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The fundamental component of the ecological compensation system, as well as the crucial basis for its efficient functioning, is calculating the ecological compensation amount and establishing the ecological compensation standard. This study integrates the ecological footprint with natural capital monetization and other methods by introducing a natural capital accounting system. From the standpoint of natural capital supply and demand, it also builds an accounting framework for ecological compensation standards that is standardized, dynamic, and regionally differentiated while taking local socioeconomic aspects into account. We determined the amount of ecological compensation by using Xinjiang as the research object and calculating and analyzing the features of regional and temporal changes in the monetary and physical quantities of natural capital in Xinjiang from 2010 to 2020. The findings show that from 2010 to 2020, Xinjiang's ecological footprint increased by 1.26 times in physical terms and 1.21 times in monetary terms and that its ecological carrying capacity increased by 4.13% in physical terms and 9.42% in monetary terms. The ecological deficit continues to grow in physical and monetary terms, with a per capita ecological deficit in 2020 of 19.92 s-nha/cap and 70,100 CNY/cap in physical and monetary terms, respectively. The amount of ecological compensation required to be paid in Xinjiang increased from CNY 5659 million to CNY 10,259 million, and the per capita ecological compensation payment standard increased from 259.42 CNY/cap/yr to 396.11 CNY/cap/yr. In summary, Xinjiang's natural capital supply is insufficient to meet the demand for consumption, and the ecological deficit is growing with time, necessitating the payment of ecological compensation. The study's results lay the foundation for formulating and implementing ecological compensation policies in Xinjiang and provide theoretical support for constructing ecological civilization in Xinjiang. In addition, the ecological compensation accounting framework constructed in this study organically integrates natural capital theory, ecosystem services, and socioeconomic influencing factors, which enriches the methodology of accounting for ecological compensation standards, and, at the same time, can be used as a paradigm of a dynamic and equitable ecological compensation accounting framework to further promote its use at different scales and regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Levodopa combined with traditional Chinese medicine has a synergistic effect on Parkinson's disease (PD). Recently, we demonstrated that Nardostachys jatamansi (D. Don) DC. [syn. Patrinia jatamansi D.Don, N. grandiflora DC.] (Valerianaceae) (NJ) can alleviate PD. To explore the synergistic effect of NJ combined with levodopa against PD. The PD model was established by injecting rotenone. Eighty-four Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into seven groups: sham, model, different doses of NJ (0.31, 0.62, or 1.24 g/kg) combined with levodopa (25 mg/kg), and levodopa alone (25 and 50 mg/kg) groups. The synergistic effect of the combination was investigated by pharmacodynamic investigation and detection of expression of nuclear factor erythro2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) and NLR family proteins containing Pyrin-related domain 3 (NLRP3) pathways. Compared with the model group, NJ + levodopa (1.24 g/kg + 25 mg/kg) increased the moving distance of PD rats in the open field (2395.34 ± 668.73 vs. 1501.41 ± 870.23, p < 0.01), enhanced the stay time on the rotating rod (84.86 ± 18.15 vs. 71.36 ± 17.53, p < 0.01) and the combination was superior to other treatments. The synergistic effects were related to NJ + levodopa (1.24 g/kg + 25 mg/kg) increasing the neurotransmitter levels by 38.80%-88.67% in PD rats, and inhibiting oxidative stress and NLRP3 pathway by activating Nrf2 pathway. NJ combined with levodopa is a promising therapeutic candidate for PD, which provides a scientific basis for the subsequent clinical combination therapy of levodopa to enhance the anti-PD effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anxiety disorder is a chronic and disabling psychiatric disorder that is more prevalent in females than in males. 