Brain-to-heart cholinergic synapse-calcium signaling mediates ischemic stroke-induced atrial fibrillation.

Stroke-related cardiovascular diseases have attracted considerable attention, with atrial fibrillation (AF) being among the most frequent complications. Despite increasing clinical evidence, experimental models of stroke-induced AF are still lacking, hindering mechanistic discoveries and the development of adequate therapeutics targeting this stroke-heart syndrome (SHS). This study aims to create a rat model of ischemic stroke-induced AF (ISIAF) and to explore the efficacy and mechanism of Wenxin Keli (WK), an antiarrhythmic Chinese medicine.

Screening and identification of reactive metabolic compounds of Cortex Periplocae based on glutathione capture-mass spectrometry.

As a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), Cortex Periplocae (CP) has a wide range of pharmacological effects, as well as toxic side effects. The main toxic components of it are cardiac glycosides, which tend to cause cardiotoxicity. Currently, it has also been reported in studies to cause hepatotoxicity, but it is not clear whether the hepatotoxicity is related to the toxicity caused by the reactive metabolites.

Chemical profiles, differentiation, and quality evaluation of Radix et Rhizoma Thalictri Foliolosi based on LC-MS.

Radix et Rhizoma Thalictri Foliolosi (RRTF) belongs to one of the alkaloid-rich traditional Chinese medicines in Ranunculaceae, which possesses anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, and several other pharmacological activities. However, due to lack of research on chemical composition, serious confusion in the origin, and ambiguity in pharmacological mechanisms, it is quite urgent to establish quality control standards based on modern research and to increase the widespread usage. Aiming to clarify the differential compounds among three species of RRTF (TFD, TFB, and TCW), targeted and untargeted acquisition strategies based on high resolution mass spectrometry were established.

The Molecular Basis of the Anti-Inflammatory Property of Astragaloside IV for the Treatment of Diabetes and Its Complications.

Astragali Radix is a significant traditional Chinese medication, and has a long history of clinical application in the treatment of diabetes mellitus (DM) and its complications. AS-IV is an active saponin isolated from it. Modern pharmacological study shows that AS-IV has anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant and immunomodulatory activities.

Comprehensive investigation on the metabolism of emodin both in vivo and in vitro.

Emodin is a natural anthraquinone, which displays numerous pharmacological activities, including anti-tumor, anti-inflammation and immunosuppression. However, there was no comprehensive study on its absorption, metabolism, distribution, and excretion. In order to further evaluation on the possibility of drug development of emodin, both in vivo and in vitro experiments were fulfilled in this study.

Characterization of volatile organic compounds in Polygonum multiflorum and two of its processed products based on multivariate statistical analysis for processing technology monitoring.

Herein we describe a comprehensive analysis of the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) of raw Polygonum multiflorum Thunb. (PM) and two of its processed products, as well as an effective and simple method based on volatile markers to determine to which extent the PM had been processed. Sixty-five VOCs were identified by headspace-solid-phase microextraction-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (HS-SPME-GC-MS), along with headspace-gas chromatography-ion mobility spectrometry (HS-GC-IMS).

Studies on Chemical Characterization of Ginkgo Amillaria Oral Solution and Its Drug-Drug Interaction With Piceatannol 3'---D-Glucopyranoside for Injection.

Ginkgo Amillaria oral solution (GAO) is commonly used for the treatment of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases in China. Piceatannol-3'---D-glucopyranoside for injection (PGI) is mainly used for the prevention and treatment of ischemic cerebrovascular diseases. With the spread of cerebrovascular disease, the possibility of combining the two drugs has increased; however, there is no research on the drug-drug interaction (DDI) between these two medicines.

Biodistribution and pharmacokinetic profile of berberine and its metabolites in hepatocytes.

Background: Berberine has been shown in clinical studies to have many health benefits, including anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, along with gut-flora balancing properties. However, its clinical efficacy is hindered by its low oral bioavailability and rapid metabolism.

Purpose: This study aims to identify the berberine metabolites' forms and characterize their biodistribution patterns in and out of HepG2 cells.

The interaction of alkaloids in Coptis chinensis Franch -Tetradium ruticarpum (A. Juss.) T.G. Hartley with hOCT1 and hOCT2.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Zuojin Pill, a traditional poly-herbal drug, comprises Coptis chinensis Franch - Tetradium ruticarpum (A. Juss.) T.

An integrated strategy for the systematic chemical characterization of Salvianolate lyophilized injection using four scan modes based on the ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-triple quadrupole-linear ion trap mass spectrometry.

Salvianolate lyophilized injection (SLI), a freeze-dried powder injection derived from aqueous extract of S. miltiorrhiza, is therapeutically used to treat the syndrome of blood stasis and collateral blockage during the recovery period after stroke. To date, it has remained a significant challenge to comprehensively characterize the compounds of SLI, particularly the minor components with potential bioactivities, in one sample injection analysis.

Rapid discovery of potentially vasodilative compounds from Uncaria by UHPLC/Q-Orbitrap-MS based metabolomics and correlation analysis.

