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Xianling Gubao Capsule (XGC), a kind of capsule preparation of Chinese herbal officially approved for sale by the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA), has the effect of tonifying kidney and strengthening bones. Although the impact of XGC in treating bone diseases has been widely studied, the effect of XGC in kidney injury is unknown yet. The kidney injury model is established by intraperitoneal injection with cadmium chloride (CdCl2). Before model establishment, each XGC group was pregavaged with XGC for 10 d. After 10 d, CdCl2 was injected intraperitoneally into the model group and each XGC group, each XGC group continued to be gavaged with XGC for 4 weeks, and the control group was gavaged with equal doses of distilled water once daily. The level of serum urea nitrogen (BUN) and serum creatinine (Cr) is evaluated by kit. The effect of XGC on protecting kidney injury in mice with kidney injury is analyzed by histopathology (HE stain), immunohistochemistry (IHC), and real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR). The results show that CdCl2 significantly increases the level BUN and Cr in serum and results in remarkable pathological changes in the nephron, including tubule edema, congestion, and necrosis. While oral administration of XGC can significantly decrease BUN and Cr in serum and prevent and protect the kidney from the above injuries. In addition, the protein expression of p-mTOR was remarkably reduced, and the ratio of LC3II/LC3I protein and mRNA was significantly increased in mice with oral administration of XGC. Our findings suggest that XGC can prevent and protect kidney injury by improving the state of renal tubular hyperemia and necrosis and reduce the level of BUN and Cr in cadmium poisoning mice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives. Cerebral ischemia can cause severe harm to people’s health with the characteristics of high incidence, high disability, and high mortality. Xingnaojing injection (XNJI) is widely used in the treatment of cerebral ischemia. The aim of this review is to evaluate the efficacy and mechanism of XNJI in animal models of cerebral ischemia. Methods. Total seven electronic databases in English or Chinese (CNKI, Wanfang, VMIS, PubMed, MEDLINE, Embase, and the Cochrane Library) about most experiments and studies which came out before June 2018 of XNJI for cerebral ischemia have been searched. Data extraction, quality assessment, and meta-analysis are conducted according to the Cochrane standards and RevMan 5.3 software. Results. We have identified 23 eligible studies and made a meta-analysis based on these studies. Meta-analysis shows that XNJI contributes significantly to reduction in neurological deficit score (P = 0.0002, MD = −1.25, 95% CI: −1.92, −0.58) compared with the control group of cerebral ischemia. Subgroup analytic results demonstrate that XNJI has been more effective in animal model of cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury (P = 0.009, MD = −1.35, 95%CI: −2.36, −0.34) than that of permanent cerebral ischemia (P = 0.0002, MD = −1.08, 95%CI: −1.66, −0.51). Compared with control group, XNJI could remarkably reduce cerebral infarction area (P < 0.00001, MD = −14.98, 95%CI: −21.36, −8.59), brain edema (P < 0.00001, MD = −4.64, 95%CI: −5.38, −3.90), and neuronal cell apoptosis (P < 0.0001, MD = −12.21, 95%CI: 18.05, −6.37). Meanwhile, the meta-analysis shows that XNJI has a significant anti-inflammatory effect, and the levels of TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β are significantly reduced by XNJI (P = 0.001, MD = −4.13, 95%CI:−6.68, −1.58; P < 0.00001, MD = −119.23, 95%CI: −138.04, −100.43; P = 0.21, MD = −228.69, 95% CI: −586.20, 128.83). Additionally, XNJI could raise the body's antioxidant function and the level of SOD and GSH-Px (P = 0.002, MD = 53.02, 95% CI: −20.52, 85.78; P = 0.01, MD = 8.65, 95% CI: 1.77, 15.48) and decrease the level of MDA (P < 0.00001, MD = −4.16, 95% CI: −5.50, −2.82). Conclusion. XNJI might be effective in cerebral ischemia by regulating oxidative stress and inflammatory reaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. To evaluate the efficacy and safety of Kushenin (KS) combined with nucleoside analogues (NAs) for chronic hepatitis B (CHB). Methods. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of KS combined with NAs for CHB were identified through 7 databases. Frequencies of loss of serum HBeAg, HBeAg seroconversion, undetectable serum HBV-DNA, ALT normalization, and adverse events at 48 weeks were abstracted by two reviewers. The Cochrane software was performed to assess the risk of bias in the included trials. Data were analyzed with Review Manager 5.3 software. Results. 