11‐Ethoxyviburtinal is an iridoid extracted from Valeriana jatamansi Jones, which has anxiolytic potential. The aim of the present work was to study the anxiolytic efficacy and mechanism of 11‐ethoxyviburtinal in gender‐specific mice. We first evaluated the anxiolytic‐like efficacy of 11‐ethoxyviburtinal in chronic restraint stress (CRS) mice of different sexes through behavioral experiments and biochemical indexes. In addition, network pharmacology and molecular docking were used to predict potential targets and important pathways for the treatment of anxiety disorder with 11‐ethoxyviburtinal. Finally, the influence of 11‐ethoxyviburtinal on phosphoinositide‐3‐kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (Akt) signaling pathway, estrogen receptor β (ERβ) expression, and anxiety‐like behavior in mice was verified by western blotting, immunohistochemistry staining, antagonist intervention methods, and behavioral experiments. 11‐ethoxyviburtinal alleviated the anxiety‐like behaviors induced by CRS and inhibited neurotransmitter dysregulation and HPA axis hyperactivity. It inhibited the abnormal activation of the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway, modulated estrogen production, and promoted ERβ expression in mice. In addition, the female mice may be more sensitive to the pharmacological effects of 11‐ethoxyviburtinal. 11‐ethoxyviburtinal may exert its anxiolytic‐like effects through PI3K/Akt and E2/ERβ signaling pathways. Meanwhile, by comparing the male and female mice, gender differences may affect the therapy and development of anxiety disorder. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Paeoniflorin and liquiritin are the primary active components of Shaoyao-Gancao-tang (SGT), a classical prescription for reducing pains. However, the interaction of paeoniflorin and liquiritin during intestinal absorption needs to be further studied. Objectives: In this study, we aimed to determine the interaction of paeoniflorin and liquiritin during intestinal absorption. Materials and Methods: The interaction between paeoniflorin and liquiritin (100 μM) was studied using in situ single-pass intestinal perfusion (SPIP) model use the whole small intestine and in vitro Caco-2 cell monolayer bidirectional transport model. Results: In situ SPIP research demonstrated that liquiritin significantly increased the Ka, Papp, absorption rate, and cumulative amount of paeoniflorin up to 7.97, 8.98, 7.07, and 10.71 folds, respectively, even higher than that of verapamil, a specific P-gp inhibitor, and control. Furthermore, 18 β-glycyrrhetinic acid (18 β-GA) markedly increased the Ka, Papp, absorption rate, and cumulative amount of paeoniflorin up to 3.30, 3.27, 3.42, and 4.04 folds, respectively. Bidirectional transport studies indicated that liquiritin and paeoniflorin could prompt the absorption of each other by increasing the Papp(AP-BL) of paeoniflorin and liquiritin from (3.83 ± 0.51) ×10−7 to (5.60 ± 0.51) ×10−7 cm/s and (3.86 ± 0.34) ×10−7 to (8.26 ± 0.51) ×10−7 cm/s, respectively. The 18 β-GA significantly prompted the Papp(AP-BL) of paeoniflorin to (5.54 ± 0.92) ×10−7 cm/s. Conclusion: Liquiritin and paeoniflorin increased the absorption of each other. This could provide essential reference to predict the oral bioavailability, the pharmacokinetics, and the clinical application of coadministration of liquiritin-and paeoniflorin-containing SGT and other herbal formulas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study developed a systematic method for the degradation products and dynamics of valtrate in artificial intestinal fluid and gastric fluid. HPLC-electrospray tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-ESI-MSn) was applied to separate the degradation products of valtrate and identify structures of the main degradation products. Samples were separated on an Agilent Extend-Cl8by gradient elution using acetonitrile and water–acetic acid (0.25%, v/v). Analysis was performed in positive ion mode with 3000 V of capillary voltage, 40 psi of atomization pressure, 10 L min−1dry nitrogen gas velocity, and m/z 100–1000 of scan range. Six degradation products were all identified to own the stem-nucleus structures of baldrinals. Two of them were identified through the reference substances. An HPLC method with isocratic elution using acetonitrile and water (68:32, v/v) at 254 nm was established to determine content change of valtrate in artificial intestinal fluid and gastric fluid at different time points. The method was validated with good linearity in wide linear ranges (r2 = 0.9999), and good intra-day precision (RSD = 1.0%). The degradations of valtrate in artificial intestinal fluid and gastric fluid follow pseudo-first-order kinetic process, the half-life period in artificial gastric fluid is 1.73 hr, and in artificial intestinal fluid it is 1.61 hr. This study enriched the knowledge on degradation products of valtrate and may reveal the mechanism of the degradation of valtrate. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Different pollutants induce distinct toxic responses in earthworms ( Eisenia fetida ). Here, we used proteomics techniques to compare the responses of E. fetida to exposure to the 10% lethal concentration (14d-LC 10 ) of benzo[ a ]pyrene (BaP) or cadmium (Cd) in natural red soil (China). BaP exposure markedly induced the expression of oxidation-reduction proteins, whereas Cd exposure mainly induced the expression of proteins involved in transcription- and translation-related processes. Furthermore, calmodulin-binding proteins were differentially expressed upon exposure to different pollutants. The calcium (Ca 2 + )-binding cytoskeletal element myosin was down-regulated upon BaP treatment, whereas the Ca 2 + -binding cytoskeletal element tropomyosin-1 was up-regulated upon Cd treatment. Some proteins exhibited opposite responses to the two pollutants. For instance, catalase (CAT) and heat shock protein 70 were up-regulated upon BaP treatment and down-regulated upon Cd treatment. A significant ( p < 0.05, one-way ANOVA with least-significant difference (LSD) test) increase in the level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and CAT activity further showed that BaP mainly induces oxidative stress. Real-time PCR analysis showed that mRNA expression often did not correlate well with protein expression in earthworms subjected to Cd or BaP treatment. In addition, the expression of the gene encoding the protein metallothionein, which was not detected in the protein analysis, was induced upon Cd treatment, but slightly reduced upon BaP treatment. Therefore, BaP and Cd have distinct effects on the protein profile of E. Fetida with BaP markedly inducing ROS activity, and Cd mainly triggering genotoxicity. Capsule summary Distinct patterns of protein expression are induced in earthworms upon exposure to different pollutants; BaP markedly induces high levels of ROS, while Cd resultes in genotoxicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anxiety disorder is a chronic and disabling psychiatric disorder that is more prevalent in females than in males. 11-Ethoxyviburtinal is an iridoid extracted from Valeriana jatamansi Jones, which has anxiolytic potential. The aim of the present work was to study the anxiolytic efficacy and mechanism of 11-ethoxyviburtinal in gender-specific mice. We first evaluated the anxiolytic-like efficacy of 11-ethoxyviburtinal in chronic restraint stress (CRS) mice of different sexes through behavioral experiments and biochemical indexes. In addition, network pharmacology and molecular docking were used to predict potential targets and important pathways for the treatment of anxiety disorder with 11-ethoxyviburtinal. Finally, the influence of 11-ethoxyviburtinal on phosphoinositide-3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (Akt) signaling pathway, estrogen receptor β (ERβ) expression, and anxiety-like behavior in mice was verified by western blotting, immunohistochemistry staining, antagonist intervention methods, and behavioral experiments. 11-ethoxyviburtinal alleviated the anxiety-like behaviors induced by CRS and inhibited neurotransmitter dysregulation and HPA axis hyperactivity. It inhibited the abnormal activation of the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway, modulated estrogen production, and promoted ERβ expression in mice. In addition, the female mice may be more sensitive to the pharmacological effects of 11-ethoxyviburtinal. 11-ethoxyviburtinal may exert its anxiolytic-like effects through PI3K/Akt and E2/ERβ signaling pathways. Meanwhile, by comparing the male and female mice, gender differences may affect the therapy and development of anxiety disorder., (© 2023 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

The effect of Cladonia humilis on glycaemic metabolism was researched in this studied. The blood glucose, insulin secretion and glycogen synthesis of the hyperglycemic mice induced by alloxan were analyzed respectively. The gluconeogenesis and the sugar tolerance of the normal mice were also analyzed in this paper. After the hyperglycemic mice were orally administrated with Cladonia humilis extract, the blood glucose was decreased (p<0.05), the level of insulin secretion and glycogen synthesis were elevated (p<0.05, p<0.01, respectively). In addition, Cladonia humilis extract could inhibit the gluconeogenesis (p<0.01) and improve the sugar tolerance in normal control mice. These results maybe account for the causes of Cladonia humilis extract-induced significant decreases of the blood glucose in hyperglycemic mice.