Methyl Gallate Improves Hyperuricemia Nephropathy Mice Through Inhibiting NLRP3 Pathway

Piper longum L. ameliorates gout through the MAPK/PI3K-AKT pathway

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Gout, a painful joint disease with a prevalence ranging from 0.86% to 2.2% in China over the past decade. Traditional medicine has long utilized the medicinal and edible Piper longum L. (PL) fruit spikes for treating gout and other joint conditions like rheumatoid arthritis. However, the exact mechanisms behind its effectiveness remain unclear.

AIM OF THE STUDY

This study aimed to investigate the potential of alcoholic extracts from PL fruit spikes as a safe and effective treatment for gout. We used a combined network pharmacology and experimental validation approach to evaluate the mechanisms behind the anti-gout properties of PL.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

UPLC-Q/TOF-MS analysis determined the major components of PL. Subsequently, network pharmacology analysis predicted potential molecular targets and related signaling pathways for the anti-gout activity of PL. Molecular docking simulations further explored the interactions between PL compounds and proteins and characterized the properties of potential bioactive secondary metabolites. Mouse models of air pouch inflammation and hyperuricemia were further established, and the anti-gout mechanism of PL was confirmed by examining the expression of proteins related to the MAPK and PI3K-AKT pathways in the tissue.

RESULTS

Our analysis revealed 220 bioactive secondary metabolites within PL extracts. Network pharmacology and molecular docking results indicated that these metabolites primarily combat gout by modulating the PI3K-AKT and MAPK signaling pathways. In vivo experiments have also proven that PL at a dose of 100 mg/kg can optimally reduce acute inflammation of gout and kidney damage caused by high uric acid. The anti-gout mechanism involves the PI3K-AKT/MAPK signaling pathway and its downstream NF-κB pathway.

CONCLUSION

This study provides compelling evidence for PL's therapeutic potential in gout management by modulating key inflammatory pathways. The findings offer a strong foundation for future clinical exploration of PL as a gout treatment option.

The role of inflammasomes in human diseases and their potential as therapeutic targets

Inflammasomes are large protein complexes that play a major role in sensing inflammatory signals and triggering the innate immune response. Each inflammasome complex has three major components: an upstream sensor molecule that is connected to a downstream effector protein such as caspase-1 through the adapter protein ASC. Inflammasome formation typically occurs in response to infectious agents or cellular damage. The active inflammasome then triggers caspase-1 activation, followed by the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines and pyroptotic cell death. Aberrant inflammasome activation and activity contribute to the development of diabetes, cancer, and several cardiovascular and neurodegenerative disorders. As a result, recent research has increasingly focused on investigating the mechanisms that regulate inflammasome assembly and activation, as well as the potential of targeting inflammasomes to treat various diseases. Multiple clinical trials are currently underway to evaluate the therapeutic potential of several distinct inflammasome-targeting therapies. Therefore, understanding how different inflammasomes contribute to disease pathology may have significant implications for developing novel therapeutic strategies. In this article, we provide a summary of the biological and pathological roles of inflammasomes in health and disease. We also highlight key evidence that suggests targeting inflammasomes could be a novel strategy for developing new disease-modifying therapies that may be effective in several conditions.

A Review on Extracts, Chemical Composition and Product Development of Walnut Diaphragma Juglandis Fructus

Walnuts are one of the world's most important nut species and are popular for their high nutritional value, but the processing of walnuts produces numerous by-products. Among them, Diaphragma Juglandis Fructus has attracted the attention of researchers due to its complex chemical composition and diverse bioactivities. However, comprehensive reviews of extract activity and mechanistic studies, chemical composition functionality, and product types are scarce. Therefore, the aim of this review is to analyze the extracts, chemical composition, and product development of Diaphragma Juglandis Fructus. Conclusions: For extracts, the biological activities of aqueous and ethanol extracts have been studied more extensively than those of methanol extracts, but almost all of the studies have been based on crude extracts, with fewer explorations of their mechanisms. For chemical composition, the bioactivities of polyphenols and polysaccharides were more intensively studied, while other chemical constituents were at the stage of content determination. For product development, walnuts are mainly used in food and medicine, but the product range is limited. In the future, research on the bioactivity and related mechanisms of Diaphragma Juglandis Fructus can be further expanded to improve its value as a potential natural plant resource applied in multiple industries.

