Challenges and strategies in progress of drug delivery system for traditional Chinese medicine Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma (Danshen)

Pharmacological and therapeutic effects of natural products on liver regeneration-a comprehensive research

Liver regeneration (LR) refers to the physiological process by which hepatocytes undergo cellular proliferation to restore the structure and function of the liver following significant hepatocyte loss due to injury or partial hepatectomy (PH). While the liver possesses a remarkable regenerative capacity, this process is tightly regulated to ensure appropriate cessation once homeostasis is reestablished. Various strategies, including technological interventions and pharmacological agents, have been explored to enhance LR. Among these, natural products have emerged as promising candidates for promoting LR. For instance, quercetin, a natural compound, has been shown to enhance LR following PH by maintaining redox homeostasis and stimulating hepatocyte proliferation. However, natural products present certain limitations, such as poor solubility and low bioavailability, which may hinder their clinical application. Modifications in the formulation and mode of administration have demonstrated potential in overcoming these challenges and optimizing their pharmacological effects. Recent advancements in research have further highlighted the growing relevance of natural products, including traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), in the context of LR. Despite this progress, a comprehensive and systematic review of their roles, mechanisms, and therapeutic potential remains lacking. This review aims to bridge this gap by summarizing natural products with demonstrated potential to promote LR. Drawing on data from PubMed, Web of Science, and CNKI databases, it elucidates their pharmacological effects and regulatory mechanisms, providing a valuable reference for future research and clinical application in the field of LR.

Unlocking the Stratum Corneum Barrier to Skin Penetration for the Transdermal Delivery of Cyclovirobuxine D

Background/Objectives: Cyclovirobuxine D, a natural compound derived from the medicinal plant Buxus sinica, demonstrates a diverse array of therapeutic benefits, encompassing anti-arrhythmic properties, blood pressure regulation, neuronal protection, and anti-ischemic activity. However, its limited solubility hinders the bioavailability of current oral and injectable formulations, causing considerable adverse reactions and toxicity. Methods: In this investigation, we embarked on an unprecedented exploration of the skin penetration potential of cyclovirobuxine D utilizing chemical penetration enhancers and niosomes as innovative strategies to enhance its dermal absorption. These strategies were rigorously tested and optimized. Results: Among the tested chemical penetration enhancers, azone emerged as the most potent, achieving a 4.55-fold increase in skin penetration compared to the untreated group. Additionally, when encapsulated within niosomes, primarily composed of Span60 and cholesterol, the skin penetration of cyclovirobuxine D was notably enhanced by 1.50-fold. Furthermore, when both cyclovirobuxine D and azone were co-encapsulated within the niosomes, the skin penetration of cyclovirobuxine D was remarkably elevated by 8.10-fold compared to the solvent-dispersed group. This enhancement was corroborated through rigorous in vitro and in vivo experiments. Notably, the combination of other chemical penetration enhancers with niosome encapsulation also exhibited synergistic effects in enhancing the skin penetration of cyclovirobuxine D. Conclusions: These findings provide a compelling rationale for the administration of cyclovirobuxine D via skin-mediated transdermal delivery, offering superior safety, efficacy, and convenience. The innovative combination of niosomes and chemical penetration enhancers represents a novel system for the transdermal delivery of cyclovirobuxine D, holding immense promise for clinical applications in the treatment of brain, neuronal, and cardiovascular disorders.

Magnetic/Acoustic Dual-Controlled Microrobot Overcoming Oto-Biological Barrier for On-Demand Multidrug Delivery against Hearing Loss

Multidrug combination therapy in the inner ear faces diverse challenges due to the distinct physicochemical properties of drugs and the difficulties of overcoming the oto-biologic barrier. Although nanomedicine platforms offer potential solutions to multidrug delivery, the access of drugs to the inner ear remains limited. Micro/nanomachines, capable of delivering cargo actively, are promising tools for overcoming bio-barriers. Herein, a novel microrobot-based strategy to penetrate the round window membrane (RWM) is presented and multidrug in on-demand manner is delivered. The tube-type microrobot (TTMR) is constructed using the template-assisted layer-by-layer (LbL) assembly of chitosan/ferroferric oxide/silicon dioxide (CS/Fe3O4/SiO2) and loaded with anti-ototoxic drugs (curcumin, CUR and tanshinone IIA, TSA) and perfluorohexane (PFH). Fe3O4 provides magnetic actuation, while PFH ensures acoustic propulsion. Upon ultrasound stimulation, the vaporization of PFH enables a microshotgun-like behavior, propelling the drugs through barriers and driving them into the inner ear. Notably, the proportion of drugs entering the inner ear can be precisely controlled by varying the feeding ratios. Furthermore, in vivo studies demonstrate that the drug-loaded microrobot exhibits superior protective effects and excellent biosafety toward cisplatin (CDDP)-induced hearing loss. Overall, the microrobot-based strategy provides a promising direction for on-demand multidrug delivery for ear diseases.

