A UPLC-MS/MS method reveals the pharmacokinetics and metabolism characteristics of kaempferol in rats under hypoxia

Mechanisms and therapeutic strategies for NLRP3 degradation via post-translational modifications in ubiquitin-proteasome and autophagy lysosomal pathway

The NLRP3 inflammasome is crucial for immune responses. However, its overactivation can lead to severe inflammatory diseases, underscoring its importance as a target for therapeutic intervention. Although numerous inhibitors targeting NLRP3 exist, regulating its degradation offers an alternative and promising strategy to suppress its activation. The degradation of NLRP3 is primarily mediated by the proteasomal and autophagic pathways. The review not only elaborates on the traditional concepts of ubiquitination and NLRP3 degradation but also investigates the important roles of indirect regulatory modifications, such as phosphorylation, acetylation, ubiquitin-like modifications, and palmitoylation-key post-translational modifications (PTMs) that influence NLRP3 degradation. Additionally, we also discuss the potential targets that may affect NLRP3 degradation during the proteasomal and autophagic pathways. By unraveling these complex regulatory mechanisms, the review aims to enhance the understanding of NLRP3 regulation and its implications for developing therapeutic strategies to combat inflammatory diseases.

Research progress on pharmacokinetics, anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects of kaempferol

Chronic inflammation (an abnormal state) and autoimmune disease (AD) can both cause multiple organ damage. AD is a heterogeneous group of diseases due to immune dysfunction. Chronic inflammation is closely related to AD and is an important part of AD. With the increasing prevalence of AD, researchers are constantly exploring new drugs with small side effects, considerable curative effects, and lower costs. Kaempferol, a flavonoid, possesses a range of biological functions, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-neoplastic, and immunomodulatory capabilities. This compound is prevalent in a variety of plant sources, such as vegetables, fruits, and medicinal herbs traditionally used in Chinese medicine. A plethora of empirical evidence from animal-based research supports the assertion that this particular substance exhibits both anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects, with the curative effect being significant and application prospects. This article mainly summarizes and discusses the pharmacokinetics, drug delivery system, and the mechanism of kaempferol on immune cells, cytokines, signaling pathways, and other aspects. This paper summarizes the existing kaempferol drug delivery system, analyzes the possibility and limitations of kaempferol as a new anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory drug, and discusses how to apply it in clinical practice. Therefore, kaempferol can more effectively exert its anti-inflammatory and immune-modulating effects, thereby demonstrating therapeutic potential in clinical settings, while reducing patient burden.

Exploring Advances in Natural Plant Molecules for Allergic Rhinitis Immunomodulation in Vivo and in Vitro

Allergic rhinitis (AR) is a prevalent allergic disease that imposes significant economic burdens and life pressures on individuals, families, and society, particularly in the context of accelerating globalization and increasing pathogenic factors. Current clinical therapies for AR include antihistamines, glucocorticoids administered via various routes, leukotriene receptor antagonists, immunotherapy, and several decongestants. These treatments have demonstrated efficacy in alleviating clinical symptoms and pathological states. However, with the growing awareness of AR and rising expectations for improvements in quality of life, these treatments have become associated with a higher incidence of side effects and an elevated risk of drug resistance. Furthermore, the development of AR is intricately associated with dysregulation of the immune system, yet the underlying pathogenetic mechanisms remain incompletely understood. In contrast, widely available natural plant molecules offer multiple targeting pathways that uniquely modify the typical pathophysiology of AR through immunomodulatory processes. This review presents a comprehensive analysis of both in vivo and in vitro studies on natural plant molecules that modulate immunity for treating AR. Additionally, we examine their specific mechanisms of action in animal models to provide new insights for developing safe and effective targeted therapies while guiding experimental and clinical applications against AR.

The potential of kaempferol in digestive system tumors: recent advances and mechanistic insights

Digestive system neoplasms are a heterogeneous group of cancers characterized by diverse symptoms, complex diagnosis, and treatment. Prognosis is poor and influenced by multiple factors, making early detection and comprehensive treatment crucial for patient survival. Kaempferol, a flavonoid compound, has attracted attention due to its anti-tumor biological activity, holding promise as a potential drug for treating digestive system neoplasms. Derived from various plants such as cabbage, propolis, and grapefruit, this compound's anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and other pharmacological effects have been confirmed. Research has found that kaempferol inhibits the occurrence and development of digestive system neoplasms by inducing apoptosis in cancer cells, inhibiting tumor cell proliferation, suppressing tumor metastasis and invasion, and enhancing the effects of other cancer treatment methods. This paper summarizes the role and mechanisms of kaempferol in the study of digestive system neoplasms, providing valuable insights for both scientists and clinical physicians engaged in this field. By detailing the various pathways through which kaempferol exerts its anticancer effects, the paper not only highlights its potential as a therapeutic agent but also opens avenues for further research into its applications.

