A chinese herbal decoction, danggui buxue tang, stimulates proliferation, differentiation and gene expression of cultured osteosarcoma cells: genomic approach to reveal specific gene activation

Efficacy and Possible Mechanisms of Astragali Radix and its Ingredients in Animal Models of Osteoporosis: A Preclinical Review and Metaanalysis

BACKGROUND

Astragali Radix (AR) has a long history as a traditional Chinese medicine for anti-osteoporosis (OP) treatment. The aim of the study was to explore the effect and optimal regimens of AR and its main ingredients (IAR) in OP treatment.

METHODS

Eligible animal studies were searched in seven databases (PubMed, Web of Science, MEDLINE, SciELO Citation Index, Cochrane Library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure and Wanfang). The primary outcomes were bone metabolic indices. The secondary outcome measure was the anti-OP mechanism of IAR.

RESULTS

21 studies were enrolled in the study. The primary findings of the present article illustrated that IAR could significantly increase the bone mineral density (BMD), bone volume over the total volume, trabecular number, trabecular thickness, bone maximum load and serum calcium, while trabecular separation and serum C-terminal telopeptide of type 1 collagen were remarkably decreased (P < 0.05). In subgroup analysis, the BMD in the long treatment group (≥ 10 weeks) showed better effect size than the short treatment group (< 10 weeks) (P < 0.05). Modeling methods and animal sex were factors affecting serum alkaline phosphatase and osteocalcin levels.

CONCLUSION

The findings suggest the possibility of developing IAR as a drug for the treatment of OP. IAR with longer treatment time may achieve better effects regardless of animal strain and age.

Emerging Trends in Nano-Driven Immunotherapy for Treatment of Cancer

Despite advancements in the development of anticancer medications and therapies, cancer still has the greatest fatality rate due to a dismal prognosis. Traditional cancer therapies include chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and targeted therapy. The conventional treatments have a number of shortcomings, such as a lack of selectivity, non-specific cytotoxicity, suboptimal drug delivery to tumour locations, and multi-drug resistance, which results in a less potent/ineffective therapeutic outcome. Cancer immunotherapy is an emerging and promising strategy to elicit a pronounced immune response against cancer. Immunotherapy stimulates the immune system with cancer-specific antigens or immune checkpoint inhibitors to overcome the immune suppressive tumour microenvironment and kill the cancer cells. However, delivery of the antigen or immune checkpoint inhibitors and activation of the immune response need to circumvent the issues pertaining to short lifetimes and effect times, as well as adverse effects associated with off-targeting, suboptimal, or hyperactivation of the immune system. Additional challenges posed by the tumour suppressive microenvironment are less tumour immunogenicity and the inhibition of effector T cells. The evolution of nanotechnology in recent years has paved the way for improving treatment efficacy by facilitating site-specific and sustained delivery of the therapeutic moiety to elicit a robust immune response. The amenability of nanoparticles towards surface functionalization and tuneable physicochemical properties, size, shape, and surfaces charge have been successfully harnessed for immunotherapy, as well as combination therapy, against cancer. In this review, we have summarized the recent advancements made in choosing different nanomaterial combinations and their modifications made to enable their interaction with different molecular and cellular targets for efficient immunotherapy. This review also highlights recent trends in immunotherapy strategies to be used independently, as well as in combination, for the destruction of cancer cells, as well as prevent metastasis and recurrence.

The Latest Research Advances of Danggui Buxue Tang as an Effective Prescription for Various Diseases: A Comprehensive Review

Danggui Buxue Tang (DBT) is composed of Astragali Radix and Angelicae Sinensis Radix in a weight ratio of 5:1. The recipe of the decoction is simple, and DBT has been widely used in the treatment of blood deficiency syndrome for more than 800 years in China. Studies on its chemical constituents show that saponins, flavonoids, volatile oils, organic acids, and polysaccharides are the main components of DBT. Many techniques such as third-generation sequencing, PCR-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis, and HPLC-MS have been used for the quality control of DBT. DBT has a wide range of biological activities, including blood enhancement, antagonizing diabetic nephropathy, cardiovascular protection, immunity stimulation, estrogen-like effect, and antifibrosis, among others. In this paper, we summarize the recent research advances of DBT in terms of its components, pharmacological activities, and possible mechanisms of action as well as provide suggestions for further research.

The Osteogenic Function of Danggui Buxue Tang, a Herbal Decoction Containing Astragali Radix and Angelicae Sinensis Radix, Is Optimized by Boiling the Two Herbs Together: Signaling Analyses Revealed by Systems Biology

The therapeutic efficacy of a herbal mixture, being multi-target, multi-function and multi-pathway, is the niche of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). Systems biology can dissect the network of signaling mechanisms in a complex biological system. In preparing TCM decoctions, the boiling of herbs together in water is a common practice; however, the rationale of this specific preparation has not been fully revealed. An approach of mass-spectrometry-based multi-omics was employed to examine the profiles of the cellular pathways, so as to understand the pharmacological efficacy of Danggui Buxue Tang (DBT), a Chinese herbal mixture containing Astragali Radix and Angelicae Sinensis Radix, in cultured rat osteoblasts and mesenchymal stem cells. The results, generated from omics analyses, were compared from DBT-treated osteoblasts to those of treating the herbal extract by simple mixing of extracts from Astragali Radix and Angelicae Sinensis Radix, i.e., herbal mixture without boiling together. The signaling pathways responsible for energy metabolism and amino acid metabolism showed distinct activation, as triggered by DBT, in contrast to simple mixing of two herbal extracts. The result supports that boiling the herbs together is designed to maximize the osteoblastic function of DBT, such as in energy and lipid metabolism. This harmony of TCM formulation, by having interactive functions of two herbs during preparation, is being illustrated. The systems biology approach provides new and essential insights into the synergy of herbal preparation. Well-defined multiple targets and multiple pathways in different levels of omics are the key to modernizing TCM.

Integrated Omics Reveals the Orchestrating Role of Calycosin in Danggui Buxue Tang, a Herbal Formula Containing Angelicae Sinensis Radix and Astragali Radix, in Inducing Osteoblastic Differentiation and Proliferation

Systems biology unravels the black box of signaling pathway of cells; but which has not been extensively applied to reveal the mechanistic synergy of a herbal formula. The therapeutic efficacies of a herbal formula having multi-target, multi-function and multi-pathway are the niches of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). Here, we reported an integrated omics approach, coupled with the knockout of an active compound, to measure the regulation of cellular signaling, as to reveal the landscape in cultured rat osteoblasts having synergistic pharmacological efficacy of Danggui Buxue Tang (DBT), a Chinese herbal formula containing Angelicae Sinensis Radix and Astragali Radix. The changes in signaling pathways responsible for energy metabolism, RNA metabolism and protein metabolism showed distinct features between DBT and calycosin-depleted DBT. Here, our results show that calycosin within DBT can orchestrate the osteoblastic functions and signaling pathways of the entire herbal formula. This finding reveals the harmony of herbal medicine in pharmacological functions, as well as the design of drug/herbal medicine formulation. The integration of systems biology can provide novel and essential insights into the synergistic property of a herbal formula, which is a key in modernizing TCM.

