Ameliorating effect on glycolipid metabolism and chemical profile of Millettia speciosa champ. extract

Composite nanoparticle-based vesicles achieve enhanced delivery effects of the natural plant extract of the root, stem, and fruit

The extract of medicinal plants is increasingly popular around the whole world due to its attractive therapeutic effects. However, the bioavailability of the extract of bioactive compounds was barely satisfactory due to its easily deactivated and untargeted properties. The use of nanotechnology to develop novel carrier delivery techniques for bioactive extracts has been proven to have significant potential and provides an amazing improvement in the therapeutic effect. Calcium carbonate nanoparticles (CaCO3 NPs), as representative biodegradable materials, are well recognized as environmentally responsive delivery vehicles for disease treatment. In this study, extracts of the root of ginseng, the fruit of Alpinia oxyphylla Miq., and the stem of Millettia speciosa Champ. were developed as a CaCO3 nanoparticle loading drug. All of the three composite nanoparticles exhibited spherical shapes with a narrow size distribution. Notably, the ginseng extract-loaded CaCO3 NPs hold a relatively higher entrapment efficiency of up to 55.2% ± 6.7% and excellent release performance under acidic conditions (pH = 5.5). Moreover, intravenous injection of ginseng CaCO3 NPs resulted in significantly enhanced therapeutic effects in the treatment of glioma. The results demonstrate that CaCO3-based composite nanoparticles are ideal for the delivery of plant extracts, and the systems are expected to be effective against various types of diseases in the future.

Natural starches suitable for 3D printing: Rhizome and seed starch from Millettia speciosa champ, a non-conventional source

The demand for exploring and investigating novel starches for various applications has been high, yet starches abundant in Millettia speciosa Champ (M. speciose) plants have barely been studied. This study aims to investigate the multiscale structure and physicochemical properties, especially good hot-extrusion 3D printability of M. speciosa starches. MRS (rhizome starch of M. speciose) and MSS (seed starch of M. speciose) exhibited different structure comparing with CRS (cassava starch) and WCS (waxy corn starch), such as smaller granules, higher amylose content, weaker short-range ordered structures and lower crystallinity. MSS exhibited a high Rh,AP2 value of 2.50, the thickest lamellar repeating distance of 10.30 nm and the strongest interconnected structure. Correspondingly, MSS displayed low solubility and swelling power, along with the highest onset gelatinization temperature (To), gelatinization enthalpy (ΔH) and resistance starch (RS) content at 75.81 °C, 11.74 J/g and 29.91 %, respectively. Notably, MRS and MSS demonstrated hot-extrusion 3D printability with high printing accuracy(> 93 %) and stability (> 98 %). The significant differences in physicochemical properties between M. speciosa starches are presumed to be influenced by the content of amylose and the length of amylopectin. Starches from M. speciose exhibit potential as thermostable additives and 3D printing materials.

Genome-Wide Identification of the bHLH Gene Family in Callerya speciosa Reveals Its Potential Role in the Regulation of Isoflavonoid Biosynthesis

Callerya speciosa (Champ. ex Benth.) Schot is a significant leguminous plant valued for its edible tuberous roots, which are a plentiful source of isoflavonoids. Basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) transcription factors (TFs) have been reported to regulate secondary metabolism in plants, especially flavonoid biosynthesis. However, the bHLH genes in C. speciosa have not yet been reported, and their regulatory role in isoflavonoid biosynthesis remains unexplored. Here, 146 CsbHLH genes were identified in the C. speciosa genome, classifying them into 23 subfamilies based on the gene structures and phylogenetic relationships. All the CsbHLH proteins contained both motifs 1 and 2, whereas motif 8 was only distributed in subgroup III (d + e). Collinearity analysis demonstrated that fragmental replications are the primary driver of CsbHLH evolution, with the majority of duplicated CsbHLH gene pairs experiencing selective pressure. Nine candidate CsbHLH genes were found to play a potential role in regulating isoflavonoid biosynthesis through a combination of gene-to-metabolite correlation analysis and weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA). Additionally, the cis-regulatory elements and response to MeJA of these nine genes were characterized and confirmed through quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) analysis. Among them, three CsbHLHs (CsbHLH9, CsbHLH89, and CsbHLH95) were selected for further investigation. Yeast two-hybrid (Y2H), dual-luciferase (LUC) assays, bimolecular fluorescence complementation (BiFC) assays, and transient transformation demonstrated that CsbHLH9 acted as a transcriptional activator through its interaction with CsMYB36 and binding to the promoters of isoflavonoid biosynthesis genes in a MeJA-induced manner, such as CsIFR2, CsI3'H2, and CsCHS4, to promote isoflavonoid (calycosin, calycosin-7-o-glucoside, and formononetin) accumulation. Our results establish a basis for the functional analysis of bHLH genes and investigations into the molecular mechanisms underlying isoflavonoid biosynthesis in C. speciosa.

