Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic and non-specific inflammatory bowel disease that poses a serious threat to individuals' health and lives. Notoginsenoside R1 (R1) alleviates various symptoms caused by UC effectively. However, the application of R1 is somewhat restricted due to its low bioavailability and nontargeted delivery in vivo. Consequently, it is imperative to develop novel strategies to overcome the aforementioned limitations and enhance the efficacy of this drug. To enhance R1's efficacy and targeting ability, polyethylene glycol poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) nanoparticles loaded with R1 (R1@PEG–PLGA NPs) modified by transferrin (Tf) were prepared in this study and named R1@Tf–PEG–PLGA NPs. R1@PEG–PLGA NPs and R1@Tf–PEG–PLGA NPs were prepared through nanoprecipitation, and the characterization methods were as follows: First, the surface morphology of the NPs was studied through transmission electron microscopy. Second, particle size, polydispersity index (PDI), and zeta potential were measured with a Malvern particle size analyzer, and the Tf grafting rate on the surface of the NPs was determined by using a bicinchoninic acid protein quantification kit. Third, high-performance liquid chromatography was used in determining the drug load (DL), entrapment efficiency (EE), and in vitro release of the prepared preparation. In addition, the fluorescence intensities of fluorescent-labeled NPs absorbed and ingested in Caco-2 cells were observed through in vitro experiments using fluorescence microscopy; the effects of incubation time, incubation temperature, and endocytosis inhibitors on the uptake of nanoparticles were compared; and the uptake-transport mechanism was explored. Finally, in vivo experiments were performed using the oxazolone (OXZ)-induced UC model in Sprague–Dawley (SD) rats to assess the pharmacodynamic effects and tissue distribution of the prepared NPs. The experimentally prepared R1@Tf–PEG–PLGA NPs were round particles with particle size and PDI of 153.50 ± 2.01 and 0.11 ± 0.01, respectively. In addition, the DL of R1@Tf-PEG-PLGA NPs was 24.26

In this work, self-double-emulsifying drug delivery system enteric-coated capsules (PNS-SDE-ECC) were used to enhance the oral bioavailability and anti-inflammatory effects of Panax notoginseng saponins (PNS), which are rapidly biodegradable, poorly membrane permeable, and highly water-soluble compounds. The PNS-SDEDDS formulated by a modified two-step method spontaneously emulsified to W/O/W double emulsions in the outer aqueous solution, which significantly promoted the absorption of PNS in the intestinal tract. The release study revealed that PNS-SDE-ECC exhibited sustained release of PNS within 24 h and the stability study indicated that PNS-SDE-ECC were stable at room temperature for up to 3 months. Furthermore, compared to PNS gastric capsules, the relative bioavailability of NGR1, GRg1, GRe, GRb1, and GRd in PNS-SDE-ECC was increased by 4.83, 10.78, 9.25, 3.58, and 4.63 times, respectively. More importantly, PNS-SDE-ECC significantly reduced OXZ-induced inflammatory damage in the colon by regulating the expression of TNF-α, IL-4, IL-13, and MPO cytokines. Overall, the prepared PNS-SDE-ECC may serve as a viable vehicle for increasing the oral bioavailability of PNS and its anti-inflammatory action on ulcerative colitis.