Neuroprotective effects of salvianolic acids combined with Panax notoginseng saponins in cerebral ischemia/reperfusion rats concerning the neurovascular unit and trophic coupling

BACKGROUND

The neurovascular unit (NVU) and neurovascular trophic coupling (NVTC) play a key regulatory role in brain injury caused by ischemic stroke. Salvianolic acids (SAL) and Panax notoginseng saponins (PNS) are widely used in China to manage ischemic stroke. Neuroprotective effects of SAL and PNS, either taken alone or in combination, were examined in this research.

METHODS

Wistar rats were randomly divided into the following groups: Sham group (Sham), cerebral ischemia/reperfusion group (I/R), I/R with SAL group (SAL), I/R with PNS group (PNS), I/R with SAL combined with PNS (SAL + PNS), and I/R with edaravone group (EDA). Treatment was administered once daily for two days after modeling of middle cerebral artery occlusion/reperfusion (MCAO/R).

RESULTS

Compared with the I/R group, SAL, PNS, or SAL + PNS treatment reduced infarct size, improved neurological deficit score, reduced Evans blue extravasation, increased expression of CD31 and tight junction proteins (TJs), including zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1), zonula occludens-2 (ZO-2), and junctional adhesion molecule-1 (JAM-1). Furthermore, SAL, PNS, or SAL + PNS suppressed the activations of microglia and astrocyte and led to the amelioration of neuron and pericyte injury. Treatment also inhibited NVU dissociation of GFAP/PDGFRβ and Collagen IV/GFAP while upregulated the expression level of BDNF/TrkB and BDNF/NeuN.

CONCLUSIONS

SAL and PNS have significantly remedied structural and functional disorders of NVU and NVTC in I/R injury. These effects were more pronounced when SAL and PNS were combined than when used separately.

Review of Pharmacotherapeutic Targets in Alzheimer's Disease and Its Management Using Traditional Medicinal Plants

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by cognitive decline, memory loss, and impaired daily functioning. While there is currently no cure for AD, several pharmacotherapeutic targets and management strategies have been explored. Additionally, traditional medicinal plants have gained attention for their potential role in AD management. Pharmacotherapeutic targets in AD include amyloid-beta (Aβ) aggregation, tau protein hyperphosphorylation, neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, and cholinergic dysfunction. Traditional medicinal plants, such as Ginkgo biloba, Huperzia serrata, Curcuma longa (turmeric), and Panax ginseng, have demonstrated the ability to modulate these targets through their bioactive compounds. Ginkgo biloba, for instance, contains flavonoids and terpenoids that exhibit neuroprotective effects by reducing Aβ deposition and enhancing cerebral blood flow. Huperzia serrata, a natural source of huperzine A, has acetylcholinesterase-inhibiting properties, thus improving cholinergic function. Curcuma longa, enriched with curcumin, exhibits anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects, potentially mitigating neuroinflammation and oxidative stress. Panax ginseng's ginsenosides have shown neuroprotective and anti-amyloidogenic properties. The investigation of traditional medicinal plants as a complementary approach to AD management offers several advantages, including a lower risk of adverse effects and potential multi-target interactions. Furthermore, the cultural knowledge and utilization of these plants provide a rich source of information for the development of new therapies. However, further research is necessary to elucidate the precise mechanisms of action, standardize preparations, and assess the safety and efficacy of these natural remedies. Integrating traditional medicinal-plant-based therapies with modern pharmacotherapies may hold the key to a more comprehensive and effective approach to AD treatment. This review aims to explore the pharmacotherapeutic targets in AD and assess the potential of traditional medicinal plants in its management.

Salvianolic acid F suppresses KRAS-dependent lung cancer cell growth through the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway

BACKGROUND

KRAS mutation is a common driver of NSCLC, and there is a high proportion of lung cancer patients with KRAS G12C and G12D mutation. KRAS was previously considered an "undruggable" target, but the first KRAS G12C mutation-targeted drug AMG510, entered the market in 2021. However, treatments for G12D mutant tumors remain to be discovered. Salvianolic acid F (SalF), a monomer derived from the traditional Chinese medicine Salvia miltiorrhiza (SM), and KRAS had high binding affinity, especially for KRAS G12D. There is an urgent need to investigate effective and safe novel targeted therapies against KRAS G12D-driven NSCLC.