Zebrafish as a Useful Model to Study Oxidative Stress-Linked Disorders: Focus on Flavonoids

The zebrafish is considered one of the most versatile experimental animal models. The transparency of the embryos, the small size, the rapid development and the homology with higher vertebrates have made the zebrafish a valuable model also for drug screening. Its use is closely related for the determination of bioactivity, toxicity and off-target side effects of novel drug candidates, which also allows a thorough evaluation of new targets; thus, it may represent a suitable model for drug screening and the optimization of novel candidates. Flavonoids are polyphenolic compounds widely present in fruits, vegetables and cereals. Polyphenols are important for both plants and humans, considering their involvement in defense mechanisms, particularly against oxidative stress. They protect plants from biotic and abiotic stressors and prevent or treat oxidative-based human diseases. For these reasons, polyphenols are used as nutraceuticals, functional foods and supplements by the pharmaceutical industry. Therefore, the most relevant findings on zebrafish as a useful experimental model to study oxidative stress-linked disorders, focusing on the biological activities of flavonoids, are here summarized and reviewed.

A standardized extract of Danggui Buxue Tang decoction selectively exerts estrogenic activities distinctly from tamoxifen

More and more menopausal women use Danggui Buxue Tang (DBT) for relieving their symptoms. Concerns for its safety have been raised as it contains phytoestrogen and acts via estrogen receptors (ERs). Our study aimed to determine whether DBT could selectively exert estrogenic activities and interact with tamoxifen in bone, brain, uterus, and breast by using ovariectomized (OVX) rats and ER-positive cells. In OVX rats, DBT induced a 31.4% increase in bone mineral density and restored the mRNA expression of dopamine biomarker in striatum, 3.32-fold for tyrosine hydrolase (p < .001) and 0.21-fold for dopamine transporter (p < .001), which was similar to tamoxifen; tamoxifen, but not DBT, increased uterus weight and Complement component 3 expression by more than twofold (p < .001); unlike tamoxifen, DBT induced mild proliferation in mammary gland. Two-way ANOVA indicated the interactions between them in OVX rats (p < .05) but DBT did not alter the responses to tamoxifen. DBT stimulated proliferation or differentiation and estrogen response element in MCF-7, MG-63, Ishikawa, and SHSY5Y cells and altered the effects of tamoxifen. In summary, DBT exerted estrogenic effects in tissue-selective manner, which was different from tamoxifen. DBT interacted with tamoxifen but did not significantly alter its effects in OVX rats.

Fermentation of Danggui Buxue Tang, an ancient Chinese herbal mixture, together with Lactobacillus plantarum enhances the anti-diabetic functions of herbal product

Background

Danggui Buxue Tang (DBT), an ancient Chinese herbal decoction containing Astragali Radix and Angelicae Sinensis Radix at a ratio of 5: 1, is prescribed for menopausal women. Flavonoids and its flavonoid glycosides are considered as the major active ingredients within the herbal decoction; however, their amount is not controllable during the preparation. Besides, the aglycons within DBT are believed to have better gut absorption and pharmacological efficacy.

Methods

The herbal extract of DBT was fermented with Lactobacillus plantarum. The amounts of flavonoid glucosides and its aglycones in the fermented product were analyzed by using UPLC-MS/MS. In addition, in vitro assays were employed to evaluate the efficacy of the fermented DBT in regulating the activities of α-glucosidase, α-amylase and lipase, as well as their antioxidant capacity (DPPH and T-AOC assays) and anti-glycation property (BSA-methylglyoxal, BSA-fructose, and arginine-methylglyoxal models).

Results

The fermentation of DBT with L. plantarum drove a completed conversion of calycosin-7-O-β-D-glucoside and ononin to calycosin and formononetin, respectively. The chemical transformation could be probably mediated by β-glycosidase within the fermented product. Several in vitro assays corresponding to anti-diabetic functions were compared between parental DBT against its fermented product, which included the activities against α-glucosidase, α-amylase and lipase, as well as anti-oxidation and anti-glycation. The fermented DBT showed increased activities in inhibiting α-glycosidase, suppressing DPPH radical-scavenging and anti-glycation, as compared to the original herbal product.

Conclusion

These results suggested that DBT being fermented with the probiotic L. plantarum could pave a new direction for fermentation of herbal extract, as to strengthen its pharmacological properties in providing health benefits.

Synergistic Inhibition of Acetylcholinesterase by Alkaloids Derived from Stephaniae Tetrandrae Radix, Coptidis Rhizoma and Phellodendri Chinensis Cortex

Alkaloids having acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitory activity are commonly found in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM); for example, berberine from Coptis chinensis, galantamine from Lycoris radiata, and huperzine A from Huperzia serrata. In practice of TCM, Stephaniae Tetrandrae Radix (STR) is often combined with Coptidis Rhizoma (CR) or Phellodendri Chinensis Cortex (PCC) as paired herbs during clinical application. Fangchinoline from STR and coptisine and/or berberine from CR and/or PCC are active alkaloids in inhibiting AChE. The traditional usage of paired herbs suggests the synergistic effect of fangchinoline–coptisine or fangchinoline–berberine pairing in AChE inhibition. HPLC was applied to identify the main components in herbal extracts of STR, CR, and PCC, and the AChE inhibition of their main components was determined by Ellman assay. The synergism of herb combination and active component combination was calculated by median-effect principle. Molecular docking was applied to investigate the underlying binding mechanisms of the active components with the AChE protein. It was found that fangchinoline showed AChE inhibitory potency; furthermore, fangchinoline–coptisine/berberine pairs (at ratios of 1:5, 1:2, 1:1, and 2:1) synergistically inhibited AChE; the combination index (CI) at different ratios was less than one when Fa = 0.5, suggesting synergistic inhibition of AChE. Furthermore, the molecular docking simulation supported this enzymatic inhibition. Therefore, fangchinoline–coptisine/berberine pairs, or their parental herbal mixtures, may potentially be developed as a possible therapeutic strategy for Alzheimer’s patients.

The combination of Radix Astragali and Radix Angelicae Sinensis attenuates the IFN-γ-induced immune destruction of hematopoiesis in bone marrow cells

BACKGROUND

Radix Astragali and Radix Angelicae Sinensis are two herbs that compose Danggui Buxue Tang (an herbal formula for treatment of anemia diseases). In this study, we explored the molecular mechanism and effective targets to immune destruction of bone marrow (BM) cells treated with Radix Astragali, Radix Angelicae Sinensis or a combination of two agents. The potential synergic advantages of two herbs should also be explored.