Notoginsenoside R1 (R1), which originated from the rhizomes and roots of Panax notoginseng, is classified as a Biopharmaceutical Classification System class III drug with good solubility but poor oral absorption. Although R1 can alleviate the inflammation of dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)induced colitis in mice, the problem of acid degradation and low bioavailability limit its application. The purpose of this study was aimed to design one kind of pH-dependent solid dispersion for oral colon-targeted delivery of R1. Using Eudragit S100 (ES 100) and PEG 4000 as the pHdependent carriers, R1 solid dispersion (R1-SD) was fabricated by solvent evaporation method. Scanning electron microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, and powder X-ray diffraction analysis indicated that R1-SD was completely formed, the surface was smooth surface and the strip crystal structure of R1 disappeared. The in vitro release profile of R1-SD (R1-ES 100-PEG 4000, 1:7:1, weight ratio) exhibited that R1-SD was not released in media simulating the gastric condition (pH 1.2), but better release characteristics of the drug could be obtained in media simulating the intestinal condition (less than 30% in pH 6.8 phosphate-buffered saline and more than 90% in pH 7.6 condition). The in vitro colon absorption test showed that the absorption rate and cumulative release of R1-SD were higher than those of R1. R1-SD and R1 had apparent protective effect on colon shortening, inflammatory infiltrating tissue injury, weight loss, diarrhea, blood stool in mice with ulcerative colitis induced by DSS, and the protective effect of R1-SD was better than that of R1, which indicated R1-SD has good practical application prospects.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE:Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a neurovascular disease that causes blindness in adults and is the most serious and common complication of diabetes mellitus. Retinal inflammation is an early stage of DR, and it is believed to play a crucial role in the development of DR. Panax notoginseng saponins (PNS) are the major active constituent in the main root of P. notoginseng, and they exhibit various biological activities, including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, neuroprotective, and immunomodulatory functions. However, the protective effects and underlying mechanisms of PNS against DR remain unclear. AIM OF THE STUDY:This study aimed to investigate the alleviation effects of PNS on DR and the mechanisms involved. Furthermore, it intended to explore the major components that exert efficacy in vivo. MATERIALS AND METHODS:Streptozotocin (STZ) was administered intraperitoneally to Sprague Dawley rats, and PNS was administered orally for 1 month after 2 months of STZ injection. The morphological structure of the retina and retinal acellular capillaries were assessed via hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining assay. The disruption of the blood-retinal barrier (BRB) was detected through Evans blue dye leakage assay, and retinal leukocyte adhesion was achieved via fluorescein isothiocyanate-coupled concanavalin A lectin labeling assay. Immunofluorescence staining and Western blot assays were conducted to detect the expression of tight junction proteins, adhesion molecules, and the ionized calcium-binding adapter molecule-1 (Iba-1) in the retina. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was performed to detect the levels of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-6, and IL-1β in serum. In addition, the protein expression levels of nuclear factor (NF)-κB p65, phosphorylated IκB kinase (p-IKK), phosphorylated NF-κB inhibitor (p-IκB), and phosphorylated NF-κB p65 (p-p65) were measured using Western blot assay. The ocular tissue distribution of PNS in normal and diabetic rats was determined through ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. The in vitro anti-inflammatory effects of PNS, notoginsenoside (NGR1), ginsenoside Rg1, Re, Rb1, and Rd (GRg1, GRe, GRb1, and GRd) were evaluated on human Müller (MIO-M1) cells. RESULTS:PNS increased the reduction in retinal inner nuclear layer thickness, reduced the increase in retinal acellular capillaries, and attenuated elevated BRB disruption by upregulating the decrease in protein expression of claudin-1 and occludin. Furthermore, PNS significantly abrogated microglial cell activation and reversed the increase in leukocyte adhesion by downregulating the increase in the protein expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1. Moreover, PNS reduced the elevated levels of TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β in serum and inhibited the increased protein expression of p-IKK, p-IκB, and p-p65, and the nuclear translocation of p65. The tissue distribution results revealed that NGR1, GRg1, GRe, GRb1, and GRd were detected in the ocular tissue, while GRg1 and GRb1 were found at the highest levels compared with the other components. The cellular results showed that PNS, NGR1, GRg1, GRe, GRb1, and GRd suppressed the development of cellular inflammatory responses by inhibiting the activation of the NF-κB signaling pathway in MIO-M1 cells and that their anti-inflammatory effects were comparable. CONCLUSION:PNS suppressed retinal inflammation by inhibiting the activation of the NF-κB signaling pathway, alleviating DR. GRg1 and GRb1 may be the primary components that exert anti-inflammatory effects in vivo.

Eye drops are the most common and convenient route of topical administration and the first choice of treatment for many ocular diseases. However, the ocular bioavailability of traditional eye drops (i.e., solutions, suspensions, and ointments) is very low because of ophthalmic physiology and barriers, which greatly limits their therapeutic effect. Over the past few decades, many novel eye drop delivery systems, such as prodrugs, cyclodextrins, in situ gels, and nanoparticles, have been developed to improve ophthalmic bioavailability. These novel eye drop delivery systems have good biocompatibility, adhesion, and propermeation properties and have shown superior performance and efficacy over traditional eye drops. Therefore, the purpose of this review was to systematically present the research progress on novel eye drop delivery systems and provide a reference for the development of dosage form, clinical application, and commercial transformation of eye drops.

The present studies examined the effects of acidic fibroblast growth factor (aFGF) on 5-ene-3 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase-isomerase (3 beta-HSD) and 5 alpha-reductase activities and [125I]human chorionic gonadotrophin ([125I]hCG) binding in cultured immature rat Leydig cells. Increasing concentrations of aFGF (0.1-20 ng/ml) progressively decreased basal 3 beta-HSD activity from 0.474 +/- 0.0335 to 0.093 +/- 0.0004 nmol progesterone/30 min/10(5) cells. This inhibition by aFGF (10 ng/ml) was partially reversed by 1 micrograms/ml insulin or 100 ng/ml insulin-like growth factor-I. Increasing aFGF concentrations (0.1-10 ng/ml) also inhibited hCG-stimulated 5 alpha-reductase activity in a dose-dependent manner, but had only a modest effect on basal enzyme activity. Increasing aFGF (0.1-200 ng/ml) also progressively inhibited [125I]hCG binding in cultured immature Leydig cells. These studies demonstrate a similarity in the inhibitive effects of aFGF with bFGF effects on 3 beta-HSD and 5 alpha-reductase activities and [125I]hCG binding to LH receptors, although, generally, higher aFGF concentrations were required to elicit maximal inhibitive effects. However, a FGF differed from the actions of bFGF on 3 beta-HSD activity and LH receptor levels in that a secondary increase with higher growth factor concentrations was not observed.

