Acne is a multifactorial dermatological condition driven by Propionibacterium acnes (P. acnes) infection, inflammation, and sebum dysregulation. While essential oils, such as Angelica sinensis (Danggui) essential oil (AEO), exhibit antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties, their clinical application is hindered by poor solubility, stability, and skin penetration. To address these limitations, we developed hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin (HPCD)-complexed AEO-loaded microneedles (AEO@HPCD MNs) using hyaluronic acid for enhanced transdermal delivery. The optimized AEO@HPCD MNs demonstrated superior mechanical strength, rapid dissolution, and efficient cargo release. In vitro studies confirmed potent antibacterial activity against P. acnes, while in vivo experiments revealed significant reductions in acne lesion size and IL-1β levels. RNA sequencing of treated acne lesions identified key downregulated genes (Fpr1, Rarres2, Cxcl5, Gbp3, Hck, Gbp7, Librb4a, Psmb8) and enriched pathways, including innate immunity and inflammatory responses. Notably, AEO@HPCD MNs suppressed 5α-reductase and fatty acid synthase (FAS) expression, demonstrating-for the first time-AEO's ability to normalize sebum production. Mechanistically, AEO@HPCD MNs exert multifaceted therapeutic effects: (1) direct antibacterial activity against P. acnes, (2) suppression of inflammatory and immune-related pathways through modulation of Toll-like receptor, NOD-like receptor, and cytokine-cytokine receptor signaling pathways, (3) regulation of sebum production via lipid-metabolic gene expression modulation, and (4) enhanced delivery efficiency and microenvironment modification through the physical action of microneedles, collectively contributing to synergistic acne therapy. This study develops a microneedle delivery platform that addresses both essential oil instability and inclusion complex delivery challenges while targeting multiple acne pathogenic factors. The AEO@HPCD MNs provide a safe, minimally invasive, multifunctional therapeutic strategy for acne treatment.

Astragalus adsurgens, a significant forage plant cultivated in arid regions of northwest China, remains underexplored for its triterpenoid saponins and medicinal properties compared to the extensively studied Astragalus membranaceus. To explore the phytochemical profile of A. adsurgens for its potential application in the medical field, we employed ultra-pressure liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry-based method to identify cycloartane-type triterpenes. Eventually, five new cycloartane-type triterpenoids, adsurgosides A-D (1-4) and 3-methyl-3,4-seco-cyclostellanol (5), together with two known analogues cycloastragenol (6) and cyclopycanthogenin (7), were isolated from the roots of A. adsurgens. Their structures were elucidated using 1D and 2D NMR analyses in combination with HRESIMS data. Additionally, a comparative study on the distribution patterns of these compounds revealed qualitative and quantitative variations between A. adsurgens and A. membranaceus. Our findings not only identified an alternative plant for isolating cycloartane-type triterpenoids but also offer new insights into the chemical properties of A. adsurgens.

