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Codonopsis Radix, the dried roots of the genus Codonopsis of Platycodonaceae, has a very long history of culinary and medicinal use in China and is considered to strengthen the middle warmer and benefit vital energy as well as to benefit the stomach and help produce saliva in Chinese medicine. Codonopsis Radix contains a rich variety of chemical constituents, including flavonoids, alkaloids, polysaccharides, saponins, steroids, trace elements and amino acids, with many pharmacological effects, such as enhancing immunity, protecting the heart, nerve and gastrointestinal tract, regulating blood sugar, antioxidant, anti-fatigue, antibacterial, anti-virus, and anti-tumor functions, so it has been increasingly applied as both food and medicine. In this article, the chemical composition, pharmacological actions and application of Codonopsis Radix are reviewed so as to provide a reference for understanding the theoretical basis for the health benefits of Codonopsis Radix as well as for its development and application.

Polysaccharides are a class of natural macromolecular polymers with complex and large molecular structures, which are closely related to their biological activities. However, traditional analytical methods can only provide limited information on the structures of polysaccharides. Mass spectrometry (MS) is an analytical method that measures the mass-to-charge ratio of molecules allowing for determination of the mass and calculation of the the molecular structure. As a powerful tool for polysaccharide structure analysis, MS can provide rich information, including molecular mass, polymerization degree, monosaccharide composition, glycosidic bond type, the order of arrangement of glycosyl groups, and substituent group sites, which has unique advantages in the characterization of polysaccharide structure. This paper summarizes the general pattern of mass spectral fragmentation of polysaccharides, introduces the principles and characteristics of different types of MS as well as representative applications of MS combined with electron ionization source, fast atom bombardment source, electrospray ionization source, matrix-assisted laser desorption ion source, real-time direct analysis source, ion mobility or tandem mass spectrometry for the structural elucidation of polysaccharides. Furthermore, future prospects for the application of new MS techniques for analyzing the structures of polysaccharides are discussed. The aim of this paper is to summarize the application of MS to provide scientific reference for the basic research work of polysaccharide compounds, such as quality standard, structural characterization, pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetic, constitutive relationship, and the development and creation of polysaccharide food, health food, and clinical drugs.

Background/Objectives: Breast cancer, a leading health threat affecting millions worldwide, requires effective therapeutic interventions. Celastrol (CEL), despite its antitumor potential, is limited by poor solubility and stability. This study aimed to enhance CEL's efficacy by encapsulating it within glycyrrhizic acid (GA)-modified lipid calcium carbonate (LCC) nanoparticles for targeted breast cancer therapy. Methods: The 4T1 mouse breast cancer cells were used for the study. GA-LCC-CEL nanoparticles were prepared using a gas diffusion method and a thin-film dispersion method. GA-LCC-CEL were characterized using the zeta-potential, dynamic light scattering and transmission electron microscope (TEM). The in vitro release behavior of nanoparticles was assessed using the in vitro dialysis diffusion method. Cellular uptake was examined using flow cytometry and confocal microscopy. Intracellular ROS and Rhodamine 123 levels were observed under fluorescence microscopy. MTT and colony formation assays assessed cytotoxicity and proliferation, and apoptosis was analyzed by Annexin V-FITC/PI staining. Wound healing and transwell assays evaluated migration, and Western blotting confirmed protein expression changes related to apoptosis and migration. Results: GA-LCC-CEL nanoparticles displayed a well-defined core-shell structure with a uniform size distribution. They showed enhanced anti-proliferative and pro-apoptotic effects against 4T1 cells and significantly reduced breast cancer cell invasion and migration. Additionally, GA-LCC-CEL modulated epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) protein expression, downregulating Snail and ZEB1, and upregulating E-cadherin. Conclusions: GA-LCC-CEL nanoparticles represent a promising targeted drug delivery approach for breast cancer, enhancing CEL's antitumor efficacy and potentially inhibiting cancer progression by modulating EMT-related proteins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]