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Wu Y, Liu S, Ren T, Ma L, Luo J, Zhang M, Li F, Dai Y, Zheng F, Pi Z, Yue H. Ginseng fermentation solution affects the gut microbiota in zebrafish with alcoholic liver disease via PI3K/Akt pathway. PHYTOMEDICINE : INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHYTOTHERAPY AND PHYTOPHARMACOLOGY 2024; 128:155495. [PMID: 38471317 DOI: 10.1016/j.phymed.2024.155495] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2023] [Revised: 02/21/2024] [Accepted: 02/26/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Ginsenosides have received increased amounts of attention due to their ability to modulate the intestinal flora, which may subsequently alleviate alcoholic liver disease (ALD). The effects of ginseng fermentation solution (GFS) on the gut microbiota and metabolism in ALD patients have not been explored. PURPOSE This research aimed to explore the regulatory effect of GFS on ALD both in vitro and in vivo. METHOD This study assessed the anti-ALD efficacy of GFS using an LO2 cell model and a zebrafish model. Untargeted metabolomics was used for differentially abundant metabolite analysis, and high-throughput 16S rRNA sequencing was used to examine the effect of GFS on ALD. RESULTS The LO2 cell line experiments demonstrated that GFS effectively mitigated alcohol-induced oxidative stress and reduced apoptosis by upregulating PI3K and Bcl-2 expression and decreasing the levels of malondialdehyde, total cholesterol, and triglycerides. In zebrafish, GFS improved morphological and physiological parameters and diminished oxidative stress-induced ALD. Meanwhile, the results from Western blotting indicated that GFS enhanced the expression of PI3K, Akt, and Bcl-2 proteins while reducing Bax protein expression, thereby ameliorating the ALD model in zebrafish. Metabolomics data revealed significant changes in a total of 46 potential biomarkers. Among them, metabolites such as prostaglandin F2 alpha belong to arachidonic acid metabolism. In addition, GFS also partly reversed the imbalance of gut microbiota composition caused by alcohol. At the genus level, alcohol consumption elevated the presence of Flectobacillus, Curvibacter, among others, and diminished Elizabethkingia within the intestinal microbes of zebrafish. Conversely, GFS reversed these effects, notably enhancing the abundance of Proteobacteria and Archaea. Correlation analyses further indicated a significant negative correlation between prostaglandin F2 alpha, 11,14,15-THETA, Taurocholic acid and Curvibacter. CONCLUSION This study highlights a novel mechanism by which GFS modulates anti-ALD activity through the PI3K/Akt signalling pathway by influencing the intestinal flora-metabolite axis. These results indicate the potential of GFS as a functional food for ALD treatment via modulation of the gut flora.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yongxi Wu
- Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, Changchun, Jilin 130117, PR China
| | - Shuhan Liu
- Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, Changchun, Jilin 130117, PR China
| | - Tao Ren
- Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, Changchun, Jilin 130117, PR China
| | - Liting Ma
- Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, Changchun, Jilin 130117, PR China
| | - Jing Luo
- Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, Changchun, Jilin 130117, PR China
| | - Meiyu Zhang
- Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, Changchun, Jilin 130117, PR China
| | - Fangtong Li
- Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, Changchun, Jilin 130117, PR China
| | - Yulin Dai
- Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, Changchun, Jilin 130117, PR China
| | - Fei Zheng
- Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, Changchun, Jilin 130117, PR China.
| | - Zifeng Pi
- Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, Changchun, Jilin 130117, PR China.