18 RCTs involving 1684 subjects with CHB were included in the analysis. KS combined with NAs including lamivudine (LAM), entecavir (ETV), adefovir dipivoxil (ADV), and telbivudine (TLV) showed different degree of improvement in CHB indices. KS combined with NAs increased the frequency of loss of serum HBeAg, HBeAg seroconversion, undetectable HBV-DNA levels, and ALT normalization compared with single agents. It also decreased serum ALT and AST level after one-year treatment. However, KS combined with TLV did not show a significant difference in CHB indices. The side-effects of KS combined with NAs were light and of low frequency. Conclusion. KS combined with NAs improves the efficacy of NAs in CHB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • A strategy for α-glucosidase immobilization based on magnetic core-shell MOF. • The immobilized α-glucosidase was synthesized by use of ZIF-8 to in situ encapsulate enzyme. • Immobilized α-glucosidase showed enhanced pH and temperature endurances and reusability. • Immobilized α-glucosidase was applied for inhibitors screening from 14 TCMs and 10 compounds. In this work, a simple and rapid screening strategy was developed combining capillary electrophoresis analysis with enzymatic assay based on immobilized α-glucosidase. For α-glucosidase immobilization, magnetic core-shell metal-organic frameworks composite (Fe 3 O 4 @CS@ZIF-8) was fabricated by a step-by-step assembly method, and α-glucosidase was in situ encapsulated in crystal lattice of ZIF-8. The composite was characterized by transmission electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction and vibrating sample magnetometer. After immobilization, α-glucosidase exhibited enhanced tolerance to temperature and pH, and its reusability was greatly improved with 74 % of initial enzyme activity after being recycled 10 times. The Michaelis-Menten constant of immobilized enzyme was calculated to be 0.47 mM and its inhibition constant and IC 50 for acarbose were 0.57 μM and 0.18 μM, respectively. The immobilized enzyme was subsequently applied to inhibitor screening from 14 TCMs, and Rhei Radix et Rhizoma was screened out. Among the commercially available 10 components presented in Rhei Radix et Rhizoma, gallic acid, (+)-catechin and epicatechin exhibited the strongest inhibitory effect on α-glucosidase. Their binding sites and modes with α-glucosidase were simulated via molecular docking to further verify the inhibition screening assay results. The positive results indicated that the Fe 3 O 4 @CS@ZIF-8-based screening strategy may provide a new avenue for discovering enzyme inhibitors from TCMs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dracontomelon dao (D. dao) is the leaves of Dracontomelon duperreanum Pierre (D. dao auct. non (Blanco) Merr. and Rolfe; D. sinense Stopf.). As a valuable traditional Chinese medicine from Anacardiaceae, D. dao has a long history of treating bedsores, skin ulcers, and other infection diseases. In addition, the volatile oil from D. dao leaves exhibits antitumor effects. However, these reported studies only focused on evaluating the antimicrobial efficacy on model strains in vitro, without paying attention to the antimicrobial activity and anti-inflammatory effects in vivo. This study was aimed to provide evidence of antimicrobial activity and anti-inflammatory and proangiogenesis activities of Dracontomelon dao (D. dao) on the skin of rats under simulated space environment. The weightlessness model of rats in space environment was established. Then, rats were given D. dao for 15 days. Wound healing effects of D. dao on histopathology and inflammatory cytokines in E. coli-induced wound infection in weightless rats were analyzed. Furthermore, the molecular biology technology was performed to evaluate the wound healing effects of D. dao on the relative protein level of NF-κB as well as PI3K/Akt signaling pathways. Immunohistochemistry was used for the protein expression of VEGFA. The wound healing effects of D. dao on bacterially infected wounds in rats were manifested by lowering the size of the wound and significantly increasing the shrinkage rate of the wound. D. dao had effect on alleviating histological damage of skin tissue and downregulation inflammatory cytokines level. In addition, the results indicated that D. dao has a regulatory effect on inflammation and angiogenesis and could regulate the relative protein level of MAPK/NF-κB as well as PI3K/AKT signaling pathways. The current study highlighted the crucial role of D. dao in relieving skin tissue injury in E. coli-induced wound