Effectiveness of red yeast rice on carotid atherosclerosis: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

While several studies have demonstrated the preventive and therapeutic effects of red yeast rice (RYR), a traditional Chinese medicine, on carotid atherosclerosis through the reduction of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) level and other risk factors, the evidence remains inconsistent. This study aimed to further evaluate the effects of RYR in carotid atherosclerosis. Several databases were searched for original trials of RYR for the treatment of carotid atherosclerosis that reported plaque indicators.

A galactose-mediated targeting nanoprobe for intracellular hydroxyl radical imaging to predict drug-induced liver injury.

Drug-induced liver injury (DILI) is a serious concern in modern medicine due to its unpredictability. Currently, biochemical serum markers are being used in DILI detection. However, these biomarker-based methods lack sensitivity and specificity.

New derivatives of ursolic acid through the biotransformation by Bacillus megaterium CGMCC 1.1741 as inhibitors on nitric oxide production.

Microbial transformation of ursolic acid (1) by Bacillus megaterium CGMCC 1.1741 was investigated and yielded five metabolites identified as 3-oxo-urs-12-en-28-oic acid (2); 1β,11α-dihydroxy-3-oxo-urs-12-en-28-oic acid (3); 1β-hydroxy-3-oxo-urs-12-en-28, 13-lactoe (4); 1β,3β, 11α-trihydroxyurs-12-en-28-oic acid (5) and 1β,11α-dihydroxy-3-oxo-urs-12-en-28-O-β-d-glucopyranoside (6). Metabolites 3, 4, 5 and 6 were new natural products.