Natural flavonoids derived from herbal medicines are potential anti-atherogenic agents by inhibiting oxidative stress in endothelial cells

As the common pathological basis of various cardiovascular diseases, the morbidity and mortality of atherosclerosis (AS) have increased in recent years. Unfortunately, there are still many problems in the treatment of AS, and the prevention and treatment of the disease is not ideal. Up to now, the occurrence and development of AS can roughly include endothelial cell dysfunction, vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation, inflammation, foam cell production, and neoangiogenesis. Among them, endothelial dysfunction, as an early event of AS, plays a particularly important role in promoting the development of AS. In addition, oxidative stress occurs throughout the causes of endothelial dysfunction. Some previous studies have shown that flavonoids derived from herbal medicines are typical secondary metabolites. Due to its structural presence of multiple active hydroxyl groups, it is able to exert antioxidant activity in diseases. Therefore, in this review, we will search PubMed, Web of Science, Elesvier, Wliey, Springer for relevant literature, focusing on flavonoids extracted from herbal medicines, and summarizing how they can prevent endothelial dysfunction by inhibiting oxidative stress. Meanwhile, in our study, we found that flavonoid represented by quercetin and naringenin showed superior protective effects both in vivo and in vitro, suggesting the potential of flavonoid compounds in the treatment of AS.

Targeting matrix metalloproteases: A promising strategy for herbal medicines to treat rheumatoid arthritis

As a type of metalloproteinase, matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) can be divided into collagenase, gelatinase, stromelysins, membrane-type (MT)-MMPs and heterogeneous subgroups according to their structure and function. MMP contents in the human body are strictly regulated, and their synthesis, activation and inhibition processes should be kept in a certain balance; otherwise, this would result in the occurrence of various diseases. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a known immune-mediated systemic inflammatory disease that is affected by a variety of endogenous and exogenous factors. In RA development, MMPs act as important mediators of inflammation and participate in the degradation of extracellular matrix substrates and digestion of fibrillar collagens, leading to the destruction of joint structures. Interestingly, increasing evidence has suggested that herbal medicines have many advantages in RA due to their multitarget properties. In this paper, literature was obtained through electronic databases, including the Web of Science, PubMed, Google Scholar, Springer, and CNKI (Chinese). After classification and analysis, herbal medicines were found to inhibit the inflammatory process of RA by regulating MMPs and protecting joint structures. However, further preclinical and clinical studies are needed to support this view before these herbal medicines can be developed into drugs with actual application to the disease.

Regulation of mitochondrial dysfunction induced cell apoptosis is a potential therapeutic strategy for herbal medicine to treat neurodegenerative diseases

Neurodegenerative disease is a progressive neurodegeneration caused by genetic and environmental factors. Alzheimer’s disease (AD), Parkinson’s disease (PD), and Huntington’s disease (HD) are the three most common neurodegenerative diseases clinically. Unfortunately, the incidence of neurodegenerative diseases is increasing year by year. However, the current available drugs have poor efficacy and large side effects, which brings a great burden to the patients and the society. Increasing evidence suggests that occurrence and development of the neurodegenerative diseases is closely related to the mitochondrial dysfunction, which can affect mitochondrial biogenesis, mitochondrial dynamics, as well as mitochondrial mitophagy. Through the disruption of mitochondrial homeostasis, nerve cells undergo varying degrees of apoptosis. Interestingly, it has been shown in recent years that the natural agents derived from herbal medicines are beneficial for prevention/treatment of neurodegenerative diseases via regulation of mitochondrial dysfunction. Therefore, in this review, we will focus on the potential therapeutic agents from herbal medicines for treating neurodegenerative diseases via suppressing apoptosis through regulation of mitochondrial dysfunction, in order to provide a foundation for the development of more candidate drugs for neurodegenerative diseases from herbal medicine.

Natural Flavonoids Derived From Fruits Are Potential Agents Against Atherosclerosis

Atherosclerosis, as a chronic inflammatory response, is one of the main causes of cardiovascular diseases. Atherosclerosis is induced by endothelial cell dysfunction, migration and proliferation of smooth muscle cells, accumulation of foam cells and inflammatory response, resulting in plaque accumulation, narrowing and hardening of the artery wall, and ultimately leading to myocardial infarction or sudden death and other serious consequences. Flavonoid is a kind of natural polyphenol compound widely existing in fruits with various structures, mainly including flavonols, flavones, flavanones, flavanols, anthocyanins, isoflavones, and chalcone, etc. Because of its potential health benefits, it is now used in supplements, cosmetics and medicines, and researchers are increasingly paying attention to its role in atherosclerosis. In this paper, we will focus on several important nodes in the development of atherosclerotic disease, including endothelial cell dysfunction, smooth muscle cell migration and proliferation, foam cell accumulation and inflammatory response. At the same time, through the classification of flavonoids from fruits, the role and potential mechanism of flavonoids in atherosclerosis were reviewed, providing a certain direction for the development of fruit flavonoids in the treatment of atherosclerosis drugs.

