A biolabel research based on metabonomics reveals the therapeutic potentials of Herba Lysimachiae in synovial diseases: The dual effects on synovial platelet aggregation by prostaglandin E1/E2

Eucommiae Folium and Active Compounds Protect Against Mitochondrial Dysfunction-Calcium Overload in Epileptic Hippocampal Neurons Through the Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Pathway

Epilepsy is a chronic brain disease and often occurs suddenly for no reason. Eucommiae folium (EF), an edible herb, can be used in the treatment of various kinds of brain diseases in clinic. From the perspective of safety and efficacy, EF is especially suitable for the treatment of chronic brain diseases. With the help of biolabels, this study was aimed to explore the value and feasibility of EF in the treatment of epilepsy. Proteomics and metabolomics were used to explore the biolabels of EF intervention in brain tissues. Bioinformatics was then applied to topologically analyze its neuroprotective effects and mechanisms and material basis based on biolabels, which were validated in an animal model. The biolabel-led research revealed that EF may exert the therapeutic potential to treat brain diseases through the interaction between multiple compounds and multiple targets, among which its therapeutic potential for epilepsy is particularly prominent. In the pentylenetetrazole-induction model, EF and four active compounds (oleamide, catechol, chlorogenic acid, and kaempferol) protected epileptic hippocampal neurons (Nissl and FJB staining) against mitochondrial dysfunction (MYH6, MYL3, and MYBPC3, etc.) and calcium overload (TNNI3, TNNC1, and TNNT2, etc.) through the hypertrophic cardiomyopathy pathway. This study provides new evidence and insights for the neuroprotective effects of EF, in which four active compounds may be potential drug candidates for the treatment of epilepsy.

Omics combined with network pharmacology reveal the neuroprotective mechanism of Sophora tonkinensis based on the biolabel research pattern: The treatment of Parkinson's disease against oxidative stress and neuroexcitatory toxicity

Based on the biolabel research pattern, omics and network pharmacology were used for exploring the neuroprotection of Sophora tonkinensis (ST) in the treatment of brain diseases. Multi-omics were applied to investigate biolabels for ST intervention in brain tissue. Based on biolabels, the therapeutic potential, mechanism and material basis of ST for treating brain diseases were topologically analyzed by network pharmacology. A Parkinson's disease (PD) mouse model was used to validate biolabel analysis results. Four proteins and three metabolites were involved in two key pathways (alanine, aspartate and glutamate metabolism and arginine biosynthesis) and considered as biolabels. Network pharmacology showed that ST has the potential to treat some brain diseases, especially PD. Eight compounds (including caffeic acid, gallic acid and cinnamic acid) may serve as the material basis of ST treating brain diseases via the mediation of three biolabels. In the PD model, ST and its active compounds (caffeic acid and gallic acid) may protect dopaminergic neurons (maximum recovery rate for dopamine, 49.5%) from oxidative stress (E3 ubiquitin-protein ligase parkin, reactive oxygen species, nitric oxide, etc.) and neuroexcitatory toxicity (glutamate dehydrogenase, glutamine, glutamic acid, etc.). These findings indicated that omics and network pharmacology may contribute to the achievement of the objectives of this study based on the biolabel research pattern.

Potential role of nutraceuticals via targeting a Wnt/β-catenin and NF-κB pathway in treatment of osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a disease due to the aging of the articular cartilage, a post-mitotic tissue that stays functioning until primary homeostatic processes fail. Because of pain and disability, OA significantly influences national healthcare expenses and patient quality of life. It is a whole-joint illness characterized by inflammatory and oxidative signaling pathways and significant epigenetic alterations that cause cartilage extracellular matrix degradation. The canonical Wnt pathway (Wnt/β-catenin pathway) and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) signaling pathways may function in joint tissues by modulating the activity of synovial cells, osteoblasts, and chondrocytes. However, finding innovative ways to treat osteoarthritis and get the joint back to average balance is still a struggle. Nutraceuticals are dietary supplements that promote joint health by balancing anabolic and catabolic signals. New therapeutic methods for OA treatment have been developed based on many research findings that show nutraceuticals have strong anti-inflammation, antioxidant, anti-bone resorption, and anabolic properties. For the treatment of osteoarthritis, we explore the possible involvement of nutraceuticals that target the Wnt/β-catenin and NF-κB pathways. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: In keeping with the aging population, osteoarthritis is becoming more widespread. In this extensive research, we studied the role of the Wnt/β-catenin and NF-κB pathway in OA formation and progression. Nutraceuticals that target these OA-related signaling pathways are a viable therapy option. Wnt/β-catenin and NF-κB signaling pathway are inhibited by polyphenols, flavonoids, alkaloids, and vitamins from the nutraceutical category, making them possible therapeutic drugs for OA therapy.

Biolabel-led research pattern reveals serum profile in rats after treatment with Herba Lysimachiae: Combined analysis of metabonomics and proteomics

In traditional Chinese medicine, Herba Lysimachiae (HL) is mainly used to treat rheumatic arthralgia. Current pharmacological studies also showed that HL has therapeutic potential for synovial diseases. HL is an oral drug, whose compounds need to enter the blood circulation before reaching the injured tissue, thus potentially causing activity or toxicity to the blood system. In this study, the biolabel-led research pattern was used to analyze the serum profile after HL intervention, based on which the safety and efficacy of HL were explored. Metabonomics and proteomics were combined to analyze the biolabels responsible for the interventions of HL on serum. Bioinformatics databases were used to screen for the material basis that may interfere with biolabels. Omics analysis showed that differentially expressed 19 proteins and 5 metabolites were identified and considered as the potential biolabels, which were involved in 8 biochemical processes (platelet activation and aggregation, blood glucose release, immune and inflammatory regulation, oxidative stress, endoplasmic reticulum stress, tumor progression, blood pressure regulation, and uric acid synthesis). Thirty-one compounds may be the material basis to interfere with eleven biolabels. The present research reveals that the potential activities and toxicities of HL can be explored based on the biolabel-led research pattern.

The active ingredients analysis of Herba Lysimachiae treating osteoarthritis based on the LC-MS/MS technology and public bioinformatics platforms

Herba Lysimachiae inhibits synovial damage in osteoarthritis via regulating two bio labels (integrin alpha 2b/beta 3). However, the relevant active ingredients are still unknown. Here, the active ingredients of herbal medicines were analyzed based on the liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry technology and public bioinformatics platforms. The liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry technology was used for compound analysis, and public databases (PubChem BioAssay and STRING) were applied to establish the links between herbal compounds and both bio labels, and identify which herbal compounds may regulate these bio labels. Subsequently, the osteoarthritis model was used to confirm the results. Totally, ninety compounds in Herba Lysimachiae were identified based on the liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry technology. Bioinformatics analysis showed that five compounds (myricetin, fisetin, esculetin, 7-hydroxycoumarin-4-acetic acid, and caffeic acid) may synergistically regulate bio labels through 11 targets, which may be the active ingredients of Herba Lysimachiae for osteoarthritis treatment. In the verification experiments, five compounds markedly suppressed the overexpression of bio labels in the synovium of the osteoarthritis model. In conclusion, the present study effectively and rapidly analyzed the active ingredients of Herba Lysimachiae for osteoarthritis treatment.