Modulation of cellular metabolism and alleviation of bacterial dysbiosis by Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata in non-small cell lung cancer treatment

BACKGROUND

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is a highly prevalent and fatal form of lung cancer. In China, Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata (Fuzi in Chinese), derived from the lateral root of Aconitum carmichaeli Debx. (Ranunculaceae, Aconitum), is extensively prescribed to treat cancer in traditional medicine and clinical practice. However, the precise mechanism by which Fuzi treats NSCLC remains unknown.

PURPOSE

This article aims to assess the efficacy of Fuzi against NSCLC and elucidate its underlying mechanism.

METHODS

Marker ingredients of Fuzi decoction were quantified using UPLC-TSQ-MS. The effectiveness of Fuzi on NSCLC was evaluated using a xenograft mouse model. Subsequently, a comprehensive approach involving network pharmacology, serum metabolomics, and 16S rDNA sequencing was employed to investigate the anti-NSCLC mechanism of Fuzi.

RESULTS

Pharmacological evaluation revealed significant tumour growth inhibition by Fuzi, accompanied by minimal toxicity. Network pharmacology identified 29 active Fuzi compounds influencing HIF-1, PI3K/Akt signalling, and central carbon metabolism in NSCLC. Integrating untargeted serum metabolomics highlighted 30 differential metabolites enriched in aminoacyl-tRNA biosynthesis, alanine, aspartate, and glutamate metabolism, and the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle. Targeted serum metabolomics confirmed elevated glucose content and reduced levels of pyruvate, lactate, citrate, α-ketoglutarate, succinate, fumarate, and malate following Fuzi administration. Furthermore, 16S rDNA sequencing assay showed that Fuzi ameliorated the dysbiosis after tumorigenesis, decreased the abundance of Proteobacteria, and increased that of Firmicutes and Bacteriodetes. PICRUSt analysis revealed that Fuzi modulated the pentose phosphate pathway of the gut microbiota. Spearman correlation showed that Proteobacteria and Escherichia_Shigella accelerated the TCA cycle, whereas Bacteroidota, Bacteroides, and Lachnospiraceae_NK4A136_group suppressed the TCA cycle.

CONCLUSIONS

This study firstly introduces a novel NSCLC mechanism involving Fuzi, encompassing energy metabolism and intestinal flora. It clarifies the pivotal role of the gut microbiota in treating NSCLC and modulating the TCA cycle. Moreover, these findings offer valuable insights for clinical practices and future research of Fuzi against NSCLC.

Chemical constituents, pharmacological effects, toxicology, processing and compatibility of Fuzi (lateral root of Aconitum carmichaelii Debx): A review

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

The lateral root of Aconitum carmichaelii Debx is known as Fuzi in Chinese. It is traditionally valued and used for dispelling cold, relieving pain effects, restoring 'Yang,' and treating shock despite its high toxicity. This review aims to provide comprehensive information on the chemical composition, pharmacological research, preparation, and compatibility of Fuzi to help reduce its toxicity and increase its efficiency, based on the scientific literature. In addition, this review will establish a new foundation for further studies on Fuzi.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A systematic review of the literature on Fuzi was performed using several resources, namely classic books on Chinese herbal medicine and various scientific databases, such as PubMed, the Web of Science, and the China Knowledge Resource Integrated databases.

RESULTS

Fuzi extracts contain diester-type alkaloids, monoester-type alkaloids, other types of alkaloids, and non-alkaloids types, and have various pharmacological activities, such as strong heart effect, effect on blood vessels, and antidepressant, anti-diabetes, anti-inflammatory, pain-relieving, antitumor, immunomodulatory, and other therapeutic effects. However, these extracts can also lead to various toxicities such as cardiotoxicity, neurotoxicity, reproductive toxicity, hepatotoxicity, and embryonic toxicity. In vivo and in vitro experiments have demonstrated that different processing methods and suitable compatibility with other herbs can effectively reduce the toxicities and increase the efficiency of Fuzi.

CONCLUSION

The therapeutic potential of Fuzi has been demonstrated in conditions, such as heart failure, various pains, inflammation, and tumors, which is attributed to the diester-type alkaloids, monoester-type alkaloids, other types of alkaloids, and non-alkaloid types. In contrast, they are also toxic components. Proper processing and suitable compatibility can effectively reduce toxicity and increase the efficiency of Fuzi. Thus more pharmacological and toxicological mechanisms on main active compounds are necessary to be explored.

