1.Screening of Antidepressant Active Components from Curcumae Rhizoma and Its Mechanism in Regulating Nrf2/GPX4/GSH Pathway
Yonggui SONG ; Delin DUAN ; Meixizi LAI ; Yali LIU ; Zhifu AI ; Genhua ZHU ; Huanhua XU ; Qin ZHENG ; Ming YANG ; Dan SU
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(6):211-221
ObjectiveTo screen and evaluate the antidepressant compounds of Curcumae Rhizoma, and explore its mechanism of regulating the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2(Nrf2)/glutathione(GSH) peroxidase 4(GPX4)/GSH pathway from an antioxidant perspective. MethodsThe antioxidant activities in vitro of 11 characteristic components from Curcumae Rhizoma, including curcumol, curgerenone, curdione, curzerene, curcumenol, curcumenone, dehydrocurdione, isocurcumenol, furanodienone, furanodiene and zederone, were detected using 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl(DPPH) and 2,2'-azinobis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) diammonium salt(ABTS) radical scavenging assays. The depression in Drosophila melanogaster was induced by chronic unpredictable mild stress(CUMS), and W1118 wild-type male D. melanogaster were randomly divided into blank group, model group, curcumol group, curgerenone group, curdione group, curzerene group, curcumenol group,curcumenone group, dehydrocurdione group, isocurcumenol group, furanodienone group, furanodiene group, zederone group and fluoxetine group(10 μmol·L-1). The treatment groups received a dose of 0.1 g·L-1 of 11 characteristic components from Curcumae Rhizoma, while the blank and model groups were administered equivalent volumes of solvent. The sucrose preference test, climbing test and forced swimming test were used to evaluate the behavioral indicators of depression in D. melanogaster. Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry(LC-MS) was used to detect the levels of 5-hydroxytryptamine(5-HT) and dopamine(DA) in the brain of D. melanogaster, and the entropy weight method was used to comprehensively evaluate neurobehavioral and neurotransmitter indicators, resulting in the identification of the antidepressant active components of Curcumae Rhizoma. In addition, a mouse depression model was established by CUMS, and C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into blank group, model group, low and high dose groups of curzerene(0.5, 1 mg·kg-1), and fluoxetine group(10 mg·kg-1) to confirm the antidepressant effect of the optimal active ingredient by behavioral analysis. Flow cytometry was used to detect the content of reactive oxygen species(ROS) in the hippocampus of mice from each group. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to detect the contents of adenosine triphosphate(ATP), superoxide dismutase(SOD), catalase(CAT) and GSH. Transmission electron microscope(TEM) was used to observe the effect of curzerene on the ultrastructure of mitochondria in hippocampal tissue. Western blot was performed to determine the level of Nrf2 protein, and Nrf2 inhibitor(ML385) was used to verify the relationship between the antidepressant effect of curzerene and regulation of Nrf2. Real time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction(Real-time PCR) was employed to detect the effect of curzerene on the mRNA expression level of GPX. ResultsIn vitro antioxidant experiments showed that curzerene and curgerenone exhibited the most significant ability to scavenge free radicals, and comprehensive evaluation results of entropy weight method indicated that curzerene stood out as the most promising active component. Compared with the blank group, the model group exhibited a significant decrease in sucrose preference coefficient and the number of times entering the open field center(P<0.01), as well as a significant increase in immobility time in the forced swimming and tail suspension tests(P<0.01), and the ROS content in hippocampus significantly elevated(P<0.01), while the ATP content significantly reduced(P<0.01). In the hippocampal neurons of the model group, mitochondrial cristae were disordered, with vacuolation of the inner membrane and severe damage. Nrf2 protein expression level in the model group was significantly decreased(P<0.05), and the antioxidant enzymes SOD, CAT and GSH contents were also significantly reduced(P<0.05, P<0.01), and the gene expression levels of GPX1, GPX4 and GPX7 were significantly decreased(P<0.01). Compared with the model group, the high-dose group of curzerene showed a significant increase in the sucrose preference coefficient and the number of times entering the open field center(P<0.05), as well as a significant decrease in immobility time in the forced swimming and tail suspension tests(P<0.05, P<0.01). The ROS content in the hippocampus of the high-dose group of curzerene was significantly reduced(P<0.01), while the ATP content was significantly increased(P<0.05). The neuronal mitochondrial damage in the hippocampus of the high-dose group of curzerene was alleviated, and the expression level of Nrf2 protein was significantly increased(P<0.05). The Nrf2 inhibitor ML385 reversed the improvement of curzerene on depressive behaviors in CUMS mice. The GSH content in the hippocampal neurons of the high-dose group of curzerene was significantly increased(P<0.01), while there were no significant differences in SOD and CAT contents. The expression level of GPX4 gene in the hippocampal neurons of the high-dose group of curzerene was significantly increased(P<0.05), while there were no significant differences in other GPX genes. ConclusionCurzerene is the best component with antidepressant activity in Curcumae Rhizoma. It may improve mitochondrial dysfunction to exert its antidepressant effect by regulating Nrf2 and its downstream GPX4/GSH pathway rather than CAT or SOD pathways.
