Publications by authors named "Huihui Meng"

Article Synopsis
  • Cucurbitacin B (CuB) is a natural compound known for its strong anticancer effects, but its effectiveness is limited due to poor absorption in the body when taken orally.
  • Researchers studied how CuB is metabolized in rats after oral administration, identifying 13 metabolites, with one key variant, CuB-Cys, showing similar anti-cancer activity as CuB but with less toxicity toward normal cells.
  • The study sheds light on CuB's metabolic pathways and suggests that using its metabolites, like CuB-Cys, could enhance its therapeutic effects while minimizing side effects in cancer treatment.
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Ischemic stroke is the most important cause of disability and death worldwide, but current treatments remain limited. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) including the herb pair of Zhiqiao-Danggui (ZD) offers a multifaceted treatment approach through promoting blood circulation, yet its specific anti-ischemic mechanism remains unclear. This study used the photochemically induced thrombosis (PIT) mouse model and the oxygen glucose deprivation/reoxygenation (OGD/R) cell model to explore the therapeutic effect of ZD on ischemic stroke.

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Ischemic stroke, accounting for 80 % of all strokes, is a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. However, effective and safe pharmacotherapy options for ischemic injury are limited. This study investigated the therapeutic effects of wogonoside, a compound derived from Radix Scutellariae, on ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury.

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Background: Cirrhosis is a common liver disease, and ascites is one of the common clinical conditions. However, the clinical manifestations of ascites combined with hyponatremia as a high-risk condition and its relationship to patient prognosis have not been fully studied.

Aim: To explore the clinical manifestations, prognostic factors, and relationships of ascites with hyponatremia in patients with cirrhosis to provide better diagnostic and treatment strategies.

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The pericarp of (HPP) has traditionally been used for treating jaundice and hepatitis. However, the specific hepatoprotective components and their safety/efficacy profiles remain unclear. This study aimed to characterize the total cucurbitacins (TCs) extracted from HPP and evaluate their hepatoprotective potential.

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Article Synopsis
  • 4-octyl itaconate (4-OI) is a derivative known for its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, and this study explores its potential to protect the liver from oxidative stress-related injuries.
  • The research demonstrated that 4-OI reduced cytotoxicity and oxidative stress in liver cells and activated key signaling pathways (PI3K/AKT/mTOR and MAPK) that play a role in its protective effects.
  • In mouse models, 4-OI decreased liver damage from acetaminophen and increased the expression of protective proteins, indicating that its antioxidant effects are linked to the activation of the Nrf2/Sirt3 pathway through phosphorylation of AKT and ERK1/2.
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Trichlorfon, one of the most widely used organophosphate insecticides, is commonly employed in aquaculture and agriculture to combat parasitic infestations. However, its inherent instability leads to rapid decomposition into dichlorvos (DDVP), increasing its toxicity by eightfold. Therefore, the environmental effects of trichlorfon in real-world scenarios involve the combined effects of trichlorfon and its degradation product, DDVP.

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Sepsis arises from an uncontrolled inflammatory response to infection that can lead to organ failure. The gut microbiome is increasingly recognized as a key modulator of sepsis progression. This study investigated whether Coptis chinensis water extract (CCWE) could attenuate sepsis by modulating the gut microbiome and immune response.

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Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic inflammatory gastrointestinal disease, and an imbalance in the gut microbiota is a critical factor in its development. Gastrodia elata (G. elata), an Orchidaceae plant, is recognized for its nutritional and medicinal value.

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Cerebrovascular disease is the leading cause of disability and death, and ischemic stroke accounts for most stroke cases. However, few effective drugs are available for the treatment of ischemic stroke; thus, there is an urgent need to develop effective drugs to treat ischemic stroke. DL-3-n-butylphthalide (NBP) is clinically approved as an anti-ischemic drug in China, but its potential hepatotoxicity limits its use.

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Macrophages exhibit significant phenotypic plasticity to switch their functional phenotypes during inflammation and recovery. Pro-inflammatory (M1) macrophages transform their morphology from round in M0 phenotype to flat and rapidly adhere to lesion sites to recognize series of molecular patterns: damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) and pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs). Macrophages could also reprogram their metabolism to influence their function.

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Emodin is the major anthraquinone component of many important traditional Chinese herbs, such as Rheum palmatum L. and Polygonum multiflorum Thunb. They have been popular health products but recently aroused concerns about their hepatotoxicity, which are believed to be arising from the contained anthraquinones, such as emodin.

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Ischemic stroke is the main cause of death/disability, posing a great menace to human health. Though efforts to search for therapeutic drugs are ongoing, few of them have succeeded. Adenosine A receptor (A1R) activation could ameliorate ischemic injury, representing a very tempting target for stroke treatment.

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Article Synopsis
  • The study investigates the safety and potential toxicity of the 25 flavors of the turquoise pill, a traditional Tibetan medicine for treating hepatitis, particularly focusing on the mineral turquoise.
  • Researchers administered the pill and turquoise to rats over 7 days, analyzing their effects on liver and kidney health using advanced techniques like H NMR metabolomics.
  • Results suggest that the turquoise pill can scavenge harmful free radicals and improve organ function without causing damage or oxidative stress, indicating it is safe for use in standard clinical practice.
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Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Gastrodiae Rhizoma (GR), a well-known and commonly-used TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) for treating headache, dizziness, tetanus, epilepsy, and etc., has been proven to relieve chronic atrophic gastritis (CAG). Due to its complex ingredients, the active fractions responsible for the treatment of CAG remain largely unknown.

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  • The study investigates the effects of the shell of Herpetospermum caudigerum Wall (SHCW), a traditional Tibetan medicine, on rat liver health after daily administration for 21 days at two different doses.
  • Findings revealed that SHCW caused liver tissue damage, indicated by hepatocyte edema and significant changes in serum biochemical markers such as increased ALT, AST, and MDA, alongside decreased SOD levels.
  • Utilizing H-NMR-based metabolomics, the research demonstrated that SHCW disrupts energy metabolism, oxidative stress, and amino acid metabolism, confirming its potential toxicity.
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Chronic atrophic gastritis (CAG) is one of the most common digestive system diseases worldwide which defined by WHO as initial step of cancer. Gastrodia elata Blume (GEB) is a traditional herbal with multiple pharmacological activities which was widely used in Asian countries. This study aims to explore the preventive and therapeutical effects of Gastrodia elata Blume on auto-immune induced CAG in rats.

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