Systematic review of recent advances in pharmacokinetics of four classical Chinese medicines used for the treatment of cerebrovascular disease

Ligustrazine as a multitarget scaffold in drug design and discovery

Ligustrazine has gained significant attention for its unique structural role in natural medicinal chemistry and its potential in drug discovery and development. The ligustrazine structure has been recognized as a clinical drug for treating cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, especially in the design of neuroprotective agents. Recently, ligustrazine-based anti-tumor agents have also been reported. This knowledge can undoubtedly be applied to design multi-target-directed ligands, a highly relevant strategy for the complex pathological conditions of multifactorial diseases. In this review, we first discuss the biological properties and clinical applications of ligustrazine, then focus on the rational design of ligustrazine-based multifunctional ligands.

Ginsenoside Rg1: A bioactive therapeutic agent for diverse liver diseases

Diverse liver diseases are characterised by late diagnosis and rapid progression and have become one of the major threats to human health. To delay the transition from benign tissue lesions to a substantial organ injury, scientists have gradually applied natural compounds derived from plants as a complementary therapy in the field of hepatology. Ginseng (Panax ginseng C. A. Meyer) is a tonic traditional Chinese herbal medicine, and natural products, including ginsenoside Rg1 (G-Rg1), which is a kind of 20(S)-protopanaxatriol saponin with a relatively high biological activity, can be isolated from the roots or stems of ginseng. Given these information, this review aimed to summarise and discuss the metabolic mechanisms of G-Rg1 in the regulation of diverse liver diseases and the measures to improve its bioavailability. As a kind of monomer in Chinese medicine with multitarget pharmacological effects, G-Rg1 can provide significant therapeutic benefits in the alleviation of alcoholic liver disease, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, liver fibrosis, viral hepatitis, etc., which mainly rely on the inhibition of apoptosis, strengthening endogenous anti-inflammatory and antioxidant mechanisms, activation of immune responses and regulation of efflux transport signals, to improve pathological changes in the liver caused by lipid deposition, inflammation, oxidative stress, accumulation of hepatotoxic product, etc. However, the poor bioavailability of G-Rg1 must be overcome to improve its clinical application value. In summary, focusing on the hepatoprotective benefits of G-Rg1 will provide new insights into the development of natural Chinese medicine resources and their pharmaceutical products to target the treatment of liver diseases.

Porous phenolic resin regulated by alcohol-based deep eutectic solvent for selective extraction and separation of tanshinones from Salvia miltiorrhiza

Deep eutectic solvents (DES), regarded as promising green solvents, have gained attention due to their distinctive properties, particularly in analytical chemistry. While the use of DES in solvent extraction and separation has been extensively studied, its application in the synthesis of adsorbents has just begun. Phenolic resin, with its polyhydroxy structure and stable spherical morphology, could serve as an effective as adsorbents for enrichment of active ingredients in herbal medicine. Designing adsorbents with high selectivity and adsorption capacity presents a critical challenge in the enrichment of active ingredients in herbal medicine. In this study, alcohol-based DESs were employed as regulators of morphology and structure instead of organic solvents, facilitating the creation of polyhydroxy structure, adjustable pores and high specific surface areas. The resulting DES-regulated porous phenolic resin demonstrated enhanced extraction and separation capacity for active ingredients compared to conventional spherical phenolic resin owing to the alcohol-based DES offering more interaction modes with the analytes.

Research Advances in Cardio-Cerebrovascular Diseases of Ligusticum chuanxiong Hort

Cardio-cerebrovascular diseases (CVDs) are a serious threat to human health and account for 31% of global mortality. Ligusticum chuanxiong Hort. (CX) is derived from umbellifer plants. Its rhizome, leaves, and fibrous roots are similar in composition but have different contents. It has been used in Japanese, Korean, and other traditional medicine for over 2000 years. Currently, it is mostly cultivated and has high safety and low side effects. Due to the lack of a systematic summary of the efficacy of CX in the treatment of CVDs, this article describes the material basis, molecular mechanism, and clinical efficacy of CX, as well as its combined application in the treatment of CVDs, and has been summarized from the perspective of safety. In particular, the pharmacological effect of CX in the treatment of CVDs is highlighted from the point of view of its mechanism, and the complex mechanism network has been determined to improve the understanding of CX's multi-link and multi-target therapeutic effects, including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and endothelial cells. This article offers a new and modern perspective on the impact of CX on CVDs.

Advanced Bioinformatics Tools in the Pharmacokinetic Profiles of Natural and Synthetic Compounds with Anti-Diabetic Activity

Diabetes represents a major health problem, involving a severe imbalance of blood sugar levels, which can disturb the nerves, eyes, kidneys, and other organs. Diabes management involves several synthetic drugs focused on improving insulin sensitivity, increasing insulin production, and decreasing blood glucose levels, but with unclear molecular mechanisms and severe side effects. Natural chemicals extracted from several plants such as Gymnema sylvestre, Momordica charantia or Ophiopogon planiscapus Niger have aroused great interest for their anti-diabetes activity, but also their hypolipidemic and anti-obesity activity. Here, we focused on the anti-diabetic activity of a few natural and synthetic compounds, in correlation with their pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic profiles, especially with their blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability. We reviewed studies that used bioinformatics methods such as predicted BBB, molecular docking, molecular dynamics and quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) to elucidate the proper action mechanisms of antidiabetic compounds. Currently, it is evident that BBB damage plays a significant role in diabetes disorders, but the molecular mechanisms are not clear. Here, we presented the efficacy of natural (gymnemic acids, quercetin, resveratrol) and synthetic (TAK-242, propofol, or APX3330) compounds in reducing diabetes symptoms and improving BBB dysfunctions. Bioinformatics tools can be helpful in the quest for chemical compounds with effective anti-diabetic activity that can enhance the druggability of molecular targets and provide a deeper understanding of diabetes mechanisms.

The RIG-I Signal Pathway Mediated Panax notoginseng Saponin Anti-Inflammatory Effect in Ischemia Stroke

Panax notoginseng saponins (PNS), the main bioactive constituents of a traditional Chinese herb Panax notoginseng, were commonly used for ischemic stroke in China. However, the associated cellular and molecular mechanisms of PNS have not been well examined. This study aimed to decipher the underlying molecular target of PNS in the treatment of cerebral ischemia. The oxygen-glucose-deprived (OGD) model of rat brain microvascular endothelial cells (BMECs) was used in this study. The alteration of gene expression in rat BMECs after PNS treatment was measured by microarray and indicated that there were 38 signaling pathways regulated by PNS. Among them, RIG-I receptor and related signaling molecules TNF receptor-associated factor 2 (Traf2) and nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) were significantly suppressed by PNS, which was verified again in OGD-induced BMECs measured by FQ-PCR and western blotting and in middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) rats measured by immunohistochemistry. The levels of TNF-α, IL-8, and the downstream cytokines regulated by RIG-I receptor pathway were also decreased by PNS. Meanwhile, the neurological evaluation, hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining, and Evans blue staining were conducted to evaluate the effect of PNS in MCAO rats. Results showed PNS significantly improved functional outcome and cerebral vascular leakage. Flow cytometry showed the number of the inflammatory cells infiltrated in brain tissue was decreased in PNS treatment. Our results identified that RIG-I signaling pathway mediated anti-inflammatory properties of PNS in cerebral ischemia, which provided the novel insights of PNS application in clinics.

