Chinese Medicine Phenomics (Chinmedphenomics): Personalized, Precise and Promising

Cell membrane derived biomimetic nanomedicine for precision delivery of traditional Chinese medicine in cancer therapy

The rapidly developing modern nanotechnology has brought new vitality to the application of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), improving the pharmacokinetics and bioavailability of unmodified natural drugs. However, synthetic materials inevitably introduce incompatibilities. This has led to focusing on biomimetic drug delivery systems (DDS) based on biologically derived cell membranes. This "top-down" approach to nanomedicine preparation is simple and effective, as the inherited cell membranes and cell surface substances can mimic nature when delivering drugs back into the body, interacting similarly to the source cells at the biological interface. The concept of biologically derived TCM and biomimetic membranes aligns well with nature, the human body, and medicine, thereby enhancing the in vivo compatibility of TCM. This review focused on the recent progress using biomimetic membranes for TCM in cancer therapy, emphasizing the effective integration of biomimetic nanomedicine and TCM in applications such as cancer diagnosis, imaging, precision treatment, and immunotherapy. The review also provided potential suggestions on the challenges and prospects in this field.

Anti-TNBC effects of Lappaol F by targeting epithelial-mesenchymal transition via regulation of GSK-3β/YAP/β-catenin and PI3K/AKT pathways

Purpose

Lappaol F (LAF), a lignan extracted from Fructus Arctii, has a wide spectrum of anti-tumor effects, including inhibition of TNBC cell growth. However, the pharmacological mechanism of LAF targeting epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) to inhibit Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) growth remains poorly understood. The present study aimed to reveal the potential mechanism of LAF against TNBC by in vivo and in vitro experiments.

Methods

In situ, transplantation-induced MDA-MB-231 solid tumor model in NCG mice and cultured MDA-MB-231 and Hs-578T cells were used to evaluate the anti-TNBC effect of LAF. Flow cytometry, wound healing, transwell assay, western blot, RT-PCR, and immunofluorescence analysis were carried out to investigate the pharmacological mechanism of LAF against TNBC.

Results

LAF significantly inhibited the growth of MDA-MB-231 tumors, with downregulated tumor level of vimentin and upregulated level of ZO-1. In MDA-MB-231 and Hs-578T cells, LAF markedly suppressed cell proliferation, migration and invasion, and promoted apoptosis. Similarly, LAF increased the expression of ZO-1 and occludin proteins in MDA-MB-231 cells, and inhibited the expression of vimentin, snail and slug proteins in MDA-MB-231 and Hs-578T cells, as well as the expression of N-caderin in Hs-578T cells. Moreover, LAF also inhibited the phosphorylation of GSK-3β, thereby inhibited the downstream nuclear translocation of β-catenin and the expression of YAP. Furthermore, LAF significantly inhibited the expression of PI3K and AKT, and the phosphorylation of downstream mTOR.

Conclusion

LAF showed anti-TNBC effect both in vitro and in vivo. Reversal of EMT by inhibiting GSK-3β/YAP/β-catenin signaling and PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling contributes to the effect.

Comparative profiling of the absorbed compounds and metabolites, and pharmacokinetic studies of Danshen-Chuanxiong herb pair in rat plasma and brain using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry

Danshen-Chuanxiong (DS-CX) was a classic herb pair commonly used to treat ischemic stroke. Nevertheless, the metabolic conversion and pharmacokinetic behavior of DS-CX in vivo remains unclear. This work aimed to reveal the in vivo metabolic behavior of DS-CX through establishing metabolic profiles and performing multicomponent pharmacokinetics analysis. The mass defect filtering (MDF) strategy integrated with UHPLC-QTOF-MS was firstly developed to characterize the metabolites of DS-CX in rats' plasma and brain. Moreover, a sensitive UHPLC-QQQ-MS method was utilized to perform the comparative pharmacokinetic studies of major active ingredients of DS-CX in rats' plasma. A total of 111 exogenous compounds (29 prototype compounds and 82 metabolites) were identified in rat biological samples. The major metabolic pathways were hydroxylation, methylation, deoxidation, dehydration, hydrogenation, demethylation, hydrolysis, decarboxylation and glucuronidation binding reactions. According to the results of metabolites profiling, sixteen active compounds (8 phenolic acids, 5 phthalides and 3 tanshinones) were selected as markers for further comparative pharmacokinetics study. Compared with the oral administration of DS or CX alone, the higher Cmax of salvianolic acid B, crytotanshinone and tanshinone IIA; the shorter Tmax of lithospermic acid, rosmarinic acid and tanshinone IIA; as well as the higher AUC0-∞ of ferulic acid, rosmarinic acid, salvianolic acid B, senkyunolide I and crytotanshinone, could be found after co-administration of DS-CX (P < 0.05). This study provided the overall knowledge of metabolites profiling of DS-CX in vivo, which would help to understand the effective material basis and promote the clinical application of DC-CX herb pair.