METHODS

To evaluate the anticancer effect of SalF, we used KRAS-overexpressing lung cancer cells in vitro, a subcutaneous transplant tumor model, and KRAS G12D mice model in vivo. Then, the binding effect of SalF and KRAS was investigated using molecular docking, proteolytic assays and protein thermal shift assays. More critically, the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway in the lung was investigated utilizing RT-qPCR and Western Blotting.

RESULTS

This is the first study to evaluate the anticancer effect of SalF on KRAS-overexpressing lung cancer cells or KRAS G12D lung tumors in vivo. We demonstrated that SalF inhibits OE-KRAS A549 cell migration, proliferation and promotes apoptosis in vitro. In addition, we used a subcutaneous transplant tumor model to show that SalF suppresses the growth of lung cancer cells in vivo. Interestingly, our group found that SalF was strongly bound to G12D and could decrease the stability and promoted the degradation of the KRAS G12D mutant through molecular docking, proteolytic assays and protein thermal shift assays. Further research demonstrated that in the KrasG12D mice model, after SalF treatment, the number and size of mouse lung tumors were significantly reduced. More importantly, SalF can promote apoptosis by inhibiting downstream PI3K/AKT signaling pathway activation.

CONCLUSION

SalF activated apoptosis signaling pathways, suppressed anti-apoptotic genes, and inhibited lung cancer cell growth. These datas suggested that SalF could effectively inhibit the growth of lung tumors with KRAS G12D mutation. SalF may be a novel inhibitor against KRAS G12D, providing a strong theoretical basis for the clinical treatment of lung cancer with KRAS mutations.

Advanced application of nanotechnology in active constituents of Traditional Chinese Medicines

Traditional Chinese Medicines (TCMs) have been used for centuries for the treatment and management of various diseases. However, their effective delivery to targeted sites may be a major challenge due to their poor water solubility, low bioavailability, and potential toxicity. Nanocarriers, such as liposomes, polymeric nanoparticles, inorganic nanoparticles and organic/inorganic nanohybrids based on active constituents from TCMs have been extensively studied as a promising strategy to improve the delivery of active constituents from TCMs to achieve a higher therapeutic effect with fewer side effects compared to conventional formulations. This review summarizes the recent advances in nanocarrier-based delivery systems for various types of active constituents of TCMs, including terpenoids, polyphenols, alkaloids, flavonoids, and quinones, from different natural sources. This review covers the design and preparation of nanocarriers, their characterization, and in vitro/vivo evaluations. Additionally, this review highlights the challenges and opportunities in the field and suggests future directions for research. Nanocarrier-based delivery systems have shown great potential in improving the therapeutic efficacy of TCMs, and this review may serve as a comprehensive resource to researchers in this field.

[Yacon root extract improves lipid metabolism in hyperlipidemic rats by inhibiting HMGCR expression and activating the PPARα/CYP7A1/CPT-1 pathway]

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the effect of yacon root extract on lipid metabolism in rats with hyperlipidemia (HLP) and its underlying mechanisms.

METHODS

SD rat models of HLP induced by high- fat diet feeding for 8 weeks were randomized into the model group, fenofibrate treatment group (27 mg/kg), and yacon extract treatment groups at doses of 5, 2.5 and 1.25 g/kg (n=10). The rats were given corresponding drug treatments via gavage for 8 weeks. After the treatments, the rats were observed for body weight changes, liver coefficient, liver pathology, and serum levels of triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C). The mRNA and protein expressions of HMGCR, PPARα, CYP7A1, and CPT-1 in the liver were detected using RT-qPCR and Western blotting.

RESULTS

Compared with those in the model group, the rats treated with fenofibrate and 5 g/kg yacon root extract showed significantly slower body weight gain and lower liver coefficient (P < 0.05) with lower serum levels of TG, TC, and LDL- C (P < 0.05) but higher HDL- C level (P < 0.05). The HLP rat models showed obvious fatty degeneration and vacuolar changes in the liver, which were significantly alleviated by fenofibrate treatment and by treatment with yacon root extract in a dose-dependent manner. Both fenofibrate and 5 g/kg yacon root extract significantly lowered the mRNA and protein expression levels of HMGCR (P < 0.001) and increased the expressions of PPARα, CYP7A1, and CPT-1 in the liver of HLP rats (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

Yacon root extract can reduce serum TG and TC levels in HLP rats possibly by inhibiting HMGCR expression and activating the PPARα/CYP7A1/CPT-1 signaling pathway, thereby promoting fatty acid β oxidation and bile acid metabolism.