Synthesis and biological evaluation of novel ligustrazine-chalcone derivatives as potential anti-triple negative breast cancer agents

A series of novel ligustrazine-chalcone hybrids were synthesized and evaluated for their in vitro and in vivo antitumor activities. The results showed that most of these compounds exhibited significant in vitro cytotoxicity against MDA-MB-231, MCF-7, A549 and HepG2 cell lines with IC50 values as low as sub-micromole. Among them, compounds 6c and 6f possessed better comprehensive characteristics for the antiproliferation effects on both MDA-MB-231 (IC50: 6c, 1.60 ± 0.21 μM; 6f, 1.67 ± 1.25 μM) and MCF-7 (IC50: 6c, 1.41 ± 0.23 μM; 6f, 1.54 ± 0.30 μM). They also exhibited the potent colony-formation inhibitory abilities on above two cell lines in both concentration and time dependent manners, as well as the significantly suppression capabilities against the migration of such cell lines in a concentration dependent manner by wound-healing assay. Of note, compound 6c could significantly induce the apoptosis of MDA-MB-231 cells in a concentration dependent manner and inhibited the transformation of the growth cycle of MDA-MB-231 cells and blocked the cell growth cycle in G0/G1 phase. Moreover, the in vivo antiproliferation assay of compound 6c on TNBC model indicated such compound had a remarkable potency against tumor growth with a widely safety window. Further immunohistochemistry analysis illustrated that compound 6c was provided with a potent capacity to significantly reduce the Ki-67 positive rate in a dose dependent manner. All the results suggested that these hybrids presented both in vitro and in vivo proliferation inhibition potency against breast cancer and further development with good therapeutic potential should be of great interest.

A Pivotal Role of the Nrf2 Signaling Pathway in Spinal Cord Injury: A Prospective Therapeutics Study

The nuclear erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) signaling pathway has a main role against oxidative stress and inflammation. Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) leads to the high secretion of inflammatory cytokines and reactive oxygen species, which disturbs nervous system function and regeneration. Several studies have indicated that the activation of the Nrf2 signaling pathway may be effective against inflammation after SCI. The experimental studies have indicated that many chemical and natural agents act as Nrf2 inducer, which inhibits the SCI progression. Thus, the finding of novel Nrf2- inducer anti-inflammatory agents may be a valuable approach in drug discovery. In the present review, we discussed the Nrf2 signal pathway and crosstalk with the NF-κB pathway and also the impact of this pathway on inflammation in animal models of SCI. Furthermore, we discussed the regulation of Nrf2 by several phytochemicals and drugs, as well as their effects on the SCI inhibition. Therefore, the current study presented a new hypothesis of the development of anti-inflammatory agents that mediate the Nrf2 signaling pathway for treating the SCI outcomes.

Ligustilide enhances hippocampal neural stem cells activation to restore cognitive function in the context of postoperative cognitive dysfunction

Ligustilide exerts potential neuroprotective effects against various cerebral ischaemic insults and neurodegenerative disorders. However, the function and mechanisms of LIG-mediated hippocampal neural stem cells (H-NSCs) activation as well as cognitive recovery in the context of post-operative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) remain elusive and need to be explored. Mice were subjected to transient global cerebral ischaemia and reperfusion (tGCI/R) injury and treated with LIG (80 mg/kg) or vehicle for 1 month. Morris water maze test and western blot were employed to assess cognitive function. Nissl staining and immunofluorescence (IF) staining were used to detect H-NSCs proliferation and neurogenesis in hippocampus. Subsequently, primary H-NSCs were treated with LIG, and the level of H-NSCs proliferation and neuronal-differentiation was examined by IF staining for Edu and β-Tubulin III. The protein levels of ERK1/2, β-catenin, NICD, TLR4, Akt and FoxO1 were examined using western blotting. Finally, pretreatment with the ERK agonist SCH772984 was performed to observe the change in ERK expression. LIG treatment promoted H-NSCs proliferation and neurogenesis, increased the number of neurons in the hippocampal subfields, and ultimately reversed cognitive impairment in tGCI/R injury. Furthermore, LIG also promoted primary H-NSCs proliferation and neuronal-differentiation, as well as ERK1/2 phosphorylation. Pretreatment with SCH772984 effectively reversed the ability of LIG to induce ERK1/2 phosphorylation and promote H-NSCs proliferation and neuronal-differentiation. LIG can promote cognitive recovery after tGCI/R injury by activating ERK1/2 in H-NSCs to promote their proliferation and neurogenesis in the hippocampus. Therefore, LIG has potential for use in the prevention and/or treatment of POCD.

The Tetramethylpyrazine Derivative Statmp-151: A Novel Small Molecule Stat3 Inhibitor With Promising Activity Against Breast Cancer

Breast cancer is the most common malignancy in women and is a molecularly heterogeneous disease. Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (Stat3) is overexpressed and hyperactivated in a variety of human tumours, including breast cancer, thus representing a promising target for breast cancer treatment. In the present study, we evaluated the activities of a novel Stat3 inhibitor named Statmp-151 in the human breast cancer cell lines MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 and the murine mammary carcinoma cell line 4T1. The in vitro results showed that Statmp-151 inhibited the proliferation of breast cancer cell lines in a dose- and time-dependent manner and suppressed the phosphorylation of Stat3 in a dose-dependent manner. Flow cytometry (FCM) assays revealed that Statmp-151 affected mitochondrial membrane potential and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. Furthermore, Statmp-151 inhibited cell migration, as shown by analysis of the matrix metalloproteinases MMP2 and MMP9. Finally, in a 4T1 tumour-bearing mouse model, intraperitoneal injection of 30 mg/kg/day Statmp-151 significantly suppressed the growth of tumours without obvious toxicity. These results indicated that Statmp-151 might be a potential candidate for the treatment of breast cancer.

Classical Active Ingredients and Extracts of Chinese Herbal Medicines: Pharmacokinetics, Pharmacodynamics, and Molecular Mechanisms for Ischemic Stroke

Stroke is a leading cause of death and disability worldwide, and approximately 87% of cases are attributed to ischemia. The main factors that cause ischemic stroke include excitotoxicity, energy metabolism disorder, Ca⁺ overload, oxidative damage, apoptosis, autophagy, and inflammation. However, no effective drug is currently available for the comprehensive treatment of ischemic stroke in clinical applications; thus, there is an urgent need to find and develop comprehensive and effective drugs to treat postischemic stroke. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has unique advantages in treating ischemic stroke, with overall regulatory effects at multiple levels and on multiple targets. Many researchers have studied the effective components of TCMs and have achieved undeniable results. This paper reviews studies on the anticerebral ischemia effects of TCM monomers such as tetramethylpyrazine (TMP), dl-3-n-butylphthalide (NBP), ginsenoside Rg1 (Rg1), tanshinone IIA (TSA), gastrodin (Gas), and baicalin (BA) as well as effective extracts such as Ginkgo biloba extract (EGB). Research on the anticerebral ischemia effects of TCMs has focused mostly on their antioxidative stress, antiapoptotic, anti-inflammatory, proangiogenic, and proneurogenic effects. However, the research on the use of TCM to treat ischemic stroke remains incompletely characterized. Thus, we summarized and considered this topic from the perspective of pharmacokinetics, pharmacological effects, and mechanistic research, and we have provided a reference basis for future research and development on anticerebral ischemia TCM drugs.

