Network Pharmacology and Molecular Docking Approaches to Investigating the Mechanism of Action of Zanthoxylum bungeanum in the Treatment of Oxidative Stress-induced Diseases

From Xiaoke to diabetes mellitus: a review of the research progress in traditional Chinese medicine for diabetes mellitus treatment

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a chronic metabolic disorder characterized by hyperglycemia resulting from insulin secretion defects or insulin resistance. The global incidence of DM has been gradually increasing due to improvements in living standards and changes in dietary habits, making it a major non-communicable disease that poses a significant threat to human health and life. The pathogenesis of DM remains incompletely understood till now, and current pharmacotherapeutic interventions are largely inadequate, resulting in relapses and severe adverse reactions. Although DM is not explicitly mentioned in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) theory and clinical practice, it is often classified as "Xiaoke" due to similarities in etiology, pathogenesis, and symptoms. With its overall regulation, multiple targets, and personalized medication approach, TCM treatment can effectively alleviate the clinical manifestations of DM and prevent or treat its complications. Furthermore, TCM exhibits desirable therapeutic effects with minimal side effects and a favorable safety profile. This paper provides a comprehensive comparison and contrast of Xiaoke and DM by examining the involvement of TCM in their etiology, pathogenesis, treatment guidelines, and other relevant aspects based on classical literature and research reports. The current TCM experimental research on the treatment of DM by lowering blood glucose levels also be generalized. This innovative focus not only illuminates the role of TCM in DM treatment, but also underscores the potential of TCM in DM management.

Single-Cell RNA-Sequencing Analyses Revealed Heterogeneity and Dynamic Changes of Metabolic Pathways in Astrocytes at the Acute Phase of Ischemic Stroke

Astrocyte plays important roles in the pathogenesis of ischemic stroke and reperfusion injury. They intensively participate in the energy metabolism of the brain, while their heterogeneity and function after ischemic stroke remain controversial. By employing single-cell sequencing of mice cortex at 12 h after transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (tMCAO) and comparing with the similar published datasets of 24h after tMCAO, we uncover the cellular phenotypes and dynamic change of astrocytes at the acute phase of ischemic stroke. In this study, we separately identified 3 major subtypes of astrocytes at the 12 h-tMCAO-system and 24 h-tMCAO-system, indicated the significant differences in the expression of genes and metabolic pathways in the astrocytes between the two time nodes after ischemic stroke, and detected the major change in the energy metabolism. These results provided a comprehensive understanding of the characteristic changes of astrocytes after ischemic stroke and explored the potential astrocytic targets for neuroprotection.

β-Sitosterol Ameliorates Endometrium Receptivity in PCOS-Like Mice: The Mediation of Gut Microbiota

Background: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), one of the most common endocrine diseases in women of childbearing age, has been found to be accompanied by changes in the gut microbiota. The Bu Shen Yang Xue formula (BSYXF) is a traditional Chinese medicine widely used for the treatment of PCOS. This study aimed to investigate whether the protective effects of β-sitosterol, the main active ingredient of BSYXF, on PCOS was mediated by regulating gut microbiota.

Methods: The presence of β-sitosterol in BSYXF was detected by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. The PCOS-like mouse model was induced by dehydroepiandrosterone. The fecal supernatant of β-sitosterol-treated mice was prepared for fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT). Body weight and wet weight of the uterus and ovary of the mice were recorded for organ index calculation. Hematoxylin and eosin stain was used to assess the endometrial morphology and microenvironment changes. Expression of endometrial receptivity markers cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), Integrin ανβ3, leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF), and homeobox A10 (HOXA10) in the endometrium were determined by immunohistochemistry and western blot analysis. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was employed to detect the expression of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), progesterone (P), and testosterone (T) in the serum. The diversity of gut microbiota was examined by 16S rDNA gene sequencing.

Results: With the treatment of β-sitosterol and β-sitosterol-FMT, the uterine index of PCOS-like mice increased, the ovarian index decreased, levels of COX-2, LH and T decreased, and levels of Integrin ανβ3, LIF, HOXA10, FSH, and P increased. Under β-sitosterol treatment, the structure of the gut microbiota in PCOS-like mice was also changed.

Conclusion: β-sitosterol regulates the endometrial receptivity of PCOS and harmonizes the sex hormone balance, which may be related to the changes in the structure and composition of gut microbiota, thus affecting the pathological process of PCOS.