Objectives: Neuroinflammation is recognized as a significant characteristic of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Currently, there is a notable absence of effective pharmacological agents to prevent or treat neuroinflammatory processes associated with AD. Heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) is pivotal in the progression of neuroinflammation. In this study, we explored the potential of maltol, a Maillard reaction product derived from red ginseng, as a therapeutic agent for neuroinflammation. Methods: In vitro, HMC3 microglial cell models were developed to examine the regulatory effects of gradient concentrations of maltol (12.5, 25, 50 μM) on the TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB p65 signaling pathway, neuroinflammation, and pyroptosis. Analyses of the GEO database and Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) were performed to identify the core targets of maltol, followed by HSP70 gene silencing experiments to validate the targeted regulatory mechanism. Results: Maltol significantly mitigated LPS-induced neuronal damage and cognitive deficits in mice. It effectively suppressed microglia-mediated neuroinflammation and pyroptosis, reversed oxidative stress-induced neuronal ferroptosis, and inhibited neuronal apoptosis. In vitro experiments demonstrated that maltol obstructed TLR4/MyD88 binding, thereby inhibiting NF-κB p65-mediated neuroinflammation and pyroptosis, while also alleviating excessive ROS accumulation to enhance oxidative stress and ferroptosis. Bioinformatics analysis identified HSP70 as a crucial target for the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects of maltol. Subsequent gene silencing experiments confirmed that maltol exerted its inhibitory effects on LPS-induced neuroinflammation and pyroptosis in an HSP70-dependent manner. Conclusions: Maltol exhibits significant protective effects against Alzheimer’s disease-related neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, pyroptosis, and ferroptosis through the targeting of HSP70. This study elucidates the molecular mechanisms by which maltol improves neuroinflammatory injury and provides a novel theoretical foundation and therapeutic strategy for the intervention of Alzheimer’s disease neuroinflammation using traditional Chinese medicine.

Since MDCK cells are inherently tumorigenic, their safety in vaccine production has long been a concern; thus, establishing a screening method for low-tumorigenic cells is of great significance for influenza vaccine development. This study successfully obtained a low-tumorigenic MDCK cell line through monoclonal screening and systematically evaluated its potential as a cellular substrate for influenza vaccines using male nude mice (BALB/c nu/nu, 4-7 weeks old) for tumorigenicity assessment. Comprehensive analysis of the biological characteristics of the screened cells-including growth curves and transcriptomic features-showed that the cell line exhibits stable growth and consistent traits. Transcriptomic comparison was performed between two defined biological states: parental MDCK cells (SQ group) and the low-tumorigenic clone MDCK-20B9 (SH group). Transcriptomic analysis revealed good dispersion among samples and an overall consistent gene expression distribution. Differential expression analysis identified a total of 2198 differentially expressed genes, including 902 upregulated and 1296 downregulated genes. GO functional enrichment analysis indicated that these genes are mainly involved in biological processes such as acute-phase response, retinol metabolism, mitotic chromosome condensation, and cell migration; are enriched in cellular components such as kinetochores and the extracellular matrix; and are associated with molecular functions including calcium ion binding and the Wnt signaling pathway. KEGG pathway analysis further revealed that the differentially expressed genes are significantly enriched in key pathways such as cancer pathways, cell cycle, and cell adhesion molecules. The expression trends of five key differentially expressed genes were validated by RT-qPCR. In summary, this study successfully screened a stable and consistent low-tumorigenic MDCK cell line, providing a theoretical basis and practical foundation for its use as a cellular substrate in influenza vaccine development.

Ginseng is widely used in agricultural products, dietary health supplements, and pharmaceutical preparations, which has significant market potential. It is of great significance to develop a more efficient and environmentally friendly production process of ginseng powder. However, ginseng is difficult to be milled to an ideal state by dry grinding method because of its higher fiber content. In the meantime, ginseng has high viscosity when suspended in a liquid, which can pose challenges during wet grinding processes. In order to develop a production process for ginseng powder with excellent physicochemical properties, three kinds of powders were obtained by both dry grinding method (ball mill) and wet grinding method (colloid mill&high-pressure homogenizer) in this study. The powder properties, structural properties, saponin contents,and antioxidant activity of different ginseng powders were also investigated. The results showed that wet grinding technology using a high-pressure homogenization process could significantly improve the powder properties，including the particle size, specific surface area, span value, water holding capacity, and appearance. Moreover, both the saponin contents and the antioxidant activity of the powder had been significantly enhanced. The findings indicated that high-pressure homogenization process was a promising technique for producing plant powders rich in bioactive compounds, which could enhance their bioactivity. The method was argued to be a significant alternative technology for production of ginseng ultrafine powders. Furthermore, it offered theoretical and technical support for the application of the high-pressure homogenization process in the preparation of ultrafine powders with reduced particle sizes from high-fiber plants.