Possible correlated signaling pathways with chronic urate nephropathy: A review

Hyperuricemia nephropathy, also known as gouty nephropathy, refers to renal damage induced by hyperuricemia caused by excessive production of serum uric acid or low excretion of uric acid. the persistence of symptoms will lead to changes in renal tubular phenotype and accelerate the progress of renal fibrosis. The existence and progressive aggravation of symptoms will bring a heavy burden to patients, their families and society, affect their quality of life and reduce their well-being. With the increase of reports on hyperuricemia nephropathy, the importance of related signal pathways in the pathogenesis of hyperuricemia nephropathy is becoming more and more obvious, but most studies are limited to the upper and lower mediating relationship between 1 or 2 signal pathways. The research on the comprehensiveness of signal pathways and the breadth of crosstalk between signal pathways is limited. By synthesizing the research results of signal pathways related to hyperuricemia nephropathy in recent years, this paper will explore the specific mechanism of hyperuricemia nephropathy, and provide new ideas and methods for the treatment of hyperuricemia nephropathy based on a variety of signal pathway crosstalk and personal prospects.

Methyl gallate: Review of pharmacological activity

Methyl gallate (MG) is a polyphenolic compound widely found in natural plants. MG has been shown to have a variety of biological functions, including anti-tumor, anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, neuroprotective, hepatoprotective and anti-microbial activities, and has broad research and development prospects. A total of 88 articles related to MG were searched using the PubMed, Science Direct, and Google Scholar databases, systematically investigating the pharmacological activity and molecular mechanisms of MG. There were no restrictions on the publication years, and the last search was conducted on June 5, 2023. MG can exert pharmacological effects through multiple pathways and targets, such as PI3K/Akt, ERK1/2, Caspase, AMPK/NF-κB, Wnt/β-catenin, TLR4/NF-κB, MAPK, p53, NLRP3, ROS, EMT. According to the literature, MG has the potential to be a prospective adjuvant for anticancer therapy and deserves further study.

Methyl gallate nanomicelles impairs neutrophil accumulated in zymosan-induced arthritis

Arthritis is a chronic disease that affects, approximately, 1 % of the total global population. It is characterized by chronic inflammation, accompanied in most of the cases of motor disability and sever pain. The main therapies available have high risk of failure and advanced treatments are scarce and highly cost. In this scenario, search for effective, safe and low-cost treatments is quite desirable. Methyl gallate (MG) is a plant-derived phenolic compound described to present remarkable anti-inflammatory effect in experimental models of arthritis. Thus, in this study we formulated nanomicelles of MG using Pluronic (F-127) as matrix and evaluated in vivo the pharmacokinetic, biodistribution and its effect in the mice model of zymosan-induced arthritis. The nanomicelles were formed with a size 126 nm. The biodistribution showed a ubiquitous tissue deposition with a renal excretion. The pharmacokinetics showed elimination half-life of 1.72 h and a clearance of 0.006 L/h. The oral pretreatment with nanomicelles containing MG (3.5 or 7 mg/kg) demonstrated a reduction in total leukocytes, neutrophils, and mononuclear cells from the inflammation site. The data supports the use of methyl gallate nanomicelles as an alternative drug for arthritis. DATA AVAILABILITY: All the data of this study are transparent.