2.Effect of Different Fermentation Conditions on Fungal Community and Chemical Composition of Aurantii Fructus
Zhihong YAN ; Xiumei LIU ; Qiuyan GUAN ; Yonggui SONG ; Zhifu AI ; Genhua ZHU ; Yuhui PING ; Ming YANG ; Qin ZHENG ; Huanhua XU ; Dan SU
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(11):254-262
ObjectiveTo investigate the effects of different fermentation methods and times on the fungal flora and chemical composition of Aurantii Fructus, in order to obtain the optimal fermentation conditions and flora structure, and to ensure the stability and controllability of the fermented varieties. MethodsScanning electron microscopy was used to observe and analyze the colony characteristics on the surface of Aurantii Fructus under different fermentation conditions. Internal transcribed spacer 2(ITS2) high-throughput sequencing, combined with fungal community diversity analysis and fungal community structure analysis, were used to obtain the fungal flora microbial categories of Aurantii Fructus under the conditions of traditional pressure-shelf fermentation and non-pressure-shelf natural fermentation for 7, 14, 21 d(numbered Y1-Y3 for the former, and numbered F1-F3 for the latter), respectively. At the same time, the chemical components in the fermentation process were detected by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole-time-of-flight mass spectrometry(UPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS), combined with principal component analysis(PCA), partial least squares-discriminant analysis(PLS-DA) and compound retention time, parent ions, characteristic fragment ions and other information, the differential compounds between the different fermentation samples were screened and identified. ResultsThe analysis of fungal community diversity showed that the dominant flora did not change at different fermentation time points in the traditional pressure-shelf fermentation method, while in the non-pressure-shelf natural fermentation method, there was a significant difference with the fermentation process, and at the genus level, the dominant genus of samples Y1, Y2, Y3 and F2 was Aspergillus, while the dominant genera of samples F1 and F3 were both Rhizopus. This indicated that the microbial growth environment provided by the traditional fermentation method was more stable, and the microbial community structure was more stable, which was more conducive to the stable and controllable fermentation process and fermented products. A total of 155 compounds were identified by compositional analysis, including 70 flavonoids, 38 coumarins, 10 alkaloids, 34 organic acids and 3 other compounds. After fermentation, two new components of ribalinine and pranferin were produced. Different fermentation conditions also brought about differences in chemical composition, multivariate statistical analysis obtained 26 differential compounds under two different fermentation methods, mainly including flavonoids, organic acids and coumarins. Comprehensively, the microbial community structure of samples fermented by the traditional pressure-shelf method of Aurantii Fructus for 14 d was stable, the species richness was high and the overall content of differential compounds was high, which was the optimal processing condition. ConclusionCompared with non-pressure-shelf natural fermentation, the traditional method has obvious advantages in terms of the stability of the microbial community structure and the content of chemical compounds, and the optimal condition is 14 days of fermentation. This study is helpful to promote the quality stability and fermentation bioavailability of fermented products of Aurantii Fructus, as well as to provide an experimental basis for the further improvement of the quality control methods of this variety.