Ligustrazine Suppresses Platelet-Derived Growth Factor-BB-Induced Pulmonary Artery Smooth Muscle Cell Proliferation and Inflammation by Regulating the PI3K/AKT Signaling Pathway

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a serious pulmonary vascular disease. Excessive proliferation of pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (PASMCs) plays an important role in the course of this disease. Ligustrazine is an alkaloid monomer extracted from the rhizome of the herb Ligusticum chuanxiong. It is often used to treat cardiovascular diseases, but its effect on PAH has rarely been reported. This study aims to explore the protective effect and mechanism of ligustrazine on PAH. In the in vivo experiment, monocrotaline (MCT) was used to induce PAH in rats, and then ligustrazine (40, 80, 160 mg/kg/day) or sildenafil (25 mg/kg/day) was administered. Four weeks later, hemodynamic changes, right ventricular hypertrophy index, lung morphological characteristics, inflammatory factors, phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K), and AKT expression were evaluated. In addition, primary rat PASMCs were extracted by the tissue adhesion method, a proliferation model was established with platelet-derived growth factor-BB (PDGF-BB), and the cells were treated with ligustrazine to investigate its effects on cell proliferation, inflammation, and cell cycle distribution. The results indicate that ligustrazine can markedly alleviate right ventricular systolic pressure, right ventricular hypertrophy, pulmonary vascular remodeling, and inflammation caused by MCT, and that it decreased PI3K and AKT phosphorylation expression. Moreover, ligustrazine can inhibit the proliferation and inflammation of PASMCs and arrest the progression of G0/G1 to S phase through the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. Therefore, we conclude that ligustrazine may inhibit the proliferation and inflammation of PASMCs by regulating the activation of the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway, thereby attenuating MCT-induced PAH in rats. Collectively, these findings suggest that ligustrazine may be a promising therapeutic for PAH.

Blood-Spinal Cord Barrier in Spinal Cord Injury: A Review

The blood-spinal cord barrier (BSCB), a physical barrier between the blood and spinal cord parenchyma, prevents the toxins, blood cells, and pathogens from entering the spinal cord and maintains a tightly controlled chemical balance in the spinal environment, which is necessary for proper neural function. A BSCB disruption, however, plays an important role in primary and secondary injury processes related to spinal cord injury (SCI). After SCI, the structure of the BSCB is broken down, which leads directly to leakage of blood components. At the same time, the permeability of the BSCB is also increased. Repairing the disruption of the BSCB could alleviate the SCI pathology. We review the morphology and pathology of the BSCB and progression of therapeutic methods targeting BSCB in SCI.

Salvianolic Acid B Protects Intervertebral Discs from Oxidative Stress-Induced Degeneration via Activation of the JAK2/STAT3 Signaling Pathway

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the influence of salvianolic acid B (SAB), an antioxidant derived from Danshen, on intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD) and its possible molecular mechanisms.

METHODS

Sixty adult rats were randomly grouped (control, IDD, and SAB IDD groups). IDD was induced using needle puncture. The rats received daily administration of SAB (20 mg/kg) in the SAB IDD group while the other two groups received only distilled water. The extent of IDD was evaluated using MRI after 3 and 6 weeks and histology after 6 weeks. Oxidative stress was assessed using the ELISA method. In in vitro experiments, nucleus pulposus cells (NPCs) were treated with H2O2 (100 μM) or SAB+H2O2, and levels of oxidative stress were measured. Cell apoptosis was assessed by flow cytometry, expression levels of Bcl-2, Bax, and cleaved caspase-3 proteins. Cell proliferation rate was assessed by EdU analysis. Pathway involvement was determined by Western blotting while the influence of the pathway on NPCs was explored using the pathway inhibitor AG490.

RESULTS

The data demonstrate that SAB attenuated injury-induced IDD and oxidative stress, caused by activation of the JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway in vivo. Oxidative stress induced by H2O2 was reversed by SAB in vitro. SAB reduced the increased cell apoptosis, cleaved caspase-3 expression, and caspase-3 activity induced by H2O2. Reduced cell proliferation and decreased Bcl-2/Bax ratio induced by H2O2 were rescued by SAB. Additionally, the JAK2/STAT3 pathway was activated by SAB, while AG490 counteracted this effect.

CONCLUSION

The results suggest that SAB protects intervertebral discs from oxidative stress-induced degeneration by enhancing proliferation and attenuating apoptosis via activation of the JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway.

The effects of borneol on the pharmacokinetics and brain distribution of tanshinone IIA, salvianolic acid B and ginsenoside Rg1 in Fufang Danshen preparation in rats

Fufang Danshen preparation (FDP) is consisted of Salviae Miltiorrhizar Radix et Rhizoma (Danshen), Notoginseng Radix et Rhizoma (Sanqi) and Borneolum Syntheticum (borneol). FDP is usually used to treat myocardial ischemia hypoxia, cerebral ischemia and alzheimer's disease, etc. In the treatment of cerebrovascular diseases, borneol is usually used to promote the absorption and distribution of the bioactive components to proper organs, especially to the brain. The purpose of this study is investigating the effects of borneol on the pharmacokinetics and brain distribution of tanshinone IIA (TS IIA), salvianolic acid B (SAB) and ginsenoside Rg1 in FDP. Male healthy Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were given Danshen extracts, Sanqi extracts (Panax notoginsengsaponins) or simultaneously administered Danshenextracts, Sanqi extracts and borneol. Plasma and brain samples were collected at different points in time. The concentration of TS IIA, SAB and Rg1 was determined by UPLC-MS/MS method. The main pharmacokinetics parameters of plasma and brain tissue were calculated by using Phoenix WinNolin 6.1 software. In comparison with Danshen and Sanqi alone, there were significant differences in pharmacokinetic parameters of TS IIA, SAB and Rg1, and the brain distribution of SAB and TS IIA when Danshen, Sanqi and borneol were administrated together. Borneol statistically significant shortened t_max of TS IIA, SAB and Rg1 in plasma and brain, increased the bioavaiability of Rg1, inhibited metabolism of Rg1 and enhanced the transport of TS IIA and SAB to brain. These results indicated that borneol could affect the multiple targets components and produce synergistic effects. Through accelerating the intestinal absorption and brain distribution, borneol caused the effective ingredients of Danshen and Sanqi to play a quicker therapeutic role and improved the therapeutic effect.

