Angelica sinensis in China-A review of botanical profile, ethnopharmacology, phytochemistry and chemical analysis

Effect of Chinese Herbs on Serum Biochemical Parameters, Immunity Indices, Antioxidant Capacity and Metabolomics in Early Weaned Yak Calves

Chinese traditional herbs are used widely as feed supplements to improve the immune response and antioxidant capacity of livestock. Twenty early-weaned 4-month-old yak calves (72.3 ± 3.65 kg) were divided randomly into four groups (n = 5 per group); three groups were provided with supplementary 80 mL/kg DMI of the root water extracts of either Angelica sinensis, Codonopsis pilosula or Glycyrrhiza uralensis, and one group (control) was not provided with a supplement. Compared to control calves, calves consuming the three herbal extracts increased serum concentrations of albumin (ALB) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), but decreased serum concentrations of free fatty acids (FFAs) and malondialdehyde (MDA) (p < 0.05). Calves consuming A. sinensis decreased (p < 0.05) serum concentration of total cholesterol (TC), and increased (p < 0.05) serum concentration of total proteins (TP). Serum FFA concentrations increased (p = 0.004) linearly with time in the control group, but not in the groups consuming herbs. Serum metabolomic data demonstrated that A. sinensis and C. pilosula regulate mainly amino acid metabolism, while G. uralensis regulates mainly carbon and amino acid metabolism. It was concluded that the three herbal root extracts, as dietary supplements, improved energy and nitrogen metabolism, and enhanced the antioxidant capacity of yak calves.

Effects and Action Mechanism of Huoxue Tongluo Formula on the Formation of Neutrophil Extracellular Traps

Excessive infiltration and uncontrolled activation of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) are likely to destroy normal tissue architecture and cause uncontrolled inflammation. The present research attempted to screen potential signaling pathways of Huoxue Tongluo Formula (HXTLF) affecting the formation of NETs using network pharmacology technique. Active chemical components of HXTLF and therapeutic targets related to vasculitis were screened, and a chemical components-targets network diagram of HXTLF was constructed by Cytoscape. Finally, the inhibitory effect and mechanism of HXTLF on the formation of NETs were explored in vitro using LPS-induced NETs. Immunofluorescence and Western blot were conducted to determine the protein fluorescence intensity and relative expression. The experimental results illustrated that HXTLF mediated the expression levels of H3Cit and myeloperoxidase (MPO) protein in neutrophils activated by LPS, inhibited NETs formation, and reduced the concentration of interleukin- (IL-) 1β, a proinflammatory factor in cells. Additionally, we activated and inhibited the AKT1 signaling pathway using the corresponding activator and inhibitor to explore the regulatory mechanism of HXTLF on AKT1 and other molecules in the treatment of vasculitis. The results demonstrated that HXTLF could inhibit the phosphorylation of AKT1, IKK, and NF-κB proteins, inhibit NETs formation, and reduce IL-1β concentration, indicating that AKT1 exerts a vital role in the treatment of vasculitis after HXTLF administration. The current study initially revealed the pharmacological mechanism of HXTLF for vasculitis management using network pharmacology techniques and tests in vitro, which is expected to provide important theoretical basis for elucidating the molecular mechanism of HXTLF and promoting its clinical application.

The Dynamic Accumulation Rules of Chemical Components in Different Medicinal Parts of Angelica sinensis by GC-MS

The chemical components and medicinal properties of different medicinal parts of Angelica sinensis are often used as medicine after being divided into the head, body and tail of Angelica sinensis. In this study, the chemical components of different medicinal parts in different periods were analyzed by GC-MS for the first time, and the differences of the accumulation rules of chemical components in different medicinal parts of Angelica sinensis were obtained. This study demonstrated that the differences of composition accumulation in different medicinal parts of Angelica sinensis were mainly reflected in the types and relative contents of compounds. The study found that the number of compounds in different medicinal parts of Angelica sinensis in each period were different and the change rules of the same compound in different medicinal parts were also different. The number of compounds in the tail of Angelica sinensis was the least in April, and the largest in October. The content of ligustilide in the body of Angelica sinensis was higher in April and was the highest in the tail in October. The relative content of butylidenephthalide in the head was the highest in October. The relative contents of senkyunolide A and butylphthalide in the head were decreased in October, while the contents in the body and tail increased, indicating that the compounds that accumulate in the head may transfer to the body and tail in later stages of growth. This study clarified the differences in the accumulation of chemical components in different medicinal parts of Angelica sinensis, which could provide a theoretical basis for the reasons for the differences of chemical components in the different medicinal parts.

Epigoitrin alleviates lipid and glucose metabolic disorders induced by a high-fat diet

As living standards improve, obesity has become an increasingly serious health problem. Natural extracts from a wide range of sources are non-toxic and have significant potential as drugs for the prevention and treatment of obesity. We assessed 243 natural small molecules in a HepG2 fat accumulation model and found that epigoitrin (EP) from Radix isatidis reduced intracellular fat deposition, increased short-chain acyl CoA dehydrogenase (SCAD) activity, promoted glucose uptake and glycogen storage, increased ATP production and reduced glutathione (GSH) content, reduced reactive oxygen species (ROS), and enhanced superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity. In a murine high-fat diet model, the addition of EP to the high-fat diet significantly reduced fat deposition, increased glucose tolerance, improved insulin sensitivity, and increased energy expenditure. In conclusion, EP alleviated obesity caused by a high-fat diet and improved disorders of lipid and glucose metabolism.

Prediction and validation of potential molecular targets for the combination of Astragalus membranaceus and Angelica sinensis in the treatment of atherosclerosis based on network pharmacology

Since the 20th century, mortality rate due to cardiovascular diseases has increased, posing a substantial economic burden on society. Atherosclerosis is a common cardiovascular disease that requires urgent and careful attention. This study was conducted to predict and validate the potential molecular targets and pathways of Astragalus membranaceus and Angelica sinensis (A&A) in the treatment of atherosclerosis using network pharmacology. The active ingredients of A&A were obtained using the TCMSP database, while the target genes of atherosclerosis were acquired using 2 databases, namely GeneCards and DrugBank. The disease-target-component model map and the core network were obtained using Cytoscape 3.8.2 and MCODE plug-in, respectively. The core network was then imported into the STRING database to obtain the protein-protein interaction (PPI) network diagram. Moreover, gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes (KEGG) enrichment analyses were performed using the HIPLOT online website. Finally, the small molecules related to key signaling pathways were molecularly docked and visualized. Under the screening conditions of oral bioavailability ≥ 30% and drug-likeness ≥ 0.18, 22 active ingredients were identified from A&A, and 174 relevant targets were obtained. Additionally, 54 active ingredients were found in the extracted core network. Interleukin (IL)-17 signaling pathway, tumor necrosis factor (TNF) signaling pathway, and Toll-like receptor (TLR) signaling pathway were selected as the main subjects through KEGG enrichment analysis. Core targets (RELA, IKBKB, CHUK, and MMP3) and active ingredients (kaempferol, quercetin, and isorhamnetin) were selected and validated using molecular docking. This study identified multiple molecular targets and pathways for A&A in the treatment of atherosclerosis. A&A has the potential to treat atherosclerosis through an antiinflammatory approach.

Recent advances in natural phthalides: Distribution, chemistry, and biological activities

Phthalides, an important class of bioactive natural products, are widely distributed in plants, fungi, lichens, and liverworts. Amon them, n-butylphthalide, a phthalide monomer, has been approved to cure ischemic stroke. Owing to their good bioactivities in anti-microbial, anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, anti-diabetic, and other aspects, a large number of researches have been conducted on phthalides from nature materials. In recent years, hundreds of novel natural phthalides were obtained. This review provides profiles of the advances in the distribution, chemistry, and biological activities of natural phthalides in 2016-2022.

