Influence of the Gut Microbiota, Metabolism and Environment on Neuropsychiatric Disorders.

The two-way communication between intestinal microbiota and the central nervous system (the microbiota-gut-brain axis) is involved in the regulation of brain function, neurodevelopment, and aging. The microbiota-gut-brain axis dysfunction may be a predisposition factor for Parkinson's disease (PD), Alzheimer's disease (AD), Autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and other neurological diseases. However, it is not clear whether gut microbiota dysfunction contributes to neuropsychiatric disorders.

Integration of microbiome, metabolomics and transcriptome for in-depth understanding of berberine attenuates AOM/DSS-induced colitis-associated colorectal cancer.

A type of colorectal cancer (CRC)，Colitis-associated colorectal cancer (CAC)， is closely associated with chronic inflammation and gut microbiota dysbiosis. Berberine (BBR) has a long history in the treatment of intestinal diseases, which has been reported to inhibit colitis and CRC. However, the mechanism of its action is still unclear.

Two new flavans from the roots of Dianella ensifolia (L.) DC.

Two new flavans, named (2S)-2',4'-dihydroxy-7-methoxy-8-methylflavan (1) and (2S)-2'-hydroxy-4',7-dimethoxy-8-methylflavan (2) were isolated from the roots of Dianella ensifolia. Their structures were elucidated by extensive spectroscopic measurements and comparison with data reported in literatures. Compounds 1 and 2 displayed cytotoxic effects against cancer cell lines MDA-MB-231, B16-F10, HCT116 and A549.

A new cycloartane-type triterpenoid from the roots of Dianella ensifolia (L.) DC.

A new cycloartane-type triterpenoid, named 22-hydroxy-cyclolaudenol (1), together with two known cycloartane-type triterpenoids were isolated from the roots of Dianella ensifolia. Their structures were determined based on spectroscopic methods, including UV, IR, HR-ESI-MS, NMR and X-ray diffraction. Compound 1 displayed cytotoxic effects against cancer cell lines B16-F10, A549 and MDA-MB-231.

The absorption and transport of magnolol in Caco-2 cell model.

Objective: To investigate the absorption and transport mechanism of magnolol in Caco-2 cell model.

Methods: A human intestinal epithelial cell model Caco-2 cell in vitro cultured was applied to study the absorption and transport of magnolol, the effects of time, donor concentration, P-gp inhibitor verapamil, pH and temperature on the absorption and transport of magnolol were investigated. The determination of magnolol was performed by high performance liquid chromatography, then the values of apparent permeability coefficient (P app ) and P ratio Basolateral-to-Apical (BL-to-AP)/Apical-to-Basolateral (AP-to-BL) were calculated.

[New processing procedure for Croton tiglium with study on comparison of Croton tiglium and processed product].

Objective: To build a new processing procedure for Croton tiglium, providing a more simple, efficient and safe way of processing.

Methods: Used the contents of isoguanosine and toxic protein in Croton tiglium as the indexes to investigate the effect of different temperature, thickness and baked time on processing for Croton tiglium. After established all factors and levels, processed a batch of Croton tiglium under optimum processing conditions and compared it with raw Croton tiglium in the test of acute toxicity and gastrointestinal propulsive motility.

[Study on transport characteristics of honokiol in Caco-2 cell model by HPLC].

Objective: To study the transport mechanism of honokiol in Caco-2 cell model.

Method: The analysis was performed on a Kromasil 100-5 C18 column (4.5 mm x 250 mm, 5 microm) eluted with acetonitrile-water (70: 30) as mobile phase.

Ginseng protects rodent hearts from acute myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury through GR/ER-activated RISK pathway in an endothelial NOS-dependent mechanism.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Ginseng (Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer) is widely used in Asian communities for treating cardiovascular diseases.

Evaluation of the antimicrobial mode of berberine by LC/ESI-MS combined with principal component analysis.

In this investigation, metabolic profiles of Staphylococcus aureus treated by berberine and nine antibacterial substances with known modes of action were acquired by HPLC/ESI-MS. After data pretreatment, those profiles acquired were reduced into several MS vectors. Then, principal component analysis was carried out upon those vectors to classify those drugs according to their mechanisms.