Methyl gallate prevents oxidative stress induced apoptosis and ECM degradation in chondrocytes via restoring Sirt3 mediated autophagy and ameliorates osteoarthritis progression

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a common age-related degenerative disease involving various pathological processes, among which apoptosis in chondrocyte and extracellular matrix (ECM) degradation are the main pathologies. Previous studies have shown that autophagy has a protective effect on apoptosis and ECM degradation in chondrocytes. Methyl gallate (MG) is a natural polyphenol from various medicinal and edible plants. Moreover, several studies have demonstrated that MG exerts multiple pharmacological effects in various diseases, including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anti-apoptosis. Hence, in this study, we investigate the protective effect of MG on the pathological process of OA in cellular and mice OA model to elucidate the underlying molecular mechanism. In vitro, MG treatment inhibits the expression of pro-apoptotic proteins and promotes the expression of anti-apoptotic proteins under TBHP stimulation. Meanwhile, MG treatment promotes the expression of Collagen II and Aggrecan and inhibits the expression of matrix-degrading enzymes thrombospondin motifs 5 (ADAMTS5) and matrix metalloproteinase-13 (MMP13), which lead to ECM degradation. Furthermore, in terms of mechanism, MG treatment enhances autophagy by upregulating SIRT3 expression, and inhibition of autophagy could eliminate the protective effect of MG on chondrocytes in terms of anti-apoptosis and ECM synthesis. The protective effect of MG on OA has also been observed in mice OA model. In brief, our study suggests that MG could be a potential candidate for the treatment of OA.

Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharide peptide alleviates hyperuricemia by regulating adenosine deaminase and urate transporters

Hyperuricemia (HUA) affects human health and is involved in the pathogenesis of common chronic diseases. Previous studies showed that Ganoderma lucidum extract lowered HUA in animals. However, the active ingredient and pharmacological mechanism of Ganoderma lucidum extract in the improvement of HUA are unknown. The purpose of this study was to determine the anti-HUA efficacy and related mechanism of Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharide peptide (GLPP) using a potassium oxonate (PO)-induced mouse model and an adenosine-induced cell model. The experimental results showed that blood uric acid (UA) was decreased up to 40.6% by GLPP in HUA mice in a dose-dependent manner. Additionally, GLPP significantly reduced UA production by inhibiting the hepatic and blood adenosine deaminase (ADA) activity and increased UA excretion by decreasing the expression of glucose transporter 9 (GLUT9) and increasing the expression of organic anion transporter 1 (OAT1) in kidney. The adenosine-induced cell model showed that the inhibitory effect of GLPP on ADA activity may be the main reason for the alleviation of HUA by GLPP. Furthermore, PO-induced renal histopathological damage was also alleviated by GLPP in a dose-dependent manner. The experimental results in this study indicated that GLPP exerted anti-HUA effects via regulating the UA production and excretion, suggesting that GLPP could be developed into a therapeutic agent for HUA.

Integrating network pharmacology and pharmacological validation to explore the effect of Shi Wei Ru Xiang powder on suppressing hyperuricemia

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Shi Wei Ru Xiang powder (SWR) is a traditional Tibetan medicinal formula with the effect of dispelling dampness and dispersing cold. In clinical practice, SWR is generally used for the treatment of hyperuricemia (HUA). However, its exact pharmacological mechanism remains unclear.

AIMS OF THE STUDY

To preliminarily elucidate the regulatory effects and possible mechanisms of SWR on hyperuricemia using network pharmacology and experimental validation.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A mouse model of hyperuricemia was used to evaluate the alleviating effect of SWR on hyperuricemia. The major components of SWR were acquired by UPLC-Q/TOF-MS. The potential molecular targets and associated signaling pathways were predicted through network pharmacology. The mechanism of action of SWR in ameliorating hyperuricemia was further investigated by pharmacological evaluation.

RESULTS

Mice with hyperuricemia and renal dysfunction were ameliorated by SWR. The 36 components of SWR included phenolic acids, terpenoids, alkaloids and flavonoids were identified. Network pharmacological analysis showed the involvement of the above compounds, and 115 targets were involved to treat hyperuricemia, involving multiple biological processes and different signaling pathways. Pharmacological experiments validated that SWR ameliorated hyperuricemic nephropathy in mice by modulating the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway, nuclear factor kappaB (NF-κB) signaling pathway and NOD-like receptor signaling pathway.

CONCLUSION

MAPK signaling pathway, NF-κB signaling pathway and NOD-like receptor signaling pathway play important roles in the therapeutic effects of SWR on hyperuricemia.