Progress in Traditional Chinese Medicine for the Treatment of Migraine

Migraine is a recurrent disease with complex pathogenesis and is difficult to cure. At present, commercially available western migraine drugs are prone to generate side effects while treating the disease. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) avoids side effects via treatment with the principles of “treating both symptoms and root causes”, “overall adjustment”, and “treatment based on syndrome differentiation”. Three strategies of drug treatment were developed based on the syndromes, i.e., removing stasis, calming liver Yang, and reinforcing deficiency. Prescriptions of removing stasis mostly contain Chuanxiong rhizome (Chuan Xiong) to remove blood stasis by promoting blood circulation and improve properties of hemorheology, and Da Chuan Xiong Formula (DCXF) is a traditional prescription widely used in clinical practice. Prescriptions of calming liver Yang usually take Ramulus Uncariae cum Uncis (Gou Teng) as the main herb, which can calm the liver Yang via improving vasomotor function, and Tian Ma Gou Teng Decoction (TMGTD) is the representative drug. For reinforcing deficiency, Chinese doctors frequently utilize Angelica Sinensis (Dang Gui) and Astragali Radix (Huang Qi) to nourish blood and Qi in order to improve the weak state of human body; Dang Gui Bu Xue Decoction (DGBXD) is the commonly used prescription. These strategies not only treat the symptoms of diseases but also their root causes, and with the features of multiple targets, in multiple ways. Therefore, TCM prescriptions have obvious advantages in the treatment of chronic diseases such as migraine. In this review, we provided an overview of the pathogenesis of migraine and the function of representative TCM preparations in therapy of migraine as well as the mechanism of action according to effective researches, in order to provide reference and clue for further researches.

A Novel Co-Crystal of Bexarotene and Ligustrazine Improves Pharmacokinetics and Tissue Distribution of Bexarotene in SD Rats

Bexarotene (BEX), a specific retinoic acid X receptor (RXR) agonist granted by Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for the clinical treatment of T cell lymphoma, has now been found to exert pharmacological effects in the nervous system, with low bioavailability and poor cerebral distribution limiting its application in treatment on neurological disorders. Pharmaceutical co-crystal was a helpful method to improve the bioavailability and tissue distribution of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs). Here, 2bexarotene-ligustrazine (2BEX-LIG), a novel co-crystal system of BEX and ligustrazine (LIG) of which with BEX is an API, was constructed with satisfactory stability and enhanced solubility. The pharmacokinetics characteristics of BEX were detected, and the results showed that the absolute bioavailability and the cerebral concentration of BEX in rats administrated with 2BEX-LIG were enhanced from 22.89% to 42.86% and increased by 3.4-fold, respectively, compared with those in rats administrated an equivalent of BEX. Hence, our present study indicated that the novel co-crystal of 2BEX-LIG contributed to improving BEX oral bioavailability and cerebral distribution, thereby providing significant advantages for clinical application of brain tumors and other neurological diseases.

Tetramethylpyrazine: A promising drug for the treatment of pulmonary hypertension

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Tetramethylpyrazine (TMP) was originally isolated from the traditional Chinese herb ligusticum and the fermented Japanese food natto and has since been synthesized. TMP has a long history of beneficial effects in the treatment of many cardiovascular diseases. Here we have evaluated the therapeutic effects of TMP on pulmonary hypertension (PH) in animal models and in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) or chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH).

EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH

Three well-defined models of PH -chronic hypoxia (10% O₂ )-induced PH (HPH), monocrotaline-induced PH (MCT-PH) and Sugen 5416/hypoxia-induced PH (SuHx-PH) - were used in Sprague-Dawley rats, and assessed by echocardiography, along with haemodynamic and histological techniques. Primary cultures of rat distal pulmonary arterial smooth muscle cells (PASMCs) were used to study intracellular calcium levels. Western blots and RT-qPCR assays were also used. In the clinical cohort, patients with PAH or CTEPH were recruited. The effects of TMP were evaluated in all systems.

KEY RESULTS

TMP (100 mg·kg^-1 ·day^-1 ) prevented rats from developing experimental PH and ameliorated three models of established PH: HPH, MCT-PH and SuHx-PH. The therapeutic effects of TMP were accompanied by inhibition of intracellular calcium homeostasis in PASMCs. In a small cohort of patients with PAH or CTEPH, oral administration of TMP (100 mg, t.i.d. for 16 weeks) increased the 6-min walk distance and improved the 1-min heart rate recovery.

CONCLUSION AND IMPLICATIONS

Our results suggest that TMP is a novel and inexpensive medication for treatment of PH. Clinical trial is registered with www.chictr.org.cn (ChiCTR-IPR-14005379).

Comparative analysis of constitutes and metabolites for traditional Chinese medicine using IDA and SWATH data acquisition modes on LC-Q-TOF MS

Identification of components and metabolites of traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs) employing liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (LC-Q-TOF MS) techniques with information-dependent acquisition (IDA) approaches is increasingly frequent. A current drawback of IDA-MS is that the complexity of a sample might prevent important compounds from being triggered in IDA settings. Sequential window acquisition of all theoretical fragment-ion spectra (SWATH) is a data-independent acquisition (DIA) method where the instrument deterministically fragments all precursor ions within the predefined m/z range in a systematic and unbiased fashion. Herein, the superiority of SWATH on the detection of TCMs’ components was firstly investigated by comparing the detection efficiency of SWATH-MS and IDA-MS data acquisition modes, and sanguisorbin extract was used as a mode TCM. After optimizing the setting parameters of SWATH, rolling collision energy (CE) and variable Q1 isolation windows were found to be more efficient for sanguisorbin identification than the fixed CE and fixed Q1 isolation window. More importantly, the qualitative efficiency of SWATH-MS on sanguisorbins was found significantly higher than that of IDA-MS data acquisition. In IDA mode, 18 kinds of sanguisorbins were detected in sanguisorbin extract. A total of 47 sanguisorbins were detected when SWATH-MS was used under rolling CE and flexible Q1 isolation window modes. Besides, 26 metabolites of sanguisorbins were identified in rat plasma, and their metabolic pathways could be deduced as decarbonylation, oxidization, reduction, methylation, and glucuronidation according to their fragmental ions acquired in SWATH-MS mode. Thus, SWATH-MS data acquisition could provide more comprehensive information for the component and metabolite identification for TCMs than IDA-MS.

•

SWATH was first used to identify components and metabolites of TCMs.

•

Superiority of SWATH on the detection of TCM was firstly investigated.

•

The number of components detected by SWATH was greatly higher than IDA.

Quantification of Panax notoginseng saponins metabolites in rat plasma with in vivo gut microbiota-mediated biotransformation by HPLC-MS/MS

Panax notoginseng saponins (PNS) are the major components of Panax notoginseng, with multiple pharmacological activities but poor oral bioavailability. PNS could be metabolized by gut microbiota in vitro, while the exact role of gut microbiota of PNS metabolism in vivo remains poorly understood. In this study, pseudo germ-free rat models were constructed by using broad-spectrum antibiotics to validate the gut microbiota-mediated transformation of PNS in vivo. Moreover, a high performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-ESI-MS/MS) was developed for quantitative analysis of four metabolites of PNS, including ginsenoside F1 (GF1), ginsenoside Rh2 (GRh2), ginsenoside compound K (GCK) and protopanaxatriol (PPT). The results showed that the four metabolites could be detected in the control rat plasma, while they could not be determined in pseudo germ-free rat plasma. The results implied that PNS could not be biotransformed effectively when gut microbiota was disrupted. In conclusion, gut microbiota plays an important role in biotransformation of PNS into metabolites in vivo.

