Efficacy and safety of Yirui capsule in patients with hyperlipidemia: study protocol for a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial

The mechanism of perilla oil in regulating lipid metabolism

Emerging science supports the role of lipid metabolism disorders in the occurrence and development of chronic diseases. Dietary intervention has been shown to be an effective strategy for regulating lipid metabolism. Recent studies showed that perilla is rich in various effective ingredients, including fatty acids, flavonoids, and phenolic acids. These ingredients exhibit a myriad of benefits, notably enhancing intestinal health and helping to manage metabolic diseases. Perilla oil stands out as a promising agent for regulating lipid metabolism, underscoring its potential for various health applications. This review introduces the active ingredients in perilla and provides a systematic overview of the mechanism by which perilla oil regulates lipid metabolism to expand its application value. Further research should focus on exploring the dose effect and absorption efficiency of perilla oil in clinical applications.

Siling decoction ameliorates adenine-induced renal fibrosis in rats by the AKT/IKKβ/NFκB signaling pathway

OBJECTIVE

Investigating how Siling decoction (SLD) mitigates fibrosis in rats with chronic kidney disease CKD (chronic kidney disease) through network pharmacology analysis and experimental verification.

METHODS

Initially, the primary active components and their target actions of SLD (Fuling, Zhuling, Zexie, and Baizhu) were identified by the TCMSP database and liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LC-MS). Treatment targets for renal fibrosis were screened through databases such as GeneCard, OMIM, PharmGkb, and GEO. Subsequently, a drug-disease-target network was constructed and subjected to PPI analysis. Intersecting targets underwent GO and KEGG pathway enrichment analyses. Renal fibrosis model was induced by adenine gavage, then treat with SLD. Masson, Sirius red, immunohistochemistry, and Western blot were used to detect renal function and fibrosis-related indicators. The mechanism was further validated in vitro experiments.

RESULTS

Network pharmacology analysis identified 100 common targets associated with the active components of SLD, including core genes such as AKT1 and CCND1. GO enrichment analysis revealed that the top three biological processes impacted include response to xenobiotic stimulus, response to nutrient levels and response to oxidative stress. These processes involved cellular components such as membrane raft, membrane microdomain and synaptic membrane, with molecular functions predominantly associated with ubiquitin-like protein ligase binding, ubiquitin protein ligase binding, DNA-binding transcription factor binding, and RNA polymerase II-specific DNA binding transcription factor binding. KEGG pathway enrichment analysis indicated potential involvement of pathways like Lipid and atherosclerosis, PI3K-AKT signaling pathway, and prostate cancer are likely involved in the anti-fibrotic effect of SLD. Notably, the highlighted was the AKT/IKKβ/NFκB signaling pathway as a key mechanism. These findings were further confirmed in vivo and in vitro.

CONCLUSION

The SLD effectively ameliorates adenine-induced chronic kidney disease fibrosis in rats, potentially by inhibiting the AKT/IKKβ/NFκB signaling pathway.

Danshen-Shanzha formula for the treatment of atherosclerosis: ethnopharmacological relevance, preparation methods, chemical constituents, pharmacokinetic properties, and pharmacological effects

Danshen-Shanzha Formula (DSF) is a well-known herbal combination comprising Radix Salvia Miltiorrhiza (known as Danshen in Chinese) and Fructus Crataegi (known as Shanzha in Chinese), It has been documented to exhibit considerable benefits for promoting blood circulation and removing blood stasis, and was used extensively in the treatment of atherosclerotic cardiac and cerebral vascular diseases over decades. Despite several breakthroughs achieved in the basic research and clinical applications of DSF over the past decades, there is a lack of comprehensive reviews summarizing its features and research, which hinders further exploration and exploitation of this promising formula. This review aims to provide a comprehensive interpretation of DSF in terms of its ethnopharmacological relevance, preparation methods, chemical constituents, pharmacokinetic properties and pharmacological effects. The related information on Danshen, Shanzha, and DSF was obtained from internationally recognized online scientific databases, including Web of Science, PubMed, Google Scholar, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Baidu Scholar, ScienceDirect, ACS Publications, Online Library, Wan Fang Database as well as Flora of China. Data were also gathered from documentations, printed works and classics, such as the Chinese Pharmacopoeia, Chinese herbal classics, etc. Three essential avenues for future studies were put forward as follows: a) Develop and unify the standard preparation method of DSF as to achieve optimized pharmacological properties. b) Elucidate the functional mechanisms as well as the rationality and rule for the compatibility art of DSF by focusing on the clinic syndromes together with the subsequent development of preclinic study system in vitro and in vivo with consistent pathological features, pharmacokinetical behaviour and biomarkers. c) Perform more extensive clinical studies towards the advancement of mechanism-based on evidence-based medicine on the safety application of DSF. This review will provide substantial data support and broader perspective for further research on the renowned formula.

Assessing cognitive impairment in home-dwelling Chinese elders aged 80+: a detailed survey of 13,000 participants focusing on demographic factors, social engagement, and disease prevalence

Introduction

Cognitive Impairment (CI) in the elderly, encompassing conditions ranging from Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) to dementia, represents a growing public health concern globally. This study aims to investigate the prevalence and correlates of CI among individuals aged 80 and above.

Methods

The study conducts 13,027 elderly individual's door-to-door surveys, followed by the cross-tabulation of analysis data, logistic regression analysis, and health condition assessments to examine various determinants of CI.