Inhibition of Oxidative Stress: An Important Molecular Mechanism of Chinese Herbal Medicine (Astragalus membranaceus, Carthamus tinctorius L., Radix Salvia Miltiorrhizae, etc.) in the Treatment of Ischemic Stroke by Regulating the Antioxidant System

Ischemic stroke is a severe cerebrovascular disease with high mortality and morbidity. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has been utilized for thousands of years in China and is becoming increasingly popular all over the world, especially for the treatments of ischemic stroke. More and more evidences have implicated that oxidative stress has been closely related with ischemic stroke. This review will concentrate on the evidence of the action mechanism of Chinese herbal medicine and its active ingredient in preventing ischemic stroke by modulating redox signaling and oxidative stress pathways and providing references for clinical treatment and scientific research applications.

Depicting Precise Temperature and Duration of Vernalization and Inhibiting Early Bolting and Flowering of Angelica sinensis by Freezing Storage

Angelica sinensis is a perennial rhizomatous herb that is widely used for the treatment of cardio-cerebrovascular diseases, which largely rely on metabolites, such as alkylphthalides, polysaccharides, and ferulic acid. This plant must experience low-temperature vernalization and long-day conditions for the occurrence of early bolting and flowering (EBF) that reduces yield and quality of fleshy root. In current commercial planting, the EBF of more than 40% is mainly attributed to the completion of vernalization of seedlings during overwinter storage. While effects of storage temperatures [vernalization temperature (0-10°C) and freezing temperature (-2 to -12°C)] and seedling sizes on the EBF have been observed in previous studies, the precise vernalization temperature and duration for different size seedlings, the effective freezing storage to avoid vernalization of seedlings, and physiological characteristics have not been systematically investigated. Here, the EBF rate, the anatomical structure of shoot apical meristem (SAM), and physiological characteristics of different size seedlings at different storage temperatures (0, 3, 5, -3, and -5°C) and durations (14-125 d) are reported. The vernalization duration of seedlings was predicated from 57 to 85 d with temperatures ranging from 0 to 5°C based on the linearization regression analysis via Matrix Laboratory software. The EBF can be effectively inhibited by freezing storage. The anatomical structure of SAM, levels of primary metabolites (soluble sugar, starch, amino acid, and protein), and endogenous hormones (GA₃, IAA, and ABA), exhibited a dynamical change in the seedlings at different storage temperatures. These findings will provide useful information for predicting the vernalization of seedlings and inhibiting the EBF in large-scale commercial cultivation.

Regulatory Networks of Flowering Genes in Angelica sinensis during Vernalization

Angelica sinensis is a low-temperature and long-day perennial herb that has been widely used for cardio-cerebrovascular diseases in recent years. In commercial cultivation, up to 40% of flowering decreases the officinal yield of roots and accumulation of bioactive compounds. Although the regulatory mechanism of flowering genes during the photoperiod has been revealed, the networks during vernalization have not been mapped. Here, transcriptomics profiles of A. sinensis with uncompleted (T1), completed (T2) and avoided vernalization (T3) were performed using RNA-seq, and genes expression was validated with qRT-PCR. A total of 61,241 isoforms were annotated on KEGG, KOG, Nr and Swiss-Prot databases; 4212 and 5301 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were observed; and 151 and 155 genes involved in flowering were dug out at T2 vs. T1 and T3 vs. T1, respectively. According to functional annotation, 104 co-expressed genes were classified into six categories: FLC expression (22; e.g., VILs, FCA and FLK), sucrose metabolism (12; e.g., TPSs, SUS3 and SPSs), hormone response (18; e.g., GID1B, RAP2s and IAAs), circadian clock (2; i.e., ELF3 and COR27), downstream floral integrators and meristem identity (15; e.g., SOC1, AGL65 and SPLs) and cold response (35; e.g., PYLs, ERFs and CORs). The expression levels of candidate genes were almost consistent with FPKM values and changes in sugar and hormone contents. Based on their functions, four pathways that regulate flowering during vernalization were mapped, including the vernalization pathway, the autonomic pathway, the age pathway and the GA (hormone) pathway. This transcriptomic analysis provides new insights into the gene-regulatory networks of flowering in A. sinensis.

Antimicrobial activity of n-hexane and ethyl acetate extracts from Candida tropicalis and Phyllosticta capitalensis fungal endophytes

Background ad objective: Among the notable achievements of the twentieth century was the discovery and identification of new drugs from plants against microbial infections. However, the discovery of novel drugs since then is inadequate due to emergence of resistant microbes. In an effort to discover novel drugs, the study aimed to investigate the antimicrobial activity of crude extracts from endophytic fungi isolated from Cnidoscolas aconitifolius and Ocimum suave. Methods: Following morphological characterization and initial screening for antimicrobial activity, isolates that had higher inhibition were genotypes by Sanger sequencing. Two isolates (Candida tropicalis from O. suave and Phyllosticta capitalensis from C. aconitifolius) were tested for antimicrobial activity against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. Results: Overall, the range of crude extract concentration was from 152 mg/mL to 1353 mg/mL, and that of a zone of inhibition was from 7 to 21 mm. The lowest minimum inhibition concentration (19>MIC>9.5) was observed in Phyllosticta spp. extract against S. aureus. Conclusions: Findings of the present study have shown that endophytes isolated from medicinal plants can generate secondary metabolites with therapeutic applications. Therefore, further investigations are warranted to decipher the content and structure of bioactive compounds that may be associated with the antimicrobial activity of crude extracts.

Buxue Yimu Pills improve angiogenesis and blood flow in experimental zebrafish and rat models

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Buxue Yimu Pills (BYP) is a well-known traditional Chinese medicine prescription which is clinical used in gynecology and obstetrics, and is documented to exhibit therapeutic potential to defective angiogenesis and impaired blood flow.

AIM OF THE STUDY

This study aimed to investigate the effects and biological mechanisms of BYP in improvement of defective angiogenesis and impaired blood flow which represent major health issues associated with various diseases including postpartum or abortion complications.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In this study, VEGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor II (VRI) was used to establish blood vessel loss model in Tg(fli-1a:EGFP) zebrafish embryos. Blood vessel loss was calculated, and quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) assay was performed to detect gene expression. Mifepristone and misoprostol were applied to construct a medical-induced incomplete abortion rats model. Whole blood viscosity indexes, hemorheology and coagulation function of the rats were investigated. Immunohistochemistry analysis was used for evaluation of the uterine tissues.

RESULTS

BYP treatment significantly promoted angiogenesis as evidenced by the restoration of VRI-induced blood vessel loss in zebrafish embryos. BYP treatment effectively reversed VRI-induced down-regulation of the VEGFRs (Kdr, Kdrl and Flt1). Furthermore, BYP administration significantly suppressed the increase of whole blood viscosity indexes, and remarkably shortened the levels of prothrombin time and activated partial thromboplastin time in the medical-induced incomplete abortion rats, indicating the improvement of hemorheology and coagulation function. Immunohistochemistry analysis suggested that BYP administration increased the expression level of VEGFR2 in uterus tissues of the rats.

CONCLUSION

BYP exhibits therapeutic effects in promoting angiogenesis and blood circulation, and mitigating blood stasis, supporting its clinical application for postpartum or abortion complications.