Metabolism of Paeoniae Radix Rubra and its 14 constituents in mice

Objective: Paeoniae Radix Rubra (PRR) is a commonly used traditional Chinese medicine with the effects of clearing away heat, cooling the blood, and relieving blood stasis. To 1) elucidate the metabolites and metabolic pathways of PRR and its 14 main constituents in mice and 2) reveal the possible origins of the known effective forms of PRR and their isomers, the metabolism of PRR in mice was systematically studied for the first time.

Methods: PRR and its 14 constituents were administered to mice by gavage once a day for seven consecutive days, respectively. All urine and feces were collected during the 7 days of dosing, and blood was collected at 1 h after the last dose. Metabolites were detected and identified using high performance liquid chromatography with diode array detector and combined with electrospray ionization ion trap time-of-flight multistage mass spectrometry (HPLC-DAD-ESI-IT-TOF-MSⁿ).

Results: In total, 23, 16, 24, 17, 18, 30, 27, 17, 22, 17, 33, 3, 8, 24, and 31 metabolites of paeoniflorin, albiflorin, oxypaeoniflorin, benzoylpaeoniflorin, hydroxybenzoylpaeoniflorin, benzoyloxypaeoniflorin, galloylpaeoniflorin, lactiflorin, epicatechin gallate, catechin gallate, catechin, ellagic acid, 3,3′-di-O-methylellagic acid, methylgallate, and PRR were respectively identified in mice; after eliminating identical metabolites, a total of 195 metabolites remained, including 8, 11, 25, 17, 18, 30, 27, 17, 21, 17, 1, 2, 8, 20, and 20 newly identified metabolites, respectively. The metabolic reactions of PRR and its 14 main constituents in mice were primarily methylation, hydrogenation, hydrolysis, hydroxylation, glucuronidation, and sulfation.

Conclusion: We elucidated the metabolites and metabolic pathways of PRR and its 14 constituents (e.g., paeoniflorin, catechin, ellagic acid, and gallic acid) in mice and revealed the possible origins of the 10 known effective forms of PRR and their isomers. The findings are of great significance to studying the mechanism of action and quality control of PRR.

Integrated transcriptome and metabolome analyses reveal the adaptation of Antarctic moss Pohlia nutans to drought stress

Most regions of the Antarctic continent are experiencing increased dryness due to global climate change. Mosses and lichens are the dominant vegetation of the ice-free areas of Antarctica. However, the molecular mechanisms of these Antarctic plants adapting to drought stress are less documented. Here, transcriptome and metabolome analyses were employed to reveal the responses of an Antarctic moss (Pohlia nutans subsp. LIU) to drought stress. We found that drought stress made the gametophytes turn yellow and curled, and enhanced the contents of malondialdehyde and proline, and the activities of antioxidant enzymes. Totally, 2,451 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were uncovered under drought treatment. The representative DEGs are mainly involved in ROS-scavenging and detoxification, flavonoid metabolism pathway, plant hormone signaling pathway, lipids metabolism pathway, transcription factors and signal-related genes. Meanwhile, a total of 354 differentially changed metabolites (DCMs) were detected in the metabolome analysis. Flavonoids and lipids were the most abundant metabolites and they accounted for 41.53% of the significantly changed metabolites. In addition, integrated transcriptome and metabolome analyses revealed co-expression patterns of flavonoid and long-chain fatty acid biosynthesis genes and their metabolites. Finally, qPCR analysis demonstrated that the expression levels of stress-related genes were significantly increased. These genes included those involved in ABA signaling pathway (NCED3, PP2C, PYL, and SnAK2), jasmonate signaling pathway (AOC, AOS, JAZ, and OPR), flavonoid pathway (CHS, F3',5'H, F3H, FLS, FNS, and UFGT), antioxidant and detoxifying functions (POD, GSH-Px, Prx and DTX), and transcription factors (ERF and DREB). In summary, we speculated that P. nutans were highly dependent on ABA and jasmonate signaling pathways, ROS scavenging, flavonoids and fatty acid metabolism in response to drought stress. These findings present an important knowledge for assessing the impact of coastal climate change on Antarctic basal plants.