Sitophilus zeamais is one of the most destructive pests of stored grains. Both adults and larvae penetrate and consume the grains, thereby diminishing the grain quality and nutritional value. We determined the chemical composition of Angelica archangelica essential oil, its fumigation toxicity against S. zeamais, and its effects on the activities of detoxification enzymes in the insects. RNA-seq was performed to analyze the impact of the essential oil on the transcriptional level of S. zeamais, and qRT-PCR was conducted to validate the differentially expressed genes. Chemical analysis identified 35 components in essential oil, including δ-3-Carene (24.26%), Limonene (19.81%), and α-Pinene (14.96%). A significant positive correlation was observed between the fumigation activity of the essential oil and the applied dose. The median lethal concentrations (LC50) values were 164.38, 132.62, and 90.35 mg/L air at 24, 48, and 72 h, respectively. Fumigation significantly inhibited the activities of the three detoxification enzymes. RNA-seq revealed a total of 3718 significantly differentially expressed genes (DEGs). qRT-PCR confirmed that the expression patterns of the DEGs were consistent with the RNA-seq data. This study comprehensively evaluates the control efficacy of A. archangelica essential oil against S. zeamais and provides data support for developing novel, eco-friendly, plant-based pesticides.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE:Qingqiao is a traditional Chinese medicine widely used for its heat-clearing, detoxifying, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory properties. Due to these therapeutic effects, it has been commonly employed in the treatment of intestinal inflammatory disorders in China. AIMS OF THIS STUDY:This study aimed to investigate the therapeutic effects of Qingqiao polyphenols (QP) on dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced ulcerative colitis (UC) and elucidate the underlying mechanisms, particularly the roles of NLRP3 and AIM2 inflammasomes in regulating pyroptosis. METHODS:Using a DSS-induced murine UC model and an in vitro pyroptosis model in J774A.1 macrophages, we evaluated the protective effects of QP and explored its mechanisms of action. RESULTS:QP can significantly reduce the levels of inflammatory factors and oxidative stress in UC mice. Further investigation revealed that QP improve UC symptoms by inhibiting the NLRP3/AIM2 inflammasomes and pyroptosis. Consistent results were observed in in vitro experiments, where QP reduced lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels and pyroptosis occurrence in J774A.1 cells. Intriguingly, upon NLRP3 inhibition, we observed a compensatory upregulation of AIM2, accompanied by increased levels of GSDMD, IL-1β, and LDH release, suggesting that AIM2 may drive pyroptosis in the absence of NLRP3. Furthermore, AIM2 overexpression led to elevated GSDMD and IL-1β while significantly downregulating NLRP3 expression, indicating a competitive interaction between NLRP3 and AIM2 in pyroptotic signaling. CONCLUSIONS:We found that QP improve DSS-induced UC by inhibiting NLRP3/AIM2 inflammasome-mediated pyroptosis. Moreover, we uncovered a dynamic crosstalk between NLRP3 and AIM2, where compensatory mechanisms may sustain pyroptosis when one pathway is suppressed.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE:Acne is a chronic inflammatory skin disorder of the pilosebaceous unit for which topical therapies remain first-line treatments. Current options, however, often exhibit limited efficacy, adverse effects, and antibiotic resistance, necessitating safer alternatives. Angelica sinensis (Danggui) has been traditionally used in dermatology to treat skin astringency and itching while nourishing the skin, yet its essential oil remains largely unexplored for acne treatment. AIM OF THE STUDY:This study evaluated the therapeutic potential, bioactive components, and molecular mechanisms of Angelica sinensis essential oil (AEO) in acne treatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS:AEO was extracted from the dried roots of Angelica sinensis (Oliv.) Diels. We employed an integrated approach to assess AEO's anti-acne potential by: (1) evaluating efficacy in a mouse acne model and through in vitro antibacterial assays against Cutibacterium acnes (C. acnes); (2) characterizing compounds via GC-MS analysis; (3) investigating mechanisms using network pharmacology; and (4) validating targets through molecular docking and cellular assays. RESULTS:AEO demonstrated significant anti-acne effects comparable to adapalene gel but with reduced side effects, attributed to its suppression of C. acnes and downregulation of IL-1β. Seven key bioactive compounds were identified: α-pinene, germacrene D, trans-ligustilide, cis-ligustilide, espatulenol, methyl linoleate, and n-hexadecanoic acid. Network pharmacology revealed five core targets (NR3C1, AR, TNF, TLR4, and IL-10), with AEO downregulating AR, TLR4, and TNF while upregulating IL-10 and NR3C1, supporting its anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, and androgen receptor-inhibiting properties. Further analysis suggested AEO primarily acts on skin fibroblasts, macrophages, T cells, Langerhans cells, and B cells to modulate these targets. CONCLUSION:These findings demonstrate that 5 %-10 % AEO is a promising topical treatment for acne, offering efficacy with improved safety.