Background:Fufang Muji Granules is a traditional Chinese medicine of the Manchu ethnic group and is thought to treat hepatitis and liver injury by inhibiting the elevation of alpha-fetoprotein.Methods:In this investigation,tandem mass tag(TMT)-based quantitative proteomics was performed to figure out the therapeutic mechanisms of Fufang Muji Granules on liver injury caused by carbon tetrachloride(CCl4)in rats.Results:Biochemical analyses(alanine aminotransferase;glutamate aminotransferase;aspartate aminotransferase)and histologic analyses(hematoxylin-eosin)demonstrated that FMG was effective in ameliorating liver injury.A sum of 6,208 proteins were identified and 2,475 proteins were determined as differential abundance proteins(DAPs)in rat liver treated with Fufang Muji Granules which compared to the model group.Bioinformatics analysis indicated that the DAPs are primarily enriched in multiple pathways such as rno00280(valine,leucine,and isoleucine degradation),rno00640(Propanoate metabolism),and rno00380(Tryptophan metabolism).Western blot was employed to validate the findings from the proteomic analysis.Conclusion:This study not only provides useful information on the mechanism of Fufang Muji Granules in the treatment of liver injury but also serves as a basis for further study of Fufang Muji Granules in vivo.

BACKGROUND:In the industrial processing of sea cucumbers, the nutrient-rich viscera are often discarded as by-products, leading to resource waste and environmental pollution. To achieve high-value utilization of these resources, the present study aimed to optimize an enzymatic process to extract anti-fatigue bioactive peptides from sea cucumber viscera for use in functional foods. RESULTS:The hydrolysis conditions with neutral protease were optimized using response surface methodology and the optimal conditions were determined as follows: an enzyme addition of 3 μL g-1, a temperature of 65 °C, pH 7.0, a duration of 4 h and a material-to-liquid ratio of 1:4 (g mL-1). Under these conditions, a high polypeptide yield of 303.0 mg g-1 was obtained. The resulting enzymatic hydrolysate (EH) contained small peptides (< 1000 Da) at a concentration of 775.40 mg g-1, which was significantly higher than that in the non-enzymatic hydrolysate (491.21 mg g-1). Furthermore, the EH exhibited increased levels of branched-chain and functional amino acids along with improved nutritional indices. The anti-fatigue effects of EH were evaluated in a murine model using an exhaustive swimming test combined with biochemical analyses. The results demonstrated that EH treatment significantly prolonged thorough swimming time and elevated levels of liver glycogen, lactate dehydrogenase, tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin-2, at the same time as reducing blood urea nitrogen levels. CONCLUSION:Bioactive peptides derived from sea cucumber viscera exhibit strong anti-fatigue activity, demonstrating great potential as functional food ingredients. This work provides a sustainable and efficient strategy for valorizing seafood processing by-products. © 2025 Society of Chemical Industry.

In this study, Drimartol B, a sesquiterpene coumarin isolated from the edible powder of Artemisia sphaerocephala seeds, was investigated for its potential anti-NSCLC effects. Our findings showed that drimartol B inhibited the proliferation of both A549 and NCI-H1975 cells. Mechanistic studies revealed that Drimartol B induced cell cycle arrest, decreased mitochondrial membrane potential, reduced Bcl-2, and increased Bax, Caspase-9, and -3 levels, thereby promoting apoptosis. Additionally, network pharmacology identified the PI3K/AKT/FoxO3a pathway as a key target. Molecular docking demonstrated favorable binding affinities between drimartol B and these proteins. Moreover, the regulatory role of drimartol B in NSCLC cells via PI3K/AKT/FoxO3a pathway was confirmed by co-treatment with SC-79 or JY-2. Overall, our findings reveal that drimartol B exerts anticancer effects on NSCLC cells via modulation of the PI3K/AKT/FoxO3a pathway. The future perspective of drimartol B as a dietary component for NSCLC treatment suggests its possible utility in personalized nutrition approaches.

