JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY
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2025
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IF 5.4
Yan Zhou,Tian Wen,Shan Yang,Binru Meng,Jing Wei,Jing Zhang,Lun Wang,Xiaofei Shen
Ethnopharmacological relevance Cichorium intybus is a traditional medicinal herb for hepatitis treatment in China and Europe. Sesquiterpene lactones are the main active ingredients in C. intybus . However, their structure-activity relationship (SAR) and molecular mechanisms of anti-inflammatory and hepatoprotective effects require further elucidation. Aim of the study To identify new sesquiterpene lactones from C. intybus , and further evaluate their anti-inflammatory effects, SAR, and mechanisms of anti-inflammatory and hepatoprotective properties. Methods Identification of sesquiterpene lactones from C. intybus using chromatographic fractionation, NMR, and mass spectrometry. The repression of inflammation was evaluated in RAW264.7 macrophages incubated with LPS. Western blotting was employed to investigate the anti-inflammatory mechanisms. The hepatoprotective effect was measured in LPS/D-galactosamine (D-GalN)-induced acute hepatitis in mice. Results We identified 3 new sesquiterpene lactones and 15 known analogues from C. intybus . SAR analysis showed that the α-methylene-γ-lactone moiety was essential for their anti-inflammatory properties. Furthermore, 8-deoxylactucin was identified as the most potent anti-inflammatory component in LPS-induced RAW264.7 macrophages by reduction of nitric oxide production via inhibiting iNOS expression, and suppression of IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α expression. Mechanistically, 8-deoxylactucin not only blocked LPS-induced IKKα/β phosphorylation, IκBα phosphorylation and degradation, and NF-κB nuclear accumulation, but also enhanced NRF2 expression and nuclear translocation, HO-1 and NQO1 expression, and reduced ROS generation in vitro . In vivo , 8-deoxylactucin mitigated LPS/D-GalN-induced acute hepatitis, which manifested as reduction in inflammatory infiltration, live injury, serum levels of AST and ALT, and production of pro-inflammatory cytokines and 4-hydroxynonenal. Conclusion 8-Deoxylactucin, the sesquiterpene lactone isolated from C. intybus , exerted anti-inflammatory and hepatoprotective effects by blocking NF-κB activation and enhancing NRF2 activation.
研究领域:
药理学
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植物化学
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PubMed
高影响因子
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL MACROMOLECULES
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2023
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IF 8.2
Lijuan Shi,Zhen Lin,Jiantong Hou,Wenhui Liu,Jing Xu,Yuanqiang Guo
Genistein is an isoflavone with chemopreventive and therapeutic effects on various types of cancers. Apparently, in contrast to the advantages of multi-target therapy, the poor water solubility of this molecule is a major obstacle to its clinical application. In this work, zein/chicory polysaccharide nanoparticles (G-zein-P NPs) were prepared by pH-induced antisolvent precipitation method for the encapsulation of genistein. Firstly, an acidic polysaccharide (CIP70-2) with a molecular weight of 66.7 kDa was identified from the roots of chicory ( Cichorium intybus ). This natural macromolecule was identified as a plant pectin, for which the structure included RG-I (rhamnogalacturonan I) and HG (homogalacturonan) regions. Using this polysaccharide, G-zein-P NPs were prepared, in which the water solubility of genistein was improved by encapsulation. The encapsulation efficiency and loading efficiency of genistein by composite nanoparticles reached 99.0 % and 6.96 %, respectively. In vitro tumor inhibition experiments showed that the inhibitory effect of G-zein-P NPs on HepG2 cells was twice that of unencapsulated genistein. Moreover, the significant inhibition of tumor development and metastasis by G-zein-P NPs was observed in zebrafish xenograft models. The results suggested that zein/chicory polysaccharide nanoparticles may be a promising delivery carrier for genistein application in cancer prevention and therapy.
研究领域:
药理学
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植物化学
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癌症治疗
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PubMed
高影响因子
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL MACROMOLECULES
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2020
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IF 5.162
Xuan Zhang,Jiawei Lin,Fang Pi,Tao Zhang,Chao Ai,Shujuan Yu
This work aimed to extract gelatinous chicory root pectin (CRP) and evaluated the rheological behavior of the dispersions and gels. CRP was extracted by citric acid (CEP), alkaline (AEP), ammonium oxalate (OEP) and sodium citrate (SEP). The yield, molecular weight (Mw) and the degree of esterification (DE) of pectin samples varied from 8.8 to 14.8% (w/w), 204 to 336 k Da and 4.0 to 47.4%, respectively. AFM studies showed self-organize on mica of CEP, revealing a random coil conformation due to the interaction of multiple branching, whereas, AEP exhibited long linear filamentous structures. The flow behavior study verified the pseudoplastic character of CEP and SEP at 25 °C, while OEP and AEP belonged to dilatant fluid, besides, a closed hysteresis loop was observed when the CEP concentration increased to 1.5%. OEP gel was thermo insensitive and stiff, AEP gel presented most sensitive to calcium ion but more brittle, and SEP was observed a weak syneresis in spite of the poor gelation property. The texture analysis indicated OEP gel had a superior firmness and chewiness. These findings demonstrated that CRP may be attractive as a thickener or gelling agent to modulate textures of sugar-free and calcium content food.
