Imperatorin: A review of its pharmacology, toxicity and pharmacokinetics

Cnidii Fructus: A traditional Chinese medicine herb and source of antiosteoporotic drugs

BACKGROUND

Osteoporosis (OP) is a prevalent chronic metabolic bone disease for which limited countermeasures are available. Cnidii Fructus (CF), primarily derived from Cnidium monnieri (L.) Cusson., has been tested in clinical trials of traditional Chinese medicine for the management of OP. Accumulating preclinical studies indicate that CF may be used against OP.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Comprehensive documentation and analysis were conducted to retrieve CF studies related to its main phytochemical components as well as its pharmacokinetics, safety and pharmacological properties. We also retrieved information on the mode of action of CF and, in particular, preclinical and clinical studies related to bone remodeling. This search was performed from the inception of databases up to the end of 2022 and included PubMed, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, the National Science and Technology Library, the China Science and Technology Journal Database, Weipu, Wanfang, the Web of Science and the China National Patent Database.

RESULTS

CF contains a wide range of natural active compounds, including osthole, bergapten, imperatorin and xanthotoxin, which may underlie its beneficial effects on improving bone metabolism and quality. CF action appears to be mediated via multiple processes, including the osteoprotegerin (OPG)/receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand (RANKL)/receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB (RANK), Wnt/β-catenin and bone morphogenetic protein (BMP)/Smad signaling pathways.

CONCLUSION

CF and its ingredients may provide novel compounds for developing anti-OP drugs.

Pharmacological and phytochemical insights on the pancreatic β-cell modulation by Angelica L. roots

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Angelica roots are a significant source of traditional medicines for various cultures around the northern hemisphere, from indigenous communities in North America to Japan. Among its many applications, the roots are used to treat type 2 diabetes mellitus; however, this application is not mentioned often. Ethnopharmacological studies have reported the use of A. japonica var. hirsutiflora, A. furcijuga, A. shikokiana, and A. keiskei to treat diabetes symptoms, and further reports have demonstrated the three angelica roots, i.e., A. japonica var. hirsutiflora, A. reflexa, and A. dahurica, exhibit insulin secretagogue activity.

AIM OF THE STUDY

This study aimed to phytochemically characterize and compare angelica roots monographed in the European Pharmacopeia 11th, isolate major plant metabolites, and assess extracts and isolates' capability to modulate pancreatic β-cell function.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Root extracts of Angelica archangelica, Angelica dahurica, Angelica biserrata, and Angelica sinensis were phytochemically profiled using liquid chromatography method coupled with mass spectrometry. Based on this analysis, simple and furanocoumarins were isolated using chromatography techniques. Extracts (1.6-50 μg/mL) and isolated compounds (5-40 μmol/L) were studied for their ability to modulate insulin secretion in the rat insulinoma INS-1 pancreatic β-cell model. Insulin was quantified by the homogeneous time-resolved fluorescence method.

RESULTS

Forty-one secondary metabolites, mostly coumarins, were identified in angelica root extracts. A. archangelica, A. dahurica, and A. biserrata root extracts at concentration of 12.5-50 μg/mL potentiated glucose-induced insulin secretion, which correlated with their high coumarin content. Subsequently, 23 coumarins were isolated from these roots and screened using the same protocol. Coumarins substituted with the isoprenyl group were found to be responsible for the extracts' insulinotropic effect.

CONCLUSIONS

Insulinotropic effects of three pharmacopeial angelica roots were found, the metabolite profiles and pharmacological activities of the roots were correlated, and key structures responsible for the modulation of pancreatic β-cell function were identified. These findings may have implications for the traditional use of angelica roots in treating diabetes. Active plant metabolites may also become lead structures in the search for new antidiabetic treatments.

Isolating Antipathogenic Fungal Coumarins from Coriaria nepalensis and Determining Their Primary Mechanism In Vitro

Through bioassay-guided isolation, eight undescribed coumarins (1-8), along with six reported coumarins (9-14), were obtained from Coriaria nepalensis. The new structures were determined by using IR, UV, NMR, HRESIMS, and ECD calculations. The results of the biological activity assays showed that compound 9 exhibited broad spectrum antifungal activities against all tested fungi in vitro and a significant inhibitory effect on Phytophthora nicotianae with an EC50 value of 3.00 μg/mL. Notably, compound 9 demonstrated greater curative and protective effects against tobacco balack shank than those of osthol in vivo. Thus, 9 was structurally modified to obtain new promising antifungal agents, and the novel derivatives (17b, 17j, and 17k) exhibited better effects on Sclerotinia sclerotiorum than did lead compound 9. Preliminary mechanistic exploration illustrated that 9 could enhance cell membrane permeability, destroy the morphology and ultrastructure of cells, and reduce the exopolysaccharide content of P. nicotianae mycelia. Furthermore, the cytotoxicity results revealed that compound 9 exhibited relatively low cytotoxicity against HEK293 cell lines with an inhibition rate of 33.54% at 30 μg/mL. This research is promising for the discovery of new fungicides from natural coumarins with satisfactory ecological compatibility.

An advanced strategy for quality evaluation of Xinyi Biyan Pill by UPLC-DAD fingerprinting combined with multi-components UPLC-MS/MS analysis

Xinyi Biyan Pill (XBP) is a classical Chinese patent medicine and widely used to treat acute and chronic or allergic rhinitis in clinical practice. This study aimed to establish and validate a comprehensive strategy combining ultra-performance liquid chromatography with diode array detector (UPLC-DAD) fingerprinting and multi-component quantification for quality evaluation of XBP. In the fingerprint analysis, 32 peaks were selected as common peaks and used to evaluate the similarity of 12 batches of XBP. In addition, 141 compounds of XBP were identified or preliminarily characterized in both positive and negative ion modes by coupling with an advanced hybrid linear ion trap (LTQ)-Orbitrap mass spectrometer. Moreover, a rapid quantitative method based on UPLC tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) has been optimized and validated for simultaneous determination of 10 chemical markers within 15 min, and applied to analyzing 12 batches of XBP. The proposed comprehensive strategy combining UPLC-DAD fingerprinting and multi-component UPLC-MS/MS quantification exhibited satisfactory results with high efficiency, accuracy and reliability, which can be used as a reference for overall quality consistency evaluation of Chinese herbal formulations.