3.Effect of Different Fermentation Conditions on Fungal Community and Chemical Composition of Aurantii Fructus
Zhihong YAN ; Xiumei LIU ; Qiuyan GUAN ; Yonggui SONG ; Zhifu AI ; Genhua ZHU ; Yuhui PING ; Ming YANG ; Qin ZHENG ; Huanhua XU ; Dan SU
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(11):254-262
ObjectiveTo investigate the effects of different fermentation methods and times on the fungal flora and chemical composition of Aurantii Fructus, in order to obtain the optimal fermentation conditions and flora structure, and to ensure the stability and controllability of the fermented varieties. MethodsScanning electron microscopy was used to observe and analyze the colony characteristics on the surface of Aurantii Fructus under different fermentation conditions. Internal transcribed spacer 2(ITS2) high-throughput sequencing, combined with fungal community diversity analysis and fungal community structure analysis, were used to obtain the fungal flora microbial categories of Aurantii Fructus under the conditions of traditional pressure-shelf fermentation and non-pressure-shelf natural fermentation for 7, 14, 21 d(numbered Y1-Y3 for the former, and numbered F1-F3 for the latter), respectively. At the same time, the chemical components in the fermentation process were detected by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole-time-of-flight mass spectrometry(UPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS), combined with principal component analysis(PCA), partial least squares-discriminant analysis(PLS-DA) and compound retention time, parent ions, characteristic fragment ions and other information, the differential compounds between the different fermentation samples were screened and identified. ResultsThe analysis of fungal community diversity showed that the dominant flora did not change at different fermentation time points in the traditional pressure-shelf fermentation method, while in the non-pressure-shelf natural fermentation method, there was a significant difference with the fermentation process, and at the genus level, the dominant genus of samples Y1, Y2, Y3 and F2 was Aspergillus, while the dominant genera of samples F1 and F3 were both Rhizopus. This indicated that the microbial growth environment provided by the traditional fermentation method was more stable, and the microbial community structure was more stable, which was more conducive to the stable and controllable fermentation process and fermented products. A total of 155 compounds were identified by compositional analysis, including 70 flavonoids, 38 coumarins, 10 alkaloids, 34 organic acids and 3 other compounds. After fermentation, two new components of ribalinine and pranferin were produced. Different fermentation conditions also brought about differences in chemical composition, multivariate statistical analysis obtained 26 differential compounds under two different fermentation methods, mainly including flavonoids, organic acids and coumarins. Comprehensively, the microbial community structure of samples fermented by the traditional pressure-shelf method of Aurantii Fructus for 14 d was stable, the species richness was high and the overall content of differential compounds was high, which was the optimal processing condition. ConclusionCompared with non-pressure-shelf natural fermentation, the traditional method has obvious advantages in terms of the stability of the microbial community structure and the content of chemical compounds, and the optimal condition is 14 days of fermentation. This study is helpful to promote the quality stability and fermentation bioavailability of fermented products of Aurantii Fructus, as well as to provide an experimental basis for the further improvement of the quality control methods of this variety.
4.Influence of CICARE communication mode on patients with acute heart failure
Yin YU ; Yang-Hui CUI ; Ai-Xia LI ; Ming-Zhen DUAN
Chinese Journal of cardiovascular Rehabilitation Medicine 2024;33(1):89-93
Objective:To study influence of Connect-Introduce-Communicate-Ask-Respond-Exit(CICARE)communication mode on patients with acute heart failure(AHF).Methods:A total of 156 AHF patients treated in our hospital were randomly and equally divided into routine nursing group and CICARE group(received CICARE communication mode based on routine nursing group).Both groups were intervened for one month.General clinical data,hospitalization indexes,scores of Hamilton rating scale for depression(HAMD),Hamilton rating scale for anxiety(HAMA),general self-efficacy scale(GSES)and quality of life scale(QOL-35)before and after inter-vention and incidence of complications were compared between two groups.Results:Compared with routine nursing group,there were significant reductions in first aid time[(42.06±9.77)s vs.(20.27±3.77)s],visit time[(95.67±23.18)min vs.(50.07±11.21)min],admission time[(3.22±0.36)min vs.(2.60±0.67)min]and hospital stay[(22.33±4.82)d vs.(14.13±2.42)d];and scores of HAMD[(14.02±1.42)scores vs.(6.04± 1.57)scores]and HAMA[(13.24±2.07)scores vs.(7.16±2.17)scores]after intervention,and significant rise in scores of GSES[(14.25±3.14)scores vs.(32.03±6.06)scores]and QOL-35[(70.67±5.75)scores vs.(86.93±5.51)scores]in CICARE group after intervention(P=0.001 all).Incidence rate of complications in CICARE group was significantly lower than that of CICARE group(5.13%vs.20.51%,P=0.004).Conclusion:CICARE communication mode can significantly alleviate adverse emotions and improve self-efficacy in patients with acute heart failure.