Development and in vivo Evaluation of Hydroxy-α-Sanshool Intranasal Liposomes as a Potential Remedial Treatment for Alzheimer’s Disease

Purpose

Hydroxy-α-sanshool (HAS) improves cognitive dysfunction, but its structural instability has limited its clinical application. The present study was conducted to investigate the optimal formulation of hydroxy-α-sanshool liposomes (HAS-LPs) and its effect on ameliorating learning and memory disorders in an Alzheimer’s disease (AD) model.

Methods

In this study, HAS was prepared as HAS-LP using a thin film dispersion method. After selecting the optimal preparation conditions, HAS-LP was characterized using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and by measuring the zeta potential, particle size, and in vitro drug release. Next, evaluated the effect of HAS-LP on the rat nasal mucosa and then applied it to AD mice. By performing behaviour experiments, pathological test and related pharmacokinetic parameters, we explored its effect on attenuating learning and memory impairment in mice.

Results

When the mass ratio of HAS:cholesterol:soybean lecithin was 1:4:16 and 15 mL of ultrapure water were added, the highest encapsulation efficiency and drug loading were obtained. HAS-LP had a particle size of 181.77 nm, a polydispersity index of 0.207 and a zeta potential of −53.8 mV, and it remained stable at 25 °C for 1 week and 4 °C for 8 weeks. Moreover, HAS-LP exhibited slow drug release and was highly consistent with the Higuchi release model. HAS-LP was not significantly toxic to the nasal mucosa and effectively alleviated D-galactose-induced learning memory deficits and protected mouse hippocampal neuronal cells. HAS-LP was highly enriched in plasma and brain tissue after administration via the nasal route and obtained some ability to target the brain.

Conclusion

HAS encapsulated in soybean lecithin and cholesterol was successfully developed, suggesting that treatment with the nanoparticles might reverse some AD symptoms. Therefore, these nanoparticles might be used as promising new candidates for the delivery of HAS to treat AD.

Research progress regarding potential effects of traditional Chinese medicine on postoperative intestinal obstruction

OBJECTIVES

Postoperative intestinal obstruction is a common postoperative complication with typical symptoms of abdominal pain, vomiting, abdominal distension and constipation. The principal aim of this paper is to provide a full-scale review on the categories and characteristics of postoperative intestinal obstruction, pathophysiology, effects and detailed mechanisms of compounds and monomers from traditional Chinese medicine for treating postoperative intestinal obstruction. Moreover, the possible development and perspectives for future research are also analyzed.

METHODS

Literature regarding postoperative intestinal obstruction as well as the anti-pio effect of aqueous extracts and monomers from traditional Chinese medicine in the last 20 years was summarized.

KEY FINDINGS

To date, approximately 30 compounds and 25 monomers isolated from traditional Chinese medicine including terpenes, alkaloids, polysaccharides, flavonoids, phenylpropanoids and quinones, have exerted significant antipio effect. This paper reviews the effective doses, models, detailed mechanisms, and composition of these traditional Chinese medicine compounds, as well as the structure of these monomers. Moreover, challenges existed in the current investigation and further perspectives were discussed as well, hoping to provide a reference for future clinical treatment of postoperative intestinal obstruction and the development of new drugs.

CONCLUSIONS

Above all, the convincing evidence from modern pharmacology studies powerfully supported the great potential of traditional Chinese medicine in the management of postoperative intestinal obstruction. Regrettably, less attention was currently paid on the mechanisms of traditional Chinese medicine compounds and monomers with antipio effect. Consequently, future study should focus on monomer-mechanism and structure-function relationship.

Inducing Apoptosis and Suppressing Inflammatory Reactions in Synovial Fibroblasts are Two Important Ways for Guizhi-Shaoyao-Zhimu Decoction Against Rheumatoid Arthritis

Background and Objectives

Guizhi-Shaoyao-Zhimu decoction (GSZD) is often applied to control rheumatoid arthritis (RA), gout, osteoarthritis, etc. In this study, bioinformatic analysis and experimental verification were used to uncover the integral mechanism profile of GSZD against RA.