Transcriptomic Analysis Reveals LncRNAs Associated with Flowering of Angelica sinensis during Vernalization

Angelica sinensis is a “low-temperature and long-day” perennial plant that produces bioactive compounds such as phthalides, organic acids, and polysaccharides for various types of clinical agents, including those with cardio-cerebrovascular, hepatoprotective, and immunomodulatory effects. To date, the regulatory mechanism of flowering under the photoperiod has been revealed, while the regulatory network of flowering genes during vernalization, especially in the role of lncRNAs, has yet to be identified. Here, lncRNAs associated with flowering were identified based on the full-length transcriptomic analysis of A. sinensis at vernalization and freezing temperatures, and the coexpressed mRNAs of lncRNAs were validated by qRT-PCR. We obtained a total of 2327 lncRNAs after assessing the protein-coding potential of coexpressed mRNAs, with 607 lncRNAs aligned against the TAIR database of model plant Arabidopsis, 345 lncRNAs identified, and 272 lncRNAs characterized on the SwissProt database. Based on the biological functions of coexpressed mRNAs, the 272 lncRNAs were divided into six categories: (1) chromatin, DNA/RNA and protein modification; (2) flowering; (3) stress response; (4) metabolism; (5) bio-signaling; and (6) energy and transport. The differential expression levels of representatively coexpressed mRNAs were almost consistent with the flowering of A. sinensis. It can be concluded that the flowering of A. sinensis is positively or negatively regulated by lncRNAs, which provides new insights into the regulation mechanism of the flowering of A. sinensis.

Optimal Formula of Angelica sinensis Ameliorates Memory Deficits in β-amyloid Protein-induced Alzheimer's Disease Rat Model

OBJECTIVE

Angelica (A.) sinensis is used as a traditional medical herb for the treatment of neurodegeneration, aging, and inflammation in Asia. A. sinensis optimal formula (AOF) is the best combination in A. sinensis that has been screened to rescue the cognitive ability in β-amyloid peptide (Aβ_25-35)-treated Alzheimer's disease (AD) rats. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of AOF on the learning and memory of AD rats as well as to explore the underlying mechanisms.

METHODS

Male Wistar rats were infused with Aβ_25-35 for AD model induction or saline (negative control). Five groups of AD rats were fed on AOF at 20, 40, or 80 mL/kg every day, donepezil at 0.9 mg/kg every day (positive control), or an equal volume of water (AD model) intragastrically once a day for 4 weeks, while the negative control rats were fed on water. The Morris water maze test was used to evaluate the cognitive function of the rats. The Aβ accumulation, cholinergic levels, and antioxidative ability were detected by ELISA. Additionally, the candidate mechanism was determined by gene sequencing and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction.

RESULTS

The results showed that AOF administration significantly ameliorated Aβ_25-35-induced memory impairment. AOF decreased the levels of amyloid-β precursor protein and Aβ in the hippocampus, rescued the cholinergic levels, increased the activity of superoxide dismutase, and decreased the malondialdehyde level. In addition, AOF inhibited the expression of IL1b, Mpo, and Prkcg in the hippocampus.

CONCLUSION

These experimental findings illustrate that AOF prevents the decrease in cognitive function and Aβ deposits in Aβ_25-35-treated rats via modulating neuroinflammation and oxidative stress, thus highlighting a potential therapeutic avenue to promote the co-administration of formulas that act on different nodes to maximize beneficial effects and minimize negative side effects.

Identification of Constituents and Exploring the Mechanism for Toutongning Capsule in the Treatment of Migraine

Toutongning capsule (TTNC) is an effective and safe traditional Chinese medicine used in the treatment of migraine. In this present study, a multiscale strategy was used to systematically investigate the mechanism of TTNC in treating migraine, which contained UPLC-UESI-Q Exactive Focus network pharmacology and experimental verification. First, 88 compounds were identified by the UPLC-UESI-Q Exactive Focus method for TTNC. Then, the target fishing for these compounds was performed by means of an efficient drug similarity search tool. Third, a series of network pharmacology experiments were performed to predict the key compounds, targets, and pathways. They were protein-protein interaction (PPI), KEGG pathway enrichment analysis, and herbs-compounds-targets-pathways (H-C-T-P) network construction. As a result, 18 potential key compounds, 20 potential key targets, and 6 potential signaling pathways were obtained for TTNC in treatment with migraine. Finally, molecular docking and experimental were carried out to verify the key targets. In short, the results showed that TTNC is able to treat migraine through multiple components, multiple targets, and multiple pathways. This work may provide a theoretical basis for further research on the molecular mechanism of TTNC in the treatment of migraine.

Network pharmacology-based study on immunomodulatory mechanism of danggui-yimucao herb pair for the treatment of RU486-induced abortion

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

The Danggui-Yimucao herb pair (DY) is a classic combination in Chinese herbal formulas, consisting of the root of Angelica sinensis (Oliv.) Diels and the aerial parts of Leonurus japonicus Houtt. DY first appeared in "Zhulinsi fuke mifang" in the Jin Dynasty, and it has a long history as a drug for the treatment of abortion. However, its underlying immunomodulatory mechanisms involved are still unclear.

AIM OF THE STUDY

In this study, network pharmacology and pharmacological experiments were used to explore the role and mechanism of DY in the treatment of medical abortion.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Network pharmacology was used to establish the relationship between the components of DY and abortion-related targets, and to enrich important pathways and biological process for verification. ELISA was used to assess progesterone levels. Flow cytometry was used to detect the degree of differentiation of Th1/Th2 cells. Immunohistochemical methods and qPCR were used to measure the expression levels of T-bet, GATA-3 and IL-4.

RESULTS

Through the prediction analysis of network pharmacology, we found that key pathway for DY treatment of abortion, such as anemia, pelvic infection, immune disorders, and coagulation disorders, was Th1/Th2 cell differentiation pathway. The pharmacological results revealed that DY greatly corrected the imbalance of Th cell subsets in abortion mice, significantly inhibited the differentiation of Th2 cells, and resulted in an increase in the Th1/Th2 ratio. In addition, the concentration of progesterone in the serum of mice after abortion was significantly reduced. We also found that DY upregulated spleen T-bet and downregulated IL-4 gene expression in mice. Besides, immunohistochemical results showed that DYE could up-regulate T-bet but inhibit GATA-3 expression.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results showed that after RU486-induced abortion, progesterone and Th1/Th2 paradigm were disordered in mice, but DY could make mice recover more quickly, which indicated that DY had great development value in immunoregulation.

Ethnopharmacological Survey of Traditional Chinese Medicine Pharmacy Prescriptions for Dysmenorrhea

Chinese herbal medicines have long been used for the treatment of dysmenorrhea. The treatment experiences of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) pharmacies passed down through generations have contributed to a wealth of prescriptions for dysmenorrhea that have achieved significant therapeutic effects in countless Taiwanese women. Therefore, surveying and analyzing these prescriptions may enable us to elucidate the core medication combinations used in TCM prescriptions for dysmenorrhea. In the present study, a field investigation was conducted on various TCM pharmacies in Taiwan. A total of 96 TCM pharmacies were sampled, and 99 prescriptions for dysmenorrhea containing 77 different medicinal materials were collected. Compositae (8%) was the most common botanical source of the medicinal materials, and the predominant TCM property and flavor of the materials were warm (45%) and sweet (73%), respectively. The blood-activating and stasis-dispelling effect (23%) and the qi-tonifying effect (23%) were the most prevalent traditional effects, and the modern pharmacological effects most commonly found in the materials were anti-inflammatory (73%), antitumor (59%), and analgesic (12%) effects. Network analysis of the 77 medicinal materials used in the prescriptions, which was performed using the Traditional Chinese Medicine Inheritance Support System, yielded seven core medicinal materials and the corresponding network diagram. The seven core medicinal materials ranked in order of relative frequency of citation (RFC) were Angelica sinensis (Oliv.) Diels (Dang Gui), Ligusticum chuanxiong Hort (Chuan Qiong), Rehmannia glutinosa Libosch (Di Huang), Paeonia lactiflora Pall (Bai Shao), Hedysarum polybotrys Hand.-Mazz (Hong Qi), Lycium chinense Mill (Gou Qi Zi), and Cinnamomum cassia (L.). J. Presl (Gui Zhi). A total of 58 combinations, each consisting of two to five of the seven medicinal materials and 107 association rules among the materials, were identified. This study provides a record of valuable knowledge on TCM pharmacy prescriptions for dysmenorrhea. The rich medicinal knowledge of TCM pharmacies in Taiwan is worthy of further exploration, and the results of this study can serve as a basis for future pharmacological research and the development of naturally derived medications for dysmenorrhea.