infection in weightless rats by regulating the MAPK/NF-κB as well as PI3K/AKT signaling pathways. This study could provide a new agent for the treatment of bacterial infected wounds in simulated space environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim. The aim of this study was to explore the antipyretic effect and potential mechanism of Huanglian Jiedu Decoction (HLJDD) on LPS-induced fever in rats. Materials and Methods. The fever rat model was established by LPS. Anal temperature of rats was measured every 1 hour after modeling. TNF-α, IL-6, PGE2, and cAMP in rat serum or hypothalamus tissue were detected by ELISA kit. In order to explore the potential active ingredients and mechanism of antipyretic effect of HLJDD, we predicted the underlying antipyretic mechanism by using network pharmacology and then verified its mechanism by Western Blotting. Results. The results showed that HLJDD can alleviate LPS-induced fever in rats. The expression levels of TNF-α, IL-6, PGE2, and cAMP in the treatment group were significantly lower than those in the model group. Western Blotting results showed that the protein expression of p-ERK, p-JNK, and p-P38 was significantly inhibited. Conclusion. The findings suggest that HLJDD has a good antipyretic effect on LPS-induced fever in rats, which may be closely related to the inhibition of MAPK signaling pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: More efficient instruments for body constitution identification are needed for clinical practice. We aimed to develop the short-form version of the Constitution in Chinese Medicine Questionnaire (CCMQ) and evaluate for health management. Methods: First, the short forms were developed through expert survey, classical test theory (CTT), and modern item response (IRT) based on the CCMQ. A combination of e-mail and manual methods was used in expert survey. Then, five indexes of CTT including criteria value-critical ratio, correlation coefficient, discrete tendency, internal consistency, and factor loading were used. And, IRT method was used through analyzing the discrimination and difficulty parameters of items. Second, the three top-ranked items of each constitution scale were selected for the simplified CCMQ, based on the three combined methods of different conditions and weights. Third, The psychometric properties such as completion time, validity (Construct, criterion, and divergent validity), and reliability (test–retest and internal consistency reliability) were evaluated. Finally, the diagnostic validity of the best short-form used receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. Results: Three short-form editions were developed, and retained items 27, 23 and 27, which are named as WangQi nine body constitution questionnaire of Traditional Chinese Medicine (short-form) (SF-WQ9CCMQ)- A, B, and C, respectively. SF-WQ9CCMQ- A is showed the best psychometric property on Construct validity, Criterion validity, test–retest reliability and internal consistency reliability. The diagnostic validity indicated that the area under the ROC curve was 0.928 (95%CI: 0.924–0.932) for the Gentleness constitution scale, and were 0.895–0.969 and 0.911–0.981 for unbalance constitution scales using the cut-off value of the original CCMQ as 40 ("yes" standard) and 30 ("tendency" standard), respectively. Conclusions: Our study successfully developed a well short-form which has good psychometric property, and excellent diagnostic validity consistent with the original. New and simplified instrument and opportunity are provided for body constitution identification, health management and primary care implementation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ovarian cancer (OC) is one of the most common types of cancer in women with a high mortality rate, and the treatment of OC is prone to high recurrence rates and side effects. Scutellaria baicalensis (SB) is a herbal medicine with good anti-cancer activity, and several studies have shown that SB and its flavonoids have some anti-OC properties. This paper elucidated the common pathogenesis of OC, including cell proliferation and cell cycle regulation, cell invasion and metastasis, apoptosis and autophagy, drug resistance and angiogenesis. The mechanisms of SB and its flavonoids, wogonin, baicalein, baicalin, Oroxylin A, and scutellarein, in the treatment of OC, are revealed, such as wogonin inhibits proliferation, induces apoptosis, inhibits invasion and metastasis, and increases the cytotoxicity of the drug. Baicalein also inhibits vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression etc. Analyzing their advantages and disadvantages in treating OC provides a new