Bio-orthogonally Activatable Fluorescent Probe for Specific Imaging of Myeloid Cell Leukemia 1 Protein

The antiapoptotic protein myeloid cell leukemia 1 (Mcl-1) has been increasingly identified as a promising potential therapeutic target attributed to its critical regulation effect in diverse cellar physiopathological events. Current fluorescence imaging strategies tend to be susceptible to the cellular microenvironment, and straightforward mapping of Mcl-1's level variation remains challenging. In this paper, an activatable "off-on" fluorescence strategy for Mcl-1 specific labeling was presented based on bio-orthogonal chemistry by introducing tetrazine-functionalized borondipyrromethene (TB) as a fluorescent reporter and trans-cyclooctyne-derived indole-2-carboxylic acid (TI) as an Mcl-1 targeting moiety. With the click pair of TB and TI, the Mcl-1 expression level in vitro and in vivo was successfully mapped straightforward. Also, the level changes of Mcl-1 upon drug challenge were demonstrated. This work provides a robust fluorescence strategy for Mcl-1 in situ imaging, and the results would further facilitate the comprehensive revelation of the Mcl-1 biological effect.

Transcriptome analysis provides insights into coumarin biosynthesis in the medicinal plant Angelica dahurica cv. Yubaizhi

Angelica dahurica roots have a long history of use in traditional Chinese medicine due to their high coumarin content. To address the increasing demand for these roots, a synthetic biology approach has been proposed. Nevertheless, our comprehension of coumarin biosynthesis and its regulation remains limited. In this study, we utilized Hiseq2500 sequencing to analyze the transcriptomes of A. dahurica at different growth stages while concurrently quantifying coumarin content. Differentially expressed gene (DEG) analysis was employed to identify key genes involved in coumarin and terpenoid backbone biosynthesis. Weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) was applied to identify gene modules strongly associated with coumarin content, elucidating the regulatory relationships between transcription factors (TFs) and pathway genes. Furthermore, KEGG enrichment analysis was used to explore essential pathways governing coumarin biosynthesis, with the identification of hub genes. Our results indicated that total coumarin content was highest in the roots, followed by leaves and stems, across all three developmental stages. Transcriptome analysis identified a total of 92,478 genes, among which 215 and 30 genes were implicated in coumarin and terpenoid backbone biosynthesis, respectively. Within the 73 identified gene modules by WGCNA, three modules-namely aquamarine1 (comprising two OMTs, one CSE, one AACT, one HDS, two PSs, one 2OGO, four UGTs, and seven CYP450s), darkmagenta (containing one UGT and one HDR), and navajowhite2 (consisting of one HCT, three UGTs, one CYP71A25, one OMT, one CSE, one HDS, and one PT)-were strongly associated with imperatorin, oxypeucedanin, and isoimperatorin content, respectively. KEGG enrichment analysis highlighted significant enrichment of cytochrome P450, transporter, and ubiquitin system pathways. Moreover, TF-gene regulatory analysis unveiled the complexity of coumarin biosynthesis, with 17 TF families regulating 17 genes in the aquamarine1 module, 8 TF families regulating 2 genes in the darkmagenta module, and 8 TF families regulating 7 genes in the navajowhite2 module. These comprehensive findings provide valuable insights into coumarin biosynthesis in A. dahurica, facilitating future research and potential applications in traditional Chinese medicine and synthetic biology strategies.

Imperatorin ameliorates pulmonary fibrosis via GDF15 expression

Background: Pulmonary fibrosis features in damaged pulmonary structure or over-produced extracellular matrix and impaired lung function, leading to respiratory failure and eventually death. Fibrotic lungs are characterized by the secretion of pro-fibrotic factors, transformation of fibroblasts to myofibroblasts, and accumulation of matrix proteins. Hypothesis/purpose: Imperatorin shows anti-inflammatory effects on alveolar macrophages against acute lung injury. We attempt to evaluate the properties of imperatorin on the basis of fibroblasts. Methods: In in vitro, zymosan was introduced to provoke pro-fibrotic responses in NIH/3T3 or MRC-5 pulmonary fibroblasts. Imperatorin was given for examining its effects against fibrosis. The mice were stimulated by bleomycin, and imperatorin was administered to evaluate the prophylactic potential in vivo. Results: The upregulated expression of connective tissue growth factor (CTGF), α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), and collagen protein due to zymosan introduction was decreased by imperatorin in fibroblasts. Zymosan induced the activity of transglutaminase 2 (TGase2) and lysyl oxidase (LOX), which was also inhibited by the administration of imperatorin. Imperatorin alone enhanced sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) activity and growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF15) secretion in fibroblasts via LKB1/AMPK/CREB pathways. In addition, GDF15 exerted a beneficial effect by reducing the protein expression of CTGF, α-SMA, and collagen and the activities of TGase and LOX. Moreover, orally administered imperatorin showed prophylactic effects on bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis in mice. Conclusion: Imperatorin reduces fibrotic marker expression in fibroblasts and also increases GDF15 secretion via the LKB1/AMPK/CREB pathway, attenuating pro-fibrotic responses in vitro. Imperatorin also alleviates pulmonary fibrosis induced by bleomycin in vivo.