5.Establishment and evaluation methods of a novel animal model of liver depression transforming into fire syndrome-related depression
Dan SU ; Jian LI ; Gen-hua ZHU ; Ming YANG ; Liang-liang LIAO ; Zhi-fu AI ; Hui-zhen LI ; Ya-li LIU ; Yong-gui SONG
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica 2024;59(6):1680-1690
Through a compound induction method, combined with neurobehavioral, macroscopic characterization and objective pathological evaluation indicators, a murine depression model of liver depression transforming into fire syndrome was constructed and confirmed. The model was constructed using a combination of sleep deprivation, light exposure, and alternate-day food deprivation. Evaluation was conducted at three levels: face validity, constructs validity, and predictive validity. The establishment of the liver depression transforming into fire syndrome depression model was further validated through the counterproof of traditional Chinese medicine formulas. In terms of face validity, compared to the control group, mice in the model group exhibited typical depressive symptoms in neurobehavioral assessments; the general observation of the model group mice reveals disheveled and lackluster fur, along with delayed and easily agitated responses. Additionally, there is a substantial increase in water consumption. In the sleep phase detection of mouse, the model group showed a significant increase in the proportion of time spent in the wake phase during sleep, accompanied by a significant decrease in the proportions of time spent in both non-rapid eye movement (NREM) and rapid eye movement (REM) sleep phases. There are significant differences in physiological indicators such as average blood flow velocity, blood flow rate, tongue, urine, and claw color (r values) in the internal carotid artery. Structural validity demonstrated that levels of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), dopamine (DA), and
6.Preparation and in vitro-in vivo evaluation of suvorexant orodispersible films
Peng ZHAO ; Cong-hui LI ; Si-yi SHUAI ; Bing YANG ; Hui ZHANG ; Nan LIU ; Ai-ping ZHENG ; Yong-jun WANG ; Zeng-ming WANG
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica 2024;59(9):2659-2664
Orodispersible films (oral dispersible films), a novel form of oral solid dosage forms, are widely used for patients with dysphagia and those with uncontrollable autonomic behavior. In this study, suvorexant orodispersible film was prepared by hot melt extrusion technology, and the disintegration time, mechanical properties,
7.Rheology guided the preparation of suvorexant-copovidone solid dispersions via hot melt extrusion technology
Peng ZHAO ; Cong-hui LI ; Si-yi SHUAI ; Bing YANG ; Hui ZHANG ; Nan LIU ; Zeng-ming WANG ; Yong-jun WANG ; Ai-ping ZHENG
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica 2024;59(8):2396-2403
The rheological properties of drug and carrier materials have a wide range of guiding significance for the formulation and process development of solid dispersions. In this study, the rheological properties of materials with different drug carrier ratios were systematically studied with suvorexant as the model drug and copovidone as the carrier material, which provided a sufficient basis for determining the formulation and process of solid dispersions. The optimal suvorexant-copovidone ratio obtained by oscillating temperature scanning was 1∶4. If the ratio is greater than 1∶ 4, the glass transformation temperature of the material will increase significantly, and the solubilization effect of the solid dispersion will show a downward trend. The results of oscillation temperature scanning and oscillation temperature sweep can show that when the extrusion temperature is greater than 150 ℃, the viscosity of the material is less than 10 000 Pa·s, and the melt can be extruded smoothly, and the best extrusion temperature of 160-180 ℃ can be obtained by combining the dissolution results. Finally, the dissolution of suvorexant tablets guided by rheological property studies in multiple media is similar to that of the commercially available tablets Belsomra. Therefore, rheological studies can screen and optimize the formulation and process of suvorexant solid dispersions at the mechanism level, which is of great significance to improve the success rate of R&D and shorten the R&D cycle of solid dispersions prepared by hot melt extrusion.
8.Progress on Pharmacological Effect of Terpinen-4-ol: A Review
Qing DU ; Yuxi ZHONG ; Ming YANG ; Lei CHEN ; Huimin ZENG ; Chongwen AI ; Yongmei GUAN
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2023;29(14):265-271
Terpine-4-ol is abundant in nature. As a cyclic monoterpenoid compound, terpine-4-ol is distributed in a variety of natural plants. It is the main component and the key active substance in many traditional Chinese essential oils, such as Melaleuca alba essential oil and coral ginger essential oil. Terpine-4-ol has anti-microbial, anti-tumor, insecticidal, anti-inflammatory, and other effects. It can treat cancer, as well as oral and cardiovascular diseases with great safety. In terms of antibacterial activity, terpine-4-ol can destroy bacterial cell walls, improve membrane permeability, and regulate bacterial migration, reproduction, and other related genes to inhibit bacterial activity. In terms of antifungal activity, terpine-4-ol can bind with ergosterol in fungal cell walls to cause fungal death. In terms of insecticidal activity, terpine-4-ol can inhibit Na+ and K+-ATPase activity and cause the death of the insect. In terms of anticancer activity, terpine-4-ol can regulate the expression of apoptosis-related proteins in cancer cells, so as to control the apoptosis of cancer cells. In this paper, the pharmacological activity and action mechanism of terpine-4-ol were reviewed to provide a reference for further research and utilization of terpine-4-ol.