perspective on the role of SB and its flavonoids in OC treatment. It serves as a resource for future OC research and development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Shexiang Baoxin pills (SXBXP), as a Traditional Chinese Medicine, are widely used for chronic heart failure in China. It is essential to systematically assess the efficacy and safety of SXBXP as an adjuvant treatment for chronic heart failure. Methods. Seven English and Chinese electronic databases (PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, CBM, Wanfang, VMIS, and CNKI) were searched from inception to July 2017. The Cochrane Risk of Bias tool was used to evaluate the methodological quality of eligible studies. Meta-analysis was performed by Review Manager 5.3. Results. A total of 27 RCTs with 2637 participants were included in this review. Compared to conventional treatment, SXBXP combined with conventional treatment showed potent efficacy when it came to the total efficacy rate (OR, 3.88; 95% CI, 2.87, 5.26; P<0.00001), B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) (MD = −66.95; 95% CI, −108.57, −25.34; P=0.002), N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-ProBNP) (MD = −0.15; 95% CI, −0.21, −0.09; P<0.00001), six-minute walking distance (6-MWD) (MD = 38.57; 95% CI, 28.47, 48.67; P<0.00001), cardiac output (CO) (MD = 0.84; 95% CI, 0.68, 0.99; P<0.00001), and Stroke Volume (SV) (MD = 7.43; 95% CI, 4.42, 10.44, P<0.00001). The pooled subgroup analysis indicated that there was a significant difference between SXBXP plus conventional treatment and conventional treatment alone in short term course (OR = 3.51; 95% CI, 2.28, 5.40; P<0.00001), in middle period of treatment (OR = 5.01; 95% CI, 2.61, 9.60; P<0.00001), and in long-term course (OR = 3.77; 95% CI, 2.13, 6.67; P<0.00001). No serious adverse events or reactions were mentioned in these RCTs. Conclusions. As an adjuvant drug, this study suggested that SXBXP provide an obvious efficacy for the treatment of CHF. However, due to small samples and generally low quality studies being applied in this study, more rigorous and well-designed RCTs are needed to confirm these findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Ulcerative colitis (UC), a kind of autoimmune disease with unknown etiology, has been troubling human physical and mental health. Jatrorrhizine (Jat) is a natural isoquinoline alkaloid isolated from Coptis Chinensis, which has been proved to have antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and antitumor effects. Purpose. The purpose is to explore the therapeutic effect of Jat on DSS-induced UC and the mechanism of action. Study Design. The UC mice model was induced by 3% DSS in drinking water. The mice were orally administered with Jat (40, 80, 160 mg/kg) for 10 days. Methods. The changes in body weight, colon length, spleen wet weight index, disease activity index (DAI), colonic histopathology, and inflammatory factors of serum and colon tissue were analyzed to evaluate the severity of colitis mice. The colon mucus secretion capacity was analyzed by Alcian blue periodic acid Schiff (AB-PAS) staining. Furthermore, protein expressions such as TLR4, MyD88, p–NF–κB-p65, NF-κB-p65, COX-2, ZO-1, and Occludin were detected to elucidate the molecular mechanism of Jat on DSS-induced colitis model. Results. The results showed that Jat could significantly alleviate the symptoms, colon shortening, spleen index, and histological damage and restore the body weight in DSS-induced colitis mice. Jat also suppressed the levels of inflammatory cytokines and upregulated the levels of anti-inflammatory cytokines. In addition, Jat repaired the intestinal barrier function by upregulating the level of colonic tight junction (TJ) proteins and enhancing the secretion of mucin produced by goblet cells. Furthermore, Jat could significantly suppress the expression of TLR4, MyD88, p–NF–κB-p65/NF-κB-p65, and COX-2 in colon tissue. Conclusion. The results suggested that Jat plays a protective role in DSS-induced colitis by regulating the intestinal barrier function and inhibiting the TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB signaling pathway. This study, for the first time, demonstrates the therapeutic and protective effects of Jat on UC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Primary dysmenorrhea (PD) is a prevalent problem in gynecologic clinics among adolescents and women of reproductive age. Several therapy modalities, including traditional Chinese medicine, are deemed adequate (TCM) and have been in practice for a long time. In China, Dingkundan (DKD), a multicomponent gynecological treatment, has been used to treat PD for