Imperatorin Restores Chemosensitivity of Multidrug-Resistant Cancer Cells by Antagonizing ABCG2-Mediated Drug Transport

The high expression of the ATP-binding cassette (ABC) drug transporter ABCG2 in cancer cells contributes to the emergence of multidrug resistance (MDR) in individuals afflicted with either solid tumors or blood cancers. MDR poses a major impediment in the realm of clinical cancer chemotherapy. Recently, substantial endeavors have been dedicated to identifying bioactive compounds isolated from nature capable of counteracting ABCG2-mediated MDR in cancer cells. Imperatorin, a natural coumarin derivative renowned for its diverse pharmacological properties, has not previously been explored for its impact on cancer drug resistance. This study investigates the chemosensitizing potential of imperatorin in ABCG2-overexpressing cancer cells. Experimental results reveal that at sub-toxic concentrations, imperatorin significantly antagonizes the activity of ABCG2 and reverses ABCG2-mediated MDR in a concentration-dependent manner. Furthermore, biochemical data and in silico analysis of imperatorin docking to the inward-open conformation of human ABCG2 indicate that imperatorin directly interacts with multiple residues situated within the transmembrane substrate-binding pocket of ABCG2. Taken together, these results furnish substantiation that imperatorin holds promise for further evaluation as a potent inhibitor of ABCG2, warranting exploration in combination drug therapy to enhance the effectiveness of therapeutic agents for patients afflicted with tumors that exhibit high levels of ABCG2.

The Assessment of the Efficacy of Imperatorin in Reducing Overactive Bladder Symptoms

Overactive bladder syndrome (OAB) is a prevalent condition that affects the elderly population in particular and significantly impairs quality of life. Imperatorin, a naturally occurring furocoumarin, possesses diverse pharmacological properties that warrant consideration for drug development. The aim of this study was to investigate the potential of imperatorin (IMP) to attenuate the cystometric and biochemical changes typically associated with retinyl acetate-induced overactive bladder (OAB) and to assess its viability as a pharmacological intervention for OAB patients. A total of 60 rats were divided into four groups: I-control, II-rats with rapamycin (RA)-induced OAB, III-rats administered IMP at a dose of 10 mg/kg/day, and IV-rats with RA-induced OAB treated with IMP. IMP or vehicle were injected intraperitoneally for 14 days. The cystometry and assessment of bladder blood flow were performed two days after the last dose of IMP. The rats were then placed in metabolic cages for 24 h. Urothelial thickness measurements and biochemical analyses were performed. Intravesical infusion of RA induced OAB. Notably, intraperitoneal administration of imperatorin had no discernible effect on urinary bladder function and micturition cycles in normal rats. IMP attenuated the severity of RA-induced OAB. RA induced increases in urothelial ATP, calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), organic cation transporter 3 (OCT3), and vesicular acetylcholine transporter (VAChT), as well as significant c-Fos expression in all micturition areas analyzed, which were attenuated by IMP. Furthermore, elevated levels of Rho kinase (ROCK1) and VAChT were observed in the detrusor, which were reversed by IMP in the context of RA-induced OAB in the urothelium, detrusor muscle, and urine. Imperatorin has a mitigating effect on detrusor overactivity. The mechanisms of action of IMP in the bladder appear to be diverse and complex. These findings suggest that IMP may provide protection against RA-induced OAB and could potentially develop into an innovative therapeutic strategy for the treatment of OAB.

Imperatorin inhibits LPS-induced bone marrow-derived macrophages activation by decreased NF-κB p65 phosphorylation

BACKGROUND

Imperatorin (IMP) is a secondary metabolite of plants and is the most abundant in Angelica dahurica. Previous studies showed that IMP exhibited anti-inflammatory activity in RAW264.7 cell line. Here, we aim to investigate the roles and mechanisms of IMP in bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDMs), in view of the difference between primary macrophages and cell lines.

METHODS

BMDMs were stimulated with LPS for the inflammation model. Flow cytometry was performed with BMDMs treated with different doses of IMP (0-20mg/L) within staining Annexin V-APC for 5 min. The cytokines and inflammatory mediators were detected by RT-PCR or ELISA. RNA-seq was performed in IMP-treated BMDMs or control, stimulated with LPS for 6h. Western blotting is carried out to determine the phosphorylation of p65, ERK1/2, JNK1, p38, and Akt.

RESULTS

Our results showed that IMP inhibited IL-12p40, IL-6, TNF-α and IL-1β in LPS-stimulated BMDMs. RNA-seq analysis suggested that IMP inhibits Toll-like receptor signaling pathway (KEGG), TNF signaling pathway (KEGG), NF-κB signaling pathway (KEGG), Inflammatory Response (GO). In addition, IMP inhibited myd88, tpl2, cxcl1, ptgs2(COX-2) expression in mRNA level. Finally, we found decreased phosphorylation of NF-κB p65 in IMP-treated BMDMs, after stimulated with LPS.

CONCLUSION

IMP inhibits IL-12p40, IL-6, TNF-α, and IL-1β expression in LPS-stimulated BMDMs. IMP inhibits macrophage activation, which maybe resulted in decreased phosphorylation of NF-κB p65. Furthermore, IMP may protect against the progress of inflammatory-related diseases.

Detection and identification of imperatorin metabolites in rat, dog, monkey, and human liver microsomes by ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography combined with high-resolution mass spectrometry and Compound Discoverer software

Imperatorin, a furanocoumarin that widely exists in many umbelliferous herbs, has been demonstrated to have a variety of pharmacological effects, including anti-inflammatory, antiosteoporosis, and antitumor activities. The purpose of this study was to investigate the metabolism of imperatorin using liver microsomes. The metabolites were generated by individually incubating imperatorin with rat, dog, monkey, and human liver microsomes. To trap the reactive metabolites during microsomal metabolism, glutathione (GSH) was included in the incubation. A LC technique coupled with benchtop orbitrap MS with full mass/data-dependent tandem mass spectrometry acquisition mode was used to detect and identify the generated metabolites. The possible structures of the metabolites were characterized according to their accurate masses and fragment ions. Under the current conditions, a total of 10 metabolites, including four GSH adducts, were identified. The results indicated that imperatorin underwent extensive metabolic reactions including hydroxylation, oxidation, glucuronidation, and GSH conjugation. This study provides essential data on the metabolism of imperatorin, which will be helpful for us to understand the safety and efficacy of this bioactive compound.

