The anti-hyperlipidemic effects of Poria cocos (Schw.) Wolf extract: Modulating cholesterol homeostasis in hepatocytes via PPARα pathway

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Poria cocos (Schw.) Wolf (Polyporaceae, P.cocos), which is born on the pine root, has a history of more than two thousand years of medicine in China. P.cocos was first recorded in the Shennong's Herbal Classic, studies have proved its lipid-lowering effect.

AIM OF STUDY

The aim of study was to investigate the underlying mechanism of P.cocos extract on hyperlipidemia.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats aged 9-12 weeks were intraperitoneally (IP) injected with Triton-WR 1339 to establish an acute hyperlipidemia model. At 0 h and 20 h after the model was established, low and high doses of P.cocos extract or simvastatin were given twice. After 48 h, the rats were sacrificed, and liver and serum samples were collected for analysis. The cell model was constructed by treating L02 cells with 1% fat emulsion-10% FBS-RPMI 1640 medium for 48 h. At the same time, low and high doses of P.cocos extract and simvastatin were administered. Oil red O staining was used to evaluate the lipid accumulation in the cells, and H&E staining was used to evaluate the liver lesions of rats. Real-time quantitative PCR and western blotting were used to detect the expressions of lipid metabolism-related genes.

RESULTS

P.cocos extract relieved lipid accumulation in vitro and alleviated hyperlipidemia in vivo. Both gene and protein expressions of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α (PPARα) were shown to be up-regulated by P.cocos extract. Additionally, P.cocos extract down-regulated the expressions of fatty acid synthesis-related genes sterol regulatory element-binding protein-1 (SREBP-1), Acetyl-CoA Carboxylase 1 (ACC1) and fatty acid synthase (FAS), while up-regulated the expressions of cholesterol metabolism-related genes liver X receptor-α (LXRα), ATP-binding cassette transporter A1 (ABCA1), cholesterol 7alpha-hydroxylase (CYP7A1) and low density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR), which were reversed by the treatment with the PPARα inhibitor GW6471.

CONCLUSION

P.cocos extract ameliorates hyperlipidemia and lipid accumulation by regulating cholesterol homeostasis in hepatocytes through PPARα pathway. This study provides evidence that supplementation with P.cocos extract could be a potential strategy for the treatment of hyperlipidemia.

Fangji Fuling Decoction Alleviates Sepsis by Blocking MAPK14/FOXO3A Signaling Pathway

OBJECTIVE

To examine the therapeutic effect of Fangji Fuling Decoction (FFD) on sepsis through network pharmacological analysis combined with in vitro and in vivo experiments.

METHODS

A sepsis mouse model was constructed through intraperitoneal injection of 20 mg/kg lipopolysaccharide (LPS). RAW264.7 cells were stimulated by 250 ng/mL LPS to establish an in vitro cell model. Network pharmacology analysis identified the key molecular pathway associated with FFD in sepsis. Through ectopic expression and depletion experiments, the effect of FFD on multiple organ damage in septic mice, as well as on cell proliferation and apoptosis in relation to the mitogen-activated protein kinase 14/Forkhead Box O 3A (MAPK14/FOXO3A) signaling pathway, was analyzed.

RESULTS

FFD reduced organ damage and inflammation in LPS-induced septic mice and suppressed LPS-induced macrophage apoptosis and inflammation in vitro (P<0.05). Network pharmacology analysis showed that FFD could regulate the MAPK14/FOXO signaling pathway during sepsis. As confirmed by in vitro cell experiments, FFD inhibited the MAPK14 signaling pathway or FOXO3A expression to relieve LPS-induced macrophage apoptosis and inflammation (P<0.05). Furthermore, FFD inhibited the MAPK14/FOXO3A signaling pathway to inhibit LPS-induced macrophage apoptosis in the lung tissue of septic mice (P<0.05).

CONCLUSION

FFD could ameliorate the LPS-induced inflammatory response in septic mice by inhibiting the MAPK14/FOXO3A signaling pathway.

Study of Herbs Cortex Moutan, Poria cocos, and Alisma orientale and Periodontitis

INTRODUCTION

The Chinese traditional herbs Cortex Moutan, Poria cocos, and Alisma orientale are considered to have potential to ameliorate periodontitis, although the possible underlying mechanisms remain mostly unknown. Due to the complex formulation of Chinese herbs, it is important to understand the mechanisms of pharmacologic effects of traditional herbs for better application in modern medical treatment.

METHODS

Network pharmacology was applied to explore the mechanism of Cortex Moutan, Poria cocos, and Alisma orientale. First we analysed their chemical ingredients using the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology database and identified 20 active ingredients. Then we analysed the target genes of these 20 active ingredients as well as genes associated with periodontitis and found 74 co-target genes. We further analysed the protein-protein interaction network of these 74 co-target genes using the STRING database and enriched the pathways using Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analysis.

RESULTS

The top 10 core targets elicited were vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA), interlukin-6 (IL-6), tumour necrosis factor (TNF), matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP2), matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP9), AKT serine/threonine kinase 1 (AKT1), prostaglandin-endoperoxide synthase 2 (PTGS2), kinase insert domain receptor (KDR), fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF2), and serpin family E member 1 (SERPINE1). Using these a network of "herbs-ingredients-targetgenes-KEGG pathways." was constructed.

CONCLUSIONS

The target and bioprocess network suggested that the pharmacologic effects of Cortex Moutan, Poria cocos, and Alisma orientale may be mainly dependent on their anti-inflammatory potential. Further work is required to eucidate their detailed mechanisms of activity.

Guizhi Fuling Formulation: A review on chemical constituents, quality control, pharmacokinetic studies, pharmacological properties, adverse reactions and clinical applications

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Guizhi Fuling Formulation (GF), composed of Cinnamomi Ramulus, Poria, Paeoniae Radix, Moutan Cortex, and Persicae Semen, was first recorded as a pill in the Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) classical book Synopsis of Prescriptions of the Golden Chamber written by Zhang Zhongjing in the Eastern Han Dynasty (25-220 CE). As a TCM prescription, it functions to improve blood circulation, reduce blood stasis and eliminate abdominal lumps. Originally used to treat the restlessness of pregnancy due to a mass, it is now also effective in treating gynecological illnesses and various tumors such as cervical cancer, ovarian cancer, and others. With the expansion of clinical applications, GF was developed into different dosage forms, including Guizhi Fuling Pill (GFP), Guizhi Fuling Capsule (GFC), Guizhi Fuling Tablet (GFT), Guizhi Fuling Granule (GFG), and Guizhi Fuling Decoction (GFD). Different dosage forms of GF play an important role in clinical treatment.

AIM OF THE REVIEW

To systematically analyze and summarize the research findings concerning the chemical constituents, quality control, pharmacokinetic studies, pharmacological properties, adverse reactions, and clinical applications of GF, so as to point out the problems existing in the current research and provides opinions for future study.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The relevant literatures were collected from classical TCM books and a variety of databases, including China National Knowledge Infrastructure, WanFang Data, PubMed, SpringerLink, Web of Science, and Google Scholar. All eligible studies are analyzed and summarized in this review.

RESULTS

There are some problems for GF: the quality control system is not perfect, the study of pharmacokinetics is not comprehensive, the explanation of pharmacological mechanism is insufficient, and the clinical safety has not been fully verified. A few of research directions for future research are proposed: (i) to establish the method of characteristic components combined with bioassay and multi-index content determination to improve the quality evaluation; (ii) to elucidate pharmacokinetic studies based on human pharmacokinetic characteristics and interaction with intestinal microbiota; (iii) to carry out pharmacological mechanism studies at whole, organ, cellular and molecular levels; (iv) to reconfirm safety of various dosage forms of GF based on large-scale clinical studies.

CONCLUSIONS

GF is extremely valuable in drug research and in clinical treatment especially for gynecological diseases. However, there are also some issues. Future efforts should focus on strengthening quality control, clarifying pharmacological and pharmacokinetic processes, and reconfirming clinical safety.

Fuling-Zexie formula attenuates hyperuricemia-induced nephropathy and inhibits JAK2/STAT3 signaling and NLRP3 inflammasome activation in mice

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Fuling-Zexie (FZ) formula, a traditional Chinese herbal prescription composed of Poria cocos (Schwan.) Wolf. (Poria), Pueraria lobate (Willd.) Howe. (Puerariae Lobatae Radix), Alisma orientale (Sam.) Julep. (Alismatis Rhizoma), and Atractylodes lancea (Thunb.) Dc. (Atractylodis Rhizoma), has been clinically used to ameliorate hyperuricemia (HUA) and its associated renal injury.

AIM OF STUDY

This study aims to explore the action and mechanism of FZ on renal inflammation and dysfunction caused by HUA.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

FZ was orally administered to rapid HUA mouse induced by potassium oxonate (PO) and hypoxanthine (HX) for 7 days. Serum levels of uric acid (UA), creatinine (CRE), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), xanthine oxidase (XOD), adenosine deaminase (ADA), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), urine levels of UA, CRE and urinary albumin were determined by biochemical assays. Serum levels of interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-6 were tested by ELISA. Hematoxylin-eosin and Masson staining were used to examine kidney and liver histopathological alterations. The expressions of renal glucose transporter 9 (GLUT9), ATP-binding cassette subfamily G member 2 (ABCG2), organic anion transporter 1 (OAT1), phospho-janus kinase 2 (p-JAK2), p-signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (p-STAT3), suppression of cytokine signaling 3 (SOCS3), NLR family pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3), apoptosis-associated speck-like protein (ASC), and cleaved-cysteinyl aspartate specific proteinase-1 (cleaved-Cas-1) were detected by western blots. The potential protein targets and pathways of FZ intervention on HUA were predicted by network pharmacology. The constituents in FZ aqueous extract were analyzed by UPLC-MS.

RESULTS

FZ reduced serum UA, CRE, BUN, and urinary albumin and increased urine UA, CRE levels in HUA mice. In addition, the treatment with FZ to HUA mice inhibited the elevated serum levels of XOD and ADA, and regulated renal urate transports including OAT1, GLUT9 and ABCG2. FZ also attenuated kidney inflammation and fibrosis and downregulated the expressions of IL-1β, p-JAK2, p-STAT3, SOCS3, IL-6, NLRP3, ASC, and cleaved-Cas-1. Thirteen compounds were identified in the FG, including L-phenylalanine, D-tryptophan, 3'-hydroxypuerarin, Puerarin, 3'-Methoxy Puerarin, Daidzin, Pueroside A, formononetin-8-C- [xylosyl (1→6)]-glucoside, Ononin, Alisol I 23-acetate, 16-oxo-alisol A, Alisol C and Alisol A.