METHODS

The constituents of Radix Astragali and Radix Angelicae Sinensis were analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization/mass spectrometer system BM cells were separated from limbs of BALB/c mice, and immune destruction was induced with IFN-γ. The percentages of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) and CD3⁺ T cells were detected by flow cytometry. The distribution of T-bet and changes in the combination of SAP and SLAM in BM cells were observed by immunofluorescence. Western blotting was used to assay the expression of key molecules of the eIF2 signaling pathway in BM cells.

RESULTS

Seven constituents of Radix Astragali and six constituents of Radix Angelicae Sinensis were identified. The percentages of HSCs increased significantly after treatment with Radix Angelicae Sinensis, especially at high concentrations. The percentages of CD3⁺ T cells were significantly decreased after Radix Astragali and Radix Angelicae Sinensis treatment. However, the synergistic function of two-herb combinations was superior to that of the individual herbs alone. The distribution of T-bet in BM cells was decreased significantly after Radix Angelicae Sinensis treatment. The number of SLAM/SAP double-stained cells was increased significantly after Radix Astragali treatment at low concentrations. The phosphorylation levels of eIF2α were also reduced after Radix Astragali and Radix Angelicae Sinensis treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

Radix Astragali and Radix Angelicae Sinensis could intervene in the immunologic balance of T lymphocytes, inhibit the apoptosis of BM cells induced by immune attack, restore the balance of the T cell immune response network and recover the hematopoietic function of HSCs. The synergistic effects of Radix Astragali and Radix Angelicae Sinensis were superior to those of each herb alone.

Microarray analysis of genes from animals treated with a traditional formulation ChandraprabhaVati reveals its therapeutic targets

Background

Traditional medicinal preparations have not received global acceptance, and their therapeutic benefits remain disputed due to lack of scientific evidence on their mechanism of action. Microarray analysis has emerged as a powerful technique that can aid in understanding the complex signaling networks activated by these formulations and thereby assess their beneficial as well as adverse effects.

Aim

The present work aims to investigate the differential influence of ChandraprabhaVati, Ayurvedic formulation used in the treatment of diabetes, anemia, urinary, respiratory, skin and liver disorders.

Materials and methods

The RNA from the liver of rats treated with different doses of ChandraprabhaVati for 28 days was isolated and studied for the genome-wide changes in the expression.

Results

The results revealed several molecular targets that could contribute to the therapeutic effects of ChandraprabhaVati. Several genes have been differentially expressed, among those miRNAs miR-434, miR877, and miRlet7e contribute to the anti-diabetic, anti-fibrotic and anti-inflammatory of CPV. The rejuvenative activity of CPV may be due to the MeOX1 and Upf3b genes. Up-regulation of Hbaa2 gene facilitates the anti-anemic effect. Interestingly gender-specific differential expressions of genes were also observed. Rab3d were found to be altered in female when compared to male animals.

Conclusion

Thus the microarray data for the CPV treated animals has revealed molecular targets that may be responsible for the various known therapeutic effects and also identified new beneficial effects of CPV.

Danggui Buxue Tang, a Chinese Herbal Decoction Containing Astragali Radix and Angelicae Sinensis Radix, Modulates Mitochondrial Bioenergetics in Cultured Cardiomyoblasts

Danggui Buxue Tang (DBT) is an ancient herbal mixture containing Astragali Radix and Angelicae Sinensis Radix, and which are commonly consumed for "qi-invigorating" (i.e., stimulating vital energy/energy metabolism) as traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). The pharmacological activities of DBT in anti-oxidation, estrogenic, hematopoietic, and immunogenic have been reported; however, the role of DBT in cellular energy metabolism has not been determined. Here, we employed an extracellular flux analyzer to evaluate the mitochondrial respiration of cultured H9C2 cardiomyoblasts in present of DBT. The herbal extract of DBT was qualified chemically for the major ingredients, i.e. astragaloside, calycosin, formononetin, Z-ligustilide, and ferulic acid. The anti-oxidant activities of DBT, as well as its major ingredients, were determined by Folin-Ciocalteu assay, 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging assay, and protective effect in tert-butyl hydroperoxide (tBHP)-treated cultured cardiomyoblasts. In addition, a real-time oxygen consumption rate (OCR) in herbal extract-treated cultured cardiomyoblasts was revealed by using a Seahorse extracellular flux analyzer. In addition, the transcript expressions of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator 1-alpha (PCG-1α) and other genes relating to mitochondria biogenesis were determined in cardiomyoblasts under different herbal treatments. DBT possessed the strongest anti-oxidant activity and protective effects on the oxidatively stressed cardiomyoblasts. By revealing the OCR in mitochondria, the health state of cultured cardiomyoblasts under DBT was improved via increase of basal respiration, proton leak, non-mitochondria, and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) production. Furthermore, the transcriptional activities of genes responsible for mitochondrial biogenesis and DNA replication were stimulated by application of DBT in cultures.

Bone Protective Effects of Danggui Buxue Tang Alone and in Combination With Tamoxifen or Raloxifene in vivo and in vitro

Danggui Buxue Tang (DBT), a traditional Chinese Medicine decoction containing Astragali Radix (AR) and Angelicae Sinensis Radix (ASR), is commonly prescribed for women in China as a remedy for menopausal symptoms. Previous study indicated that DBT stimulated cell growth and differentiation of human osteosarcoma MG-63 cells and exhibited estrogenic properties via estrogen receptors (ERs). The present study aimed to study the bone protective effects of DBT and its potential interactions with selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs, tamoxifen and raloxifene) in both in vivo and in vitro models as they act via similar ERs. Six-month-old Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned to the following treatments for 12 weeks: (1) sham-operated control group with vehicle (sham), (2) ovariectomized group with vehicle (OVX), (3) OVX with 17β-estradiol (E2, 2.0 mg/kg day), (4) OVX with tamoxifen (Tamo, 1.0 mg/kg day), (5) OVX with raloxifene (Ralo, 3.0 mg/kg day), (6) OVX with DBT (DBT, 3.0 g/kg day), (7) OVX with DBT+Tamoxifen (DBT+Tamo), and (8) OVX with DBT+Raloxifene (DBT+Ralo). Effects of DBT and potential interactions between DBT and SERMs were also evaluated in MG-63 cells. DBT, tamoxifen, raloxifene, and their combinations significantly increased bone mineral density (BMD) and improved trabecular bone properties, including bone surface (BS), trabecular bone number (Tb.N), and trabecular bone separation (Tb.Sp), as well as restored changes in bone turnover biomarkers and mRNA expression of genes involved in bone metabolism in OVX rats. Furthermore, DBT, SERMs, and their combinations significantly increased serum estradiol and suppressed follicle stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone in OVX rats, suggesting the possible involvement of the hypothalamus–pituitary–gonadal axis in mediating their bone protective effects. However, SERMs, but not DBT, significantly increased uterus index in OVX rats. DBT significantly induced ALP activity and estrogen response element-dependent transcription in MG-63 cells. Our study demonstrated that DBT alone and in combinations with SERMs could exert bone protective effects in vitro and in vivo.