Introduction:Obesity is an increasingly serious global health concern and is closely associated with gut dysbiosis and metabolic imbalance. Despite the considerable research conducted on the gut microbiota and metabolism over recent years, studies focusing on their correlation with obesity remain limited. In this study, we sought to characterize the gut microbiota and serum metabolic profiles of patients with obesity, aiming to identify potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets for this condition, and explore possible links between altered amino acid levels and gut microbial composition in its pathophysiology. The findings may offer novel insights into obesity prevention and treatment through microbiota modulation or amino acid regulation. Methods:Forty adult volunteers with obesity (BMI = 30.9 ± 2.9 kg/m2) who met the diagnostic criteria were enrolled in this study. Pregnant or lactating women and individuals with severe comorbidities were excluded. The control group comprised 20 subjects with normal weight (BMI = 21.9 ± 1.7 kg/m2) and without metabolic disorders, recruited from among outpatients during the same period and matched for age and sex. Fecal microbiota profiling was performed using 16S rRNA sequencing. DNA was extracted from stool samples, and the V3-V4 region was amplified and sequenced on the Illumina platform. After rigorous quality control (QC) and chimera removal, effective tags were clustered into Operational Taxonomic Units (OTUs) based on sequence similarity. Alpha and beta diversity and intergroup differential abundance were assessed, with statistical significance determined by Welch's t-test. Serum metabolomic analysis was performed using standardized sample preparation and QC procedures, followed by LC-MS/MS-based targeted and untargeted metabolomics. Calibration curves with R 2 > 0.99 were established, and relative metabolite concentrations were calculated from peak areas. In total, 28 amino acid metabolites were quantified and used for subsequent statistical analysis. Results:Significant differences in microbial composition were observed across multiple taxonomic levels between the controls and patients with obesity. At the phylum level, Proteobacteria was enriched in the obesity group (AUC = 0.709, 95% CI: 0.569-0.848; p = 0.006). At the class level, Gammaproteobacteria (AUC = 0.712, 95% CI: 0.573-0.852; p = 0.009) and Erysipelotrichia (AUC = 0.614, 95% CI: 0.471-0.757; p = 0.02) were found to be enriched in obesity. At the order level, enrichment was observed for Enterobacteriales (AUC = 0.734, 95% CI: 0.597-0.871; p = 0.008) and Erysipelotrichia (AUC = 0.614, 95% CI: 0.471-0.757; p = 0.029). At the family level, Enterobacteriaceae (AUC = 0.614, 95% CI: 0.471-0.757; p = 0.003) showed enrichment in obesity. Finally, at the genus level, Escherichia-Shigella (AUC = 0.71, 95% CI: 0.565-0.855; p = 0.028) was enriched in obesity, while at the species level, Bacteroides fragilis (AUC = 0.733, 95% CI: 0.593-0.873; p = 0.016) and Parabacteroides distasonis (AUC = 0.61, 95% CI: 0.466-0.754; p = 0.033) were noted to be enriched. Metabolomic analysis revealed that in patients with obesity, the abundance of carnosine (log2FC = 1.16, FDR = 0.0016, VIP = 0.707), creatinine (log2FC = 0.21, FDR = 0.0009, VIP = 2.02), and cystine (log2FC = 0.55, FDR = 0.009, VIP = 1.47) was significantly increased compared with that in the controls; in contrast, that of ornithine (log2FC = -0.59, FDR = 0.0009, VIP = 1.19), citrulline (log2FC = -0.59, FDR = 0.0003, VIP = 0.707), glycine (log2FC = -0.54, FDR = 0.0003, VIP = 1.41), and serine (log2FC = -0.38, FDR = 0.0019, VIP = 1.62) was significantly decreased. This suggested that these metabolites may have potential as early diagnostic biomarkers for obesity. Conclusions:Obesity is associated with coordinated shifts in specific gut taxa and serum metabolites, with measurable effect sizes and strong discriminatory performance. Modulating amino acid levels or gut microbiota composition may represent a promising strategy for obesity prevention and treatment.

Background: Traditional Chinese medicine offers potential therapeutic options for viral infections. Platycodon grandiflorus (PG) is a perennial herb known for its efficacy in treating respiratory infections, including asthma, cough, and bronchitis, making it a key focus in antiviral drug research. The purpose of the study is to provide a basis for functional studies on PG and generate new insights for treating viral diseases. Methods: Research articles from 1990 to 2024 related to PG and viruses were obtained from databases, such as PubMed, Web of Science, and Science Direct, and systematically analysed. Results: PG demonstrates inhibitory effects on viruses such as severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus and porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus by blocking various stages of viral proliferation or activating the host immune system. It also reduces inflammation through NF-κB, PI3K/AKT, MAPK, and other signalling pathways, enhancing T cell and macrophage function and increasing host immunity. PG exhibits diverse pharmacological effects with promising clinical applications for antiviral and immune modulation. Given its medicinal significance, PG holds substantial potential for further exploration and development. Conclusion: PG, due to its antiviral, anti-inflammatory, and immune-boosting properties, can be used as an antiviral drug.