centuries. However, the fundamental process remains poorly understood. Comparing plasma samples acquired from DKD-treated and oral contraceptive- (OC-) treated subjects, we performed an integrated plasma metabonomic analysis utilizing the UPLC-MS technology to study the therapeutic mechanisms of DKD in PD patients. Thirty possible biomarkers and metabolic pathways were discovered, primarily steroid hormone production, glycerophospholipid metabolism, and bile secretion. The results suggested that DKD may have therapeutic benefits for PD patients via modulation of various metabolic pathways. This study is envisaged to provide detailed metabolite information regarding the etiology of PD, an assessment of the efficacy of DKD, and a comparison of DKD and OC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. Zuojin pill (ZJP) is used as the classical prescription for a wide variety of digestive diseases. However, there is a lack of direct evidence for its use in the treatment of chronic nonatrophic gastritis (CNG). In particular, there is a lack of rigorous trials of randomized controlled designs. In this study, a randomized active-controlled clinical trial was performed to verify the efficacy and safety of ZJP in detail. Methods. Patients with CNG were divided into the ZJP group and the Marzulene-S granule group. Patients were enrolled from September 2019 to February 2021 (ChiCTR2000040549). Endoscopy and histology scores were evaluated as the primary outcome measure. The Helicobacter pylori positive rate and the disappearance rate of symptoms were also measured to reflect the outcomes. Finally, adverse events were also calculated as the index of safety. Results. A total of 68 eligible patients were enrolled in this trial and randomly divided into two groups with baseline comparability. ZJP was able to improve the red plaques as well as bile reflux scores compared with Marzulene-S granule (P = 0.043 and P = 0.019 , respectively). Moreover, it also remarkably alleviated the active chronic inflammation score P = 0.043 . However, there was no difference between the Helicobacter pylori positivity rate P = 0.752 . The symptom scores of abdominal distension P = 0.004 , belching P = 0.010 , and loss of appetite P = 0.019 were alleviated by ZJP, but nausea and vomiting were not P = 0.616 . ZJP can also be considered safe with no obvious adverse effects. Conclusion. ZJP might decrease mucosal injury and alleviate symptoms in CNG. In addition, more large-scale clinical trials should be carried out to further confirm its clinical efficacy and safety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Kushenin (KS) has become a traditional Chinese medicine preparation that plays an important role in treating chronic hepatitis B (CHB). Many clinical studies have discussed its curative effect and safety in combination with adefovir dipivoxil (ADV) or entecavir (ETV) for treating CHB, but there is still a lack of a systematic analysis. Therefore, this study evaluated the efficacy and safety of KS through a meta-analysis to better guide clinical treatment. Seven databases were searched to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs) concerning KS combined with ADV or ETV for treating CHB. The primary outcomes included serum viral indices and adverse events, and the secondary outcomes were liver function indices. The risk of bias of the included RCTs was appraised by Cochrane software. STATA 15.1 and Review Manager 5.3 software were used for the meta-analysis. Thirty-two RCTs recruiting 3343 patients with CHB were collected for this meta-analysis. KS combined with ETV or ADV led to an amelioration of the CHB index to various degrees. In short, the meta-analysis indicated that the combination group, compared to the single group, showed great improvement in HBeAg seroconversion, frequency of undetectable HBV-DNA levels, loss of serum HBeAg, and loss of serum HBsAg. The combination treatment also decreased serum HBV-DNA levels when compared to the levels after the single treatment. However, KS combined with ADV or ETV displayed no remarkable difference in the incidence of adverse events or in serum ALT levels. Current evidence showed that, compared with the use of either drug alone, KS combined with ADV or ETV can improve the clinical efficacy of CHB treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article titled "Illumination of Hydroxyl Radical in Kidney Injury" explores the use of puerarin, a compound found in traditional Chinese medicine, in addressing kidney damage. The authors draw a parallel between the healing properties of puerarin and the mythical story of Nuwa Mending the Sky. The research conducted by Haijun Xu, Renshi Li, Jiangwei Tian, and their colleagues highlights the potential of puerarin as a natural protectant for kidney injury. [Extracted from the article]