Extracellular vesicles enhance the in vivo antitumor effects of millettia species-derived compounds in chronic myelogenous leukemia therapy

Several Millettia species are being investigated as medicinal ingredients due to their promising anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory properties. However, the application of Millettia species-derived compounds has been severely hindered by their poor aqueous solubility, rapid metabolism, and low bioavailability. Extracellular vesicles (EVs), which as membrane-bound phospholipid vesicle initiatively secreted through a variety of mammalian cells, are increasingly recognized as promising drug delivery vehicles. Therefore, EVs are with great potential to enhance both the stability and efficacy of the Millettia species-derived compounds in treatment. In this study, extracellular vesicles derived from chronic myelogenous leukemia cells are developed for delivering the extracts of Millettia speciosa Champ and Millettia pachyloba Drake-derived Homobutein. Notably, Homobutein-loaded EV (hEV) formed a stable and homogenous nanosized particle with high entrapment efficiency up to 55.7%. Moreover, EVs loaded with Homobutein were significantly more potent than free drugs in inhibiting K562 cell proliferation. The results demonstrated that intravenous injection of EV loaded with Homobutein effectively inhibits tumor growth in tumor-bearing mice compared to free Homobutein. Hence, this strategy can effectively enhance the efficacy of Millettia species-derived drugs in chronic myelogenous leukemia therapy.

Metabolites of traditional Chinese medicine targeting PI3K/AKT signaling pathway for hypoglycemic effect in type 2 diabetes

Type 2 diabetes mellitus is a chronic metabolic disease characterized by insulin resistance, with high morbidity and mortality worldwide. Due to the tightly intertwined connection between the insulin resistance pathway and the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway, regulating the PI3K/AKT pathway and its associated targets is essential for hypoglycemia and the prevention of type 2 diabetes mellitus. In recent years, metabolites isolated from traditional Chinese medicine has received more attention and acceptance for its superior bioactivity, high safety, and fewer side effects. Meanwhile, numerous in vivo and in vitro studies have revealed that the metabolites present in traditional Chinese medicine possess better bioactivities in regulating the balance of glucose metabolism, ameliorating insulin resistance, and preventing type 2 diabetes mellitus via the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. In this article, we reviewed the literature related to the metabolites of traditional Chinese medicine improving IR and possessing therapeutic potential for type 2 diabetes mellitus by targeting the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway, focusing on the hypoglycemic mechanism of the metabolites of traditional Chinese medicine in type 2 diabetes mellitus and elaborating on the significant role of the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway in type 2 diabetes mellitus. In order to provide reference for clinical prevention and treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Nutritional Value, Volatile Components, Functional Metabolites, and Antibacterial and Cytotoxic Activities of Different Parts of Millettia speciosa Champ., a Medicinal and Edible Plant with Potential for Development

Highly nutritious traditional plants which are rich in bioactive substances are attracting increasing attention. In this study, the nutritional value, chemical composition, biological activities, and feed indices of different parts of Millettia speciosa were comprehensively evaluated. In terms of its nutritional value, this study demonstrated that the leaves, flowers and seeds of M. speciosa were rich in elements and amino acids; the biological values (BVs) of these ingredients ranged from 85% to 100%, showing the extremely high nutritional value of this plant. GC-MS analysis suggested that the main chemical components of the flower volatile oil were n-hexadecanoic acid (21.73%), tetracosane (19.96%), and pentacosane (5.86%). The antibacterial activities of the flower and seed extracts were significantly stronger than those of the leaves and branches. The leaf extract displayed the strongest antifungal activities (EC50 values: 18.28 ± 0.54 μg/mL for Pseudocryphonectria elaeocarpicola and 568.21 ± 33.60 μg/mL for Colletotrichum gloeosporioides) and were the least toxic to mouse fibroblasts (L929) (IC50 value: 0.71 ± 0.04 mg/mL), while flowers were the most toxic (IC50 value: 0.27 ± 0.03 mg/mL). In addition, the abundance of fiber, protein, mineral elements, and functional metabolite contents indicated the potential applicability of M. speciosa as an animal feed. In conclusion, as a traditional herbal plant used for medicinal and food purposes, M. speciosa shows potential for safe and multifunctional development.

