Dissecting the anti-obesity components of ginseng: How ginseng polysaccharides and ginsenosides target gut microbiota to suppress high-fat diet-induced obesity.

Introduction: Ginseng demonstrates therapeutic potential in treating obesity, with both experimental and clinical studies suggesting its anti-obesity effects are mediated by gut microbiota. Nonetheless, the specific chemical components responsible for this effect remain largely unidentified.

Objectives: This study aims to investigate the anti-obesity effects and mechanisms of ginseng polysaccharides (GP) and ginsenosides (GS), the primary chemical components of ginseng, with a focus on their impact on gut microbiota.

Integrated anti-fatigue effects of polysaccharides and small molecules coexisting in water extracts of ginseng: Gut microbiota-mediated mechanisms.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Both clinical and animal studies have demonstrated that ginseng has curative effects on fatigue. Our previous study found that water extracts of ginseng (WEG) could significantly mitigate exercise-induced fatigue (EF). Notably, polysaccharides (GP) and small molecules (GS, mainly ginsenosides) coexist in WEG.

Advances in multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging combined with biomarkers for the diagnosis of high-grade prostate cancer.

Clinical decisions based on the test results for prostate-specific antigen often result in overdiagnosis and overtreatment. Multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI) can be used to identify high-grade prostate cancer (HGPCa; Gleason score ≥3 + 4); however, certain limitations remain such as inter-reader variability and false negatives. The combination of mpMRI and prostate cancer (PCa) biomarkers (prostate-specific antigen density, Proclarix, gene fusion, Michigan prostate score, ExoDX prostate intelliscore, four kallikrein score, select molecular diagnosis, prostate health index, and prostate health index density) demonstrates high accuracy in the diagnosis of HGPCa, ensuring that patients avoid unnecessary prostate biopsies with a low leakage rate.

A robust ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method for simultaneous determination of 10 components in glutathione cycle.

Glutathione (GSH) is an important antioxidant that is generated and degraded via the GSH cycle. Quantification of the main components in the GSH cycle is necessary to evaluate the process of GSH. In this study, a robust ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method for the simultaneous quantification of 10 components (GSH; γ-glutamylcysteine; cysteinyl-glycine; n-acetylcysteine; homocysteine; cysteine; cystine; methionine; glutamate; pyroglutamic acid) in GSH cycle was developed.

Influence of SphK1 on Inflammatory Responses in Lipopolysaccharide-Challenged RAW 264.7 Cells.

Acute lung injury (ALI) and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) are serious respiratory disorders caused by a variety of intrapulmonary and extrapulmonary factors. Their incidence is increasing year by year, with high morbidity and mortality rates and lack of effective treatment. Inflammation plays a crucial role in ALI development, with sphingosine kinase 1 (SphK1) being a pivotal enzyme influencing sphingolipid metabolism and participating in inflammatory responses.

Three new species of jumping spiders (Araneae, Salticidae) from Hunan, China.

Three new species of the genera C. L. Koch, 1846 and Prószyński, 1979 are described and named as (♂♀), (♀) and (♂♀), from Hunan Province, China.

Integrating UPLC-QTOF-MS/MS and UPLC-DAD to evaluate the influence of sulfur-fumigated Paeoniae Radix Alba on the overall quality of three Si-Wu-Tang formulations.

Introduction: Sulfur-fumigation of Paeoniae Radix Alba (PRA) could induce the chemical transformation of its bioactive component paeoniflorin into a sulfur-containing derivative paeoniflorin sulfite, and thus alter the quality, bioactivities, pharmacokinetics, and toxicities of PRA. However, how sulfur-fumigated PRA (S-PRA) affects the quality of PRA-containing complex preparations has not been intensively evaluated.

Objectives: We intend to evaluate the influence of S-PRA on the overall quality of three kinds of Si-Wu-Tang (SWT) formulations, i.

