Efficacy and Safety of Sophora flavescens (Kushen) Based Traditional Chinese Medicine in the Treatment of Ulcerative Colitis: Clinical Evidence and Potential Mechanisms

Integrated network pharmacology and metabolomics analysis to reveal the potential mechanism of Ershen Wan in ameliorating ulcerative colitis

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Ershen Wan (ESW), a classic traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) prescription composed of Psoralea corylifolia Linn. and Myristica fragrans Houtt., has been applied to treat gastrointestinal disorders in clinical practices for thousands of years. However, its potential molecular mechanism in alleviating ulcerative colitis (UC) remains to be elusive.

AIM OF THE STUDY

The purpose of the study is to explore the underlying mechanism of ESW in treating UC.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The protective effect of ESW on dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced UC mice was assessed by body weight, disease activity index (DAI), colon length, colon tissue pathology, and colonic inflammatory factors. Furthermore, network pharmacology was applied to dissect the possible targets and biological pathways regulated by ESW. The plasma and fecal metabolomics were comprehensively analyzed by UPLC-Q-TOF/MS. Subsequently, an efficient and feasible approach integrating network pharmacology, metabolomics, and molecular docking was used to explore the key targets obtained from the metabolite-reaction-enzyme-gene network. And the effect of ESW on the MAPK signaling mediated intestinal epithelial cell apoptosis was further investigated by in vitro and in vivo experiments.

RESULTS

ESW could notably alleviate colon injury and inflammation of UC mice. Network pharmacology suggested that the bioactive components of ESW could mainly modulate signaling pathways associated with inflammation and metabolism. Consistently, plasma and fecal metabolomics further indicated that ESW could regulate the metabolic pathways of arachidonic acid, linoleic acid, sphingolipid, tryptophan, and glycerophospholipid. And the combined analysis of network pharmacology and metabolomics revealed that 14 pivotal targets were modulated by ESW, including PTGS1, PTGS2, CYP1A1, FADS1, CBR1, ALOX5, EPHX1, EPHX2, HPGD, PLA2G1B, PLA2G7, MGLL, ACHE, and SPHK1. Additionally, molecular docking suggested that bioactive components of ESW could bind well to these potential targets. And in vitro and in vivo experiments further verified that ESW could markedly ameliorate pathological symptoms of UC mice through inhibiting MAPK signaling mediated colonic epithelial cell apoptosis.

CONCLUSION

Collectively, these findings indicated that ESW could effectively alleviate the pathological symptoms of UC mice, mainly involving in the modulation of lipid and amino acid metabolism pathways, and the suppression of MAPK signaling-mediated apoptosis. In this study, the potential mechanism of ESW for the treatment of UC was first clarified, which provided a solid scientific foundation for its clinical application. Notably, the proposed strategy facilitated a comprehensive prediction and validation of the efficacy and molecular mechanism of TCMs, and also provided a novel approach for revealing the intricate biological pathogenesis of diseases.

Quercus infectoria galls mitigates colitis in mice through alleviating mucosal barrier impairment and suppressing inflammatory factors

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Xipayi Kuijie'an herbal enema preparation, a traditional Uyghur medicinal preparation derived from Quercus infectoria galls (QIG), has been clinically employed at Xinjiang Uyghur Medical Hospital for ulcerative colitis (UC) management. Despite its well-documented therapeutic efficacy, the precise mechanisms underlying its pharmacological actions remain poorly understood.

AIM OF STUDY

This study aimed to elucidate the therapeutic mechanisms of QIG against UC through an integrated approach combining network pharmacology analysis with experimental validation.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

An integrated approach combining network pharmacology analysis and molecular docking simulations was employed to identify bioactive compounds and their corresponding molecular targets. The effects of QIG on dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) induced colitis were systematically investigated, including disease activity index (DAI), colon length, histopathological observations, as well as the determination of colonic mucosal barrier permeability and biochemical indicators.

RESULTS

QIG significantly improved DAI and CMDI scores, reduced colonic shortening, decreased colonic mucosal barrier permeability, reduce the release of pro-inflammatory factors and mitigated histopathological changes.

CONCLUSION

This study demonstrates the efficacy of an integrated approach combining network pharmacology with experimental validation as a robust strategy for elucidating the therapeutic mechanisms of traditional medicines, as exemplified by the systematic investigation of QIG's anti-ulcerative colitis properties.

Compound sophorae decoction mitigates DSS-induced ulcerative colitis by activating autophagy through PI3K-AKT pathway: A integrative research combining network pharmacology and in vivo animal model validation

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Compound sophora decoction (CSD), a widely used Chinese herbal formula, has been shown to effectively alleviate symptoms ulcerative colitis (UC), including of bloody diarrhea, tenesmus, abdominal pain, and fever. Despite its clinical use, the precise pharmacological mechanisms of CSD remain enigmatic.

AIM OF THE STUDY

This study aims to investigate the potential efficacy and underlying mechanisms of CSD in the treatment of UC by employing an integrative pharmacology-based approach, molecular docking analysis and experimental validation.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In this study, an integrative pharmacology-based approach was employed to predict the primary pathway through which CSD treats UC. The mechanism of CSD was further validated using a DSS-induced UC mouse model. Disease severity was assessed by monitoring stool property, body weight, colon length, and colon histopathology. Colonic pathological changes were examined using hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining. The concentration of cytokines was measured via ELISA, while key molecules in the PI3K-AKT pathway and autophagy-related markers were evaluated using Western blotting. Autophagy in intestinal epithelial cells was observed using electron microscopy.

RESULTS

The results demonstrated that CSD alleviated DSS-induced UC by inhibiting the activation of PI3K-AKT pathway, reducing the release of inflammatory cytokines, down-regulating oxidative mediators, and enhancing autophagy. Moreover, the protective effects of CSD were diminished by bpV, a PTEN inhibitor, further supporting the involvement of the PI3K-AKT pathway.

CONCLUSIONS

The underlying mechanism of CSD's therapeutic effect on UC may involve significant attenuation of DSS-induced intestinal inflammation by promoting autophagy through the inhibition of PI3K-AKT pathway activation.

Investigation of the mechanism of Bark of Ailanthus altissima in the treatment of ulcerative colitis based on network pharmacology and experimental verification

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

The bark of Ailanthus altissima (Mill.) Swingle (BAA), a widely used Chinese medicinal herb in traditional remedies for bowel disorders, has yet to be explored in the context of ulcerative colitis (UC), and its therapeutic mechanisms remain unclear.

AIM OF THE STUDY

This study integrated network pharmacology and experimental validation to investigate the effects and underlying mechanisms of BAA in treating UC.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

First, UPLC-MS/MS analysis was employed to identify the chemical constituents of BAA. Network pharmacology was then applied to analyze the potential mechanisms of BAA based on these identified compounds. Lastly, a dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced UC mouse model was utilized to assess BAA's therapeutic efficacy, with Western blotting performed to examine changes in protein expression within the key pathway influenced by BAA.

RESULTS

UPLC-MS/MS and SwissADME analysis identified 223 active compounds in BAA. Network pharmacology suggested that the PI3K/AKT pathway may serve as a primary mechanism by which BAA exerts its anti-UC effects. In the DSS-induced UC mouse model, BAA significantly mitigated colonic injury, reduced DAI scores, and promoted weight recovery in mice. Additionally, BAA downregulated pro-inflammatory cytokines, including TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6, thereby suppressing inflammatory responses in the colon. Western blot analysis further demonstrated that BAA primarily inhibited the PI3K/AKT pathway in UC mouse colon tissue.

CONCLUSION

This study highlights that BAA effectively reduces colonic inflammation and preserves intestinal mucosal integrity, likely through the inhibition of PI3K/AKT pathway activity, positioning it as a potential treatment for UC.

Acanthoside B attenuates NLRP3-mediated pyroptosis and ulcerative colitis through inhibition of tAGE/RAGE pathway

Acanthoside B (Aca.B), a principal bioactive compound extracted from Pogostemon cablin, exhibits superior anti-inflammatory capacity. Ulcerative colitis is a nonspecific inflammatory bowel disease with unknown etiology. The potential of Aca.B as a therapeutic agent for ulcerative colitis is also unknown and remains an area for future investigation. In this study, we established both in vitro and in vivo models to investigate ulcerative colitis, utilizing Llipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated MODE-K cells and dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis in mice, respectively. The progression of ulcerative colitis was evaluated through histologic analysis, body weight monitoring, and assessment of disease activity index assessment. Furthermore, the effects on pyroptosis were detected through immunoblot analysis. We found that Aca.B treatment significantly ameliorated LPS-induced injury in MODE-K cells, as evidenced by increased cell viability and inhibition of inflammatory response. Moreover, the Aca.B treatment attenuated pyroptosis-specific protein expression, caspase-1 activation, and inflammatory cytokine secretion. In the animal study, Aca.B administration improved bowel symptoms in DSS-induced colitis mice model. This was accompanied by reductionsreduced inweight, colon shortening, inflammatory cell infiltration, and cell pyroptosis in vivo. Furthermore, Aca.B diminished the accumulation of advanced glycation end-products (AGE), resulting in a decrease in the expression of the receptor of AGE (RAGE) and downstream phosphorylated P65 expression. e.The inhibition of the inflammatory response and pyroptosis by Aca.B depends on suppressing the AGE/RAGE pathway. This study confirms the effects of Aca.B on pyroptosis and ulcerative colitis, providing a fundamental evidence for translating Aca.B into clinical applications as an anti-inflammatory medicine.

Protective Effects of Astaxanthin against Oxidative Stress: Attenuation of TNF-α-Induced Oxidative Damage in SW480 Cells and Azoxymethane/Dextran Sulfate Sodium-Induced Colitis-Associated Cancer in C57BL/6 Mice

In this study, we investigated the protective effects of astaxanthin (AST) against oxidative stress induced by the combination of azoxymethane (AOM) and dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) in colitis-associated cancer (CAC) and TNF-α-induced human colorectal cancer cells (SW480), as well as the underlying mechanism. In vitro experiments revealed that astaxanthin reduced reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and inhibited the expression of Phosphorylated JNK (P-JNK), Phosphorylated ERK (P-ERK), Phosphorylated p65 (P-p65), and the NF-κB downstream protein cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2). In vivo experiments showed that astaxanthin ameliorated AOM/DSS-induced weight loss, shortened the colon length, and caused histomorphological changes. In addition, astaxanthin suppressed cellular inflammation by modulating the MAPK and NF-κB pathways and inhibiting the expression of the proinflammatory cytokines IL-6, IL-1β, and TNF-α. In conclusion, astaxanthin attenuates cellular inflammation and CAC through its antioxidant effects.

Mechanism of Fuzheng Qudu prescription in the treatment of lung cancer based on network pharmacology and experimental validation

Objective

This research utilized network pharmacology to investigate the potential of Fuzheng Qudu prescription (FZQDP) in treating lung cancer (LC).