CONCLUSION

FZ inhibits serum UA generation and promotes urine UA excretion as well as attenuates kidney inflammation and fibrosis in HUA mouse with nephropathy. The underlying mechanism of its action may be associated with suppression of the JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway and NLRP3 inflammasome activation. This formula may offer a novel source for developing anti-HUA drugs.

Immunomodulatory Activity and Its Mechanisms of Two Polysaccharides from Poria cocos

Polyporaceae is an important fungal family that has been a source of natural products with a range of pharmaceutical activities in China. In our previous study, two polysaccharides, PCWPW and PCWPS, with significant antioxidant and antidepressant activity were obtained from Poria cocos. In this study, we evaluated their potential molecular mechanisms in the immunomodulation of macrophages. PCWPW and PCWPS were characterized by GC-MS analysis to contain 1,3-linked Glcp. ELISA assays results demonstrated that the secretion of TNF-α was significantly enhanced by PCWPW/PCWPS. RNA-seq data demonstrated that PCWPS treatment modulated the expression of immune-related genes in macrophages, which was further confirmed by RT-qPCR assays. The activation of TNF-α secretion was found to be mannose receptor (MR) dependent and suppressed by MR inhibitor pretreatment. Moreover, the amount of TNF-α cytokine secretion in PCWPW/PCWPS-induced RAW264.7 cells was decreased when pretreated with NF-κB or MAPK signaling pathway inhibitors. Collectively, our results suggested that PCWPW and PCWPS possessed immunomodulatory activity that regulates TNF-α expression through the NF-κB/MAPK signaling pathway by binding to mannose receptors. Therefore, PCWPW and PCWPS isolated from Poria cocos have potential as drug candidates for immune-related disease treatment.

Machine learning-based monosaccharide profiling for tissue-specific classification of Wolfiporia extensa samples

Machine learning (ML) has been used for many clinical decision-making processes and diagnostic procedures in bioinformatics applications. We examined eight algorithms, including linear discriminant analysis (LDA), logistic regression (LR), k-nearest neighbor (KNN), random forest (RF), gradient boosting machine (GBM), support vector machine (SVM), Naïve Bayes classifier (NB), and artificial neural network (ANN) models, to evaluate their classification and prediction capabilities for four tissue types in Wolfiporia extensa using their monosaccharide composition profiles. All 8 ML-based models were assessed as exemplary models with AUC exceeding 0.8. Five models, namely LDA, KNN, RF, GBM, and ANN, performed excellently in the four-tissue-type classification (AUC > 0.9). Additionally, all eight models were evaluated as good predictive models with AUC value > 0.8 in the three-tissue-type classification. Notably, all 8 ML-based methods outperformed the single linear discriminant analysis (LDA) plotting method. For large sample sizes, the ML-based methods perform better than traditional regression techniques and could potentially increase the accuracy in identifying tissue samples of W. extensa.

[Effect and mechanism of Poria cocos polysaccharides on myocardial cell apoptosis in rats with myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury by regulating Rho-ROCK signaling pathway]

This study aimed to investigate the effect and underlying mechanism of Poria cocos polysaccharides(PCP) on myocardial cell apoptosis in the rat model of myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury(MI/RI). Male SPF-grade SD rats were randomly divided into a sham group(saline), a model group(saline), low-and high-dose PCP groups(100 and 200 mg·kg~(-1)), and a fasudil group(10 mg·kg~(-1)), with 16 rats in each group. Except for the sham group, the other four groups underwent left anterior descending coronary artery ligation for 30 min followed by reperfusion for 2 h to establish the MI/RI model. The myocardial infarct area was assessed by TTC staining. Histological changes were observed through HE staining. Myocardial cell apoptosis was evaluated using TUNEL staining. Serum lactate dehydrogenase(LDH), creatine kinase MB(CK-MB), interleukin-1β(IL-1β) and IL-18 levels, myocardial superoxide dismutase(SOD) activity and malondialdehyde(MDA) levels were detected by ELISA. Protein expression of B-cell lymphoma 2(Bcl-2), Bcl-2 associated X protein(Bax), cleaved caspase-3, Ras homolog gene A(RhoA), myosin phosphatase target subunit 1(MYPT-1), phosphorylated MYPT-1(p-MYPT-1), and Rho-associated coiled-coil forming kinase 1(ROCK 1) were measured by Western blot. Pathological staining of myocardial tissue revealed that in the model group, there was focal necrosis of myocardial tissue, myocardial cell swelling, unclear boundaries, and neutrophil infiltration. These pathological changes were alleviated in the low-and high-dose PCP groups and the fasudil group. Compared with the model group, the low-and high-dose PCP groups and the fasudil group showed significantly reduced myocardial infarct area and myocardial cell apoptosis rate. Compared with the sham group, the model group exhibited elevated serum LDH, CK-MB, IL-1β and IL-18 levels, increased MDA levels, relative protein expression of Bax, cleaved caspase-3, RhoA, ROCK1 and p-MYPT-1, and decreased myocardial SOD levels and Bcl-2 protein expression. Compared with the model group, the PCP groups and the fasudil group showed lowered serum LDH, CK-MB, IL-1β and IL-18 levels, decreased MDA levels, relative protein expression of Bax, cleaved caspase-3, RhoA, ROCK1 and p-MYPT-1, and increased myocardial SOD levels and Bcl-2 protein expression. PCP exhibited a certain preventive effect on myocardial tissue pathological damage and myocardial cell apoptosis in MI/RI rats, possibly related to the inhibition of the Rho-ROCK signaling pathway activation, thereby reducing oxidative stress and inflammatory responses.

Efficacy of Poria cocos and Alismatis rhizoma against diet-induced hyperlipidemia in rats based on transcriptome sequencing analysis

Hyperlipidemia, a common metabolic disease, is a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases, Poria cocos (PC) and Alismatis rhizoma (AR) serve as a potential treatment. A systematic approach based on transcriptome sequencing analysis and bioinformatics methods was developed to explore the synergistic effects of PC-AR and identify major compounds and potential targets. The phenotypic characteristics results indicated that the high dose (4.54 g/kg) of PC-AR reduced total cholesterol (TC), elevated high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels, and improved hepatocyte morphology, as assessed via hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining. Transcriptomic profiling processing results combined with GO enrichment analysis to identify the overlapping genes were associated with inflammatory responses. The cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction pathway was found as a potential key pathway using geneset enrichment analysis. Core enrichment targets were selected according to the PC-AR's fold change versus the model. Real-time quantitative PCR analysis validated that PC-AR significantly downregulated the expression of Cxcl10, Ccl2, Ccl4, Cd40 and Il-1β mRNA (P < 0.05). Molecular docking analysis revealed the significant compounds of PC-AR and the potential binding patterns of the critical compounds and targets. This study provides further evidence that the therapeutic effects of PC-AR on hyperlipidemia in rats through the regulation of inflammation-related targets.

Efficacy of Poria Cocos Extract on Sleep Quality Enhancement: A Clinical Perspective with Implications for Functional Foods

BACKGROUND

Since the outbreak of the pandemic started, an increase in the number of sleep disorders, including insomnia and poor sleep quality, has been seen. The pattern will probably continue.

METHODS

This study focuses on the preparation and clinical testing of Poria cocos extract in treating suboptimal sleep quality. The optimal extraction method utilized a 75% ethanol concentration, and the clinical investigation involved subjects with defined poor sleep taking 800 mg of the extract nightly, assessed using the Sleep Questionnaire and polysomnography. The non-parametric Wilcoxon signed-rank test was used for statistical analysis due to the non-normal distribution of the collected data.

RESULTS

The study involved 21 insomnia sufferers with a mean age of 55 who were administered Poria cocos extracts. The findings of the study indicate a statistically significant rise in the overall duration of sleep (from 327.395 ± 43.2 min to 356.516 ± 63.21 min, p = 0.014). Additionally, there was a notable decrease in the level of arousal during sleep (from 76.316 ± 44.78 min to 47.989 ± 42.38 min, p = 0.009), and an improvement in the sleep severity index of the sleep questionnaire test.

CONCLUSIONS

Poria cocos as a natural substance could improve quality of sleep, based on the findings. The study investigates Pachymic acid, a substance found in Poria cocos, as a potential indicator for the development of sleeping aids.

Rapid increase in immune surveillance and expression of NKT and γδT cell activation markers after consuming a nutraceutical supplement containing Aloe vera gel, extracts of Poria cocos and rosemary. A randomized placebo-controlled cross-over trial

GOAL

To evaluate the acute impact of a nutraceutical blend on immune surveillance.

STUDY DESIGN

A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, cross-over trial was conducted in 11 healthy subjects. Blood samples were taken immediately before and at 1, 2, and 3 hours after consuming placebo or 500 mg of UP360, which is a blend of botanicals from Aloe vera, Poria cocos, and rosemary (APR extract). Immunophenotyping and flow cytometry quantified numbers of monocytes, NK cells, NKT cells, CD8+ cytotoxic T cells, γδT cells, and total T cells, and expression of CD25 and CD69 activation markers. Plasma was tested for cytokines, chemokines, growth factors, and enzymatic activity of superoxide dismutase and catalase.

RESULTS

Compared to the placebo, consumption of APR extract triggered rapid increases in chemokine levels starting at 1 hour, including IP-10 (P<0.05) and MCP-1 (P<0.1), which peaked at 2 hours (P<0.01) and 3 hours (P<0.05), respectively. The stem cell-mobilizing growth factor G-CSF increased at 2 hours (P<0.05). Increased immune surveillance involved a transient effect for monocytes at 1 hour, followed by NKT cells, CD8+ cytotoxic T cells, and γδT cells at 2-3 hours. Increased immune cell alertness was seen at 1 hour by increased CD25 expression on monocytes (P<0.01), NKT cells (P<0.01), and T cells (P<0.05). NKT cells showed upregulation of CD69 at 2 hours (P<0.01). Increased enzymatic activity was seen at 2 hours for the antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase (P<0.05) and catalase (P<0.01).

CONCLUSION

Consumption of APR extract triggered acute changes to chemokine levels. In addition, immune alertness was increased via the expression of activation markers on multiple types of innate immune cells, followed by increased immune surveillance and antioxidant protection. This suggests a beneficial enhancement of natural immune surveillance, likely via a combination of gut-mediated cytokine release and vagus nerve communication, in combination with cellular protection from oxidative stress.

[Guizhi Fuling Capsule inhibits migration and induces apoptosis of human ovarian cancer cells by regulating the NF-κB signaling pathway]

OBJECTIVE

To study the inhibitory effect of Guizhi Fuling Capsule (GFC) on migration of human ovarian cancer cells and explore the possible mechanism.

