Application of targeted liposomes-based salvianolic acid A for the treatment of ischemic stroke

Anticancer effects of salvianolic acid A through multiple signaling pathways (Review)

Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge (Salvia miltiorrhiza), commonly referred to as Danshen, is a well‑known herb in traditional Chinese medicine, the active ingredients of which are mostly categorized as water soluble and lipid soluble. Salvianolic acids are the major water‑soluble phenolic acid constituents of Danshen; salvianolic acid B is the most prevalent, with salvianolic acid A (SAA) being the next most predominant form. SAA offers a wide array of pharmacological benefits, including cardiovascular protection, and anti‑inflammatory, antioxidant, antiviral and anticancer activities. SAA is currently undergoing phase III clinical trials for diabetic peripheral neuropathy and has shown protective benefits against cardiovascular illnesses; furthermore, its safety and effectiveness are encouraging. By targeting several signaling pathways, preventing cell cycle progression, tumor cell migration, invasion and metastasis, normalizing the tumor vasculature and encouraging cell apoptosis, SAA can also prevent the growth of malignancies. In addition, it enhances sensitivity to chemotherapeutic drugs, and alleviates their toxicity and side effects. However, the broad therapeutic use of SAA has been somewhat limited by its low content in Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge and the difficulty of its extraction techniques. Therefore, the present review focuses on the potential mechanisms of SAA in tumor prevention and treatment. With the anticipation that SAA will serve a notable role in clinical applications in the future, these discoveries may offer a scientific basis for the combination of SAA with conventional chemotherapeutic drugs in the treatment of cancer, and could establish a foundation for the development of SAA as an anticancer drug.

A Direct Relationship Between 'Blood Stasis' and Fibrinaloid Microclots in Chronic, Inflammatory, and Vascular Diseases, and Some Traditional Natural Products Approaches to Treatment

'Blood stasis' (syndrome) (BSS) is a fundamental concept in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), where it is known as Xue Yu (). Similar concepts exist in Traditional Korean Medicine ('Eohyul') and in Japanese Kampo medicine (Oketsu). Blood stasis is considered to underpin a large variety of inflammatory diseases, though an exact equivalent in Western systems medicine is yet to be described. Some time ago we discovered that blood can clot into an anomalous amyloid form, creating what we have referred to as fibrinaloid microclots. These microclots occur in a great many chronic, inflammatory diseases are comparatively resistant to fibrinolysis, and thus have the ability to block microcapillaries and hence lower oxygen transfer to tissues, with multiple pathological consequences. We here develop the idea that it is precisely the fibrinaloid microclots that relate to, and are largely mechanistically responsible for, the traditional concept of blood stasis (a term also used by Virchow). First, the diseases known to be associated with microclots are all associated with blood stasis. Secondly, by blocking red blood cell transport, fibrinaloid microclots provide a simple mechanistic explanation for the physical slowing down ('stasis') of blood flow. Thirdly, Chinese herbal medicine formulae proposed to treat these diseases, especially Xue Fu Zhu Yu and its derivatives, are known mechanistically to be anticoagulatory and anti-inflammatory, consistent with the idea that they are actually helping to lower the levels of fibrinaloid microclots, plausibly in part by blocking catalysis of the polymerization of fibrinogen into an amyloid form. We rehearse some of the known actions of the constituent herbs of Xue Fu Zhu Yu and specific bioactive molecules that they contain. Consequently, such herbal formulations (and some of their components), which are comparatively little known to Western science and medicine, would seem to offer the opportunity to provide novel, safe, and useful treatments for chronic inflammatory diseases that display fibrinaloid microclots, including Myalgic Encephalopathy/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, long COVID, and even ischemic stroke.

Impact of sterilization method on the system performance of lipid-based novel drug delivery

Sterilization plays a crucial role in the safety and efficacy of lipid-based novel drug delivery systems (NDDS), particularly because of the high sensitivity of lipid components to various sterilization processes. This literature review investigates the impact of different sterilization methods, such as heat sterilization, filtration, radiation, as well as chemical and gas methods, on the physicochemical properties, stability, and therapeutic performance of lipid-based NDDS (LB-NDDS), including liposomes, microemulsions, nanoemulsions, solid lipid nanoparticles (SLN), and nanostructured lipid carriers (NLC). Special emphasis is placed on lipid degradation, drug content, and particle size alterations, that may occur during sterilization. Overall, understanding the suitable sterilization technique for LB-NDDS is critical for maintaining the integrity of drug delivery systems integrity and achieving optimal therapeutic outcomes. The findings provide a comprehensive analysis of the current challenges and recent advancement (supercritical CO2, electron beam, and ozone) of sterilization techniques that align with the sensitive nature of LB-NDDS.