Prescription system to calculate precise doses of Chinese herbal medicine to avoid toxic effects

Background and objectives

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is a therapeutic system which has been practiced for thousands of years. Although for much of its history the decoction of medicinal herbs was the most common method of consuming the herbal treatments, TCM prescriptions are now primarily prepared using concentrated Chinese herbal extracts (CCHE) in powder or granular form. However, determining the precise dose of each single Chinese herbal constituent within a prescription creates a challenge in clinical practice due to the potential risk of toxicity. To alleviate this, we invented the Chinese Intelligence Prescription System (CIPS) to calculate the exact dose of each single herb within an individual prescription.

Methods

In this study, we applied CIPS in a real-world setting to analyze clinical prescriptions collected and prepared at the TCM Pharmacy of China Medical University Hospital (CMUH).

Results

Our investigation revealed that 3% of all prescriptions filled in a 1-month period contained inexact dosages, suggesting that more than 170,000 prescriptions filled in Taiwan in a given month may contain potentially toxic components. We further analyzed the data to determine the excess dosages and outline the possible associated side effects.

Conclusions

In conclusion, CIPS offers TCM practitioners the ability to prepare exact Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) prescriptions in order to avoid toxic effects, thereby ensuring patient safety.

Isolation of coumarins with anti-Trichophyton rubrum activity from Heracleum vicinum Boiss

Heracleum vicinum Boiss., a perennial plant of Angelica in Umbelliferae, is mainly distributed in Sichuan and Hunan of China. Trichophyton rubrum is a common skin fungus causing dermatophyte. The previous experimental study found that the ethanol extract from Heracleum vicinum Boiss. had excellent anti-Trichophyton rubrum activity, especially the ethanol extract further extracted with petroleum ether and dichloromethane has the best antibacterial effect and has good potential for treating dermatophytes. In this study, Heracleum vicinum Boiss. was extracted with ethanol by microwave-assisted ultrasonic extraction method and isolated with silica gel column to obtain a coumarin compound M1-1 by the guidance of anti-Trichophyton rubrum activity, which was characterized by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy(13C-NMR), hydrogen nuclear magnetic resonance (1H-NMR), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), high-resolution mass spectrometry (HR-ESI-MS), and ultraviolet (UV) and identified as imperatorin and belonged to coumarins, with the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) against Trichophyton rubrum of 12.5 μg/mL. According to the discussion on the inhibitory mechanism of the compound, we found that the compound may exert its inhibitory effect by destroying the mycelial membrane and inhibiting the mycelial growth of Trichophyton rubrum. In a word, imperatorin isolated from Heracleum vicinum Boiss. is expected to be used as an antibacterial agent to treat dermatophytes a potential natural compound against Trichophyton rubrum, and a template for drug development of dermatophytes the future.

Imperatorin exerts antioxidant effects in vascular dementia via the Nrf2 signaling pathway

Imperatorin, an active ingredient extracted from Angelica and Qianghuo, has anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative stress damage, blocking calcium channels, and other properties. Our preliminary findings revealed the protective role of imperatorin in the treatment of vascular dementia, we further explored the underlying mechanisms concerning the neuroprotection function of imperatorin in vascular dementia. The cobalt chloride (C_OCl2)-induced chemical hypoxia and hypoglycemia of hippocampal neuronal cells was applied as in vitro vascular dementia model. Primary neuronal cells was isolated from the hippocampal tissue of SD suckling rats within 24 h of birth. Hippocampal neurons were identified by immunofluorescence staining of microtubule-associated protein 2. Silencing or overexpression of Nrf2 was conducted by transfection of corresponding plasmids in hippocampal neuronal cells. Cell viability was detected by MTT assay to determine the optimal modeling concentration of CoCl2. Mitochondrial membrane potential, intracellular reactive oxygen species and apoptosis rate was measured by flow cytometry. The expression of anti-oxidative proteins was detected by quantitative real-time PCR and western blot, including Nrf2, NQO-1 and HO-1. Nrf2 nuclear translocation was detected using laser confocal microscopy. The modeling concentration of CoCl2 was 150umol/l, and the best interventional concentration of imperatorin was 7.5umol/l. Significantly, imperatorin facilitated the nuclear localization of Nrf2, promoted the expressions of Nrf2, NQO-1, and HO-1 relative to the model-control group. Moreover, imperatorin reduced the mitochondrial membrane potential and ameliorated CoCl2-induced hypoxic apoptosis in hippocampal neurons. On the contrary, silencing Nrf2 completely abrogated the protective effects of imperatorin. Imperatorin might be an effective drug for preventing and treating vascular dementia.

Drug delivery targets and strategies to address mast cell diseases

INTRODUCTION

Current and developing mast cell therapeutics are reliant on small molecule drugs and biologics, but few are truly selective for mast cells. Most have cellular and disease-specific limitations that require innovation to overcome longstanding challenges to selectively targeting and modulating mast cell behavior. This review is designed to serve as a frame of reference for new approaches that utilize nanotechnology or combine different drugs to increase mast cell selectivity and therapeutic efficacy.

AREAS COVERED

Mast cell diseases include allergy and related conditions as well as malignancies. Here, we discuss the targets of existing and developing therapies used to treat these disease pathologies, classifying them into cell surface, intracellular, and extracellular categories. For each target discussed, we discuss drugs that are either the current standard of care, under development, or have indications for potential use. Finally, we discuss how novel technologies and tools can be used to take existing therapeutics to a new level of selectivity and potency against mast cells.

EXPERT OPINION

There are many broadly and very few selectively targeted therapeutics for mast cells in allergy and malignant disease. Combining existing targeting strategies with technology like nanoparticles will provide novel platforms to treat mast cell disease more selectively.