| | - Hao Yue
- Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, Changchun, Jilin 130117, PR China
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Yang N, Zhang J, Guo J, Xiang Q, Huang Y, Wen J, Liu Q, Hu T, Chen Y, Rao C. Revealing the mechanism of Zanthoxylum armatum DC. extract-induced liver injury in mice based on lipidomics. JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY 2024; 319:117086. [PMID: 37634752 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2023.117086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2023] [Revised: 08/19/2023] [Accepted: 08/23/2023] [Indexed: 08/29/2023]
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE Zanthoxylum armatum DC. (Z. armatum) is an herbal medicine with various active ingredients and pharmacological effects. However, modern studies found that Z. armatum is hepatotoxic. The liver is the target organ for toxic effects and an important site for lipid metabolism. The effects of Z. armatum on lipid level and metabolism in the liver are still unclear. AIM OF THE STUDY This study aimed to analyze hepatic lipid levels, lipid metabolites and metabolic pathways of action of Z. armatum based on lipidomics, to investigate the potential hepatotoxic mechanism of Z. armatum. MATERIALS AND METHODS Different doses (62, 96, and 150 mg/kg) of the methanolic extract of Z. armatum (MZADC) were administered to ICR mice by gavage. The hepatotoxicity of MZADC was assessed by the liver index, serum biochemical measurements, and histopathological examination. Lipid levels measured by the serum lipid index were evaluated in the mice. Lipidomics was used to screen for differential lipid metabolism markers and lipid metabolism pathways in the liver. Western blot analysis was performed to investigate the effects of MZADC on the liver. RESULTS Liver index values and serum alanine transaminase and aspartate transaminase levels were increased in the MZADC group. Histopathology examination revealed hepatocyte necrosis, watery degeneration of the hepatocytes, and hepatic cord rupture in the livers of mice. Serum levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, cholesterol, and triglycerides were elevated, and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels were decreased. Lipidomics screening for markers of differential lipid metabolism in the liver, and altered profiles of differential metabolites indicated that glycerophospholipid metabolism, linoleic acid metabolism, alpha-linolenic acid metabolism, glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored biosynthesis, sphingolipid metabolism and arachidonic acid metabolic pathways were significantly associated with MZADC-induced liver injury. Western blots confirmed that the protein expression of LC3, Beclin-1, ATG5, ATG12 and ATG16L1 was decreased, and p62 was increased in the MZADC group. The proportion of p-PI3K/PI3K and p-AKT/AKT was increased. CONCLUSIONS The liver injury induced by MZADC involved many different lipid metabolites and lipid metabolic pathways, which may be related to autophagy. This study provides a new perspective on the hepatotoxicity study of Z. armatum and provides a reference for the safe application of Z. armatum in the medicine and food fields.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nannan Yang
- School of Public Health, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, Sichuan, 611137, China
| | - Jian Zhang
- School of Public Health, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, Sichuan, 611137, China
| | - Jiafu Guo
- School of Public Health, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, Sichuan, 611137, China
| | - Qiwen Xiang
- School of Public Health, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, Sichuan, 611137, China
| | - Yan Huang
- Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, Sichuan, 611137, China
| | - Jiayu Wen
- School of Public Health, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, Sichuan, 611137, China
| | - Qiuyan Liu
- School of Public Health, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, Sichuan, 611137, China
| | - Tingting Hu
- School of Public Health, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, Sichuan, 611137, China
| | - Yan Chen
- School of Public Health, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, Sichuan, 611137, China; Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, Sichuan, 611137, China.
| | - Chaolong Rao
- School of Public Health, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, Sichuan, 611137, China; Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, Sichuan, 611137, China; R&D Center for Efficiency, Safety and Application in Chinese Materia Medica with Medical and Edible Values, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, Sichuan, 611137, China.
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Zhao B, Li Y, Wang B, Liu J, Yang Y, Quan Q, An Q, Liang R, Liu C, Yang C. Uncovering the Anti-Angiogenic Mechanisms of Centella asiatica via Network Pharmacology and Experimental Validation. Molecules 2024; 29:362. [PMID: 38257275 PMCID: PMC10821292 DOI: 10.3390/molecules29020362] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2023] [Revised: 01/08/2024] [Accepted: 01/09/2024] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Centella asiatica (CA) has been used to address cancer for centuries in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). Previous studies demonstrated its anti-angiogenesis efficacy, but the underlying mechanism of its action remains to be further clarified. This study aims to investigate the underlying mechanisms of CA and its triterpenes in anti-angiogenesis for cancer therapeutics through network pharmacology and experimental validation. METHODS Cytoscape was used to construct a network of compound-disease targets and protein-protein interactions (PPIs) from which core targets were identified. GO and KEGG analyses were performed using Metascape, and the AutoDock-Vina program was used to realize molecular docking for further verification. Then, VEGF165 was employed to establish an induced angiogenesis model. The anti-angiogenic effects of CA were evaluated through assays measuring cell proliferation, migration, and tubular structure formation. RESULTS Twenty-five active ingredients in CA had potential targets for anti-angiogenesis including madecassoside, asiaticoside, madecassic acid, asiatic acid, and asiaticoside B. In total, 138 potential targets for CA were identified, with 19 core targets, including STAT3, SRC, MAPK1, and AKT1. A KEGG analysis showed that CA is implicated in cancer-related pathways, specifically PD-1 and AGE-RAGE. Molecular docking verified that the active components of CA have good binding energy with the first four important targets of angiogenesis. In experimental validation, the extracts and triterpenes of CA improved VEGF165-induced angiogenesis by reducing the proliferation, migration, and tube formation of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). CONCLUSIONS Our results initially demonstrate the effective components and great anti-angiogenic activity of CA. Evidence of the satisfactory anti-angiogenic action of the extracts and triterpenes from CA was verified, suggesting CA's significant potential as a prospective agent for the therapy of cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bingtian Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Synthetic and Biological Colloids, Ministry of Education, School of Chemical and Material Engineering, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China; (Y.L.); (B.W.); (J.L.); (R.L.); (C.L.)
