4-Phenylbutyric acid suppresses psoralen-induced hepatotoxicity by inhibiting ERS and reestablishing mitochondrial fusion-fission balance in mice.

Psoralen is a main active molecule of the traditional Chinese herb medicine Fructus Psoraleae. Our previous studies have shown that psoralen induced liver injury through the endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) signaling pathways. In this article, we studied whether the ERS inhibitor, 4-phenylbutyrate acid (4-PBA) could inhibit the liver toxicity caused by psoralen, and explored the underlying mechanisms.

Aqueous extract of Epimedium sagittatum (Sieb. et Zucc.) Maxim. induces liver injury in mice via pyroptosis.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Epimedium sagittatum (Sieb. et Zucc.) Maxim.

Cardioprotective effects of gypenoside XVII against ischemia/reperfusion injury: Role of endoplasmic reticulum stress, autophagy, and mitochondrial fusion fission balance.

Gypenoside XVII (GP-17), a tetracyclic triterpene saponin isolated from the functional food Gynostemma pentaphyllum, has been demonstrated protective effects against cerebrovascular and cardiovascular diseases on multiple disease models. In this study, we established a myocardial infarction (MI) model by ligating the left anterior descending coronary artery, and explored whether GP-17 prevent myocardial ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injuries in mice. Compared with the I/R group, GP-17 significantly improved the cardiac function, reduced the MI, decreased myocardial pathology, activated superoxide dismutase and catalase, and reduced the content of lactate dehydrogenase, creatine kinase, malondialdehyde, and inflammatory factor.

Epicatechin gallate prevents the de novo synthesis of fatty acid and the migration of prostate cancer cells.

Lipid metabolism disorder caused by the upregulation of lipogenic genes is a typical feature of prostate cancer. The synthesis of fatty acids is enhanced to accelerate the development of prostate cancer and is considered as a potential therapeutic target. Epicatechin gallate, an active compound of green tea, has been reported to modulate lipid metabolism.

Adenine shares the plane with G-quartet detected by surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy.

DNA G-quadruplexes (G4s) formed by guanine(G)-rich sequences show diversity of structural topologies. The detection of structural details is of great significance for understanding of their functions and for the target drug design, but is very challenging. Herein, we demonstrate that the surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) via Ag IANPs as substrates is able to identify the numbers of Adenine (A) located on the G-quartet of the G4s.

A stable uncompleted tetramolecular G-quadruplex formed by d(AGA) under acidic condition.

In this work, the effects of terminal adenines on the formation and stability of tetramolecular G-quadruplexes (G4s) have been studied by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS), UV, CD and NMR spectroscopy. Several evidences suggested that the sequences d(AGA) (n = 4 or 5) form stable uncompleted tetramolecular G4 at acidic condition which is different from the canonical one in the neutral condition. In addition, hydrolysis of guanine has also been observed in acidic condition that may occur for unpaired strands rather than in complete G4.

Emodin Inhibits Inflammation, Carcinogenesis, and Cancer Progression in the AOM/DSS Model of Colitis-Associated Intestinal Tumorigenesis.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common cancer worldwide. Chronic inflammation contributes to CRC development and progression. Emodin, is a natural anthraquinone derivative with anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-tumor activities.

Anti-inflammatory effects of Rhodiola rosea L.: A review.

Rhodiola rosea L., a worldwide botanical adaptogen, has been confirmed to possess protective effects of inflammatory injury for many diseases, including cardiovascular diseases, neurodegenerative diseases, diabetes, sepsis, and cancer. This paper is to review the recent clinical and experimental researches about the anti-inflammatory effects and the related mechanisms of Rhodiola rosea L.

Evaluation of Anti-Inflammatory Activities of a Triterpene β-Elemonic Acid in Frankincense In Vivo and In Vitro.

The purpose of this research was to extract and separate the compounds from frankincense, and then evaluate their anti-inflammatory effects. The isolated compound was a representative tetracyclic triterpenes of glycine structure according to ¹H-NMR and C-NMR spectra, which is β-elemonic acid (β-EA). We determined the content of six different localities of frankincense; the average content of β-EA was 41.