Methods

The components and their targets of FZQDP were analyzed for their relationship with LC-related targets using bioinformatics tools. Mouse Lewis lung carcinoma (LLC) cells were cultured in vitro and treated with FZQDP or cisplatin (DDP) before applying the MTT assay to determine FZQDP concentrations, and the IC50 value. According to the IC50 value, the effect of FZQDP on apoptosis and cell cycle was detected by flow cytometry. Mouse tumor growth was recorded using live animal imaging, and measurements of tumor and spleen weight were used to calculate the tumor inhibition rate and spleen index. The effects on mouse liver and kidneys were observed by analyzing levels of AST, ALT, BUN, and CRE in blood and hematoxylin and eosin (H & E) stained sections. Additionally, levels of IL-2, IL-10, IL-6, and IFN-γ in serum, along with the frequencies of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells in the spleen, were measured using Mouse multiple Cytokine Assay and flow cytometry, respectively.

Results

SRC, STAT3, MAPK3, and MAPK1 could be crucial targets of FZQDP in the treatment of LC. FZQDP demonstrated inhibition of LC cell proliferation and tumor growth, as well as enhancement of apoptosis and induction of G2 phase cell cycle arrest. Furthermore, FZQDP led to elevated levels of IL-2 and IFN-γ, increased frequencies of CD4+ T cells and decreased levels of IL-6 and IL-10. Importantly, FZQDP did not exhibit any noticeable hepatotoxic or nephrotoxic effects in mice.

Conclusion

FZQDP may target multiple signaling pathways to treat LC. In a LC mouse model, FZQDP was found to inhibit tumor growth and improve immune function.

Radix Sophorae Flavescentis of Sophora flavescens Aiton inhibits LPS-induced macrophage pro-inflammatory response via regulating CFHR2 expression

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Long-term chronic inflammation often leads to chronic diseases. Although Sophora flavescens has been shown to have anti-inflammatory properties, its detailed molecular mechanism is still unknown.

AIM OF STUDY

This study investigated the effect of Radix Sophorae Flavescentis on the LPS-induced inflammatory response in macrophages.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

LPS was used to induce the peritoneal macrophages to simulate the inflammatory environment in vitro. Different concentrations of Radix Sophorae Flavescentis-containing (medicated) serum were used for intervention. The peritoneal macrophages were identified by using hematoxylin-eosin and immunofluorescence staining. ELISA was used to measure the TNF-α and IL-6 expression to determine the concentration of LPS. ELISA and Western blot (WB) were used to detect the PGE2 and CFHR2 expression in each group, respectively. The lentiviral vector for interference and overexpression of the CFHR2 gene was constructed, packaged, and transfected into LPS-induced macrophages. The transfection efficiency was verified by WB. Then, ELISA was used to detect the TNF-α, PGE2, and IL-6 expression. WB was used to detect the CFHR2, iNOS, COX-2, TLR2, TLR4, IFN-γ, STAT1, and p-STAT1 expression.

RESULTS

The primary isolated cells were identified as macrophages. The LPS-treated macrophages exhibited significantly higher expression of PGE2 and CFHR2, and the inflammatory factors TNF-α and IL-6, as well as iNOS, COX-2, TLR2, TLR4, IFN-γ, STAT1, and p-STAT1 expression compared with the control group (P < 0.05). The TNF-α, PGE2, and IL-6 levels, as well as CFHR2, iNOS, COX-2, TLR2, TLR4, IFN-γ, STAT1, and p-STAT1 expression were considerably lower in the LPS-induced+10% medicated-serum group, LPS-induced+20% medicated-serum group, and shCFHR interference group compared with the LPS group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Radix Sophorae Flavescentis might mediate CFHR2 expression and play an important role in inhibiting the LPS-induced pro-inflammatory response of macrophages. Radix Sophorae Flavescentis could be a potential treatment for LPS-induced related inflammatory diseases.

Wuwei Kushen Changrong capsule alleviates DSS-induced colitis in mice via inhibition of NLRP3 inflammasome and STAT3 pathway

Purpose

Wuwei Kushen Changrong capsule (Composite Sophora Colon-soluble Capsule, CSCC) is a Chinese patent medicine developed to treat ulcerative colitis. Studies highlight CSCC potential efficacy for ulcerative colitis (UC) but unclear mechanism limits its widely treatment for patients. We aimed to investigate the anti-colitis efficacy of CSCC and explore the mechanism by which GPR43 inhibits the NLRP3/STAT3 signaling pathway, thereby mediating the protective effects of CSCC on the intestinal barrier.

Methods

The protective effects of CSCC were evaluated in a murine ulcerative colitis model induced by 3% DSS. Assessments included body weight, Disease Activity Index (DAI) score, colon length, and histopathological score. Colon tissue, cell function, and immune-inflammatory status were evaluated using immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence, ELISA, and real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR (RT-PCR). Protein expression levels of relevant pathways and receptors were measured using Western blot. All experiments were repeated.

Results

CSCC protected mice from DSS-induced colitis by upregulating Gpr43, promoting the expression of ZO-1 and Occludin tight junction proteins. Mechanistically, CSCC inhibits the MEK4/JNK1/STAT3 activation pathway, consequently suppressing the STAT3/NLRP3/IL-1β pathway and inhibiting the production of inflammatory factors such as IL-17A.

Conclusion

The mechanisms through which CSCC protects against DSS-induced colitis may include upregulating Gpr43, inhibiting the STAT3/NLRP3 pathway, and suppressing inflammation factors like IL-17A. These findings highlight the mechanisms underlying CSCC's anti-colitis effects and suggest its potential as a therapeutic candidate for managing the progression of UC.

Mechanism of Sophorae Flavescentis Radix against ovarian cancer via new pharmacology, molecular docking, and experimental verification

The study aims to elucidate the pharmacological mechanisms of Sophorae Flavescentis Radix (SFR, Kushen) against ovarian cancer (OV) by employing an integrated approach that encompasses network pharmacology, molecular docking, and experimental validation. The effective components and potential targets of SFR were identified through screening the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology (TSMSP) public database using network pharmacology. Core anti-OV targets were pinpointed using protein-protein interaction (PPI) networks. Datasets from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), the Human Protein Atlas (HPA), and Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis (GEPIA) were used to investigate the mRNA and protein expressions of critical target genes in both normal and cancerous ovarian tissues, alongside their relationship to overall ovarian survival. Functional and pathway enrichment assessments of putative targets were carried out with Gene Ontology (GO) and the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG). The assessment of stable binding effects was conducted through molecular docking with quercetin, luteolin, and formononetin, and validated by anti-OV cell activity. The investigation identified 22 active SFR components yielding 152 potential targets following the intersection with known OV targets. Analysis of PPI network highlighted 13 crucial target genes, including tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and interleukin-1A (IL-1A). GO enrichment analysis covered 703 biological activities, 72 cellular components, and 144 chemical functions. The KEGG enrichment analysis suggested that anti-cancer effects of SFR are mediated by the TNF, interleukin-17 (IL-17), and AGE-RAGE signaling pathways. Molecular docking demonstrated that TNF and IL-1A were stable and strong binding to quercetin, luteolin, and formononetin, indicating that these stable structures significantly inhibited A2780 OV cell viability. This study demonstrated the ability of TNF and IL-1A combined with quercetin, luteolin, and formononetin to decrease the activity of OV cells, suggesting potential therapeutic effect against OV.

Assessing anorectal function in patients with recurrent ulcerative colitis

PURPOSE

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is an inflammatory bowel disease with an unclear etiology that can lead to irreversible changes in distal colonic function in chronic patients. This study investigated anorectal function in recurrent UC patients and identified influencing factors.

METHODS

This prospective study enrolled 33 recurrent UC patients and 40 newly diagnosed patients from January 2019 to December 2022. Data collection included clinical records, scores, and anorectal function assessments. Regression analyses were used to identify factors impacting anorectal function.

RESULTS

Recurrent UC patients had higher baseline CRP and fecal calprotectin levels, increased anxiety and depression, and more severe fecal incontinence. They also had lower BMIs, serum Hb and albumin (ALB) levels, and Inflammatory Bowel Disease Questionnaire scores than did initial-onset UC patients. Multivariate linear regression analysis revealed that long disease duration (coef. - 0.376, P < 0.001) and high fecal calprotectin level (coef. - 0.656, P < 0.001) independently influenced the initial sensation threshold in recurrent UC patients. Additionally, high fecal calprotectin (coef. - 0.073, P = 0.013) and high Zung Self-Rating Anxiety Scale score (coef. - 0.489, P = 0.001) were identified as two independent determinants of the defecation volume threshold. For the defecation urgency threshold, the independent factors included high disease duration (coef. - 0.358, P = 0.017) and high fecal calprotectin level (coef. - 0.499, P = 0.001). Similarly, the sole independent factor identified for the maximum capacity threshold was high fecal calprotectin (coef. - 0.691, P = 0.001).

CONCLUSION

Recurrent UC patients had increased rectal sensitivity and compromised anorectal function, which significantly impacted quality of life. Proactively managing the disease, reducing UC relapses, and addressing anxiety are effective measures for improving anorectal function in these patients.

Constructing a screening model to obtain the functional herbs for the treatment of active ulcerative colitis based on herb-compound-target network and immuno-infiltration analysis

The therapeutic effect of most traditional Chinese medicines (TCM) on ulcerative colitis is unclear, The objective of this study was to develop a core herbal screening model aimed at facilitating the transition from active ulcerative colitis (UC) to inactive. We obtained the gene expression dataset GSE75214 for UC from the GEO database and analysed the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between active and inactive groups. Gene modules associated with the active group were screened using WGCNA, and immune-related genes (IRGs) were obtained from the ImmPort database. The TCMSP database was utilized to acquire the herb-molecule-target network and identify the herb-related targets (HRT). We performed intersection operations on HRTs, DEGs, IRGs, and module genes to identify candidate genes and conducted enrichment analyses. Subsequently, three machine learning algorithms (SVM-REF analysis, Random Forest analysis, and LASSO regression analysis) were employed to refine the hubgene from the candidate genes. Based on the hub genes identified in this study, we conducted compound and herb matching and further screened herbs related to abdominal pain and blood in stool using the Symmap database.Besides, the stability between molecules and targets were assessed using molecular docking and molecular dynamic simulation methods. An intersection operation was performed on HRT, DEGs, IRGs, and module genes, leading to the identification of 23 candidate genes. Utilizing three algorithms (RandomForest, SVM-REF, and LASSO) for analyzing the candidate genes and identifying the intersection, we identified five core targets (CXCL2, DUOX2, LYZ, MMP9, and AGT) and 243 associated herbs. Hedysarum Multijugum Maxim. (Huangqi), Sophorae Flavescentis Radix (Kushen), Cotyledon Fimbriata Turcz. (Wasong), and Granati Pericarpium (Shiliupi) were found to be capable of relieving abdominal pain and hematochezia during active UC. Molecular docking demonstrated that the compounds of the four aforementioned herbs showed positive docking activity with their core targets. The results of molecular dynamic simulations indicated that well-docked active molecules had a more stable structure when bound to their target complexes. The study has shed light on the potential of TCMs in treating active UC from an immunomodulatory perspective, consequently, 5 core targets and 4 key herbs has been identified. These findings can provide a theoretical basis for subsequent management and treatment of active UC with TCM, as well as offer original ideas for further research and development of innovative drugs for alleviating UC.

