is suggested that three main active components, chlorogenic acid, aucubin and geniposidic acid, are selected as quality markers, and their content limits are recommended not less than 1.5%, 1.0% and 1.0%, respectively. This quality standard draft can avoid the potential quality risk due to poor specificity and low content limit of the index component (chlorogenic acid) in the previous editions of Chinese Pharmacopoeia.
10.Relationship Between NLRP3 Inflammasome and Diabetic Cardiomyopathy and Intervention Effect of Traditional Chinese Medicine: A Review
Sai ZHANG ; Zhengtao CHEN ; Shiyun TANG ; Chunguang XIE ; Lian DU ; Hong GAO
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2023;29(16):250-263
Diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM) is one of the complications of diabetes. It refers to a specific type of idiopathic cardiomyopathy that occurs in individuals with diabetes, distinct from other cardiovascular diseases such as coronary heart disease, valvular heart disease, or congenital heart disease. It has also been identified as one of the leading causes of death in diabetic patients for many years. Research has shown that the pathogenesis of DCM is closely associated with insulin resistance, activation of various inflammatory responses, increased oxidative stress, impaired coronary microcirculation, and accumulation of advanced glycation end products (AGEs). Among various inflammatory responses, the activation of the NOD-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome can induce the secretion of a large amount of pro-inflammatory cytokines through the cascade reaction of inflammation, subsequently mediating cellular pyroptosis and promoting myocardial damage. Currently, extensive experimental studies on traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) have been conducted in China and abroad based on the significant role of the NLRP3 inflammasome in the prevention and treatment of DCM. These studies have demonstrated that Chinese medicinal extracts, such as Astragalus polysaccharide and ginsenoside Rb1, single drugs like Coriolus and Cordyceps, and Chinese medicinal formulas like Didangtang and modified Taohe Chengqitang, as well as acupuncture and TCM exercise therapy, can regulate the relevant pathways of the NLRP3 inflammasome to inhibit its assembly or activation, reduce inflammatory responses, inhibit myocardial remodeling in DCM, and improve cardiac function. This article reviewed the relationship between the NLRP3 inflammasome and DCM, as well as the research progress on TCM in exerting anti-inflammatory effects in this field, aiming to provide new insights for the development of therapeutic approaches for DCM.

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