Xinkeshu tablets promote angiogenesis in zebrafish embryos and human umbilical vein endothelial cells through multiple signaling pathways.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Angiogenesis is particularly important in ischemic cardiovascular diseases such as coronary heart disease (CHD). Xinkeshu tablets (XKS) are a commonly used Chinese patent medicine for CHD with a defined clinical effect. However, the proangiogenic effect of XKS remains unknown.

Investigation of the chemical profile and anti-inflammatory mechanisms of flavonoids from Artemisia vestita Wall. ex Besser via targeted metabolomics, zebrafish model, and network pharmacology.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Artemisia vestita Wall. ex Besser is wildly distributed in the western high-altitude area of China and has been used as a Tibetan medicine to treat inflammatory diseases. We previously demonstrated the total flavonoids of Artemisia vestita Wall.

Toosendanin triggered hepatotoxicity in zebrafish via inflammation, autophagy, and apoptosis pathways.

Toosendanin (TSN) is a crucial component from Toosendan Fructus with a promising anti-tumor capacity. It is also the primary suspect hepatotoxic component of Toosendan Fructus. However, the mechanisms underlying TSN-induced liver injury are still largely unknown.

Isoliquiritigenin triggers developmental toxicity and oxidative stress-mediated apoptosis in zebrafish embryos/larvae via Nrf2-HO1/JNK-ERK/mitochondrion pathway.

Isoliquiritigenin (ISL) is an emerging natural flavonoid found in the roots of licorice, exhibits antioxidant, anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, anti-allergic, cardioprotective, hepatoprotective and neuroprotective properties. However, the effect of ISL in embryonic development is yet to be elucidated, and the mechanisms underlying its target-organ toxicity and harmful side effects are still unclear. In the present study, we employed zebrafish embryos to study the developmental toxicity effect of ISL and its underlying mechanisms.

Neuroprotection by new ligustrazine-cinnamon acid derivatives on CoCl-induced apoptosis in differentiated PC12 cells.

A new series of ligustrazine-cinnamon acid derivatives had been designed and synthesized as potential neuro-protective agents. Among the derivatives, 3a exhibited the promising neuroprotective activity (EC = 3.68 μM).

Ligustrazine-Oleanolic Acid Glycine Derivative, G-TOA, Selectively Inhibited the Proliferation and Induced Apoptosis of Activated HSC-T6 Cells.

Hepatic fibrosis is a naturally occurring wound-healing reaction, with an imbalance of extracellular matrix (ECM) during tissue repair response, which can further deteriorate to hepatocellular carcinoma without timely treatment. Inhibiting activated hepatic stellate cell (HSC) proliferation and inducing apoptosis are the main methods for the treatment of liver fibrosis. In our previous study, we found that the TOA-glycine derivative (G-TOA) had exhibited more significant inhibitory activity against HepG2 cells and better hydrophilicity than TOA, ligustrazine (TMP), and oleanolic acid (OA).

Bile acids, carriers of hepatoma-targeted drugs?

Previous studies display that bile acids (Bas) could be used as carriers and pharmaceutical excipients. In this study, the selective cytotoxicity of 6 bile acids (BAs) was evaluated against hepatoma cell line HepG2, human colon carcinoma cell line HT-29, gastric cancer cell line BGC823, cervical cancer cell line Hela and hepatocyte line L02. Our study suggested that most of the BAs showed cytotoxicity against a broader spectrum of tumor cells and display high cell selectivity toward HepG2.

Ligustrazinyl amides: a novel class of ligustrazine-phenolic acid derivatives with neuroprotective effects.

Background: Ligustrazine has potent effects of thrombolysis, neuroprotection and vascular protection, which were important for effectively protecting the nervous system. Previous study in our laboratory reported that ligustrazine-benzoic acid derivatives have been shown to exhibit beneficial effect against CoCl2-induced neurotoxicity in differentiated PC12 cells. To further improve ligustrazine's neuroprotection, we integrated the ligustrazine and phenolic acid fragments into one molecule via an amide bond based on structural combination.

Amino acid derivatives of ligustrazine-oleanolic acid as new cytotoxic agents.

A series of novel ligustrazine-oleanolic acid (TOA) derivatives were designed, and synthesized by conjugating amino acids to the 3-hydroxy group of TOA by ester bonds. Their cytotoxicity was evaluated on four cancer cell lines (HepG2, HT-29, Hela and BGC-823) by standard MTT assays. The ClogP values were calculated by means of computer simulation, and logP values of both 3β-glycine ester olean-12-en-28-oic acid-3,5,6-trimethylpyrazin-2-methyl ester (6a) and TOA were determined using a shake flask-ultraviolet spectrophotometry method.

A comprehensive review of the structure elucidation and biological activity of triterpenoids from Ganoderma spp.

Ganoderma triterpenes (GTs) are the major secondary metabolites of Ganoderma lucidum, a traditional Chinese medicine, popularly used for complementary cancer therapy. GTs are lanostane-tetracyclic triterpenes. They have been reported to possess anti-tumor, anti-inflammation, antioxidant, antimicrobial and blood fat reducing effects.

[Identification of metabolites of antitumor lead compound T-OA in rat urine by HPLC-HRMS].

Objective: To study the major metabolites of antitumor lead compound T-OA (oleanolic acyl-3, 5, 6-trimethyl pyrazine-2-methyl ester) in rat urine, in order to preliminarily infer its metabolic mode in rats.

Method: Rat urines of the blank group, the raw material group (ligustrazine TMP and oleanolic acid OA Moore equivalent) and the T-OA group were collected and freeze-dried; Solids were extracted by ethyl acetate; And then the extracts were re-dissolved with acetonitrile. HPLC-HRMS coupling technique was adopted to find the potential mass spectrum peak under ESI(+) (see symbol) ESI(-) modes.

[Long-term results of surgical treatment of stomach cancer: clinical experience of forty years from Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center].

Objective: To investigate the approaches to improve therapeutic effect of stomach cancer by analysis of the long-term results of surgical treatment of this disease.

Methods: Prognostic factors of stomach cancer were analyzed by Cox multivariate regression model based on clinical data of 2561 stomach cancer cases who underwent surgical treatment from 1964 to 2004 at Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center. Survival rates were calculated by life table method.