Artemisia argyi (AA) is promising as a potential feed additive. Microbial fermentation is beneficial to the degradation of cell walls and the better release of bioactive compounds of AA. However, there are few reports on the application of fermented AA as a feed additive for broilers. The present study intended to evaluate the application value of fermented AA as a feed additive for broilers by examining the effects of the dietary supplementation of Aspergillus niger-fermented AA and unfermented AA on growth performance, slaughter performance, and meat quality of brokers. A total of 360 newly hatched (1-day-old) broilers with similar body weight were randomly divided into the following 5 groups: basal diet group as control (C) group, basal diet +3% unfermented AA (E1) group, basal diet + 1% fermented AA (E2) group, basal diet + 3% fermented AA (E3) group, basal diet + 5% fermented AA (E4) group. Each group included 6 replicates with 12 broilers per replicate, and the feeding trail lasted for 48 d. Body weight and feed intake were recorded every 2 wk, and the feed gain ratio was calculated to assess growth performance. At 42 d, 6 broilers from each group were slaughtered, and the carcass traits were calculated. The results showed that compared with the control group, Aspergillus Niger could effectively destroy AA fiber, which contributed to better release of AA bioactive compounds. Moreover, dietary supplementation with AA could improve the growth performance of broilers (P < 0.05), and the effect of fermented AA was better than unfermented AA, especially 3% fermented AA. From 28 to 42 d, compared with the control group, the average daily gain of broilers in the group supplementation with 3% fermented AA was significantly increased (P < 0.05), and the feed-to-gain ratio was decreased (P < 0.05). At 42 d, the dressing percentage, half-eviscerated carcass percentage, eviscerated carcass percentage, and breast muscle percentage of broilers in the groups of 1, 3, and 5% fermented AA diets were significantly improved (P < 0.05), and the thigh muscle percentage of broilers in the group with 3% fermented AA diets was significantly improved (P < 0.05). Meanwhile, the meat quality of broilers in the group with fermented AA diets was also significantly improved. Birds in AA groups had higher a* value and lower shear force of breast muscle, especially the group supplementation with 3% fermented AA (P < 0.05). In conclusion, fermented AA has good application value as a potential feed additive for broilers, dietary supplementation of fermented AA can improve the production performance and meat quality of broiler chickens, of which 3% fermented AA is more effective.

Obesity has reached pandemic proportions and is a risk factor for neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's disease. Chronic inflammation is common in obese patients, but the mechanism between inflammation and cognitive impairment in obesity remains unclear. Accumulative evidence shows that protein-tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B), a neuroinflammatory and negative synaptic regulator, is involved in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative processes. We investigated the causal role of PTP1B in obesity-induced cognitive impairment and the beneficial effect of PTP1B inhibitors in counteracting impairments of cognition, neural morphology, and signaling. We showed that obese individuals had negative relationship between serum PTP1B levels and cognitive function. Furthermore, the PTP1B level in the forebrain increased in patients with neurodegenerative diseases and obese cognitive impairment mice with the expansion of white matter, neuroinflammation and brain atrophy. PTP1B globally or forebrain-specific knockout mice on an obesogenic high-fat diet showed enhanced cognition and improved synaptic ultrastructure and proteins in the forebrain. Specifically, deleting PTP1B in leptin receptor-expressing cells improved leptin synaptic signaling and increased BDNF expression in the forebrain of obese mice. Importantly, we found that various PTP1B allosteric inhibitors (e.g., MSI-1436, well-tolerated in Phase 1 and 1b clinical trials for obesity and type II diabetes) prevented these alterations, including improving cognition, neurite outgrowth, leptin synaptic signaling and BDNF in both obese cognitive impairment mice and a neural cell model of PTP1B overexpression. These findings suggest that increased forebrain PTP1B is associated with cognitive decline in obesity, whereas inhibition of PTP1B could be a promising strategy for preventing neurodegeneration induced by obesity.