It has been demonstrated that di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) and its metabolite mono-phthalate (2-ethylhexyl) (MEHP) adversely affect male reproductive development and function. Oxidative damage might be one of the critical mechanisms of DEHP-induced spermatogenic damage. 20(R)-ginsenoside Rg3 (Rg3), a major compound derived from ginseng with good antioxidant effects, has been shown to have potential in ameliorating testicular damage induced by heat stress. However, its effects on DEHP-induced spermatogenesis disorders remained unexplored. The aim of this work was to explore the preventive role of Rg3 and its related mechanisms by establishing DEHP-induced spermatogenesis disorder in mice and MEHP-induced damage to mouse testicular Leydig cell TM3 and mouse testicular Sertoli cell TM4 in vitro. The results showed that treatment of mice with Rg3 could significantly ameliorate DEHP-induced oxidative stress, ferroptosis and apoptosis. Rg3 pretreatment also protected the TM3 and TM4 cells from MEHP-induced damage by improving the expression of testosterone synthesis-related proteins as well as secretion function-related proteins. Importantly, molecular docking and dynamics simulations also clearly indicated strong binding affinity between Rg3 and the androgen receptor protein AR. These findings suggest that Rg3 might potentially alleviate the damage to Sertoli cells and Leydig cells by inhibiting DEHP-induced oxidative stress, thereby restoring the normal progress of testicular spermatogenesis and showing potential as a novel preventive ingredient against spermatogenic damage.

This study investigated the effects of seven processing methods on the structure and functional properties of soluble dietary fiber (SDF) from Tartary buckwheat bran, including microwave radiation, high-pressure steam, Aspergillus niger fermentation, Trichoderma viride fermentation, and combinations of these methods with microwave radiation. The results showed that microwave-assisted Aspergillus niger fermentation microwave-assisted fermentation (MA-S) was the most effective method for improving the structure and functional properties of SDF, significantly increased the SDF content. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed that MA-S-treated SDF had a typical honeycomb-like porous structure. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis showed that MA-S treatment significantly increased the crystallinity of SDF and improved its thermal stability. Functional property analysis revealed that MA-S-treated SDF had excellent water-holding capacity (WHC), oil-holding capacity (OHC), swelling capacity (SC), and glucose adsorption capacity (GAC). Additionally, MA-S-treated SDF had enhanced adsorption capacity for cholesterol, nitrite, and bile salts under simulated gastrointestinal pH conditions. Antioxidant activity measurement showed that MA-S treatment significantly improved the DPPH free radical scavenging activity of SDF. Moreover, different extraction methods resulted in differences in the monosaccharide composition of SDF, with glucose, galactose, xylose, arabinose, and uronic acid being the most significantly affected. This study provides new insights and scientific evidence for the development of functional Tartary buckwheat bran SDF, which has significant implications for its application in functional foods.

Lung cancer remains a leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide, where conventional chemotherapy is often limited by severe side effects and drug resistance. Ginsenosides, the primary bioactive triterpenoid saponins isolated from the root of Panax ginseng C. A. Mey, have demonstrated potential in combating non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, their efficacy under nutrient-deficient conditions remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the effects of ginsenosides on the growth and death of lung cancer cells under low-nutrient conditions and to explore the underlying mechanisms. A549 cells were divided into two groups: one cultured in 10% serum and another under serum-free conditions, followed by treatment with ginsenosides CK, Rh2(S), and Rg3(S) for 24 h. Cell proliferation and apoptosis were evaluated using a CCK-8 assay, Calcein/PI fluorescence staining, Hoechst 33258 staining, and flow cytometry. Potential targets and signaling pathways of ginsenosides were predicted using network pharmacology and bioinformatics analyses. The mRNA expression of key genes was measured by qRT-PCR, and mitochondrial membrane potential was assessed using JC-1 staining. The results showed that ginsenosides induced dose-dependent apoptosis in serum-starved A549 cells. Bioinformatics analysis suggested the involvement of the PI3K/Akt/FoxO signaling pathway, which was supported by decreased Akt mRNA levels and increased FoxO mRNA expression. Furthermore, mRNA levels of Bim, Caspase-3, Caspase-8, and Caspase-9 were significantly upregulated, accompanied by a loss of mitochondrial membrane potential. These findings indicate that under serum deprivation, ginsenosides enhance apoptosis in A549 cells, likely through the regulation of the PI3K/Akt/FoxO pathway.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) persists as a formidable therapeutic challenge, necessitating the urgent discovery of innovative treatment modalities. This study reports, for the first time, the anti-CRC activity of drimartol B, a bioactive sesquiterpene isolated from Artemisia sphaerocephala seeds. The natural product's effects were systematically evaluated in HT-29 and DLD-1 human CRC cell lines. The findings reveal a novel anti-CRC mechanism of drimartol B. By modulating mitochondrial pathway-associated proteins and suppressing glycolysis, drimartol B triggers apoptosis in CRC cells. Specifically, drimartol B suppresses the AKT serine/threonine kinase 1 (AKT1) / glucose transporter type 1 (GLUT1) / hexokinase 2 (HK2) pathway, leading to a significant reduction in glucose uptake, adenosine triphosphate (ATP) production, and lactate accumulation. Mechanistically, this disruption results in a considerable decrease in mitochondrial membrane potential and disrupted B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) / Bcl-2-associated X protein (Bax) balance, triggering cysteinyl aspartate specific proteinase 3 (Caspase-3) and caspase-9 activation, ultimately causing CRC cell apoptosis. Moreover, drimartol B effectively inhibits AKT1-mediated glycolysis; both AKT1 activation and pyruvate supplementation attenuated its effects, with the former mitigating glycolytic inhibition and the latter reducing apoptosis.