Methanol extract of Inonotus obliquus improves type 2 diabetes mellitus through modifying intestinal flora

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) poses a significant risk to human health. Previous research demonstrated that Inonotus obliquus possesses good hypolipidemic, anti-inflammatory, and anti-tumor properties. In this research, we aim to investigate the potential treatment outcomes of Inonotus obliquus for T2DM and discuss its favourable influences on the intestinal flora. The chemical composition of Inonotus obliquus methanol extracts (IO) was analyzed by ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-Q extractive-mass spectrometry. IO significantly improved the blood glucose level, blood lipid level, and inflammatory factor level in T2DM mice, and effectively alleviated the morphological changes of colon, liver and renal. Acetic acid, propionic acid, and butyric acid levels in the feces of the IO group were restored. 16S rRNA gene sequencing revealed that the intestinal flora composition of mice in the IO group was significantly modulated. Inonotus obliquus showed significant hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic effects with evident anti-inflammatory activity and improved the morphological structure of various organs and cells. Inonotus obliquus increased the levels of short-chain fatty acids in the environment by increasing the population of certain bacteria that produce acid, such as Alistipes and Akkermansia, which are beneficial to improve intestinal flora disorders and maintain intestinal flora homeostasis. Meanwhile, Inonotus obliquus further alleviated T2DM symptoms in db/db mice by down-regulating the high number of microorganisms that are dangerous, such as Proteobacteria and Rikenellaceae_RC9_gut_group and up-regulating the abundance of beneficial bacteria such as Odoribacter and Rikenella. Therefore, this study provides a new perspective for the treatment of T2DM by demonstrating that drug and food homologous active substances could relieve inflammation via regulating intestinal flora.

Imperatorin Improves Obesity-Induced Cardiac Sympathetic Nerve Injury Mediated by P2X4 Receptor in Stellate Sympathetic Ganglion

Obesity can activate the inflammatory signal pathway, induce in the body a state of chronic inflammation, and increase the excitability of the sympathetic nervous system, which may induce sympathetic neuropathic injury. The stellate sympathetic ganglia (SG) can express the P2X4 receptor, and the abnormal expression of the P2X4 receptor is related to inflammation. Imperatorin (IMP) is a kind of furan coumarin plant which has anti-inflammatory effects. This project aimed to investigate whether IMP can affect the expression of P2X4 receptors in the SG of obese rats to display a protective effect from high-fat-triggered cardiac sympathetic neuropathic injury. Molecular docking through homology modelling revealed that IMP had good affinity for the P2X4 receptor. Our results showed that compared with the normal group, the administration of IMP or P2X4 shRNA decreased sympathetic excitement; reduced the serum levels of triglyceride, total cholesterol, and lactate dehydrogenase; downregulated the expression of P2X4 receptors in SG; and inhibited the expression of inflammatory factors in the SG and serum of obese rats significantly. In addition, the expression of factors associated with the cell pyroptosis GSDMD, caspase-1, NLRP-3, and IL-18 in obese rats were significantly higher than those of the normal rats, and such effects were decreased after treatment with IMP or P2X4 shRNA. Furthermore, IMP significantly reduced the ATP-activated currents in HEK293 cells transfected with P2X4 receptor. Thus, the P2X4 receptor may be a key target for the treatment of obesity-induced cardiac sympathetic excitement. IMP can improve obesity-induced cardiac sympathetic excitement, and its mechanism of action may be related to the inhibition of P2X4 receptor expression and activity in the SG, suppression of cellular pyroptosis in the SG, and reduction of inflammatory factor levels.

Bioactive Chemical Constituents and Pharmacological Activities of Ponciri Fructus

Ponciri Fructus is a crude drug obtained from the dried immature fruits of Poncirus trifoliata (L). Raf. (Syn. Citrus trifoliata L.). This study aims to compile and analyze the ethnomedicinal uses, bioactive constituents, and pharmacological activities of Ponciri Fructus. Various online bibliographic databases namely, SciFinder, PubMed, Google Scholar, and Web of Science were used for collecting information on traditional uses, biological activities, and bioactive constituents. Concerning ethnomedicinal uses, Ponciri Fructus is extensively used in traditional Korean, Chinese, and Kampo medicines to mitigate allergic reactions, inflammation, edema, digestive complications, respiratory problems, spleen-related problems, liver complications, neuronal pain, hyperlipidemia, rheumatoid arthritis, cardiovascular problems, hernia, sinusitis, and insomnia. Several studies have shown that Ponciri Fructus is a major source of diverse classes of bioactive compounds namely flavonoids, terpenoids, coumarins, phytosterols, and alkaloids. Several in vivo and in vitro pharmacological activity evaluations such as antidiabetic, anti-obesity, anti-inflammatory, antiallergic, antimelanogenic, gastroprotective, anticancer, and neuroprotective effects have been conducted from Ponciri Fructus. However, scientific investigations focusing on bioassay-guided isolation and identification of specific bioactive constituents are limited. Therefore, an in-depth scientific investigation of Ponciri Fructus focusing on bioassay-guided isolation, mechanism based pharmacological studies, pharmacokinetic studies, and evaluation of possible toxicities is necessary in the future.

Optimization of Ethanol-Based Extraction Process for Duliang Formula by Central Composite Design and Response Surface Methodology

Background: Compound medicines (traditional Chinese medicines [TCM] formulae) are the main means of treating diseases in TCM. Now, for the convenience of clinical use, there are a lot of Chinese patent medicines (proprietary Chinese medicine) on the market. However, the preparation of Chinese patent medicine needs to solve 2 key problems. One is as far as possible to keep crude drug's active ingredients, and the second is the cost control of industrialization; in this article, the extraction process for the proprietary Chinese medicine of the classic TCM formula, Duliang formula, has been studied effectively. Objective: To investigate the optimal ethanol-based extraction process for Duliang formula by central composite design and response surface methodology. Materials and methods: Central composite design was used to carry out a 3-factor 5-level study for a comprehensive evaluation of the extraction process of Duliang formula after normalization processing, with the ethanol concentration, solvent volume, duration, and times of extraction as investigation factors to consider; also, the contents of imperatorin, ferulic acid, and extract yield were determined as Quality Control indicators. Multiple linear regression, binomial fitting, and response surface methodology were used to analyze and determine the optimal ethanol-based extraction process for Duliang formula and predict its extraction parameters. Results: The determined optimal ethanol-based extraction process was thermal reflux extraction twice with 11 times of 90% ethanol for 2.5 h each time. The overall desirability for the “Normalization Value” evaluation was 0.7681, with a deviation of −0.99% (<5%) compared with the predicted value (0.7758). Conclusions: The determined ethanol-based extraction process for Duliang formula was easy and convenient, with stable, accurate, reliable parameters and reasonable predictability, and could serve as a reference for the industrial production of Duliang formula.