| | - Yuanyuan Li
- Key Laboratory of Synthetic and Biological Colloids, Ministry of Education, School of Chemical and Material Engineering, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China; (Y.L.); (B.W.); (J.L.); (R.L.); (C.L.)
| | - Binya Wang
- Key Laboratory of Synthetic and Biological Colloids, Ministry of Education, School of Chemical and Material Engineering, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China; (Y.L.); (B.W.); (J.L.); (R.L.); (C.L.)
| | - Jing Liu
- Key Laboratory of Synthetic and Biological Colloids, Ministry of Education, School of Chemical and Material Engineering, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China; (Y.L.); (B.W.); (J.L.); (R.L.); (C.L.)
| | - Yang Yang
- Yunnan Baiyao Group Shanghai Science & Technology Co., Ltd., Shanghai 201100, China; (Y.Y.); (Q.Q.); (Q.A.)
- East Asia Skin Health Research Center, Beijing 100037, China
| | - Qianghua Quan
- Yunnan Baiyao Group Shanghai Science & Technology Co., Ltd., Shanghai 201100, China; (Y.Y.); (Q.Q.); (Q.A.)
- East Asia Skin Health Research Center, Beijing 100037, China
| | - Quan An
- Yunnan Baiyao Group Shanghai Science & Technology Co., Ltd., Shanghai 201100, China; (Y.Y.); (Q.Q.); (Q.A.)
- East Asia Skin Health Research Center, Beijing 100037, China
| | - Rong Liang
- Key Laboratory of Synthetic and Biological Colloids, Ministry of Education, School of Chemical and Material Engineering, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China; (Y.L.); (B.W.); (J.L.); (R.L.); (C.L.)
| | - Chunhuan Liu
- Key Laboratory of Synthetic and Biological Colloids, Ministry of Education, School of Chemical and Material Engineering, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China; (Y.L.); (B.W.); (J.L.); (R.L.); (C.L.)
| | - Cheng Yang
- Key Laboratory of Synthetic and Biological Colloids, Ministry of Education, School of Chemical and Material Engineering, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China; (Y.L.); (B.W.); (J.L.); (R.L.); (C.L.)
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Chen XC, Huang LF, Tang JX, Wu D, An N, Ye ZN, Lan HY, Liu HF, Yang C. Asiatic acid alleviates cisplatin-induced renal fibrosis in tumor-bearing mice by improving the TFEB-mediated autophagy-lysosome pathway. Biomed Pharmacother 2023; 165:115122. [PMID: 37413899 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2023.115122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2023] [Revised: 06/29/2023] [Accepted: 07/01/2023] [Indexed: 07/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Nephrotoxicity is a major side effect of cisplatin treatment of solid tumors in the clinical setting. Long-term low-dose cisplatin administration causes renal fibrosis and inflammation. However, few specific medicines with clinical application value have been developed to reduce or treat the nephrotoxic side effects of cisplatin without affecting its tumor-killing effect. The present study analyzed the potential reno-protective effect and mechanism of asiatic acid (AA) in long-term cisplatin-treated nude mice suffering from tumors. AA treatment significantly attenuated renal injury, inflammation, and fibrosis induced by long-term cisplatin injection in tumor-bearing mice. AA administration notably suppressed tubular necroptosis and improved the autophagy-lysosome pathway disruption caused by chronic cisplatin treatment in tumor-transplanted nude mice and HK-2 cells. AA promoted transcription factor EB (TFEB)-mediated lysosome biogenesis and reduced the accumulation of damaged lysosomes, resulting in enhanced autophagy flux. Mechanistically, AA increased TFEB expression by rebalancing Smad7/Smad3, whereas siRNA inhibition of Smad7 or TFEB abolished the effect of AA on autophagy flux in HK-2 cells. In addition, AA treatment did not weaken, but actually enhanced the anti-tumor effect of cisplatin, as evidenced by the promoted tumor apoptosis and inhibited proliferation in nude mice. In summary, AA alleviates cisplatin-induced renal fibrosis in tumor-bearing mice by improving the TFEB-mediated autophagy-lysosome pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao-Cui Chen
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Autophagy and Major Chronic Non-communicable Diseases, Key Laboratory of Prevention and Management of Chronic Kidney Disease of Zhanjiang City, Institute of Nephrology, Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, Guangdong 524001, China
| | - Li-Feng Huang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Autophagy and Major Chronic Non-communicable Diseases, Key Laboratory of Prevention and Management of Chronic Kidney Disease of Zhanjiang City, Institute of Nephrology, Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, Guangdong 524001, China
| | - Ji-Xin Tang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Autophagy and Major Chronic Non-communicable Diseases, Key Laboratory of Prevention and Management of Chronic Kidney Disease of Zhanjiang City, Institute of Nephrology, Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, Guangdong 524001, China
| | - Dan Wu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Autophagy and Major Chronic Non-communicable Diseases, Key Laboratory of Prevention and Management of Chronic Kidney Disease of Zhanjiang City, Institute of Nephrology, Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, Guangdong 524001, China
| | - Ning An
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Autophagy and Major Chronic Non-communicable Diseases, Key Laboratory of Prevention and Management of Chronic Kidney Disease of Zhanjiang City, Institute of Nephrology, Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, Guangdong 524001, China
| | - Zhen-Nan Ye
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Autophagy and Major Chronic Non-communicable Diseases, Key Laboratory of Prevention and Management of Chronic Kidney Disease of Zhanjiang City, Institute of Nephrology, Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, Guangdong 524001, China
| | - Hui-Yao Lan
- Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, China; Guangdong-Hong Kong Joint Laboratory on Immunological and Genetic Kidney Diseases, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, Guangzhou, China
| | - Hua-Feng Liu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Autophagy and Major Chronic Non-communicable Diseases, Key Laboratory of Prevention and Management of Chronic Kidney Disease of Zhanjiang City, Institute of Nephrology, Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, Guangdong 524001, China.