Obesity is a risk factor for cognitive dysfunction and neurodegenerative disease, including Alzheimer's disease (AD). The gut microbiota-brain axis is altered in obesity and linked to cognitive impairment and neurodegenerative disorders. Here, we targeted obesity-induced cognitive impairment by testing the impact of the probiotic Clostridium butyricum, which has previously shown beneficial effects on gut homeostasis and brain function. Firstly, we characterized and analyzed the gut microbial profiles of participants with obesity and the correlation between gut microbiota and cognitive scores. Then, using an obese mouse model induced by a Western-style diet (high-fat and fiber-deficient diet), the effects of Clostridium butyricum on the microbiota-gut-brain axis and hippocampal cognitive function were evaluated. Finally, fecal microbiota transplantation was performed to assess the functional link between Clostridium butyricum remodeling gut microbiota and hippocampal synaptic protein and cognitive behaviors. Our results showed that participants with obesity had gut microbiota dysbiosis characterized by an increase in phylum Proteobacteria and a decrease in Clostridium butyricum, which were closely associated with cognitive decline. In diet-induced obese mice, oral Clostridium butyricum supplementation significantly alleviated cognitive impairment, attenuated the deficit of hippocampal neurite outgrowth and synaptic ultrastructure, improved hippocampal transcriptome related to synapses and dendrites; a comparison of the effects of Clostridium butyricum in mice against human AD datasets revealed that many of the genes changes in AD were reversed by Clostridium butyricum; concurrently, Clostridium butyricum also prevented gut microbiota dysbiosis, colonic barrier impairment and inflammation, and attenuated endotoxemia. Importantly, fecal microbiota transplantation from donor-obese mice with Clostridium butyricum supplementation facilitated cognitive variables and colonic integrity compared with from donor obese mice, highlighting that Clostridium butyricum's impact on cognitive function is largely due to its ability to remodel gut microbiota. Our findings provide the first insights into the neuroprotective effects of Clostridium butyricum on obesity-associated cognitive impairments and neurodegeneration via the gut microbiota-gut-brain axis.

PurposeThis study aims to investigate the mechanism underlying the beneficial effects of Huangqi decoction (HQD) on Diabetic kidney disease (DKD) in diabetic db/db mice.MethodsEight-week-old male diabetic db/db mice were randomly divided into four groups: Model (1% CMC), HQD-L (0.12 g/kg), HQD-M (0.36 g/kg), and HQD-H (1.08 g/kg) groups. Non-diabetic db/m mice were served as the control group. These mice received HQD treatment for 8 weeks. After treatment, the kidney function, histopathology, micro-assay, and protein expression levels were assessed.ResultsHQD treatment improved the albumin/creatine ratio (ACR) and 24 h urinary albumin excretion, prevented the pathological phenotypes of increased glomerular volume, widened mesangial areas, the of mesangial matrix proliferation, foot process effacement, decreased nephrin expression and reduced number of podocytes. Expression profiling analysis revealed global transcriptional changes that predicted related functions, diseases and pathways. HQD treatment activated protein expressions of BMP2, BMP7, BMPR2, and active-Rap1, while inhibiting Smad1 and phospho-ERK. In addition, HQD was associated with improvements in lipid deposition in the kidneys of db/db mice.ConclusionHQD ameliorated the progression of DKD in db/db mice by regulating BMP transcription and downstream targets, inhibiting the phosphorylation of ERK and the expression of Smad1, promoting Rap1 binding to GTP, and regulating the lipid metabolism. These findings provide a potential therapeutic approach for treating DKD.

