Total Panax notoginseng saponin inhibits balloon injury-induced neointimal hyperplasia in rat carotid artery models by suppressing pERK/p38 MAPK pathways

Comparative efficacy of the five most common traditional Chinese medicine monomers in reducing intimal hyperproliferation in arterial balloon injury models: A network meta-analysis

Objective

This study utilized network meta-analysis (NMA) to compare the efficacy of five commonly used traditional Chinese medicine monomers in reducing intimal hyperproliferation in arterial balloon injury models.

Methods

Relevant literature up to January 2024 was systematically retrieved from seven major databases. The intima-to-media (I/M) ratio was chosen as the primary outcome measure. The risk of bias in animal studies was assessed using the SYstematic Review Centre for Laboratory Animal Experimentation (SYRCLE) tool. Statistical analysis was conducted using Stata 17 software.

Results

A total of 43 studies were included in this meta-analysis. NMA results showed that in the rat model, compared to the control group, GS (SMD: 0.99, 95%CI: 1.25 to -0.73), ASIV (SMD: 1.16, 95%CI: 1.65 to -0.67), TMP (SMD: 0.68, 95%CI: 1.31 to -0.05), and TPNS (SMD: 1.36, 95%CI: 1.91 to -0.80) exhibited inhibitory effects on postoperative intimal hyperproliferation, reducing the I/M ratio. In the rabbit model, compared to the control group, TPNS (SMD: 1.23, 95%CI: 1.97 to -0.49) inhibited postoperative intimal hyperproliferation and reduced the I/M ratio. Superiority ranking analysis suggested that total Panax notoginseng saponin (TPNS) might be the most effective traditional Chinese medicine monomer in reducing intimal hyperproliferation in arterial balloon injury models, lowering the I/M ratio.

Conclusion

NMA indicates that traditional Chinese medicine monomers can effectively reduce postoperative intimal hyperproliferation in arterial balloon injury models, lowering the I/M ratio, with TPNS showing optimal efficacy. However, the research on TIIA is insufficient, and the limited sample size may affect the robustness of the results. Furthermore, the majority of research on traditional Chinese medicine monomers is currently limited to the experimental stage, lacking further clinical validation. Conducting standardized animal experiments and reporting their findings can enhance the quality of evidence from animal studies, laying the foundation for future clinical trials.

Panax notoginseng-microbiota interactions: From plant cultivation to medicinal application

BACKGROUND

Microbiomes and their host plants are closely linked with each other; for example, the microbiome affects plant growth, fitness, nutrient uptake, stress tolerance and pathogen resistance, whereas the host plant supports the photosynthetically carbon-rich nutrition of the microbiome. The importance of the microbiome in plant‒soil ecosystems is unquestioned and has expanded to influence the medicinal application of some herbal plants via the gut microbiota.

PURPOSE

Herbal plant-microbiome interactions may provide novel knowledge to enhance the robustness of herbal plant crop performance and medicinal applications, which requires a systematic review and preceding discussion.

STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS

The interactions between Panax notoginseng and microorganisms (from soil to host) were reviewed from the literature. The terms "Panax notoginseng" and "microbiota" were used in combination with the keywords "microbiota/microbes", "bacteria/bacterium" or "fungi/fungus" or "endophyte", as well as our targeted bioactive phytochemicals, including saponins and ginsenosides.

RESULT

Our study focuses on the famous medicinal herb Panax notoginseng F. H. Chen and proposes that the microbiota is a crucial participant not only in the cultivation of this herbal plant but also in its medicinal application. We also summarize and discuss how these plant‒microbe co-associations shape the assembly of plant-related microbiomes and produce bioactive phytochemicals, as well as influence beneficial herbal traits, such as herbal plant health and pharmacology. In addition, we also highlight future directions.

CONCLUSION

The rhizosphere and endophytic microbiome of Panax notoginseng are indirectly or directly involved in plant health, biomass production, and the synthesis/biotransformation of plant secondary metabolites. Harnessing the microbiome to improve the quality of traditional Chinese medicine and improve the value of medicinal plants for human health is highly promising.