| | - Chen Yang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Autophagy and Major Chronic Non-communicable Diseases, Key Laboratory of Prevention and Management of Chronic Kidney Disease of Zhanjiang City, Institute of Nephrology, Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, Guangdong 524001, China.
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Zhong Y, Xu Y, Tan Y, Zhang X, Wang R, Chen D, Wang Z, Zhong X. Lipidomics of the erythrocyte membrane and network pharmacology to explore the mechanism of mangiferin from Anemarrhenae rhizoma in treating type 2 diabetes mellitus rats. J Pharm Biomed Anal 2023; 230:115386. [PMID: 37044004 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpba.2023.115386] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2023] [Revised: 03/23/2023] [Accepted: 04/03/2023] [Indexed: 04/14/2023]
Abstract
Mangiferin, a natural C-glucoside xanthone, is one of the major bioactive ingredients derived from the dry rhizome of Anemarrhenae rhizome, which has been reported to exhibit various pharmacological effects, including anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-fatty liver, anti-metabolic syndrome, and anti-diabetic. However, the precise molecular mechanisms underlying its impact on phospholipid metabolism in the erythrocyte membrane of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) remain unclear. The present research aimed to evaluate the effects of mangiferin on glucose and lipid metabolism in T2DM model rats and discuss the relationship between lipid metabolites and potential targets involved in the hypoglycemic effects by integrating lipidomics and network pharmacology method. After 8 consecutive weeks of treatment with mangiferin, the T2DM model rats exhibited significant improvements in several biochemical indices and cytokines, including fasting blood glucose (FBG) levels after 12 h of fasting, fasting insulin level (FINS), total cholesterol (T-CHO), triacylglycerols (TG), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HMOA-IR), TNF-α and IL-6. A total of 22 differential lipid metabolites were selected from erythrocyte membrane phospholipids, which were closely associated with the processes of T2DM. These metabolites mainly belonged to glycerophospholipid metabolism and sphingolipid metabolism. Based on network pharmacology analysis, 22 genes were recognized as the potential targets of mangiferin against diabetes. Moreover, molecular docking analysis revealed that the targets of TNF, CASP3, PTGS2, MMP9, RELA, PLA2G2A, PPARA, and NOS3 could be involved in the modulation of inflammatory signaling pathways and arachidonic acid (AA) metabolism to improve IR and hyperglycemia. The combination of immunohistochemical staining and PCR showed that mangiferin could treat T2DM by regulating the expression of PPARγ protein and NF-κB mRNA expression to impact glycerophospholipids (GPs) and AA metabolism. The present study showed that mangiferin might alleviate IR and hyperglycemia of T2DM model rats via multiple targets and multiple pathways to adjust their phospholipid metabolism, which may be the underlying mechanism for mangiferin in the treatment of T2DM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanmei Zhong
- Centre for Drug Research and Development, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, 280 Waihuan East Road, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Yingying Xu
- Department of Pharmacy, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, 250 Changgang East Road, Guangzhou 510260, China
| | - Yongzhen Tan
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, 250 Changgang East Road, Guangzhou 510260, China
| | - Xuanxuan Zhang
- Centre for Drug Research and Development, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, 280 Waihuan East Road, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Ruolun Wang
- Department of Pharmacy, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, 250 Changgang East Road, Guangzhou 510260, China
| | - Danmin Chen
- Institute of Neuroscience, Department of Neurosurgery, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, 250 Changgang East Road, Guangzhou 510260, China
| | - Zhaotao Wang
- Institute of Neuroscience, Department of Neurosurgery, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, 250 Changgang East Road, Guangzhou 510260, China.
| | - Xunlong Zhong
- Department of Pharmacy, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, 250 Changgang East Road, Guangzhou 510260, China.
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