Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory autoimmune disease. It is known that aucubin (AU) exerts anti-inflammatory activity, but its effects and mechanisms in RA are unclear. This study investigated the anti-inflammatory effects and mechanisms of AU in vivo and in vitro. Human fibroblast-like synoviocyte cells from patients with RA (HFLS-RA), RAW264.7 cells, and MC3T3-E1 cells were used to evaluate the effects of AU on migration, invasion, apoptosis, osteoclast differentiation and production. Immunofluorescence was used to observe nuclear translocation of nuclear factor (NF)-κB, the double luciferase reporter gene method was used to observe NF-κB-p65 activity in AU-treated MC3T3-E1 cells. RT-qPCR was used to measure expression of bone metabolism and inflammation-related genes, and western blot was used to measure bone metabolism and NF-κB protein expression levels. Collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) rat model was used for pharmacodynamics study. Arthritis indexes were measured in the ankle and knee, histological staining and Micro-computed tomography were performed on the ankle joints. Also, inflammatory factor gene expression and the levels of NF-κB-related proteins were detected as in vitro. AU effectively inhibited HFLS-RA cell migration and invasion, promoted apoptosis, and inhibited RAW264.7 cell differentiation into osteoclasts, as well as inhibited NF-κB-p65 activity in MC3T3-E1 cells. Notably, AU significantly reduced the gene expression levels of three cell-related inflammatory factors and bone metabolism factors, effectively inhibited the expression of p-Iκκα β, p-IκBα, and p-p65 proteins. In vivo, AU relieved joint inflammation, reduced related inflammatory factors, and inhibited NF-κB signaling. It could be used to treat RA-related synovial inflammation and bone destruction through the NF-κB pathway.
Animals ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents/therapeutic use* ; Arthritis, Experimental ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid/drug therapy* ; Cells, Cultured ; Humans ; Inflammation/pathology* ; Iridoid Glucosides ; NF-kappa B/metabolism* ; Rats ; X-Ray Microtomography

A series of 26 novel derivatives have been synthesized through structural modification of gentiopicroside, a lead COX-2 inhibitor. And their in vivo and in vitro anti-inflammatory activities have been investigated. The in vitro anti-inflammatory activities were evaluated against NO, PGE₂, and IL-6 production in the mouse macrophage cell line RAW264.7 stimulated by LPS. Results showed that most compounds had good inhibitory activity. The in vivo inhibitory activities were further tested against xylene-induced mouse ear swelling. Results demonstrated that several compounds were more active than the parent compound gentiopicroside. The inhibition rate of the most active compound P23 (57.26%) was higher than positive control drug celecoxib (46.05%) at dose 0.28 mmol·kg^-1. Molecular docking suggested that these compounds might bind to COX-2 and iNOS. Some of them, e.g P7, P14, P16, P21, P23, and P24, had high docking scores in accordance with their potency of the anti-inflammatory activitiy, that downregulation of the inflammatory factors, NO, PGE₂, and IL-6, was possibly associated with the suppression of iNOS and COX-2. Therefore, these gentiopicroside derivatives may represent a novel class of COX-2 and iNOS inhibitors.
Animals ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents/pharmacology* ; Cyclooxygenase 2/chemistry* ; Dinoprostone ; Interleukin-6/metabolism* ; Iridoid Glucosides ; Mice ; Molecular Docking Simulation ; Pyridinolcarbamate