Cool Temperature Enhances Growth, Ferulic Acid and Flavonoid Biosynthesis While Inhibiting Polysaccharide Biosynthesis in Angelica sinensis

Angelica sinensis, a perennial herb that produces ferulic acid and phthalides for the treatment of cardio-cerebrovascular diseases, prefers growing at an altitude of 1800-3000 m. Geographical models have predicted that high altitude, cool temperature and sunshade play determining roles in geo-authentic formation. Although the roles of altitude and light in yield and quality have been investigated, the role of temperature in regulating growth, metabolites biosynthesis and gene expression is still unclear. In this study, growth characteristics, metabolites contents and related genes expression were investigated by exposing A. sinensis to cooler (15 °C) and normal temperatures (22 °C). The results showed that plant biomass, the contents of ferulic acid and flavonoids and the expression levels of genes related to the biosynthesis of ferulic acid (PAL1, 4CLL4, 4CLL9, C3H, HCT, CCOAMT and CCR) and flavonoids (CHS and CHI) were enhanced at 15 °C compared to 22 °C. The contents of ligustilide and volatile oils exhibited slight increases, while polysaccharide contents decreased in response to cooler temperature. Based on gene expression levels, ferulic acid biosynthesis probably depends on the CCOAMT pathway and not the COMT pathway. It can be concluded that cool temperature enhances plant growth, ferulic acid and flavonoid accumulation but inhibits polysaccharide biosynthesis in A. sinensis. These findings authenticate that cool temperature plays a determining role in the formation of geo-authentic and also provide a strong foundation for regulating metabolites production of A. sinensis.

Integrated Metabolomic and Transcriptomic Analysis Reveals Differential Mechanism of Flavonoid Biosynthesis in Two Cultivars of Angelica sinensis

Angelica sinensis is a traditional Chinese medicinal plant that has been primarily used as a blood tonic. It largely relies on its bioactive metabolites, which include ferulic acid, volatile oils, polysaccharides and flavonoids. In order to improve the yield and quality of A. sinensis, the two cultivars Mingui 1 (M1), with a purple stem, and Mingui 2 (M2), with a green stem, have been selected in the field. Although a higher root yield and ferulic acid content in M1 than M2 has been observed, the differences of flavonoid biosynthesis and stem-color formation are still limited. In this study, the contents of flavonoids and anthocyanins were determined by spectrophotometer, the differences of flavonoids and transcripts in M1 and M2 were conducted by metabolomic and transcriptomic analysis, and the expression level of candidate genes was validated by qRT-PCR. The results showed that the contents of flavonoids and anthocyanins were 1.5- and 2.6-fold greater in M1 than M2, respectively. A total of 26 differentially accumulated flavonoids (DAFs) with 19 up-regulated (UR) and seven down-regulated (DR) were obtained from the 131 identified flavonoids (e.g., flavonols, flavonoid, isoflavones, and anthocyanins) in M1 vs. M2. A total 2210 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were obtained from the 34,528 full-length isoforms in M1 vs. M2, and 29 DEGs with 24 UR and 5 DR were identified to be involved in flavonoid biosynthesis, with 25 genes (e.g., CHS1, CHI3, F3H, DFR, ANS, CYPs and UGTs) mapped on the flavonoid biosynthetic pathway and four genes (e.g., RL1, RL6, MYB90 and MYB114) belonging to transcription factors. The differential accumulation level of flavonoids is coherent with the expression level of candidate genes. Finally, the network of DAFs regulated by DEGs was proposed. These findings will provide references for flavonoid production and cultivars selection of A. sinensis.

Yishen Capsule Alleviated Symptoms of Diabetic Nephropathy via NOD-like Receptor Signaling Pathway

PURPOSE

To explore the mechanism of Yishen capsule against diabetic nephropathy (DN) based on the analysis of transcriptomics.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

SD rats (Male, SPF grade) were randomly divided into four groups, the normal group, the DN group, the Yishen capsule group and the resveratrol group. Urine and renal tissue samples were collected after feeding with physiological saline and above drugs for 8 weeks. 24-hour urine microalbumin protein was detected by ELISA. HE staining and PAS staining were performed on renal tissues. Differential gene expression in renal tissues was analyzed by transcriptome sequencing. The differentially expressed genes were analyzed by GO enrichment and KEGG enrichment, and verified by RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry staining.

RESULTS

The level of 24-hour urinary microalbumin in DN group was increased, while Yishen capsule treatment reversed the increasement of urinary microalbumin. Mesangial cell proliferation, matrix accumulation, edema and vacuolar degeneration of renal tubular epithelial cells and glycogen accumulation were observed in DN group. However, pathological phenotypes mentioned above were alleviated after Yisen capsule administration. This result indicates that Yishen capsule reversed pathological phenotypes of DN in rats. The expression of 261 genes were changed in Yishen capsule group compared with DN group. GO enrichment analysis and KEGG pathway analysis showed that these genes were implicated in pathways, including mineral absorption, adipocytokine signaling pathway, fatty acid biosynthesis, thyroid hormone synthesis, renin-angiotensin system, and NOD-like receptor signaling pathway. Based on previous reported study, the expression of key factors in NOD-like receptor signaling pathway was verified. RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry staining showed that the expression of NLRP3, Caspase-1 and IL-1β in renal tissues of DN group were increased (P < 0.05), which were decreased in Yishen capsule group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Yishen capsule reduced microalbuminuria and alleviated pathological changes in DN rats, which may be achieved by regulating NOD-like receptor signaling pathway.

Bolting reduces ferulic acid and flavonoid biosynthesis and induces root lignification in Angelica sinensis

Angelica sinensis is a perennial herbaceous species that produces the bioactive metabolites ferulic acid and alkylphthalides widely applied in the treatment of cardio-cerebrovascular diseases. While the effects of bolting on plant biomass and metabolites accumulation have been partly investigated, the mechanism of bolting reducing metabolites biosynthesis is still limited. In this study, the root biomass, accumulations of ferulic acid, flavonoids and lignin, antioxidant capacity, and related genes expression at four different bolting stages were investigated. The results showed that there was a 2.2-, 2.4- and 2.9-fold decrease of the root biomass, ferulic acid and flavonoids contents, while a 2.9-fold increase of lignin content on a per plant basis during the bolting stages. The antioxidant capacity also exhibited significant decrease with growth and development. The differential expression levels of the 20 genes, which are involved in biosynthesis of ferulic acid (e.g. AsPAL1, As4CLs and AsHCT), flavonoids (e.g. AsCHS, AsCHI and AsI3'H) and lignin (e.g. AsCAD1 and AsLACs), were consistent with changes in the above metabolites accumulation. The findings will provide useful references for improving the production of bioactive metabolites in A. sinensis.

