Chinese Herbal Medicines
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2023
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IF 3.8
Mingning Ding,Fei Zhou,Yijie Li,Chuanyang Liu,Yiqing Gu,Jianzhi Wu,Guifang Fan,Yajing Li,Xiaojiaoyang Li
Objective Cassiae Semen (CS, Juemingzi in Chinese) has been used for thousands of years in ancient Chinese history for relieving constipation, improving liver function as well as preventing myopia. Here we aimed to elucidate the anti-steatosis effect and underlying mechanism of CS against non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Methods High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was used to identify the major components of CS water extract. Mice were fed with a high-fat and sugar-water (HFSW) diet to induce hepatic steatosis and then treated with CS. The anti-NAFLD effect was determined by measuring serum biomarkers and histopathology staining. Additionally, the effects of CS on cell viability and lipid metabolism in oleic acid and palmitic acid (OAPA)-treated HepG2 cells were measured. The expression of essential genes and proteins involved in lipid metabolism and autophagy signalings were measured to uncover the underlying mechanism. Results Five compounds, including aurantio-obtusin, rubrofusarin gentiobioside, cassiaside C, emodin and rhein were simultaneously identified in CS extract. CS not only improved the diet-induced hepatic steatosis in vivo , as indicated by decreased number and size of lipid droplets, hepatic and serum triglycerides (TG) levels, but also markedly attenuated the OAPA-induced lipid accumulation in hepatocytes. These lipid-lowering effects induced by CS were largely dependent on the inhibition of fatty acid synthase (FASN) and the activation of autophagy-related signaling, including AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), light chain 3-II (LC3-II)/ LC3-1 and autophagy-related gene5 (ATG5). Conclusion Our study suggested that CS effectively protected liver steatosis via decreasing FASN-related fatty acid synthesis and activating AMPK-mediated autophagy, which might become a promising therapeutic strategy for relieving NAFLD.
研究领域:
药理学
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肝病学
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分子生物学
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产品关联
DOI
PubMed
高影响因子
LWT-FOOD SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
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2024
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IF 6
Fusheng Sun,Chuanxin Pan,Yantao Liu,Nan Yang
In this research, a novel polysaccharide-based complex system was developed through self-assembly driven by electrostatic interactions between carboxymethyl (CM)-modified tamarind seed polysaccharide (TSP) and chitosan (CS). First, the carboxymethylation of TSP was confirmed successfully. Then, the relationships among the morphology, physicochemical properties and interfacial activity of CMTSP/CS complexes with different mass ratios (1:5, 1:3, 1:1, 3:1 and 5:1) were systematically investigated. The turbidity of the complex solution gradually increased with higher mass ratios (CMTSP:CS) and pH values. The size of the complex initially decreased and then increased as the proportion of CMTSP increased. The CMTSP/CS complex at 1:1 displayed the smallest particle size, supreme surface wettability and strongest interfacial activity. The microstructure and rheological properties of emulsions stabilized by CMTSP/CS complexes were characterized. CMTSP/CS complexes at 1:1 and 1:3 exhibited enhanced emulsifying capacity and better viscoelastic attributes. Remarkably, stable high internal phase emulsions with 85% oil concentration could be formed using very low concentration (only 0.05 wt%). These findings suggest that CMTSP/CS complex-stabilized emulsions have great application potential as a new oil-in-water system.
研究领域:
材料科学
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化学工程
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食品科学
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DOI
高影响因子
TOXICOLOGICAL SCIENCES
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2017
·Vol. 161
·期 2
·321-334
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IF 4.081
Wang Xue,Han Lifeng,Li Gentao,Peng Wei,Gao Xiumei,Klaassen Curtis D,Fan Guanwei,Zhang Youcai
Mercury accumulates in kidneys and produces acute kidney injury. Semen cassiae (SC), a widely consumed tea and herbal medicine in Eastern Asia, has been reported to have protective effects on kidneys. In this study, SC extract was shown to almost abolish the histological alterations induced by mercuric chloride in rat kidneys. A total of 22 compounds were isolated from SC, and 1,7,8-methoxyl-2-hydroxyl-3-methyl-anthraquinone was detected in SC for the first time. Among the eight compounds identified in the blood of rats after SC treatment, six were strong inhibitors of human organic anion transporter 1 and 3 (OAT1 and OAT3). Inhibitory studies revealed that OAT1 and OAT3 were inhibited by SC constituents, in both a competitive and noncompetitive manner. Both OAT1- and OAT3-overexpressing cells were susceptible to the cytotoxicity of the cysteine–mercury conjugate, but only OAT1-overexpressing cells could be protected by 200 μM probenecid or 10 μM of the eight inhibitors in SC, suggesting that OAT1 is the major determinant in the cellular uptake of mercury. To facilitate the identification of inhibitors of OAT1 and OAT3, models of OAT1 and OAT3 were constructed using recently determined protein templates. By combining in silico and in vitro methods, inhibitors of OAT1 and OAT3 were predicted and validated from SC constituents. Collectively, the present study suggests that additional inhibitors of OAT1 and OAT3 can be predicted and validated from natural products by combining docking and in vitro screening, and could be a source of pharmaceutical compounds for developing treatments for mercury-induced kidney injury.