Antimicrobial, antioxidant and antileishmanial activities of Ziziphus lotus leaves

The aim of this study was to investigate antimicrobial and antioxidant activities of different fractions obtained from edible Tunisian Ziziphus Lotus leaves of Tozeur region. Different organic extracts were tested: cyclohexane, dichloromethane, ethyl acetate, n-butanol and water. Bio-guided fractionation revealed that dichloromethane fraction is the most active against S. aureus and Methicillin-resistant S. aureus strains. Moreover, this fraction showed the highest antileishmanial activity with IC₅₀ values of 20.55 ± 0.34 μg/mL and 15.37 ± 0.17 μg/mL against L. major and L. infantum, respectively. The potentialities of antibacterial and leishmanicidal activities found in dichloromethane could be explained by the presence of major flavonoids such as catechin, rutin and luteolin 7-O-glucoside as revealed by HPLC system. The observed moderate antifungal activity, which was only given by butanolic fraction against pathogen fungi, may be attributed to the presence of chlorogenic acid. Furthermore, dichloromethane and butanolic fraction showed a good DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl hydrazyl) scavenging activity and Ferric reducing power. These results suggest that Ziziphus lotus leaf fractions might be used as antioxidant and antimicrobialagent.

Identification of the Crucial Gene in Overflow Arteriovenous Fistula by Bioinformatics Analysis

Objective: The aim was to study the preliminary screening of the crucial genes in intimal hyperplasia in the venous segment of arteriovenous (AV) fistula and the underlying potential molecular mechanisms of intimal hyperplasia with bioinformatics analysis. Methods: The gene expression profile data (GSE39488) was analyzed to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs). We performed Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway enrichment analysis of DEGs. Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) was used to understand the potential activated signaling pathway. The protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was constructed with the STRING database and Cytoscape software. The Venn diagram between 10 hub genes and gene sets of 4 crucial signaling pathways was used to obtain core genes and relevant potential pathways. Furthermore, GSEAs were performed to understand their biological functions. Results: A total of 185 DEGs were screened in this study. The main biological function of the 111 upregulated genes in AV fistula primarily concentrated on cell proliferation and vascular remodeling, and the 74 downregulated genes in AV fistula were enriched in the biological function mainly relevant to inflammation. GSEA found four signaling pathways crucial for intimal hyperplasia, namely, MAPK, NOD-like, Cell Cycle, and TGF-beta signaling pathway. A total of 10 hub genes were identified, namely, EGR1, EGR2, EGR3, NR4A1, NR4A2, DUSP1, CXCR4, ATF3, CCL4, and CYR61. Particularly, DUSP1 and NR4A1 were identified as core genes that potentially participate in the MAPK signaling pathway. In AV fistula, the biological processes and pathways were primarily involved with MAPK signaling pathway and MAPK-mediated pathway with the high expression of DUSP1 and were highly relevant to cell proliferation and inflammation with the low expression of DUSP1. Besides, the biological processes and pathways in AV fistula with the high expression of NR4A1 similarly included the MAPK signaling pathway and the pathway mediated by MAPK signaling, and it was mainly involved with inflammation in AV fistula with the low expression of NR4A1. Conclusion: We screened four potential signaling pathways relevant to intimal hyperplasia and identified 10 hub genes, including two core genes (i.e., DUSP1 and NR4A1). Two core genes potentially participate in the MAPK signaling pathway and might serve as the therapeutic targets of intimal hyperplasia to prevent stenosis after AV fistula creation.

