Metabolomics combined with intestinal microbiota reveals the mechanism of compound Qilian tablets against diabetic retinopathy.

Background: Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is one of the common chronic complications of diabetes mellitus, which has developed into the leading cause of irreversible visual impairment in adults worldwide. Compound Qilian tablets (CQLT) is a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) developed for treating DR, but its mechanism is still unclear. This study explored the mechanism of action of CQLT in treating DR through metabolomics and intestinal microbiota.

A combination of alkaloids and saponins attenuates coxsackievirus B3‑induced acute myocarditis in mice via NF‑κB signaling.

Timely treatment of viral myocarditis (VMC), a form of cardiac inflammation caused by viral infections, can reduce the occurrence of dilated cardiomyopathy and sudden death. Our previous study demonstrated the anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic effects of KX, a combination of alkaloids and saponins, on an autoimmune myocarditis model . The present study explored the effects of KX on coxsackievirus B3 (CVB3)-induced acute VMC in mice.

[Effects of Qizhi Jiangtang capsule on protein expressions of InsR, PI3K, GLUT2 and p-JNK in hepatic tissues of rats with type 2 diabetes].

To observe the hypoglycemic effect of Qizhi Jiangtang capsule in rats with type 2 diabetes, and investigate the preliminary mechanism of its hypoglycemic effect, type 2 diabetes rat models were established by high glucose and high fat combined with small dose of streptozotocin (STZ). After continuous administration for 6 weeks, blood glucose, and glycosylated serum protein (GSP) levels were detected in all of the animals; immunohistochemistry assay was used to detect the number of islet β cells; Western blot assay was used to detect the protein expression levels of insulin receptor (InsR), phosphoinositide-3 kinases (PI3K), glucose transporter-2 (GLUT2) and phosphorylated Jun N-terminal kinases (p-JNK)in hepatic tissues. The results showed that Qizhi Jiangtang capsule could reduce the blood sugar and GSP levels in serum in animals with type 2 diabetes mellitus, increase the level of insulin in serum and number of islet β cells, increase the protein expression levels of InsR, PI3K and GLUT2, and reduce the level of p-JNK protein expression.

Effect of the total saponins of Aralia elata (Miq) Seem on cardiac contractile function and intracellular calcium cycling regulation.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Total saponins of Aralia elata (Miq) Seem (AS) from the Chinese traditional herb Longya Aralia chinensis L. can improve cardiac function, although the active mechanism remains poorly understood. The present study aimed to determine the direct effect of AS on cardiac function in dogs and the effects on Ca2+ transient and contractions in isolated rat cardiomyocytes.