Mechanic evaluation of Wu-Mei-Pill on colitis-associated colorectal cancer: An integrated transcriptomics, metabolomics, and experimental validation study

BACKGROUND

Chronic intestinal inflammatory diseases play a crucial role in the onset of colorectal cancer (CRC). Effectively impeding the progression of colitis-associated colorectal cancer (CAC) can be instrumental in hindering CRC development. Wu-Mei-Pill (WMP), a formulation comprising various herbal extracts, is clinically employed for CAC treatment, yet the underlying mechanism of WMP's efficacy in CAC remains unclear. Our study firstly demonstrated the effects and mechanisms of WMP on transcriptional and metabolic levels based on integrated transcriptomics and untargeted metabolomics and relative experimental validations.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A CAC mouse model was established through a single injection of azoxymethane (AOM) followed by intermittent dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) intervention, with subsequent WMP administration. Initially, the therapeutic impact of WMP on the CAC model was assessed by observing survival rate, body weight change, colon length, tumor number, tumor load, and pathological changes in the colon tissue of CAC mice post-WMP intervention. Subsequently, differential genes and metabolites in the colorectal tissue of CAC mice following WMP intervention were identified through transcriptomics and non-targeted metabolomics. Finally, the influence of WMP on the peroxisome proliferator activated receptor (PPAR) pathway, Wnt pathway, and CC motif chemokine ligand 3 (CCL3)/ CC motif chemokine receptor 1 (CCR1) axis in CAC mice was verified through western blot, immunofluorescence, and ELISA based on the results of transcriptomics and non-targeted metabolomics.

RESULTS

WMP intervention enhanced survival, alleviated body weight loss, shortened colon length, tumor occurrence, and pathological changes in the colorectal tissue of CAC mice, such as glandular damage, tumourigenesis, and inflammatory cell infiltration. Transcriptomic and non-targeted metabolomic results revealed that WMP intervention up-regulated the expression of key regulatory mechanisms of fatty acid oxidation PPAR pathway-related genes (Pparg, Ppara, Cpt1a, and Acadm) and metabolites (L-carnitine and L-palmitoylcarnitine). Additionally, it down-regulated Wnt pathway-related genes (Wnt3, Axin2, Tcf7, Mmp7, Lgr5, Wnt5a, Fzd6, Wnt7b, Lef1, and Fzd10 etc.) and pro-inflammatory related genes (Il1b, Il6, Il17a, Ccl3, and Ccr1 etc.). Experimental validation demonstrated that WMP up-regulated PPAR pathway-related proteins [PPARγ, PPARα, carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1A (CPT1A), and acyl-CoA dehydrogenase medium chain (ACADM)] in the colorectal tissue of CAC mice. It also down-regulated Wnt pathway-related proteins [β-catenin, T-cell factor (TCF), lymphoid enhancer-binding factor (LEF), and matrix metallopeptidase 7 (MMP7)], inhibited the nuclear translocation of the key transcription factor β-catenin in the Wnt pathway, and suppressed epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) activation induced by the Wnt pathway (up-regulated E-cadherin and down-regulated Vimentin). Furthermore, WMP intervention reduced pro-inflammatory factors [interleukin (IL)-6, IL-1β, and IL-17A] and decreased CCL3/CCR1 axis factors, including CCL3 protein levels and diminished F4/80+CCR1+ positive expressed cells.

CONCLUSION

WMP significantly inhibits CAC tumorigenesis by up-regulating PPARα-mediated fatty acid oxidation, inhibiting the Wnt signaling pathway-mediated EMT, and suppressing CCL3/CCR1-mediated inflammatory responses.

Therapeutic effects and mechanisms of isoxanthohumol on DSS-induced colitis: regulating T cell development, restoring gut microbiota, and improving metabolic disorders

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a severe hazard to human health. Since pathogenesis of UC is still unclear, current therapy for UC treatment is far from optimal. Isoxanthohumol (IXN), a prenylflavonoid from hops and beer, possesses anti-microbial, anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-angiogenic properties. However, the potential effects of IXN on the alleviation of colitis and the action of the mechanism is rarely studied. Here, we found that administration of IXN (60 mg/kg/day, gavage) significantly attenuated dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced colitis, evidenced by reduced DAI scores and histological improvements, as well as suppressed the pro-inflammatory Th17/Th1 cells but promoted the anti-inflammatory Treg cells. Mechanically, oral IXN regulated T cell development, including inhibiting CD4+ T cell proliferation, promoting apoptosis, and regulating Treg/Th17 balance. Furthermore, IXN relieved colitis by restoring gut microbiota disorder and increasing gut microbiota diversity, which was manifested by maintaining the ratio of Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes balance, promoting abundance of Bacteroidetes and Ruminococcus, and suppressing abundance of proteobacteria. At the same time, the untargeted metabolic analysis of serum samples showed that IXN promoted the upregulation of D-( +)-mannose and L-threonine and regulated pyruvate metabolic pathway. Collectively, our findings revealed that IXN could be applied as a functional food component and served as a therapeutic agent for the treatment of UC.

Bibliometric analysis of traditional Chinese medicine in the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease

OBJECTIVE

This study conducts a bibliometric analysis of literature on the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) with traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) to explore its research status, hotspots, and development trends, providing ideas and references for further research.

METHOD

We screened literature for treating IBD with TCM from the Web of Science Core Collection (WOSCC), and used the VOSviewer software (1.6.18) to discover cooperation among countries, institutions, authors, and information on journals, keywords, etc. We use the CiteSpace software (6.2.R2) to analyze co-citation and burst discovery of references.

RESULTS

In all, 440 relevant literature papers were searched and screened from the WOSCC database. The results showed that the number of publications concerning treating IBD with TCM has shown a significant growth in the past decade. China is far ahead in terms of article output, occupying a dominant position. The institution with the most published articles is Nanjing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine. The authors who have published most of the articles are Dai Yancheng, Shi Rui, and Zhou Lian. The Journal of Ethnopharmacology published maximum articles in this field, while Gastroenterology was the most cited journal. Ungaro et al.'s article entitled "Ulcerative colitis" (https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(16)32126-2), published in The Lancet in 2017 was the most cited study. The high-frequency keywords mainly include ulcerative colitis, inflammation, NF-κB, expression, traditional Chinese medicine, gut microbiota, activation, mice, cells, etc.

CONCLUSIONS

The research heat for treating IBD with TCM has risen over the past decade, with studies focusing on three main aspects: clinical studies of TCM, basic pharmacology, and animal experimental research. The research hotspot shifted from pathogenesis, clinical study of TCM, basic pharmacology, and complementary therapies to the study of network pharmacology and the mechanism of action of TCM related to gut microbiota. Network pharmacology and gut microbiota are at the frontiers of research and turning to be the future research trends to provide new insights and ideas for further research for treating IBD with TCM.

A novel natural Syk inhibitor suppresses IgE-mediated mast cell activation and passive cutaneous anaphylaxis

Spleen tyrosine kinase (Syk) plays a crucial role as a target for allergy treatment due to its involvement in immunoreceptor signaling. The purpose of this study was to identify natural inhibitors of Syk and assess their effects on the IgE-mediated allergic response in mast cells and ICR mice. A list of eight compounds was selected based on pharmacophore and molecular docking, showing potential inhibitory effects through virtual screening. Among these compounds, sophoraflavanone G (SFG) was found to inhibit Syk activity in an enzymatic assay, with an IC50 value of 2.2 μM. To investigate the conformational dynamics of the SYK-SFG system, we performed molecular dynamics simulations. The stability of the binding between SFG and Syk was evaluated using root mean square deviation (RMSD) and root mean square fluctuation (RMSF). In RBL-2H3 cells, SFG demonstrated a dose-dependent suppression of IgE/BSA-induced mast cell degranulation, with no significant cytotoxicity observed at concentrations below 10.0 μM within 24 h. Furthermore, SFG reduced the production of TNF-α and IL-4 in RBL-2H3 cells. Mechanistic investigations revealed that SFG inhibited downstream signaling proteins, including phospholipase Cγ1 (PLCγ1), as well as mitogen-activated protein kinases (AKT, Erk1/2, p38, and JNK), in mast cells in a dose-dependent manner. Passive cutaneous anaphylaxis (PCA) experiments demonstrated that SFG could reduce ear swelling, mast cell degranulation, and the expression of COX-2 and IL-4. Overall, our findings identify naturally occurring SFG as a direct inhibitor of Syk that effectively suppresses mast cell degranulation both in vitro and in vivo.

Oxymatrine alleviates high-fat diet/streptozotocin-induced non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in C57BL/6 J mice by modulating oxidative stress, inflammation and fibrosis

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) represents a complex complication of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Oxymatrine (OMT) is an alkaloid extracted from Sophora flavescens with broad pharmacological effects. However, there is currently a lack of research on OMT in the field of NAFLD. The present study aimed to explore the effects and underlying mechanisms of oxymatrine in treating T2DM with NAFLD. The T2DM mice model was induced by high-fat diet (HFD) combined with streptozotocin (STZ) injection in male C57BL/6 J mice. Animals were randomly divided into four groups (n = 8): Control group, DC group, OMT-L group (45 mg/kg i.g.), and OMT-H group (90 mg/kg, i.g.). The drug was administered once a day for 8 weeks. In addition, HepG2 hepatocytes were incubated with palmitic acid (PA) to establish a fatty liver cell model. Treated with OMT, the body weight and fasting blood glucose (FBG) of DC mice were reduced and the liver organ coefficient was significantly optimized. Meanwhile, OMT markedly enhanced the activities of key antioxidant enzymes, including superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), and also reduced malondialdehyde (MDA) levels. These biochemical alterations were accompanied by noticeable improvements in liver histopathology. Furthermore, OMT down-regulated the expression of NOD-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) and collagen I significantly, highlighting its potential in modulating inflammatory and fibrotic pathways. In conclusion, OMT improved liver impairment effectively in diabetic mice by suppressing oxidative stress, inflammation and fibrosis. These results suggest that OMT may represent a novel therapy for NAFLD with diabetes.

Efficacy and safety of Shenbai Granules for recurrent colorectal adenoma: A multicenter randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND

Colorectal adenoma is benign glandular tumor of colon, the precursor of colorectal cancer. But no pharmaceutical medication is currently available to treat and prevent adenomas.

PURPOSE

To evaluate efficacy of Shenbai Granules, an herbal medicine formula, in reducing the recurrence of adenomas.

STUDY DESIGN

This multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial was conducted by eight hospitals in China.

METHODS

Patients who had received complete polypectomy and were diagnosed with adenomas within the recent 6 months were randomly assigned (1:1) to receive either Shenbai granules or placebo twice a day for 6 months. An annual colonoscopy was performed during the 2-year follow-up period. The primary outcome was the proportion of patients with at least one adenoma detected in the modified intention-to-treat (mITT) population during follow-up for 2 years. The secondary outcomes were the proportion of patients with sessile serrated lesions and other specified polypoid lesions. The data were analyzed using logistic regression.

