Prenylated Flavonoid Glycosides with PCSK9 mRNA Expression Inhibitory Activity from the Aerial Parts of Epimedium koreanum

Transcriptome Analysis on the Quality of Epimedium koreanum in Different Soil Moisture Conditions at Harvesting Stage

Epimedium koreanum is a traditional Chinese tonic herb. Its main medicinal components are secondary metabolites such as flavonoids and flavonol glycosides, but the biosynthetic mechanism is still unclear. Moisture conditions are a key environmental factor affecting E. koreanum medicinal components during harvesting. Different stages of E. koreanum under natural conditions after rainfall were selected to study changes in physiological properties, herb quality, and transcriptome. Malondialdehyde (MDA) content increased significantly in the D3 stage after rainfall, and protective enzyme levels also rose. Additionally, the flavonol glycoside content was relatively high. We sequenced the transcriptomes of D1, D3, and D9 (R) and identified differentially expressed genes (DEGs) related to flavonoid synthesis. This analysis allowed us to predict the roadmap and key genes involved in flavonoid biosynthesis for E. koreanum. These results suggest that the E. koreanum quality can be enhanced by natural drought conditions in the soil after precipitation during harvest. The harvesting period of E. koreanum is optimal when soil moisture naturally dries to a relative water content of 26% after precipitation. These conditions help E. koreanum tolerate a certain level of water scarcity, resulting in increased expression of flavonoid-related genes and ultimately enhancing the quality of the herb.

Phytochemistry and pharmacology of natural prenylated flavonoids

Prenylated flavonoids are a special kind of flavonoid derivative possessing one or more prenyl groups in the parent nucleus of the flavonoid. The presence of the prenyl side chain enriched the structural diversity of flavonoids and increased their bioactivity and bioavailability. Prenylated flavonoids show a wide range of biological activities, such as anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective, anti-diabetic, anti-obesity, cardioprotective effects, and anti-osteoclastogenic activities. In recent years, many compounds with significant activity have been discovered with the continuous excavation of the medicinal value of prenylated flavonoids, and have attracted the extensive attention of pharmacologists. This review summarizes recent progress on research into natural active prenylated flavonoids to promote new discoveries of their medicinal value.

Development of small-molecule PCSK9 inhibitors for the treatment of hypercholesterolemia

When secreted into the circulation, proprotein convertase subtilisin kexin type 9 (PCSK9) blocks the low-density lipoprotein receptors (LDL-R) and, as a consequence, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels increase. Therefore, PCSK9 has emerged as a potential therapeutic target for lowering LDL-C levels and preventing atherosclerosis. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved two monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) against PCSK9, but the expensive manufacturing process limits their use. Subsequently, there have been tremendous efforts to develop cost-effective small molecules specific to PCSK9 over the past few years. These small molecules are promising therapeutics that act by preventing the synthesis of PCSK9, its secretion from cells, or the PCSK9-LDRL interaction. In this review, we summarize recent developments in the discovery of small-molecule PCSK9 inhibitors, focusing on their design, therapeutic effects, specific targets, and mechanisms of action.