研究领域:
药理学
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毒理学
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药物化学
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分子生物学
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产品关联
DOI
PubMed
高影响因子
ACTA PHARMACOLOGICA SINICA
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2023
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IF 8.2
Li Yi-jie,Wu Rui-yu,Liu Run-ping,Wu Kai-yi,Ding Ming-ning,Sun Rong,Gu Yi-qing,Zhou Fei,Wu Jian-zhi,Zheng Qi,Duan Shu-ni,Li Rong-rong,Zhang Yin-hao,Li Fang-hong,Li Xiaojiaoyang
Obesity contributes to the progression of various chronic diseases, and shortens life expectancy. With abundant mitochondria, brown adipose tissue (BAT) dissipates energy through heat to limit weight gain and metabolic dysfunction in obesity. Our previous studies have shown that aurantio-obtusin (AO), a bioactive ingredient in Chinese traditional medicine Cassiae semen significantly improves hepatic lipid metabolism in a steatotic mouse model. In the current study we investigated the effects of AO on lipid metabolism in the BAT of diet-induced obesity mice and in oleic acid and palmitic acid (OAPA)-stimulated primary mature BAT adipocytes. Obese mice were established by feeding a HFHS diet for 4 weeks, and then administered AO (10 mg/kg, i.g.) for another 4 weeks. We showed that AO administration significantly increased the weight of BAT and accelerated energy expenditure to protect the weight increase in the obese mice. Using RNA sequencing and molecular biology analysis we found that AO significantly enhanced mitochondrial metabolism and UCP1 expression by activating PPARα both in vivo and in vitro in the primary BAT adipocytes. Interestingly, AO administration did not improve metabolic dysfunction in the liver and white adipose tissue of obese mice after interscapular BAT excision. We demonstrated that low temperature, a trigger of BAT thermogenesis, was not a decisive factor for AO to stimulate the growth and activation of BATs. This study uncovers a regulatory network of AO in activating BAT-dependent lipid consumption and brings up a new avenue for the pharmaceutical intervention in obesity and related comorbidities.
研究领域:
药理学
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代谢学
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内分泌学
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分子生物学
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产品关联
DOI
PubMed
高影响因子
JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY
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2018
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IF 3.115
Wenhao Xu,Meiqun Hu,Qihong Zhang,Jingbo Yu,Weike Su
Ethnopharmacological relevance Cassia occidentalis Linn. is a traditional ayruvedic edible shrub containing anthraquinones (AQs) as the principle active constituents. In folk medicine, it has a variety of uses including treatment of whooping cough (‘pertussis’) and inflammatory diseases . Despite these applications, limited data are available to validate the effects of C. occidentalis AQs on airways inflammation in asthma. Aim of the study To explore the anti-inflammatory potential of AQs extracted from C. occidentalis using an in vivo model of ovalbumin (OVA)-induced asthma. Materials and methods Extraction and optimization of AQs from C. occidentalis was performed by mechanochemistry. Allergic asthma in BALB/c mice was sensitized and challenged by OVA, and the effects of AQs investigated in a mouse model. OVA-specific IgE concentrations in serum, and Th1/Th2 cytokine (IL-4, IL-5, IL-13 and IFN- γ ) concentrations, inflammatory cell counts and classification in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were determined. Histopathological evaluation of lung tissue was performed using hematoxylin and eosin (H&E), and periodic acid-schiff (PAS) staining. Th1/Th2 cytokine mRNA expression was analyzed using the 2 -ΔΔCt method. Results Treatment with AQs decreased inflammatory cell counts and production of Th2 cytokines (IL-4, IL-5 and IL-13) in BALF, and OVA-specific IgE in serum. In contrast,Th1 cytokine IFN- γ production in BALF was promoted. AQs also decreased mRNA expression of Th1/Th2 cytokine in lung tissue. Histological studies demonstrated that AQs substantially inhibited OVA-induced cellular infiltration, mucus hypersecretion and goblet cell hyperplasia in the lung. Conclusions These findings demonstrated the inhibitory effects of AQs, derived from C. occidentalis, on OVA-induced allergic asthma in mice. The results suggest a promising ethnopharmacological use for AQs in patients with asthma.
研究领域:
药理学
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免疫学
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民族药理学
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呼吸医学
✓ 已验证
DOI
PubMed
高影响因子
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