Isopsoralen induces different subchronic toxicities and metabolomic outcomes between male and female Wistar rats.

Isopsoralen is a major active and quality-control component of Fructus Psoraleae, but lacks a full safety evaluation. We evaluated the oral toxicity of isopsoralen in Wistar rats treated for 3 months at doses of 0, 3.5, 7.

The Antiosteoporosis Effects of Zhuanggu Guanjie Pill and .

We investigated the beneficial effects and underlying mechanisms of Zhuanggu Guanjie (ZGGJ) pill in osteoporosis and . Bone marrow macrophages from 4-6-week-old mice were cultured in the presence of macrophage colony-stimulating factor (15 ng/mL) and receptor activator of nuclear factor-B ligand (30 ng/mL). Osteoclast differentiation was determined by quantification of tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase activity.

A Study of NMR-Based Hepatic and Serum Metabolomics in a Liver Injury Sprague-Dawley Rat Model Induced by Psoralen.

Psoralen is the main active component of Psoralea corylifolia and is used as a marker to assess its quality. The effects of psoralen on animals have been well characterized. However, the molecular pathway of its toxicity is not fully understood.

Baicalein inhibits acinar-to-ductal metaplasia of pancreatic acinal cell AR42J via improving the inflammatory microenvironment.

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is one of the most aggressive cancers. Recent research has demonstrated that chronic pancreatitis (CP) is associated with an increased risk of PDAC, partly due to acinar-to-ductal metaplasia (ADM). Baicalein has been shown to exert anti-inflammatory and anti-tumor effects for CP or PDAC, respectively.

Targeting tumor-associated macrophages by anti-tumor Chinese materia medica.

Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) play a key role in all stages of tumorigenesis and tumor progression. TAMs secrete different kinds of cytokines, chemokines, and enzymes to affect the progression, metastasis, and resistance to therapy depending on their state of reprogramming. Therapeutic benefit in targeting TAMs suggests that macrophages are attractive targets for cancer treatment.

A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of Chinese herbal medicine granules for the treatment of menopausal symptoms by stages.

Objective: The study aims to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of Chinese herbal medicine granules Danzhi Qing'e formula (DZQE), Erzhi formula (EZ), and their combination (Combined formula) in the treatment of menopausal symptoms at different stages of menopause.

Methods: Women between the ages of 40 to 60 years, who met menopausal symptoms diagnostic criteria and experienced hot flushes at least 14 times/week in the last 4 weeks, were recruited to participate in a stratified randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial (n = 389). They received a treatment period of 8 weeks and were followed up for 4 weeks.

Lymphotoxin β receptor signaling promotes development of autoimmune pancreatitis.

Background & Aims: Little is known about the pathogenic mechanisms of autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP), an increasingly recognized, immune-mediated form of chronic pancreatitis. Current treatment options are limited and disease relapse is frequent. We investigated factors that contribute to the development of AIP and new therapeutic strategies.

Pancreatic stone protein is highly increased during posttraumatic sepsis and activates neutrophil granulocytes.

Objectives: The level of pancreatic stone protein/regenerating protein (PSP/reg), a secretory protein produced in the pancreas, increases dramatically during pancreatic disease. However, after stress (e.g.

Prostaglandin E2 modulates TNF-alpha-induced MCP-1 synthesis in pancreatic acinar cells in a PKA-dependent manner.

Cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 is increased in human chronic pancreatitis. We recently demonstrated in a model of chronic pancreatitis (WBN/Kob rat) that inhibition of COX-2 activity reduces and delays pancreatic inflammation and fibrosis. Monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP)-1 mRNA and PGE(2) were significantly reduced, correlating with a decreased infiltration of macrophages.

Exocrine meets endocrine: pancreatic stone protein and regenerating protein--two sides of the same coin.

Background: Regenerating protein (reg) and pancreatic stone protein (PSP) have been discovered independently in the fields of diabetes and pancreatitis.

Materials And Methods: These proteins are identical; however, because of the gap between the endocrine and exocrine field, there was never a consensus and the nomenclature has not been rectified. Since the time of the initial discovery, more isoforms have been unified.