METHODS

Sixty Wistar rats were randomized into 4 groups for daily gavage of saline or 4, 8, or 16 g/kg GFC suspension for 5 days to prepare blank and low-, medium- and high-dose GFC-medicated sera. Cisplatinresistant ovarian cancer SKOV3/DDP cells were treated with these sera with nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) inhibitor SN50 as the positive control, and the changes in migration ability and apoptosis of the cells were examined using scratch assay and flow cytometry, respectively; the changes in the mRNA and protein expressions of CDH1, CDH2, caspase 3 and NF- κB were detected using RT-qPCR and Western blotting. ATAC-seq was used to analyze the changes in expressions of CDH1, CDH2, caspase 3 and NF-κB genes in the open chromatin.

RESULTS

Treatment with GFC-medicated sera dose-dependently inhibited the migration (P < 0.05), increased apoptosis (P < 0.01), inhibited CDH2 and NF-κB mRNA expression (P < 0.05), and enhanced caspase 3 and CDH1 mRNA expressions (P < 0.01) in SKOV3/DDP cells. The effects of high-dose GFC-medicated serum were comparable to those of SN50 (P>0.05), but its effect for enhancing DH1 protein expression was weaker than that of SN50 (P < 0.01). GFC-medicated sera significantly lowered the expressions of NF-κB and CDH2 and increased CDH1 expression in the open chromatin without obviously affecting caspase 3 expression.

CONCLUSION

GFC- medicated sera inhibits the migration ability of SKOV3/DDP cells possibly by promoting cell apoptosis and caspase 3 and CDH1 expressions, inhibiting CDH2 and NF-κB expressions, and regulating the expressions of NF-κB, CDH2 and CDH1 in the open chromatin.

[Discrete element simulation study of mixing process of Guizhi Fuling Capsules: parameter calibration]

The mixing process is a critical link in the formation of oral solid preparations of traditional Chinese medicine. This paper took the extract powder of Guizhi Fuling Capsules and Paeonol powder as research objects. The angle of repose, loose packing density, and particle size of the two powders were measured to calibrate discrete element simulation parameters for the mixing process. The discrete element method was used to calibrate the simulated solid density of Paeonol powder and extract powder of Guizhi Fuling Capsules based on the Hertz-Mindlin with JKR V2 contact model and particle scaling. The Plackett-Burman experimental design was used to screen out the critical contact parameters that had a significant effect on the simulation of the angle of repose. The regression model between the critical contact parameters and the simulated angle of repose was established by the Box-Behnken experimental design, and the critical contact parameters of each powder were optimized based on the regression model. The best combination of critical contact parameters of the extract powder of Guizhi Fuling Capsules was found to be 0.51 for particle-particle static friction coefficient, 0.31 for particle-particle rolling friction coefficient, and 0.64 for particle-stainless steel static friction coefficient. For Paeonol powder, the best combination of critical contact parameters was 0.4 for particle-particle static friction coefficient and 0.19 for particle-particle rolling friction coefficient. The best combination of contact parameters between Paeonol powder and extract powder of Guizhi Fuling Capsules was 0.27 for collision recovery coefficient, 0.49 for static friction coefficient, and 0.38 for rolling friction coefficient. The verification results show that the relative error between the simulated value and the measured value of the angle of repose of the two single powders is less than 1%, while the relative error between the simulated value and the measured value of the angle of repose of the mixed powder with a mass ratio of 1∶1 is less than 4%. These research results provide reliable physical property simulation data for the mixed simulation experiment of extract powder of Guizhi Fuling Capsules and Paeonol powder.

[Origin identification of Poria cocos based on hyperspectral imaging technology]

To realize the non-destructive and rapid origin discrimination of Poria cocos in batches, this study established the P. cocos origin recognition model based on hyperspectral imaging combined with machine learning. P. cocos samples from Anhui, Fujian, Guangxi, Hubei, Hunan, Henan and Yunnan were used as the research objects. Hyperspectral data were collected in the visible and near infrared band(V-band, 410-990 nm) and shortwave infrared band(S-band, 950-2 500 nm). The original spectral data were divided into S-band, V-band and full-band. With the original data(RD) of different bands, multiplicative scatter correction(MSC), standard normal variation(SNV), S-G smoothing(SGS), first derivative(FD), second derivative(SD) and other pretreatments were carried out. Then the data were classified according to three different types of producing areas: province, county and batch. The origin identification model was established by partial least squares discriminant analysis(PLS-DA) and linear support vector machine(LinearSVC). Finally, confusion matrix was employed to evaluate the optimal model, with F1 score as the evaluation standard. The results revealed that the origin identification model established by FD combined with LinearSVC had the highest prediction accuracy in full-band range classified by province, V-band range by county and full-band range by batch, which were 99.28%, 98.55% and 97.45%, respectively, and the overall F1 scores of these three models were 99.16%, 98.59% and 97.58%, respectively, indicating excellent performance of these models. Therefore, hyperspectral imaging combined with LinearSVC can realize the non-destructive, accurate and rapid identification of P. cocos from different producing areas in batches, which is conducive to the directional research and production of P. cocos.

Poria cocos compounds targeting neuropeptide Y1 receptor (Y1R) for weight management: A computational ligand- and structure-based study with molecular dynamics simulations identified beta-amyrin acetate as a putative Y1R inhibitor

Poria cocos (PC) is a medicinal herb frequently used in weight-loss clinical trials, however the mechanisms by which its compounds target orexigenic receptors including the neuropeptide Y1 receptor (Y1R) remain largely unknown. This study aimed to screen PC compounds for favourable pharmacokinetics profiles and examine their molecular mechanisms targeting Y1R. Forty-three PC compounds were systematically sought from pharmacological databases and docked with Y1R (PDB: 5ZBQ). By comparing the relative binding affinities, pharmacokinetics and toxicity profiles, we hypothesised that compounds designated PC1 3,4-Dihydroxybenzoic acid, PC8 Vanillic acid, PC40 1-(alpha-L-Ribofuranosyl)uracil, could be potential antagonists as they contact major residues Asn283 and Asp287, similar to various potent Y1R antagonists. In addition, PC21 Poricoic acid B, PC22 Poricoic acid G and PC43 16alpha,25-Dihydroxy-24-methylene-3,4-secolanosta-4(28),7,9(11)-triene-3,21-dioic acid, contacting Asn299, Asp104 and Asp200 proximal to the extracellular surface could also interfere with agonist binding by stabilising the extracellular loop (ECL) 2 of Y1R in a closed position. Owing to their selective interaction with Phe302, an important residue in binding of selective Y1R antagonists, PC12 beta-Amyrin acetate, PC26 3-Epidehydrotumulosic acid and PC27 Cerevisterol were proposed as putative antagonists. Following the consensus approach, PC12 beta-Amyrin acetate, PC26 3-Epidehydrotumulosic acid and PC27 Cerevisterol were identified as candidate compounds due to their high affinities (-12.2, -11.0 and -10.8 kcal, respectively), high drug-likeness and low toxicity profiles. Trajectory analyses and energy contributions of PC12-Y1R complex further confirmed their structural stability and favourable binding free energies, highlighting the feasibility and possible development of PC12 beta-Amyrin acetate as a future Y1R inhibitor.

The clinical effects of Gyejibongnyeong-Hwan (Gui Zhi Fu Ling Wan) on patients with hyperlipidemia: A study protocol for a multicenter, double-blind, two-armed parallel, investigator-initiated, exploratory randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND

Hyperlipidemia, the most common form of dyslipidemia, is associated with an increased risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases. There is a constant demand for therapeutic agents with relatively few side effects that can be administered from the initial stage of hyperlipidemia, herbal medicines derived from natural products can be considered candidates for treating dyslipidemia. This study aims to explore the feasibility, preliminary effectiveness, and safety of Gyejibongnyeong-Hwan (GBH) in patients with hyperlipidemia.

METHODS

This was a 2-armed, parallel, multicenter, and exploratory randomized controlled trial on dyslipidemia. We will recruit 90 patients aged 20 to 65 years with hyperlipidemia between November 2021 and December 2022. Eligible participants will be randomly assigned to receive GBH or placebo granules for 8 weeks and followed up for 4 weeks after 4 weeks of lifestyle modification. The primary outcome is the percentage changes in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol from baseline to week 8. The secondary outcomes are percentage changes in other blood lipid parameters, blood glucose parameters, and blood stasis scores. As an exploratory outcome measure, metabolite analysis will be conducted to observe changes in metabolic patterns.

DISCUSSION

This is the first randomized controlled trial to explore the clinical effect and safety of GBH compared to placebo control in patients with hyperlipidemia, thereby potentially facilitating better management of hyperlipidemia. The results of this pilot study could form a foundation for future large-scale confirmatory clinical trials.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

This study was permitted by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety on investigational new drug application on August 12, 2021 and approved by the Institutional Review Board of Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Republic of Korea (KOMCIRB202110012001) on November 26, 2021. The results will be published in a peer-reviewed journal and disseminated electronically and in print.

Particular pollutants, human health risk and ecological risk of oil-based drilling fluid: a case study of Fuling shale gas field

Samples of new oil-based drilling fluid (NOBDF) and circulating oil-based drilling fluid (COBDF) in Chongqing were tested and analyzed to evaluate the possible impact of oil-based drilling fluid (OBDF) on human health and ecological environment. Organic matter, metals, and naturally occurring radionuclide materials (NORMs) in OBDF samples were analyzed and determined by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, high-performance liquid chromatography, PANalytical Axios Fast XRF spectrometer, and gamma ray spectrometer. The results revealed that the contents of trace metals and NORMs in OBDF were less, which would not cause local ecological risk or health risk to the drilling crew. However, the concentrations of various aromatics analyzed in OBDF were very high, which was easy to pose serious environmental and health hazards. There were 8 aromatic hydrocarbons (AHs) in NOBDF and 15 AHs in COBDF. And the total carcinogenic risk value of each aromatic hydrocarbon was far greater than 10^-4, which belonged to an unacceptable level. In addition, the inhalation pathway seemed to be the most significant source of carcinogenic risk, accounting for 99% of the total carcinogenic risk. Meanwhile, it is recommended to equip drilling workers with gas masks and develop all-oil biodiesel drilling fluid.

The Effect of Poria cocos Polysaccharide PCP-1C on M1 Macrophage Polarization via the Notch Signaling Pathway

The homogeneous galactoglucan PCP-1C extracted from Poria cocos sclerotium has multiple biological activities. The present study demonstrated the effect of PCP-1C on the polarization of RAW 264.7 macrophages and the underlying molecular mechanism. Scanning electron microscopy showed that PCP-1C is a detrital-shaped polysaccharide with fish-scale patterns on the surface, with a high sugar content. The ELISA assay, qRT-PCR assay, and flow cytometry assay showed that the presence of PCP-1C could induce higher expression of M1 markers, including tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and interleukin-12 (IL-12), when compared with the control and the LPS group, and it caused a decrease in the level of interleukin-10 (IL-10), which is the marker for M2 macrophages. At the same time, PCP-1C induces an increase in the CD86 (an M1 marker)/CD206 (an M2 marker) ratio. The results of the Western blot assay showed that PCP-1C induced activation of the Notch signaling pathway in macrophages. Notch1, ligand Jagged1, and Hes1 were all up-regulated with the incubation of PCP-1C. These results indicate that the homogeneous Poria cocos polysaccharide PCP-1C improves M1 macrophage polarization through the Notch signaling pathway.