An In Silico-Guided Approach for Assessing Herb-Drug Interaction Potential: A Case Study with Cudrania tricuspidata Leaf Extracts

Cudrania tricuspidata leaf extracts have long been utilized as traditional oriental medicines across Asian countries like Korea, China, and Japan. These extracts are renowned for their therapeutic benefits in addressing inflammation, tumors, obesity, and diabetes, maintaining their status as a pivotal folk remedy. Given the rising trend of combining medicinal herbs with conventional medications, it is imperative to explore the potential herb-drug interactions. However, there is a dearth of research on evaluating the herb-drug interactions of C. tricuspidata leaf extracts. Also, the intricate chemical composition of medicinal herbs presents methodological hurdles in establishing causal relationships between their constituents and herb-drug interactions. To overcome these challenges, a combined in silico and in vitro workflow was developed and effectively applied to evaluate the potential herb-drug interaction of C. tricuspidata leaf extracts along with the associated chemical factors. In in vitro CYP inhibition assays, C. tricuspidata leaf extracts exhibited potent inhibition of CYP1A2 and CYP2C8, with quercetin, kaempferol, and their glycosides identified as the major constituents. In silico analysis based on the prediction tools (ADMETlab 2.0 and pkCSM) identified key contributors to CYP inhibition, quercetin and kaempferol. Additionally, molecular docking analysis validated the binding of ligands (quercetin and kaempferol) to proteins (CYP1A2 and CYP2C8). These findings suggest that C. tricuspidata leaf extracts could inhibit CYP1A2 and CYP2C8, aiding in understanding the herb-drug interaction potential of C. tricuspidata leaf extracts for safe clinical application. Furthermore, this approach can be broadly applied to study herb-drug interactions of various medicinal herbs, enhancing their therapeutic benefits and reducing adverse reactions by considering chemical profiles relevant to herb-drug interaction potential in herbal preparations.

Pharmacokinetic-Pharmacodynamic Correlation Analysis of Rhodiola crenulata in Rats with Myocardial Ischemia

The pharmacokinetics (PK) of Rhodiola crenulata in rats were studied, and pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic (PK-PD) correlation analysis was performed to elucidate their time-concentration-effect relationship. The myocardial ischemia model was made with pituitrin. Rats were divided into sham operation, sham operation administration, model, and model administration groups (SG, SDG, MG, and MDG, respectively; n = 6). Blood was collected from the fundus venous plexus at different time points after oral administration. The HPLC-QQQ-MS/MS method was established for the quantification of five components of Rhodiola crenulata. CK, HBDH, SOD, LDH, and AST at different time points were detected via an automatic biochemical analyzer. DAS software was used to analyze PK parameters and PK-PD correlation. The myocardial ischemia model was established successfully. There were significant differences in the PK parameters (AUC0-t, AUC0-∞, Cmax) in MDG when compared with SDG. Two PD indicators, CK and HBDH, conforming to the sigmoid-Emax model, had high correlation with the five components, which indicated a delay in the pharmacological effect relative to the drug concentration in plasma. The difference in the PK parameters between modeled and normal rats was studied, and the time-concentration-effect of composition and effect indicators were investigated. This study can provide reference for the rational clinical application of Rhodiola crenulata and for related studies of other anti-myocardial ischemia drugs.

Chemical profiling and identification of Radix Cudramiae and their metabolites in rats using an ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography method coupled with time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry

Radix Cudramiae, known as "Chuan-Po-Shi" in China, is a herbal medicine widely used in the southwest of the country, especially applied by the Miao and Zhuang nationalities for the treatment of liver diseases, such as acute liver injury and liver fibrosis. As a kind of ethnomedicine, the report on its chemical analysis was still blank, which restricted its clinical application. Therefore, this paper aimed to illustrate the chemical characteristics of Radix Cudramiae. A rapid analytical strategy based on ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry was developed to profile the natural small-molecular compounds in Radix Cudramiae, as well as the related prototypes and their metabolites in rats after drug administration. As a result, a total of 74 compounds were detected in the aqueous exact of Radix Cudramiae. In vivo, 45 chemicals including 16 prototypes and 29 metabolites in rat serum, along with 35 chemicals including 17 prototypes and 18 metabolites in rat liver, were screened out and identified. For the first time, the chemical constituents of Radix Cudramiae and their metabolic characteristics were discovered. It was hoped that this work would be beneficial for the safe and effective application of Radix Cudramiae in a clinic.

Therapeutic mechanisms of mulberry leaves in type 2 diabetes based on metabolomics

Background: Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is considered as one of the most significant metabolic syndromes worldwide, and the long-term use of the drugs already on the market for T2D often gives rise to some side effects. The mulberry leaf (ML), Morus alba L., has advantages in terms of its comprehensive therapeutic efficacy, which are characterized as multicomponent, multitarget, multipathway, and matching with the complex pathological mechanisms of diabetes.

Methods: T2D rats were established by a high-fat diet combined with an intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin; an evaluation of the hypoglycemic effects of the ML in combination with fasting blood glucose and other indicators, in addition to the utilization of metabolomics technology, was performed to analysis the metabolite changes in serum of rats.

Results: MLs significantly reduced the fasting blood glucose of T2D rats, while improving the symptoms of polyphagia and polyuria. ML treatment altered the levels of various metabolites in the serum of T2D rats, which are involved in multiple metabolic pathways (amino acid metabolism, carbohydrate metabolism, and lipid metabolism), played a role in antioxidative stress and anti-inflammation, modulated immune and gluconeogenesis processes, and improved obesity as well as insulin resistance (IR).

Conclusion: The ML contains a variety of chemical components, and metabolomic results have shown that MLs regulate multiple metabolic pathways to exert hypoglycemic effects, suggesting that MLs may have great promise in the development of new hypoglycemic drugs.