RESULTS

Among 400 randomized patients, 336 were included in the mITT population. We found significant differences between treatment and placebo groups in the proportion of patients with at least one recurrent adenoma (42.5 % vs. 58.6 %; OR, 0.47; 95 % CI, 0.29-0.74; p = 0.001) and sessile serrated lesion (1.8 % vs. 8.3 %; OR, 0.20; 95 % CI, 0.06-0.72; p = 0.01). There was no significant difference in the proportion of patients developing polypoid lesions (70.7 % vs. 77.5 %; OR, 1.43; 95 % CI, 0.88-2.34; p = 0.15) or high-risk adenomas (9.0 % vs. 13.6 %; OR, 0.63; 95 % CI, 0.32-1.25; p = 0.18).

CONCLUSION

Shenbai Granules significantly reduced the recurrence of adenomas, indicating that they could be an effective option for adenomas. Future studies should investigate its effects in larger patient populations and explore its mechanism of action to provide more comprehensive evidence for the use of Shenbai Granules in adenoma treatment.

Compound sophora decoction alleviates ulcerative colitis by regulating macrophage polarization through cGAS inhibition: network pharmacology and experimental validation

INTRODUCTION

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a refractory disease with complex pathogenesis, and its pathogenesis is not clear. The present study aimed to investigate the potential target and related mechanism of Compound Sophora Decoction (CSD) in treating UC.

METHODS

A network pharmacology approach predicted the components and targets of CSD to treat UC, and cell and animal experiments confirmed the findings of the approach and a new target for CSD treatment of UC.

RESULTS

A total of 155 potential targets were identified for CSD treatment of UC, with some related to macrophage polarization, such as nitric oxide synthase (NOS2), also known as inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS). GO and KEGG enrichment analysis indicated that oxidative stress response and multiple inflammatory signaling pathways such as TNF-α may play a significant role. In vitro experiments revealed that Interferon-stimulated DNA (ISD) interference can cause polarization imbalances in Raw 264.7 and bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDMs). Flow cytometry demonstrated that polarization of macrophages in the intestine, spleen, and lymph nodes in vivo was also unbalanced after dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) modeling with pathological intestinal injury. Both in vitro and in vivo studies indicated that after inducing inflammation, the levels of macrophage polarization-related markers (iNOS and Arg1) and inflammation-related factors (CCL17, IL10, TNF-α, and CXCL10) changed, accompanied by increased expression of cGAS. However, CSD treatment based on inflammation can inhibit the expression of cGAS protein and mRNA, lower the level of inflammatory factors, promote the expression of anti-inflammatory factors, and regulate macrophage polarization.

CONCLUSION

We concluded that CSD alleviated DSS-induced UC by inhibiting cGAS, thus regulating macrophage polarization.

The anti-inflammatory activity of flavonoids and alkaloids from Sophora flavescens alleviates psoriasiform lesions: Prenylation and methoxylation beneficially enhance bioactivity and skin targeting

The herb Sophora flavescens displays anti-inflammatory activity and can provide a source of antipsoriatic medications. We aimed to evaluate whether S. flavescens extracts and compounds can relieve psoriasiform inflammation. The ability of flavonoids (maackiain, sophoraflavanone G, leachianone A) and alkaloids (matrine, oxymatrine) isolated from S. flavescens to inhibit production of cytokine/chemokines was examined in keratinocytes and macrophages. Physicochemical properties and skin absorption were determined by in silico molecular modeling and the in vitro permeation test (IVPT) to establish the structure-permeation relationship (SPR). The ethyl acetate extract exhibited higher inhibition of interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, and CXCL1 production in tumor necrosis factor-α-stimulated keratinocytes compared to the ethanol and water extracts. The flavonoids demonstrated higher cytokine/chemokine inhibition than alkaloids, with the prenylated flavanones (sophoraflavanone G, leachianone A) led to the highest suppression. Flavonoids exerted anti-inflammatory effects via the extracellular signal-regulated kinase, p38, activator protein-1, and nuclear factor-κB signaling pathways. In the IVPT, prenylation of the flavanone skeleton significantly promoted skin absorption from 0.01 to 0.22 nmol/mg (sophoraflavanone G vs. eriodictyol). Further methoxylation of a prenylated flavanone (leachianone A) elevated skin absorption to 2.65 nmol/mg. Topical leachianone A reduced the epidermal thickness in IMQ-treated mice by 47%, and inhibited cutaneous scaling and cytokine/chemokine overexpression at comparable levels to a commercial betamethasone product. Thus, prenylation and methoxylation of S. flavescens flavanones may enable the design of novel antipsoriatic agents.

Kuijie decoction ameliorates ulcerative colitis by affecting intestinal barrier functions, gut microbiota, metabolic pathways and Treg/Th17 balance in mice

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Currently, the clinical treatment is limited and difficult to achieve satisfactory results for ulcerative colitis (UC). The role of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) in the treatment of UC is very complex. Kuijie decoction (KJD) as a classic TCM, is widely used in the clinical treatment of UC, but the mechanism of its action is still unclear.

AIM OF THE STUDY

This study is to investigate the protective effects of KJD on UC and the underlying mechanisms.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The experimental model of UC was induced by DSS, and KJD was introduced into the model at the same time. Clinical symptoms, including the body weight, colon length and colon histopathological, were used to measure the severity of colitis. The expression of inflammatory cytokines and tight junction proteins was quantified. The effect of KJD on intestinal flora and intestinal metabolism was determined by 16S rRNA and untargeted metabolomics analysis, respectively. The proportion of Th17 cells and Tregs in the spleen was examined by flow cytometry.

RESULTS

Mice treated with KJD showed significantly alleviated clinical symptoms and histological damage, such as more body weight gain, lower disease activity index (DAI) score, and longer colon length. The administration of KJD also led to the down-regulation of inflammatory mediators, upregulation of the expression of ZO-1, occludin and decreased claudin-2, as well as altered microbiota composition against DSS challenges (especially an increase of Lachnospiraceae). KJD enhanced the percentage of Treg cells but decreased the proportion of Th17 cells to maintain intestinal homeostasis by improving gut microbiota metabolism.

CONCLUSIONS

In summary, KJD maintained intestinal epithelial homeostasis by regulating epithelial barrier function, intestinal flora, and restoring Th17/Treg balance. KJD has the potential to be a Chinese medicine treatment for UC.

Traditional Chinese Medicine: A promising strategy to regulate the imbalance of bacterial flora, impaired intestinal barrier and immune function attributed to ulcerative colitis through intestinal microecology

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Globally, plant materials are widely used as an additional and alternative therapy for the treating of diverse diseases. Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic, recurrent and nonspecific inflammation of the bowel, referred to as "modern intractable disease" according to the World Health Organization. With the continuous development of theoretical research in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and the advantages of TCM in terms of low side effects, TCM has shown great progress in the research of treating UC.

AIM OF THIS REVIEW

This review aimed to explore the correlation between intestinal microbiota and UC, summarize research advances in TCM for treating UC, and discuss the mechanism of action of TCM remedies in regulating intestinal microbiota and repairing damaged intestinal barrier, which will provide a theoretical basis for future studies to elucidate the mechanism of TCM remedies based on gut microbiota and provide novel ideas for the clinical treatment of UC.

METHODS

We have collected and collated relevant articles from different scientific databases in recent years on the use of TCM in treating UC in relation to intestinal microecology. Based on the available studies, the therapeutic effects of TCM are analysed and the correlation between the pathogenesis of UC and intestinal microecology is explored.

RESULTS

TCM is used to further protect the intestinal epithelium and tight junctions, regulate immunity and intestinal flora by regulating intestinal microecology, thereby achieving the effect of treating UC. Additionally, TCM remedies can effectively increase the abundance of beneficial bacteria that produce short-chain fatty acids, decrease the abundance of pathogenic bacteria, restore the balance of intestinal microbiota, and indirectly alleviate intestinal mucosal immune barrier dysfunction and promote the repair of damaged colorectal mucosa.

CONCLUSION

Intestinal microbiota is closely related to UC pathogenesis. The alleviation of intestinal dysbiosis can be a potential novel therapeutic strategy for UC. TCM remedies can exert protective and therapeutic effects on UC through various mechanisms. Although intestinal microbiota can aid in the identification of different TCM syndromes types, further studies are needed using modern medical technology. This will improve the clinical therapeutic efficacy of TCM remedies in UC and promote the application of precision medicine.

Evaluation of pharmacological and pharmacokinetic herb-drug interaction between irinotecan hydrochloride injection and Kangai injection in colorectal tumor-bearing mice and healthy rats

Introduction: Kangai (KA) injection, a Chinese herbal injection, is often used in combination with irinotecan (CPT-11) to enhance the effectiveness of anti-colorectal cancer treatment and alleviate side effects. However, the combined administration of this herb-drug pair remains controversial due to limited pre-clinical evidence and safety concerns. This study aimed to determine the pre-clinical herb-drug interactions between CPT-11 and KA injection to provide a reference for their clinical co-administration. Methods: In the pharmacological study, BALB/c mice with CT26 colorectal tumors were divided into four groups and treated with vehicle alone (0.9% saline), CPT-11 injection (100 mg/kg), KA injection (10 mL/kg), or a combination of CPT-11 and KA injection, respectively. The tumor volume of mice was monitored daily to evaluate the therapeutic effect. Daily body weight, survival rate, hematopoietic toxicity, immune organ indices, and gut toxicity were analyzed to study the adverse effects. Healthy Sprague-Dawley rats in the pharmacokinetic study were administered KA injection only (4 mL/kg), or a combination of CPT-11 injection (20 mg/kg) and KA injection, respectively. Six key components of KA injection (oxymatrine, matrine, ginsenoside Rb1, Rg1, Re, and astragaloside IV) in rat plasma samples collected within 24 h after administration were determined by LC-MS/MS. Results: The pharmacological study indicated that KA injection has the potential to enhance the anti-colorectal cancer efficacy of CPT-11 injection and alleviate the severe weight loss induced by CPT-11 injection in tumor-bearing mice. The pharmacokinetic study revealed that co-administration resulted in inhibition of oxymatrine metabolism in rats, evidenced by the significantly reduced Cmax and AUC0-t of its metabolite, matrine (p < 0.05), from 2.23 ± 0.24 to 1.38 ± 0.12 μg/mL and 8.29 ± 1.34 to 5.30 ± 0.79 μg h/mL, respectively. However, due to the similar efficacy of oxymatrine and matrine, this may not compromise the anti-cancer effect of this herb-drug pair. Discussion: This study clarified the pre-clinical pharmacology and pharmacokinetic benefits and risks of the CPT-11-KA combination and provided a reference for their clinical co-administration.

A real-world study and network pharmacology analysis of EGFR-TKIs combined with ZLJT to delay drug resistance in advanced lung adenocarcinoma

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to explore the efficacy and safety of combining epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR-TKIs) with ZiLongJin Tablet (ZLJT) in delaying acquired resistance in advanced EGFR-mutant lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) patients. Furthermore, we employed network pharmacology and molecular docking techniques to investigate the underlying mechanisms.