Benefits of herbal formulae containing Poria cocos (Fuling) for type 2 diabetes mellitus: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Poria cocos (Schw.) Wolf or Fuling is one of the top 10 most frequently prescribed herbs in China for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this systematic review is to determine the additional benefit of Fuling formulae use in addition to hypoglycaemic agents for T2DM in randomised clinical trials.

METHODS

English (5) and Chinese (4) medical databases were searched from their inception to August 2021. RCTs that included Fuling in herbal formulae for T2DM were included. Risk of bias were assessed using the Cochrane Collaboration's procedures. Stata software (13.0) was used for data analysis.

RESULTS

Seventy-three RCTs (6,489 participants) with herbal formulae containing Fuling were included. Most studies were at risk of bias and strength of the evidence were low to moderate. Meta-analysis findings showed that the addition of formulae containing Fuling to hypoglycaemic agent-treatments could benefit people with T2DM by reducing fasting blood glucose (MD -0.82 [-0.93, -0.71]; I2 = 79.6%, P = 0.00), 2-hour postprandial blood glucose (MD-1.15 [-1.31, -0.98], I2 = 80%, P = 0.00) and haemoglobin A1c (MD-0.64 [-0.75, -0.53], I2 = 84.7%, P = 0.00). Adverse events were also significantly lower in the integrative group than in the hypoglycaemic alone group (RR 0.99 [0.93, 1.06], P = 0.87).

CONCLUSION

Evidence from this study supports the use of Fuling formulae combined with hypoglycaemic agents for T2DM. The combined therapies appear to be well tolerated.

TRAIL REGISTRATION

This review is registered with the PROSPERO international prospective register of systematic reviews (CRD42020214635).

Systemic pharmacological verification of Guizhi Fuling decoction in treating endometriosis-associated pain

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Guizhi Fuling decoction (GZFL decoction) is a famous formula in the Synopsis of the Golden Chamber, which has a long history in treating endometriosis. However, its exact mechanism remains unclear.

AIM OF STUDY

This study aims to explore the mechanism of GZFL decoction in treating endometriosis, especially in alleviating endometriosis-associated pain.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A combination of system pharmacology and pharmacodynamics was used to explore the specific mechanism of GZFL decoction in the treatment of endometriosis-associated pain. First, the TCMSP database was used to search the components of the GZFL decoction; the parameter index was set as oral bioavailability (OB) ≥ 30% and drug-likeness (DL) ≥ 0.18, while the active ingredients of the drug were screened out. The disease targets of endometriosis were obtained from the TTD, OMIM, Genecards, and DisGeNET databases; the keyword was "endometriosis pain". Network construction and analysis were performed using Cytoscape 3.7.2 software; the David database was used to enrich and analyze the pathways for alleviating endometriosis pain after GZFL decoction treatment. In addition, the network results were verified using experimental animal and cell research.

RESULTS

The results showed the following targets: 76 for the effective chemical components in the prescription, 1329 for disease pain, and 278 for the intersection of drugs and endometriosis pain. The enrichment results for these targets showed that the TNF-PI3K/Akt pathway exhibited research significance. In endometriosis rat models, the GZFL decoction reduced the volume of lesions and relieved pain symptoms. It also reduced the serum levels of IL-6, IL-1β, and TNF-α as well as their expression in the lesion tissues. The GZFL decoction also suppressed the activation of PI3K/Akt downstream signaling proteins.

CONCLUSIONS

GZFL decoction could reduce the volume of lesions, suppress inflammation, and decrease the sensitivity to pain in endometriosis rat models through inhibiting PI3K/Akt pathway. This study provides a possible target for traditional Chinese medicine in treating endometriosis-associated pain.

Poria cocos polysaccharides rescue pyroptosis-driven gut vascular barrier disruption in order to alleviates non-alcoholic steatohepatitis

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Poria cocos polysaccharides (PCP) are abundant in Poria cocos (Schw.) Wolf (Poria). This is a common traditional Chinese medicine used to treat gastrointestinal and liver diseases. Poria cocos dispel dampness and enhance gastrointestinal functions, strongly affecting the treatment of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Still, the mechanism is not yet clear.

AIM OF THE STUDY

The latest research found that protecting the integrity of the intestinal barrier can slow down the progression of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Hence, our research ought to explore the protective mechanism of PCP on the intestinal barrier under a high-fat diet and to clarify the relationship between intestinal barrier damage and steatohepatitis.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

H&E staining was done to evaluate pathological damage, whereas Nile red and oil red O staining was conducted to evaluate hepatic fat infiltration. Immunofluorescence staining and immunohistochemical staining were used to detect protein expression and locations. Bone marrow-derived macrophages were isolated for in vitro experiments. ONOO- and ROS fluorescent probes and MDA, SOD, and GSH kits assessed the levels of nitrogen and oxidative stress. LPS levels were detected with a Limulus Amebocyte Lysate assay. The Western blot analysis and reverse transcription-quantitative PCR detected the expression of related proteins and genes. The Elisa kit detected the level of the inflammatory factors in the cell supernatant. For the vivo NAFLD experiments, in briefly, mice were randomly chosen to receive either a High-fat diet or control diet for 12 weeks. Drug treatments started after 4 weeks of feeding. Zebrafish larvae were raised separately in fish water or 7 mM thioacetamide as the control or model group for approximately 72 h. In the therapy groups, different concentrations of PCP were added to the culture environment at the same time.

RESULTS

In zebrafish, we determined the safe concentration of PCP and found that PCP could effectively reduce the pathological damage in the liver and intestines induced by the NAFLD model. In mice, PCP could slow down weight gain, hyperlipidemia, and liver steatosis caused by a high-fat diet. More importantly, PCP could reduce the destruction of the gut-vascular barrier and the translocation of endotoxins caused by a high-fat diet. Further, we found that PCP could inhibit intestinal pyroptosis by regulating PARP-1. Pyroptosis inhibitors, such as MCC950, could effectively protect the intestinal and liver damage induced by a high-fat diet. We also found that pyroptosis mainly occurred in intestinal macrophages. PCP could effectively improve the survival rate of bone marrow-derived macrophages in a high-fat environment and inhibit pyroptosis.

CONCLUSIONS

These results indicated that PCP inhibited the pyroptosis of small intestinal macrophages to protect the intestinal barrier integrity under a high-fat diet. This resulted in decreased endotoxin translocation and progression of steatohepatitis.

[Dissolution test and evaluation of Guizhi Fuling Capsules]

Because of the complex components, simple content determination can hardly reflect the overall quality of Guizhi Fuling Capsules. Therefore, it is necessary to carry out a multi-component dissolution test. The variability of quality among different batches of products from different manufacturers is a common problem of Chinese medicine solid preparations. To comprehensively control the quality of Guizhi Fuling Capsules, we studied the dissolution behaviors of 7 index components in the capsules under different conditions, and investigated the consistency of dissolution behaviors among different batches of products from the same manufacturer. The basket method of general rule 0931 in Chinese Pharmacopoeia was adopted, and the rotating speeds were set at 50, 75, and 100 r·min~(-1), respectively. The hydrochloric acid solution(pH 1.2), acetate buffer solution(pH 4.0), pure water, and phosphate buffer solution(pH 6.8) were used as the dissolution media. Automatic sampling was carried out at the time points of 5, 10, 20, 30, 45, and 60 min, respectively. The cumulative dissolution of 7 index components was measured through ultra-performance liquid chromatography(UPLC). The difference factor f_1 and similarity factor f_2 were calculated to comprehensively evaluate the similarity of the dissolution curves among 8 batches of Guizhi Fuling Capsules, and a variety of dissolution and release equations were fitted. The results showed that multiple components had faster dissolution rates at higher rotating speed and in hydrochloric acid medium. The 8 batches of Guizhi Fuling capsules showed the average f_1 value lower than 15 and the average f_2 value higher than 50, which indicated that different batches of products had similar dissolution behaviors. Most components had synchronous dissolution behaviors and similar release cha-racteristics. This study provides a reference for the quality consistency evaluation among batches, processing optimization, and dosage form improvement of Guizhi Fuling Capsules.

Beneficial Effect of Gastrodia elata Blume and Poria cocos Wolf Administration on Acute UVB Irradiation by Alleviating Inflammation through Promoting the Gut-Skin Axis

Bioactive compounds in some herbs can, directly and indirectly, protect against photoaging. We evaluated the effects of Gastrodia elata Blume (GE) and Poria cocos Wolf (PC) water extracts on ultraviolet (UV) B-induced skin lesions by acute UVB exposure in ICR mice and explored their mechanism of action. After removing the hair on the back of the mice, UVB (280–310 nm) was exposed to the back for 30 min to induce skin damage. Four UVB exposure groups were divided into the following according to the local application (1,3-butanediol extract) on the dorsal skin and oral intake (0.3 g water extract/kg body weight/day): 1,3-butanediol and cellulose(control; UV-Con), retinoic acid (positive-control; UV-Positive), PC extracts (UV-PC), and GE extracts (UV-GE). The fifth group had no UVB exposure with the same treatment as the UV-Con (Normal-control). The erythema, burns, erosion, and wounds of the UV-PC and UV-PC groups were alleviated, and the most significant improvements occurred in the UV-PC group. PC and GE reduced the thickness of the dorsal skin tissue, the penetration of mast cells, and malondialdehyde contents. The mRNA expression of TNF-α, IL-13, and IL-4, inflammatory factors, were also reduced significantly in the dorsal skin of the UV-PC and UV-GE groups. UV-PC, UV-GE, and UV-Positive showed improvements in UV-induced intestinal tissue inflammation. UV-Con deteriorated the intestinal morphology, and PC and GE alleviated it. The α-diversity of the fecal microbiota decreased in the UV-control, and UV-PC and UV-GE prevented the decrease. Fecal metagenome analysis revealed increased propionate biosynthesis in the UV-PC group but decreased lipopolysaccharide biosynthesis in the UV-PC and UV-GE groups compared to UV-Con. In conclusion, the local application and intake of PC and GE had significant therapeutic effects on acute UV-induced skin damage by reducing oxidative stress and proinflammatory cytokines, potentially promoting the gut-microbiota-gut-skin axis.

Integrated 16S rDNA, metabolomics, and TNF-α/NF-κB signaling pathway analyses to explain the modulatory effect of Poria cocos aqueous extract on anxiety-like behavior

BACKGROUND

Poria cocos is an ancient medicine and modern functional food, which exerts excellent effects on anxiety, although its mechanism is unknown.