Hepatoprotective effects of Niudali (Callerya speciosa) root aqueous extracts against tetrachloromethane-induced acute liver injury and inflammation

Niudali (Callerya speciosa) is commonly grown in southeastern regions of China and consumed as a food ingredient. Although Niudali root extracts showed various biological activities, the hepatoprotective effects of Niudali root phytochemicals are not fully studied. Herein, we prepared two Niudali root aqueous extracts, namely, c and Niudali polysaccharides-enriched extract (NPE), and identified an alkaloid, (hypaphorine) in NEW. The hepatoprotective effects of NWE, NPE, and hypaphorine were evaluated in an acute liver injury model induced by carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) in mice. Pathohistological examination and blood chemistry assays showed that treatment of NWE, NPE, and hypaphorine alleviated CCl4-induced liver damage by lowering the liver injury score (by 75.51%, 80.01%, and 41.22%) and serum aspartate and alanine transaminases level (by 63.24%, 85.22%, and 49.74% and by 78.73%, 80.08%, and 81.70%), respectively. NWE, NPE, and hypaphorine also reduced CCl4-induced hepatic oxidative stresses in the liver tissue by decreasing the levels of malondialdehyde (by 40.00%, 51.25%, and 28.75%) and reactive oxygen species (by 30.22%, 36.14%, and 33.54%) while increasing the levels of antioxidant enzymes including superoxide dismutase (by 21.36%, 21.64%, and 8.90%), catalase (by 22.13%, 33.33%, and 5.39%), and glutathione (by 84.87%, 90.65%, and 80.53%), respectively. Mechanistic assays showed that NWE, NPE, and hypaphorine alleviated liver damage by mediating inflammatory biomarkers (e.g., pro-inflammatory cytokines) via the signaling pathways of mitogen-activated protein kinases and nuclear factor-κB. Findings from our study extend the understanding of Niudali's hepatoprotective effects, which is useful for its development as a dietary intervention for liver inflammation.

Quality control for a traditional Chinese medicine, Millettia speciosa Champ, using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography fingerprint, serum pharmacochemistry and network pharmacology

Millettia speciosa (M. speciosa) Champ (MSC) is a healthy food type with medicinal and edible homology, which is now considered a clinically significant anti-rheumatoid arthritis medicine. However, there is currently no standardized or generally accepted research strategy by which we can assess M. speciosa. Thus, it is essential to develop novel theories, strategies and evaluation methods for the scientific quality control of M. speciosa. Herein, our use ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography (UPLC)-MS/MS analysis identified 12 common bioactive components absorbed into MSC serum. Next, network pharmacology analysis exhibited that 5 MSC components may be those active components in treating rheumatoid arthritis and may be considered potential quality markers. These 5 components were then quantified using a fast UPLC approach, based on the quality marker of measurability, showing that lenticin can be regarded as the MSC quality marker. The cumulative study findings, based on systematic assessment of chemical composition both in vivo and in vitro, and the potential efficacy of M. speciosa, provide a novel approach for M. speciosa quality control.

Convolvulus pluricaulis Choisy’s Extraction, Chemical Characterization and Evaluation of the Potential Effects on Glycaemic Balance in a 3T3-L1 Adipocyte Cell Model

