Two new ursane-type nortriterpenes from Lonicera macranthoides and their iNOS-inhibitory activities

Mechanistic study of Lonicerae Japonicae Flos (Caprifoliaceae) in non-small cell lung cancer prevention and treatment through integrative pharmacology, multi-machine learning, artificial intelligence, and in vitro experiments

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Lonicerae Japonicae Flos (Caprifoliaceae) (LJF), an herb with the homology of medicine and food, is traditionally utilized for its heat-clearing, detoxifying, and anticancer properties. Yet, the mechanism by which LJF may assist in the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remains unclear.

AIM OF THE STUDY

To elucidate the potential mechanisms of LJF in the treatment of NSCLC through phytochemical analysis, network pharmacology, machine learning, and in vitro experimental validation.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

LJF was analyzed for its components using ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS). The active compounds and targets of LJF were identified from TCMSP, and NSCLC-related targets were retrieved from GeneCards, DisGeNET and OMIM. Network pharmacology and multi-machine learning algorithms predicted key features, and GSEA/GSVA assessed pathway enrichment. Immune infiltration analysis evaluated immune cell composition in the NSCLC microenvironment, and molecular docking was performed with AlphaFold. In vitro experiments assessed LJF's effects on A549 cells, and Western blot analyzed protein expression.

RESULTS

Network pharmacology and multi-machine learning indicated that PECAM1 and SPP1 are potential targets for LJF in the treatment of NSCLC. GSEA and immune infiltration analysis suggested PECAM1 and SPP1 influence NSCLC progression and immune evasion. In vitro experiments showed that LJF significantly inhibited A549 cells proliferation, migration, and invasion. Western blot results indicated upregulation of PECAM1 and SPP1 expression under LJF treatment.

CONCLUSION

LJF has an adjunctive therapeutic effect on NSCLC by regulating PECAM1 and SPP1 targets and their associated signaling pathways.

Lonicerae Japonicae Caulis: a review of its research progress of active metabolites and pharmacological effects

Lonicerae Japonicae Caulis is the aboveground stem part of the Lonicera Japonica Thunb, which belongs to the medicine food homology species in China. It has the effects of clearing away heat, toxic material, dredging wind and unblocking collaterals. Modern research shows that it contains various active metabolites and a wide range of pharmacological effects, which is of great research and clinical application value. It mainly contains organic acids, volatile oils, flavonoids, triterpenes, triterpene saponins and other active metabolites. Its pharmacological effects mainly include anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antitumor, antioxidant, and repairing bone and soft tissue. Based on the literature reports in recent years, the active metabolites, pharmacological effects and mechanisms of Lonicerae Japonicae Caulis were sorted out and summarized. It lays a foundation for explaining the efficacy material basis and application value of Lonicerae Japonicae Caulis. It aims to provide a reference for the in-depth research, development and utilization of Lonicerae Japonicae Caulis.

A new nitrogen-containing iridoid glycoside from lonicera macranthoides

A new nitrogen-containing iridoid glycoside, named (7 R,3'R)-lonijapospiroside A (1), together with thirteen known iridoid glycosides, were isolated from the flower buds of Lonicera macranthoides. The structures of these compounds were established on the basis of spectroscopic analyses. Among them, compounds 1-4 are four diastereoisomers, and their absolute configurations were accurately established by the NOE spectra as well as comparison of their experimental and calculated ECD spectra. The anti-inflammatory activities of all isolates were evaluated by measuring their inhibitory effects on NO, IL-6, and TNF-α production in LPS stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages. Compound 14 exhibited anti-inflammatory activities by inhibiting IL-6 with an IC₅₀ value of 54.70 μM, comparable to that of the positive control (hydrocortisone, IC₅₀: 62.6 ± 1.7 μM).

Lonicerae japonicae flos and Lonicerae flos: a systematic review of ethnopharmacology, phytochemistry and pharmacology

Lonicerae japonicae flos (called Jinyinhua, JYH in Chinese), flowers or flower buds of Lonicera japonica Thunberg, is an extremely used traditional edible-medicinal herb. Pharmacological studies have already proved JYH ideal clinical therapeutic effects on inflammation and infectious diseases and prominent effects on multiple targets in vitro and in vivo, such as pro-inflammatory protein inducible nitric oxide synthase, toll-like receptor 4, interleukin-1 receptor. JYH and Lonicerae flos [called Shanyinhua, SYH in Chinese, flowers or flower buds of Lonicera hypoglauca Miquel, Lonicera confusa De Candolle or Lonicera macrantha (D.Don) Spreng] which belongs to the same family of JYH were once recorded as same herb in multiple versions of Chinese Pharmacopoeia (ChP). However, they were listed as two different herbs in 2005 Edition ChP, leading to endless controversy since they have close proximity on plant species, appearances and functions, together with traditional applications. In the past decades, there has no literature regarding to systematical comparison on the similarity concerning research achievements of the two herbs. This review comprehensively presents similarities and differences between JYH and SYH retrospectively, particularly proposing them the marked differences in botanies, phytochemistry and pharmacological activities which can be used as evidence of separate list of JYH and SYH. Furthermore, deficiencies on present studies have also been discussed so as to further research could use for reference.