PURPOSE

To explore the mechanisms of the aqueous extract of P. cocos (PCD) in ameliorating anxiety-like behavior caused by chronic sleep deprivation (CSD).

METHODS

PCD chemical composition was analyzed by UPLC-QTOF-MS/MS. A CSD rat model was established over 21 days. We examined the effects and mechanisms after 10 days of CSD using open-field tests (OFTs), enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays, 16S rDNA, non-targeted metabolomics, and Western blot analyses.

RESULTS

Sixty-two triterpenoids were identified in PCD. CSD-induced anxiety-like behavior was significantly attenuated by PCD treatment. PCD improved hypothalamic neurotransmitters, decreased proinflammatory cytokines, and depressed the proteins expression of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α/nuclear factor (NF)-κB signaling pathway. The full-length 16S rDNA sequence of bacterial cells was also sequenced by high-throughput analysis. CSD caused significant changes in the intestinal flora. PCD improved the species diversity and bacterial abundance in the intestines of rats with anxiety. Metabolomics analysis indicated that 12 PCD-related metabolites in serum and 32 PCD-related metabolites in feces were identified, respectively. Metabolite analysis in serum, PCD treatment affected taurine, hypotaurine, cysteine, methionine, glycine, serine, and threonine metabolism, among others. Metabolite analysis in feces showed significant effects of PCD treatment on the metabolism of vitamin B6, tyrosine, drugs, and glycerophospholipid. Additionally, the correlation analysis of heatmaps showed a tight relationship between inflammatory factors, metabolic parameters, and gut microbial phylotypes.

CONCLUSIONS

PCD relieved anxiety by regulating intestinal flora, regulating metabolic disorders, and inhibiting inflammatory pathways in chronic sleep-deprived rats.

Network Pharmacology, Molecular Docking, and Experimental Validation to Unveil the Molecular Targets and Mechanisms of Compound Fuling Granule to Treat Ovarian Cancer

Background

Compound fuling granule (CFG) is a traditional Chinese medicine formula that is used for more than twenty years to treat ovarian cancer (OC) in China. However, the underlying processes have yet to be completely understood. This research is aimed at uncovering its molecular mechanism and identifying possible therapeutic targets.

Methods

Significant genes were collected from Therapeutic Target Database and Database of Gene-Disease Associations. The components of CFG were analyzed by LC-MS/MS, and the active components of CFG were screened according to their oral bioavailability and drug-likeness index. The validated targets were extracted from PharmMapper and PubChem databases. Venn diagram and STRING website diagrams were used to identify intersection targets, and a protein-protein interaction network was prepared using STRING. The ingredient-target network was established using Cytoscape. Molecular docking was performed to visualize the molecule-protein interactions using PyMOL 2.3. Enrichment and pathway analyses were performed using FunRich software and Reactome pathway, respectively. Experimental validations, including CCK-8 assay, wound-scratch assay, flow cytometry, western blot assay, histopathological examination, and immunohistochemistry, were conducted to verify the effects of CFG on OC cells.

Results

A total of 56 bioactive ingredients of CFG and 185 CFG-OC-related targets were screened by network pharmacology analysis. The potential therapeutic targets included moesin, glutathione S-transferase kappa 1, ribonuclease III (DICER1), mucin1 (MUC1), cyclin-dependent kinase 2 (CDK2), E1A binding protein p300, and transcription activator BRG1. Reactome analysis showed 51 signaling pathways (P < 0.05), and FunRich revealed 44 signaling pathways that might play an important role in CFG against OC. Molecular docking of CDK2 and five active compounds (baicalin, ignavine, lactiflorin, neokadsuranic acid B, and deoxyaconitine) showed that baicalin had the highest affinity to CDK2. Experimental approaches confirmed that CFG could apparently inhibit OC cell proliferation and migration in vitro; increase apoptosis; decrease the protein expression of MUC1, DICER1, and CDK2; and suppress the progression and distant metastasis of OC in vivo. DICER1, a tumor suppressor, is essential for microRNA synthesis. Our findings suggest that CFG may impair the production of miRNAs in OC cells.

Conclusion

Based on network pharmacology, molecular docking, and experimental validation, the potential mechanism underlying the function of CFG in OC was explored, which supplies the theoretical groundwork for additional pharmacological investigation.

The improvement of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis by Poria cocos polysaccharides associated with gut microbiota and NF-κB/CCL3/CCR1 axis

BACKGROUND

Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) has been linked to inflammation induced by intestinal microbiota. Poria cocos polysaccharides (PCP) possesses anti-inflammation and immunomodulation functions; however, its preventive effects against NASH and potential mechanisms need to be explored.

METHODS

The composition of PCP was determined using ion chromatography. C57BL/6 mice were administered the methionine and choline deficient (MCD) diet for 4 weeks to establish the NASH model or methionine-choline-sufficient (MCS) diet to serve as the control. Mice were assigned to the MCS group, MCD group, low-dose PCP (LP) group, and high-dose PCP (HP) group, and were administered the corresponding medications via gavage. Serum biochemical index analysis and liver histopathology examination were performed to verify the successful establishment of NASH model and to evaluate the efficacy of PCP. The composition of intestinal bacteria was profiled through 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Hepatic RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq) was performed to explore the potential mechanisms, which were further confirmed using qPCR, western blot, and immunohistochemistry.

RESULTS

PCP consists of glucose, galactose, mannose, D-glucosamine hydrochloride, xylose, arabinose, and fucose. PCP could significantly alleviate symptoms of NASH, including histological liver damage, impaired hepatic function, and increased oxidative stress. Meanwhile, HP could reshape the composition of intestinal bacteria by significantly increasing the relative abundance of Faecalibaculum and decreasing the level of endotoxin load derived from gut bacteria. PCP could also downregulate the expression of pathways associated with immunity and inflammation, including the chemokine signaling pathway, Toll-like receptor signaling pathway, and NF-kappa B signaling pathway. The expression levels of CCL3 and CCR1 (involved in the chemokine signaling pathway), Tlr4, Cd11b, and NF-κb (involved in the NF-kappa B signaling pathway), and Tnf-α (involved in the TNF signaling pathway) were significantly reduced in the HP group compared to the MCD group.

CONCLUSIONS

PCP could prevent the development of NASH, which may be associated with the modulation of intestinal microbiota and the downregulation of the NF-κB/CCL3/CCR1 axis.

Occurrence, distribution, and associations of essential and non-essential elements in the medicinal and edible fungus "Fuling" from southern China

In Asian countries, the sclerotia of the wild-grown fungus Pachyma hoelen ("Fuling"), have been used as food and as medicinal products for centuries. To close the knowledge gaps about the value and possible environmental impacts, the occurrence, distribution, and associations of a range of elements (Ag, Al, As, Ba, Cd, Co, Cr, Cs, Cu, Li, Mg, Mn, Ni, Pb, Rb, Sb, Sr, Tl, U, V, and Zn) were studied in the inner (core) and outer (shell) morphological parts of the sclerotia from a diverse collection in Southern China. Quality of forest and agricultural soil in terms of a geogenic element source and composition can be considered as the main factor determining the occurrence of minerals in sclerotia through the host wood, largely of Pinus yunnanensis, while the anthropogenic impact (basically at remote rural areas of cultivation) in Southern China was negligible. In general, the mean concentration of each element in the outer part was significantly higher than that in the inner part (t-test, p < 0.01), except for Ag. The concentration of a given element in the outer part tended to have a positive relationship with that in the inner part, except for Cu, Se, Ag, and Zn. The elements in different morphological parts of sclerotia present different relation patterns. Compared to the outer part, there were stronger associations of elements in the inner part, suggesting homeostatic regulation of multiple elements in the inner parts. Further study on the sclerotia, infected wood substrate, and surrounding soil from a range of wild sample collections and intentional cultivation should provide a more complex view and allow assessment of the relationship between minerals and bioactive organic compounds produced by P. hoelen.

Protective mechanism of traditional Chinese medicine guizhi fuling pills against carbon tetrachloride-induced kidney damage is through inhibiting oxidative stress, inflammation and regulating the intestinal flora

BACKGROUND

Chemical or drug-induced kidney damage has been recognized as a critical cause of kidney failure. The oxidative stress, inflammation, and imbalance of intestinal flora caused by carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄) play a fundamental role in chronic kidney damage. Guizhi Fuling pills (GZFL) is a traditional formula consisting of five traditional Chinese medicinal herbs, which can promote blood circulation and improve kidney function. The underlying mechanisms of GZFL improving kidney damage are not fully understood yet.

AIM

The current study aimed to explore the effects of GZFL on CCl₄-induced kidney damage and intestinal microbiota in mice.

METHODS

Male ICR mice were intraperitoneally administered with 20% CCl₄ (mixed in a ratio of 1:4 in soybean oil) twice a week, for 4 weeks to induce kidney damage. Creatinine (CRE), urea nitrogen, antioxidant enzymes, and inflammatory cytokines were measured and the histology of the kidney, jejunum, and colon examination to assess kidney and intestinal damage. The expressions of nuclear factor-erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) family members, nucleotide-binding domain and leucine-rich repeat protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome in kidney tissues, and the tight junction proteins in colonic tissues were detected by Western blot. The gut microbiota was analyzed through 16S rRNA gene sequencing.

RESULTS

GZFL treatment decreased the serum CRE and urea nitrogen levels. Moreover, GZFL reduced the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines and increased antioxidant enzyme activities in kidney and colonic tissues. GZFL improved the kidney, jejunum, and colon histology. Furthermore, GZFL inhibited the expressions of NLRP3, ASC, and cleaved-Caspase-1, while Nrf2, HO-1, NQO1, GCLM, and tight junction proteins were increased. The dysbiosis of intestinal microbiota improved after GZFL treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

This study showed that GZFL could improve kidney damage, which might be mainly via the integrated regulations of the Nrf2 pathway, NLRP3 inflammasome, and composition of intestinal microbiota.

The Positive Effects of Poria cocos Extract on Quality of Sleep in Insomnia Rat Models

Sleep disorders may have various causes and can incur mental and/or physical symptoms, and affect an individual’s quality of life. In this study, we confirm that the Poria cocos extract (PCET) can improve sleep quality and structure by promoting inhibitory neurotransmission via the γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) type A (GABAA) receptors based on the mechanisms revealed in the experiment with superior cervical ganglion neurons. Pentobarbital-induced sleep tests were conducted in order to determine whether the PCET extract improves the sleep quality and structure in normal ICR mice. Sleep latency and duration were checked with the righting reflex. To simulate the state of awakening as well as a normal sleep state, caffeine was administered orally before the PCET diet. After oral gavage of PCET, sleep latency was decreased, and total sleep duration was increased in normal and caffeine-induced sleep disturbance state. In the ACTH-induced sleep disturbed models, administration of PCET significantly reduced the sleep latency and increased the non-REM sleep duration, which was analyzed in real-time EEG by implanting wireless electrodes in SD rats. PCET was found to improve the sleep quality under a normal sleep state through the GABAA receptor; it also promoted and improved the sleep quality and sleep structure in both the arousal activation state and stress-based sleep disturbance.