Calycosin Orchestrates Osteogenesis of Danggui Buxue Tang in Cultured Osteoblasts: Evaluating the Mechanism of Action by Omics and Chemical Knock-out Methodologies

Danggui Buxue Tang (DBT), an ancient Chinese herbal decoction commonly used to mitigate menopausal osteoporosis, contains two herbs: Astragali Radix (AR) and Angelicae Sinensis Radix (ASR). The exact efficacy of individual chemical(s) within DBT, or in any herbal mixture, is hard to be revealed. Calycosin and ferulic acid have been reported to be the predominant chemicals found within DBT, and its roles in regulating osteoblastic differentiation have been proposed here. To probe the roles of calycosin and ferulic acid, these chemicals were specifically depleted from the DBT extracts. Here, calycosin-depleted DBT (DBT_Δcal) and ferulic acid-depleted DBT (DBT_Δfa), generated by semi-preparative HPLC, were coupled with RNA-seq and metabolomics analyses to reveal the synergistic functions of individual chemicals within a complex herbal mixture. The expressions of osteogenic differentiation markers were significantly increased under the treatments of DBT and DBT_Δfa. The DBT-induced genes were markedly reduced in the absent of calycosin, i.e., DBT_Δcal. In cultured osteoblasts, the DBT-activated Wnt/β-catenin and MAPK/Erk and signaling pathways were greatly affected when calycosin was depleted. By metabolomics analysis in DBT-treated osteoblasts, the profile of metabolites triggered by DBT_Δcal showed distinction to that of DBT and/or DBT_Δfa. Thus, our findings indicated that calycosin, rather than ferulic acid, could be an indispensable chemical in DBT to orchestrate multi-components of DBT in achieving maximal osteogenic properties.

Traditional Chinese medicine Danggui Buxue Tang inhibits colorectal cancer growth through induction of autophagic cell death

Purpose

The induction of autophagic cell death is an important process in the development of anticancer therapeutics. We aimed to evaluate the activity of the ancient Chinese decoction Danggui Buxue Tang (DBT) against colorectal cancer (CRC) and the associated autophagy-related mechanism.

Materials and methods

CT26 CRC cells were implanted into syngeneic BALB/c mice for the tumor growth assay. DBT extracts and DBT-PD (polysaccharide-depleted) fractions were orally administered. The toxicity profiles of the extracts were analyzed using measurements of body weight, hemogram, and biochemical parameters. The morphology of tissue sections was observed using light and transmission electron microscopy. Western blotting and small interference RNA assays were used to determine the mechanism.

Results

DBT-PD and DBT, which contained an equal amount of DBT-PD, inhibited CT26 syngeneic tumor growth. In the tumor specimen, the expression of microtubule-associated proteins 1A/1B light chain 3B (LC3B) was upregulated by DBT-PD and DBT. The development of autophagosomes was observed via transmission electron microscopy in tumors treated with DBT-PD and DBT. In vitro experiments for mechanism clarification demonstrated that DBT-PD could induce autophagic death in CT26 cells accompanied by LC3B lipidation, downregulation of phospho-p70^s6k, and upregulation of Atg7. RNA interference of Atg7, but not Atg5, partially reversed the effect of DBT-PD on LC3B lipidation and expression of phospho-p70^s6k and Atg7. The changes in ultrastructural morphology and LC3B expression induced by DBT-PD were also partially blocked by the knockdown of Atg7 mRNA.

Conclusion

DBT induced autophagic death of colorectal cancer cells through the upregulation of Atg7 and modulation of the mTOR/p70^s6k signaling pathway.

Antimicrobial activity of pomegranate peel extracts as affected by cultivar

BACKGROUND

Some studies have reported that different parts of the pomegranate fruit, especially the peel, may act as potential antimicrobial agents and thus might be proposed as a safe natural alternative to synthetic antimicrobial agents. The high tannin content, especially punicalagin, found in pomegranate extracts, has been reported as the main compound responsible for such antimicrobial activity. Because the pomegranate peel chemical composition may vary with the type of cultivar (sweet, sour-sweet and sour), pomegranates may also differ with respect to their antimicrobial capacity.

RESULTS

The extract from PTO8 pomegranate cultivar peel had the highest antimicrobial activity, as well as the highest punicalagins (α and β) and ellagic acid concentrations. In the results obtained from both antibacterial and antifungal activity studies, the sour-sweet pomegranate cultivar PTO8 showed the best antimicrobial activity, and the highest ellagic acid concentrations.

CONCLUSION

The results of the present study suggest that ellagic acid content has a significant influence on the antimicrobial activity of the pomegranate extracts investigated. The pomegranate peel of the PTO8 cultivar is a good source of antifungal and antibacterial compounds, and may represent an alternative to antimicrobial agents of synthetic origin. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry.

DNA Microarray-Based Screening and Characterization of Traditional Chinese Medicine

The application of DNA microarray assay (DMA) has entered a new era owing to recent innovations in omics technologies. This review summarizes recent applications of DMA-based gene expression profiling by focusing on the screening and characterizationof traditional Chinese medicine. First, herbs, mushrooms, and dietary plants analyzed by DMA along with their effective components and their biological/physiological effects are summarized and discussed by examining their comprehensive list and a list of representative effective chemicals. Second, the mechanisms of action of traditional Chinese medicine are summarized by examining the genes and pathways responsible for the action, the cell functions involved in the action, and the activities found by DMA (silent estrogens). Third, applications of DMA for traditional Chinese medicine are discussed by examining reported examples and new protocols for its use in quality control. Further innovations in the signaling pathway based evaluation of beneficial effects and the assessment of potential risks of traditional Chinese medicine are expected, just as are observed in other closely related fields, such as the therapeutic, environmental, nutritional, and pharmacological fields.

The Traditional Chinese Medicine DangguiBuxue Tang Sensitizes Colorectal Cancer Cells to Chemoradiotherapy

Chemotherapy is an important treatment modality for colon cancer, and concurrent chemoradiation therapy (CCRT) is the preferred treatment route for patients with stage II and III rectal cancer. We examined whether DangguiBuxue Tang (DBT), a traditional Chinese herbal extract, sensitizes colorectal cancer cells to anticancer treatments. The polysaccharide-depleted fraction of DBT (DBT-PD) contains greater amounts of astragaloside IV (312.626 µg/g) and ferulic acid (1.404 µg/g) than does the original formula. Treatment of the murine colon carcinoma cell line (CT26) with DBT-PD inhibits growth, whereas treatment with comparable amounts of purified astragaloside IV and ferulic acid showed no significant effect. Concurrent treatment with DBT-PD increases the growth inhibitory effect of 5-fluorouracil up to 4.39-fold. DBT-PD enhances the effect of radiation therapy (RT) with a sensitizer enhancement ratio (SER) of up to 1.3. It also increases the therapeutic effect of CCRT on CT26 cells. Cells treated with DBP-PD showed ultrastructural changes characteristic of autophagy, including multiple cytoplasmic vacuoles with double-layered membranes, vacuoles containing remnants of degraded organelles, marked swelling and vacuolization of mitochondria, and autolysosome-like vacuoles. We conclude that DBT-PD induces autophagy-associated cell death in CT26 cells, and may have potential as a chemotherapy or radiotherapy sensitizer in colorectal cancer treatment.