METHODS

A retrospective comparative study was conducted on stage IIIc/IV LUAD patients treated with EGFR-TKIs alone or in combination with ZLJT at the Second Affiliated Hospital of the Air Force Medical University between January 1, 2017, and May 1, 2023. The study evaluated the onset of TKI resistance, adverse reaction rates, safety indicators (such as aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, and creatinine), and inflammatory markers (neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio) to investigate the impact of EGFR-TKI combined with ZLJT on acquired resistance and prognostic indicators. Additionally, we utilized the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform, the Bioinformatics Analysis Tool for Molecular Mechanism of Traditional Chinese Medicine, PubChem, UniProt, and Swiss Target Prediction databases to identify the active ingredients and targets of ZLJT. We obtained differentially expressed genes related to EGFR-TKI sensitivity and resistance from the Gene Expression Omnibus database using the GSE34228 dataset, which included sensitive (n = 26) and resistant (n = 26) PC9 cell lines. The "limma" package in R software was employed to detect DEGs. Based on this, we constructed a protein‒protein interaction network, performed gene ontology and KEGG enrichment analyses, and conducted pathway network analysis to elucidate the correlation between the active ingredients in ZLJT and signaling pathways. Finally, molecular docking was performed using AutoDockVina, PYMOL 2.2.0, and Discovery Studio Client v19.1.0 software to simulate spatial and energy matching during the recognition process between predicted targets and their corresponding compounds.

RESULTS

(1) A total of 89 patients were included, with 40 patients in the EGFR-TKI combined with ZLJT group (combination group) and 49 patients in the EGFR-TKI alone group (monotherapy group). The baseline characteristics of the two groups were comparable. There was a significant difference in the onset of resistance between the combination group and the monotherapy group (P < 0.01). Compared to the monotherapy group, the combination group showed a prolongation of 3.27 months in delayed acquired resistance. There was also a statistically significant difference in the onset of resistance to first-generation TKIs between the two groups (P < 0.05). (2) In terms of safety analysis, the incidence of adverse reactions related to EGFR-TKIs was 12.5% in the combination group and 14.3% in the monotherapy group, but this difference was not statistically significant (P > 0.05). There were no statistically significant differences in serum AST, ALT, CREA, TBIL, ALB and BUN levels between the two groups after medication (P > 0.05). (3) Regarding inflammatory markers, there were no statistically significant differences in the changes in neutrophil-to-lymphocyte Ratio(NLR) and Platelet-to-lymphocyte Ratio(PLR) values before and after treatment between the two groups (P > 0.05). (4) Network pharmacology analysis identified 112 active ingredients and 290 target genes for ZLJT. From the GEO database, 2035 differentially expressed genes related to resistant LUAD were selected, and 39 target genes were obtained by taking the intersection. A "ZLJT-compound-target-disease" network was successfully constructed using Cytoscape 3.7.0. GO enrichment analysis revealed that ZLJT mainly affected biological processes such as adenylate cyclase-modulating G protein-coupled receptor. In terms of cellular components, ZLJT was associated with the cell projection membrane. The molecular function primarily focused on protein heterodimerization activity. KEGG enrichment analysis indicated that ZLJT exerted its antitumor and anti-drug resistance effects through pathways such as the PI3K-Akt pathway. Molecular docking showed that luteolin had good binding activity with FOS (-9.8 kJ/mol), as did tanshinone IIA with FOS (-9.8 kJ/mol) and quercetin with FOS (-8.7 kJ/mol).

CONCLUSION

ZLJT has potential antitumor progression effects. For patients with EGFR gene-mutated non-small cell LUAD, combining ZLJT with EGFR-TKI treatment can delay the occurrence of acquired resistance. The underlying mechanisms may involve altering signal transduction pathways, blocking the tumor cell cycle, inhibiting tumor activity, enhancing cellular vitality, and improving the bioavailability of combination therapy. The combination of EGFR-TKI and ZLJT represents an effective approach for the treatment of tumors using both Chinese and Western medicine.

A new modified pterocarpan glycoside from Sophora flavescens

Sophora flavescens is a widely used traditional Chinese herbal medicine. In this work, a new pterocarpan glycoside, kurarinol C (1) together with six known compounds, sophoracarpan A (2), trifohrhizin-6'-monoacetate (3), trifohrhizin (4), maackiain (5), (6S,6aS,11aR）-6α-methoxy-pterocarpin (6), L-maackiain (7) were isolated from the roots of S. flavescens. Among them, compounds 2 and 6 were discovered from S. flavescens for the first time. Their chemical structures were elucidated on the basis of extensive NMR and MS analyses. Furthermore, the antioxidant activities of these compounds were evaluated by the ABTS and DPPH free radical scavenging assay. Three compounds (5, 6, 7) exhibited stronger antioxidant capacity against the ABTS enzyme at 20 µg/mL (scavenging rates > 55%).

Natural-Product-Derived Adjunctive Treatments to Conventional Therapy and Their Immunoregulatory Activities in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is an invasive and persistent subtype of breast cancer that is likely to be resistant to conventional treatments. The rise in immunotherapy has created new modalities to treat cancer, but due to high costs and unreliable efficacy, adjunctive and complementary treatments have sparked interest in enhancing the efficacy of currently available treatments. Natural products, which are bioactive compounds derived from natural sources, have historically been used to treat or ameliorate inflammatory diseases and symptoms. As TNBC patients have shown little to no response to immunotherapy, the potential of natural products as candidates for adjuvant immunotherapy is being explored, as well as their immunomodulatory effects on cancer. Due to the complexity of TNBC and the ever-changing tumor microenvironment, there are challenges in determining the feasibility of using natural products to enhance the efficacy or counteract the toxicity of conventional treatments. In view of technological advances in molecular docking, pharmaceutical networking, and new drug delivery systems, natural products show promise as potential candidates in adjunctive therapy. In this article, we summarize the mechanisms of action of selected natural-product-based bioactive compounds and analyze their roles and applications in combination treatments and immune regulation.

Virtual screening-molecular docking-activity evaluation of Ailanthus altissima (Mill.) swingle bark in the treatment of ulcerative colitis

BACKGROUND

The dried bark of Ailanthus altissima (Mill.) Swingle is widely used in traditional Chinese medicine for the treatment of ulcerative colitis. The objective of this study was to explore the therapeutic basis of the dried bark of Ailanthus altissima (Mill.) Swingle for the treatment of ulcerative colitis based on Virtual Screening-Molecular Docking-Activity Evaluation technology.

METHODS

By searching the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology TCMSP Database and Analysis Platform, 89 compounds were obtained from the chemical components of the dried bark of Ailanthus altissima (Mill.) Swingle. Then, after preliminarily screening the compounds based on Lipinski's rule of five and other relevant conditions, the AutoDock Vina molecular docking software was used to evaluate the affinity of the compounds to ulcerative colitis-related target proteins and their binding modes through use of the scoring function to identify the best candidate compounds. Further verification of the compound's properties was achieved through in vitro experiments.

RESULTS

Twenty-two compounds obtained from the secondary screening were molecularly docked with ulcerative colitis-related target proteins (IL-1R, TLR, EGFR, TGFR, and Wnt) using AutoDock Vina. The free energies of the highest scoring compounds binding to the active cavity of human IL-1R, TLR, EGFR, TGFR, and Wnt proteins were - 8.7, - 8.0, - 9.2, - 7.7, and - 8.5 kcal/mol, respectively. The potential compounds, dehydrocrebanine, ailanthone, and kaempferol, were obtained through scoring function and docking mode analysis. Furthermore, the potential compound ailanthone (1, 3, and 10 µM) was found to have no significant effect on cell proliferation, though at 10 µM it reduced the level of pro-inflammatory factors caused by lipopolysaccharide.

CONCLUSION

Among the active components of the dried bark of Ailanthus altissima (Mill.) Swingle, ailanthone plays a major role in its anti-inflammatory properties. The present study shows that ailanthone has advantages in cell proliferation and in inhibiting of inflammation, but further animal research is needed to confirm its pharmaceutical potential.

Effects of dietary polyherbal mixtures on growth performance, antioxidant capacity, immune function and jejunal health of yellow-feathered broilers

This study aimed to investigate the effects of polyherbal mixtures (PHM) on growth performance, antioxidant capacities, immune function, and intestinal health in yellow-feathered broilers. PHM is composed of five traditional Chinese medicine herbs (Portulaca oleracea L., Radix Sophora flavescens, Thalictrum glandulosissimum, Terra flava usta, and Pogostemon cablin). A total of 270 one-day-old yellow-feathered broilers were randomly allotted into 3 treatments for a 42-d feeding trial, each with 6 replicates of 15 birds. The dietary treatments consisted of a basal diet (CON), a basal diet supplemented with 50 mg/kg chlortetracycline (CTC), and a basal diet supplemented with 1000 mg/kg PHM. The results showed that dietary PHM supplementation increased body weight, ADG, and decreased F/G compared to the CON. PHM also increased spleen index and mRNA expression of IL-4 (d 21), and thymus index, serum IgA (d 42) and IgG, IL-4 and sIgA in jejunal mucosa (d 21 and 42), but decreased serum IFN-γ and mRNA expression of IFN-γ (d 21 and 42). In addition, PHM increased serum SOD, GSH-Px (d 21 and 42) and T-AOC (d 42), but decreased the content of serum MDA (d 21), the up-regulated mRNA expression of GSH-Px, CAT (d 21), SOD and CAT (d 42). Furthermore, PHM also improved the intestinal epithelial barrier indicators by the up-regulated mRNA expression of CLDN-1, OCLN (d 21 and 42) and ZO-1 (d 21), and the increased of villus height and villus height to crypt depth in jejunum (d 42). The high-throughput sequencing results showed that dietary PHM supplementation increased the alpha diversity and relative abundance of Oscillospira and Ruminococcus (d 21) and Lactobacillus (d 42), whereas decreasing that of Enterococcus (d 21) compared with CON. PICRUSt analysis revealed that metabolic pathways of carbohydrate, energy, lipid, cofactors, and vitamins were significantly enriched in the PHM group. Spearman's correlation analysis revealed that the genera Lactobacillus, Enterococcus, Ruminococcus, Oscillospira, and Faecalibacterium were related to growth performance, intestinal integrity, immune-related factors, antioxidant indices, and tight junction proteins. In conclusion, the results indicated that dietary PHM supplementation improved growth performance and immune status of yellow-feathered broilers by enhancing antioxidant capacities, barrier function, and modulated jejunal microbial communities. PHM used in our study has the potential to replace prophylactic antibiotic use in poultry production systems.

Comparison of the molecular mechanisms of Fuzi Lizhong Pill and Huangqin decoction in the treatment of the cold and heat syndromes of ulcerative colitis based on network pharmacology

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to illuminate the similarities and differences of two prescriptions as "cold" and "heat" drugs for treating ulcerative colitis (UC) with the simultaneous occurrence of heat and cold syndrome via network pharmacology.

METHODS

(1) Active compounds of Fuzi-Lizhong Pill (FLP) and Huangqin Decoction (HQT) were retrieved from the TCMSP database, and their common active compounds were compared using the Venn diagram. (2) Potential proteins targeted to three sets of compounds either (i) shared by FLP and HQT, (ii) unique to FLP or (iii) unique to HQT were screened from the STP, STITCH and TCMSP databases, and three corresponding core compound sets were identified in Herb-Compound-Target (H-C-T) networks. (3) Targets related to UC were identified from the DisGeNET and GeneCards databases and compared with the FLP-HQT common targets to identify potential targets of FLP-HQT compounds related to UC. (4) Three potential target sets were imported into the STRING database for protein‒protein interaction (PPI) analysis, and three core target sets were defined. (5) The binding capabilities and interacting modes between core compounds and key targets were verified by molecular docking via Discovery Studio 2019 and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations via Amber 2018. (6) The target sets were enriched for KEGG pathways using the DAVID database.

