Protocatechuic acid relieves ferroptosis in hepatic lipotoxicity and steatosis via regulating NRF2 signaling pathway.

Ferroptosis represents a newly programmed cell death, and the process is usually accompanied with iron-dependent lipid peroxidation. Importantly, ferroptosis is implicated in a myriad of diseases. Recent literature suggests a potential position of ferroptosis in the pathogenesis of metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD), the most widespread liver ailment worldwide.

Long-term toxicity evaluation of aristolochic acid-IIIa in mice.

Aristolochic acid (AA)-IIIa is an AA analog present in Aristolochiaceae plants. To evaluate the chronic toxicity of AA-IIIa, mice were intragastrically administered with media control, 1 mg/kg AA-IIIa, and 10 mg/kg AA-IIIa, and designated as the control (CTL), AA-IIIa low dose (AA-IIIa-L), and AA-IIIa high dose (AA-IIIa-H) groups, respectively. AA-IIIa was administered three times a week, every other day, for 24 weeks (24-week time point).

Long-term oral administration of Kelisha capsule does not cause hepatorenal toxicity in rats.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Kelisha capsules (KLS) are often used to treat acute diarrhoea, bacillary dysentery, heat stroke, and other diseases. One of its components, Asarum, contains aristolochic acid I which is both nephrotoxic and carcinogenic. However, the aristolochic acid (AA) content in KLS and its toxicity remain unclear.

Preparation and anti-tumor effects of mesoporous silica nanoparticles loaded with trifluoperazine.

We have developed a targeted nano-drug delivery system that effectively harnesses the anti-tumor properties of trifluoperazine (TFP), while concurrently mitigating its side effects on the central nervous system. The manufacturing process entailed the preparation of mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSN-NH), followed by the loading of trifluoperazine into the pores of MSN-NH and then surface modification with polyethylene glycol (PEG) and anisamide (AA), resulting in the formation of TFP@MSN@PEG-AA (abbreviated as TMPA) nanoparticles. and anti-tumor activity and hemolysis experiments showed that TMPA had an excellent safety profile and a good anti-tumor effect.

Beyond Residence: A Mobility-based Approach for Improved Evaluation of Human Exposure to Environmental Hazards.

Standard environmental hazard exposure assessment methods have been primarily based on residential places, neglecting individuals' hazard exposures due to activities outside home neighborhood and underestimating peoples' overall hazard exposures. To address this limitation, this study proposes a novel mobility-based index for the hazard exposure evaluation. Using large-scale human mobility data, we quantify the extent of population dwell time in high environmental hazard places in 239 US counties for three environmental hazards.

Gardenia extract protects against intrahepatic cholestasis by regulating bile acid enterohepatic circulation.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Cholestasis is the main manifestation of cholestatic liver disease, which has a risk of progression to end-stage liver disease. Gardeniae Fructus is the dried fruit of Gardeniae jasminoides Ellis, a plant of the Rubiaceae family. Gardeniae Fructus has shown therapeutic potential in cholestasis-related liver diseases and it is generally believed that Gardeniae Fructus ameliorates cholestasis, which could be related to its influence on bile acids (BAs) metabolism.

Pickering emulsion stabilized by Haematococcus pluvialis protein particles and its application in dumpling stuffing.

In this study, the oil-in-water Pickering emulsions were prepared using Haematococcus Pluvialis protein (HPP) particles as an emulsifier by a simple one-step emulsification method. The internal oil phase was as high as 70 % due to the excellent emulsifying properties of HPP, and the average size of oil droplets in the emulsion was around 20 μm. The emulsion prepared by 2.

Study on the difference and correlation between the contents and toxicity of aristolochic acid analogues in Aristolochia plants.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: The nephrotoxicity and carcinogenicity induced by traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs) containing aristolochic acids (AAs) and related compound preparations have greatly limited their clinical application. While the toxicity of AA-I and AA-II is relatively clear, there are marked differences in the toxic effects of different types of aristolochic acid analogues (AAAs). Thus, the toxicity of TCMs containing AAAs cannot be evaluated based on the toxicity of a single compound.

Ameliorative effect of cheqianzi decoction on hyperuricemia and kidney injury and underlying mechanism in rats.

Cheqianzi Decoction (CQD) is a Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) formula comprising four herbs and is recorded in the Ancient Materia Medica "Shengji Zonglu". Individually, these four herbs have been shown to reduce uric acid (UA) levels, to treat hyperuricemia (HUA), and alleviate kidney damage. However, the therapeutic efficacy of the CQD and related mechanism are not yet clear.

Differences in p38-STAT3-S100A11 signaling after the administration of aristolochic acid I and IVa may account for the disparity in their nephrotoxicity.

Background: The safety of herbs containing aristolochic acids (AAs) has become a widespread concern. Previous reports indicate that AAs are highly nephrotoxic and carcinogenic, although there are more than 170 analogues of aristolochic acid. Not all AAs have the same degree of nephrotoxicity or carcinogenicity.

Engineering fucoxanthin-loaded probiotics' membrane vesicles for the dietary intervention of colitis.