Ameliorative Effect of Imperatorin on Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus-Induced Allergic Asthma by Suppressing the Th2 Response in Mice

Imperatorin is a furanocoumarin derivative and an effective ingredient in several Chinese medicinal herbs. It has favorable expectorant, analgesic, and anti-inflammatory effects. In this study, we investigated whether imperatorin has protective effects against Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (Der p)-induced asthma in mice. Lung and bronchial tissues were histopathologically examined through hematoxylin–eosin staining. The concentrations of immunoglobin E (IgE), IgG1, IgG2a in serum and those of T helper 1 (Th1) and two cytokines and eosinophil-activated chemokines in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were detected using an enzyme immunoassay. Histological examination revealed that imperatorin reduced inflammatory cell infiltration, mucus hypersecretion, and endothelial cell hyperplasia. The examination also indicated that imperatorin could reduce the inflammatory cell count in BALF as well as IgE and IgG1 expression in serum, but IgG2a expression was significantly increased. Imperatorin reduced the production of interleukin (IL)-4, IL-5, and IL-13 by Th2, promoted the production of interferon-γ and IL-12 by Th1, and increased the production of IL-10 in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. These findings suggest that imperatorin has a considerable anti-inflammatory effect on Der p-induced allergic asthma in mice.

Network Pharmacology-Based Investigation on Therapeutic Mechanisms of the Angelica dahurica Radix and Ligusticum chuanxiong Rhizoma Herb Pair for Anti-Migraine Effect

Migraines are a common neurological disorder characterized by desperate throbbing unilateral headaches and are related to phonophobia, photophobia, nausea, and vomiting. The Angelica dahurica Radix and Ligusticum chuanxiong Rhizoma herb pair (ALHP) has been used to treat migraines for centuries in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). However, the physiological mechanisms of migraine treatment have not yet been elucidated. In this study, a total of 50 hub targets related to the effect of 28 bioactive compounds in ALHP on anti-migraine were obtained through network pharmacology analysis. GO and KEGG analyses of the hub targets demonstrated that ALHP treatment of migraines significantly involved the G-protein-coupled receptor signaling pathway, chemical synaptic transmission, inflammatory response, and other biological processes. According to the degree of gene targets in the network, ACE, SLC3A6, NR3CI, MAPK1, PTGS2, PIK3CA, RELA, GRIN1, GRM5, IL1B, and DRD2 were found to be the core gene targets. The docking results showed a high affinity for docked conformations between compounds and predicted targets. The results of this study suggest that ALHP could treat migraines by regulating immunological functions, diminishing inflammation, and improving immunity through different physiological pathways, which contributes to the scientific base for more in-depth research as well as for a more widespread clinical application of ALHP.

The Effect of Stilbene Glycosides on the Hippocampal Neurons and N-methyl D-aspartate Receptor Subtype 2B Receptors in Alzheimer’s Disease Rats

Our study investigated the effect of stilbene glycosides (TSG) on hippocampal neurons and NMDAR2B receptors in Alzheimer’s disease (AD). 40 SPF-grade male rats aged 8 weeks and weighted 0.3 kg were divided into control group (DG group), model group (WG group) (stereotactic injection of Aβ into hippocampus), low TSG group, and high TSG group followed by analysis of NR2B receptor level in hippocampus by immunohistochemical (IHC) staining and hippocampal neuronal apoptosis. The escape period of WG group and TSG treatment group was significantly longer than DG group (P < 0.05) with more significant improvement in TSG group than WG group (P < 0.05); NR2B positive number in WG group (140.31±2.81) was significantly lower than DG group (162.07±4.61) and TSG group (P < 0.05); WG and TSG group had a significantly higher apoptosis rate than DG group (P < 0.05). In addition, NR2B and NR1 expression in WG group was decreased slightly (P < 0.05) with a higher clu level (P < 0.05) which was decreased after TSG treatment (P < 0.05). However, NR2B and NR1 levels showed a significant increase trend after TSG treatment. In conclusion, TSG can effectively reduce the increase of Aβ in the hippocampus, promote NR2B expression, reduce apoptosis and improve the learning ability of rats.

The Angelica dahurica: A Review of Traditional Uses, Phytochemistry and Pharmacology

Angelica dahurica (A. dahurica) root is a famous edible medicinal herb that has been used in China for thousands of years. To date, more than 300 chemical constituents have been discovered from A. dahurica. Among these ingredients, coumarins and volatile oils are the major active compounds. Moreover, a few other compounds have also been isolated from the root of A. dahurica, such as alkaloids, phenols, sterols, benzofurans, polyacetylenes and polysaccharides. Modern pharmacological studies demonstrated that the root of A. dahurica and its active components displayed various bioactivities such as anti-inflammation, anti-tumor, anti-oxidation, analgesic activity, antiviral and anti-microbial effects, effects on the cardiovascular system, neuroprotective function, hepatoprotective activity, effects on skin diseases and so on. Based on these studies, this review focused on the research publications of A. dahurica and aimed to summarize the advances in the traditional uses, phytochemistry and pharmacology which will provide reference for the further studies and applications of A. dahurica.

Chemical composition and biological activity of Zosima absinthifolia (apiaceae)

Zosima absinthifolia (Vent.) Link is a perennial herb and is found in Iran, Turkey, Iraq and different countries of the Caucasus, Middle East and Central Asia. It is the only member of Zosima genus growing in Azerbaijan. It has been used as a medicinal plant since ancient time in Iran, Turkey and Pakistan. The fruits are used as a food flavoring and as a food spice in Iran. The knowledge of Z. absinthifolia organs containing a great number of bioactive compounds is of high importance. The aim of this study is to sum up literature data on the results of experimental studies of the chemical composition and biological activity of Z. absinthifolia. The results of the chemical study of Z. absinthifolia show that fruits, roots, seeds, flowers and other aboveground parts of plants are rich in various biologically active substances such as coumarins, furocoumarins, pyranocoumarins, flavonoids, monoterpenes, sesquiterpenes and etc. Chemical components that isolated from different organs of Z. absinthifolia have allelopathic, high antibacterial, antifungal, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and other properties. Some of the chemical constituents have substantial pharmacological properties. It is clear that Z. absinthifolia has significant potential for useful natural supplements in many contemporary diseases.