On the occurrence, origin, and intake of the nuclides, 210Po and 210Pb, in sclerotia of Wolfiporia cocos collected in China

The dried sclerotium of the fungus Wolfiporia cocos is edible and has medicinal value. This study aimed to understand the accumulation of radioactivity arising from the alpha ²¹⁰Po, and beta-emitting ²¹⁰Pb, in the sclerotium's shell and core and assess a potential effective dose for consumers. Sclerotia were collected in the wild and from cultivars in China's Anhui and Yunnan provinces. The mean values of ²¹⁰Po activity concentration levels were 0.36 Bq kg^-1 dry weight in the core and 12.0 Bq kg^-1 dw in the shell; ²¹⁰Pb activities were 0.43 and 9.84 Bq kg^-1 dw, respectively. The potential effective radiation doses from core layers (as a major raw material of the sclerotium) ranged from 0.13 to 3.43 µSv kg^-1 dw from ²¹⁰Po decay and from 0.11 to 1.52 µSv kg^-1 dw from ²¹⁰Pb decay. Corresponding values for shell ranged from 0.80 to 42.4 for ²¹⁰Po and from 0.53 to 13.6 µSv kg^-1 dw for ²¹⁰Pb. In general, the intake of W. cocos sclerotia varies between consumers, but this would not significantly change the effective radiation doses from ²¹⁰Po and ²¹⁰Pb isotopes. The consumption thus appears to be safe from a radiological protection point of view.

Utilizing shale gas drilling cuttings as admixture in cement mortars: a case study in Fuling, Chongqing, China

Huge amount of water-based drilling cuttings (WDC) is generated during the drilling and exploitation of shale gas. In this study, WDC powder was used as a replacement of cement at different mass fraction (0, 10%, 30%, and 50%) to prepare cement mortars. The mechanical properties, water absorption, and heavy metals leaching of the mortars were then investigated along with the corresponding microstructures. The results showed that a higher porosity was formed within the WDC-blended mortars. For instance, the porosity of the control specimen was 16.7%, while the porosity increased to 20.6%, 21.4%, and 25.0% for the mortars blended with 10%, 30%, and 50% WDC, respectively. Therefore, the mechanical properties of the mortars decreased and their water absorption increased with the increase of WDC replacement ratio. For example, the compressive strength of the mortars blended with 10% and 30% WDC decreased from 33.11 MPa of the control specimen to 29.33 MPa and 21.48 MPa, respectively. Nevertheless, the blended mortars still satisfied the M20 strength grade according to the Chinese standard (JGJ/T 98-2010). The compressive strength of the mortar blended with 50% WDC was 11.33 MPa and then satisfied the M10 strength grade. The leaching test indicated that the water quality of leachates from the mortars blended with lower than 30% WDC remained as Grade I according to the Chinese standard (GB 3838-2002); the water quality of leachate from the mortar blended with 50% WDC was classified as Grade III, which, however, would not cause a safety issue to the environment.

Qisheng Wan formula ameliorates cognitive impairment of Alzheimer's disease rat via inflammation inhibition and intestinal microbiota regulation

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY RELEVANCE

Qisheng Wan formula (QWF) was first described in the book Sheng Ji Zong Lu in 1117. The book states that QWF can cure forgetfulness, improve the mind, and make people smart. Hence, QWF has been widely used to treat patients with forgetfulness or dementia. QWF, a classic Chinese formulation, comprises seven herbal drugs: the sclerotium of Poria cocos (Schw.) Wolf, bark of Cinnamomum cassia Presl, root of Polygala tenuifolia Willd., root and rhizome of Panax ginseng C. A. Mey., root of Asparagus cochinchinensis (Lour.) Merr., root and rhizome of Acorus tatarinowii Schott, and root bark of Lycium chinense Mill.

AIM OF THE STUDY

This study aimed to utilize modern pharmacological methods to evaluate the therapeutic effects and explore the underlying mechanism of QWF action on rats with Alzheimer's disease (AD).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The chemical profile of QWF was characterized using ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry. The AD rat model was established via a bilateral intraventricular injection of amyloid-β (1-42) (Aβ_1-42). The rats were subsequently treated daily with QWF for 4 weeks. The Morris water maze test was performed to evaluate the cognition processes in the rats, whereas histological changes in the hippocampus were observed using hematoxylin and eosin staining. The expression levels of Aβ_1-42, nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB), tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, and interleukin (IL)-6 in the hippocampus and colon were assessed. Moreover, the diversity and composition of the intestinal microbiota were analyzed using 16S rDNA gene sequencing.

RESULTS

One hundred and fourteen compounds were characterized in QWF. QWF significantly ameliorated the cognition processes and histopathological damages due to AD in rats by decreasing the deposition of Aβ_1-42 and downregulating the expression of NF-κB, TNF-α, and IL-6. QWF also modulated changes in the diversity and composition of intestinal microbiota to suppress the relative abundance of inflammation-associated microbiota.

CONCLUSION

This study showed that QWF can suppress proinflammatory factors and modulate the intestinal microbiota in AD rats.

Extracts of Poria cocos improve functional dyspepsia via regulating brain-gut peptides, immunity and repairing of gastrointestinal mucosa

BACKGROUND

Poria cocos (Schw.) Wolf (PC), a fungus, has been used for more than 2000 years as a food and medicine in China. It has a very good therapeutic effect for functional dyspepsia (FD). However, the material basis and mechanism of PC on FD were not reported.

PURPOSE

To investigate the function and potential mechanisms of PC including its three extracts (triterpenoid, PCT; water-soluble polysaccharide, PCWP; acidic polysaccharide, PCAP) on FD.

STUDY DESIGN

The study explored the therapeutic effect of PC and its three extracts on FD in rats for the first time and discussed its mechanisms based on brain-gut peptides, immunity and repair of the gastrointestinal mucosa.

METHODS

The chemical components of PC extracts were analyzed and quantified using ultra high performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time of flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-TOF-MS) and gel permeation chromatography coupled with size exclusion chromatography (GPC/SEC). The FD rat models were established using weight-loaded forced swimming and alternate-day fasting for 42 days. After 14 days of treatment, the effect and mechanisms were investigated using ELISA, histopathology, immunohistochemistry as well as Western blot.

RESULTS

Seventy-seven triterpenoids in PCT were identified. PCWP was primarily composed of component A (Mw: 3.831 × 10⁷ Da), component B (Mw: 5.650 × 10⁶ Da) and component C (Mw: 113,117 Da). PCAP was a homogeneous composition with an average Mw of 74,320 Da. PCT, PCWP and PCAP alleviated the symptoms of FD. These extracts promoted the repair of gastrointestinal mucosa and regulated the balance between the T helper cell (Th)1/Th2 axis and the Th17/Treg axis. PCT and PCWP regulated brain-gut peptides more effectively, PCWP and PCAP enhanced immunity more effectively. Further study demonstrated that these extracts may have enhanced immunity via the Toll-like receptor (TLR) and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) signaling pathways.

CONCLUSIONS

PC extracts showed therapeutic effects on FD rats, and the mechanism of action involved multiple pathways. PCAP, which is often discarded in traditional applications, was effective. Our study provides new ideas for the application and development of PC extracts.

[Extracts of Poria cocos polysaccharides improves alcoholic liver disease in mice via CYP2E1 and NF-κB inflammatory pathways]

The present study investigated the effect of extract of Poria cocos polysaccharides(PCP) on cytochrome P450 2 E1(CYP2 E1) and nuclear factor κB(NF-κB) inflammatory signaling pathways in alcoholic liver disease(ALD) mice and explored its protective effect and mechanism. Sixty male C57 BL/6 N mice of SPF grade were randomly divided into a control group, a model group, a positive drug group(bifendate, 200 mg·kg~(-1)), and high-(200 mg·kg~(-1)) and low-dose(50 mg·kg~(-1)) PCP groups. Gao-binge mo-del was induced and the mice in each group were treated correspondingly. Liver morphological and pathological changes were observed and organ index was calculated. Serum levels of alanine aminotransferase(ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase(AST) were detected. Malondialdehyde(MDA) and superoxide dismutase(SOD) in liver tissues were detected by assay kits. The levels of interleukin-6(IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α) were detected by ELISA. The activation of macrophages was observed by immunofluorescence staining and protein expression of CYP2 E1, Toll-like receptor 4(TLR4), NF-κB p65, and phosphorylated NF-κB p65(p-NF-κB p65) were analyzed by Western blot. The ALD model was properly induced. Compared with the model group, the PCP groups significantly improved the pathological injury of liver tissues. Immunofluorescence staining revealed that compared with the model group, the groups with drug intervention showed decreased macrophages in liver tissues. Additionally, the PCP groups showed reduced ALT, AST, MDA, IL-6, and TNF-α(P&lt;0.05), and potentiated activity of SOD(P&lt;0.01). PCP extract has the protective effect against alcoholic liver injury in mice, and the underlying mechanism may be related to the regulation of the expression of CYP2 E1 and inhibition of TLR4/NF-κB inflammatory signaling pathway to reduce oxidative stress and inflammatory injury, thereby inhibiting the development of ALD.

Efficient and fast degradation of 4-nitrophenol and detection of Fe(III) ions by Poria cocos extract stabilized silver nanoparticles

In this study, a simple and environment-friendly method has been successfully applied for the production of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using Poria cocos extract. The reaction time of 60 min, the temperature of 90 °C, and silver ion concentration of 2.0 mM were identified as the best condition for the PC-AgNPs fabrication. The XRD analysis confirmed a highly crystalline face-centered cubic structure of the biosynthesized material. The PC-AgNPs were presented separately in a spherical shape with an average crystal size of 20 nm, as endorsed by the TEM and FE-SEM measurements. The presence and crucial role of biomolecules in stabilizing the nanoparticles were elucidated by FTIR, EDX, and DLS techniques. The prepared biogenic nanoparticles were further applied for the reduction of 4-nitrophenol (4-NP) and colorimetric detection of Fe³⁺ ions. The study results proved that PC-AgNPs exhibited superior catalytic activity and reusability in the conversion of 4-NP by NaBH₄. The complete reduction of 4-NP could be achieved in 10 min with the pseudo-first-order rate constant of 0.466 min^-1, and no significant performance loss was found when the material was reused five times. The colorimetric probe based on PC-AgNPs displayed outstanding sensitivity and selectivity towards Fe³⁺ ions with a detection limit of 1.5 μM in a linear range of 0-250 μM. Additionally, the applicability of the developed assay was explored for testing Fe³⁺ ions in tap water. PC-AgNPs have a great potential for further applications as a promising catalyst for reducing nitrophenols and biosensors for the routine monitoring of Fe³⁺ in water.