The present study investigated the anti-oxidative and anti-apoptotic effects and molecular mechanisms of catalpol on the H_2O_2-induced pancreatic β-cells(INS-1 cells).The oxidative damage model of INS-1 cells was induced and optimized by the stimulation of H_2O_2 of different concentrations for different time.CCK-8 assay was used to detect cell viability after catalpol intervention(1, 5, 10, 20, 40, 80, and 160 μmol·L~(-1)) for 24 h.Intracellular reactive oxygen species(ROS), superoxide dismutase(SOD), and lipid peroxide malondialdehyde(MDA) were measured by DCFH-DA fluorescent probe, WST-1, and TBA respectively.Moreover, the apo-ptotic effect was detected by AO-EB and Annexin V-FITC/PI staining.In addition, the protein expression levels were detected by Wes-tern blot, and intracellular insulin concentration was measured by ELISA.The results showed that the oxidative damage model of INS-1 cells was stably induced by 50 μmol·L~(-1) H_2O_2 treatment for 2 h, and catalpol at 1-80 μmol·L~(-1) did not affect cell viability of INS-1 cells.Compared with the conditions in the model group, 1, 5, and 10 μmol·L~(-1) catalpol intervention for 2 h could protect INS-1 cells from oxidative damage(P<0.001), reduce ROS and MDA, increase SOD, and inhibit excessive cell apoptosis.Moreover, 1, 5, and 10 μmol·L~(-1) catalpol could also up-regulate the phosphorylation of nuclear transcription factor NF-E2 related factors, negatively regulate Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1(Keap1), phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase(ERK), and heme oxyge-nase 1(HO-1), and promote the protein expression of pancreatic-duodenal homeobox factor-1(PDX-1) and glucose transporter 2(GLUT2).In addition, 1, 5, and 10 μmol·L~(-1) catalpol increased insulin secretion of INS-1 cells under oxidative damage in the high-glucose culture medium, indicating function recovery of pancreatic β cells.PDX-1 is a key nuclear transcription factor of pancreatic β cell function that directly regulates GLUT2 and insulin synthesis, and affects glucose homeostasis.In conclusion, catalpol can reduce the oxidative damage and apoptosis of INS-1 cells, activate antioxidant pathway, protect the function of pancreatic β cells, and improve insulin synthesis and secretion.
Apoptosis ; Glucose/metabolism* ; Insulin/metabolism* ; Insulin-Secreting Cells/metabolism* ; Iridoid Glucosides ; Kelch-Like ECH-Associated Protein 1/metabolism* ; NF-E2-Related Factor 2/metabolism* ; Oxidative Stress ; Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism* ; Superoxide Dismutase/metabolism*

This study aims to explore the key factors influencing the processing of braised Rehmanniae Radix, optimize the processing, and determine the correlation between the components in different processed products and chroma values, which is expected to add quantitative indexes for the processing of braised Rehmanniae Radix and better control the processing. The weights of the indexes catalpol, rehmannioside D, verbascoside, isoacteoside, 5-hydroxymethylfurfural, reducing sugar, and appearance were calculated based on analytic hierarchy process(AHP) in combination with coefficient of variation, and the overall desirability(OD) was obtained. Box-Behnken design was used to explore the optimal amount of water added, time for soaking with rice wine, and steaming time in the processing of braised Rehmanniae Radix. Colorimeter was employed to determine the chroma of 17 samples and raw samples, and SPSS, Prism, and other software to investigate the correlation between the components in braised Rehmanniae Radix and the chroma values. The results showed that each factor influenced the processing, and the influence followed the order of steaming time>amount of water added>time for soaking with rice wine. The optimal processing process is as below: A total of 100 g medicinal material was added with 7 times of water, followed by soaking with rice wine for 5 h and steaming in a pot for 6 h. The correlation analysis suggested the extremely significantly positive correlation between L~* and content of catalpol, between a~* and 5-hydroxymethylfurfural content, and between b~* and catalpol content, and the extremely significantly negative correlation between L~* and the content of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural and reducing sugar, and between b~* and the content of 5-hydroxymethylfural and reducing sugar. In this experiment, response surface methodology was used to optimize the processing technology of braised Rehmanniae Radix and the optimized process was rational and feasible. The content of chemical components in braised Rehmanniae Radix was significantly correlated with the chroma. This study provided a new method for the quality evaluation of braised Rehmanniae Radix.
Drugs, Chinese Herbal/chemistry* ; Excipients ; Furaldehyde/analogs & derivatives* ; Iridoid Glucosides ; Plant Extracts ; Rehmannia/chemistry* ; Sugars ; Technology ; Water