RESULTS

(1) FLP and HQT included 95 and 113 active compounds, respectively, with 46 common compounds, 49 FLP-specific compounds and 67 HQT-specific compounds. (2) 174 targets of FLP-HQT common compounds, 168 targets of FLP-specific compounds, and 369 targets of HQT-specific compounds were predicted from the STP, STITCH and TCMSP databases; six core compounds specific to FLP and HQT were screened in the FLP-specific and HQT-specific H-C-T networks, respectively. (3) 103 targets overlapped from the 174 predicted targets and the 4749 UC-related targets; two core compounds for FLP-HQT were identified from the FLP-HQT H-C-T network. (4) 103 FLP-HQT-UC common targets, 168 of FLP-specific targets and 369 of HQT-specific targets had shared core targets (AKT1, MAPK3, TNF, JUN and CASP3) based on the PPI network analysis. (5) Molecular docking demonstrated that naringenin, formononetin, luteolin, glycitein, quercetin, kaempferol and baicalein of FLP and HQT play a critical role in treating UC; meanwhile, MD simulations revealed the stability of protein‒ligand interactions. (6) The enriched pathways indicated that most targets were related to anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory and other pathways. Compared with the pathways identified using traditional methods, FLP-specific pathways included the PPAR signaling pathway and the bile secretion pathway, and HQT-specific pathways included the vascular smooth muscle contraction pathway and the natural killer cell-mediated cytotoxicity pathway etc. CONCLUSION: In this study, we clarified the common mechanisms of FLP and HQT in treating UC and their specific mechanisms in treating cold and heat syndrome in UC through compound, target and pathway distinction and a literature comparison based on network pharmacology; these results provide a new perspective on the detailed mechanism of "multidrugs and single-disease" thought in traditional Chinese medicine.

Beneficial Effects of Hordenine on a Model of Ulcerative Colitis

Hordenine, a phenethylamine alkaloid, is found in a variety of plants and exhibits a broad array of biological activities and pharmacological properties, including anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic effects. However, the efficacy and underlying mechanisms of hordenine in treating ulcerative colitis (UC) remain unclear. To address this, we examined the therapeutic effects of hordenine on dextran sodium sulphate (DSS)-induced UC by comparing disease activity index (DAI), colon length, secretion of inflammatory factors, and degree of colonic histological lesions across diseased mice that were and were not treated with hordenine. We found that hordenine significantly reduced DAI and levels of pro-inflammatory factors, including interleukin (IL)-6, IL-1β, and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), and also alleviated colon tissue oedema, colonic lesions, inflammatory cells infiltration and decreased the number of goblet cells. Moreover, in vitro experiments showed that hordenine protected intestinal epithelial barrier function by increasing the expression of tight junction proteins including ZO-1 and occludin, while also promoting the healing of intestinal mucosa. Using immunohistochemistry and western blotting, we demonstrated that hordenine reduced the expression of sphingosine kinase 1 (SPHK1), sphingosine-1-phosphate receptor 1 (S1PR1), and ras-related C3 botulinum toxin substrate 1 (Rac1), and it inhibited the expression of phosphorylated signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (p-STAT3) in colon tissues. Thus, hordenine appears to be effective in UC treatment owing to pharmacological mechanisms that favor mucosal healing and the inhibition of SPHK-1/S1PR1/STAT3 signaling.

Oxymatrine ameliorated experimental colitis via mechanisms involving inflammatory DCs, gut microbiota and TLR/NF-κB pathway

It is common knowledge that the crosstalk of gut microbiota (GM) and dendritic cells (DCs) are critical for the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). As a major bioactive constituent derived from the root of the Sophora flavescens, Oxymatrine (OMT) was used to treat IBD in China. However, it is still unknown whether OMT ameliorates IBD by regulating the crosstalk between DCs and GM. In the present study, after 10 days of OMT (100 mg/kg/day) treated mice with colitis induced by dextran sulfate sodium (DSS), the change rate of body weight, colon weight, colon weight index, colon length, DAI score and colonic pathological damage scores of colitis mice were significantly ameliorate, followed with fewer ulceration and inflammatory cell infiltration, the increased expression of IL-4 and IL-13, and the decreased expression of CCL-2, IL-33 and IFN-γ. The percents of inflammatory DCs (such as TNF-α⁺DCs, iNOS⁺DCs, CXCR5⁺DCs and E-cadherin⁺DCs) were markedly decreased, and the GM composition was regulated. Importantly, it is positive correlated between the efficacy of OMT on colitis, GM and inflammatory DCs. Meanwhile, Western blotting assay showed that OMT suppressed the activation of TLR4, Myd88, IRAK4, IRAK1, TRAF6, TAK1, TAB, MKK3, MKK6, P38, NF-κB in the TLR / NF-κB signaling pathway. In summary, OMT exhibits the protective effect against the DSS-induced experimental colitis, which was achieved by regulating the crosstalk of inflammatory DCs and GM, and inhibiting the TLR / NF-κB signaling pathway.

The beneficial effects of Fomitopsis pinicola chloroform extract on a dextran sulfate sodium-induced ulcerative colitis mice model

Background

As an intestinal non-specific inflammatory lesion, ulcerative colitis (UC) affects the health of many individuals. This study examined the possible beneficial effects of the chloroform extract of Fomitopsis pinicola (Swartz.: Fr) Karst (FPKc) on UC.

Methods

The mice were given free access to drink with 4% dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) for 1 week to establish acute UC model. Next, 35 mg of FPKc or sulfasalazine (SASP) was given to the mice via gavage for 3 weeks. The disease activity index (DAI) and colonic mucosa damage index (CMDI) scores were calculated. The colon tissues of the mice were collected to measure the length and perform hematoxylin and eosin staining. The thymus and spleen indexes were determined. Interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, tumor necrosis factor-α, aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels in the serum were determined.

Results

FPKc or SASP treatment alleviated hematochezia and weight loss, ameliorated DAI and CMDI scores, and improved the crypt structure and length of the colon tissues. Relative to the UC model group, the spleen index in the FPKc group was reduced, which was accompanied by decreases of the IL-6 and IL-8 levels in the serum. FPKc also lowered the AST and ALT levels in the serum of the UC mice.

Conclusions

FPKc protected the mice from DSS-induced UC injury. It may be that FPKc activates immune regulation and downregulates the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines.

Simulation analysis and physiological and biochemical evaluation of Sophora flavescens aboveground against aphids using network pharmacology

Pests cause substantial damage to human environments; therefore, studying insecticidal mechanisms is crucial for improving pest control. However, the use of chemical pesticides can cause irreversible secondary damage. In this study, we used network pharmacology to investigate the effect of Sophora flavescens Alt., as a biological pest control agent, on glucose-6-phosphate 1-dehydrogenase, thymidylate synthase, and a translocation protein in aphids. The stability and reliability of target proteins was analyzed using molecular docking and molecular dynamic simulations. Enzyme activity assays validated the feasibility of network pharmacology to obtain actionable targets. We used interdisciplinary integration to study pest control and network pharmacology to identify how Sophora flavescens Alt. resists aphid attacks. The results show that the use of network pharmacology can increase the accuracy and specificity of our predictions for the molecules targeted by insecticides. This approach will facilitate improved, environmentally friendly pest control development in the future.

Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch. alleviates dextran sulfate sodium-induced colitis in mice through inhibiting of NF-κB signaling pathways and modulating intestinal microbiota

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Licorice is widely used in traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) for compound compatibility, which could reduce toxicity and increase efficacy of certain herbal medicine, and its active components prominently effects of inhibit of inflammation and regulate of immunity.

AIM OF THE STUDY

The study probed into the mechanism of the anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects of licorice based on the domination of the T helper type 17/regulatory T cells (Th17/Treg) differentiation balance and the composition and structure of the intestinal flora through the nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) signaling pathway.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

BALB/c mice were inoculated with dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) to establish animal models of ulcerative colitis (UC). For the pharmacodynamic study, UC mice were observed for the anti-inflammatory effect of licorice water extraction (LWE) in vivo, including clinical observation and measurement of colon length. Hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining was used to evaluate pathological conditions. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were performed to observe the intestinal barrier of the colons. Inflammatory cytokine levels were measured using with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kits. The proportions of T helper (Th) cells in the colons was assessed using flow cytometry. Gut microbiota diversity was detected using 16S ribosomal (r)DNA sequencing. In addition, Western blot (WB) assays were used to verify ROR-γt, Foxp3, TLR4, MyD88 and NF-κB expression according to a standard protocol.

RESULTS

LWE exerted a pharmacological anti-inflammatory effect by attenuating inflammation in the colonic tissues through affecting the protein expression of TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB, and increasing the expression of tight junction (TJ) protein in the colons, improving the integrity of the intestinal mucosal barrier in vivo. Moreover, LWE reversed the imbalance in Th17/Treg cells differentiation and influenced the protein expression of ROR-γt and Foxp3 in UC mouse colons. In particular, LWE significantly affected the diversity of the gut microbiota in UC mice, ameliorated the composition of dominant species, and significantly increased the type and quantity of probiotics.

CONCLUSION

Licorice tends to reduce inflammation and enhance the protective action of the intestinal mucosal barrier via the TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB signal transduction pathway and alter the imbalance of Th-cell differentiation. Notably, licorice may affect the diversity of intestinal microbiota and the content of beneficial bacteria in the colon, which is a potential mechanism for understanding anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects in UC mice in vivo.

Sanhuang Xiexin decoction ameliorates DSS-induced colitis in mice by regulating intestinal inflammation, intestinal barrier, and intestinal flora

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Sanhuang Xiexin decoction (SXD) is a widely applicated traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) with a significant intestinal anti-inflammatory effect.

AIM OF THE STUDY

To evaluate the therapeutic effect and elucidate the possible underlying mechanisms of SXD on dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced ulcerative colitis (UC) in mice.

METHODS

To model UC, 3% DSS was added to the drinking water for 7 days. The UC mice were grouped and treated with three doses of SXD (1.3, 2.6, and 6 g/kg) orally for 7 days. Mice body weight and disease activity index (DAI) scores were recorded daily. After treatment with SXD, the colon was removed, and the colon length and histopathological changes were recorded. Blood cells were counted and colonic inflammatory cytokines and oxidative stress indicators were examined. The key proteins in TLR4-MyD88-NF-κB signaling and the colonic barrier were determined by Western blot analysis. The restorative effect of SXD on intestinal flora was determined.

RESULTS

Treatment with SXD reduced DAI scores, increased body weight, improved colon shortening, and decreased colonic damage. SXD decreased the numbers of white blood cells (WBCs), increased the numbers of red blood cells (RBCs), and inhibited the expression of inflammatory cytokines and oxidative stress indicators. In addition, SXD displayed an effective anti-inflammatory effect by inhibiting the expression levels of p-IκBα, TLR4, MyD88, and p65. Furthermore, SXD significantly restored the integrity of the colonic barrier and the abundance of beneficial flora.