Cisplatin, a frequently prescribed chemotherapeutic agent, serves as a clinically therapeutic strategy for a broad range of malignancies. Its primary mode of action centers around interference with DNA replication and RNA transcription, thereby inducing apoptosis in cancer cells. Nevertheless, the clinical utility of cisplatin is constrained by its severe adverse effects and the burgeoning problem of drug resistance. Ginsenosides, potent bioactive constituents derived from ginseng, possess an array of biological activities. Recent scientific investigations underscore the substantial amplification of cisplatin's anticancer potency and the mitigation of its harmful side effects when administered concomitantly with ginsenosides. This review aims to explore the underlying mechanisms at play in this combination therapy. Initially, we provide a concise introduction to the cisplatin. Then, we pivot towards illuminating how ginsenosides bolster the anticancer efficacy of cisplatin and counteract cisplatin resistance, culminating in enhanced therapeutic outcomes. Furthermore, we provide an extensive discussion on the reduction of cisplatin-induced toxicity in the kidneys, liver, gastrointestinal tract, nervous system, and ear, accompanied by immune-fortification with ginsenosides. The existing clinical combined use of cisplatin and ginsenosides is also discussed. We propose several recommendations to propel additional research into the mechanisms governing the synergistic use of ginsenosides and cisplatin, thereby furnishing invaluable insights and fostering advancement in combined modality therapy.

Fufang Muji granules (FMGs) are a prominent modern prescription Chinese patent formulation derived from the Muji decoction. Utilized in clinical practice for nearly four decades, FMGs have demonstrated efficacy in treating liver diseases. However, the precise mechanism of action remains unclear. This study investigates the hepatoprotective effects of FMGs against liver fibrosis in rats based on untargeted metabolomics and elucidates their underlying mechanisms. A comprehensive model of liver fibrosis was established with 30% CCl4 (2 mL/kg) injected intraperitoneally, and a fat and sugar diet combined with high temperatures and humidity. Rats were orally administered FMGs (3.12 g/kg/d) once daily for six weeks. FMG administration resulted in improved liver fibrosis and attenuated hepatic oxidative stress and apoptosis. Furthermore, FMGs inhibited hepatic stellate cell activation and modulated transforming growth factor β1/Smad signaling. Additionally, FMG treatment influenced the expression levels of interleukin-6, interleukin-1β, and tumour necrosis factor alpha in the injured liver. Metabolic pathways involving taurine and hypotaurine metabolism, as well as primary bile acid biosynthesis, were identified as mechanisms of action for FMGs. Immunohistochemistry, quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR), and quantitative analysis also revealed that FMGs regulated taurine and hypotaurine metabolism and bile acid metabolism. These findings provide a valuable understanding of the role of FMGs in liver fibrosis management.

Aging is an irresistible natural law of the progressive decline of body molecules, organs, and overall function with the passage of time, resulting in eventual death. World Health Organization data show that aging is correlated with a wide range of common chronic diseases in the elderly, and is an essential driver of many diseases. Panax Ginseng C.A Meyer is an ancient herbal medicine, which has an effect of "long service, light weight, and longevity" recorded in the ancient Chinese medicine book "Compendium of Materia Medica." Ginsenoside Rg2, the main active ingredient of ginseng, also exerts a marked effect on the treatment of liver injury. However, it remains unclear whether Rg2 has the potential to ameliorate aging-induced liver injury. Hence, exploring the hepatoprotective properties of Rg2 and its possible molecular mechanism by Senescence Accelerate Mouse Prone 8 (SAMP8) and gut microbiota. Our study demonstrated that Rg2 can inhibit pyroptosis and apoptosis through caspase 8, and regulate the gut-liver axis to alleviate liver inflammation by changing the composition of gut microbiota, thus improving aging-induced liver injury. These findings provide theoretical support for the pharmacological effects of ginsenosides in delaying aging-induced liver injury.

