Alantolactone mitigates the elevation of blood pressure in mice induced by angiotensin II by inhibiting calcium channel activation.

Background: The dried root of Inula helenium L., known as Inulae Radix in Mongolian medicine, is a widely used heat-clearing plant drug within the Asteraceae family. Alantolactone (ATL), a compound derived from Inulae Radix, is a sesquiterpene lactone with a range of biological activities.

Cucurbitacins mitigate vascular neointimal hyperplasia by suppressing cyclin A2 expression and inhibiting VSMC proliferation.

Background: Restenosis frequently occurs after percutaneous angioplasty in patients with vascular occlusion and seriously threatens their health. Substantial evidence has revealed that preventing vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation using a drug-eluting stent is an effective approach to improve restenosis. Cucurbitacins have been demonstrated to exert an anti-proliferation effect in various tumors and a hypotensive effect.

Formononetin ameliorates isoproterenol induced cardiac fibrosis through improving mitochondrial dysfunction.

Formononetin, an isoflavone compound, has been extensively researched due to its various biological activities, including a potent protective effect on the cardiovascular system. However, the impact of formononetin on cardiac fibrosis has not been investigated. In this study, C57BL/6 mice were used to establish cardiac fibrosis animal models by subcutaneous injecting of isoproterenol (ISO) and formononetin was orally administrated.

Melatonin decreases GSDME mediated mesothelial cell pyroptosis and prevents peritoneal fibrosis and ultrafiltration failure.

Peritoneal fibrosis together with increased capillaries is the primary cause of peritoneal dialysis failure. Mesothelial cell loss is an initiating event for peritoneal fibrosis. We find that the elevated glucose concentrations in peritoneal dialysate drive mesothelial cell pyroptosis in a manner dependent on caspase-3 and Gasdermin E, driving downstream inflammatory responses, including the activation of macrophages.

Antitumor Effects of β-Elemene Through Inducing Autophagy-Mediated Apoptosis in Ewing Sarcoma Family Tumor Cells.

Ewing sarcoma family tumors (ESFTs) are a group of aggressive tumors mainly affecting children and young people. A compound derived from plant or lemon grass, β-elemene, has exhibited antitumor effects to ESFT cells, the mechanism of which remains to be clarified further. Autophagy is involved in the antitumor effects of various drugs, whereas the role of autophagy in the antitumor effects of β-elemene persists controversial.

β-elemene Isopropanolamine Derivative LXX-8250 Induces Apoptosis Through Impairing Autophagic Flux PFKFB4 Repression in Melanoma Cells.

Melanoma is a highly aggressive skin cancer and accounts for most of the skin cancer-related deaths. The efficacy of current therapies for melanoma remains to be improved. The isopropanolamine derivative of β-elemene LXX-8250 was reported to present better water solubility and stronger toxicity to tumor cells than β-elemene.

Periplocymarin Alleviates Doxorubicin-Induced Heart Failure and Excessive Accumulation of Ceramides.

Doxorubicin-driven cardiotoxicity could result in dilated cardiomyopathy and heart failure (HF). Previously, we showed that periplocymarin exerted a cardiotonic role by promoting calcium influx and attenuating myocardial fibrosis induced by isoproterenol (ISO) by improving the metabolism of cardiomyocytes. However, the impact of periplocymarin on doxorubicin (DOX)-triggered cardiomyopathy has not been investigated.

Periplocymarin protects against myocardial fibrosis induced by β-adrenergic activation in mice.

Periplocymarin is an effective component of Periplocae Cortex, which was wildly used as an ingredient in Traditional Chinese Medicine. Our group previously reported that periplocymarin exerted cardiotonic role via promoting calcium influx. However, its exact role in the pathogenesis of myocardial fibrosis has not been elucidated yet.

Periplocymarin Plays an Efficacious Cardiotonic Role Promoting Calcium Influx.

Periplocymarin, which belongs to cardiac glycosides, is an effective component extracted from Periplocae Cortex. However, its cardiovascular effects remain unidentified. In the present study, injection of periplocymarin (5 mg/kg) through external jugular vein immediately increased the mean arterial pressure (MAP) in anesthetized C57BL/6 mice.

Cucurbitacins extracted from Cucumis melo L. (CuEC) exert a hypotensive effect via regulating vascular tone.

As an effective medicine for jaundice in traditional Chinese medicine, Cucumis melo L. has been widely used in China. However, its effect on vascular function is still unclear.

Antibacterial constituents of Fructus Chebulae Immaturus and their mechanisms of action.

Background: To extract, purify, and identify the effective constituents of aqueous extract of Fructus Chebulae Immaturus, and analyze the bactericidal effects of total tannins.

Methods: Preparative thin layer chromatography and semi-preparative high performance liquid chromatography were used to isolate and purify the total tannin fraction. (1)H- and (13)C- NMR spectroscopy were used to elucidate compound structures.

In vitro activity of taurine-5-bromosalicylaldehyde Schiff base against planktonic and biofilm cultures of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.

Staphylococcus aureus is a major human pathogen, implicated in both community and hospital acquired infections. The therapy for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections is becoming more difficult because of multidrug resistance and strong biofilmforming properties. Schiff bases have attracted attention as promising antibacterial agents.