Wild Strawberry-like Flavor Produced by the Fungus Wolfiporia cocos─Identification of Character Impact Compounds by Aroma Dilution Analysis after Dynamic Headspace Extraction

Brown-rot fungi are particularly suitable for the sustainable and cost-efficient biotechnological production of natural flavors. In this study, Wolfiporia cocos was employed for the fermentation of European black currant pomace supplemented with aspartate in surface cultures to produce a flavor reminiscent of wild strawberries. Aroma dilution analysis (ADA) by means of dynamic headspace extraction was developed as a suitable technique for solid samples. The character impact compounds were quantified by stable isotope dilution analysis and standard addition and validated by recombination experiments. (R)-Linalool (1879 μg kg^-1, ADA 2¹¹), methyl anthranilate (2206 μg kg^-1, 2¹⁰), 2-aminobenzaldehyde (771 μg kg^-1, 2⁵), and geraniol (138 μg kg^-1, 2⁵) were identified as key aroma compounds. Recombination experiments demonstrated that the combination of the four analyzed compounds was responsible for the odor impression reminiscent of wild strawberries.

Molecular-level variation of dissolved organic matter and microbial structure of produced water during its early storage in Fuling shale gas field, China

Shale gas-produced water (PW), the waste fluid generated during gas production, contains a large number of organic contaminants and high salinity matrix. Previous studies generally focused on the end-of-pipe treatment of the PW and ignored the early collection process. In this study, the transformation of the molecular composition and microbial community structure of the PW in the transportation and storage process (i.e., from the gas-liquid separator to the storage tank) were investigated. As the PW was transported from the gas-liquid separator to the portable storage tank, the dissolved organic matter (DOM) showed greater saturation, less oxidation, and lower polarity. DOMs with high O/C and low H/C ratios (numbers of oxygen and hydrogen divided by numbers of carbon) were eliminated, which may be due to precipitation or adsorption by the solids suspended in the PW. The values of double-bond equivalent (DBE), DBE/C (DBE divided by the number of carbon), and aromatic index (AI) decreased, likely because of the microbial degradation of aromatic compounds. The PW in the gas-liquid separator presented a lower biodiversity than that in the storage tank. The microbial community in the storage tank showed the coexistence of anaerobes and aerobes. Genera related to biocorrosion and souring were detected in the two facilities, thus indicating the necessity of more efficient anticorrosion strategies. This study helps to enhance the understanding of the environmental behavior of PW during shale gas collection and provides a scientific reference for the design and formulation of efficient transportation and storage strategies to prevent and control the environmental risk of shale gas-derived PW.

Garlic (Allium sativum) and Fu-ling (Poria cocos) mitigate lead toxicity by improving antioxidant defense mechanisms and chelating ability in the liver of grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella)

The heavy metal lead (Pb) is a contaminant widely distributed in the food chain. In this study, eight weeks of feeding containing Garlic (Allium sativum) or Fu-ling (Poria cocos) or both, markedly increased the growth index, enzyme activity, and serum index and significantly decreased muscle Pb level in grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella). Upon Pb exposure, the feeding Garlic or Fu-ling or both possessed the similar effects on improving the function of the antioxidant system and chelating ability. Further, the gene expressions of metal binding proteins (TF and MT-2) in the liver of the three experimental groups were significantly higher than those of the control group, which were all highly up-regulated after Pb exposure. At the same time, the activities of antioxidant enzymes (SOD and CAT) and the content of non-enzymatic substance (GSH) in the liver of the Garlic group, Fu-ling group and mixed group were stable compared to the control group after Pb exposure. Moreover, the reduction of Pb toxicity was manifested by the decrease of Pb content in the muscle, and the stable expression of heat stress proteins (HSP30 and HSP60) and immune-related genes (TNF-α and IL-1β). Taken together, the study preliminarily shows that the Garlic and Fu-ling play a role in mitigating the toxicity of Pb in grass carp.

137Cs and 40K activities and total K distribution in the sclerotia of the Wolfiporia cocos fungus from China

The activity concentration of ¹³⁷Cs and ⁴⁰K and total K content in the sclerotia of the Chinese medicinal fungus Wolfiporia cocos collected mainly from Yunnan province of China during the period 2013-2015 were investigated. W. cocos in Yunnan is collected from the wild and is cultivated in field conditions and the wood substrate used is derived from the local pine (Pinus yunnanensis Franch.) logs from neighborhood forests. The outer part of sclerotia was found to be richer than the inner one in both ¹³⁷Cs and ⁴⁰K with median values of 7.3 and 3.2 Bq kg^-1 dry weight (dw) for ¹³⁷Cs, 220 and 140 Bq kg^-1 dw for ⁴⁰K. The median K concentrations were 6800 mg kg^-1 dw in the outer and 3700 mg kg^-1 dw in the inter parts. No statistically significant correlation was found for activity concentrations between the inner and outer parts, both for ¹³⁷Cs and ⁴⁰K (p > 0.05). Using the median activities of ¹³⁷Cs, the nominal values of effective dose (mSv) for exposed adults annually consuming 50 g of sclerotia, were estimated at 0.0035 mSv and 0.084 mSv (outer part), and 0.0020 mSv and 0.040 mSv (inner part) per capita, respectively. Sclerotia of W. cocos seemed to be a relatively good source of K.

Poria cocos (Fuling) targets TGFβ/Smad7 associated collagen accumulation and enhances Nrf2-antioxidant mechanism to exert anti-skin aging effects in human dermal fibroblasts

Oxidative stress is a major cause of aging related skin injuries. Hydrogen peroxide related ROS accumulation triggers increase in matrix metalloproteinases and elevated collagen degradation, which is a characteristic of skin aging. In this study, we investigated the protective effect of Poria cocos, used widely in the treatment of inflammatory diseases, against H₂ O₂ induced oxidative stress. The aqueous extract of dried P. cocos was obtained by heating 10 g in 500 ml of distilled water. The mixture was evaporated up to 400 ml and the remaining 100 ml was filtered through muslin cloth repeatedly to obtain a clear aqueous extract of the P. cocos. Hs68 human dermal fibroblast cells were challenged with 100 μM of H₂ O₂ for 24 h. Following H₂ O₂ challenge, the cells were treated with increasing concentration of P. cocos extract (100-400 μg/ml) for 24 h. P. cocos extract hindered the H₂ O₂ induced cell death significantly that was correlated with reduction in ROS accumulation. Western blot analysis show that P. cocos extract suppressed the expression of metallomatrix proteinases, inflammatory markers and skin aging markers, but increased TGF-β1 levels and antioxidant related proteins. These data suggest that P. cocos is effective in attenuating oxidative stress associated skin aging effects and may be a potential agent in cosmetics products.

Multiple-fingerprint analysis of Poria cocos polysaccharide by HPLC combined with chemometrics methods

In this study, the multiple fingerprints, which were integrated with HPGFC-ELSD (high performance gel filtration chromatography - evaporative light scattering detector) fingerprint, PMP-HPLC-DAD (1-phenyl-3-methyl-5-pyrazolone-high performance liquid chromatography - diode array detector) fingerprint of complete acid hydrolysates and HILIC-HPLC-ELSD (hydrophilic interaction - high performance liquid chromatography - evaporative light scattering detector) fingerprint of enzyme hydrolysates, were established to evaluate the quality of polysaccharides from Poria cocos (PCPs). The similarity evaluation showed that 16 batches of PCPs from different origins had high similarity in structural characteristics based on the multiple fingerprints. The chromatographic data of multiple fingerprints of PCPs were fused, processed and analyzed by chemometric methods including HCA (hierarchical cluster analysis), PCA (principal component analysis) and PLS-DA (partial least squares discriminant analysis). The 16 batches of PCPs were divided into 3 categories in PCA, indicating a certain relationship between the structural characteristics and the origins. PLS-DA analysis indicated that Man, Glc, Gal, Fuc, the components with m/z of 2.22 × 10⁴∼1.53 × 10⁴ Da and 3.46 × 10³∼2.69 × 10³ Da, oligosaccharides with DPs of 6 and 7, respectively, could be regarded as potential chemical markers for the classification of PCPs from different origins. According to the multiple fingerprints and chemometric analysis, the two commercial samples were proved to be adulterants.

Rapid determination of polysaccharides and antioxidant activity of Poria cocos using near-infrared spectroscopy combined with chemometrics

This study evaluates the feasibility of near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy combined with chemometrics as a fast and efficient technique to predict the polysaccharide content and antioxidant activity of Poria cocos. The reference values of polysaccharide content were determined by the phenol-sulfuric acid method, and the antioxidant activities were determined by the DPPH scavenge assay, FRAP scavenge assay and ABTS scavenge assay, respectively. The partial least squares regression algorithm was used to relate the spectra to the reference values. Various methods for spectra pretreatment and variable selection were optimized to improve the predictability and stability of the models. As a result, the best models yielded very satisfying results, of which the values of coefficients of determination were all >0.94, and the values of residual predictive deviation were all >4. Such results confirmed that the present method is robust and applicable, and thus has good potential for rapid quality evaluation of Poria cocos.

Effect of large dosage of Fuling on urinary protein of diabetic nephropathy: A protocol of systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials

INTRODUCTION

Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is one of the most common and serious microvascular complications in patients with diabetes, which seriously affects their life quality and survival time. large dose herb Fuling or compound prescription contain large dose Fuling for treatment of DN has already been confirmed. However, due to the lack of evidence, there is no specific method or suggestion, so it is necessary to carry out systematic evaluation on Fuling and provide effective evidence for further research.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

The following databases will be searched from their inception to June 2020: Electronic database includes PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, Nature, Science online, Chinese Biomedical Database WangFang, VIP medicine information, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI). Primary outcomes:24-hurinary-albumin, Urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio. Additional outcomes: Serum creatinine, Blood urea nitrogen, Glomerular filtration rate, Endogenous creatinine clearance rate. Data will be extracted by 2 researchers independently, risk of bias of the meta-analysis will be evaluated based on the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions. All data analysis will be conducted by data statistics software Review Manager V.5.3. and Stata V.12.0.

RESULTS

The results of this study will systematically evaluate the effectiveness and safety of large dose Fuling intervention for people with DN.

CONCLUSION

The systematic review of this study will summarize the current published evidence of large dose Fuling for the treatment of DN, which can further guide the promotion and application of it.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

This study is a systematic review, the outcomes are based on the published evidence, so examination and agreement by the ethics committee are not required in this study. We intend to publish the study results in a journal or conference presentations.