Background: Damage to the blood-brain barrier (BBB) is vital for the development of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Ginsenoside Rg2 (G-Rg2) has been shown to improve a variety of brain injuries, but whether G-Rg2 can improve the BBB leakage related to AD is still unclear. Purpose: Illuminate the effect and mechanism of G-Rg2 on AD-related BBB damage. To clarify the role of G-Rg2 in Toll-like receptor pathway and oxidative stress pathway and its effect on tight junction proteins (TJs) expression in vivo and in vitro experiments. Methods and results: In our research, the tightness of the BBB was improved and the inflammatory pathway was suppressed after 4 weeks of treatment with G-Rg2 (10 mg kg-1 and 20 mg kg-1 ) in aluminum trichloride (AlCl3) 3 ) plus D-galactose (D-gal) caused AD mice (p p < 0.05; p < 0.01). Concurrently, the stability of TJs in mouse brain endothelial cells (bEnd3) was improved after okadaic acid (OA)-induced AD model cells were pretreated with GRg2 (5 mu M, 10 mu M, and 20 mu M) for 24 h (p p < 0.05; p < 0.01). The oxidative stress pathway and Toll-like receptor pathway in mouse astrocyte-cerebellum (MA-c) were inhibited (p p < 0.05; p < 0.01). Meanwhile, in vitro interaction model results showed that G-Rg2 reduced the activation of MA-c, thereby alleviating the degradation of TJs in bEnd3 (p p < 0.05; p < 0.01). The co-culture system of MA-c and bEnd3 further clearly demonstrated that GRg2 (20 mu M) could improve their interaction and enhance BBB tightness. Conclusion: This study suggests that G-Rg2 can inhibit the TLR4/MyD88/MMP9 inflammatory pathway by reducing the activation of MA-c and the binding of TLR4 to MyD88, thereby decreasing the secretion of inflammatory factors and matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), hence maintaining the stability of TJs in bEnd3, which may be one of the mechanisms of G-Rg2 in reducing AD-related BBB damage.

As consumer demands evolve for health supplements, traditional ginseng products are facing challenges in enhancing their powder characteristics and bioavailability. The objective of this study was to prepare a novel ginseng superfine powder using a high-pressure homogenization (HPH) process. Response surface methodology was employed to determine the effects of HPH parameters (pressure, number of passes, and concentration) on particle size and the dissolution of the saponin components of the superfine powders. The Box–Behnken design of experiments was applied to ascertain the optimal HPH parameters for the smallest particle size and the highest dissolution of the saponin components. For the powders obtained at different parameters, the characterization of tap density, bulk density, flowability, water-holding capacity, appearance, and taste were observed. The optimized experimental conditions for the HPH process were as follows: 15,000 psi (pressure), 3 (number of passes), and 1 kg/L (concentration). The optimized values were 55 μm (particle size) and 83 mg/g (dissolution of the saponin components), respectively. The method offered technical support for the application of the HPH process in the preparation of ginseng powders. The objects of this research could be broadened to include a diverse array of botanical materials, addressing contemporary demands for cost-effectiveness and sustainability within the industry.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV2), characterized by its high fatality rate and contagious nature, has led to significant morbidity and mortality worldwide, significantly impacting both our daily lives and public health. The respiratory pathway serves as the primary route for SARS-CoV2 propagation within the human body, with the lung acting as the initial target organ. Simultaneously, the lung functions as a protective barrier, preventing the entry of viruses into the bloodstream through the alveolar-capillary barrier. Bioengineered microfluidic lung chips, utilizing advanced near-to-native technologies, offer a novel perspective for comprehending the intricate workings of human lungs and facilitating the discovery of anti-coronavirus drugs to combat the challenges posed by coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). This review aims to introduce the key elements and design types of artificial lung chips that closely resemble in vivo-like niches in terms of both structure and function. Furthermore, quantitative and qualitative techniques for evaluating the functionality of the alveolar-capillary barrier are summarized, confirming the successful construction of lung chip systems through engineering approaches. The prospects and persistent challenges associated with establishing next-generation artificial lung models to meet the demands of virology studies are also discussed.