Efficacy and safety of Qi-Jing Hui-Xin Decoction in the treatment of coronary microvascular angina: study protocol for a randomized, controlled, multi-center clinical trial

BACKGROUND

With the increased understanding of heart disease, microvascular angina (MVA) is receiving greater attention from clinicians. Studies have shown that patients with MVA have significantly higher major cardiovascular events and all-cause mortality than the control population, and the search for effective treatments is of great clinical importance. Both basic and clinical studies have shown that Qi-Jing Hui-Xin Decoction (QJHX) can relieve angina symptoms and improve clinical efficacy, but there is a lack of high-quality clinical studies to provide a research basis. This article introduces the evaluation protocol of QJHX for the adjunctive treatment of MVA.

METHODS/DESIGN

This is a prospective randomized controlled trial. The trial will enroll 150 patients with MVA. On the basis of Western drug treatment, patients will be randomized into two groups, and the experimental group will receive QJHX treatment for 12 weeks and follow-up at 24 week. The primary indicators are the clinical efficacy of angina pectoris and the evidence of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) efficacy. Secondary indicators are the Seattle Angina Scale score, serum lipid levels, electrocardiogram, and echocardiogram diagnosis. Additional indicators are endothelial function and immunoinflammatory factors. Adverse events will be monitored throughout the trial.

DISCUSSION

Integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine is commonly used for angina in China. This study will evaluate the clinical effectiveness and safety of adding QJHX based on standardized Western medications. The results of the trial will provide high-level clinical research-based evidence for the application of QJHX in MVA.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

Chinese Clinical Trial Registry ChiCTR1900027015 . Registered on 28 October 2019.

Panax notoginseng Saponins Modulate the Inflammatory Response and Improve IBD-Like Symptoms via TLR/NF-[Formula: see text]B and MAPK Signaling Pathways

Panax notoginseng saponins (PNS) are the main active ingredients of Panax notoginseng (Burk) F. H. Chen, which are used as traditional Chinese medicine for thousands of years and have various clinical effects, including anti-inflammation, anti-oxidation, and cardiovascular protection. Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a complex gastrointestinal inflammatory disease that cannot be cured completely nowadays. The anti-inflammatory and protective effects of PNS were analyzed in vitro and in dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis mouse model. PNS inhibited the release of nitric oxide (NO), tumor necrosis factor-[Formula: see text] (TNF-[Formula: see text], interleukin-6 (IL-6), and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) in Pam3CSK4-induced RAW 264.7 macrophages. In the animal study, compared with DSS-induced mice, PNS reduced the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-[Formula: see text], IL-6, and MCP-1) in the colon tissues. Furthermore, PNS treatment led to a remarkable reduction in the activation of the inhibitor of nuclear factor kappa-B kinase [Formula: see text]/[Formula: see text] (IKK[Formula: see text]/[Formula: see text], I[Formula: see text]B[Formula: see text] and p65 induced by DSS. On the other hand, PNS inhibited the phosphorylation of c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), p38, and extracellular regulated protein kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2). Taken together, our results suggested that PNS conferred profound protection for colitis mice through the downregulation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and NF-[Formula: see text]B signaling pathways, which were associated with reducing inflammatory responses, alleviating tissue damage, and maintaining of intestinal integrity and functionality.

Role of peripheral and central sensitization in the anti-hyperalgesic effect of hecogenin acetate, an acetylated sapogenin, complexed with β-cyclodextrin: Involvement of NFκB and p38 MAPK pathways