The genus Uncaria belongs to the family of Rubiaceae, which contains approximately 34 species. It has been widely used as a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) in China to treat hypertension, fevers, headaches, gastrointestinal illness, epilepsy, wounds, and ulcers. Uncaria rhynchophylla.

An effective strategy for distinguishing the processing degree of Polygonum multiflorum based on the analysis of substance and taste by LC-MS, ICP-OES and electronic tongue.

The efficacy of raw and processed products of Polygonum multiflorum (PM) varies greatly. "Nine cycles of steaming and sunning" (NCSS) is recognized as an effective technology in enhancing efficacy and reducing toxicity for PM. In this paper, PM was prepared differently into three groups (including group R, M, and "9"), which represent raw PM, PM processed using the method of Chinese Pharmacopoeia (ChP) and PM processed using traditional NCSS, respectively.

Polygonum multiflorum: Recent updates on newly isolated compounds, potential hepatotoxic compounds and their mechanisms.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Polygonum multiflorum Thunb.(PM), (known as Heshouwu () in China) is one of the most important and well mentioned Chinese medicinal herbs in the literature for its use in blackening hair, nourishing liver and kidney, anti-aging, anti-hyperlipidemia, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, hepatoprotection, cardio-protection and improving age-related cognitive dysfunction. The purpose of this review is to give a comprehensive and recent update on PM: new compounds or isolated for the first time, potential hepatotoxic compounds and their mechanisms.

The composition differences between small black beans and big black beans from different habitats and its effects on the processing of Polygonum multiflorum.

Introduction: The roots of Polygonum multiflorum (PM) serve as a classical traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), which has multiple biological activities. However, many cases of hepatotoxicity in PM have been reported in recent years. Processing PM with black beans decoction is one of the typical processing methods to reduce the hepatotoxicity of PM since ancient times.

Thirteen bisbenzylisoquinoline alkaloids in five Chinese medicinal plants: Botany, traditional uses, phytochemistry, pharmacokinetic and toxicity studies.

Relevance: Bisbenzylisoquinoline (BBIQ) alkaloids are generally present in plants of Berberidaceae, Monimiaceae and Ranunculaceae families in tropical and subtropical regions. Some species of these families are used in traditional Chinese medicine, with the effects of clearing away heat and detoxification, promoting dampness and defecation, and eliminating sores and swelling. This article offers essential data focusing on 13 representative BBIQ compounds, which are mainly extracted from five plants.

Structure-Based Reactivity Profiles of Reactive Metabolites with Glutathione.

Therapeutic agents can be transformed into reactive metabolites under the action of various metabolic enzymes and then covalently combine with biological macromolecules (such as protein or DNA), resulting in increasing toxicity. The screening of reactive metabolites in drug discovery and development stages and monitoring of biotransformation in post-market drugs has become an important research field. Generally, reactive metabolites are electrophilic and can be captured by small nucleophiles.

Xuebijing Injection Maintains GRP78 Expression to Prevent -Induced Epithelial Death in the Kidney.

Sepsis and septic shock threaten the survival of millions of patients in the intensive care unit. Secondary fungal infections significantly increased the risk of mortality in sepsis patients. Chinese medicine Xuebijing injection (XBJ) has been routinely used as an add-on treatment to sepsis and septic shock in China.

Network Pharmacology-Guided Development of a Novel Integrative Regimen to Prevent Acute Graft-vs.-Host Disease.

Lapses in the graft-vs.-host disease (GVHD) prophylaxis and side effects of current standard care following allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) call for novel regimens. Traditional approaches targeting T cells showed limited success in preventing acute GVHD (aGVHD).

Anti-sepsis protection of Xuebijing injection is mediated by differential regulation of pro- and anti-inflammatory Th17 and T regulatory cells in a murine model of polymicrobial sepsis.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Xuebijing injection (XBJ), a Chinese herbal medicine containing extracts from 5 herbs, is frequently used as an add-on with standard therapies to treat sepsis or septic shock with fewer side effects in China. Nonetheless, its mechanism of action on septic shock remains to be unveiled. We explored the differential effects of XBJ on subtypes of CD4+ T cell differentiation and septic shock protection in a murine model to understand the contribution of XBJ to regulation of the inflammation-immune axis function.

Traditional uses, phytochemistry, pharmacology and toxicology of the genus Cimicifuga: A review.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Plants of the genus Cimicifuga have long been used as an ethnomedicine in China, Europe, and North America for its high medicinal value and health benefits. Their dried rhizomes are widely used for treating wind-heat headache, toothache, aphtha, sore throat, measles, spot poison, archoptosis, and uterine prolapse. In addition, it is used as a dietary supplement for preventing women menopausal symptoms and osteoporosis.

LC-MS/MS method for simultaneous determination of flavonoids and physalins in rat plasma: Application to pharmacokinetic study after oral administration of Physalis alkekengi var. franchetii (Chinese lantern) extract.

A rapid and sensitive liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method was developed and validated for the simultaneous determination of luteolin, luteolin-7-O-β-D-glucopyranoside, physalin A, physalin D and physalin L in rat plasma. Scutellarein and dexamethasone were used as the internal standards (IS). Plasma samples were prepared by liquid-liquid extraction with ethyl acetate.