Anticancer Properties Against Select Cancer Cell Lines and Metabolomics Analysis of Tender Coconut Water

BACKGROUND

Tender Coconut Water (TCW) is a nutrient-rich dietary supplement that contains bioactive secondary metabolites and phytohormones with anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory properties. Studies on TCW's anti-cancer properties are limited and the mechanism of its anti-cancer effects have not been defined.

OBJECTIVE

In the present study, we investigate TCW for its anti-cancer properties and, using untargeted metabolomics, we identify components form TCW with potential anti-cancer activity.

METHODOLOGY

Cell viability assay, BrdU incorporation assay, soft-agar assay, flow-cytometery, and Western blotting were used to analyze TCW's anticancer properties and to identify mechanism of action. Liquid chromatography- Tandem Mass Spectroscopy (LC-MS/MS) was used to identify TCW components.

RESULTS

TCW decreased the viability and anchorage-independent growth of HepG2 hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells and caused S-phase cell cycle arrest. TCW inhibited AKT and ERK phosphorylation leading to reduced ZEB1 protein, increased E-cadherin, and reduced N-cadherin protein expression in HepG2 cells, thus reversing the 'epithelial-to-mesenchymal' (EMT) transition. TCW also decreased the viability of Hep3B hepatoma, HCT-15 colon, MCF-7 and T47D luminal A breast cancer (BC) and MDA-MB-231 and MDA-MB-468 triplenegative BC cells. Importantly, TCW did not inhibit the viability of MCF-10A normal breast epithelial cells. Untargeted metabolomics analysis of TCW identified 271 metabolites, primarily lipids and lipid-like molecules, phenylpropanoids and polyketides, and organic oxygen compounds. We demonstrate that three components from TCW: 3-hydroxy-1-(4-hydroxyphenyl)propan-1-one, iondole-3-carbox aldehyde and caffeic acid inhibit the growth of cancer cells.

CONCLUSION

TCW and its components exhibit anti-cancer effects. TCW inhibits the viability of HepG2 hepatocellular carcinoma cells by reversing the EMT process through inhibition of AKT and ERK signalling.

Early-life malnutrition exposure associated with higher osteoporosis risk in adulthood: a large-scale cross-sectional study

INTRODUCTION

Evidence on the association between early-life malnutrition exposure at different developmental stages and the subsequent risk of osteoporosis and fractures in adulthood remains sparse and equivocal. This study sought to elucidate the relationship between malnutrition exposure in early-life and the occurrence of osteoporosis and fractures later in life.

METHODS

This research is a cross-sectional analysis carried out within the framework of the China Community-based Cohort of Osteoporosis (CCCO), an ongoing community-based cohort study. Participants were stratified by birthdate into several categories: nonexposed, fetal, early childhood, mid-childhood, late childhood, and adolescence exposure groups. The nonexposure and adolescence exposure groups were consolidated into an 'age-matched group' to provide a robust comparative framework for analyzing the probability of developing osteoporosis (defined as a T-score ≤-2.5 in bone mineral density) and the frequency of self-reported fracture. Multiple logistic regression models were utilized to investigate the association between early-life malnutrition exposure and the risks of osteoporosis and fracture. Additionally, our findings were validated in the China Northwest Cohort (CNC).