Convolvulus pluricaulis (CP) is a common Indian herb, largely employed in Ayurvedic medicine and known for its neuroprotective and neuroinflammatory action. Its effectiveness against several pathologic/sub-pathologic conditions is widely accepted, but it is not yet completely chemically characterized. In recent years, several researchers have pointed out the involvement of CP and other Convolvulaceae in lipidic and glucidic metabolism, particularly in the control of hyperlipidaemia and diabetic conditions. In this scenario, the aim of the study was to chemically characterize the medium polarity part of the CP whole plant and its fractions and to shed light on their biological activity in adipocyte differentiation using the 3T3-L1 cell model. Our results demonstrated that the CP extract and fractions could upregulate the adipocyte differentiation through the modulation of the nuclear receptor PPARγ (Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor γ), broadly recognized as a key regulator of adipocyte differentiation, and the glucose transporter GLUT-4, which is fundamental for cellular glucose uptake and for metabolism control. CP also showed the ability to exert an anti-inflammatory effect, downregulating cytokines such as Rantes, MCP-1, KC, eotaxin, and GM-CSF, which are deeply involved in insulin resistance and glucose intolerance. Taken together, these data suggest that CP could exert a potential beneficial effect on glycemia and could be employed as an anti-diabetic adjuvant or, in any case, a means to better control glucose homeostasis.

Phytochemistry and Antioxidant Activities of the Rhizome and Radix of Millettia speciosa Based on UHPLC-Q-Exactive Orbitrap-MS

The root of Millettia speciosa Champ. (MSCP) is used in folk medicine and is popular as a soup ingredient. The root is composed of the rhizome and radix, but only the radix has been used as a food. Thus, it is very important to compare the chemical components and antioxidant activities between the rhizome and radix. The extracts were analyzed by UHPLC-Q-Exactive Orbitrap-MS and multivariate analysis, and the antioxidant activities were evaluated by 2,20-azinobis (3-ethylbenzothiazo-line-6-sulfonic acid) diammonium salt (ABTS) and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging assays. Ninety-one compounds were detected simultaneously and temporarily identified. Ten compounds were identified as chemical markers to distinguish the rhizome from the radix. The antioxidant activities of the radix were higher than the rhizome. Correlation analysis showed that uvaol-3-caffeate, 3-O-caffeoyloleanolic acid, and khrinone E were the main active markers for antioxidant activity, which allowed for the rapid differentiation of rhizomes and the radix. Therefore, it could be helpful for future exploration of its material base and bioactive mechanism. In addition, it would be considered to be used as a new method for the quality control of M. speciosa.

Polysaccharides from Callerya speciosa alleviate metabolic disorders and gut microbiota dysbiosis in diet-induced obese C57BL/6 mice

Callerya speciosa ("Niu Dali" in Chinese) is a well-known edible plant in Southeast China. C. speciosa roots contain a high level of polysaccharides, which have been reported to show multiple health-promoting effects. In the current study, the anti-obesity effects of a crude extract of C. speciosa polysaccharides (NP) and its underlying mechanisms of action are investigated. C57BL/6 mice were divided into three groups and fed either a standard diet or a high-fat diet (HFD). The HFD + NP group mice received oral administration of NP (100 mg per kg per day) every other day for 10 weeks. NP supplementation alleviated HFD-induced diabetic biomarkers including body weight gain, hyperlipidemia, liver steatosis, and adipocyte hypertrophy. Western blot and RT-PCR analyses revealed that NP inhibited hepatic de novo lipogenesis and adipogenesis (i.e. decreased expression of Srebp1c, Fas, Cebpα, and Pparγ), stimulated adipocyte lipolysis (enhanced mRNA expression of Hsl and Mgl), and attenuated HFD-induced hepatic inflammation (decreased expression of TNF-α and NF-κB p65). Furthermore, 16S rDNA and GC-MS analyses showed that NP supplementation restored the Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes proportion, elevated colon-derived SCFAs, especially acetic acid content, and increased the relative abundance of genera associated with SCFA production in HFD-fed mice. Findings from this study suggest that NP alleviated HFD-induced obesity in a mouse model, which was possibly due to its ameliorative effects on diet-induced gut dysbiosis. Polysaccharides from C. speciosa are promising prebiotics and they may be further developed as functional foods for the management of obesity.