9.Development of parenting behavior scale for caregivers of children aged 2 to 6 years and analysis for its reliability and validity.
Ni Na XIONG ; Rui Yun SHEN ; Ying WANG ; Ming ZHAO ; Zhuang WEI ; Wan Xia ZHANG ; Yan Jie CHEN ; Yang MA ; Wen Jing JI ; Ai Min LIANG
Chinese Journal of Preventive Medicine 2023;57(1):58-62
To develop a caregiver parenting behavior scale for children aged 2 to 6 years, and to verify its reliability and validity. This study recruited 1 350 caregivers of children aged 2 to 6 years. The item discrimination analysis and exploratory factor analysis were used to analyze the structure, dimensions and items of the scale. Homogeneity reliability, split-half reliability and test-retest reliability were used to analyze the reliability of the scale. Content validity and construct validity were used to analyze the validity of the scale. The results showed that the final scale contained 7 dimensions and 45 items. Cronbach's α coefficient of the total scale was 0.945; the coefficient of split half was 0.899; the test-retest reliability analysis showed that the correlation coefficients between the two tests were 0.893 (total score), 0.854 (social), 0.832 (language), 0.871 (gross motor), 0.893 (fine motor), 0.862 (cognitive), 0.832 (self-care), and 0.872 (sensory). The content validity analysis was carried out by two rounds of expert argumentation using Delphi expert consultation method. The Kendall coefficient of the items score in two rounds of Delphi expert consultation was 0.813 (P<0.01). The structure validity analysis showed that there were significant correlations between each dimension and the total scale, also between each dimension of the scale, and the extracted average variance values of each dimension was greater than the correlation coefficients between this dimension and other dimensions. In conclusion, the reliability and validity of the scale are qualified. It can be used as a tool to evaluate and guide the parenting behavior of caregivers of children aged 2 to 6 years.
Humans
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Child
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Caregivers/psychology*
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Reproducibility of Results
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Parenting
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Surveys and Questionnaires
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Factor Analysis, Statistical
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Psychometrics/methods*
10.Effect of sulfur fumigation on quality and safety of Lilii Bulbus.
Rong ZHANG ; Ya-Ling YANG ; Ai-Ping DENG ; Li-Ping KANG ; Ming-En CHENG ; Chuan-Zhi KANG ; Lan-Ping GUO
China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica 2023;48(3):660-671
Lilii Bulbus is a commonly used Chinese herbal medicine with both medicinal and edible values, while the market products usually has the problem of sulfur fumigation. Therefore, the quality and safety of Lilii Bulbus products deserve attention. In this study, ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-time of flight-tandem mass spectrometry(UPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS) was combined with principal component analysis(PCA) and orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis(OPLS-DA) to analyze the differential components of Lilii Bulbus before and after sulfur fumigation. We identified ten markers generated after sulfur fumigation, summarized their mass fragmentation and transformation patterns, and verified the structures of phenylacrylic acid markers of sulfur fumigation. At the same time, the cytotoxicity of the aqueous extracts of Lilii Bulbus before and after sulfur fumigation was evaluated. The results showed that in the concentration range of 0-800 mg·L~(-1), the aqueous extract of Lilii Bulbus after sulfur fumigation had no significant effect on the viability of human liver LO2 cells, human renal proximal tubular HK-2 cells, and rat adrenal pheochromocytoma PC-12 cells. Moreover, the viability of the cells exposed to the aqueous extract of Lilii Bulbus before and after sulfur fumigation showed no significant difference. This study identified phenylacrylic acid and furostanol saponins as markers of sulfur-fumigated Lilii Bulbus for the first time, and made clear that proper sulfur fumigation of Lilii Bulbus would not produce cytotoxicity, providing a theoretical basis for the rapid identification and quality and safety control of sulfur-fumigated Lilii Bulbus.
Humans
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Animals
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Rats
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Fumigation
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Tandem Mass Spectrometry
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Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid
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Epithelial Cells
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Sulfur

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