Materials and Methods

The chemical compositions of GSZD were identified by UPLC-QTOF-MS/MS. MH7A cell model was established to screen active compounds in GSZD, and potential targets of these compounds were predicted through online database retrieval. The differential expression genes (DEGs) in synovial tissue of RA patients and normal controls were retrieved from the GEO database. DEGs and the predicated compounds targets were overlapped, and the overlapped genes were subsequently enriched by GO and KEGG analysis. The pathways with significant enrichments were further experimentally verified.

Results

A total of 19 constituents were identified from GSZD, and 11 compounds showed obviously antiproliferative effects on MH7A cells with IC₅₀ < 100 μg/mL. Bioinformatic analysis indicated that IL-1β, IL-6, MAPK8, JAK2, CXCL8, and CASP3 were the main targets of GSZD, and the integral pharmacological mechanisms profile of GSZD might be related to anti-inflammation and proapoptosis. GSZD can promote the loss of mitochondrial membrane potential (MOMP) and induce apoptosis in MH7A cells. Furthermore, in vitro experiments showed GSZD can not only downregulate mRNA expressions of IL-1β (p<0.05), IL-6 (p<0.05), MMPs (p<0.05) and CCL5 (p<0.05) but also inhibit the nuclear transcription of NF-κB. GSZD also reduced the expressions of Bcl-2 (p<0.05), JAK2 (p<0.05), STAT-3 (p<0.05), whereas increase Bax (p<0.05), Caspase-3 (p<0.05) and caspase-9 (p<0.05).

Conclusion

Collectively, inducing synovial fibroblast apoptosis and inhibiting inflammatory response are two important ways for GSZD to RA, and our study proved bioinformatic analysis combined with experimental verification is a feasible method to explore the drug targets and mechanism of actions of TCMs.

Effects of flurbiprofen axetil on postoperative serum IL-2 and IL-6 levels in patients with colorectal cancer

We explored the effects of flurbiprofen axetil on interleukin (IL)-2 and IL-6 levels in postoperative patients with colorectal cancer. A total of 120 patients (American Society of Anesthesiologists I and II) scheduled to undergo colorectal cancer surgery were randomly divided into 3 groups (N = 40 in each group): flurbiprofen axetil group (group F), morphine group (group M), and tramadol group (group T). Group M received 0.1 mg/kg morphine, group T received 1.5 mg/kg tramadol, and group F received 1.5 mg/kg flurbiprofen axetil. Patients in the 3 groups were administered treatments through intravenous injection 10 min before surgery. Serum IL-2 and IL-6 levels were detected. Postoperative adverse reactions were recorded, such as nausea, vomiting, and pruritus. The serum IL-6 level of the 3 groups increased 3 h after surgery. Compared with group M, IL-6 level was higher in group T and group F at 1 day after the surgery, and the differences between group M and the other groups were significant (P < 0.05). Moreover, the incidence of adverse reactions was significantly different among 3 groups (P < 0.05). Flurbiprofen axetil promoted the secretion of IL-2 and inhibited IL-6; additionally, flurbiprofen axetil may have a lower incidence of adverse reactions compared to other treatments.

[Relationship between the axially lymph nodes metastases and the bone metastases in patients with the breast cancer]

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the relationship between the axially lymph nodes metastases and the bone metastases in patients with the breast cancer.

METHODS

Lymphadenotomy of the axially lymph nodes had been performed on patients with the breast cancer, and the excised axially lymph nodes were observed by pathological examination. All patients underwent postoperatively total bone scan with single photon emission computer tomography (SPECT) periodically.

RESULTS

Among 292 patients with the breast cancer, the bone metastatic rates of low and high differentiating tumor were 27.3% (6/22) and 45.2% (122/272) respectively, the bone metastatic rates in both tumors had no difference (P > 0.1). The bone metastatic rate was 54.3% (100/184) in patients suffered from the axially lymph nodes metastases, and 25.9% (28/108) in non-metastases patients respectively, the difference of their bone metastatic rates was significant (P < 0.001). The bone metastatic rate was 48.4% (62/128) in patients suffered from the metastases of axially lymph nodes after operation less 2 years, and 67.8% (38/56) after operation more than 2 years respectively, the difference of their bone metastatic rates was not significant (P < 0.5).

CONCLUSIONS

There is no relationship between the bone matastatic rates and the pathological type of tumor. The bone metastatic rates of patients with the axially lymph nodes metastases are higher than those with non-metastases of axially lymph nodes. In addition, the bone metastatic rates of patients with the axially lymph nodes metastases increase with time prolongation.