Molecular mechanisms of hepatotoxicity induced by compounds occurring in Evodiae Fructus

Kleinia (Asteraceae): comprehensive review of ethnomedicinal uses, phytochemical profiles, ethnopharmacological applications, and toxicological insights

Kleinia is a genus of over 50 species that are commonly used in primary care in several countries. This study seeks to inspire researchers to quickly discover and isolate the key active metabolites found in Kleinia taxa, thereby promoting the development of novel, safe, and effective therapies for a variety of illnesses. To this end, we performed a thorough search of English-language publications from PubMed, Scopus, ScienceDirect, Web of Science, Google Scholar, and ResearchGate. Our search utilized keywords such as "ethnobotany," "geographic distribution," "ethnomedicinal use," "phytochemistry," "pharmacological or bioactivities," and "toxicological activities" related to the genus Kleinia. Chemical structures were depicted using Chemdraw® software. Literature highlights numerous Kleinia taxa used in traditional medicine for conditions like intestinal parasites, measles, smallpox, diabetes, edema, nerve disorders, sexual dysfunction, gastrointestinal issues, cancer and more. Phytochemical analysis identifies 77 secondary metabolites, mainly alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins, terpenes, and terpenoids and other miscellaneous metabolites. Among the Kleinia taxa, K. anteuphorbium, K. longiflora, K. grandiflora, K. odora, K. squarrosa, K. abyssinica, K. pendula, and K. azoides have been scientifically validated to exhibit various pharmacological activities. However, the existence of potentially harmful metabolites in Kleinia taxa, particularly pyrrolizidine alkaloids, emphasizes the significance of cautious application in traditional medicine and the need for rigorous toxicological assessments. In conclusion, this review highlights the promise of Kleinia taxa as significant medicinal resources and advocates for extensive bioprospecting. It encourages global pharmaceutical companies and academic institutions to conduct thorough investigations of the genus Kleinia to uncover new therapeutic possibilities.

A novel derivative of evodiamine improves cognitive impairment and synaptic integrity in AD mice

Alzheimer's disease (AD), the major cause of dementia, is a multifactoral progressive neurodegenerative disorder that currently affects over 43 million people worldwide. The interaction betweengenetic and environmental factors decides pathogenesis and pathological development. The chemical drugs designed for clinical applications on AD have not reached the expected preventive effect so far.Here, we obtained a new evodiamine (Evo) derivative, LE-42, which exhibited lower cytotoxicity in SH-SY5Y cells and HepaG2 cells than that of Evo. The LD50 of LE-42 in SH-SY5Y cells and HepaG2 cells was increased by 9 folds and 14 folds than Evo, respectively. The LE-42 also exhibited much more potent effects on anti-oxidation and anti-cytotoxicity of AβOs than Evo. The LE-42 significantly improved the working memory, spatial learning, and memory of the 3×Tg AD mice, and the pharmacodynamic dose of LE-42 on AD mice was increased by 500 folds than that of Evo. LE-42 significantly improved the Tau hyperphosphorylation, a typical pathological feature in 3×Tg AD mice. The LE-42 restored the JAK2/STAT3 pathway's dysfunction and upregulated the expression of GluN1, GluA2, SYN, and PSD95, subsequentially improving the synaptic integrity in 3×Tg mice. The activation of the JAK2/STAT3 axis by LE-42 was a possible mechanism for a therapeutic effect on the AD mice.

Toxicity evaluation of processing Evodiae fructus based on intestinal microbiota

Background

With the development of healthcare services, drug efficacy, and safety have become the focus of drug use, and processing alters drug toxicity and efficacy, exploring the effects of processing on Evodiae fructus (EF) can guide the clinical use of drugs.

Methods

Fifty male Kunming mice were randomly divided into the control group (CCN), raw small-flowered EF group (CRSEF), raw medium-flowered EF group (CRMEF), processing small-flowered EF group (CPSEF), and processing medium-flowered EF group (CPMEF). The CRSEF, CRMEF, CPSEF, and CPMEF groups were gavaged with aqueous extracts of raw small-flowered EF dry paste (RSEF), medium-flowered EF dry paste (RMEF), processing small-flowered EF dry paste (PSEF) and processing medium-flowered EF dry paste (PMEF), respectively, for 21 days at 5 times the pharmacopeial dosage. Upon concluding the experiment, histopathological sections of liver and kidney tissues were examined. Additionally, levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), serum creatinine (SCr), and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) were determined. DNA from the intestinal contents of the mice was extracted, and 16S rRNA full-length high-throughput sequencing was performed.

Results

After fed EF 21 days, mice exhibited a decreasing trend in body weight. Comparative analysis with the CCN group revealed an upward trend in SCr, BUN, AST, and ALT levels in both CRSEF and CRMEF groups. The CRMEF group displayed notably elevated BUN and AST levels, with an observed increasing trend in Scr and ALT. Kidney sections unveiled cellular edema and considerable inflammatory cell infiltrates, whereas significant liver damage was not evident. Compared with CRSEF, Bun levels were significantly lower while AST levels were significantly higher in the CPMEF group. Additionally, the intestinal microbiota diversity and the relative abundance of Psychrobacter decreased significantly, and the relative abundance of Staphylococcus, Jeotgalicoccus, and Salinicoccus increased significantly in the CPMEF group. AST, ALT, and SCr were positively correlated with Staphylococcus, Jeotgalicoccus, and Salinicoccus.

Conclusion

In conclusion, PMEF significantly increased harmful bacteria (Staphylococcus, Jeotgalicoccus, and Salinicoccu) and decreased beneficial bacteria. SEF with 5 times the clinical dose showed nephrotoxicity and SEF nephrotoxicity decreased after processing, but EF hepatotoxicity was not significant, which may be due to insufficient dose concentration and time.