Exploring the mechanism of Buxue Yimu Pill on hemorrhagic anemia through molecular docking, network pharmacology and experimental validation

Buxue Yimu Pill (BYP) is a classic gynecological medicine in China, which is composed of Angelica sinensis (Oliv.) Diels, Leonurus japonicus Houtt, Astragalus membranaceus (Fisch.) Bunge, Colla corii asini and Citrus reticulata Blanco. It has been widely used in clinical therapy with the function of enriching Blood, nourishing Qi, and removing blood stasis. The current study was designed to determine the bioactive molecules and therapeutic mechanism of BYP against hemorrhagic anemia. Herein, GC-MS and UPLC/Q-TOF-MS/MS were employed to identify the chemical compounds from BYP. The genecards database (https: //www.genecards.org/) was used to obtain the potential target proteins related to hemorrhagic anemia. Autodock/Vina was adopted to evaluate the binding ability of protein receptors and chemical ligands. Gene ontology and KEGG pathway enrichment analysis were conducted using the ClusterProfiler. As a result, a total of 62 candidate molecules were identified and 152 targets related to hemorrhagic anemia were obtained. Furthermore, 34 active molecules and 140 targets were obtained through the virtual screening experiment. The data of molecular-target (M-T), target-pathway (T-P), and molecular-target-pathway (M-T-P) network suggested that 32 active molecules enhanced hematopoiesis and activated the immune system by regulating 57 important targets. Pharmacological experiments showed that BYP significantly increased the counts of RBC, HGB, and HCT, and significantly down-regulated the expression of EPO, IL-6, CSF3, NOS2, VEGFA, PDGFRB, and TGFB1. The results also showed that leonurine, leonuriside B, leosibiricin, ononin, rutin, astragaloside I, riligustilide and levistolide A, were the active molecules closely related to enriching Blood. In conclusion, based on molecular docking, network pharmacology and validation experiment results, the enriching blood effect of BYP on hemorrhagic anemia may be associated with hematopoiesis, anti-inflammation, and immunity enhancement.

Physiological and Biochemical Responses, and Comparative Transcriptome Profiling of Two Angelica sinensis Cultivars Under Enhanced Ultraviolet-B Radiation

In this study, we explored the adaptive mechanism of two varieties of Angelica sinensis exposed to enhanced Ultraviolet-B (UV-B) radiation. The radiation had different effects on the biomass, photosynthetic performance, oxidative damage, antioxidant defense system, and levels of bioactive compounds of Mingui 1 (C1) and Mingui 2 (C2). C2 outperformed C1 under enhanced UV-B radiation, compared to natural light. Using the Illumina RNA-seq, we obtained 6,326 and 2,583 DEGs in C1 and C2, respectively. Under enhanced UV-B radiation, the mRNA levels of genes involved in photosynthesis, antennae protein synthesis, carbon fixation, chlorophyll synthesis, and carotenoid synthesis were decreased in C1 but stable in C2, involving few DEGs. TFs were widely involved in the response of C1 to enhanced UV-B radiation; almost all bHLH and MYB coding genes were downregulated whereas almost all genes encoded WRKY22, WRKY50, WRKY72, NCF, and HSF were upregulated. These results indicate that enhanced UV-B radiation was not conducive to the synthesis of flavonoids, while disease resistance was enhanced. Regarding the ROS scavenging system, upregulated DEGs were mainly found in the AsA-GSH cycle and PrxR/Trx pathways. Remarkably, DEGs that those encoding biosynthetic key enzymes, including ferulic acid (CHS, CHI, DFR, and ANS) and flavonoid (CHS, CHI, DFR, and ANS), most upregulation in C2, leading to increased accumulation of ferulic acid and flavonoids and adversely affecting C1. Genes encoding key enzymes involved in the synthesis of lactone components (ACX, PXG) were mostly up-regulated in C1, increasing the content of lactone components. Our results reveal the DEGs present between C1 and C2 under enhanced UV-B radiation and are consistent with the observed differences in physiological and biochemical indexes. C1 was more sensitive to enhanced UV-B radiation, and C2 was more tolerant to it under moderate enhanced UV-B radiation stress. In addition, the large amount of A. sinensis transcriptome data generated here will serve as a source for finding effective ways to mitigate UV-B enhancement, and also contribute to the well-established lack of genetic information for non-model plant species.

Effects of Two Polysaccharides From Traditional Chinese Medicines on Rat Immune Function

The aim is to study the immune function effect of two polysaccharides extracted from traditional Chinese herbs on rats. Ultrasonic-assisted extraction was used to extract the polysaccharide from traditional Chinese medicines. MTT assay was used to determine the effects of two polysaccharides on the conversion of pig peripheral T lymphocytes. For this, 24 Sprague-Dawley rats were selected for the clinical trial and divided into groups B (blank), CK (cyclophosphamide inhibitory control), AP (angelica polysaccharide), and RIP (radix isatidis polysaccharide). Except for group B, other groups can induce the immunodeficiency by using cyclophosphamide. Rats of the AP and RIP groups were given gavage of 1 mL of AP and RIP. The blood was sampled from the eyeball on days 0, 7, 14, 21, 28, and 35, respectively, to determine immune cells, IgG and IgM of immunoglobulin, body weight, and spleen index. Results: The average content of AP and RIP was 51.27 and 14.8%, and the extraction rate was 75.23 and 60.94%. The maximum stimulation index was 1.407 when the concentration of AP was 8,000 μg mL^-1 and 1.5 when the concentration of RIP was 125 μg mL^-1. Both kinds of polysaccharides can alleviate the decline of white blood cells, lymphocytes, monocytes, neutrophils, and serum IgG and IgM caused by cyclophosphamide. The two polysaccharides can regulate the rapid recovery of weight in immunosuppressed rats and increase the spleen index of immunosuppressed SD rats. The polysaccharides from the two traditional Chinese medicines can alleviate the immunosuppression caused by cyclophosphamide and promote the immune function of the body, which can be used as raw material resources of new veterinary medicine.

Danggui-Yimucao Herb Pair Can Protect Mice From the Immune Imbalance Caused by Medical Abortion and Stabilize the Level of Serum Metabolites

Unintended pregnancy is a situation that every woman may encounter, and medical abortion is the first choice for women, but abortion often brings many sequelae. Angelica sinensis Radix (Danggui) and Leonuri Herba (Yimucao) are widely used in the treatment of gynecological diseases, which can regulate menstrual disorders, amenorrhea, dysmenorrhea, and promote blood circulation and remove blood stasis, but the mechanism for the treatment of abortion is not clear. We determined the ability of Danggui and Yimucao herb pair (DY) to regulate the Th1/Th2 paradigm by detecting the level of progesterone in the serum and the expression of T-bet and GATA-3 in the spleen and uterus. Then, we detected the level of metabolites in the serum and enriched multiple metabolic pathways. The arachidonic acid pathway can directly regulate the differentiation of Th1/Th2 cells. This may be one of the potential mechanisms of DY in the treatment of abortion.

Development of natural products for anti-PD-1/PD-L1 immunotherapy against cancer

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

The programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1)/programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) immune checkpoint is one of the most promising therapeutic targets for cancer immunotherapy, but several challenges remain in current anti-PD-1/PD-L1 therapy. Natural products, mainly derived from traditional medicine, could improve and expand anti-PD-1/PD-L1 therapy because of their advantages such as large diversity and multi-target effects.

AIM OF THE STUDY

This review summarize natural products, raw extracts, and traditional medicines with pharmacological effects associated with the PD-1/PD-L1 axis, particularly PD-L1.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Electronic literature databases, including Web of Science, PubMed, and ScienceDirect, and online drugs and chemicals databases, including DrugBank, ZINC, PubChem, STITCH, and CTD, were searched without date limitation by February 2021. 'Natural product or herb or herbal plant or traditional medicine' and 'PD-L1' and 'Cancer immunotherapy' were used as the search keywords. Among 112 articles identified in database searching, 54 articles are full text articles, reporting in silico, in vitro, in vivo and clinical trials. 68 articles included are review articles and grey literature such as thesis and congress abstracts.

RESULTS

Several natural products and traditional medicines have exhibited diverse and multi-functional effects including direct blockade of PD-1/PD-L1 interactions, modulation of PD-L1 expression, and cooperation with PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors.