The aim of this paper was to discuss the effect of swertiamarin, gentiopicrin and sweroside on rheumatoid arthritis fibroblast-like synoviocytes(RA-FLSs) and B-cell lymphoma-2(Bcl-2) and their mechanisms. ZINC database and RCSB PDB database were retrieved for 3 D chemical structures of swertiamarin, gentiopicrin and sweroside and 3 D target protein structures. AutoDock Mgltools 1.5.6, AutoDockVina 1.1.2 and pyMOL 2.2.0 were applied for molecular docking to analyze the relationship between Bcl-2(1 GJH) target protein and important ingredients. The cell apoptosis of RA-FLSs was tested by Annexin V-FITC. The Bcl-2 protein expression of RA-FLSs treated with different ingredients was tested by Western blot. The Bcl-2 mRNA expression of RA-FLSs treated with different ingredients was tested by RT-PCR. Swertiamarin, gentiopicrin and sweroside were docked well with Bcl-2(1 GJH). The binding energy of swertiamarin was-6.9 kcal·mol~(-1), the binding energy of gentiopicrin was-6.7 kcal·mol~(-1) and the binding energy of sweroside was-6.4 kcal·mol~(-1). Compared with the blank group, the Bcl-2 protein expression of each group were reduced, while that of the gentiopicrin group was the highest(P<0.01). Compared with the blank group, the Bcl-2 mRNA expression of each groups were reduced. Gentiopicrin can reduce the Bcl-2 protein expression and the Bcl-2 mRNA expression, so as to promote the RA-FLSs apoptosis.
Apoptosis ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid/genetics* ; Cell Proliferation ; Cells, Cultured ; Fibroblasts ; Humans ; Iridoid Glucosides ; Molecular Docking Simulation ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2/genetics* ; Pyrones ; Synoviocytes

To investigate the effect of prophylactic aucubin (AU) on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced acute lung injury (ALI) in mice. 
 Methods: Male BABL/c mice were randomly divided into a control group, an ALI group, and an AU treatment group, 16 mice in each group. ALI mice were injected with LPS (5 mg/kg, intratracheal injection), and AU (10 mg/kg) was injected intraperitoneally 30 min ahead. After LPS injection for 6 hours mice were sacrificed, the morphological changes of lung tissues were detected by HE staining and the lung injury score was obtained. The mRNA expression of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin 10 (IL-10) in lung tissue was detected by real-time PCR. The total protein and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity, the cell count, and the protein content of TNF-α and IL-10 in the mouse bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were detected.
 Results: Compared with ALI mice, the pathological damage score of lung tissue was significantly reduced in the AU group, the total number of BALF cells, neutrophils, and macrophages were significantly decreased, LDH activity and the total protein content were also significantly decreased (all P<0.01). In addition, AU can reduce the mRNA and protein expression of TNF-α in lung of ALI mice, and increase the mRNA and protein expression of IL-10 (all P<0.01).
 Conclusion: AU can reduce LPS-induced ALI in mice.
Acute Lung Injury ; chemically induced ; Animals ; Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid ; Iridoid Glucosides ; Lipopolysaccharides ; Lung ; Male ; Mice ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha

To explore the effect of geniposidic acid (GPA) on the signal pathway of small heterodimer dimer receptor (SHP) and liver receptor homologue 1 (LRH-1) in cholestasis rats induced by alpha-naphthalene isothiocyanate (ANIT).
 Methods: Fifty SD rats were randomly divided into five groups: a blank group, an ANIT group, an ANIT+GPA (100 mg/kg) group, an ANIT+GPA (50 mg/kg) group, and an ANIT+GPA (25 mg/kg) group (n=10 in each group). The GPA were intragastrically given to rats for 10 days, and the control group and the ANIT group were given normal saline. At the eighth day of administration, all rats except the blank group were given 65 mg/kg ANIT once until the tenth day. After the last administration, serum total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG) and total bile acids (TBA) were measured. The primary hepatocytes (RPH) were isolated from normal rats and cultured. The cells were divided into a blank group, an ANIT (40 μmol/L) group, an ANIT (40 μmol/L)+GPA (4.00 mmol/L) group (A4.00G group), an ANIT (40 μmol/L)+GPA (1.00 mmol/L) group (A1.00G group), and an ANIT (40 μmol/L)+GPA (0.25 mmol/L) group (A0.25G group). The mRNA transcription levels of SHP and cholesterol 7 alpha hydroxylase (CYP7A1) in RPH were detected by real-time-PCR, and the protein levels of SHP and CYP7a1 were detected by Western blotting. In the LRH-1 silence experiment, the RPH were divided into a blank group, a negative transfection group, a siRNA-LRH group (ZR group), a siRNA-LRH+GPA (4.00 mmol/L) group (ZR4.00G group), a siRNA-LRH+GPA (1.00 mmol/L) group (ZR1.00G group) and a siRNA-LRH+GPA (0.25 mmol/L) group (ZR0.25G group). The protein and mRNA levels of SHP, CYP7a1, LRH-1 were detected. In the over-expression experiment, the RPH were also divided into a blank group, a negative transfection group, a LRH-1 over-expression plasmid group (OE group), a LRH-1 over-expression plasmid+GPA (4.00 mmol/L) group (OE4.00G group), a LRH-1 over-expression plasmid+GPA (1.00 mmol/L) group (OE1.00G group), and a LRH-1 over-expression plasmid+GPA (0.25 mmol/L) group (OE0.25G group). The protein and mRNA levels of SHP, CYP7a1 and LRH-1 were detected.
 Results: Compared with the blank control group, TC and TBA were significantly increased (both P<0.01) in the ANIT group, but there was no difference in TG; compared with the ANIT group, the contents of TC and TBA in the AG100 and AG50 groups were significantly reduced (all P<0.01). Compared with the blank control group, the proteins and mRNA levels of SHP were significantly decreased (P<0.01), while CYP7a1 were dramatically increased (P<0.01) in the ANIT group; compared with the ANIT group, the proteins and mRNA levels of SHP in the A4.00G group and the A1.00G group were significantly increased (both P<0.01), while the levels of CYP7a1 proteins and mRNA levels were evidently decreased in the A4.00G and A1.00G groups (both P<0.01). Compared with the negative transfection group, the proteins and mRNA levels of CYP7a1 and LRH-1 were dramatically restrained (all P<0.01), while there was no change in SHP in the ZR group; compared with the ZR group, the proteins and mRNA levels of SHP were significantly increased (all P<0.01), while LRH-1 and CYP7a1 were not changed in the ZR4.00G, ZR1.00G and ZR0.25G groups. Compared with the negative transfection group, the protein and mRNA levels of CYP7a1 and LRH-1 were significantly suppressed in the OE group (all P<0.01). Compared with the OE group, the protein and mRNA levels of SHP were evidently increased in the OE4G and OE1G groups (all P<0.01), while LRH-1 and CYP7a1 were not changed in the OE4G, OE1G and OE0.25G groups.
 Conclusion: The over-expression of LRH-1 in RPH can up-regulate the mRNA and protein levels of CYP7a1. GPA can improve the biochemical and liver pathology of ANIT-induced cholestasis rats, which may be related to the decrease of CYP7a1 by activating SHP through LRH-1 in RPH.
Animals ; Cholestasis ; Iridoid Glucosides ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear ; Signal Transduction

In order to improve the quality control level of Ligustri Lucidi Fructus(LLF) and to explore the changes of chemical components after processing,the HPLC method for fingerprint and simultaneous determination of the major polar components in LLF were established. The octadecylsilane bonded silica gel was used as the stationary phase,with acetonitrile as the mobile phase A and0. 2% formic acid as the mobile phase B in a gradient elution procedure at a flow rate of 1. 0 m L·min-1. The detection wavelength was set at 280 nm and the column temperature was 25 ℃. There were 22 common peaks,20 of which were selected from the fingerprint of LLF and its wine-steamed product,respectively,and 14 chromatographic peaks were identified with reference substances. With the same chromatographic conditions,seven components were quantitatively analyzed and the results of system adaptability and methodology investigation all met the requirements of content determination. Compared with the crude LLF,the content of 5-hydroxymethyl furfural and salidroside significantly increased in wine-steamed LLF,while the contents of iridoid glycosides generally decreased. The method provided a basis for quality control of LLF and its processed products as well as the related preparations.
Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Fruit ; chemistry ; Furaldehyde ; analogs & derivatives ; Glucosides ; Iridoid Glycosides ; Ligustrum ; chemistry ; Phenols ; Phytochemicals ; analysis