目的 建立鲜百合质量控制方法.方法 采用TLC法对鲜百合进行定性鉴别,HPLC法测定王百合苷B含量;参照2015年版《中国药典》方法,测定水分、总灰分和浸出物含量.结果 TLC定性鉴别采用硅胶G板,以石油醚-二氯甲烷-乙酸乙酯-甲醇(7∶10∶7∶2)为展开系统,10％硫酸乙醇显色,365 nm下检视:鲜百合样品与对照药材在相同位置呈现相同颜色斑点,斑点清晰,重复性好;HPLC含量测定采用Agilent C18色谱柱(4.6 mm×250 mm,5 μm),在流动相乙腈-0.1％磷酸(17 ∶83)、检测波长312 nm、柱温25℃、流速1.0 mL/min、进样量20 μL条件下,王百合苷B在10.27～164.32 mg/L范围内线性关系良好(R2 = 0.999 7),平均加样回收率为100.08％(RSD为2.31％).20批样品中,王百合苷B含量0.62～4.71 mg/g;鲜百合粉末水分、总灰分和水溶性浸出物范围分别为7.53％～10.22％、2.63％～4.88％和23.07％～43.01％.结论 本研究建立的鲜百合质量控制方法准确稳定,重复性好,可用于鲜百合的质量控制.

目的:采用单因素试验与正交试验优化转铁蛋白(Tf)修饰的负载三七皂苷R1的PEG-PLGA纳米粒(R1@Tf-PEG-PLGA NPs)的制备工艺,并对其质量进行评价.方法:采用纳米沉淀法制备负载三七皂苷R1的PEG-PLGA纳米粒(R1@PEG-PLGA NPs),通过单因素试验与正交试验优选其最佳制备条件.将Tf共价偶联在纳米粒表面,制得R1@Tf-PEG-PLGA NPs.以Tf接枝率为指标,通过单因素试验优选其制备条件.采用激光粒度仪和透射电子显微镜对纳米粒进行形态表征及理化参数测定.采用透析法进行纳米粒体外释药研究,并对释药过程进行动力学模型拟合.结果:制得的R1@Tf-PEG-PLGA NPs形态圆整、分散性良好,粒径(153.50±2.01)nm,多分散指数0.11±0.01,Zeta 电位(-17.57±1.45)mV,包封率(50.32±0.86)％,载药量(24.26±0.18)％,蛋白接枝率(42.09±0.62)％.药物24 h累积释放率＞80％,体外释放过程符合Riger-Peppas动力学模型.结论:制得的R1@Tf-PEG-PLGA NPs粒径均一,包封率与载药量适宜,能够延缓药物的释放.

目的 建立超高效液相色谱-串联质谱(UPLC-MS/MS)法同时测定大鼠口服三七总皂苷后血浆中三七皂苷R1、人参皂苷Rg1、人参皂苷Re、人参皂苷Rb 1、人参皂苷Rd的含量.方法 以柴胡皂苷A为内标,蛋白沉淀法对血浆样品进行处理.色谱柱:ACQUITY BEH C18柱(100 mm×2.1 mm,1.7μm),流动相:乙腈-0.1％甲酸水溶液,梯度洗脱,流速:0.4 mL·min-1.采用电喷雾离子源,负离子模式及多反应监测模式.考察该方法的专属性、标准曲线与定量下限、精密度、提取回收率、基质效应和稳定性.结果 UPLC-MS/MS法检测三七皂苷R1、人参皂苷Rg1、人参皂苷Re、人参皂苷Rb1、人参皂苷Rd的标准曲线线性范围分别是2.01～1005.50,1.94～964.80,1.94～969.50,1.85～926.60,1.93～965.20 ng·mL-1,批内与批间精密度分别为0.96％～7.59％、0.77％～7.16％,提取回收率为85.01％～101.99％;基质效应为92.48％～105.81％;在设定的各种条件下稳定性良好.结论 建立的UPLC-MS/MS分析方法简便、快捷,适用于大鼠血浆中三七皂苷R1、人参皂苷Rg1、人参皂苷Re、人参皂苷Rb1、人参皂苷Rd的含量测定.

Inefficient diabetic ulcer healing and scar formation remain a challenge worldwide, owing to a series of disordered and dynamic biological events that occur during the process of healing. A functional wound dressing that is capable of promoting ordered diabetic wound recovery is eagerly anticipated. In this study, we designed a silicone elastomer with embedded 20(S)-protopanaxadiol-loaded nanostructured lipid carriers (PPD-NS) to achieve ordered recovery in scarless diabetic ulcer healing. The nanostructured lipid carriers were prepared through an emulsion evaporation-solidification method and then incorporated into a network of silicone elastomer to form a unique nanostructured lipid carrier-enriched gel formulation. Interestingly, the PPD-NS showed excellent in vitro anti-inflammatory and proangiogenic activity. Moreover, in diabetic mice with full-thickness skin excision wound, treatment with PPD-NS significantly promoted in vivo scarless wound healing through suppressing inflammatory infiltration in the inflammatory phase, promoting angiogenesis during the proliferation phase, and regulating collagen deposition in the remodeling phase. Hence, this study demonstrates that the developed PPD-NS could facilitate ordered diabetic wound recovery via multifunctional improvement during different wound-healing phases. This novel approach could be promising for scarless diabetic wound healing.