Non-clinical pharmacokinetic behavior of ginsenosides

Ginsenosides, the major active ingredients of ginseng and other plants of the genus Panax, have been used as natural medicines in the East for a long time; in addition, their popularity in the West has increased owing to their various beneficial pharmacological effects. There is therefore a wealth of literature regarding the pharmacological effects of ginsenosides. In contrast, there are few comprehensive studies that investigate their pharmacokinetic behaviors. This is because ginseng contains the complicated mixture of herbal materials as well as thousands of constituents with complex chemical properties, and ginsenosides undergo multiple biotransformation processes after administration. This is a significant issue as pharmacokinetic studies provide crucial data regarding the efficacy and safety of compounds. Moreover, there have been many difficulties in the development of the optimal dosage regimens of ginsenosides and the evaluation of their interactions with other drugs. Therefore, this review details the pharmacokinetic properties and profiles of ginsenosides determined in various animal models administered through different routes of administration. Such information is valuable for designing specialized delivery systems and determining optimal dosing strategies for ginsenosides.

Metabolomics Study on the Effects of Salvianolic Acid B and Borneol for Treating Cerebral Ischemia in Rats by Ultra-Performance Liquid Chromatography Quadrupole Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry

Salviae miltiorrliza-borneol Jun-Shi coupled-herbs have been widely used for treatment of ischemia stroke. Salvianolic acid B was the most abundant and bioactive compound of Salviae miltiorrliza and used for prevention and treatment of cerebrovascular diseases. However, the scientific intension and compatible mechanism of Salvianolic acid B - borneol combination were still unknown. A metabolomics study approach based on ultra-performance liquid chromatography quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q/TOF-MS) combined with a pathological study has been applied to study the metabolic disturbances of cerebral ischemia and evaluate the efficacies of Sal B and Sal B/borneol against cerebral ischemia in middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) rats. The neuroprotection of Sal B and Sal B/borneol was reversed through the evaluation of neurological deficits, infarct volume, and neuronal apoptosis in MCAO model. The metabonomic analysis revealed that the MCAO-induced cerebral ischemia could be ameliorated by Sal B through improving the energy metabolism, lipids metabolism, inflammatory responses, and oxidant stress. Borneol could enhance the neuroprotective effects, was associated with the increased concentration of Sal B, and attenuate the function of sphingolipid metabolism pathway in cerebral ischemia rats. These findings perhaps clarify the mechanism of neuroprotective effects of treating ischemia stroke by Sal B or Sal B/borneol preliminarily through metabolomics and push the quality promotion and the composition of borneol/Sal B in secondary development of prescription.

Metabolite profiling of traditional Chinese medicine formula Dan Zhi Tablet: An integrated strategy based on UPLC-QTOF/MS combined with multivariate statistical analysis

Metabolites derived from traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) are becoming active substances of pharmacologically as well as promising sources for discovering new drugs. However, detection and identification of constituents in vivo remains a challenge for TCM, due to massive endogenous interference and low abundance of metabolites in biological matrix. Traditional Chinese medicine formula Dan Zhi Tablet (DZT), a well-established TCM formula developed based on years of clinical experiences, was widely used to treat cerebral infraction disease. In this study, an integrated strategy based on ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-QTOF/MS) was adopted to comprehensively identify the prototype and metabolite constituents of DZT. The potential constituents were screened by cross orthogonal partial least-squares discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA). Automatic matching analysis was performed on UNIFI platform based on the function of predicting metabolites. Using this strategy, a total of 170 compounds, including 51 prototype constituents and 119 metabolites were unambiguously or tentatively identified in rat plasma. Furthermore, 31 compounds have also been detected in rat cerebrospinal fluid. The metabolism reactions included phase I reactions (hydroxylation, hydrolysis, deglycosylation, hydrogenation, demethylation and dehydroxylation) and phase II reactions (conjugation with glutatione, cysteine, acetylcysteine, glucuronide, sulfate). It is the first systematic metabolic study of DZT in vivo and some metabolites were also reported for the first time, which could provide a scientific basis for explaining the multiple functions of DZT. More importantly, the integrated strategy also shows promising perspectives in the identification of the metabolites in TCM from a complicated biological matrix.

Fabrication of self-assembled Radix Pseudostellariae protein nanoparticles and the entrapment of curcumin

Simulating the process of traditional Chinese medicine decoction, Radix Pseudostellariae protein (RPP)-based nanoparticles were constructed by combining heat treatment with pH adjustment in succession. The formed nanoparticles were characterized as homogeneously dispersed sphere within 100 nm in diameter. With curcumin as a drug model, the potential application of RPP as a nanocarrier was studied. Curcumin could combine to RPP through hydrophobic interaction and quench the intrinsic fluorescence of RPP. Results of X-ray diffraction revealed that the crystal formation of curcumin was suppressed after the formation of nanocomplexes. In addition, the curcumin-loaded nanocomplexes exhibited good thermal stability and the light stability of curcumin was significantly improved. The curcumin-loaded nanocomplexes had stronger reducing power than free curcumin, which displayed additive effect between curcumin and RPP. In summary, the obtained RPP nanoparticles are potential to become new drug delivery carriers in food field and pharmaceutical applications for the encapsulation of hydrophobic components.

Recent progress in the structural modification and pharmacological activities of ligustrazine derivatives

Ligustrazine is a main active fraction of the traditional medicine known as Ligusticum chuanxiong hort, which has been used as clinical medication for cerebral thrombosis, coronary heart disease and stenocardia recently. The rapid metabolism and short half-life of ligustrazine seriously limits its application in clinical practice. Therefore, derivatives of ligustrazine are designed and synthesized in our and other labs, including piperazine, cinnamic acid, styrene, acylguanidine, amides, curcumin and triterpenes derivatives of ligustrazine. Most of these compounds present better pharmacodynamics activities and more favorable pharmacokinetic properties compared to the parent compound. Besides, some new biological activities of these compounds are discovered. Hence, this review continues the previous review of our group as well as aims to highlight recent prominent advances in this field in the past ten years.

SmbHLH37 Functions Antagonistically With SmMYC2 in Regulating Jasmonate-Mediated Biosynthesis of Phenolic Acids in Salvia miltiorrhiza

Jasmonates (JAs) are integral to various defense responses and induce biosynthesis of many secondary metabolites. MYC2, a basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) transcription factor (TF), acts as a transcriptional activator of JA signaling. MYC2 is repressed by the JASMONATE ZIM-domain (JAZ) proteins in the absence of JA, but de-repressed by the protein complex SCF^COI1 on perception of JA. We previously reported that overexpression of SmMYC2 promotes the production of salvianolic acid B (Sal B) in Salvia miltiorrhiza. However, the responsible molecular mechanism is unclear. Here, we showed that SmMYC2 binds to and activates the promoters of its target genes SmTAT1, SmPAL1, and SmCYP98A14 to activate Sal B accumulations. SmbHLH37, a novel bHLH gene significantly up-regulated by constitutive expression of SmMYC2, was isolated from S. miltiorrhiza for detailed functional characterization. SmbHLH37 forms a homodimer and interacts with SmJAZ3/8. Overexpression of SmbHLH37 substantially decreased yields of Sal B. SmbHLH37 binds to the promoters of its target genes SmTAT1 and SmPAL1 and blocks their expression to suppress the pathway for Sal B biosynthesis. These results indicate that SmbHLH37 negatively regulates JA signaling and functions antagonistically with SmMYC2 in regulating Sal B biosynthesis in S. miltiorrhiza.