RESULTS

A total of 12 789 participants were included into the final analysis. After adjusting for various covariates, individuals exposed to malnutrition during their fetal and childhood stages (early, middle, and late) increased the likelihood of developing osteoporosis in adulthood, compared to their age-matched counterparts. In these four groups, the ORs (95% CI) for osteoporosis risk were 1.223 (1.035 to 1.445), 1.208 (1.052 to 1.386), 1.249 (1.097 to 1.421), and 1.101 (1.001 to 1.210), respectively (all P -values <0.05). Specifically, the late childhood exposure group showed a heightened risk of fracture, with an OR (95% CI) of 1.155 (1.033-1.291) and a P -value of 0.01127. Stratified analyses further found a significant correlation between early-life exposure to malnutrition and an elevated risk of osteoporosis in participants with lower educational attainment, overweight, or obese participants. Additionally, corroborating evidence from the CNC confirmed the influence of malnutrition exposure on osteoporosis risk.

CONCLUSIONS

Early-life exposure to malnutrition had a detrimental impact on bone health. Individuals who had experienced malnutrition during fetal and childhood stages (early, middle, and late) exhibited a high susceptibility to osteoporosis in adulthood, compared to age-matched cohorts. This susceptibility was particularly pronounced in women, and individuals who were overweight or obese, or had lower levels of education.

Targeting autophagy: polydatin's role in inducing cell death in AML

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML), a malignant disorder of the hematopoietic system, arises from leukemic stem cells (LSCs) and is the most prevalent form of blood cancer in adults. This study aimed to evaluate the therapeutic potential of polydatin (PD) in AML through ex vivo and in vivo studies, respectively. This study was prompted by PD's novel role in enhancing tumor apoptosis and modulating autophagy. In vitro studies were conducted using the PD-responsive AML cell line KASUMI-1 and found that PD was able to suppress cell proliferation and induce apoptosis by regulating the autophagy pathway. Subsequently, molecular docking was employed to predict the interaction between PD and Autophagy-related protein 5 (ATG5), a key regulator in the autophagy pathway. It was observed that PD inhibited the ubiquitination of ATG5 and enhanced its protein stability, leading to an increase in ATG5 protein levels and subsequent activation of the autophagy pathway (see in Abstract Graphed). The effectiveness and safety of PD in treating AML were confirmed through in vivo experiments using a mouse transplant tumor model, yielding definitive results. Collectively, these results suggest that PD is a promising candidate for the early therapeutic intervention of AML, with a strong potential for clinical application.

Registration and characteristics of clinical trials on traditional Chinese medicine and natural medicines for endometriosis: a comprehensive analysis

Objective

To investigate the characteristics of clinical trials on traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) or natural medicines for treating endometriosis, aiming to inform future clinical practice and the development of new effective drugs.

Method

The global clinical trial registration platform was searched to identify clinical trials investigating the efficacy of TCM/natural medicine in treating endometriosis. Relevant trials were selected based on stringent inclusion and exclusion criteria. Data entry was performed using Microsoft Excel, while data analysis was conducted using SPSS version 23.

Results

The study encompassed 57 trials, of which ClinicalTrials.gov accounted for 18, ChiCTR for 3, ICRP for 15, and ChiDTR for 21 trials. The number of registrations showed a significant positive correlation with the years. Of the 57 clinical trials, 87.7% were randomized, 63.2% were blinded, 78.9% followed a parallel intervention model, and 56.1% had a sample size below 100. Regarding trial phases, 45.6% of clinical trials did not specify a phase, while Phase 3 and Phase 4 clinical trials accounted for 17.5%. Nine clinical trials involved drugs that are already on the market, including six Chinese patent medicines: Sanjie Zhentong Capsules, Honghua Ruyi Pills, Huayu Sanjie Enema Liquid, Kuntai Capsules, Wenjing Tang, and Xuefu Zhuyu Capsules. Outside China, Iran has the highest number of registrations for natural medicine treatments for endometriosis, with curcumin being the most registered natural medicine.

Conclusion

The analysis reveals that clinical trials on TCM and natural remedies for endometriosis often utilize randomization; however, substantial deficiencies remain in blinding and sample size adequacy. These findings suggest that, despite growing interest in TCM and natural remedies, further methodological improvements are necessary to enhance the credibility of future studies. This research highlights the importance of rigorously designed clinical trials in verifying the safety and efficacy of these alternative therapies, which may influence future therapeutic approaches for managing endometriosis.