Simultaneous extraction and determination of alkaloids and organic acids in Uncariae Ramulas Cum Unicis by vortex-assisted matrix solid phase dispersion extraction coupled with UHPLC-MS/MS

A simple and efficient vortex-assisted matrix solid phase dispersion with a ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-triple quadrupole mass spectrometer (VA-MSPD-UHPLC-MS/MS) was applied for simultaneous extraction and determination of seven alkaloids and three organic acids from Uncariae Ramulas Cum Unicis. The optimal extraction conditions of the target components were obtained by Box-Behnken design (BBD) combined with response surface methodology (RSM). The results of the method validation showed that this analytical method displayed good linearity with a correlation coefficient (r) no lower than 0.9990. The recoveries of ten active ingredients from Uncariae Ramulas Cum Unicis ranged from 95.9% to 103% (RSD ≤ 2.77%). The RSDs of intra-day and inter-day precisions were all below 2.97%. The present method exhibited not only lower solvent and sample usage, but also shorter sample processing and analysis time. Consequently, the developed VA-MSPD-UHPLC-MS/MS method could be successfully and effectively used for the extraction and analysis of ten active components from Uncariae Ramulas Cum Unicis.

Polysaccharide from Salviae miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma Attenuates the Progress of Obesity-Induced Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease through Modulating Intestinal Microbiota-Related Gut–Liver Axis

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most prevalent chronic liver disease worldwide, thus treatments for it have attracted lots of interest. In this study, the Salviae miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma (SMRR) polysaccharide was isolated by hot water extraction and ethanol precipitation, and then purified by DEAE anion exchange chromatography and gel filtration. With a high-fat-diet-induced obesity/NAFLD mouse model, we found that consumption of the SMRR polysaccharide could remarkably reverse obesity and its related progress of NAFLD, including attenuated hepatocellular steatosis, hepatic fibrosis and inflammation. In addition, we also reveal the potential mechanism behind these is that the SMRR polysaccharide could regulate the gut–liver axis by modulating the homeostasis of gut microbiota and thereby improving intestinal function.

Shenkang Injection and Its Three Anthraquinones Ameliorates Renal Fibrosis by Simultaneous Targeting IƙB/NF-ƙB and Keap1/Nrf2 Signaling Pathways

Oxidative stress and inflammation are important and critical mediators in the development and progression of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and its complications. Shenkang injection (SKI) has been widely used to treat patients with CKD. Although the anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory activity was involved in SKI against CKD, its bioactive components and underlying mechanism remain enigmatic. A rat model of adenine-induced chronic renal failure (CRF) is associated with, and largely driven by, oxidative stress and inflammation. Hence, we identified the anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory components of SKI and further revealed their underlying mechanism in the adenine-induced CRF rats. Compared with control rats, the levels of creatinine, urea, uric acid, total cholesterol, triglyceride, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol in serum were significantly increased in the adenine-induced CRF rats. However, treatment with SKI and its three anthraquinones including chrysophanol, emodin, and rhein could reverse these aberrant changes. They could significantly inhibit pro-fibrotic protein expressions including collagen I, α-SMA, fibronectin, and vimentin in the kidney tissues of the adenine-induced CRF rats. Of note, SKI and rhein showed the stronger inhibitory effect on these pro-fibrotic protein expressions than chrysophanol and emodin. Furthermore, they could improve dysregulation of IƙB/NF-ƙB and Keap1/Nrf2 signaling pathways. Chrysophanol and emodin showed the stronger inhibitory effect on the NF-κB p65 protein expression than SKI and rhein. Rhein showed the strongest inhibitory effect on p65 downstream target gene products including NAD(P)H oxidase subunits (p47phox, p67phox, and gp91phox) and COX-2, MCP-1, iNOS, and 12-LO in the kidney tissues. However, SKI and rhein showed the stronger inhibitory effect on the significantly downregulated anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative protein expression nuclear Nrf2 and its target gene products including HO-1, catalase, GCLC, and NQO1 in the Keap1/Nrf2 signaling pathway than chrysophanol and emodin. This study first demonstrated that SKI and its major components protected against renal fibrosis by inhibiting oxidative stress and inflammation via simultaneous targeting IƙB/NF-ƙB and Keap1/Nrf2 signaling pathways, which illuminated the potential molecular mechanism of anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory effects of SKI.