CONCLUSIONS

SXD significantly reduced DSS-induced colon damage when the dose was higher than 1.3 g/kg, and the middle dose group (2.6 g/kg) indicated the best effect. SXD effectively ameliorated DSS-induced UC in mice, possibly by inhibiting oxidative stress, protecting the mucosal barrier, inhibiting the TLR4-MyD88-NF-κB signaling pathway, and regulating the intestinal flora.

The application of Tong-fu therapeutic method on ulcerative colitis: A systematic review and meta-analysis for efficacy and safety of rhubarb-based therapy

Background: Tong-fu therapeutic method (TFTM) is a traditional Chinese medicine treatment method for ulcerative colitis, which is a novel treatment strategies and have purgative effect. As the most representative medicinal of TFTM, Rhubarb has been reported to have a therapeutic impact on ulcerative colitis by regulating intestinal flora, anti-inflammation, and improving intestinal microcirculation. Although rhubarb has been widely used in Chinese medicine for the treatment of ulcerative colitis, the appropriate protocol is still demanded to its rational use in clinic, which promoted to evaluate the efficacy and safety for rhubarb-based therapy on ulcerative colitis.

Method: Clinical trials were searched through PubMed, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, Excerpta Medica Database, Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure, WAN FANG Database, Chinese Scientific Journal Database, and Chinese Biomedical Literature Database. The subgroup analyses were performed with three groups: medication, course of treatment, and route of administration. The statistical analyses were performed on Review Manager software (version 5.4.1).

Results: A total of 2, 475 patients in 30 original studies were analyzed in this article. It was found that rhubarb-based therapy could increase clinical efficacy and reduce the recurrence rate. Subgroup analyses showed that rhubarb-based therapy was more effective than 5-aminosalicylic acid or sulfasalazine alone. In addition, the hypercoagulable state of ulcerative colitis could be ameliorated by decreasing platelet (PLT) and fibrinogen (FIB), and increasing prothrombin time (PT) significantly. Moreover, C-reaction protein (CRP), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, and IL-1β expression were significantly reduced, while IL-10 production was increased, which mediated the alleviation of intestinal inflammation stress.

Conclusion: Rhubarb-based therapy could effectively improve ulcerative colitis. Of note, the rhubarb-based medicinal formulas combined with 5-ASA or SASP are more effective than the 5-ASA or SASP alone. In addition, although rhubarb has side effect, the results of our analysis showed that rhubarb-based therapy did not exhibit significant side effects. This means it has a high safety profile in clinical use. Moreover, the use of rhubarb-based therapy is recommend to use within 1–13 weeks or 3 months via administered orally or by enema, which is contributes to ensure the curative effect and avoid its toxic and side effects. As an important case of TFTM, rhubarb-based therapy provides evidence for the practical application of TFTM.

Mo3Se4 nanoparticle with ROS scavenging and multi-enzyme activity for the treatment of DSS-induced colitis in mice

Ulcerative colitis (UC), as a most common inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), has become a global public health concern. Exploring novel method of treating UC is urgent and necessary. Recently, nanozyme with excellent antioxidant properties may be one useful therapeutic strategy. In this study, a two-dimensional transition metal chalcogenide (TMCs) nano flake and polyethylene glycol (PEG) modified Mo3Se4 nano flakes (PMNFs) was synthesized, which had multi-enzyme activity, including peroxidase, glutathione peroxidase (GPx), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT). The inhibition effect of PMNFs on sodium dextran sulfate (DSS)-induced colitis was explored. UC was effectively inhibited by PMNFs in this work. PMNFs significantly reduced disease activity index (DAI) score, including weight loss, colon shorten and histopathological abnormalities. The possible mechanism of PMNFs-attenuated colitis was investigated. The results showed that PMNFs reversed DSS-induced oxidative damage, and the antioxidant pathway Nrf2-keap1 signal was activated by PMNFs. Moreover, PMNFs suppressed the expression of pro-inflammatory factors including IL-1β, TNF-α, IFN-β and IL-6 via the inactivation of TLR4/NF-κB pathway in DSS-induced colitis and LPS-treated macrophage. Furthermore, PMNFs treatment prevented the reduction of tight junction proteins (ZO-1, occludin, and claudin-1) and mucin-2 (MUC-2) as well as the up-regulation of epithelial apoptosis caused by DSS. These findings demonstrate that the PMNFs against DSS-induced colitis due to its prevention on oxidative damage, inflammation, and intestine barrier breakdown. Thus, PMNFs have a potential application in the treatment of various oxidative stress or inflammation-related diseases.

Application of network pharmacology in the study of mechanism of Chinese medicine in the treatment of ulcerative colitis: A review

Network pharmacology is a research method based on a multidisciplinary holistic analysis of biological systems, which coincides with the idea of the holistic view of traditional Chinese medicine. In this review, we summarized the use of network pharmacology technology through studying Chinese medicine single medicine or Chinese medicine compound research ideas and methods for the treatment of ulcerative colitis, based on the application of the current network pharmacology in Chinese medicine research, including the important role in the mechanism of the prediction and verification, to search for new ideas for disease diagnosis and treatment, this study summarizes the application of network pharmacology in the treatment of ulcerative colitis in traditional Chinese medicine, including monotherapy and compound therapy, and considers that relevant research studies have fully demonstrated the function characteristics of the multi-component, multi-target, and multi-pathway of traditional Chinese medicine, and can also explain the connotation of “selecting appropriate treatment methods according to the differences and similarities of pathogenesis” of traditional Chinese medicine. Finally, we raised important questions about the prospects and limitations of network pharmacology, such as differences caused by different data collection methods, a considerable lag, and so on.

Biological activity of galacto-oligosaccharides: A review

Galacto-oligosaccharides (GOS) are oligosaccharides formed by β-galactosidase transgalactosylation. GOS is an indigestible food component that can pass through the upper gastrointestinal tract relatively intact and ferment in the colon to produce short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) that further regulate the body’s intestinal flora. GOS and other prebiotics are increasingly recognized as useful food tools for regulating the balance of colonic microbiota-human health. GOS performed well compared to other oligosaccharides in regulating gut microbiota, body immunity, and food function. This review summarizes the sources, classification, preparation methods, and biological activities of GOS, focusing on the introduction and summary of the effects of GOS on ulcerative colitis (UC), to gain a comprehensive understanding of the application of GOS.

Oridonin attenuates dextran sulfate sodium‑induced ulcerative colitis in mice via the Sirt1/NF‑κB/p53 pathway

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a serious chronic inflammatory bowel disease. Oridonin (Ori) has anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and antitumor activities. The current study aimed to investigate the regulatory role of Ori in UC. BALB/C mice were induced to form a model of UC using dextran sulfate sodium (DSS), after which UC mice received high-(Ori-H) and low-doses of Ori (Ori-L). Subsequently, the length of the colon was measured and hematoxylin and, eosin staining was performed to detect colonic injury. Western blot analysis was performed to detect expression level in tight junction-associated proteins in murine colon tissue. Additionally, myeloperoxidase activity and inflammatory factor concentration were detected in colon tissue using ELISA. TUNEL and western blot assays were also performed to detect cell apoptosis, and the expression level of Sirt1/NF-κB/p53 pathway-related proteins was also determined using western blot analysis. The results revealed that Ori ameliorated clinical symptoms and pathological lesions in mice with DSS-induced UC. Furthermore, Ori protected the integrity of the colonic mucosal barrier, reduced the inflammatory response and decreased oxidative stress levels in mice with DSS-induced UC. Ori treatment also inhibited intestinal mucosal cell apoptosis. These effects may have occurred via the Sirtuin-1/NF-κB/p53 pathway. In conclusion, Ori treatment inhibited DSS-induced inflammatory response, oxidative stress and intestinal mucosal apoptosis in UC mice.

Compound Kushen injection reduces severity of radiation-induced gastrointestinal mucositis in rats

Mucositis, or damage/injury to mucous membranes of the alimentary, respiratory, or genitourinary tract, is the major side effect associated with anticancer radiotherapies. Because there is no effective treatment for mucositis at present, this is a particular issue as it limits the dose of therapy in cancer patients and significantly affects their quality of life. Gastrointestinal mucositis (GIM) occurs in patients receiving radiotherapies to treat cancers of the stomach, abdomen, and pelvis. It involves inflammation and ulceration of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract causing diarrhea, nausea and vomiting, abdominal pain, and bloating. However, there is currently no effective treatment for this debilitating condition. In this study, we investigated the potential of a type of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), compound Kushen injection (CKI), as a treatment for GIM. It has previously been shown that major groups of chemical compounds found in CKI have anti-inflammatory effects and are capable of inhibiting the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Intraperitoneal administration of CKI to Sprague Dawley (SD) rats that concurrently received abdominal irradiation over five fractions resulted in reduced severity of GIM symptoms compared to rats administered a vehicle control. Histological examination of the intestinal tissues revealed significantly less damaged villus epithelium in CKI-administered rats that had reduced numbers of apoptotic cells in the crypts. Furthermore, it was also found that CKI treatment led to decreased levels of inflammatory factors including lower levels of interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-6 as well as myeloperoxidase (MPO)-producing cells in the intestinal mucosa. Together, our data indicate a novel effect of CKI to reduce the symptoms of radiation-induced GIM by inhibiting inflammation in the mucosa and apoptosis of epithelial cells.

The role of functional oligosaccharides as prebiotics in ulcerative colitis

The incidence rate of ulcerative colitis (UC) has increased significantly over the past decades and it places an increasing burden on health and social systems. The current studies on UC implicate a strong correlation between host gut microbiota immunity and the pathogenesis of UC. Meanwhile, more and more functional oligosaccharides have been reported as prebiotics to alleviate UC, since many of them can be metabolized by gut microbiota to produce short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs). The present review is focused on the structure, sources and specific applications of various functional oligosaccharides related to the prevention and treatment of UC. The available evidence for the usage of functional oligosaccharides in UC treatment are summarized, including fructo-oligosaccharides (FOS), galacto-oligosaccharides (GOS), chito-oligosaccharides (COS), alginate-oligosaccharides (AOS), xylooligosaccharides (XOS), stachyose and inulin.

Chemical diversity, biological activities and Traditional uses of and important Chinese herb Sophora

BACKGROUND

Sophora flavescens Aiton (SF), also known as Kushen (Chinese:), has been an important species in Chinese medicine since the Qin and Han dynasties. It is also recognized as a plant resource suitable for the globalization of Chinese medicine. Traditionally, it has been used in various ethnic medical systems in East Asia, especially in China, to kill insects and dispel dampness. Sophora flavescens is commonly used for clearing heat-clearing, killing worms, and diuretic. Nowdays, accumulating studies demonstrated its anticancer and cardioprotection.

OBJECTIVE OF THE REVIEW

This paper aims to systematically review information on the genus, pharmacological and toxicological significance, chemical composition and biological activity of Sophora flavescens. To promoting its development and application. To summarize recent findings regarding to the metabolism, pharmacological/toxicological effects of Sophora flavescens.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Online academic databases (including PubMed, Google Scholar, Web of Science and CNKI) were searched using search terms of "Sophora flavescens Aiton", "Ku shen", "Pharmacology", "Active ingredient", "Toxicology" and combinations to include published studies of Sophora flavescens Aiton primarily from 1970-2021. Several critical previous studies beyond this period were also included and other related terms.