Pharmacological perspectives and molecular mechanisms of coumarin derivatives against virus disease

Infections caused by viruses are one of the foremost causes of morbidity and mortality in the world. Although a number of antiviral drugs are currently used for treatment of various kinds of viral infection diseases, there is still no available therapeutic agent for most of the viruses in clinical practice. Coumarin is a chemical compound which is found naturally in a variety of plants, it can also be synthetically produced possessing diverse biological effects. More recently, reports have highlighted the potential role of coumarin derivatives as antiviral agents. This review outlines the advances in coumarin-based compounds against various viruses including human immunodeficiency virus, hepatitis virus, herpes simplex virus, Chikungunya virus and Enterovirus 71, as well as the structure activity relationship and the possible mechanism of action of the most potent coumarin derivatives.

Imperatorin induces autophagy and G0/G1 phase arrest via PTEN-PI3K-AKT-mTOR/p21 signaling pathway in human osteosarcoma cells in vitro and in vivo

BACKGROUND

Osteosarcoma is the third most common cancer in adolescence and the first common primary malignant tumor of bone. The long-term prognosis of osteosarcoma still remains unsatisfactory in the past decades. Therefore, development of novel therapeutic agents which are effective to osteosarcoma and are safe to normal tissue simultaneously is quite essential and urgent.

METHODS

Firstly, MTT assay, cell colony formation assay, cell migration and invasion assays were conducted to evaluate the inhibitory effects of imperatorin towards human osteosarcoma cells. RNA-sequence assay and bioinformatic analysis were then performed to filtrate and assume the potential imperatorin-induced cell death route and signaling pathway. Moreover, quantitative real-time PCR assay, western blot assay and rescue experiments were conducted to confirm the assumptions of bioinformatic analysis. Finally, a subcutaneous tumor-transplanted nude mouse model was established and applied to evaluate the internal effect of imperatorin on osteosarcoma by HE and immunohistochemistry staining.

RESULTS

Imperatorin triggered time-dependent and dose-dependent inhibition of tumor growth mainly by inducing autophagy promotion and G0/G1 phase arrest in vitro and in vivo. Besides, imperatorin treatment elevated the expression level of PTEN and p21, down-regulated the phosphorylation of AKT and mTOR. In contrast, the inhibition of PTEN using Bpv (HOpic), a potential and selective inhibitor of PTEN, concurrently rescued imperatorin-induced autophagy promotion, cell cycle arrest and inactivation of PTEN-PI3K-AKT-mTOR/p21 pathway.

CONCLUSIONS

This work firstly revealed that imperatorin induced autophagy and cell cycle arrest through PTEN-PI3K-AKT-mTOR/p21 signaling pathway by targeting and up-regulating PTEN in human osteosarcoma cells. Hence, imperatorin is a desirable candidate for clinical treatments of osteosarcoma.

Emodin inhibits viability, proliferation and promotes apoptosis of hypoxic human pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells via targeting miR-244-5p/DEGS1 axis

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to determine the effects of emodin on the viability, proliferation and apoptosis of human pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (PASMCs) under hypoxia and to explore the underling molecular mechanisms.

METHODS

PASMCs were cultured in a hypoxic environment (1% oxygen) and then treated with emodin. Cell viability, proliferation and apoptosis were evaluated using CCK-8 assay, EdU staining assay, western blot and Mito-tracker red CMXRos and Annexin V-FITC apoptosis detection assay. The microRNA (miRNA)/mRNA and protein expression levels were assessed by quantitative real-time PCR and western blotting, respectively. Based on transcriptomics and proteomics were used to identify potential signaling pathways. Luciferase reporter assay was utilized to examine the interaction between miR-244-5p and DEGS1.

RESULTS

Emodin at 40 and 160 µM concentration-dependently suppressed cell viability, proliferation and migration, but enhanced cell apoptosis of PASMCs under hypoxia. Transcriptomic and proteomic analysis revealed that emodin could attenuate the activity of PI3K/Akt signaling in PASMCs under hypoxia. In addition, delta 4-desaturase, sphingolipid 1 (DEGS1) was found to be a direct target of miR-244-5p. Emodin could significantly up-regulated miR-244-5p expression and down-regulated DEGS1 expression in PASMCs under hypoxia. Furthermore, emodin-mediated effects on cell viability, migration, apoptosis and PI3K/Akt signaling activity of PASMCs under hypoxia were significantly attenuated by miR-244-5p knockdown.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results indicated that emodin suppressed cell viability, proliferation and migration, promoted cell apoptosis of PASMCs under hypoxia via modulating miR-244-5p-mediated DEGS1/PI3K/Akt signaling pathway. MiR-244-5p/DEGS1 axis was initially investigated in this current study, which is expected to further the understanding of the etiology of pulmonary arterial hypertension.

Oxyprenylated Secondary Metabolites as Modulators of Lipid and Sugar Metabolism

O-Prenylcoumarins (3,3-dimethylallyl, geranyl-, farnesyl- and related biosynthetic derivatives) represent a class of rarely occurring natural compounds. The most part of these secondary metabolites have been obtained from plant species belonging to the Rutaceae, Apiaceae, andFabaceae families, and from fungi, and bacteria. In the last two decades prenyloxycoumarinshave been found to possess a great potential in terms of pharmacological activities. The aim of this comprehensive review is to make a survey of the in so far reported literature citations about these valuable phytochemicals and structurally related compounds about their modulatory properties of lipid and sugar metabolism. Literature data have been acquired from the main Internet database. Several oxyprenylated secondary metabolites have been surveyed. Among these prenyloxycoumarins represented the main group exerting displayed valuable effects as modulators of lipid and sugar metabolism. The title phytochemicals have been found in common edible and fruits vegetables already known to have beneficial effects to this concern, thus enforcing the nutraceutical role of these food plants. All compounds outlined in the present review article have a great potential for the next future for the prevention and management of acute and chronic metabolic disorders.