BACKGROUND: The main postoperative complications of mixed hemorrhoids include surgical site infection, edema and pain, which cause postoperative discomfort and affect the quality of life of patients. Symptomatic treatment such as fumigation and washing with traditional Chinese medicine or antibiotic anti-inflammation cannot achieve the desired prevention and treatment effect in many cases. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of traditional Chinese medicine fumigation combined with antibiotics in the prevention and treatment of postoperative complications of mixed hemorrhoids. METHODS: A total of 150 patients with mixed hemorrhoids after Milligan-Morgan operation were randomly divided into three groups: 50 patients were treated with traditional Chinese medicine fumigation and washing (group A), 50 patients were treated with antibiotics only (group B), and 50 patients were treated with traditional Chinese medicine fumigation and washing combined with antibiotics (group C). The wound infection, pain and edema of the three groups were observed on the 4th day after operation. RESULTS: In group A, the postoperative infection rate was 12%. the wound edema rate was 12%, and the pain rate was 66%. In group B, the postoperative infection rate was 6%, the edema rate was 26%, and the pain rate was 90%. In group C, the postoperative infection rate was 0%, the edema rate was 6%, and the edema was mainly concentrated in one site. and the size of edema was less than 1cm, and the pain rate was 60%. The pain was mainly concentrated in mild pain and had no effect on sleep and defecation. The treatment group of traditional Chinese medicine fumigation and washing combined with antibiotics was better than that of traditional Chinese medicine fumigation and washing alone and antibiotics alone in the prevention and treatment of wound infection. pain and edema (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Traditional Chinese medicine fumigation and washing combined with antibiotics is effective in the prevention and treatment of wound infection, pain and edema after operation of mixed hemorrhoids.

Supercritical carbon-dioxide (SC-CO2) is a promising two-phase technology for flavor components (volatile oil and alkylamides) extract from Zanthoxylum bungeanum pericarp. However, the gastric protective effect of SC-CO2 extract from Z. bungeanum (SZB) have not been systematically investigated. In this study, response surface methodology (RSM) was employed to optimize the yield of SZB, and the average yield of 11.07 % were obtained under optimal parameters (30 MPa, 43 degrees C and time 75 min). Here, limonene, linalool and hydroxy-alpha-sanshool were identified as the main compounds of SZB by GC-MS and UPLC-Q-Extractive Orbitrap/MS analysis. When the gastric protective effect of SZB (5, 10 and 20 mg/kg, p.o.) were evaluated, significant increase in body weight and organ indexes of rat, and decreased gastric lesion were observed. Furthermore, nineteen serum metabolites were regarded as the potential biomarkers for the gastric protective effect of SZB. Collectively, this study provides a comprehensive perspective into the chemical composition analysis and gastric protective effect of Z. bungeanum SC-CO2 extract.

Host innate immunity modulated by metabolites is a powerful strategy that can be used to defend against microbial infections. However, the mechanisms underlying the metabolic processes in controlling bacterial infections remain unexplored. Here, a GC-MS based metabolomics approach was adopted to investigate the metabolic characteristics between the surviving and dying Cyprinus carpio upon Aeromonas hydrophila infection. Aspartate was identified as an essential biomarker whose abundance significantly decreased in the dying group while increasing in the surviving group when compared to the control. Exogenous aspartate increased fish survival rate in a dose-dependent manner. Concurrently, we also found that aspartate regulated the expressions of inflammatory and anti-inflammatory factors, and alleviated oxidative damage based on the evaluations of the activities of antioxidant enzymes and histopathology. Interestingly, the results revealed that exogenous aspartate promoted arginine and proline metabolism and arginine biosynthesis, but attenuated the TCA cycle, thereby enhancing the disease resistance against A. hydrophila. We further demonstrated that aspartate induced iNOS expression and NO production, and L-NAME treatment inhibited iNOS expression and blocked NO production, which significantly increased the cumulative mortality of infecting A. hydrophila. These findings indicated that exogenous aspartate could reprogram C. carpio metabolome and improve the host's ability to fight against A. hydrophila infection by inducing of NO release, and demonstrated the metabolite-mediated immunomodulatory as a therapeutic intervention for A. hydrophila infection.