Extraction, purification, structural characterization, and bioactivities of Ginkgo biloba leave polysaccharides: A review

Ginkgo biloba, a deciduous tree from the Ginkgoaceae family, is widely cultivated globally. In China, it predominantly grows in the eastern and southern regions. The leaves can be harvested multiple times throughout the growing season, presenting a significant resource potential. Ginkgo biloba leaves are considered as a living fossil with both medicinal and edible properties in traditional Chinese medicine. Polysaccharides, the primary bioactive compounds in these leaves, exhibit numerous biological activities, including antioxidant, antitumor, anti-inflammatory, immunoregulatory activity, antidepressant effects, hepatoprotective, hypoglycemic activity and hair-growth promoting effect. This review highlights the advancements in the extraction separation purification, structural elucidation, and functional analysis of polysaccharides derived from Ginkgo biloba leaves over the past decade, aiming to provide valuable insights for future development and commercialization of Ginkgo biloba leave polysaccharides.

Traditional Chinese herbal medicine: harnessing dendritic cells for anti-tumor benefits

Chinese Herbal Medicine (CHM) is being more and more used in cancer treatment because of its ability to regulate the immune system. Chinese Herbal Medicine has several advantages over other treatment options, including being multi-component, multi-target, and having fewer side effects. Dendritic cells (DCs) are specialized antigen presenting cells that play a vital part in connecting the innate and adaptive immune systems. They are also important in immunotherapy. Recent evidence suggests that Chinese Herbal Medicine and its components can positively impact the immune response by targeting key functions of dendritic cells. In this review, we have summarized the influences of Chinese Herbal Medicine on the immunobiological feature of dendritic cells, emphasized an anti-tumor effect of CHM-treated DCs, and also pointed out deficiencies in the regulation of DC function by Chinese Herbal Medicine and outlined future research directions.

Osteoporosis treatment: current drugs and future developments

Osteoporosis is a common systemic metabolic disease characterized by a decrease in bone density and bone mass, destruction of bone tissue microstructure, and increased bone fragility leading to fracture susceptibility. Pharmacological treatment of osteoporosis is the focus of current research, and anti-osteoporosis drugs usually play a role in inhibiting bone resorption, promoting bone formation, and having a dual role. However, most of the drugs have the disadvantages of single target and high toxic and side effects. There are many types of traditional Chinese medicines (TCM), from a wide range of sources and mostly plants. Herbal plants have unique advantages in regulating the relationship between osteoporosis and the immune system, acupuncture therapy has significant therapeutic effects in combination with medicine for osteoporosis. The target cells and specific molecular mechanisms of TCM in preventing and treating osteoporosis have not been fully elucidated. At present, there is a lack of comprehensive understanding of the pathological mechanism of the disease. Therefore, a better understanding of the pathological signaling pathways and key molecules involved in the pathogenesis of osteoporosis is crucial for the design of therapeutic targets and drug development. In this paper, we review the development and current status of anti-osteoporosis drugs currently in clinical application and under development to provide relevant basis and reference for drug prevention and treatment of osteoporosis, with the aim of promoting pharmacological research and new drug development.

The mechanism of action of Botrychium (Thunb.) Sw. for prevention of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis based on 1H-NMR-based metabolomics

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to reveal the anti-fibrotic effects of Botrychium ternatum (Thunb.) Sw. (BT) against idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and to preliminarily analyze its potential mechanism on bleomycin-induced IPF rats.

METHODS

The inhibition of fibrosis progression in vivo was assessed by histopathology combined with biochemical indicators. In addition, the metabolic regulatory mechanism was investigated using 1H-nuclear magnetic resonance-based metabolomics combined with multivariate statistical analysis.

KEY FINDINGS

Firstly, biochemical analysis revealed that BT notably suppressed the expression of hydroxyproline and transforming growth factor-β1 in the pulmonary tissue. Secondly, Masson's trichrome staining and hematoxylin and eosin showed that BT substantially improved the structure of the damaged lung and significantly inhibited the proliferation of collagen fibers and the deposition of extracellular matrix. Finally, serum metabolomic analysis suggested that BT may exert anti-fibrotic effects by synergistically regulating tyrosine metabolism; phenylalanine, tyrosine and tryptophan biosynthesis; and synthesis and degradation of ketone bodies.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study not only clarifies the potential anti-fibrotic mechanism of BT against IPF at the metabolic level but also provides a theoretical basis for developing BT as an effective anti-fibrotic agent.