Results

The current study's key findings demonstrate sub-statical correlations between CI and various factors, including educational attainment, marital status, and gender. Pronounced differences are evident between urban and rural demographics. Furthermore, aspects of social engagement, notably communication proficiency and sensory capabilities, exhibit a strong association with CI. Logistic regression analysis highlights that residing in rural areas (Odds Ratio [OR] = 0.637) and being female (OR = 0.71) are linked to a decreased risk of CI. In contrast, behavioral and health-related variables present a complex picture. Specifically, aggressive behavior (Adjusted OR = 1.881) and symptoms of depression (Adjusted OR = 0.549) contrast with conditions such as asthma (OR= 2.857) and cerebral infarction (OR=1.348), which elevate the risk of CI. Intriguingly, hyperlipidemia (OR= 0.671) appears to confer a protective effect against CI.

Conclusion

The study highlights the complexity of factors affecting CI in the elderly, advocating for a comprehensive approach to understanding and managing cognitive health.

Danlou Tablet May Alleviate Vascular Injury Caused by Chronic Intermittent Hypoxia through Regulating FIH-1, HIF-1, and Angptl4

Background

Danlou tablet (DLT), the traditional Chinese medicine has been commonly used for dyslipidemia, atherosclerosis, and coronary heart disease. Whether it was effective against vascular injury caused by CIH has remained unknown. The aim of the current study was to observe the effects of DLT on chronic intermittent hypoxia (CIH)-induced vascular injury via regulation of blood lipids and to explore potential mechanisms.

Methods

Sixteen 12-week-old male ApoE-/- mice were randomly divided into four groups. The sham group was exposed to normal room air, whereas the other three groups were exposed to CIH. Mice in the CIH + normal saline (NS) group were gavaged with NS. Mice in the CIH + Angptl4-ab group were intraperitoneally injected with Angptl4-antibody. Mice in the CIH + DLT group were gavaged with DLT. After four weeks of intervention, serum lipid concentrations, and serum lipoprotein lipase (LPL) activity were detected. The changes in atherosclerosis in vascular tissue were detected by hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and Western blot analysis were applied to detect the expression levels of hypoxia-induciblefactor-1 (HIF-1), factor-inhibiting HIF-1 (FIH-1), angiopoietin-like 4 (Angptl4), and LPL in different tissues.

Results

CIH exposure increases serum lipid levels, decreases serum LPL activity, and exacerbates atherosclerosis. Both Angptl4-ab and DLT treatment reversed the changes in lipid concentration, LPL activity, and atherosclerosis caused by CIH. In the epididymal fat pad, CIH exposure decreased the expression of FIH-1 and increased the expression of HIF-1, whereas DLT treatment increased the expression of FIH-1 and LPL and inhibited the expression of HIF-1 and Angptl4. In heart tissue, the expression levels of LPL and Angptl4 were not affected by modeling or treatment.

Conclusions

DLT improved vascular damage by improving the increase in blood lipids induced by CIH, potentially by upregulating FIH-1 and downregulating HIF-1 and Angptl4 in adipose tissue. Therefore, DLT may be a promising agent for the prevention and treatment of CIH-induced vascular injury.

Pharmacological Properties and Molecular Targets of Alisol Triterpenoids from Alismatis Rhizoma

More than 100 protostane triterpenoids have been isolated from the dried rhizomes of Alisma species, designated Alismatis rhizoma (AR), commonly used in Asian traditional medicine to treat inflammatory and vascular diseases. The main products are the alisols, with the lead compounds alisol-A/-B and their acetate derivatives being the most abundant products in the plant and the best-known bioactive products. The pharmacological effects of Ali-A, Ali-A 24-acetate, Ali-B, Ali-B 23-acetate, and derivatives have been analyzed to provide an overview of the medicinal properties, signaling pathways, and molecular targets at the origin of those activities. Diverse protein targets have been proposed for these natural products, including the farnesoid X receptor, soluble epoxide hydrolase, and other enzymes (AMPK, HCE-2) and functional proteins (YAP, LXR) at the origin of the anti-atherosclerosis, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-fibrotic, and anti-proliferative activities. Activities were classified in two groups. The lipid-lowering and anti-atherosclerosis effects benefit from robust in vitro and in vivo data (group 1). The anticancer effects of alisols have been largely reported, but, essentially, studies using tumor cell lines and solid in vivo data are lacking (group 2). The survey shed light on the pharmacological properties of alisol triterpenoids frequently found in traditional phytomedicines.

Effects of Extracts from Tiaozhi Granule and Its Components on Expression of Scavenger Receptor Class B Type I

Sera from the rats with different drug treatments (atorvastatin, Tiaozhi granule, or its extracts) were collected. LO-2 cells or HepG2 cells were pretreated with different sera as the following groups randomly: (1) blank control group, (2) positive control group (atorvastatin group), (3) Tiaozhi granule water extract groups, (4) Tiaozhi granule alcohol extract groups, and (5) alcohol extracts for each component: Pollen Typhae Angustifoliae, Curcuma longa L., and Rhizoma Alismatis. LO-2 cells were cotransfected with plasmid carrying SR-BI and pRL-TK promoter genes. Promoter activity was measured by the luciferase reporter gene assay. The mRNA and protein expressions of SR-BI were examined using real-time PCR and western blot analyses. Our results show that promoter activity and mRNA and protein expression levels of the SR-BI were significantly upregulated by Tiaozhi granules alcohol or water extracts in a dose-dependent manner. Pollen Typhae Angustifoliae alcohol extract with a high dosage could also increase SR-BI activity and expression, but not the extracts from Curcuma longa L. and Rhizoma Alismatis. Both Tiaozhi granule alcohol and water extracts can upregulate SR-BI gene expression. Among the components, Pollen Typhae Angustifoliae are important for the regulatory effect coordinating with Curcuma longa L. and Rhizoma Alismatis.