Recent advances have shown that immune checkpoint inhibitors are emerging as promising therapeutic targets to improve the quality of life in cancer patients. This meta-analysis was conducted to evaluate the influence of Kanglaite injection (KLTi) combined with chemotherapy versus chemotherapy alone on clinical efficacy, immune function, and safety for the treatment of advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Several electronic databases, including PubMed, Web of Science, Wan-Fang, VMIS, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, CNKI, CBM, and MEDLINE, as well as grey literatures, were comprehensively searched from January 2000 to November 2019. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) reporting outcomes of clinical efficacy and immune function were collected according to their inclusion and exclusion criteria. Cochrane Reviewers' Handbook 5.2 was applied to assess the risk of bias of included trials. STATA 13.0 and Review Manager 5.3 software were used for meta-analysis. Twenty-five RCTs comprising 2151 patients meeting the inclusion criteria were identified. Meta-analysis showed that compared with chemotherapy alone, KLTi plus the same chemotherapy significantly improved clinical efficacy, including complete response, partial response, stable disease, and progressive disease, as well as immune function, including CD3+, CD4+, CD8+, and CD4+/CD8+. There was a significant reduction in nausea and vomiting, thrombocytopenia, and leukopenia in combination treatments. However, the outcomes were limited because of the low quality and small sample size of the included studies. In conclusion, this work might provide beneficial evidence of KLTi combined with chemotherapy for improving clinical efficacy and immune function, as well as reducing the incidence of adverse events in advanced NSCLC patients. KLTi might be a beneficial therapeutic method for the treatment of advanced NSCLC. Due to the quality of the data, more rigorous and well-designed RCTs are needed to confirm these findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Aims:Uncaria rhynchophylla, known as “Gou-teng”, is a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) used to extinguish wind, clear heat, arrest convulsions, and pacify the liver. Although U. rhynchophylla has a long history of being often used to treat central nervous system (CNS) diseases, its efficacy and potential mechanism are still uncertain. This study investigated neuroprotective effect and the underlying mechanism of U. rhynchophylla extract (URE) in MPP+-induced SH-SY5Y cells and MPTP-induced mice. Methods: MPP+-induced SH-SY5Y cells and MPTP-induced mice were used to established Parkinson’s disease (PD) models. Quantitative proteomics and bioinformatics were used to uncover proteomics changes of URE. Western blotting was used to validate main differentially expressed proteins and test HSP90 client proteins (apoptosis-related, autophagy-related, MAPKs, PI3K, and AKT proteins). Flow cytometry and JC-1 staining assay were further used to confirm the effect of URE on MPP+-induced apoptosis in SH-SY5Y cells. Gait analysis was used to detect the behavioral changes in MPTP-induced mice. The levels of dopamine (DA) and their metabolites were examined in striatum (STR) by HPLC-EC. The positive expression of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) was detected by immunohischemical staining and Western blotting. Results: URE dose-dependently increased the cell viability in MPP+-induced SH-SY5Y cells. Quantitative proteomics and bioinformatics results confirmed that HSP90 was an important differentially expressed protein of URE. URE inhibited the expression of HSP90, which further reversed MPP+-induced cell apoptosis and autophagy by increasing the expressions of Bcl-2, Cyclin D1, p-ERK, p-PI3K p85, PI3K p110α, p-AKT, and LC3-I and decreasing cleaved caspase 3, Bax, p-JNK, p-p38, and LC3-II. URE also markedly decreased the apoptotic ratio and elevated mitochondrial transmembrane potential (DΨm). Furthermore, URE treatment ameliorated behavioral impairments, increased the contents of DA and its metabolites and elevated the positive expressions of TH in SN and STR as well as the TH protein. Conclusions: URE possessed the neuroprotective effect in vivo and in vitro, regulated MAPK and PI3K-AKT signal pathways, and inhibited the expression of HSP90. U. rhynchophylla has potentials as therapeutic agent in PD treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Unprecedented dimeric ent -abietanes