Natural Products with Inhibitory Activity against Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1

Infections caused by human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) are considered one of the main public health problems worldwide. Antiretroviral therapy (ART) is the current modality of treatment for HIV-1 infection. It comprises the combined use of several drugs and can decrease the viral load and increase the CD4⁺ T cell count in patients with HIV-1 infection, thereby proving to be an effective modality. This therapy significantly decreases the rate of morbidity and mortality owing to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and prolongs and improves the quality of life of infected patients. However, nonadherence to ART may increase viral resistance to antiretroviral drugs and transmission of drug-resistant strains of HIV. Therefore, it is necessary to continue research for compounds with anti-HIV-1 activity, exhibiting a potential for the development of an alternative or complementary therapy to ART with low cost and fewer side effects. Natural products and their derivatives represent an excellent option owing to their therapeutic potential against HIV. Currently, the derivatives of natural products available as anti-HIV-1 agents include zidovudine, an arabinonucleoside derivative of the Caribbean marine sponge (Tectitethya crypta), which inhibits the reverse transcriptase of the virus. This was the first antiviral agent approved for treatment of HIV infection. Additionally, bevirimat (isolated from Syzygium claviflorum) and calanolide A (isolated from Calophyllum sp.) are inhibitors of viral maturation and reverse transcription process, respectively. In the present review, we aimed to describe the wide repertoire of natural compounds exhibiting anti-HIV-1 activity that can be considered for designing new therapeutic strategies to curb the HIV pandemic.

Imperatorin alleviated endometriosis by inhibiting the activation of PI3K/Akt/NF-κB pathway in rats

AIMS

Most therapeutic drugs of endometriosis have been contraceptives but symptoms recur in up to 75% of cases, which makes it a presses need to try to find novel and safer therapeutic drugs. Imperatorin is a furanocoumarin existing in many plants, possessing multiple activities, including anti-inflammatory. The purpose of this study was to assess the effects and mechanisms of imperatorin in endometriosis.

MAIN METHODS

Ectopic endometrial volume and hematoxylin-eosin staining were used to estimate the effects of imperatorin in experimental endometriosis model rats. Potential mechanisms of imperatorin in endometriosis were systematically analyzed by network pharmacology and molecular docking. Western blotting and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay were employed to evaluate proteins expression and cytokines levels in PI3K/Akt/NF-κB pathway.

KEY FINDINGS

Imperatorin could significantly inhibit the growth and ameliorate the histopathological features of ectopic endometrium in experimental endometriosis rats. Network pharmacology approaches showed that imperatorin might regulate inflammatory response and cellular function via primarily affecting PI3K-Akt pathway, Endocrine resistance, Th17 cell differentiation in endometriosis. Moreover, 7 core targets (PIK3CA, AKT1, SRC, MAPK8, MAPK14, ERBB2 and CCND1) resulted from the intersection of KEGG and PPI network topological analysis were used to dock with imperatorin, which indicated that imperatorin could preferably fit in the binding pocket of the above target proteins, except for CCND1. Lastly, imperatorin markedly inhibited the activation of PI3K/Akt/NF-κB pathway via suppressing the phosphorylation levels of PI3K, Akt and p65 in the ectopic endometrium tissue.

SIGNIFICANCE

Our findings revealed that imperatorin is a significant multi-target natural active ingredient for treatment endometriosis.

From Preclinical Stroke Models to Humans: Polyphenols in the Prevention and Treatment of Stroke

Polyphenols are an important family of molecules of vegetal origin present in many medicinal and edible plants, which represent important alimentary sources in the human diet. Polyphenols are known for their beneficial health effects and have been investigated for their potential protective role against various pathologies, including cancer, brain dysfunctions, cardiovascular diseases and stroke. The prevention of stroke promoted by polyphenols relies mainly on their effect on cardio- and cerebrovascular systems. However, a growing body of evidence from preclinical models of stroke points out a neuroprotective role of these molecules. Notably, in many preclinical studies, the polyphenolic compounds were effective also when administered after the stroke onset, suggesting their possible use in promoting recovery of patients suffering from stroke. Here, we review the effects of the major polyphenols in cellular and in vivo models of both ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke in immature and adult brains. The results from human studies are also reported.

Imperatorin Relieved Ulcerative Colitis by Regulating the Nrf-2/ARE/HO-1 Pathway in Rats

Ulcerative colitis is a common intestinal inflammatory disease. Imperatorin (IMP) has been reported to alleviate mast cell-mediated allergic responses by suppressing the expression of Nrf-2, ARE, and HO-1. However, whether IMP can relieve ulcerative colitis by regulating Nrf-2/ARE/HO-1 pathway is unclear. Thus, this study aims to investigate the effect of IMP on ulcerative colitis in rats and elucidate the potential mechanism. In our study, rats were treated with 2,4,6-trinitro-benzenesulfonic acid (TNBS) to induce the animal model of ulcerative colitis. Next, these rats were treated with diverse doses of IMP (15 mg/kg, 30 mg/kg, and 60 mg/kg) and sacrificed at different time points (3 days, 7 days, and 14 days). The levels of inflammatory factors (TNF-α and IL-6) in colon tissues were detected with ELISA kits. H&E staining was performed to observe the pathologic changes of the colon tissues. The expression of Nrf-2, ARE, and HO-1 in colon tissues was determined with the immunofluorescence and Western blotting. The results showed that application of IMP alleviated the symptoms of ulcerative colitis and inhibited the secretion of TNF-α and IL-6. Besides, treatment of IMP promoted the expression of Nrf-2, ARE, and HO-1 in the early stage of this disease (the third day), but suppressed the expression of Nrf-2, ARE, and HO-1 in the advanced stage of the ulcerative colitis (the fourteenth day). Collectively, IMP relieved the symptoms of ulcerative colitis by regulating the Nrf-2/ARE/HO-1 pathway, which might provide a new therapeutic drug to support the clinical treatment of ulcerative colitis.