The estrogenic properties of Danggui Buxue Tang, a Chinese herbal decoction, are triggered predominantly by calycosin in MCF-7 cells

BACKGROUND

Danggui Buxue Tang (DBT), a Chinese herbal decoction containing Astragali Radix (AR; roots of Astragalus memebranaceus (Fisch.) Bunge var. mongholicus (Bunge) Hsiao) and Angelicae Sinensis Radix (ASR; roots of Angelica sinensis Oliv.) at a weight ratio of 5:1, is used to improve menopausal syndromes in women. Several lines of evidence indicate that DBT has strong estrogenic property; however, the action mechanism of this herbal decoction is not known. Calycosin, a major flavonoid in AR, shares similar structure with β-estradiol, and thus which is hypothesized to be the key compound of DBT in responsible for such estrogenic properties.

AIMS

We aimed to determine the role of calycosin in DBT in terms of its estrogenic functions by the creation of calycosin-depleted DBT (DBTΔcal) and calycosin-added DBT (DBT+cal) herbal extracts.

METHODS

The signalings triggered by DBT∆cal, DBT+cal, and parental DBT were compared in cultured MCF-7 cells by determining: (i) the activation of estrogen responsive element; (ii) the phosphorylation of estrogen receptor α (ERα); and (iii) the phosphorylation of Erk1/2. The DBT-induced responses were in dose- and/or time-dependent manners.

RESULTS

The estrogenic signals triggered by DBT were markedly reduced in DBTΔcal, and in contrast the addition of calycosin in DBT, i.e. DBT+cal, enhanced the responses by 2-5 folds; however, calycosin alone did not show such properties. In parallel, the DBT-induced responses could be significantly blocked by inhibitors for estrogen receptor and mitogen activated protein kinases.

CONCLUSION

Thus, we hypothesize that calycosin is an indispensable chemical in DBT, and which plays a linker in orchestrating multi-components of DBT as to achieve the maximal estrogenic functions. These discoveries should be invaluable in drug development and in investigating the modernization of traditional Chinese medicine from a new perspective.

Flavonoids induce the expression of acetylcholinesterase in cultured osteoblasts

Flavonoids, a group of natural compounds mainly derived from plants, are known to possess osteogenic effects in bone cells. Here, we aimed to test if flavonoid could induce a cholinergic enzyme, acetylcholinesterase (AChE), as well as bone differentiation. In cultured rat osteoblasts, twenty flavonoids, deriving from Chinese herbs and having known induction of alkaline phosphatase (ALP¹) expression, were tested for its induction activity on AChE expression. Eleven flavonoids showed the induction, and five of them had robust activation of AChE expression, including baicalin, calycosin, genistin, hyperin and pratensein: the induction of AChE included the levels of mRNA, protein and enzymatic activity. Moreover, the flavonoid-induced AChE expression in cultured osteoblast was in proline-rich membrane anchor (PRiMA)-linked tetrameric globular form (G₄) only. In parallel, the expression of PRiMA was also induced by the application of flavonoids. The flavonoid-induced AChE in the cultures was not affected by estrogen receptor blocker, ICI 182,780. Taken together, the induction of PRiMA-linked AChE in osteoblast should be independent to classical estrogen signaling pathway.

Enhanced Bone Tissue Regeneration by Porous Gelatin Composites Loaded with the Chinese Herbal Decoction Danggui Buxue Tang

Danggui Buxue Tang (DBT) is a traditional Chinese herbal decoction containing Radix Astragali and Radix Angelicae sinensis. Pharmacological results indicate that DBT can stimulate bone cell proliferation and differentiation. The aim of the study was to investigate the efficacy of adding DBT to bone substitutes on bone regeneration following bone injury. DBT was incorporated into porous composites (GGT) made from genipin-crosslinked gelatin and β-triclacium phosphates as bone substitutes (GGTDBT). The biological response of mouse calvarial bone to these composites was evaluated by in vivo imaging systems (IVIS), micro-computed tomography (micro-CT), and histology analysis. IVIS images revealed a stronger fluorescent signal in GGTDBT-treated defect than in GGT-treated defect at 8 weeks after implantation. Micro-CT analysis demonstrated that the level of repair from week 4 to 8 increased from 42.1% to 71.2% at the sites treated with GGTDBT, while that increased from 33.2% to 54.1% at GGT-treated sites. These findings suggest that the GGTDBT stimulates the innate regenerative capacity of bone, supporting their use in bone tissue regeneration.

Calycosin orchestrates the functions of Danggui Buxue Tang, a Chinese herbal decoction composing of Astragali Radix and Angelica Sinensis Radix: An evaluation by using calycosin-knock out herbal extract

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Danggui Buxue Tang (DBT) is a classical Chinese herbal decoction containing two herbs, Astragali Radix (AR) and Angelicae Sinensis Radix (ASR), which serves as dietary supplement for treating women menopausal syndromes. Pharmacological studies indicate that DBT has estrogenic, erythropoietic and osteogenic properties; however, the action mechanism for this complex herbal decoction is not known. Calycosin, a major flavonoid in AR, shares similar structure with β-estradiol, and thus which is hypothesized to be the critical compound of DBT. Here, we aim to investigate the role of calycosin in DBT in terms of its biological functions by using a calycosin-depleted DBT decoction (DBT(Δcal)). The biological functions of DBT(Δcal) and parental DBT were systematically compared.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In order to standardize DBT decoction, four chemical markers were determined and quantified by HPLC. A semi-preparative HPLC method was utilized to prepare DBT(Δcal). The authenticity of DBT(Δcal) was evaluated by LC-QQQ-MS/MS. To reveal the effect of calycosin on DBT functions, several cell assays related to the known properties of DBT were revealed, including estrogenic, erythropoietic and osteogenic functions.

RESULTS

As compared to parental DBT, the estrogenic, erythropoietic and osteogenic abilities were markedly reduced in DBT(Δcal). However, calycosin alone did not show significant responses.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results suggest that calycosin is a bioactive chemical in DBT decoction, and which could play a key linker in orchestrating multi-components of DBT as to achieve maximal functions. These discoveries should be invaluable in drug development and in investigating the modernization of traditional Chinese medicine from a new perspective.

