Oviductus ranae (OR) is an animal-based traditional Chinese medicine. In this work, its underlying mechanism of action in mice model of perimenopausal depression (PMD) was investigated. Network pharmacology and molecule docking analysis were conducted to identify potential targets and chemical components of OR in PMD. Subsequently, 60 female mice were ovariectomized and subjected to chronic unpredictable mild stress to establish the PMD model. After 14 days of OR administration on PMD mice, the depression-like behavioral were evaluated using sucrose preference, forced swimming, tail suspension, open field and morris water maze tests. Hippocampal tissues were collected to observe pathological changes via haematoxylin-eosin (H&E) staining, and immunohistochemical analysis was performed to detect the expression of the protein kinase B (AKT), phosphoinositol 3 kinase (PI3K), and oestrogen receptor β (ER β ). Western blot (WB) analysis was Conducted to detect the expression of PI3K/AKT signalling pathway. In the results, 18 potential targets and two chemical components of OR in PMD were identified. KEGG suggested that the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway was frequently involved in treatment of PMD with OR. Molecular docking showed that β -sitosterol in OR had the best docking effect with the target. OR treatment improved depression-like behaviour of PMD mice, significantly improved pPI3K/PI3K, pAKT/AKT, and pCREB/CREB ratios and brain derived neurotrophic factor. These findings suggested that OR may alleviate PMD and increase brain-derived neurotrophic factor levels, and has a certain therapeutic effect on PMD by up-regulating the expression of ER β and activating the PI3K/AKT pathway. Overall, our study highlights OR as a promising therapeutic candidate for PMD.

Ginsenosides, as the most important constituents of ginseng, have been extensively investigated in cancer chemoprevention and therapeutics. Among the ginsenosides, Compound K (CK), a rare protopanaxadiol type of ginsenoside, has been most broadly used for cancer treatment due to its high anticancer bioactivity. However, the functional mechanism of CK in cancer is not well known. This review describes the structure, transformation and pharmacological activity of CK and discusses the functional mechanisms of CK and its metabolites, which regulate signaling pathways related to tumor growth and metastasis. CK inhibits tumor growth by inducing tumor apoptosis and tumor cell differentiation, regulates the tumor microenvironment by suppressing tumor angiogenesis-related proteins, and downregulates the roles of immunosuppressive cells, such as myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs). There is currently much research on the potential development of CK as a new strategy when administered alone or in combination with other compounds.

Studies have shown that LBP (Lycium barbarum Polysaccharides) can protect the HaCaT (Human Immortalized keratinocytes cells) against the damage caused by UVB (Ultraviolet B). To probe the effects of LBP on the HIF-1 alpha and VEGF from HaCaT cells irradiated by UVB, HaCaT was disposed of LBP following by irradiating with different energy density of UVB for 24 h. The cell viability and activity of SOD (Super Oxide Dismutase) was measured by CCK-8 and enzyme-linked immunoassay, respectively. RT-PCR and western blot were employed to study the mRNA and protein expression of these factors. The LBP significantly increased the survival rate of HaCaT cells and the SOD activity under UVB irradiation (P < 0.05), the LBP group at 50.0 mu g/mL showed the highest (P < 0.01) comparing with the control group, it could effectively reduce the mRNA and protein expression with a statistical significance. Therefore, the LBP (acidic polysaccharide, 22-25 KD) could be used for pharmaceutical and cosmetic candidate preventing UVB damage.

To research the antipyretic function of gypsum and its compatibility on yeast-induced pyrexia rats based on NF-κB signaling pathway, the rat model of fever was replicated by subcutaneous injection of 20% yeast suspension in the back of the rat. Gypsum, Anemarrhenae, gypsum and Anemarrhena or aspirin was administered by gavage. Gypsum and its synergist reduced the body temperature of febrile rats significantly, and reduced the levels of fever-producing medium Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and pyrogenic factors including tumor necrosis factor(TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in rat serum also the level of central heating medium PGE2 in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Furthermore, we demonstrated that gypsum and Anemarrhena concerted application inhibit NF-κB signal pathway in yeast-induced pyrexia rats. The results indicate that gypsum and its Anemarrhena concerted application may be a potential antipyretic and the antipyretic mechanism is attributed to the suppression of NF-κB signal pathway.

This study was conducted to explore the protecting effect and treatment mechanism of Panax notoginseng saponins (PNS) in combination with aminoguanidine (AG) on kidney functions in diabetic nephropathy (DN) rats. Rats were divided into 5 groups (A, P, P+A, D and N) and diabetes was induced by streptozotocin (STZ). After 8 weeks, all rats were sacrificed and the renal functions as well as 24 hrs urinary proteins were examined quantitatively. Periodic acid-Schiff stain (PAS) was used to observe the pathological changes of renal tissue. Immune-nephelometry, immunoradiometric assay, Immunohistochemical and real-time fluorescence were used for blood C-reactive protein, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), surface specific marker antigen (ED-1) and determination of transforming growth factorβ1 (TGF-β1) in kidney tissue. There was a significant reduction in renal pathological changes of rats in group P, A, and P+A when compared with group D, while the changes were most obvious in group P+A. Blood glucose, glomerular volume (V), serum creatinine, 24 hrs urinary protein, blood CRP and TNFin groups P, A and P+A were significantly (P<0.05) lower than group D with lowest in group P+A. Immunohistochemical staining showed, only a few ED-1 positive staining (macrophages) in group N glomeruli and the renal tubules. The staining of ED-1 group D was higher while in groups P, A and P+A was significantly reduced. There was a basic quantity of TGF-β1 mRNA expression in group N rats while the expression of TGF-β1 mRNA in group D was significantly increased when compared with control group. In group P, A and P+A, the expression level of TGF-β1 mRNA was significantly (P<0.05) decreased. The protective effect of combined use of these two PNS and AG on the kidney is superior to the single drug treatment. The mechanism of PNS combined with AG in the treatment of DN may be closely related to the reduction of urinary protein, anti-inflammatory response, and inhibition of the expression of TGF-β1.