were obtained from Euphorbia fischeriana. • Novel dimer 1 possesses a scaffold that incorporates a cage-like pentacyclic core. • Bislangduoid A showed cytotoxicity by apoptosis-induced effects in HepG2 cells. Bislangduoids A and B, a novel class of dimeric diterpenoids based on ent -abietanes tethered by C-17−C-15′ bridge, were identified as trace components from a traditional Chinese medicine Euphorbia fischeriana (Langdu). Bislangduoid A features a highly oxidized scaffold incorporating a cage-like pentacyclic core. Their structures were elucidated by extensive spectroscopic techniques, electronic circular dichroism, and NMR calculations. The biosynthetic pathway for the dimeric skeleton and the unique caged moiety via Michael and acetal-formation reactions was proposed. Bislangduoid A showed pronounced cytotoxicity against HepG2 cells through the mitochondria-dependent apoptosis pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dendrobium officinale Kimura et Migo is a traditional Chinese orchid herb that has both ornamental value and a broad range of therapeutic effects. Here, we report the first de novo assembled 1.35 Gb genome sequences for D. officinale by combining the second-generation Illumina Hiseq 2000 and third-generation PacBio sequencing technologies. We found that orchids have a complete inflorescence gene set and have some specific inflorescence genes. We observed gene expansion in gene families related to fungus symbiosis and drought resistance. We analyzed biosynthesis pathways of medicinal components of D. officinale and found extensive duplication of SPS and SuSy genes, which are related to polysaccharide generation, and that the pathway of D. officinale alkaloid synthesis could be extended to generate 16-epivellosimine. The D. officinale genome assembly demonstrates a new approach to deciphering large complex genomes and, as an important orchid species and a traditional Chinese medicine, the D. officinale genome will facilitate future research on the evolution of orchid plants, as well as the study of medicinal components and potential genetic breeding of the dendrobe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• I. japonica extract (IJE) ameliorated BLM-induced pulmonary fibrosis in mice. • IJE could regulate GSK3β signaling pathway. • IJE displayed the inhibition of sEH activity with an IC 50 value of 0.98 μg/mL. • I. japonica could be regarded as a candidate resource for the treatment of pulmonary fibrosis. Pulmonary fibrosis is a progressive, irreversible, and fatal fibrotic lung disease with a high mortality and morbidity, and commonly nonresponsive to conventional therapy. Inula japonica Thunb. is a traditional Chinese medicine, known as " Xuan Fu Hua " in Chinese, and has been widely applied to relieve cough and dyspnea and eliminate retained phlegm with a long history. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the anti-fibrosis effect and action mechanism of I. japonica extract (IJE) for the treatment of bleomycin (BLM)-induced pulmonary fibrosis in mice. IJE treatment significantly restored BLM-induced alterations in body weight loss and lung function decline, decreased the collagen deposition induced by BLM in lung tissues, and inhibited fibrotic and inflammatory factors, such as α-SMA, TGF-β1, TNF-α, IL-6, COX-2, NF-κB, and GSK3β, in a dose-dependent manner. We found that IJE could enhance the concentration of 8,9-epoxyeicosatrienoic acid (8,9-EET) and decrease concentrations of 8,9-dihydroxyeicosatrienoic acid (8,9-DHET), 11,12-DHET, and 14,15-DHET in BLM-induced mice. Meanwhile, IJE suppressed protein and mRNA expression levels of soluble epoxide hydrolase (sEH), and significantly displayed the inhibition of sEH activity with an IC 50 value of 0.98 μg/mL. Our results indicated that IJE exerted remarkable anti-fibrosis effect on BLM-induced pulmonary fibrosis in mice via inhibiting sEH activity, resulting in the regulation of GSK3β signaling pathway. Our findings revealed the underlying action mechanism of I. japonica , and suggested that I. japonica could be regarded as a candidate resource for the treatment of pulmonary fibrosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A small library of protostane-type triterpenoids (1 – 25) were isolated from A. orientale. • Compounds 1 , 4 , 5 , and 15 showed potential inhibitory activities against sEH. • The interaction of compound 5 with sEH were investigated by molecular docking and dynamics. • The Ki value of compound 5 was 3.48 μM. The inhibition of soluble epoxide hydrolase (sEH) is a promising therapeutic approach to treat inflammation and other disorders. In our present investigation on searching for sEH