Evaluating the bone tissue regeneration capability of the Chinese herbal decoction Danggui Buxue Tang from a molecular biology perspective

Large bone defects are a considerable challenge to reconstructive surgeons. Numerous traditional Chinese herbal medicines have been used to repair and regenerate bone tissue. This study investigated the bone regeneration potential of Danggui Buxue Tang (DBT), a Chinese herbal decoction prepared from Radix Astragali (RA) and Radix Angelicae Sinensis (RAS), from a molecular biology perspective. The optimal ratio of RA and RAS used in DBT for osteoblast culture was obtained by colorimetric and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity assays. Moreover, the optimal concentration of DBT for bone cell culture was also determined by colorimetric, ALP activity, nodule formation, Western blotting, wound-healing, and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase activity assays. Consequently, the most appropriate weight ratio of RA to RAS for the proliferation and differentiation of osteoblasts was 5:1. Moreover, the most effective concentration of DBT was 1,000 μg/mL, which significantly increased the number of osteoblasts, intracellular ALP levels, and nodule numbers, while inhibiting osteoclast activity. Additionally, 1,000 μg/mL of DBT was able to stimulate p-ERK and p-JNK signal pathway. Therefore, DBT is highly promising for use in accelerating fracture healing in the middle or late healing periods.

Functions of Danggui Buxue Tang, a Chinese Herbal Decoction Containing Astragali Radix and Angelicae Sinensis Radix, in Uterus and Liver are Both Estrogen Receptor-Dependent and -Independent

Danggui Buxue Tang (DBT), a herbal decoction containing Astragali Radix (AR) and Angelicae Sinensis Radix (ASR), has been used in treating menopausal irregularity in women for more than 800 years in China. Pharmacological results showed that DBT exhibited significant estrogenic properties in vitro, which therefore suggested that DBT could activate the nuclear estrogen receptors. Here, we assessed the estrogenic properties of DBT in an ovariectomized in vivo rat model: DBT was applied to the ovariectomized rats for 3 days. The application of DBT did not alter the weight of uterus and liver, as well as the transcript expression of the proliferation markers including the estrogen receptors α and β. However, DBT stimulated the transcript expression of the estrogen responsive genes. In addition, the inductive role of DBT on the expression of members of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor family in uterus and liver of ovariectomized rats was confirmed. These responses of DBT however were clearly distinct from the response pattern detectable here for 17β-estradiol. Therefore, DBT exhibited weak, but significant, estrogenic properties in vivo; however, some of its activities were independent of the estrogen receptor. Thus, DBT could be an exciting Chinese herbal decoction for an alternative treatment of hormone replacement therapy for women in menopause without subsequent estrogenic side effects.

Influence of vinegar and wine processing on the alkaloid content and composition of the traditional Chinese medicine Corydalis Rhizoma (Yanhusuo)

Corydalis Rhizoma is the dried tuber of Corydalis yanhusuo W.T. Wang which is used in traditional Chinese medicine for pain relief and blood activation. Before being used in the clinics, C. yanhusuo is traditionally processed through dry-frying or frying with vinegar, wine or salt. In this study, eleven alkaloids from Corydalis Rhizoma, namely protopine (1), α-allocryptopine (2), tetrahydrocolumbamine (3), coptisine (4), palmatine (5), berberine (6), dehydrocorydaline (7), D,L-tetrahydropalmatine (8), tetrahydroberberine (9), corydaline (10) and tetrahydrocoptisine (11) were simultaneously quantified using a newly developed high performance liquid chromatography-diode array detector (HPLC-DAD) method. The influence of vinegar and wine processing on the content of the main alkaloids of Corydalis Rhizoma was investigated. For this purpose, two common formulations with clinical application, namely the water decoction of Corydalis Rhizoma and its formula Jin Ling Zi San (combination of Corydalis Rhizoma and Toosendan Fructus) were studied. In the two water decoctions, wine and vinegar processing increased the amount of tertiary alkaloids. The differences were more pronounced for Jin Ling Zi San, in which case the content of all tertiary alkaloids (compounds 1, 2, 3, 8, 9, 10, 11) was increased by wine processing.

Hyperoside, a flavonoid compound, inhibits proliferation and stimulates osteogenic differentiation of human osteosarcoma cells

Osteosarcoma, one of the most common malignant bone tumours, is generally considered a differentiation disease caused by genetic and epigenetic disruptions in the terminal differentiation of osteoblasts. Novel therapies based on the non-cytotoxic induction of cell differentiation-responsive pathways could represent a significant advance in treating osteosarcoma; however, effective pharmaceuticals to induce differentiation are lacking. In the present study, we investigated the effect of hyperoside, a flavonoid compound, on the osteoblastic differentiation of U2OS and MG63 osteosarcoma cells in vitro. Our results demonstrated that hyperoside inhibits the proliferation of osteosarcoma cells by inducing G₀/G₁ arrest in the cell cycle, without causing obvious cell death. Cell migration assay further suggested that hyperoside could inhibit the invasion potential of osteosarcoma cells. Additionally, osteopontin and runt-related transcription factor 2 protein levels and osteocalcin activation were upregulated dramatically in hyperoside-treated osteosarcoma cells, suggesting that hyperoside may stimulates osteoblastic differentiation in osteosarcoma cells. This differentiation was accompanied by the activation of transforming growth factor (TGF)-β and bone morphogenetic protein-2, suggesting that the hyperoside-induced differentiation involves the TGF-β signalling pathway. To our knowledge, this study is the first to evaluate the differentiation effect of hyperoside in osteosarcoma cells and assess the possible potential for hyperoside treatment as a future therapeutic approach for osteosarcoma differentiation therapy.

Pharmacokinetic comparison of seven major bio-active components in normal and blood deficiency rats after oral administration of Danggui Buxue decoction by UPLC-TQ/MS

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Blood deficiency is commonly encountered among women, and is the root of many gynecological disorders. Danggui Buxue Decoction (DBD), a classical traditional Chinese formula which is composed of Astragali Radix (AR) and Angelicae Sinensis Radix (ASR) at the ratio of 5:1 (w/w), is widely used in TCM clinics for treatment of blood deficiency syndrome. This study is to compare the in vivo pharmacokinetic properties of seven major bio-active components in normal and blood deficiency rats after oral administration of DBD.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Blood deficiency rats were induced by bleeding from orbit at the dosages of 5.0mL/kg each day for 12 days. Normal and blood deficiency rats were administrated of DBD on the 12th day at the dosage of 20g/kg, and blood was collected at different time points after then. Concentrations of ferulic acid, caffeic acid, butylphthalide, ligustilide, calycosin-7-O-β-glucoside, ononin, and astragaloside IV in plasma were quantified by UPLC-TQ/MS, and the main pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated by DAS 2.0.

RESULTS

It was found that Cmax, Tmax and MRT0~T of astragaloside IV, Cmax, T1/2Z, AUC0~T and MRT0~T of calycosin-7-O-β-glucoside, T1/2Z and AUC0~T of ferulic acid, T1/2Z, AUC0~T and MRT0~T of ononin, and MRT0~T of ligustilide, butylphthalide, and caffeic acid in blood deficiency rats was significantly different (P<0.05) from normal rats.