Acute Treatment with Salvianolic Acid A Produces Neuroprotection in Stroke Models by Inducing Excitatory Long-Term Synaptic Depression

Acute ischemic stroke (AIS) is a significant brain disease with a high mortality and disability rate. Additional therapies for AIS are urgently needed, and neuroplasticity mechanisms by agents are expected to be neuroprotective for AIS. As a major active component of Salvia miltiorrhiza, salvianolic acid A (SAA) has shown potential for preventing cardiovascular diseases. However, there is no evidence of the long-term effect of SAA on ischemic injury or its mechanism. Therefore, using rats and mice, we systematically investigated the impact of SAA on AIS from the perspective of neuroprotective and neuroplasticity. Here, we report that SAA induces a long-term depression (LTD)-like process in synapses. This antiexcitotoxicity action supports the SAA effect, including alleviating infarction and promoting blood circulation in photothrombosis and middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) models. Furthermore, repeated positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) imaging and behavioral assessments two months after AIS induction reveal that acute treatment of SAA promotes recovery from disrupted whole-brain glucose metabolism and impaired spatial memory. These data suggest that acute treatment of SAA is neuroprotective by improving long-term functional outcomes through a synaptic LTD-like process, providing a promising adjunct to current therapies to enable better recovery for AIS.

Targeting AI-2 quorum sensing: harnessing natural products against Streptococcus suis biofilm infection

The biofilm acts as a protective layer for Streptococcus suis (S. suis), contributing to the development of drug resistance and chronic infections. Autoinducer 2 (AI-2) quorum sensing represents the primary regulatory pathway governing biofilm formation in S. suis. Consequently, targeting AI-2 quorum sensing to inhibit biofilm formation represents a promising strategy for preventing and managing drug resistance and chronic infections caused by S. suis. This study established a small natural product library by integrating commercial drug molecules with Chinese herbal medicine molecules. Consequently, two natural products, salvianolic acid A (SAA) and rhapontin (RH), which target S. suis AI-2 via quorum sensing, were identified. SAA and RH inhibit AI-2 synthesis through noncompetitive and competitive binding to S-ribosylhomocysteinase (LuxS). By inhibiting S. suis AI-2 quorum sensing, these compounds modulate the expression of adhesion genes and the synthesis of extracellular polysaccharides (EPS), reducing the adhesion ability of S. suis and ultimately inhibiting biofilm formation. Using LC‒MS/MS, we further analysed the impact of SAA and RH on the metabolic activity of S. suis, revealing the potential medicinal value of these compounds. Finally, the efficacy of SAA and RH against S. suis infection was validated in Galleria mellonella larvae, confirming their significant anti-infection effects.

The therapeutic effects of salvianolic acids on ischemic stroke: From molecular mechanisms to clinical applications

Ischemic stroke (IS), primarily caused by cerebrovascular occlusion, poses a significant public health challenge with limited effective therapeutic options. Evidence suggests that salvianolic acids (SAs), mainly from Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge, have been formulated into injections and are widely used in clinical treatments for cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, including stroke. The pharmacological properties of SAs include reducing neuroinflammation, alleviating oxidative stress injury, inhibiting cellular apoptosis, preserving endothelial function, maintaining blood-brain barrier integrity, and promoting angiogenesis. Salvianolic acids for injection (SAFI) serve as a safe and effective treatment option for cardiovascular and cerebrovascular conditions by influencing various signaling pathways and molecular targets associated with these diseases. In this review, we first discuss the pathogenesis of IS, then summarize the classification of SAs, elaborate detailed molecular mechanisms of their efficacy, and the related clinical applications of SAFI. We also emphasize the recent pharmacological advancements and therapeutic possibilities of this promising drug preparation derived from herbs for cerebrovascular conditions.

The Mechanism and Latest Research Progress of Blood-Brain Barrier Breakthrough

The bloodstream and the central nervous system (CNS) are separated by the blood-brain barrier (BBB), an intricate network of blood vessels. Its main role is to regulate the environment within the brain. The primary obstacle for drugs to enter the CNS is the low permeability of the BBB, presenting a significant hurdle in treating brain disorders. In recent years, significant advancements have been made in researching methods to breach the BBB. However, understanding how to penetrate the BBB is essential for researching drug delivery techniques. Therefore, this article reviews the methods and mechanisms for breaking through the BBB, as well as the current research progress on this mechanism.