Borneol Attenuates Ultrasound-Targeted Microbubble Destruction-Induced Blood-Brain Barrier Opening in Focal Cerebral Ischemia

Ultrasound-targeted microbubble destruction (UTMD) and the herb medicine borneol can both facilitate the delivery of therapeutic agents to diseased brain regions and serve as promising adjuvant neuroprotective therapies. Our preliminary experiments showed that UTMD could exacerbate ischemic blood–brain barrier (BBB) opening, while borneol can protect the BBB. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that the combination of UTMD and borneol could attenuate UTMD-induced injury to the BBB under ischemic stroke conditions. Male albino mice were subjected to 60-min middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) with reperfusion. Borneol and UTMD was given to mice 3 days before and 24 h after MCAO induction. BBB permeability, brain water contents, ultrastructural changes of the BBB and histopathological alterations were evaluated. Our data demonstrated that UTMD aggravated the leakage of Evans blue dye, ultrastructural alterations of cerebral microvasculature, brain edema, and even induced cerebral hemorrhage in ischemic stroke mice. Pretreatment with borneol significantly attenuated the above detrimental effects of UTMD on the BBB. This study indicates that under ischemic stroke conditions, the BBB becomes vulnerable to UTMD intervention, and the combination of borneol can help to maintain the integrity of the BBB.

Salvia miltiorrhiza Lipophilic Fraction Attenuates Oxidative Stress in Diabetic Nephropathy through Activation of Nuclear Factor Erythroid 2-Related Factor 2

Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is a common cause of chronic kidney disease and end-stage renal disease, which can be triggered by oxidative stress. In this study, we investigated the renoprotective effect of the ethyl acetate extract of Salvia miltiorrhiza (EASM) on DN and examined the underlying molecular mechanism. We observed that EASM treatment attenuated metabolic abnormalities associated with hyperglycemic conditions in the experimental DN model. In streptozotocin (STZ)-induced mice, EASM treatment reduced albuminuria, improved renal function and alleviated the pathological alterations within the glomerulus. To mimic the hyperglycemic conditions in DN patients, we used high glucose (25[Formula: see text]mmol/L) media to stimulate mouse mesangial cells (MMCs), and EASM inhibited high glucose-induced reactive oxygen species. We also observed that EASM enhanced the expression of nuclear factor erythroid-2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), which mediated the anti-oxidant response, and its downstream gene heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) and NAD(P)H quinone dehydrogenase 1 (NQO1) with concomitant decrease of expression of kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (keap1) both in vitro and in vivo. Taken together, these results suggest that EASM alleviates the progression of DN and this might be associated with activation of Nrf2.

Salvianolic acid A ameliorates the integrity of blood-spinal cord barrier via miR-101/Cul3/Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway

Salvianolic acid A (Sal A), a bioactive compound isolated from the Chinese medicinal herb Danshen, is used for the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular diseases. However, the protective function of Sal A on preserving the role of blood-spinal cord barrier (BSCB) after spinal cord injury (SCI) is unclear. The present study investigated the effects and mechanisms of Sal A (2.5, 5, 10mg/kg, i.p.) on BSCB permeability at different time-points after compressive SCI in rats. Compared to the SCI group, treatment with Sal A decreased the content of the Evans blue in the spinal cord tissue at 24h post-SCI. The expression levels of tight junction proteins and HO-1 were remarkably increased, and that of p-caveolin-1 protein was greatly decreased after SCI Sal A. The effect of Sal A on the expression level of ZO-1, occluding, and p-caveolin-1 after SCI was blocked by the HO-1 inhibitor, zinc protoporphyrin IX (ZnPP). Also, Sal A inhibited the level of apoptosis-related proteins and improved the motor function until 21days after SCI. In addition, Sal A significantly increased the expression of microRNA-101 (miR-101) in the RBMECs under hypoxia. AntagomiR-101 markedly increased the RBMECs permeability and the expression of the Cul3 protein by targeting with 3'-UTR of its mRNA. The expression of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) and HO-1 was significantly increased after agomiR-101 treatment. Therefore, Sal A could improve the recovery of neurological function after SCI, which could be correlated with the repair of BSCB integrity by the miR-101/Cul3/Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway.

A Comprehensive Review on Pharmacokinetic Profile of Some Traditional Chinese Medicines

Herbal medicines are the oldest and most widely used form of treatment for welfare of mankind. Herbal medicines possess strong reputation as complementary treatment across the globe due to their easy accessibility and safety. Particularly traditional Chinese medicines (TCM) are very popular due to their desirable therapeutic effects. They already have been proven for their remarkable potential in treatment of wide range of disease ailments. The major drawback in using herbal medicines is lack of standardisation aspects due to the complexity of chemical constituents. Pharmacokinetics study of such medicines helps forecast a range of events related to efficacy, safety, and toxicity profile of them. Apart from this, pharmacokinetics studies also recommended by various regulatory agencies during diverse stages of herbal drug development. Thus it is highly essential to have knowledge about the pharmacokinetic properties of any herbal drug. Thus it was thought that it will be worthwhile to compile the pharmacokinetic data of TCM which will be helpful for the researchers involved in further research on TCM. To portray entire picture about absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion (ADME) of some TCM, this well-designed scientific review covers the pharmacokinetic profile of 50 TCM available from 2003 and onwards.

Application of ethyl cellulose, microcrystalline cellulose and octadecanol for wax based floating solid dispersion pellets

The present study aimed to develop and optimize the wax based floating sustained-release dispersion pellets for a weakly acidic hydrophilic drug protocatechuic acid to achieve prolonged gastric residence time and improved bioavailability. This low-density drug delivery system consisted of octadecanol/microcrystalline cellulose mixture matrix pellet cores prepared by extrusion-spheronization technique, coated with drug/ethyl cellulose 100cp solid dispersion using single-step fluid-bed coating method. The formulation-optimized pellets could maintain excellent floating state without lag time and sustain the drug release efficiently for 12h based on non-Fickian transport mechanism. Observed by SEM, the optimized pellet was the dispersion-layered spherical structure containing a compact inner core. DSC, XRD and FTIR analysis revealed drug was uniformly dispersed in the amorphous molecule form and had no significant physicochemical interactions with the polymer dispersion carrier. The stability study of the resultant pellets further proved the rationality and integrity of the developed formulation.