CONCLUSIONS

This study was the first report about pharmacokinetic investigation in blood deficiency animals which was conducted by bleeding. And the results demonstrated that the seven DBD constituents in normal and blood deficiency rats had obvious differences in some pharmacokinetic characteristics, suggesting that the rate and extent of drug metabolism were altered in blood deficiency animals.

Quality Control of Danggui Buxue Tang, a Traditional Chinese Medicine Decoction, by (1)H-NMR Metabolic Profiling

Danggui Buxue Tang (DBT) is one of the simplest traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) decoctions, first described in China in 1247 AD. DBT is composed of 2 herbs, Astragali Radix (AR) and Angelica Sinensis Radix (ASR), boiled together in a 5 : 1 ratio. Clinically, DBT is prescribed to women as a remedy for menopausal symptoms. Here, H-NMR metabolic profiling was conducted for DBT and the water extracts of AR or ASR, to evaluate the potential of this chemical profiling method for quality control of the herbal decoction. Principal component analysis (PCA) showed that DBT could be readily distinguished from the water extracts of its constituent herbs by the metabolic profiles. More interestingly, the metabolic profile of DBT was not a simple sum of that of AR and ASR. Asparagine was found at significantly higher concentration in DBT than that in either AR or ASR extract, contributing mainly to the discrimination of DBT sample. In addition, we employed the same method to profile a commercial DBT powder, verifying its authenticity as compared to our prepared DBT. This study is the first to employ H-NMR metabolic profiling for the quality control of traditional Chinese medicine decoctions.

Perimenopause Amelioration of a TCM Recipe Composed of Radix Astragali, Radix Angelicae Sinensis, and Folium Epimedii: An In Vivo Study on Natural Aging Rat Model

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has been extensively applied as preferable herbal remedy for menopausal symptoms. In the present work, the potential of a TCM recipe named RRF, composed of Radix Astragali, Radix Angelicae Sinensis, and Folium Epimedii, was investigated on a natural aging rat model. After administration of RRF (141, 282, and 564 mg/kg/d), the circulated estradiol (E2) level increased accompanied by a reduction of serum follicle stimulating hormone (FSH). But no significant impact on serum lutenizing hormone (LH) level was observed. As a result of the E2-FSH-LH adjustment, the histomorphology degenerations of ovary, uterus, and vagina of the 11.5-month female rats were alleviated. And lumbar vertebrae trabecular microstructure was also restored under RRF exposure by means of increasing the trabecular area and area rate. Moreover, levels of hypothalamic dopamine (DA) and norepinephrine (NE) rallied significantly after RRF treatment. Results from our studies suggest that RRF possesses a positive regulation on the estrogen imbalance and neurotransmitter disorder, thereby restoring reproductive organ degeneration and skeleton deterioration. The above-mentioned benefits of RRF on the menopause syndromes recommend RRF as a potential candidate for the treatment of perimenopausal syndrome.

Yu Ping Feng San, an ancient Chinese herbal decoction containing Astragali Radix, Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma and Saposhnikoviae Radix, regulates the release of cytokines in murine macrophages

Yu Ping Feng San (YPFS), a Chinese herbal decoction, is composed of Astragali Radix (AR; Huangqi), Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma (AMR; Baizhu) and Saposhnikoviae Radix (SR; Fangfeng) in a weight ratio of 1∶2∶1. Clinically, YPFS has been widely used to regulate immune functions; however, the action mechanism of it is not known. Here, we addressed this issue by providing detail analyses of chemical and biological properties of YPFS. By using rapid resolution liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry, fifteen chemicals deriving from different herbs of YPFS were determined, and which served as a control for the standardization of the herbal extract of YPFS. In general, the amounts of chosen chemical markers were higher in a preparation of YPFS as compared to that of single herb or two-herb compositions. In order to reveal the immune functions of YPFS, the standardized extract was applied onto cultured murine macrophages. The treatment of YPFS stimulated the mRNA and protein expressions of pro-inflammatory cytokines via activation of NF-κB by enhancing IκBα degradation. In contrast, the application of YPFS suppressed the expressions of pro-inflammatory cytokines significantly in the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced chronic inflammation model. In addition, YPFS could up regulate the phagocytic activity in cultured macrophages. These results therefore supported the bi-directional immune-modulatory roles of YPFS in regulating the releases of cytokines from macrophages.

Optimizing combinations of flavonoids deriving from astragali radix in activating the regulatory element of erythropoietin by a feedback system control scheme

Identifying potent drug combination from a herbal mixture is usually quite challenging, due to a large number of possible trials. Using an engineering approach of the feedback system control (FSC) scheme, we identified the potential best combinations of four flavonoids, including formononetin, ononin, calycosin, and calycosin-7-O-β-D-glucoside deriving from Astragali Radix (AR; Huangqi), which provided the best biological action at minimal doses. Out of more than one thousand possible combinations, only tens of trials were required to optimize the flavonoid combinations that stimulated a maximal transcriptional activity of hypoxia response element (HRE), a critical regulator for erythropoietin (EPO) transcription, in cultured human embryonic kidney fibroblast (HEK293T). By using FSC scheme, 90% of the work and time can be saved, and the optimized flavonoid combinations increased the HRE mediated transcriptional activity by ~3-fold as compared with individual flavonoid, while the amount of flavonoids was reduced by ~10-fold. Our study suggests that the optimized combination of flavonoids may have strong effect in activating the regulatory element of erythropoietin at very low dosage, which may be used as new source of natural hematopoietic agent. The present work also indicates that the FSC scheme is able to serve as an efficient and model-free approach to optimize the drug combination of different ingredients within a herbal decoction.

Kaempferol as a flavonoid induces osteoblastic differentiation via estrogen receptor signaling

Background

Flavonoids, a group of compounds mainly derived from vegetables and herbal medicines, chemically resemble estrogen and some have been used as estrogen substitutes. Kaempferol, a flavonol derived from the rhizome of Kaempferia galanga L., is a well-known phytoestrogen possessing osteogenic effects that is also found in a large number of plant foods.

The herb K. galanga is a popular traditional aromatic medicinal plant that is widely used as food spice and in medicinal industries. In the present study, both the estrogenic and osteogenic properties of kaempferol are evaluated.

Methods

Kaempferol was first evaluated for its estrogenic properties, including its effects on estrogen receptors. The osteogenic properties of kaempferol were further determined its induction effects on specific osteogenic enzymes and genes as well as the mineralization process in cultured rat osteoblasts.