Background Anxiety disorders (ADs) are the most prevalent mental disorders worldwide. Stress-induced activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and dysbiosis of gut microbiota seem to contribute to the onset of ADs. This study was designed to investigate the ameliorative effect of volatile oil of Zanthoxylum bungeanum (VOZB) on chronic unpredictable stress (CUS) induced anxiety behavior, as well as the altered HPA axis and gut microbiota. Methods Experimental rats were exposed to the CUS for 14 consecutive days. Meanwhile, VOZB was administered at doses of 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg/day for 14 days. The anxiety behavior was evaluated by elevated plus-maze (EPM) and open field (OF). The protein expressions and mRNA levels of corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) and glucocorticoid receptor (GR) in hypothalamus was determined, as well the hormone levels of HPA axis in serum. Furthermore, gut microbiota was detected by16S rRNA gene sequencing. The chemical constituents of VOZB were identified by GC-MS analysis. Results VOZB treatment (100 and 200 mg/kg/day) increased the ratio of open-arm entries and time in EPM test, as well as the central zone entries and time in OF test. Moreover, VOZB treatment reduced the protein expressions and mRNA levels of CRH, but elevated those of GR in hypothalamus. Similarly, the hormone levels of the HPA axis in serum were decreased by VOZB treatment. Besides, VOZB treatment restored the CUS-induced dysbiosis of gut microbiota, raising the Sobs and Chao indexes, inhibiting Lachnospiraceae, but facilitating Bacteroidales_S24-7_group, Lactobacillaceae, and Prevotellaceae. Additionally, Sobs and Chao indexes were negatively correlated to the serum corticosterone and CRH levels. Conclusion VOZB showed an ameliorative effect on CUS-induced anxiety behavior, potentially via inhibiting activation of the HPA axis and restoring the dysbiosis of gut microbiota, thus improving the stress-induced abnormality of the microbiota-gut-brain axis.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE:Euonymus alatus (Thunb.) Siebold (E. alatus), a well-known medicinal plant, has been widely used thousands of years in China for the treatment of various diseases such as urticaria, dysmenorrhea, wound, dysentery, blood stasis, rheumatism and arthritis. Due to the extensive application of E. alatus in the fields of ethnopharmacological usage, the pharmaceutical researches of E. alatus keeps deepening.AIM OF THE STUDY:This paper reviewed and summarized the integrated research progress of this medicinal plant. A comprehensive summary and comparison of traditional usages, botany, phytochemistry, pharmacology, toxicology, separation and analysis technologies of the E. alatus highlight recent scientific advances, which provides new insights into the research and development of this medicinal plant and would be helpful to promote the research situation of underlying pharmacological mechanisms and further utilizations of E. alatus.MATERIAL AND METHODS:Literature survey was carried out via classic books of herbal medicine, PhD. and MSc. Dissertations. Online scientific databases including Pubmed, SciFinder, Science Direct, Scopus, the Web of Science, Google Scholar, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) and others were searched up to February 2020 to identify eligible studies. All literatures of the research subject are analyzed and summarized in this review.RESULTS:The E. alatus has been widely used in traditional practice in China, Korea and other Asian Countries. In the study of phytochemistry, more than 230 chemical constituents have been isolated and identified from E. alatus, including sesquiterpenoids, diterpenoids, triterpenoids, flavonoids, phenylpropanoids, lignans, steroids, alkaloids and other compounds. Among them, literature reports show that flavonoids and steroids are the most important bioactive substances found in this plant. A number of researches also have shown that extracts and compounds from E. alatus exert a wide spectrum of pharmacological effects, including antidiabetic effect, anti-tumor effects, anti-inflammatory effects, hepatoprotective effects, antioxidant effects, antibacterial effects, as well as other effects. However, most of the studies without clinical research. Research into plant's toxicological effects has also been limited. In addition, this review also summarizes and compares the separation and analysis technologies of E. alatus.CONCLUSIONS:E. alatus has potential for the treatment of many diseases, especially tumors and diabetes. But many traditional uses of E. alatus have not been validated by current investigations. Additionally, modern studies haven't gone far enough into its pharmacological effects and the corresponding chemical constituents, more efforts should be made to illuminate the underlying mechanisms of E. alatus for treatment of tumors and diabetes. Moreover, the toxicological effects of this plant can be further studied. Currently, there are limited studies on its side effects and toxicological effects, which should provide further guidance for the safety of clinical use.