UFLC-MS/MS analysis of four tanshinone components in Salvia miltiorrhizae after ultrasound-assisted extraction

A sensitive and rapid ultra-fast liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (UFLC-MS/MS) method was developed for simultaneous qualitative and quantitative of four characteristic tanshione components including tanshinone IIA, cryptotanshinone, tanshinone I and dihydrotanshinone I in Salvia miltiorrhizae after ultrasound-assisted extraction. By using a C18 column, the four analytes were separated by gradient elution with acetonitrile and water both containing 0.1% formic acid at the flow rate of 0.3mL/min. Multiple-reaction monitoring (MRM) was used for quantification, and an information-dependent acquisition (IDA) method was used to trigger enhanced product ion scans (EPI) for supplementary characteristic identification for qualitative research. Calibration curves showed good linearities with correlation coefficients (r) higher than 0.9990. The method showed high sensitivity with limits of detection (LODs) and quantification (LOQs) less than 0.0002ng/mL and 0.0008ng/mL, respectively, as well as good precision and reproducibility. Mean recoveries for four analytes ranged from 92.5% to 106.2% with relative standard deviations (RSDs) lower than 14.59%. Real application of the developed method in 32 batches of S. miltiorrhizae samples demonstrated that the total contents of four analytes in all samples were in the range of 2.258-52.342mg/g. Ultrasound-assisted extraction technique took a small amount of sample and low time but giving high extraction efficiency. Combining with UFLC-MS/MS method in MRM-IDA-EPI mode, more components in other complicated matrices can be simultaneously analyzed for qualitation and quantitation in one run.

SmMYC2a and SmMYC2b played similar but irreplaceable roles in regulating the biosynthesis of tanshinones and phenolic acids in Salvia miltiorrhiza

Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge, which contains tanshinones and phenolic acids as major classes of bioactive components, is one of the most widely used herbs in traditional Chinese medicine. Production of tanshinones and phenolic acids is enhanced by methyl jasmonate (MeJA). Transcription factor MYC2 is the switch of jasmontes signaling in plants. Here, we focused on two novel JA-inducible genes in S. miltiorrhiza, designated as SmMYC2a and SmMYC2b, which were localized in the nucleus. SmMYC2a and SmMYC2b were also discovered to interact with SmJAZ1 and SmJAZ2, implying that the two MYC2s might function as direct targets of JAZ proteins. Ectopic RNA interference (RNAi)-mediated knockdown experiments suggested that SmMYC2a/b affected multiple genes in tanshinone and phenolic acid biosynthetic pathway. Besides, the accumulation of tanshinones and phenolic acids was impaired by the loss of function in SmMYC2a/b. Meanwhile, SmMYC2a could bind with an E-box motif within SmHCT6 and SmCYP98A14 promoters, while SmMYC2b bound with an E-box motif within SmCYP98A14 promoter, through which the regulation of phenolic acid biosynthetic pathway might achieve. Together, these results suggest that SmMYC2a and SmMYC2b are JAZ-interacting transcription factors that positively regulate the biosynthesis of tanshinones and Sal B with similar but irreplaceable effects.

Danshen prevents articular cartilage degeneration via antioxidation in rabbits with osteoarthritis

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the efficacy of Danshen on histological parameters and antioxidative activity in the articular cartilage of rabbits with osteoarthritis (OA).

DESIGN

Twenty-four rabbits were randomly divided into three groups (control, OA, and Danshen OA; eight rabbits per group). Anterior cruciate ligament transection (ACLT) of the left hind knees was performed in all rabbits in the OA and Danshen OA group for induction of OA. The rabbits in the control group underwent a sham operation. After surgery, 3 g/kg body weight of Danshen granules dissolved in 5 mL distilled water was administered by gastric intubation once per day and over a 6-week period to the Danshen OA group. The same volume of distilled water was administered to the OA and control groups. After 6 weeks, the medial femoral condyles and synoviums of the left hind knees in all three groups were harvested and used for histological and biochemical analyses.

RESULTS

Severe articular cartilage degeneration as well as lower proteoglycan (PG) content were noted in the OA group compared to the Danshen OA group (P < 0.05). The glutathione (GSH) levels in the synovium and articular cartilage of the rabbits in the Danshen OA group were significantly higher compared to the OA group (P < 0.001). The malondialdehyde (MDA) levels of the synovium and articular cartilage in the Danshen OA group was markedly depleted compared to the OA group (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

Danshen can prevent articular cartilage degeneration in OA through the defense against oxidative stress.

Salvianolic acid A shows selective cytotoxicity against multidrug-resistant MCF-7 breast cancer cells

Multidrug resistance (MDR) is a major cause for incurable breast cancer. Salvianolic acid A (SAA), the hydrophilic polyphenolic derivative of Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge (Danshen/Red Sage), was examined for cytotoxicities to MDR MCF-7 human breast cancer cells and their parental counterparts. We have shown that SAA inhibited proliferation, caused cell cycle arrest at the S phase, and induced apoptosis dose dependently to the two kinds of cancer cells. However, the resistant cells were significantly susceptible to the inhibition of SAA compared with the parental cells. SAA increased the level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) by 6.2-fold in the resistant cells, whereas the level of SAA-induced ROS changed only by 1.6-fold in their parental counterparts. Thus, the data showed that the selective cytotoxicity resulted from the hypersensitivity of the resistant cells to the strongly elevated ROS by SAA. In addition, SAA-triggered apoptosis was associated with increased caspase-3 activity, disrupted mitochondrial membrane potential, downregulated Bcl-2 expression, and upregulated Bax expression in the resistant cells. Moreover, SAA downregulated the level of P-glycoprotein, which was overexpressed in the resistant cells. This indicated that SAA modulated MDR. Furthermore, SAA showed higher antitumor activity than did doxorubicin in xenografts established from the resistant cells. The present work raised a possibility that SAA might be considered a potential choice to overcome MDR for the selective susceptibility of the resistant breast cancer cells to SAA treatment.

Study on integrated pharmacokinetics of gardenia acid and geniposide: time-antioxidant efficacy after oral administration of Huanglian-Zhizi couplet medicine from Huang-Lian-Jie-Du-Tang in MCAO rats

Huanglian-Zhizi couplet medicine comes from classical prescription Huang-Lian-Jie-Du-Tang (HLJDT), which has been proven by previous researches to be an effective compound for cerebral ischemia. This paper explores the integrated pharmacokinetics of gardenia acid and geniposide-time-antioxidant efficacy after the oral administration of Huanglian-Zhizi couplet medicine from HLJDT in rats with middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO). To investigate the differences in pharmacokinetics and antioxidant effect of Huanglian-Zhizi and HLJDT in MCAO rats, which have been scarcely reported, an oral dose, 24 crud drug g/kg, of Huanglian-Zhizi and 40 crud drug/kg of HLJDT were administered in two groups of normal rats and two groups of Sprague-Dawley (SD) MCAO rats, respectively. At different time points, concentrations of gardenia acid and geniposide were determined by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), and levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD) were calculated by ELIASA. Pharmacokinetic parameters including AUC, MRT, t1/2, T max , C max were estimated by statistical moment analysis using a data analysis system (DAS) 2.0. An AUC based on weighting approach was used for integrating gardenia acid and geniposide. Finally, the concentration-time efficacy profiles were obtained. The integrated pharmacokinetics profiles of index components could reveal the pharmacokinetics behavior of Huanglian-Zhizi and HLJDT, corresponding to the antioxidant efficacy.