Development of Daruharidra (Berberis aristata) Based Biogenic Cadmium Sulfide Nanoparticles: Their Implementation as Antibacterial and Novel Therapeutic Agents against Human Breast and Ovarian Cancer

BACKGROUND

This article presents a new and environmentally friendly method for generating DH-CdSNPs (cadmium sulfide nanoparticles) ranging from 5-10 nm in size. A green synthesis method for the development of inorganic nanoparticles was developed a few years back for their applications in diverse fields, such as medicine, bioimaging and remediation. The biogenic synthesis of these nanoparticles containing daruharidra (Berberis aristata) and cadmium sulfide is an effective alternative.

AIMS

By employing Daruharidra extract as a herbal analog, we aim to minimize the risks and adverse effects that come along with the use of other chemically synthesized nanoparticles. This study's main goal was to investigate the potential of these nanoparticles as powerful antibacterial and anticancer agents.

METHODS

We used a crude powdered daruharidra extract as a stabilizer ingredient to create CdSbased nanoformulations in an environmentally responsible way. By exposing the breast cancer cell line (MDAMB-231) and ovarian teratocarcinoma cell line (PA1) to these nanoformulations, we were able to evaluate their anticancer activities. Additionally, flow cytometry analysis was conducted to scrutinize the process of cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in reference to anticancer studies. Furthermore, DH-CdSNPs were applied on different gram-positive as well as gramnegative bacteria in a disc diffusion assay to ascertain their antibacterial activity. Nanoparticles were tested on bacterial strains to check if they were resistant after the MIC or minimum inhibitory concentration.

RESULTS

The cytotoxicity of nanoparticles was tested by MTT assay. The impact of increasing concentrations of NPs on cell lines was tested, revealing a cytotoxic effect. The half-maximal inhibitory concentration values for a 24-hour treatment were determined to be 95.74μg/ml for ovarian cancer cells and 796.25 μg/ml for breast cancer cells. Treatment with DH-CdSNP resulted in a noteworthy increase in early apoptotic cells, with percentages rising from approximately 3% to 14.5% in ovarian cancer cell lines and from 4% to 13.6% in breast cancer cell lines. Furthermore, the NPs induced arrest of the cell cycle, specifically in the interphase of G2 and mitosis phase, with DNA damage observed in sub G1 in ovarian cancer cells and G0/G1 arrest observed in breast cancer cells. Additionally, the NPs exhibited exceptional potency against both gram-positive as well as gram-negative bacteria.

CONCLUSION

Less research has been done on using bioinspired DH-CdSNP to deliver anticancer medications. The amalgamation of plant extract and the DH-CdSNP could cause a paradigm shift in the cancer therapy approach. The findings revealed that the biosynthesized DH-CdSNP limited the growth of human breast and ovarian cancer cells. This property can be further investigated against a variety of additional cell lines to determine whether this property makes the DH-CdSNP a promising treatment alternative. The results obtained from these nanoformulations exhibit faster efficacy compared to traditional medications.

Practice and principle of traditional Chinese medicine for the prevention and treatment of COVID-19

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has played an important role in the prevention and treatment of Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) epidemic in China. The integration of Chinese and Western medicine is an important feature of Chinese COVID-19 prevention and treatment. According to a series of evidence-based studies, TCM can reduce the infection rate of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 in high-risk groups. For patients with mild and moderate forms of COVID-19, TCM can relieve the related signs and symptoms, shorten the period of nucleic-acid negative conversion, and reduce conversion rate to the severe form of the disease. For COVID-19 patients with severe and critical illnesses, TCM can improve inflammatory indicators and blood oxygen saturation, shorten the hospital stay, and reduce the mortality rate. During recovery, TCM can improve patients' symptoms, promote organ function recovery, boost the quality of patients' life, and reduce the nucleic-acid repositive conversion rate. A series of mechanism research studies revealed that capability of TCM to treat COVID-19 through antiviral and anti-inflammatory effects, immune regulation, and protection of organ function via a multicomponent, multitarget, and multipathway approach.