CONCLUSION

Natural products and traditional medicines can facilitate the development of more effective and acceptable diverse strategies for anti-PD-1/PD-L1 therapy, but further exploration of natural products and pharmaceutical techniques is required.

Metabolomics study of Angelica sinensis (Oliv.) Diels on the abnormal uterine bleeding rats by ultra-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole-time-of-flight mass spectrometry analysis

The objective of this study was to explore the effects and underlying intervention mechanisms of Angelica water extract (AWE) on abnormal uterine bleeding (AUB) based on serum metabolomics. Firstly, the concentration of main active substances in AWE was determined and the chemical components were identified by UPLC-Q-Exactive Orbitrap-MS/MS. A drug-induced abortion model was established by mifepristone and misoprostol. After administration AWE (2.16 g/kg) for 7 days, the coagulation function, serum hormone levels, H&E staining, and immunohistochemistry observation of uterus were detected. In addition, serum metabolites profiles were performed on ultra-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole-time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-TOF-MS). The contents of ferulic acid, senkyunolide A, and ligustilide in AWE were 0.7276, 0.0868, and 1.9908 mg/g, respectively. Twenty-six compounds were identified in AWE. It was found that AWE was effective in regulation of coagulation function and promoting endometrial recovery. Meanwhile, the levels of E2, Pg, and HCG and the expression of ERα, Erβ, and PR were down-regulated in AUB model and up-regulated by the treatment of AWE. Twenty-one potential biomarkers were eventually identified by multivariate statistical analysis. Study indicated that glycerophospholipid, sphingolipid, amino acids, retinol metabolism and primary bile acid biosynthesis were the main related metabolic pathways involved for the treatment of AUB by AWE. The results showed that AWE has potential therapeutic effect on AUB by altering the metabolic aberrations.

A capillary electrophoresis method for the determination of soluble monosaccharides in Ginkgo biloba leaves

A method for the simultaneous determination of six monosaccharides by pre-column derivatization with 1-phenyl-3-methyl-5-pyrazolone and capillary electrophoresis was developed in this work. The derivatization (i.e., reaction temperature, capillary electrophoresis duration, and extraction number) and separation (i.e., pH and buffer concentration) conditions for capillary electrophoresis were optimized. Results showed that the limits of detection under optimal conditions were in the range of 0.036-0.35 mg/L with a mean correlation coefficient >0.99. The recoveries were in the range of 87.3-108.49%, and the relative standard deviations of intra- and inter-day variations were in the ranges of 2.2-3.8 and 3.2-5.0%, respectively. The method was successfully applied to the analysis of six free monosaccharides in three types of Ginkgo biloba leaves.

Tumorigenic risk of Angelica sinensis on ER-positive breast cancer growth through ER-induced stemness in vitro and in vivo

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

The root of Angelica sinensis is widely used in traditional Chinese Medicine for relieving gynecological discomforts among the women population. However, its hormone-like effects have raised great attention on whether it is appropriate to use in breast cancer (BC) patients. Hence, this study aimed to investigate the tumorigenic effect of aqueous root extract of Angelica sinensis (AS) on estrogen receptor (ER)-positive BC growth through ER-induced stemness in-vitro and in-vivo.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The chemical composition of the AS was characterized by HPLC. Cell viability was detected by MTS assay. The in-vivo effect of AS was investigated by xenograft model, immunohistochemistry, histology, Western blot, and self-renewal ability assay. Target verification was used by shRNA construction and transfection. Mammosphere formation assay was performed by flow cytometry.

RESULTS

AS significantly promoted the proliferation of MCF-7 cells and inhibited the growth of MDA-MB-231 cells. AS significantly induced tumor growth (2.5 mg/kg) in xenograft models and however tamoxifen treatment significantly suppressed the AS-induced tumor growth. AS induced ERα expression in both in-vivo and in-vitro and promoted cancer stem cell activity in ER-positive BC.

CONCLUSION

AS shows the tumorigenic potential on ER-positive BC growth through ERα induced stemness, suggesting that the usage of AS is not recommended for BC in terms of safety measures.

Network Pharmacology-Based Strategy to Investigate Pharmacological Mechanisms of the Drug Pair Astragalus-Angelica for Treatment of Male Infertility

Background

The traditional Chinese medicines Astragalus and Angelica are often combined to treat male infertility, but the specific therapeutic mechanism is not clear. Therefore, this study applies a network pharmacology approach to investigate the possible mechanism of action of the drug pair Astragalus-Angelica (PAA) in the treatment of male infertility.

Methods

Relevant targets for PAA treatment of male infertility are obtained through databases. Protein-protein interactions (PPIs) are constructed through STRING database and screen core targets, and an enrichment analysis is conducted through the Metascape platform. Finally, molecular docking experiments were carried out to evaluate the affinity between the target protein and the ligand of PAA.

Results

The active ingredients of 112 PAA, 980 corresponding targets, and 374 effective targets of PAA for the treatment of male infertility were obtained, which are related to PI3K-Akt signaling pathway, HIF-1 signaling pathway, AGE-RAGE signaling pathway, IL-17 signaling pathway, and thyroid hormone signaling pathway.

Conclusion

In this study, using a network pharmacology method, we preliminarily analyzed the effective components and action targets of the PAA. We also explored the possible mechanism of action of PAA in treating male infertility. They also lay a foundation for expanding the clinical application of PAA and provide new ideas and directions for further research on the mechanisms of action of the PAA and its components for male infertility treatment.

Angelica sinensis Polysaccharide Alleviates Myocardial Fibrosis and Oxidative Stress in the Heart of Hypertensive Rats

This research is aimed at studying the effect of Angelica sinensis polysaccharide (ASP) extracted from the Lixinshui prescription on cardiac disease induced by hypertension in rats. Rat models of cardiovascular disease were established, and the associated factors were measured. The data showed that ASP treatment increased the ejection fraction and short axis shortening rate, while decreasing the LV end-diastolic diameter, LV end-systolic diameter, LV end-diastolic volume, and LV end-systolic volume in HHD rats. ASP downregulated the expression level of TGF-β1, alpha-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), collagen I, fibronectin, vimentin, Bax, cleaved caspase-9, and cleaved caspase-3 and upregulated the expression level of Bcl-2 in LV of HHD rats. Meanwhile, ASP increased the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and decreased the level of malondialdehyde (MDA), tissue endogenous hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), and reactive oxygen species (ROS). Our findings indicated that ASP could prevent hypertensive heart disease by inhibiting myocardial fibrosis, suppressing the myocardial apoptosis, and alleviating oxidative stress.

Transcriptional Controls for Early Bolting and Flowering in Angelica sinensis

The root of the perennial herb Angelica sinensis is a widely used source for traditional Chinese medicines. While the plant thrives in cool-moist regions of western China, early bolting and flowering (EBF) for young plants significantly reduces root quality and yield. Approaches to inhibit EBF by changes in physiology during the vernalization process have been investigated; however, the mechanism for activating EBF is still limited. Here, transcript profiles for bolted and unbolted plants (BP and UBP, respectively) were compared by transcriptomic analysis, expression levels of candidate genes were validated by qRT-PCR, and the accumulations of gibberellins (GA₁, GA₄, GA₈, GA₉ and GA₂₀) were also monitored by HPLC-MS/MS. A total of over 72,000 unigenes were detected with ca. 2600 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) observed in the BP compared with UBP. While various signaling pathways participate in flower induction, it is genes associated with floral development and the sucrose pathway that are observed to be coordinated in EBF plants, coherently up- and down-regulating flowering genes that activate and inhibit flowering, respectively. The signature transcripts pattern for the developmental pathways that drive flowering provides insight into the molecular signals that activate plant EBF.