Salvia miltiorrhiza: an ancient Chinese herbal medicine as a source for anti-osteoporotic drugs

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Red sage (Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge), also known as Danshen in Chinese, has been used historically and is currently exploited in combination with other herbs to treat skeletal diseases in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). With the advance of modern analytical technology, a multitude of bone-targeting, pharmaceutically active, compounds has been isolated and characterized from various sources of TCM including those produced in Salvia miltiorrhiza root. The aim of the review is to provide a comprehensive overview about the historical TCM interpretation of the action of Salvia miltiorrhiza in osteoporosis, its use clinical trials, its main phytochemical constituents, and its action on bone-resorptive and bone formation-stimulating mechanisms in in vitro and in vivo studies.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Literature sources used were Pubmed, CNKI.net, Cqvip.com, PubChem, and the Web of Science. For the inquiry, keywords such as Salvia, danshen, osteoporosis, bone, osteoclast and osteoblast were used in various combinations. About 130 research papers and reviews were consulted.

RESULTS

In TCM, the anti-osteopororotic effect of Salvia miltiorrhiza is ascribed to its action on liver and blood stasis as main therapeutic targets defining osteoporosis. 36 clinical trials were identified which used Salvia miltiorrhiza in combination with other herbs and components to treat post-menopausal, senile, and secondary osteoporosis. On average the trials were characterized by high efficacy (>80%) and low toxicity problems. However, various limitations such as small patient samples, short treatment duration, frequent lack of detailed numerical data, and no clear endpoints must be taken into consideration. To date, more than 100 individual compounds have been isolated from this plant and tested in various animal models and biochemical assays. Compounds display anti-resorptive and bone formation-stimulating features targeting different pathways in the bone remodeling cycle. Pathways affected include the activation of osteoblasts, the modulation of osteoclastogenesis, and the inhibition of collagen degradation by cathepsin K.

CONCLUSIONS

The inclusion of Salvia miltiorrhiza in more than 30% of all herbal clinical trials successfully targeting osteoporosis has stimulated significant interest in the identification and characterization of individual constituents of this herb. The review highlights the anti-osteoporotic potential of Salvia miltiorrhiza in clinical applications and the potential of the herb to provide potent compounds targeting specific pathways in bone resorption and bone formation.

Comparative pharmacokinetics of borneol in cerebral ischemia-reperfusion and sham-operated rats

OBJECTIVE

This study was designed to investigate the pharmacokinetics of borneol in the pathological conditions of stroke and evaluate the pharmacokinetic differences of borneol caused by stroke after oral administration of borneol and Xingnaojing (XNJ).

METHODS

The rats were divided into two groups, ischemia-reperfusion (IR) and sham-operated (SO) rats. Each group contained two subgroups: pure borneol and XNJ subgroups. After administration with the same dosages of borneol 162.0 mg/kg, plasma samples were collected. The cerebral ischemia-reperfusion model was created by reversible middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO). The blood samples were collected punctually after oral administration and a specific gas chromatographic system-flame ionization detector (GC-FID) method was developed and employed to determine the level of borneol in the plasma. The pharmacokinetic parameters were analyzed using non-compartmental methods with Kinetica.

RESULTS

After administration of borneol, the maximum plasma concentration (Cmax) and area under the curve (AUC) values in stroke rats significantly increased by 302% and 275%, respectively, compared with the SO rats, and the same phenomenon appeared after administration of XNJ. In the rats with the same physiological conditions, the Cmax and AUC had higher values in the borneol subgroup (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

These results suggest that the pathological damages of ischemia-reperfusion have a significant impact on the pharmacokinetic traits of borneol and that there are some components in XNJ inhibiting the absorption of borneol.

Network pharmacology analyses of the antithrombotic pharmacological mechanism of Fufang Xueshuantong Capsule with experimental support using disseminated intravascular coagulation rats

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Fufang Xueshuantong (FXST) Capsule is developed on a traditional Chinese medicine remedy, with a four-herb formula of Panax notoginseng, Radix astragali, Salvia miltiorrhizae and Radix scrophulariaceae. It has been used for treatment of the clinic cardiovascular disease for many years.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Due to its complexity of compositions and polypharmacological effects, it often complicates understanding of the mechanisms of action. In the present work, we have constructed an integrated model of system pharmacology to investigate the polypharmacological mechanisms of FXST formulation for treatment of thrombosis disease.

RESULTS

The predicted results showed that 22 ingredients in FXST were closely associated with 41 protein targets related to blood coagulation, fibrinolysis and platelet aggregation. Through analysis of the compound-protein target association, significant cross-targets between each herb indicated the multiple active chemical ingredients might interact with the same target simultaneously and thus explained the synergistic mechanisms of the principle of Traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs) as ''Jun (emperor) - Chen (minister) - Zuo (adjuvant) - Shi (courier)''. To validate the polypharmacological effects predicted by our network pharmacology (NetPharm) analysis, we have carried out experimental investigation the effects of FXST on the disorders of the blood coagulation system in a lipopolysaccharide-induced disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) rat model. The results showed that FXST could significantly ameliorate the activation of coagulation system, which is congruent with the cross-target prediction by NetPharm approach.

CONCLUSIONS

The combined investigations provide more insight into better understanding of the pharmacological mechanisms of FXST, and may also offer an alternative avenue to further explore the chemical and pharmacological basis of TCMs.

The effect of stroke and other components in Xing-Nao-Jing on the pharmacokinetics of geniposide

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Geniposide is a bioactive substance derived from gardenia, which has been used in traditional Chinese preparation, such as "Xing-Nao-Jing" (XNJ) for stroke treatment. Stroke and the ingredients of herbal preparation affect the pharmacokinetics of geniposide. A comparative pharmacokinetic study of geniposide in stroke and sham-operated rats after administration of XNJ and geniposide was proceeded to evaluate the effect of stroke on pharmacokinetics of geniposide, while the influence of other components in XNJ was determined by using gardenia extract and geniposide-borneol compounds in rats with stroke to compare.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Stroke was induced by middle cerebral artery occlusion followed by reperfusion 2h later. Plasma concentration of geniposide was determined by HPLC. Various pharmacokinetic parameters were estimated from the plasma concentration versus time data using non-compartmental methods.

RESULTS

The maximum plasma concentration (Cmax) and area under the curve (AUC0-t) in stroke after administration of XNJ were 5.97±3.82 μg/mL, and 570.06±274.32 μg·min/mL, respectively, which were 5 times compared with sham-operated rats or the stroke-afflicted rats given geniposide. In stroke, the Cmax and AUC(0-t) of geniposide-borneol group and gardenia extraction group were close to XNJ group and geniposide group, respectively. The geniposide-borneol group had a higher value.

CONCLUSION

Stroke improved the absorption of geniposide in XNJ. Borneol may be the key ingredient in XNJ improving the absorption of geniposide.