Corallodiscus flabellata B.L. Burtt Extracts Stimulate Diuretic Activity and Regulate the Renal Expression of Aquaporins

Two polyphenols isolated from Corallodiscus flabellata B. L. Burtt ameliorate amyloid β-protein induced Alzheimer's disease neuronal injury by improving mitochondrial homeostasis

Corallodiscus flabellata B. L. Burtt (CF) is a Chinese folk herb with reported potential for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease (AD). 3,4-Dihydroxyphenylethanol-8-O-[4-O-trans-caffeoyl-β-D-apiofuranosyl-(1→3)-β-D-glucopyranosyl (1→6)][1]-β-D-glucopyranoside (SDC-1-8) and hydroxytyrosol (HT) are two polyphenolic compounds isolated from CF. The aim of this study was to investigate the protective effects of SDC-1-8 and HT on an Aβ_25-35-induced AD model and to study the underlying mechanism. The AD mouse model was established using a brain injection of amyloid β-protein 25-35 (Aβ_25-35, 200 μM), followed by continuous administration of SDC-1-8 and HT for 4 weeks, and found that they improved cognitive dysfunction; ameliorated neuronal damage and apoptosis; decreased oxidative stress, and mitochondrial fission protein levels; and increased mitochondrial fusion protein levels in AD mice. Moreover, SDC-1-8 and HT inhibited mitochondrial membrane depolarization, reduced intracellular stored Ca²⁺ levels, enhanced mitochondrial respiration, increased mitochondrial fusion, and decreased mitochondrial division in Aβ_25-35-induced PC12 cells even in the presence of mdivi-1. Furthermore, molecular docking simulations showed that SDC-1-8 and HT interacted with dynamin-related protein 1 with higher affinity than mitofusin 1. Thus, it is summarized that SDC-1-8 and HT may have neuroprotective effects by balancing the abnormalities of mitochondrial fission and fusion, and SDC-1-8 and HT are the components providing the therapeutic basis of CF.

Extract of Corallodiscus flabellata attenuates renal fibrosis in SAMP8 mice via the Wnt/β-catenin/RAS signaling pathway

BACKGROUND

Fibrosis is one of the most common pathological features of the aging process of the kidney, and fibrosis in aging kidneys also aggravates the process of chronic kidney disease (CKD). Corallodiscus flabellata B. L. Burtt (C. flabellata, CF) is a commonly used botanical drug in Chinese folklore. However, few studies have reported its pharmacological effects. This study aimed to explore the effect of CF ethanol extract on renal fibrosis in SAMP8 mice and identify potentially active compounds.

METHODS

Senescence-accelerated mouse-prone 8 (SAMP8) were used as animal models, and different doses of CF were given by gavage for one month. To observe the degree of renal aging in mice using β-galactosidase staining. Masson staining and the expression levels of Col-I, α-SMA, and FN were used to evaluate the renal fibrosis in mice. The protein expression levels of Nrf2 pathway and Wnt/β-catenin/RAS pathway in the kidney were measured. And β-galactosidase (β-gal) induced NRK-52E cells as an in vitro model to screen the active components of CF.

RESULTS

The CF ethanol extract significantly inhibited the activity of renal β-galactosidase and the expression levels of Col-I, α-SMA, and FN in SAMP8 mice, and improved Masson staining in SAMP8 mice. CF remarkably reduced urinary protein, creatinine, urea nitrogen and serum levels of TNF-α and IL-1β in SAMP8 mice, and significantly increased the levels of SOD and GSH-Px. Moreover, CF activated the Nrf2 pathway and blocked the Wnt/β-catenin/RAS pathway in the kidneys of mice. Besides, 3,4-dihydroxyphenylethanol (SDC-0-14, 16) and (3,4-dihydroxyphenylethanol-8-O-[4-O-trans-caffeoyl-β-D-apiofuranosyl-(1→3)-β-D-glucopyranosyl (1→6)]-β-D-glucopyranoside (SDC-1-8) were isolated from CF, which reduced the senescence of NRK-52E cells, and maybe the active ingredients of CF playing the anti-aging role.

CONCLUSIONS

Our experiments illuminated that CF ethanol extract may ameliorate renal fibrosis in SAMP8 mice via the Wnt/β-catenin/RAS pathway. And SDC-0-14,16 and SDC-1-8 may be the material basis for CF to exert anti-renal senescence-related effects.

Corallodiscus flabellata B. L. Burtt extract alleviates lipopolysaccharide/D-galactosamine-induced acute liver failure and brain injury by inhibiting oxidative stress, apoptosis, and inflammation

OBJECTIVES

Corallodiscus flabellata B. L. Burtt (CF) is distributed along liver meridian, with a possible beneficial effect in the progression of acute liver failure. Therefore, the present study investigates the effect of CF extract on rats with acute liver failure.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Rats were divided into four experimental groups: Control, Lipopolysaccharide (LPS)/D-Galactosamine (D-GalN) (L/D), Wu Ling Powder + L/D (WLP+L/D) and CF + L/D. Animals were gavage for 7 days, after which all animals except the control group were injected intraperitoneally with LPS and D-GalN to induce acute liver failure. Subsequently, the urine was collected for the next 8 hr, and the liver pathological changes were observed. The levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), inflammatory factor and oxidative stress-related indicators were measured. The levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS), apoptosis marker in the liver, water content and aquaporin (AQPs) in the brain were detected. The concentration of ions and osmolality of urine and serum were determined.

RESULTS

The results show that CF significantly improved the damage of liver and brain tissue, and reversed the changes of serum ALT, AST, inflammatory factor and Cl-. It modulated oxidative stress-related indicators, reduced the content of ROS, apoptosis markers, water content, the level of Cl- ions and osmolality in the urine and the expression of AQP1, and AQP4 in the brain, and increased the urine output.

CONCLUSION

It was found that the CF extract could alleviate the L/D induced acute liver failure by regulating the hepatocyte apoptosis and AQPs expression in the brain.