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are very attractive as carriers of active components due to their good immunological and their ability to penetrate the physiological barrier that synthetic delivery carriers cannot penetrate. However, the low secretion capacity of EVs limited its widespread adoption, let alone the lower yield of EVs loaded with active components. Here, we report a large-scale engineering preparation strategy of synthetic probiotic membrane vesicles for encapsulating fucoxanthin (FX-MVs), an intervention for colitis.

Engineering probiotics-derived membrane vesicles for encapsulating fucoxanthin: evaluation of stability, bioavailability, and biosafety.

Due to the multiplex absorption barrier in the gastrointestinal tract, the low oral bioavailability of many lipophilic chemicals limits their range of applications. Biomimetic nanovesicles offered unique advantages in overcoming multiple barriers to oral absorption and improving the oral bioavailability of encapsulated water-insoluble compounds. Here, we report an engineering preparation strategy of synthetic probiotic membrane vesicles for encapsulating fucoxanthin.

Long-term oral administration of Asarum heterotropoides f. mandshuricum (Maxim.) Kitag. decoction and its aristolochic acid analogs do not cause renal toxicity in mice.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Asarum heterotropoides f. mandshuricum (Maxim.) Kitag.

Penilloic acid is the chief culprit involved in non-IgE mediated, immediate penicillin-induced hypersensitivity reactions in mice.

Metabolites/impurities (MIs) of penicillin are normally considered to be the main substances inducing immediate hypersensitivity reactions in penicillin treatment. Our previous research found that penicillin can cause non-allergic hypersensitivity reactions (NAHRs) by directly triggering vascular hyperpermeability and exudative inflammation. However, the chief culprits and underlying mechanisms involved in penicillin-induced NAHRs have not yet been fully elucidated.

Research progress on classical traditional chinese medicine formula xiaoyaosan in the treatment of depression.

Depression is an emotional disorder that is problematic in psychiatry owing to its unclear etiology and unknown pathogenesis. Traditional Chinese medicine formulations such as Xiaoyaosan have been widely used throughout history to treat depression. In this review, we have focused on recent evidences elucidating the links between Xiaoyaosan and the treatment of depression.

Saikosaponin D exerts antidepressant effect by regulating Homer1-mGluR5 and mTOR signaling in a rat model of chronic unpredictable mild stress.

Background: Many studies about depression have focused on the dysfunctional synaptic signaling in the hippocampus that drives the pathophysiology of depression. Radix Bupleuri has been used in China for over 2000 years to regulate liver-qi. Extracted from Radix Bupleuri, Saikosaponin D (SSD) is a pharmacologically active substance that has antidepressant effects.

Quantitative Determination and Toxicity Evaluation of Aristolochic Acid Analogues in F. Schmidt (Xixin) and Traditional Chinese Patent Medicines.

(Xixin), which contains analogues of aristolochic acid (AA), is the only species of the genus included in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia 2020. However, the contents and nephrotoxic effects of AA analogs in (Xixin) and its formulations have not been clarified. An automatic, effective solid phase extraction process and UPLC-MS/MS method were established for the pretreatment and quantitative detection of AA analogues in commercially available traditional Chinese patent medicines.

Effects of Histone Modification in Major Depressive Disorder.

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a disease associated with many factors; specifically, environmental, genetic, psychological, and biological factors play critical roles. Recent studies have demonstrated that histone modification may occur in the human brain in response to severely stressful events, resulting in transcriptional changes and the development of MDD. In this review, we discuss five different histone modifications, histone methylation, histone acetylation, histone phosphorylation, histone crotonylation and histone β-hydroxybutyrylation, and their relationships with MDD.

Xiaoyaosan Alleviates Hippocampal Glutamate-Induced Toxicity in the CUMS Rats via NR2B and PI3K/Akt Signaling Pathway.

It is revealed that Xiaoyaosan could reduce glutamate level in the hippocampus of depressed rats, whose metabolism leads to the pathophysiology of depression. However, the underlying mechanism remains unclear. This study aims to explore the effect of Xiaoyaosan on glutamate metabolism, and how to regulate the excitatory injury caused by glutamate.

Ginsenoside Rb1, salvianolic acid B and their combination modulate gut microbiota and improve glucolipid metabolism in high-fat diet induced obese mice.

Background: To observe the effect of ginsenoside Rb1, salvianolic acid B and their combination on glucolipid metabolism and structural changes of gut microbiota.

Methods: Eight-week-old C57BL/6J mice were fed 45% high-fat diet to induce obesity. The obese mice were randomly divided into four groups, Con group as model control, ginsenoside Rb1 (Rb1) group, salvianolic acid B (SalB) group and ginsenoside Rb1+ salvianolic acid B (Rb1SalB) group.

Panax Notoginseng Saponins Inhibits Ventricular Remodeling after Myocardial Infarction in Rats Through Regulating ATF3/MAP2K3/p38 MAPK and NF κ B Pathway.

Objective: To explore whether Panax notoginseng saponins (PNS) exhibits heart protective effect in myocardial infarction (MI) rats and to identify the potential signaling pathways involved.

Methods: MI rats induced by ligating the left anterior descending (LAD) coronary artery were assigned to sham coronary artery ligation or coronary artery ligation. Totally 36 Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into sham group (distilled water, n=9), MI group (distilled water, n=9), PNS group (PNS, 40 mg/kg daily, n=9) and fosinopril group (FIP, 1.