inhibitors from traditional Chinese medicines, we found that Alisma orientale displayed inhibition of sEH. We constructed a small library of protostane-type triterpenoids (1 – 25) isolated from A. orientale , and screened their inhibitory activities. Alismanin B (1), 11-deoxy-25-anhydro alisol E (4), 11-deoxy alisol B (5), and 25- O -ethyl alisol A (15) displayed concentration-dependently inhibitory activities against sEH with IC 50 values from 3.40 ± 0.57 μM to 9.57 ± 0.88 μM. 11-Deoxy-25-anhydro alisol E (4) and 11-deoxy alisol B (5) were defined as mixed-type competitive inhibitors with Ki values of 12.6 and 3.48 μM, respectively, based on the result of inhibition kinetics. The potential interaction mechanism of 11-deoxy alisol B (5) with sEH was analyzed by molecular docking and molecular dynamics, revealing that amino acid residues Trp336 and Tyr466 were vital for its inhibitory activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cistanche tubulosa is a traditional Chinese herbal medicine that is widely used to regulate immunity, and phenylethanol glycosides (CPhGs) are among the primary components responsible for this activity. However, the application of CPhGs is negatively affected by their poor absorption and low oral utilization. Targeted drug delivery is an important development direction for pharmaceutics. Previous studies have indicated that CPhGs could block the conduction of the signaling pathways in TGF-β1/smad and inhibit the activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs). The aim of this study was to evaluate the anti-hepatic fibrosis effect of CPhG liposomes by inhibiting HSC activation, promoting apoptosis, blocking the cell cycle, suppressing the conduction of signaling pathways in focal adhesion kinase(FAK)/phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase(PI3K)/protein kinase B(Akt), and determining their in vitro hepatoprotective activity. In vitro release studies demonstrated that CPhG liposomes have a sustained release effect compared to drug CPhGs. HSC proliferation was inhibited after treatment with the CPhG liposomes (29.45, 14.72, 7.36 µg/mL), with IC50 values of 42.54 µg/mL in the MTT assay. Different concentrations of the CPhG liposomes could inhibit HSC proliferation, promote apoptosis, and block the cell cycle. The MTT method showed an obvious inhibition of HSC proliferation after CPhG liposome and Recombinant Rat Platelet-derived growth factor-BB(rrPDGF-BB) treatment. The levels of collagen-1, metallopeptidase inhibitor 1 (TIMP-1), α smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), and phosphorylated PI3K/Akt were downregulated, and matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1) was upregulated, by pretreatment with different concentrations of CPhG liposomes. Moreover, 29.45 μg/mL of CPhG liposomes could decrease the expression of the FAK protein and the phosphorylated PI3K and Akt protein downstream of FAK by overexpression of the FAK gene. This experiment suggests that CPhG liposomes may inhibit the activation of HSCs by inhibiting FAK and then reducing the expression of phosphorylated Akt/PI3K, thereby providing new insights into the application of CPhGs for liver fibrosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Swertia bimaculata showed significant inhibition on HCE 2 at 10 μg/mL. • The extract of Swertia bimaculata was separated to afford demethylbellidifolin (1). • The inhibition kinetics of compound 1 against HCE 2 has been studied. • Molecular docking revealed interaction of compound 1 with HCE 2. In this study, forty-nine kinds of traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs) were evaluated for their inhibitory activities against human carboxylesterase 2 (HCE 2) using a human liver microsome (HLM) system. Swertia bimaculata showed significant inhibition on HCE 2 at 10 μg/mL among forty-nine kinds of TCMs. The extract of Swertia bimaculata was separated by preparative HPLC to afford demethylbellidifolin (1) identified by MS, 1H NMR, and 13C NMR spectra. Demethylbellidifolin (1) was assayed for its inhibitory HCE 2 effect by HCE 2-mediated DDAB hydrolysis, and its potential IC 50 value was 3.12 ± 0.64 μM. Demethylbellidifolin (1) was assigned as a mixed-type competitive inhibitor with the inhibiton constant Ki value of 6.87 µM by Lineweaver-Burk and slope plots. Living cell imaging was conducted to corroborate its inhibitory HCE 2 activity. Molecular docking indicated potential interactions of demethylbellidifolin (1) with HCE 2 through two hydrogen bonds of the C-3 and C-5 hydroxy groups with amino acid residues Glu227 and Ser228 in the catalytic cavity, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]