Untargeted metabolomics coupled with chemometric analysis deducing robust markers for discrimination of processing procedures: Wine-processed Angelica sinensis as a case study

Wine-processed Angelica Sinensis is a widely used Chinese medicinal decoction piece in China. However, there are hardly any robust markers indicating the processing procedure of wine-processed Angelica Sinensis, including the amount of rice wine and processing degree. A strategy integrating untargeted metabolomics and chemometric analysis for deducing robust markers was provided and applied to the discrimination of processing procedure. First, 86 compounds were tentatively identified in wine-processed Angelica Sinensis by ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole-time of flight mass spectrometry. Second, 93 potential chemical markers were selected using multivariate analysis, among which nine robust chemical markers were selected by verification with commercial samples. Finally, the effects of processing temperature, time, and amount of rice wine on the three selected chemical markers were investigated through a rapid analytical method. It was demonstrated that both m/z 258.1097 and 238.1189 were positively correlated with the amount of rice wine and processing degree. In summary, this study introduced two candidate processing markers as robust markers for discriminating the processing procedures of wine-processed Angelica sinensis. It also proposed a strategy to provide the reference for the research of other decoction pieces.

A Review of the Health Protective Effects of Phenolic Acids against a Range of Severe Pathologic Conditions (Including Coronavirus-Based Infections)

Phenolic acids comprise a class of phytochemical compounds that can be extracted from various plant sources and are well known for their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. A few of the most common naturally occurring phenolic acids (i.e., caffeic, carnosic, ferulic, gallic, p-coumaric, rosmarinic, vanillic) have been identified as ingredients of edible botanicals (thyme, oregano, rosemary, sage, mint, etc.). Over the last decade, clinical research has focused on a number of in vitro (in human cells) and in vivo (animal) studies aimed at exploring the health protective effects of phenolic acids against the most severe human diseases. In this review paper, the authors first report on the main structural features of phenolic acids, their most important natural sources and their extraction techniques. Subsequently, the main target of this analysis is to provide an overview of the most recent clinical studies on phenolic acids that investigate their health effects against a range of severe pathologic conditions (e.g., cancer, cardiovascular diseases, hepatotoxicity, neurotoxicity, and viral infections—including coronaviruses-based ones).

Overview of therapeutic potentiality of Angelica sinensis for ischemic stroke

BACKGROUND

Ischemic stroke is a common cerebrovascular disease. Due to sudden interruption of blood flow by arterial thrombus, amounts of neurons in ischemic central and penumbral regions occur necrosis and apoptosis resulting in serious injury of neurological function. Chinese medicines have a great advantage in ischemic stroke treatment and recovery, especially Angelica sinensis.

PURPOSE

There are a large number of studies reported that Angelica injection and A. sinensis active compounds. We systematically reviewed the effects and mechanisms of A. sinensis in recent years according to the guidelines of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) statements, and excavated its therapeutic potentiality for exploring more effective and safe compounds for ischemic stroke precision treatment.

RESULTS

A. sinensis extracts and active compounds, such as Z-ligustilide, 3-n-Butylphthalide, and ferulic acid have significant effects of anti-inflammation, anti-oxidative stress, angiogenesis, neurogenesis, anti-platelet aggregation, anti-atherosclerosis, protection of vessels, which contributes to improvement of neurological function on ischemic stroke.

CONCLUSION

A. sinensis is a key agent for ischemic stroke treatment, and worth deeply excavating its therapeutic potentiality with the aid of pharmacological network, computer-aided drug design, artificial intelligence, big data and multi-scale modelling techniques.

The Effect of Angelica sinensis Polysaccharide on Neuronal Apoptosis in Cerebral Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury via PI3K/AKT Pathway

In the present study, the protective effects and mechanism of Angelica sinensis polysaccharide (ASP) were investigated in rats with cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury (CIRI). Rats were randomly divided into sham group, CIRI group, ASP treatment group, and ASP and LY294002 treatment group. H&E results confirmed the successful induction of CIRI in Sprague-Dawley rats. Compared with the sham group, the neurological function score, percentage of myocardial infarction area, neuronal apoptosis, oxidative stress, and inflammation in the CIRI group were significantly increased. Compared with the CIRI group, the ASP group’s neurological function score, percentage of myocardial infarction area, neuronal apoptosis, oxidative stress, and inflammation were significantly reduced. However, compared with the ASP group, LY294002 inhibited the effect of ASP in CIRI rats. CIRI downregulated the PI3K/AKT pathway and upregulated the apoptosis level. And ASP activated the PI3K/AKT pathway and Bcl-2 protein expression, while it inhibited caspase-3 and Bax expression. LY294002 could significantly inhibit the protective effect of ASP on nerve injury and the expression and phosphorylation of PI3K and Akt protein in CIRI rats. ASP could effectively improve nerve function and nerve cell apoptosis of CIRI rats by activating the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway.

Angelica polysaccharide attenuates LPS-induced inflammation response of primary dairy cow claw dermal cells via NF-κB and MAPK signaling pathways

Background

Laminitis, an inflammation of the claw laminae, is one of the major causes of bovine lameness, which can lead to enormous economic losses and animal welfare problems in dairy farms. Angelica polysaccharide (AP) is proved to possess anti-inflammatory properties. But the role of AP on inflammatory response of the claw dermal cells has not been reported. The aim of this study was to investigate the anti-inflammatory effects of AP on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced primary claw dermal cells of dairy cow and clarify the potential mechanisms. In the current research, the primary claw dermal cells were exposed to gradient concentrations of AP (10, 50, 100 µg/mL) in the presence of 10 µg/mL LPS. The levels of cytokines and nitric oxide (NO) were detected with ELISA and Griess colorimetric method. The mRNA expressions of TLR4, MyD88 and chemokines were measured with qPCR. The activation of NF-κB and MAPK signaling pathways was detected with western blotting.

Results

The results indicated that AP reduced the production of inflammatory mediators (TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6 and NO), downregulated the mRNA expression of TLR4, MyD88 and some pro-inflammatory chemokines (CCL2, CCL20, CXCL2, CXCL8, CXCL10), and suppressed the NF-κB and MAPK signaling pathways evidenced by inhibition of the phosphorylation of IκBα, p65 and ERK, JNK, p38.

Conclusions

Our results demonstrated that AP may exert its anti-inflammatory effects on claw dermal cells of dairy cow by regulating the NF-κB and MAPK signaling pathways.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12917-021-02952-4.

Nanocarriers in the Enhancement of Therapeutic Efficacy of Natural Drugs

Abstract Since time immemorial, plant derived natural products have been used for the treatment of various human diseases before the intervention of modern medicine. The basis of modern medicine is still being inspired from traditional medicine and therapies. However, despite their tremendous therapeutic potential, these natural drugs often have poor bioavailability, metabolic instability, and aqueous insolubility. These factors greatly impede a natural drug’s commercialization potential as a mainstream medicine. Therefore, the development of nanocarrier drug delivery systems is indispensable in overcoming the various constraints of the bottlenecks which occur with natural drugs. Of particular interest in this review are four plant materials endogenous to China with the common names of barrenwort or horny goat weed (Epimedium), Shu Di Huang (Rehmannia glutinosa, RG), ginseng (Panax ginseng), and Dong Quai or female ginseng (Angelica sinensis, AS), each having been scientifically investigated for a wide range of therapeutic uses as has been originally discovered from the long history of traditional usage and anecdotal information by local population groups in Asia. The integration of natural drugs from the East and nanocarrier drug delivery systems developed from the West is paving the way towards further accurate and efficient medicine therapy. We further discuss the potential benefits of these plants and the enhancement of their therapeutic efficacy by nanotechnology intervention.