Catalpol is an iridoid glycoside extracted from the root of Rehmannia glutinosa. It has been reported to have antioxidant stress effects. Adenosine 5' monophosphate-activated protein kinase( AMPK) plays an important role in inhibiting oxidative stress. This study was designed to investigate the protective effects of catalpol on TNF-α-exposed human aorta epithelial cells( HAECs) via inhibit oxidative stress,and the relationship between catalpol and AMPK was detected by RNA interference technique. Levels of superoxide dismutase( SOD),malonaldehyde( MDA),glutathione( GSH) and lactate dehydrogenase( LDH) were measured with a colorimetric assay kit. The level of ROS was measured with FACS calibur. Western blot was employed to detect the protein expression of AMPK,phosphorylated-AMPK and NOX4. Finally,RNA interference technique was used to investigate the role of AMPK in catalpol-induced protective effects. TNF-α treatment decreased the expression of phosphorylated-AMPK protein level,however,catalpol could reverse the decreased phosphorylated-AMPK level. Catalpol could inhibit NOX4 protein expression and decrease ROS overproduction. After using AMPK siRNA that effects of catalpol on ROS overproduction and NOX4 protein expression inhibition were attenuated. The above results suggest that catalpol inhibits oxidative stress in TNF-α-exposed HAECs by activating AMPK.
Humans ; Iridoid Glucosides ; pharmacology ; Iridoids ; Oxidative Stress ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha

To investigate the effects of geniposidic acid( GPA) on hepato-enteric circulation in cholestasis rats,and to explore the mechanism based on the sirtuin 1( Sirt1)-farnesol X receptor( FXR) pathway,sixty SD rats were randomly divided into 6 groups:blank control group,ANIT model group,ursodeoxycholic acid group( 100 mg·kg~(-1)·d-1 UDCA),and GPA high,medium and low( 100,50 and 25 mg·kg~(-1)·d-1) dosage groups,10 rats in each group. Corresponding drugs were intragastrically( ig) administered for10 days. After administration on day 8,all rats except blank rats were administered with 65 mg·kg~(-1)α-naphthalene isothiocyanate( ANIT) once. After the last administration,the serum levels of alanine aminotransferase( ALT),glutamine oxalacetate aminotransferase( AST),gamma-glutamyltransferase( γ-GGT),alkaline phosphatase( ALP),total bilirubin( TB) and total bile acid( TBA)were measured,and the mRNA transcription levels of Sirt1,FXR,multidrug resistant associated protein 2( MRP2),bile salt export pump( BSEP),sodium taurocholate contractible polypeptide( NTCP) in liver and apical sodium bile acid transporter( ASBT),ileum bile acid binding protein( IBABP) in ileum were detected by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction( RT-PCR). The protein expression levels of Sirt1,FXR and NTCP were detected by Western blot; the expression of MRP2,BSEP in liver and ASBT,IBABP in ileum were determined by immunofluorescence three staining. Primary rat hepatocytes were cultured in vitro to investigate the inhibitory effect of GPA on a potent and selective Sirt1 inhibitor( EX 527),and the mRNA and protein expression levels of Sirt1 and FXR were detected by RT-PCR and Western blot. GPA significantly decreased the levels of ALT,AST,γ-GGT,ALP,TB,TBA in serum( P<0.01) and improved the pathological damage of liver tissues in ANIT-induced cholestasis rats; significantly increased the mRNA and protein expression levels of Sirt1,FXR,MRP2,BSEP,NTCP in liver and ASBT,IBABP in ileum( P< 0.01). In vitro primary hepatocytes experiment indicated that the gene and protein expression levels of FXR and Sirt1 were noticeably improved by GPA in primary hepatocytes inhibited by EX-527( P<0.01). It was found that the improvement of GPA was in a dose-dependent manner. GPA could improve bile acid hepatointestinal circulation and play a liver protection and cholagogu role in cholestasis rats induced by ANIT.The mechanism may be that GPA activated FXR by regulating Sirt1,a key regulator of oxidative stress injury,and then the activated FXR could regulate protein of bile acid hepato-enteric circulation.
Animals ; Cholestasis ; Iridoid Glucosides ; Liver ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear ; Signal Transduction ; Sirtuin 1