CONCLUSION

Sophora flavescens has a broad spectrum of biological activities associated with Sophora flavescens has been considered a valuable resource in both traditional and modern medicine. However, there is a lack of in-depth studies on the medicinal uses of Sophora flavescens. Moreover, further studies on single chemical components should be conducted based on the diversity of chemical structures, significant biological activities and clinical applications. The discovery of its bioactive molecules and multi-component interactions would be of great importance for the clinical application of Sophora flavescens spp. Detailed pharmacological and toxicological studies on the classic prescriptions of Sophora flavescens are also needed. It is more beneficial to the wide application of SF plant and facilitates the worldwide promotion of modern Chinese medicine. However, an increasing number of reports indicate that the administration of Sophora flavescens has serious adverse effects. Its main toxic effects are neurotoxicity and acute toxicity, which have caused widespread concern worldwide. In addition, the alkaloids of Sophora flavescens are distributed in the heart, liver, stomach and large intestine. They are excreted from the body through gluconeogenesis, which is the mode of action of certain therapeutic mechanisms of action such as anticancer. The detailed metabolic study of alkaloids and other components of Sophora flavescens in vivo needs to be further investigated. It is important to improve the pharmacological effects and reduce the toxicity of Sophora flavescens. For this purpose, structural modification of active components of Sophora flavescens or combination with other drugs is very essential.

Roles of circ_0000135/miR-140-3p/PDZK1 network in cervical cancer

PURPOSE

To explore the effect of circ_0000135/miR-140-3p/PDZ domain containing 1 (PDZK1) on the occurrence and development of cervical cancer.

METHODS

Clinical data were collected to verify circ_0000135/miR-140-3p/PDZK1 expression in cervical cancer. mRNA expressions of circ_0000135 and miR-140-3p were detected by real-time quantitative PCR. Correlation between circ_0000135 and miR-140-3p/miR-140-3p and PDZK1 was analyzed in vitro. Protein expression detection in cells was conducted by Western blot; while cell proliferation, invasion and cycle distribution by CCK8 assay, Transwell chamber assay and flow cytometry, respectively. Rescue and animal experiment were performed to verify the effect of circ_0000135/miR-140-3p/PDZK1 on cervical cancer.

RESULTS

circ_0000135 and PDZK1 expressions were increased, while those of miR-140-3p were decreased in cervical cancer tissues and cells (both P < 0.05). sh-circ_0000135 group had decreased cell viability, arrested cells in G0/G1 phase, decreased CyclinD1 expression, inhibited cell migration and invasion; sh-circ_0000135 group showed reduced tumor volume, weight, and lower Ki67 expression (all P < 0.05). circ_0000135 had conserved target of miR-140-3p. There was a direct interaction between circ_0000135 and miR-140-3p. miR-140-3p might have direct interaction with PDZK1. sh-circ_0000135 and/or miR-140-3p treatment showed obviously decreased PDZK1 expression, decreased cell activity, arrested cells in G0/G1 phase, downregulated cell migration and invasion; sh-circ_0000135 and/or miR-140-3p mimic treatment showed obviously decreased tumor volume, tumor weight, and Ki67 expression (all P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

circ_0000135 may play an anti-tumor role on the progression of cervical cancer by sponging miR-140-3p to suppress the expression of PDZK1, providing a promising therapeutic target.

Sophoraflavanone G from Sophora flavescens Ameliorates Allergic Airway Inflammation by Suppressing Th2 Response and Oxidative Stress in a Murine Asthma Model

Sophoraflavanone G (SG), isolated from Sophora flavescens, has anti-inflammatory and anti-tumor bioactive properties. We previously showed that SG promotes apoptosis in human breast cancer cells and leukemia cells and reduces the inflammatory response in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated macrophages. We investigated whether SG attenuates airway hyper-responsiveness (AHR) and airway inflammation in asthmatic mice. We also assessed its effects on the anti-inflammatory response in human tracheal epithelial cells. Female BALB/c mice were sensitized with ovalbumin, and asthmatic mice were treated with SG by intraperitoneal injection. We also exposed human bronchial epithelial BEAS-2B cells to different concentrations of SG to evaluate its effects on inflammatory cytokine levels. SG treatment significantly reduced AHR, eosinophil infiltration, goblet cell hyperplasia, and airway inflammation in the lungs of asthmatic mice. In the lungs of ovalbumin-sensitized mice, SG significantly promoted superoxide dismutase and glutathione expression and attenuated malondialdehyde levels. SG also suppressed levels of Th2 cytokines and chemokines in lung and bronchoalveolar lavage samples. In addition, we confirmed that SG decreased pro-inflammatory cytokine, chemokine, and eotaxin expression in inflammatory BEAS-2B cells. Taken together, our data demonstrate that SG shows potential as an immunomodulator that can improve asthma symptoms by decreasing airway-inflammation-related oxidative stress.

Trifolirhizin regulates the balance of Th17/Treg cells and inflammation in the ulcerative colitis mice through inhibiting the TXNIP-mediated activation of NLRP3 inflammasome

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic and recurrent autoimmune disease, characterized by recurrence and remission of mucosal inflammation. Although the understanding of the pathogenesis of UC has been improved, effective therapeutic drugs are required for treating patients with UC. In current work, the mouse model of colitis was established. Trifolirhizin was demonstrated to improve symptom in dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis mice. The body weight of mice was elevated, while the disease activity index (DAI) was reduced. Moreover, Trifolirhizin was involved in inhibition of inflammation and regulation of Th17/Treg cell balance in DSS-induced colitis mice. Further, the activation NLRP3 inflammasome was suppressed by Trifolirhizin in DSS-induced colitis mice. Trifolirhizin was also identified to regulate AMPK-TXNIP pathway. The Trifolirhizin-mediated anti-inflammatory effect was inhibited by suppressing AMPK in DSS-induced UC mice. In summary, the research suggested that administration of Trifolirhizin significantly improved the symptoms and the pathological damage in DSS-induced UC mice. Trifolirhizin regulated the balance of Th17/Treg cells and inflammation in the UC mice through inhibiting the TXNIP-mediated activation of NLRP3 inflammasome. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Potential activity of Traditional Chinese Medicine against Ulcerative colitis: A review

ETHNIC PHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Plant materials are used as complementary and alternative therapies all over the world for the treatment of various diseases. Ulcerative colitis (UC), a chronic nonspecific inflammatory bowel disease listed as one of the modern refractory diseases by the World Health Organization, has a long course, is challenging to cure, and is prone to cause cancer. Recent years have witnessed a growing trend of applying traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) to UC.

AIM OF THIS REVIEW

This review presents an overview of the pathogenesis of UC and reports the therapeutic effect of TCM on UC (including TCM prescriptions, single TCM, and treatments using TCM ingredients) to provide a theoretical basis for the use of TCM in treating UC.

METHODS

We performed a collection and collation of relevant scientific articles from different scientific databases regarding TCM and its usefulness in treating UC. In this paper, the therapeutic effect of TCM is summarized and analyzed according to the existing experimental and clinical research.

RESULTS

There are positive signs that TCM primarily regulates inflammatory cytokines, intestinal flora, and the immune system, and also protects the intestinal mucosa. Hence, it can play a role in treating UC.

CONCLUSION

TCM has a definite curative effect in the treatment of UC. It can alleviate and treat UC in a variety of ways. We should take syndrome differentiation and treatment differentiation as the basis. With the help of modern medicine, TCM's clinical curative effects can be enhanced for the treatment of UC.

Composite Sophora Colon-Soluble Capsule Ameliorates DSS-Induced Ulcerative Colitis in Mice via Gut Microbiota-Derived Butyric Acid and NCR+ ILC3

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the effects of composite Sophora colon-soluble Capsule (CSCC) on gut microbiota-mediated short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) production and downstream group 3 innate lymphoid cells (ILC3s) of dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced ulcerative colitis (UC) mice model.

METHODS

The main components of CSCC were analyzed by hybrid ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography ion mobility spectromety quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UHPLC-IM-QTOF/MS). Twenty-four male BALB/c mice were randomly divided into 4 groups (n=6) by using a computer algorithm-generated random digital, including control, DSS model, mesalazine, and CSCC groups. A DSS-induced colitis mice model was established to determine the effects of CSCC by recording colonic weight, colonic length, index of colonic weight, and histological colonic score. The variations in ILC3s were assessed by immunofluorescence and flow cytometry. The results of gut microbiota and SCFAs were acquired by 16s rDNA and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis. The expression levels of NCR⁺ ILC3^-, CCR6⁺ Nkp46^- (Lti) ILC3^-, and ILCreg-specific markers were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction and Western blot, respectively.

RESULTS

The main components of CSCC were matrine, ammothamnine, Sophora flavescens neoalcohol J, and Sophora oxytol U. After 7 days of treatment, CSCC significantly alleviated colitis by promoting the reproduction of intestinal probiotics manifested as upregulation of the abundance of Bacteroidetes species and specifically the Bacteroidales_S24-7 genus (P<0.05). Among the SCFAs, the content of butyric acid increased the most after CSCC treatment. Meanwhile, compared with the model group, Lti ILC3s and its biomarkers were significantly downregulated and NCR⁺ ILC3s were significantly elevated in the CSCC group (P<0.01). Further experiments revealed that ILC3s were differentiated from Lti ILC3s to NCR⁺ ILC3s, resulting in interleukin-22 production which regulates gut epithelial barrier function.

CONCLUSION

CSCC may exert a therapeutic effect on UC by improving the gut microbiota, promoting metabolite butyric acid production, and managing the ratio between NCR⁺ ILC3s and Lti ILC3s.

Sex Difference of Effect of Sophora flavescens on Gut Microbiota in Rats

Objective

By observing the sex difference of the gut microbiota in rats and the influence of Sophora flavescens (S. flavescens) on the gut microbiota in rats of different genders, it is hoped that it can provide reference materials for the rational use of S. flavescens in clinical practice.

Method

Taking samples of the jejunum (containing intestinal contents) and feces of 8-week-old rats, and detecting the composition of gut microbiota of females and males by 16S rRNA sequencing technology; At the same time, 8-week-old rats were gavaged with different doses of S. flavescens decoction, and the duodenum, jejunum, ileum, and colon (including the intestinal contents) samples were collected at 1, 2, and 3 weeks, using polymerase chain reaction-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (PCR-DGGE) technology and real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR (qRT-PCR) technology to observe the changes in the structure and the quantitative changes of 4 major intestinal dominant bacteria Enterococcus, Bacteriodes, Lactobacillus, and Clostridium in each intestinal segment, respectively.

Result

(1) The gut microbiota of normal rats without administration also had obvious gender differences; (2) S. flavescens significantly affects the composition of gut microbiota, and in different intestinal segments, this effect was different between genders under different dosages and different continuous administration times.

Conclusion

The effect of S. flavescens on the gut microbiota of rats had gender differences.