Neuropathic pain develops due to injury to the somatosensory system, affecting the patient's quality of life. In view of the ineffectiveness of the current pharmacotherapy, substances obtained from natural products (NPs) are a promising alternative. One NP that has been discussed in the literature is hecogenin acetate (HA), a steroidal sapogenin with anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive activity. However, HA has low water solubility, which affects its bioavailability. Thus, the objective of this study was to evaluate the anti-hyperalgesic activity of pure and complexed hecogenin acetate (HA/βCD) in an animal model of chronic neuropathic and inflammatory pain. The inclusion complex was prepared at a molar ratio of 1:2 (HA:βCD) by the lyophilization method. For the induction of chronic inflammatory pain, the mice received an intraplantar injection of CFA (complete Freund's adjuvant), and were evaluated for mechanical hyperalgesia and for the levels of myeloperoxidase (MPO) in the skin of the paw after eight days of treatment. HA and HA/βCD reduced mechanical hyperalgesia in relation to the vehicle group until the fourth and fifth hours, respectively, in the acute evaluation, with a superior effect of the complexed form over the pure form in the second and third hour after treatment (p < 0.001). In the chronic evaluation, HA and HA/βCD reduced hyperalgesia in relation to the vehicle in the eight days of treatment (p < 0.001). Both pure (p < 0.01) and complexed (p < 0.001) forms reduced myeloperoxidase activity in the skin of the animals' paw. Groups of animals subjected to the same pharmacological protocol were submitted to the partial sciatic nerve ligation (PSNL) model and evaluated for mechanical and thermal hyperalgesia, and cold allodynia. HA and HA/βCD reduced mechanical hyperalgesia until the fourth and sixth hours, respectively, and both reduced hyperalgesia in relation to the vehicle in the chronic evaluation (p < 0.001). HA and HA/βCD also reduced thermal hyperalgesia and cold allodynia (p < 0.05 and p < 0.001, respectively). The analysis of the spinal cord of these animals showed a decrease in the levels of the pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6 and a reduction in the phosphorylation of NFκB and p38MAPK, as well as a decrease in microglioses compared to the vehicle group. In addition, HA/βCD reduced the nociception induced by intraplantar injection of agonist TRPA1 (p < 0.01) and TRPM8 (p < 0.05). Treatment for eight days with HA and HA/βCD showed no signs of gastric or liver damage. HA and HA/βCD were, therefore, shown to have antinociceptive effects in chronic pain models. Based on our exploration of the mechanisms of the action of HA, these effects are likely to be related to inhibited leukocyte migration, interaction with the TRPA1 and TRPM8 receptors, reduced pro-inflammatory cytokines levels, microglial expression and suppression of NF-κB p65 and p38 MAPK pathway signaling. Therefore, HA/βCD has great potential for use in the treatment of chronic pain.

Panax Notoginseng Saponins suppresses TRPM7 via the PI3K/AKT pathway to inhibit hypertrophic scar formation in vitro

BACKGROUND

Hypertrophic scar (HS) formation, a type of dermal fibroproliferative condition, is a frequent complication in wound healing resulting from burns, severe trauma, and surgical procedures. The effects of Panax Notoginseng Saponins (PNS) on the HS formation remain relatively under-explored. Hence, this study was intended to interrogate anti-apoptosis and anti-fibrosis effects of PNS on the hypertrophic scar fibroblasts (HSFs) during HS formation and assess the involvement of TRPM7 and PI3K/AKT signaling pathway.

METHODS

Using MTT and CCK-8 assays, we evaluated cell cytotoxicity and cell viability. Collagen I/III (col 1/3) and α-SMA expression levels were assessed through immunofluorescence and western blot, and cell migration, cell apoptosis and cell cycle were examined with applications of wound healing, TUNEL staining and flow cytometry. TRPM7, PI3K/AKT, TGF-β1 and related-proteins were quantified using RT-qPCR and western blot.

RESULTS

PNS administration could suppress TRPM7 expression and the viability of HSFs in a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, PNS could restrain the HS formation and ECM deposition by decreasing col 1/3 and α-SMA synthesis, suppressing cell migration, and boosting apoptosis and G1 arrest. Notably, this study revealed that PNS inhibited PI3K/AKT activation in HSFs. Besides, knockdown of TRPM7 enhanced therapeutic effects of PNS on HSFs, but overexpression markedly reversed above mentioned effects of PNS on HSFs.

CONCLUSION

This study suggested that PNS hampered scar formation might via inhibiting ECM and stimulating cell apoptosis by modulating the PI3K/AKT signaling. Overall, these findings in the present study could support the use of PNS for preventing HS formation, and TRPM7 may be a novel molecular target for treating HS.