Integrated transcriptomics and metabolites at different growth stages reveals the regulation mechanism of bolting and flowering of Angelica sinensis

The root of Angelica sinensis is one of the most widely used traditional Chinese medicines. In commercial planting, early bolting and flowering (EBF) of ca. 40% of 2-year-old plants reduces root yield and quality. Although changes in physiology in bolted plants have been investigated, the mechanism activating EBF has not been identified. Here, transcriptomics profiles at four different growth stages (S1 to S4) were performed, gene expression was validated by qRT-PCR and the accumulation of endogenous hormones quantified by HPLC. A total of 60,282 unigenes were generated, with 2,282, 1,359 and 2,246 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) observed at S2 versus S1, S3 versus S2 and S4 versus S3, respectively; 558 genes that co-exist in at least three stages from S1 to S4 were obtained. Functional annotation classified 38 DEGs linked to flowering pathways: photoperiodism, hormone signalling, carbohydrate metabolism and floral development. The levels of gene expression, hormones (GA₁ , GA₄ and IAA) and soluble sugars were consistent with the EBF. It can be concluded that the EBF of A. sinensis is controlled by multiple genes. This integrated analysis of transcriptomics, together with targeted hormones and soluble sugars, provides new insights into the regulation of EBF of A. sinensis.

Insights into the mechanism of the effects of rhizosphere microorganisms on the quality of authentic Angelica sinensis under different soil microenvironments

BACKGROUND

Angelica sinensis (Oliv.) Diels (A. sinensis) is a Chinese herb grown in different geographical locations. It contains numerous active components with therapeutic value. Rhizosphere microbiomes affect various aspects of plant performance, such as nutrient acquisition, growth and development and plant diseases resistance. So far, few studies have investigated how the microbiome effects level of active components of A. sinensis. This study investigated whether changes in rhizosphere microbial communities and metabolites of A. sinensis vary with the soil microenvironment. Soils from the two main A. sinensis-producing areas, Gansu and Yunnan Province, were used to conduct pot experiments. The soil samples were divided into two parts, one part was sterilized and the other was unsterilized planting with the seedling variety of Gansu danggui 90-01. All seedlings were allowed to grow for 180 days. At the end of the experiment, radix A. sinensis were collected and used to characterize growth targets and chemical compositions. Rhizosphere soils were subjected to microbial analyses.

RESULTS

Changes in metabolic profiles and rhizosphere microbial communities of A. sinensis grown under different soil microenvironments were similar. The GN (Gansu non-sterilized), YN (Yunnan non-sterilized), GS (Gansu sterilized), and YS (Yunnan sterilized) groups were significantly separated. Notably, antagonistic bacteria such as Sphingomonas, Pseudomonas, Lysobacter, Pseudoxanthomonas, etc. were significantly (p < 0.05) enriched in Gansu soil compared with Yunnan soil. Moreover, senkyunolide I and ligustilide dimers which were enriched in GS group were strongly positively correlated with Pseudomonas parafulva; organic acids (including chlorogenic acid, dicaffeoylquinic acid and 5-feruloylquinic acid) and their ester coniferyl ferulate which were enriched in YS Group were positively associated with Gemmatimonadetes bacterium WY71 and Mucilaginibater sp., respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

The soil microenvironment influences growth and level/type of active components in A. sinensis. Further studies should explore the functional features of quality-related bacteria, identify the key response genes and clarify the interactions between genes and soil environments. This will reveal the mechanisms that determine the quality formation of genuine A. sinensis.

Full-length transcriptome analysis provides new insights into the early bolting occurrence in medicinal Angelica sinensis

Angelica sinensis (Oliv.) Diels root part is an integral component of traditional Chinese medicine, widely prescribed to improve blood circulation and blood stasis. However, early bolting of A. sinensis compromises the quality of the roots and hence is a major limitation for yield of medicinal materials. To date, little information about the molecular mechanisms underlying bolting is available for this important medicinal plant. To identify genes putatively involved in early bolting, we have conducted the transcriptome analysis of the shoot tips of the early-bolting plants and non-bolting (normal) plants of A. sinensis, respectively, using a combination of third-generation sequencing and next-generation sequencing. A total of 43,438 non-redundant transcripts were collected and 475 unique differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified. Gene annotation and functional analyses revealed that DEGs were highly involved in plant hormone signaling and biosynthesis pathways, three main flowering pathways, pollen formation, and very-long-chain fatty acids biosynthesis pathways. The levels of endogenous hormones were also changed significantly in the early bolting stage of A. sinensis. This study provided new insights into the transcriptomic control of early bolting in A. sinensis, which could be further applied to enhance the yield of medicinally important raw materials.

A study of the freeze-drying process and quality evaluation of Angelica sinensis

The freeze-drying process of Angelica sinensis (Oliv.) Diels was studied and evaluated. Using a single factor investigation, drying temperature and pressure were determined as the main factors affecting the drying process. The central composite design (CCD) combined with response surface method was employed to optimize the drying process. Optimal conditions were determined to be 52 Pa, 63 °C, and a slice thickness of 5 mm. Subsequently, samples were compared in terms of chemical constituents, microstructure, and in vitro absorption profiles under different drying operations. The freeze-drying process was effective for the preservation of ferulic acid (1.82 mg/g), Z-ligustilide (13.91 mg/g), and other compositions. The porous and loose characteristic structure enabled rapid release of ferulic acid (71%, 60 min) and Z-ligustilide (32%, 60 min). Therefore, the freeze-drying method is a reasonable and efficient drying method for the dehydration of A. sinensis.

Extraction, structure, pharmacological activities and drug carrier applications of Angelica sinensis polysaccharide

Angelica sinensis polysaccharide (ASP) is one of the main active components of Angelica sinensis (AS) that is widely used in traditional Chinese medicine. ASP is water-soluble polysaccharides, and it is mainly composed of glucose (Glc), galactose (Gal), arabinose (Ara), rhamnose (Rha), fucose (Fuc), xylose (Xyl) and galacturonic acid (GalUA). The extraction methods of ASP include hot water extraction and ultrasonic wave extraction, and different extraction methods can affect the yield of ASP. ASP has a variety of pharmacological activities, including hematopoietic activity, promoting immunity, antitumor, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-aging, anti-virus, liver protection, and so on. As a kind of natural polysaccharide, ASP has potential application as drug carriers. This review provides a comprehensive summary of the latest extraction and purification methods of ASP, the strategies used for monosaccharide compositional analysis plus polysaccharide structural characterization, pharmacological activities and drug carrier applications, and it can provide a basis for further study on ASP.

Ligustilide inhibited Angiotensin II induced A7r5 cell autophagy via Akt/mTOR signaling pathway

Autophagy is essential to vessel homeostasis and function in the cardiovascular system. Ligustilide (LIG) is one of the main active ingredients extracted from traditional Chinese medicines, such as Ligusticum chuanxiong, Angelica, and other umbelliferous plants, and reported to have cardiovascular protective effects. In this study, we explore the effects and the potential mechanism of ligustilide on the Ang II-induced autophagy in A7r5 cells. Our results showed that ligustilide inhibited the Ang II-induced autophagy in A7r5 cells and down regulated the expression of autophagy-related proteins LC3, ULK1, and Beclin-1. Ligustilide exerted a protective effect on the reduction of the concentrations of reactive oxygen species and Ca²⁺ and upregulated the nitric oxide concentration in A7r5 cells with Ang II-induced autophagy. Additionally, the analyses of network pharmacological targets and potential signal pathways indicated that the target of ligustilide to regulate autophagy was related to the Akt/mTOR signaling pathway. Furthermore, ligustilide could upregulate the expression of p-Akt and p-mTOR and inhibit the expression of LC3II in A7r5 cells with Ang II-induced autophagy. These findings showed that ligustilide inhibited the autophagic flux in A7r5 cells induced by Ang II via the activation of the Akt/mTOR signaling pathway.