Inhibition of α-Glucosidase, Acetylcholinesterase, and Nitric Oxide Production by Phytochemicals Isolated from Millettia speciosa—In Vitro and Molecular Docking Studies

The phytochemical constituents from the roots of Millettia speciosa were investigated by chromatographic isolation, and their chemical structures were characterized using the MS and NMR spectroscopic methods. A total of 10 compounds, including six triterpenoids, two flavonoids, and two phenolic compounds, were identified from the roots of M. speciosa. Out of the isolated compounds, eight showed inhibitory effects on NO production in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells, with IC₅₀ values ranging from 43.9 to 449.5 µg/mL. Ursane-type triterpenes significantly suppressed NO production compared to the remaining compounds. In addition, these compounds also exhibited remarkable inhibitory effects on α-glucosidase. Among the tested compounds, 4, 5, and 10 exhibited excellent α-glucosidase inhibition, with IC₅₀ values ranging from 1.1 to 2.2 µg/mL. Almost all of the test compounds showed little or no acetylcholinesterase inhibition, except for 5, which showed moderate anti-acetylcholinesterase activity in vitro. The molecular docking study of α-glucosidase inhibition by 3–5 and 10 was conducted to observe the interactions of these molecules with the enzyme. Compounds 4, 5, and 10 exhibited a better binding affinity toward the targeted receptor and the H-bond interactions located at the entrance of the enzyme active site pocket in comparison to those of 3 and the positive control acarbose. Our findings evidence the pharmacological potential of this species and suggest that the phytochemicals derived from the roots of M. speciosa may be promising lead molecules for further studies on the development of anti-inflammatory and anti-diabetes drugs.

Polysaccharides From the Roots of Millettia Speciosa Champ Modulate Gut Health and Ameliorate Cyclophosphamide-Induced Intestinal Injury and Immunosuppression

Cyclophosphamide (CTX), a common anticancer drug, can cause a variety of side effects such as immunosuppression and intestinal mucosal injury. Polysaccharides are the major bioactive components of the roots of Millettia Speciosa Champ and have gained attention for their immunomodulatory activity. This study was designed to evaluate the immunomodulatory effect of Millettia Speciosa Champ polysaccharide (MSCP) on CTX-induced mice and the possible mechanism. The results showed that MSCP attenuated the CTX-induced decrease in body weight and immune organ indices in mice and promoted the secretion of immune-related cytokines (IL-2, IL-4, IL-10, TNF-α, and IgG). Meanwhile, MSCP restored intestinal morphology, increased the ratio of villus height/crypt depth (V/C), and improved the number of goblet cells and mucins expression. At the mRNA level, MSCP activated the TLRs/MyD88/NF-κB p65 pathway and enhanced the expression of genes related to intestinal mucosal integrity (Occludin1, Claudin1, and MUC-2). In addition, MSCP as a prebiotic improved microbial community diversity, regulated the relative abundance of dominant microbiota from the phylum level to the genus level, restored CTX-induced gut microbial dysbiosis, and promoted short-chain fatty acid production in mice. Based on the present findings, MSCP may modulate the immune response depending on enhancing intestinal health, suggesting that MSCP holds promise as a promising immunostimulant in functional foods and drugs.

Decoding the chemical composition and pharmacological mechanisms of Jiedu Tongluo Tiaogan Formula using high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with network pharmacology-based investigation

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), a chronic low-grade inflammatory disease with high morbidity and mortality, is a serious threat to public health. Previously we demonstrated that a traditional Chinese medicine formulation, Jiedu Tongluo Tiaogan Formula (JDTL), exerted a favorable hypoglycemic effect due to unknown molecular mechanisms involving interactions among JDTL compounds and various cellular components. This study aimed to explore JDTL mechanisms for alleviating hyperglycemia using an integrated strategy incorporating system pharmacology, bioinformatics analysis, and experimental verification. This strategy entailed initial elucidation of JDTL chemical composition using fingerprint analysis via high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Next, functions of putative shared target genes and associated pathways were deduced using GO and KEGG pathway enrichment and molecular docking analyses. Ultimately, targets associated with JTDL anti-T2DM effects were found to be functionally associated with biological functions related to lipopolysaccharide and cytokine receptor binding. These results implicated PI3K-Akt signaling pathway involvement in JDTL anti-T2DM effects, as this pathway had been previously shown to play significant roles in glucose and lipid metabolism-related diseases. Furthermore, addition of JDTL to INS-1 and HepG2 cell cultures stimulated cellular mRNA-level and protein-level expression leading to enhanced production of IRS1, Akt, and PI3K. In summary, here JDTL bioactive ingredients, potential targets, and molecular mechanisms underlying JDTL anti-T2DM effects were identified using a multi-component, multi-target, and multi-channel analytical approach, thus providing an important scientific foundation to facilitate development of new drugs mechanistic strategies for preventing and treating T2DM.