Bombyx Batryticatus (BB) is a known traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) utilized to treat convulsions, epilepsy, cough, asthma, headaches, etc. in China for thousands of years. This study is aimed at investigating optimum extraction of protein-rich extracts from BB (BBPs) using response surface methodology (RSM) and exploring the protective effects of BBPs against nerve growth factor (NGF)-induced PC12 cells injured by glutamate (Glu) and their underlying mechanisms. The results indicated optimum process of extraction was as follows: extraction time 1.00 h, ratio of liquid to the raw material 3.80 mL/g and ultrasonic power 230.0 W. The cell viability of PC12 cells stimulated by Glu was determined by CCK-8 assay. The levels of γ-aminobutyric (GABA), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), interleukin-4 (IL-4), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) and glucocorticoid receptor alpha (GR) in PC12 cells were assayed by ELISA. Furthermore, the Ca2+ levels in PC12 cells were determined by flow cytometry analysis. Protein and mRNA expressions of GABAA-Rα1, NMDAR1, GAD 65, GAD 67, GAT 1 and GAT 3 in PC12 cells were evaluated by real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Western blotting assays. Results revealed that BBPs decreased toxic effects due to Glu treatment and decreased Ca2+ levels in PC12 cells. After BBPs treatments, levels of GABA and 5-HT were increased and contents of TNF-α, IL-4 and IL-1β were decreased in NGF-induced PC12 cells injured by Glu. Moreover, BBPs up-regulated the expressions of GABAA-Rα1, GAD 65 and GAD 67, whereas down-regulated that of NMDAR1 GAT 1 and GAT 3. These findings suggested that BBPs possessed protective effects on NGF-induced PC12 cells injured by Glu via γ-Aminobutyric Acid (GABA) signaling pathways, which demonstrated that BBPs has potential anti-epileptic effect in vitro. These findings may be useful in the development of novel medicine for the treatment of epilepsy.

A novel method for predicting the component contents of Xanthii Fructus during processing by using a computer vision system combined with a support vector machine.

Zanthoxylum bungeanum is a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) used to relieve pain, dispel dampness, stop diarrhea, and prevent itching. The aim of this study was to investigate the antiobesity and hypolipidemic effects of hydroxy-α-sanshool (HAS) isolated from Z. bungeanum on hyperlipidemic rats. Wistar rats (n = 48) were randomly divided into six groups: (1) normal diet rats (ND), (2) high-fat diet- (HFD-) treated rats, (3) HFD+fenofibrate-treated rats (HFD+FNB), (4) HFD+low dose of HAS-treated rats (HFD+LD, 9 mg/kg), (5) HFD+middle dose of HAS-treated rats (HFD+MD, 18 mg/kg), and (6) HFD+high dose of HAS-treated rats (HFD+HD, 36 mg/kg). The body weight and food intake of the rats were recorded during the treatment period. After 4 weeks of HAS treatment, abdominal adipose tissues were observed and total cholesterol (T-CHO), triglycerides (TG), high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol (HDL-C), and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol (LDL-C) of serum and liver tissues were determined. Furthermore, histochemical examinations using oil red O and hematoxylin-eosin staining (H&E) were carried out and levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione (GSH) and activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) in the liver were determined. After HFD feeding, the body weight gain and food efficiency ratio of HFD rats were significantly enhanced (p < 0.05vs. ND rats) and HAS treatment (18 and 36 mg/kg) significantly decreased the body weight gain and food efficiency ratio (p < 0.05vs. HFD rats). In addition, HAS treatment could decrease the abdominal adipose tissues and liver adipocytes. Furthermore, HAS treatment significantly decreased the T-CHO, TG, and LDL-C, whereas it increased HDL-C (p < 0.05vs. HFD rats) in serum and the liver. HAS treatment increased the GSH level and SOD activity in the liver (p < 0.05vs. HFD rats), whereas it decreased the levels of MDA (p < 0.05vs. HFD rats). mRNA analyses suggested that HAS treatment increases the expression of Pparg (proliferator-activated receptor γ) and Apoe (peroxisome apolipoprotein E). Immunohistochemistry and Western blotting indicated that HAS stimulation increased the levels of PPARγ and APOE in the liver, as a stress response of the body defense system. These results revealed that HAS exerts antiobesity and hypolipidemic activities in HFD rats by reducing liver oxidative stress and thus could be considered as a potential candidate drug to cure or prevent obesity and hyperlipidemia.