研究领域:
食品科学
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高分子化学
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PubMed
高影响因子
PHARMACEUTICAL BIOLOGY
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2022
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IF 3.889
Na Li,Mukaram Amatjan,Pengke He,Boheng Zhang,Xianyan Mai,Qianle Jiang,Haochen Xie,Xiaoni Shao
Context Cichorium intybus L. (Asteraceae) formula (CF) has been applied as a folk medicine to treat hyperuricemic nephropathy (HN). However, the exact mechanism remains unclear.Objective To explore the therapeutic effect and mechanism of CF on HN.Materials and methods Through network pharmacological methods, the targets of the active component of CF against HN were obtained. Subsequently, Male Wistar rats were divided into control, HN, allopurinol (50 mg/kg), CF high-dose (8.64 g/kg) and CF low-dose (2.16 g/kg) groups. The HN model was induced via intragastric administration of adenine (100 mg/kg) and ethambutol hydrochloride (250 mg/kg) for 3 weeks. After CF treatment, biochemical indicators including UA, UREA and CREA were measured. Then, HE staining, qRT-PCR and gut microbiota analysis were conducted to further explore the mechanism.Results The network pharmacology identified 83 key targets, 6 core genes and 200 signalling pathways involved in the treatment of HN. Compared to the HN group, CF (8.64 g/kg) significantly reduced the levels of UA, UREA and CREA (from 2.4 to 1.57 μMol/L, from 15.87 to 11.05 mMol/L and from 64.83 to 54.83 μMol/L, respectively), and mitigated renal damage. Furthermore, CF inhibited the expression of IL-6, TP53, TNF and JUN. It also altered the composition of gut microbiota, and ameliorated HN by increasing the relative abundance of some probiotics.Conclusions This work elucidated the therapeutic effect and underlying mechanism by which CF protects against HN from the view of the biodiversity of the intestinal flora, thus providing a scientific basis for the usage of CF.
研究领域:
中药学
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药理学
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分子生物学
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PubMed
高影响因子
Scientific Reports
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2023
·Vol. 13
·期 1
·1-11
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IF 4.6
Lan Xiang,Qi Dongdong,Ren Hao,Liu Tao,Shao Hong,Zhang Jiantao
Damage to lamellar keratinocytes, an essential cellular component of the epidermal layer of hoof tissue, can have a detrimental effect on hoof health and the overall production value of dairy cows. We isolated and cultured cow lamellar keratinocytes using the Dispase II and collagenase methods. We purified them by differential digestion and differential velocity adherent methods at each passaging and identified them by keratin 14 immunofluorescence. We established an in vitro model of inflammation in laminar keratinocytes using LPS and investigated whether chicoric acid protects against inflammatory responses by inhibiting the activation of the TLR4/MAPK/NF-κB signaling pathway. The results showed that cow lamellar keratinocytes were successfully isolated and cultured by Dispase II combined with the collagenase method. In the in vitro inflammation model established by LPS, the Chicoric acid decreased the concentration of inflammatory mediators (TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6), down-regulated the mRNA expression of TLR4 and MyD88 (P < 0.01), down-regulated the expression of TLR4, MyD88, p-ERK, p-p38, IKKβ, p-p65, p-p50 (P < 0.05), and increased the IκBα protein expression (P < 0.05). In conclusion, Chicoric acid successfully protected cow lamellar keratinocytes from LPS-induced inflammatory responses by modulating the TLR4/MAPK/NF-κB signaling pathway and downregulating inflammatory mediators.
研究领域:
兽医学
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免疫学
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分子生物学
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PubMed
高影响因子
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL MACROMOLECULES
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2025
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IF 8.5
Nuan Dong,Xue Lu,Dongmei Qin
Type 2 diabetes (T2DM) is a chronic metabolic disease with a high incidence, which seriously affects the physical and mental health of patients. The current treatment methods can only alleviate the disease and are accompanied by unavoidable toxic side effects. Cichorium pumilum Jacq (CG) is a kind of plant medicine with Xinjiang characteristics, which is often used to reduce blood sugar and protect the liver. CG polysaccharide (CGP) is the main active component of CG, but the hypoglycemic effect and mechanism of CGP on T2DM are still unclear. In vitro hypoglycemic and antioxidant experiments showed that CGP had effective hypoglycemic and antioxidant activities, and a series of characterizations of CGP was carried out. In vivo tests on T2DM mice showed that CGP improved liver glycogen metabolism, reduced oxidative stress and colonic damage. AKT and PI3K phosphorylation decreased, mTOR phosphorylation increased in T2DM mice liver; CGP reversed these changes, protected colonic mucosa, and increased Occludin and ZO-1 protein expression. CGP is a good antioxidant and hypoglycemic agent. It improves liver glycogen metabolism and repairs intestinal mucosal damage in T2DM mice via the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway, providing a research basis for its treatment.
研究领域:
药理学
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生物化学
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分子生物学
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内分泌学
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天然产物研究
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高影响因子
JOURNAL OF CELLULAR AND MOLECULAR MEDICINE
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2020
·Vol. 24
·期 5
·3022-3033
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IF 4.486
Zheng Li,Haihua Feng,Lu Han,Lu Ding,Bingyu Shen,Ye Tian,Lilei Zhao,Meiyu Jin,Qi Wang,Haiyan Qin,Jiaqi Cheng,Guowen Liu
Chicoric acid is polyphenol of natural plant and has a variety of bioactivity. Caused by various kinds of stimulating factors, acute liver injury has high fatality rate. The effect of chicoric acid in acute liver injury induced by Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and d -galactosamine ( d -GalN) was investigated in this study. The results showed that CA decreased the aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) in serum and reduced the mortality induced by LPS/ d -GalN. CA can restrain mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) and nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) to alleviate inflammation. Meanwhile, the results indicated CA can active nuclear factor-erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) pathway with increasing the level of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK). And with the treatment of CA, protein levels of autophagy genes were obvious improved. The results of experiments indicate that CA has protective effect in liver injury, and the activation of AMPK and autophagy may make sense.
研究领域:
药理学
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肝病学
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免疫学
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分子生物学
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DOI
PubMed
高影响因子