Arginyl-fructosyl-glucose (AFG) is one of the typical active non-saponins in red ginseng. This study investigates the hepatoprotective effects of AFG against acute liver injury (ALI) induced by D-galactosamine (D-GalN) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in mice. A metabolomics study was performed to clarify the hepatoprotective effect mechanisms of AFG on ALI. Eight metabolites were identified in the liver samples as potential biomarkers responsible for the hepatoprotective effect of AFG. The pathway analysis showed that the hepatoprotective effects of AFG were associated with amino acid metabolism and oxidative stress. Amino acid quantitative results revealed that Hyp, Harg, Aad, β-Ala, and Abu significantly changed after the pretreatment with AFG. In addition, AFG pre-treatment attenuated the upregulated Nrf2 and HO-1, and enhanced the expression level of Mrp2 in liver. These results has demonstrated a promising hepatoprotective of AFG for ALI, and AFG is expected to become a functional food with hepatoprotective effect.

In vivo, the complex process of drugs metabolism alters the change in drug composition and determines the final pharmacological properties of oral drugs. Ginsenosides are primary constituents of ginseng, whose pharmacological activities are greatly affected by liver metabolism. However, the predictive power of existing in vitro models is poor due to their inability to mimic the complexity of drug metabolism in vivo. The advance of organs-on-chip-based microfluidics system could provide a new in vitro drug screening platform by recapitulating the metabolic process and pharmacological activity of natural product. In this study, an improved microfluidic device was employed to establish an in vitro co-culture model by culturing multiple cell types in compartmentalized microchambers. Different cell lines were seeded on the device to examine the metabolites of ginsenosides from the hepatocytes in top layer and its resulting efficacy on the tumors in bottom layer. Metabolism dependent drug efficacy of Capecitabine in this system demonstrated the model is validated and controllable. High concentrations of CK, Rh2 (S), and Rg3 (S) ginsenosides showed significant inhibitory effects on two types of tumor cells. In addition, apoptosis detection showed that Rg3 (S) through liver metabolism promoted early apoptosis of tumor cells and displayed better anticancer activity than prodrug. The detected ginsenoside metabolites indicated that some protopanaxadiol saponins were converted into other anticancer aglycones in varying degrees due to orderly de-sugar and oxidation. Ginsenosides exhibited different efficacy on target cells by impacting their viabilities, indicating hepatic metabolism plays an important role in determining ginsenosides efficacy. In conclusion, this microfluidic co-culture system is simple, scalable, and possibly widely applicable in evaluating anticancer activity and metabolism of drug during the early developmental phases of natural product.

This study aimed to develop an integrated approach of deep eutectic solvent-based ultrasound-assisted extraction (DES–UAE) to simultaneously extract five major bioactive macamides from the roots of Lepidium meyenii Walp. Ten different DESs containing choline chloride and selected hydrogen-bond donors were prepared and evaluated based on the extracted macamide content determination using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Choline chloride/1,6-hexanediol in a 1:2 molar ratio with 20% water exhibited the most promising extraction efficiencies under the optimized parameters verified using single-factor optimization as well as Box–Behnken design. Using the optimized DES–UAE method, the extraction efficiencies of the five macamides were up to 40.3% higher compared to those using the most favorable organic solvent petroleum ether and were also superior to those of the other extraction methods, such as heating and combination of heating and stirring. Furthermore, using the macroporous resin HPD-100, the recoveries of the five target macamides from the DES extraction reached 85.62–92.25%. The 20 μg/mL group of the five macamide extracts showed superior neuroprotective activity against PC12 cell injury than that of the positive drug nimodipine. The macamide extracts also showed higher NO inhibition in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. Thus, the developed approach was a green and potential alternative that can be used to extract bioactive macamide constituents from L. meyenii in the pharmaceutical and food industries.

通过分析探讨目前全日制专业学位研究生校外导师队伍建设中存在的不足,积极探索专业学位研究生校外导师队伍建设相关措施.提出校外导师的选聘标准应侧重于实践教学能力,进一步加强校内外导师交流合作,加强实践教学的过程监督和构建完善的模块化教学体系等举措.以大连民族大学生物工程专业学位研究生校外导师队伍建设为例,探讨了在新工科背景下,通过校内、外导师共同参与指导研究生,落实"双导师制",创新工程教育模式,探索新工科的自主科学发展,构建研究生导师队伍建设长效机制的措施,旨在持续提高研究生培养质量.