Results

Kaempferol activated the transcriptional activity of pERE-Luc (3.98 ± 0.31 folds at 50 μM) and induced estrogen receptor α (ERα) phosphorylation in cultured rat osteoblasts, and this ER activation was correlated with induction and associated with osteoblast differentiation biomarkers, including alkaline phosphatase activity and transcription of osteoblastic genes, e.g., type I collagen, osteonectin, osteocalcin, Runx2 and osterix. Kaempferol also promoted the mineralization process of osteoblasts (4.02 ± 0.41 folds at 50 μM). ER mediation of the kaempferol-induced effects was confirmed by pretreatment of the osteoblasts with an ER antagonist, ICI 182,780, which fully blocked the induction effect.

Conclusion

Our results showed that kaempferol stimulates osteogenic differentiation of cultured osteoblasts by acting through the estrogen receptor signaling.

The potential of metabolic fingerprinting as a tool for the modernisation of TCM preparations

A vast majority Chinese herbal medicines (CHM) are traditionally administered as individually prepared water decoctions (tang) which are rather complicated in practice and their dry extracts show technological problems that hamper straight production of more convenient application forms. Modernised extraction procedures may overcome these difficulties but there is lack of clinical evidence supporting their therapeutic equivalence to traditional decoctions and their quality can often not solely be attributed to the single marker compounds that are usually used for chemical extract optimisation. As demonstrated by the example of the rather simple traditional TCM formula Danggui Buxue Tang, both the chemical composition and the biological activity of extracts resulting from traditional water decoction are influenced by details of the extraction procedure and especially involve pharmacokinetic synergism based on co-extraction. Hence, a more detailed knowledge about the traditional extracts' chemical profiles and their impact on biological activity is desirable in order to allow the development of modernised extracts that factually contain the whole range of compounds relevant for the efficacy of the traditional application. We propose that these compounds can be identified by metabolomics based on comprehensive fingerprint analysis of different extracts with known biological activity. TCM offers a huge variety of traditional products of the same botanical origin but with distinct therapeutic properties, like differentially processed drugs and special daodi qualities. Through this variety, TCM gives an ideal field for the application of metabolomic techniques aiming at the identification of active constituents.

Baicalin, a flavone, induces the differentiation of cultured osteoblasts: an action via the Wnt/beta-catenin signaling pathway

Flavonoids, a group of natural compounds found in a variety of vegetables and herbal medicines, have been intensively reported on regarding their estrogen-like activities and particularly their ability to affect bone metabolism. Here, different subclasses of flavonoids were screened for their osteogenic properties by measuring alkaline phosphatase activity in cultured rat osteoblasts. The flavone baicalin derived mainly from the roots of Scutellaria baicalensis showed the strongest induction of alkaline phosphatase activity. In cultured osteoblasts, application of baicalin increased significantly the osteoblastic mineralization and the levels of mRNAs encoding the bone differentiation markers, including osteonectin, osteocalcin, and collagen type 1α1. Interestingly, the osteogenic effect of baicalin was not mediated by its estrogenic activity. In contrast, baicalin promoted osteoblastic differentiation via the activation of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway; the activation resulted in the phosphorylation of glycogen synthase kinase 3β and, subsequently, induced the nuclear accumulation of the β-catenin, leading to the transcription activation of Wnt-targeted genes for osteogenesis. The baicalin-induced osteogenic effects were fully abolished by DKK-1, a blocker of Wnt/β-catenin receptor. Moreover, baicalin also enhanced the mRNA expression of osteoprotegerin, which could regulate indirectly the activation of osteoclasts. Taken together, our results suggested that baicalin could act via Wnt/β-catenin signaling to promote osteoblastic differentiation. The osteogenic flavonoids could be very useful in finding potential drugs, or food supplements, for treating post-menopausal osteoporosis.

Molecular genetic studies of gene identification for osteoporosis: the 2009 update

Osteoporosis is a complex human disease that results in increased susceptibility to fragility fractures. It can be phenotypically characterized using several traits, including bone mineral density, bone size, bone strength, and bone turnover markers. The identification of gene variants that contribute to osteoporosis phenotypes, or responses to therapy, can eventually help individualize the prognosis, treatment, and prevention of fractures and their adverse outcomes. Our previously published reviews have comprehensively summarized the progress of molecular genetic studies of gene identification for osteoporosis and have covered the data available to the end of September 2007. This review represents our continuing efforts to summarize the important and representative findings published between October 2007 and November 2009. The topics covered include genetic association and linkage studies in humans, transgenic and knockout mouse models, as well as gene-expression microarray and proteomics studies. Major results are tabulated for comparison and ease of reference. Comments are made on the notable findings and representative studies for their potential influence and implications on our present understanding of the genetics of osteoporosis.

Calycosin promotes angiogenesis involving estrogen receptor and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway in zebrafish and HUVEC

Background

Angiogenesis plays an important role in a wide range of physiological processes, and many diseases are associated with the dysregulation of angiogenesis. Radix Astragali is a Chinese medicinal herb commonly used for treating cardiovascular disorders and has been shown to possess angiogenic effect in previous studies but its active constituent and underlying mechanism remain unclear. The present study investigates the angiogenic effects of calycosin, a major isoflavonoid isolated from Radix Astragali, in vitro and in vivo.

Methodology

Tg(fli1:EGFP) and Tg(fli1:nEGFP) transgenic zebrafish embryos were treated with different concentrations of calycosin (10, 30, 100 µM) from 72 hpf to 96 hpf prior morphological observation and angiogenesis phenotypes assessment. Zebrafish embryos were exposed to calycosin (10, 100 µM) from 72 hpf to 78 hpf before gene-expression analysis. The effects of VEGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor on calycosin-induced angiogenesis were studied using 72 hpf Tg(fli1:EGFP) and Tg(fli1:nEGFP) zebrafish embryos. The pro-angiogenic effects of calycosin were compared with raloxifene and tamoxifen in 72 hpf Tg(fli1:EGFP) zebrafish embryos. The binding affinities of calycosin to estrogen receptors (ERs) were evaluated by cell-free and cell-based estrogen receptor binding assays. Human umbilical vein endothelial cell cultures (HUVEC) were pretreated with different concentrations of calycosin (3, 10, 30, 100 µM) for 48 h then tested for cell viability and tube formation. The role of MAPK signaling in calycosin-induced angiogenesis was evaluated using western blotting.

Conclusion

Calycosin was shown to induce angiogenesis in human umbilical vein endothelial cell cultures (HUVEC) in vitro and zebrafish embryos in vivo via the up-regulation of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), VEGFR1 and VEGFR2 mRNA expression. It was demonstrated that calycosin acted similar to other selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs), such as raloxifene and tamoxifen, by displaying selective potency and affinity to estrogen receptors ERα and ERβ. Our results further indicated that calycosin promotes angiogenesis via activation of MAPK with the involvement of ERK1/2 and ER. Together, this study revealed, for the first time, that calycosin acts as a selective estrogen receptor modulator (SERM) to promote angiogenesis, at least in part through VEGF-VEGFR2 and MAPK signaling pathways.