Assessment of reproductive toxicity and genotoxicity of Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata and its processed products in male mice

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata (Chinese name: Fuzi), the root of Aconitum carmichaelii Debx., is a representative medicine for restoring yang and rescuing patient from collapse. However, less studies had been reported on the reproductive toxicity and genotoxicity of Fuzi. According to the principle of reducing toxicity and preserving efficiency, only processed products of Fuzi are commonly applied in clinic, including Baifupian, Heishunpian and Danfupian. However, whether processing could alleviate the reproductive toxicity and genotoxicity of Fuzi had not been revealed.

AIM OF THE STUDY

To assess the effect and possible mechanism of Fuzi and its processed products on reproductive toxicity and genotoxicity in male mice.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Aqueous extracts of Fuzi and its processed products (Baifupian, Heishunpian and Danfupian, 5.85 g/kg) were administrated by gavage once daily for fourteen consecutive days. The reproductive toxicity was evaluated by testis weight, testis ratio, testis histopathology, sperm count, sperm viability rate and sperm deformity rate. The genotoxicity was evaluated by comet assay and micronucleus test in sperm, peripheral blood cell and bone marrow cell. Possible mechanisms of attenuating toxicity by processing were analyzed by detecting the level of testosterone, superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione (GSH), malondialdehyde (MDA) and catalase (CAT).

RESULTS

Fuzi significantly caused different degrees of reproductive toxicity and genotoxicity, specifically reducing the weight and testicular coefficient of testis, causing obvious pathological changes in testicular tissue, reducing sperm count and sperm viability rate, increasing sperm deformity rate and DNA damage in sperm/peripheral blood cells/bone marrow cells. Moreover, Fuzi decreased the level of testosterone, SOD, GSH and CAT, while increased the level of MDA in serum. Notably, the reproductive toxicity and genotoxicity induced by the processed products, especially Heishunpian and Danfupian, were significantly lowered compared to Fuzi. Processing could increase the level of testosterone, SOD, GSH, CAT and decrease the level of MDA compared to Fuzi.

CONCLUSION

Fuzi and its processed products had reproductive toxicity and genotoxicity, but the toxicity of processed products was significantly weakened compared to Fuzi. The protective mechanism of processing to reduce the toxicity of Fuzi might be related to increasing the level of testosterone and decreasing oxidative stress.

Intestinal anti-inflammatory effects of fuzi-ganjiang herb pair against DSS-induced ulcerative colitis in mice

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Fuzi and ganjiang are widely used as traditional Chinese medicines (TCM) in China, Korea, Japan, and many other southeast Asian countries for treating ulcerative colitis (UC), emesis and heart failure for more than 1800 years. However, the underlying mechanism of fuzi, ganjiang and fuzi-ganjiang herb pair is still unclear. In our study, we explored the therapeutic effects of fuzi, ganjiang and fuzi-ganjiang herb pair against dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced UC in mice model, along with the relevant mechanism.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The contents of each marker compound in fuzi decoction (FD), ganjiang decoction (GD) and fuzi-ganjiang decoction (FGD) were determined using LC-MS/MS. During the experiment, bodyweight changes in each group were monitored every 5 days. On the day of sacrifice, colonic length, disease activity index (DAI) and spleen weight were also evaluated and histopathological examination was performed through hematoxylin & eosin (H&E) staining. The levels of myeloperoxidase (MPO) and inflammatory cytokines in colon tissues were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and then the relative mRNA productions of inflammatory mediators, such as MPO, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 were measured by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Involvement of MAPK, STAT3 and NF-κB signaling pathways in the pathogenesis of UC was determined in each group using Western Blot (WB) analysis.

RESULTS

Compared with fuzi and ganjiang single decoction, the content of the alkaloids derived from fuzi (especially the diester alkaloid with strong toxicity, hypaconitine) in fuzi-ganjiang herb pair decoction was reduced. Additionally, the 6-gingerol, which was not found in ganjiang single decoction, was retained in fuzi-ganjiang herb pair decoction. FD, GD, and FGD significantly restored the bodyweight reduction, colon shortening, DAI elevation, splenomegaly and histological score in DSS-induced UC mice. Furthermore, except for the failure of low dosage of ganjiang decoction (GD-L) on IL-17A, all FD, GD and FGD significantly inhibited the production of MPO and inflammatory cytokines, such as IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-10 and IL-17A, and suppressed the relative expression of inflammatory mediators, such as MPO, iNOS and COX-2 mRNA in colon tissues of DSS-induced mice. According to WB analysis, fuzi, ganjiang and fuzi-ganjiang combination inhibited the activation of MAPK, NF-κB and STAT3 signaling pathways.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study demonstrated that fuzi, ganjiang and fuzi-ganjiang combination possess prominent anti-inflammatory activities against DSS-induced UC mice; the involved mechanism may be related to inhibition the activation of MAPK, NF-κB, and STAT3 signaling pathways.