OPEN SCIENCE FRAMEWORK (OSF) REGISTRATION NUMBER

August 24, 2020. osf.io/ym2c6. (https://osf.io/ym2c6).

The efficacy and safety of Banxia-Houpo-Tang for chronic pharyngitis: A protocol for systematic review and meta analysis

BACKGROUND

Chronic pharyngitis is a common disease with a dry throat, sore throat, pharyngeal itching, dry cough, and difficulty in swallowing, bringing inconvenience to patients' daily life. Banxia-Houpo-Tang (BHT) has proven to be effective in the treatment of chronic pharyngitis, yet its real extent is not well understood. To prove this point, we will perform a protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis of BHT for chronic pharyngitis.

METHODS/DESIGN

We will search for electronic databases both English and Chinese from inception to December 2019. Two experienced researchers select the qualified articles from: The Cochrane Library, EBM Reviews, OVID, Web of Science, PubMed, Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), China Academic Journal Network Publishing Database (CAJD), China Biomedical Literature database (CBM), VIP Database for Chinese Technical Periodicals (VIP). Journal Integration Platform and WAN FANG Database. We select the appropriate searching language. The primary outcome was remission rate, and the secondary outcomes include clinical symptoms, clinical examination, adverse event. Data extraction and quality assessment will be conducted by 2 experienced researchers independently. Data analysis and the risk of bias assessment will be determined by RevMan 5.3 software.

RESULTS

Based on the current proofs, we will get the exact evidence about the safety and effectiveness of BHT in the treatment of chronic pharyngitis.

CONCLUSION

Our study is the first meta-analysis to evaluate the efficacy and safety of BHT in the treatment of chronic pharyngitis, and it will provide evidence for alternative treatment for the management of chronic pharyngitis.

OSF REGISTRATION NUMBER

DOI 10.17605/OSF.IO/QNF6X.

Fuling Sini decoction for patients with chronic heart failure: A protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Chronic heart failure (CHF) is one of the most important cardiovascular diseases worldly, with high morbidity and mortality. Fuling Sini decoction (FSD) has been used in the management of CHF widely in China, while its effective evidence is not clear. A systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate FSD for CHF is lacking. Hence, we propose a protocol for systematic evaluation of its efficacy and safety for CHF.

METHODS

We will search the following electronic databases from inception to October 2018, including EMBASE, Cochrane Center Registration Controlled trials (Cochrane Library), PubMed, Medline, WHO International Clinical Trials Registry Platform, China Biomedical Literature Database (CBM), China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Chinese Scientific Journal Database (VIP), and Wan-fang database. Only randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of FSD alone or combined with other management for CHF will be included. Two independent reviewers will screen the literature and extract data according to the Cochrane Handbook method. The assessment of bias risk, data synthesis, subgroup analysis, and meta-analyses and finally meta-analysis will be performed by using RevMan V.5.3.5 software.

RESULTS

This systematic review will provide high-quality evidence and may be the first to evaluate efficacy and safety of FSD in the treatment of CHF.

CONCLUSION

This systematic review will provide evidence for judging whether FSD is an effective management for CHF or not.

PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER

CRD 42018110210.

Isolation of β-1,3-Glucanase-Producing Microorganisms from Poria cocos Cultivation Soil via Molecular Biology

β-1,3-Glucanase is considered as a useful enzymatic tool for β-1,3-glucan degradation to produce (1→3)-linked β-glucan oligosaccharides with pharmacological activity properties. To validly isolate β-1,3-glucanase-producing microorganisms, the soil of Wolfiporia extensa, considered an environment rich in β-1,3-glucan-degrading microorganisms, was subjected to high throughput sequencing. The results demonstrated that the genera Streptomyces (1.90%) and Arthrobacter (0.78%) belonging to the order Actinomycetales (8.64%) in the phylum Actinobacteria (18.64%) were observed in soil for P. cocos cultivation (FTL₁). Actinomycetes were considered as the candidates for isolation of glucan-degrading microorganisms. Out of 58 isolates, only 11 exhibited β-1,3-glucan-degrading activity. The isolate SYBCQL belonging to the genus Kitasatospora with β-1,3-glucan-degrading activity was found and reported for the first time and the isolate SYBC17 displayed the highest yield (1.02 U/mg) among the isolates. To check the β-1,3-glucanase contribution to β-1,3-glucan-degrading activity, two genes, 17-W and 17-Q, encoding β-1,3-glucanase in SYBC17 and one gene QLK1 in SYBCQL were cloned and expressed for verification at the molecular level. Our findings collectively showed that the isolates able to secrete β-1,3-glucanase could be obtained with the assistance of high-throughput sequencing and genes expression analysis. These methods provided technical support for isolating β-1,3-glucanase-producing microorganisms.

Mercury in Sclerotia of Wolfiporia Extensa (Peck) Ginns Fungus Collected Across of the Yunnan Land

Dried sclerotia of Wolfiporia extensa has a long history of medicinal uses in Asia and also is a traditional snack in Beijing that is called “fuling jiabing”. This study aimed at providing and evaluating data on total Hg contents of sclerotia collected across of the Yunnan land in China, which is generally lacking information. Sclerotia of W. extensa showed a low contamination with Hg when compared to fruiting bodies of many mushroom species. The Hg contents ranged from 0.004 1 to 0.019 mg Hg per kg dry matter with a median value of 0.011 mg·kg-1 dry matter and an overall mean value of (0.011±0.004) mg·kg-1 dry matter. Mercury content of sclerotia varied between the places of collection in mountainous Yunnan. Assessed intake of Hg by adult eating 50 g of the “average” Yunnan’s origin sclerotia contained in the “Fuling jiabing” snack could be between 0.000 009 2 and 0.000 55 mg per capita or between 0.000 003 4 and 0.000 016 mg per kg body mass for a typical adult of mass 60 kg, which is a low intake and Hg intakes would even be much less if taking decoctions of sclerotia. This study has revealed that sclerotia of W. extensa showed a weak contamination with Hg and possible Hg intake eating sclerotia of W. extensa is below health limits. Also Hg intake from the decoctions of W. extensa is much below health limits and “fuling jiabing” snack made of sclerotia of W. extensa provides little Hg.

Diuretic activity of some fractions of the epidermis of Poria cocos

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Poria cocos Wolf (Polyporaceae) is a well-known medicinal fungus, the epidermis ("Fu-Ling-Pi" in Chinese) of the sclerotia is used as a diuretic for treating oedema and promoting the diuretic process. In this paper we report on the diuretic activity in rats of petroleum ether, ethyl acetate, n-butanol and the remaining fractions of the ethanol extract from the epidermis of Poria cocos.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Petroleum ether, ethyl acetate, n-butanol and the remaining fractions of the ethanol extract of Fu-Ling-Pi were orally administered to rats. The urinary excretion rate and the pH and electrolyte excretion were measured in the urine of saline-loaded rats.

RESULTS

In this study, all the tested fractions of Fu-Ling-Pi increased the urinary excretion rate. The three doses of the ethyl acetate fraction all produced remarkable urinary output in 6h, and all produced a remarkable increase in Na(+) excretion and Cl(-) excretion. The Na(+)/K(+) value in the experimental group was significantly enhanced compared with that of the control group, but the three doses of the ethyl acetate fraction had no effect on the K(+) excretion. The 25-mg/kg and 50-mg/kg doses of the n-butanol fraction showed notable urinary output and produced a remarkable increase of Na(+) excretion and Cl(-) excretion, but the two doses did not produce a remarkable effect on the Na(+)/K(+) value. The petroleum ether and remaining fractions did not show remarkable diuretic activities compared with the control group.

CONCLUSIONS

This study confirmed that the ethyl acetate and n-butanol fractions present a remarkable diuretic effect, showing that they are the diuretic bioactive fractions of Fu-Ling-Pi. This finding appears to indicate at least two mechanisms for the observed diuretic activity, and the K(+)-saving diuretic effect may be related to the triterpenoid components of intermediate polarity contained in this fungus, particularly the lanostanes tetracyclic triterpenoids.

Urinary metabonomic study of the surface layer of Poria cocos as an effective treatment for chronic renal injury in rats

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Poria cocos Wolf (Polyporaceae) is a well-known medicinal fungus. The epidermis of the sclerotia ("Fu-Ling-Pi" in Chinese) is used as a diuretic and traditionally used for promoting urination and reduce edema.

AIM OF THE STUDY

Traditional Chinese medicines (TCM) treat many diseases through multi-components, multi-ways and multi-targets. However, the molecular mechanisms of TCM are not yet well understood. In the present work, ultra performance liquid chromatography-based metabonomics analysis was applied to investigate the urinary metabolite profiling of the renoprotective effect of FLP on adenine-induced chronic kidney disease (CKD) rat model and involved possible mechanism.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

A metabonomic approach based on ultra performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight high-sensitivity mass spectrometry and a novel mass spectrometry(Elevated Energy) data collection technique was developed. The resulting dataset was analyzed by principal component analysis and partial least squares discriminant analysis. The identification of all potential biomarkers was performed using reference standard by comparing their mass spectra, MS(E) fragments information, isotopic pattern and MassLynx i-FIT algorithm.

RESULTS

By partial least squares-discriminate analysis, 15 biomarkers in rat urine were identified and 11 of them were related to the pathway of adenine metabolism and amino acid metabolism. Among these biomarkers, eight biomarkers like adenine, L-acetylcarnitine, 8-hydroxyadenine, hypoxanthine, creatine, methionine, phytosphingosine and phenylalanine were reversed to the control level in FLP-treated group and six biomarkers like 2,8-dihydroxyadenine, indole-3-carboxylic acid, 3-methyldioxyindole, ethyl-N2-acetyl-L-argininate, 3-O-methyldopa and xanthurenic acid were reversed to high control group by FLP, which indicates that the urinary metabolic pattern significantly changed after FLP treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study indicates that FLP treatment can ameliorate CKD by intervening in some dominating metabolic pathways, such as adenine metabolism and amino acid metabolism. The metabonomic results not only supplied a systematic view of the development and progression of CKD and mechanism studies of FLP but also provided the theoretical basis for the prevention or treatment of CKD.

[Chemical constituents of surface layer of Poria cocos and their pharmacological properties (I)]

The surface layer of the sclerotia of Poria cocos, named Fu-Ling-Pi, is used as a diuretic in traditional Chinese medicine to treat edema and urinary dysfunction. Recent studies have showed that the triterpenes (lanostane and 3,4-secolanostane skeletons) and polysaccharides (beta-pachyman) are the main components of Fu-Ling-Pi and they exhibited various biological activities, such as anti-tumor, antibacterial and antioxidant, etc. This review was focused on the chemistry, pharmacology, and clinical uses of this drug and it may provide scientific foundation for further development and utilization of Fulingpi.