Danshen-Chuanxiongqin Injection attenuates cerebral ischemic stroke by inhibiting neuroinflammation via the TLR2/ TLR4-MyD88-NF-κB Pathway in tMCAO mice

Xingnao Jiutan tablets modulate gut microbiota and gut microbiota metabolism to alleviate cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury

Introduction

Xingnao Jiutan tablets (XNJT), a compound Chinese medicine, have been applied to the treatment of the sequelae of cerebral thrombosis or cerebral hemorrhage, transient cerebral ischemia, and central retinal vein obstruction, etc., but the underlying mechanisms are not yet clear. This research focused on examining the impact of XNJT for cerebral ischemia/reperfusion (MCAO/R) injury, utilizing gut microbiota and metabolomic studies.

Methods

The primary components of XNJT were identified through the application of the HPLC technique. We established a MCAO/ R model in mice and conducted behavioral evaluations, cerebral blood flow measurements, and TTC staining. We used ELISA, high-throughput 16S rDNA gene sequencing, and metabolomics techniques to detect inflammatory factors, microbial populations, and metabolites, respectively. Finally, we performed Spearman correlation analysis to investigate the relationships among gut microbiota and metabolites, comprehensively exploring the mechanisms of XNJT to alleviate cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury.

Results

We discovered that XNJT effectively enhanced neurological performance, alleviated cerebral infarction, diminished neuronal cell death, and increased cerebral blood flow. Moreover, XNJT downregulated the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines like TNF, IL-6, and IL-1b. Additionally, XNJT improved gut microbiota levels in MCAO/R mice, particularly Bacteroides, Firmicutes, Escherichia-Shigella, and Ligilactobacillus. Furthermore, XNJT primarily modulated differential metabolites in the gut through Glycerophospholipid, Linoleic acid, and Sphingolipid metabolism pathways. Spearman correlation analysis revealed significant associations among intestinal microbiota and various metabolites.

Discussion

In summary, our findings suggest that XNJT can improve cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury outcomes, reduce inflammatory responses, and regulate gut microbiota and differential metabolites. It's possible that the potential mechanisms are connected to controlling gut microbiota and metabolism.

Efficacy and compatibility mechanism of bear bile powder in Shexiang Tongxin dropping pills for acute myocardial infarction treatment

BACKGROUND

Bear bile powder (BBP), a unique animal-derived medicine with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects, is used in Shexiang Tongxin dropping pills (STDP), which is applied to treat cardiovascular diseases, including acute myocardial infarction (AMI). The efficacy and compatibility mechanisms of action of BBP in STDP against cardiovascular diseases remain unclear. This study aimed to investigate the compatibility effects of BBP in STDP in rats with AMI.

METHODS

We investigated the compatibility effects of BBP in STDP in rats with AMI. Non-targeted metabonomics, 16S rRNA analysis, RNA sequencing, and network pharmacology were performed to explore the underlying mechanisms.

RESULTS

The combination of BBP and CF (STDP without BBP) significantly reduced AMI-induced infarction size, pathological alterations of cardiac tissues, and serum lactate dehydrogenase and creatine kinase levels in rats, compared with CF or BBP treatment alone. Gut microbiota and metabonomics results revealed that the combination treatment could upregulate the relative abundance of Lactobacillus and downregulate that of Helicobacter, Bilophila, and Butyricimonas, thereby rebalancing the gut microbiota dysbiosis induced by AMI. Consequently, the intestinal metabolite levels of oleoylcholine, glutamylalanine, isokobusone, and hemorphin-4 were altered. However, treatment with CF or BBP alone has a weaker effect on these bacteria. Additionally, the combination treatment induced a 62.34% gene reversion rate compared with 55.56% for BBP and 30.20% for CF treatment alone. Modulation of endothelin 1 and growth factor receptor-bound protein 2 was identified as a key synergistic mechanism underlying the anti-AMI effects of BBP in STDP.

CONCLUSION

This research provides a scientific explanation of the compatibility of BBP in STDP. Our findings suggested that combination treatment with CF and BBP synergistically attenuates AMI by altering gene expression, gut microbiota, and intestinal metabolite profiles.

Angong Niuhuang Pill ameliorates cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury in mice partly by restoring gut microbiota dysbiosis

Angong Niuhuang Pill (ANP) is a famous traditional Chinese patent medicine and is used for treating ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke for centuries. However, the mechanism of action of ANP in stroke treatment has rarely been reported. With increasing evidence for a mechanistic link between acute ischemic stroke and gut microbiota alterations, this study aimed to determine the mechanism of action of ANP in treating acute ischemic stroke from the perspective of the gut microbiota. A mouse model of acute ischemic stroke by middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) was established, and 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene sequencing and metabolomic analysis were performed on the cecal content samples collected from the sham, model, and ANP-treated MCAO mice. The results showed that ANP significantly ameliorated cerebral infarct volume, improved neurological deficits, and reduced histopathological injuries in the ipsilateral ischemic cortex, hippocampus, and striatum. The latter effects included inhibition of neuronal death, increased Nissl bodies, and decreased cell apoptosis. Moreover, ANP reversed gut microbiota dysbiosis by modulating the abundance of bacteria whose effects may mitigate MCAO damage, such as the phyla Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes, the families Lachnospiraceae and Prevotellaceae, and the genera Alloprevotella and Roseburia. Microbial metabolites related to inflammation and neuroprotection, such as prostaglandin I2 and uridine, were also regulated by ANP treatment. Uridine, guanosine, and inosine might be potential neuromodulators produced by the gut microbiota in the ANP-treated group. Spearman correlation analysis revealed that these metabolites were intimately related to certain genera, including Alloprevotella, Lachnoclostridium, Enterorhabdus, Roseburia, Lachnospiraceae_UCG-006, and Colidextribacter. Our results demonstrated that alleviating gut microbiota dysbiosis is one of the mechanisms by which ANP protects against ischemic stroke and suggest that targeting Alloprevotella, Lachnoclostridium, Enterorhabdus, Roseburia, Lachnospiraceae_UCG-006, and Colidextribacter might be a potential anti-stroke therapy.

Activation of CNR1/PI3K/AKT Pathway by Tanshinone IIA Protects Hippocampal Neurons and Ameliorates Sleep Deprivation-Induced Cognitive Dysfunction in Rats

Sleep deprivation is commonplace in modern society, Short periods of continuous sleep deprivation (SD) may negatively affect brain and behavioral function and may lead to vehicle accidents and medical errors. Tanshinone IIA (Tan IIA) is an important lipid-soluble component of Salvia miltiorrhiza, which could exert neuroprotective effects. The aim of this study was to investigate the mechanism of neuroprotective effect of Tan IIA on acute sleep deprivation-induced cognitive dysfunction in rats. Tan IIA ameliorated behavioral abnormalities in sleep deprived rats, enhanced behavioral performance in WMW and NOR experiments, increased hippocampal dendritic spine density, and attenuated atrophic loss of hippocampal neurons. Tan IIA enhanced the expression of CB1, PI3K, AKT, STAT3 in rat hippocampus and down-regulated the expression ratio of Bax to Bcl-2. These effects were inhibited by cannabinoid receptor 1 antagonist (AM251). In conclusion, Tan IIA can play a neuroprotective role by activating the CNR1/PI3K/AKT signaling pathway to antagonize apoptosis in the hippocampus and improve sleep deprivation-induced spatial recognition and learning memory dysfunction in rats. Our study suggests that Tan IIA may be a candidate for the prevention of sleep deprivation-induced dysfunction in spatial recognition and learning memory.