Danggui Sini decoction alleviates oxaliplatin-induced peripheral neuropathy by regulating gut microbiota and potentially relieving neuroinflammation related metabolic disorder.

Background: Danggui Sini decoction (DSD), a traditional Chinese medicine formula, has the function of nourishing blood, warming meridians, and unblocking collaterals. Our clinical and animal studies had shown that DSD can effectively protect against oxaliplatin (OXA)-induced peripheral neuropathy (OIPN), but the detailed mechanisms remain uncertain. Multiple studies have confirmed that gut microbiota plays a crucial role in the development of OIPN.

Metals/bisulfite system involved generation of 24-sulfonic-25-ene ginsenoside Rg1, a potential quality control marker for sulfur-fumigated ginseng.

Ginseng is a most popular health-promoting food with ginsenosides as its main bioactive ingredients. Illegal sulfur-fumigation causes ginsenosides convert to toxic sulfur-containing derivatives, and reduced the efficacy/safety of ginseng. 24-sulfo-25-ene ginsenoside Rg1 (25-ene SRg1), one of the sulfur-containing derivatives, is a potential quality control marker of fumigated ginseng, but with low accessibility owing to its unknown generation mechanism.

Rationality of the ethanol precipitation process in modern preparation production of Zishui-Qinggan decoction evaluated by integrating UPLC-QTOF-MS/MS-based chemical profiling/serum pharmacochemistry and network pharmacology.

Introduction: Zishui-Qinggan decoction (ZQD) is a classical traditional Chinese medicine formula (TCMF) for alleviating menopausal symptoms (MPS) induced by endocrine therapy in breast cancer patients. In the production of TCMF modern preparations, ethanol precipitation (EP) is a commonly but not fully verified refining process.

Objectives: Chemical profiling/serum pharmacochemistry and network pharmacology approaches were integrated for exploring the rationality of the EP process in the production of ZQD modern preparations.

Quality evaluation of Pterocephali Herba through simultaneously quantifying 18 bioactive components by UPLC-TQ-MS/MS analysis.

Pterocephali Herba (PH), the dried whole plant of Pterocephalus hookeri, is a Tibetan medicine commonly used to treat rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Iridoids, triterpenoids, flavonoids and phenylpropanoids are the major groups of bioactive constituents from PH. However, only ursolic acid and oleanolic acid, two unspecific triterpenoid components, are used as markers for the quality control of PH in Chinese Pharmacopoeia.

[Carbohydrate-based quality consistency evaluation of Saposhnikoviae Radix].

This study aims to evaluate the quality consistency of Saposhnikoviae Radix based on carbohydrates, and explore the potential of carbohydrates as the internal quality control indicators of Saposhnikoviae Radix. The total polysaccharides were quantified by UV-Vis spectrophotometry and the molecular weight range of the polysaccharides was determined by high performance gel-permeation chromatography-evaporative light scattering detection(HPGPC-ELSD). The monosaccharides in polysaccharides and the free monosaccharides were quantified by high performance liquid chromatography-UV detection(HPLC-UV), and the oligosaccharides and fructose were quantified by high performance liquid chromatography-evaporative light scattering detection(HPLC-ELSD).

Impacts of sulfur fumigation on the chemistry and immunomodulatory activity of polysaccharides in ginseng.

Ginseng is widely regarded as a panacea in Oriental medicine mainly due to its immunomodulatory activity. We previously found that sulfur fumigation, a commonly used pesticidal and anti-bacterial processing practice, weakened the immunomodulatory activity of ginseng. However, if and how sulfur fumigation affects the polysaccharides in ginseng, the crucial components contributing to the immunomodulatory function, remain unknown.

UPLC-QTOF-MS/MS assisted UPLC-TQ-MS/MS strategy to comparatively investigate the rat pharmacokinetics of N-acetyldopamine oligomers derived from Cicadae Periostracum.

Cicadae Periostracum (CP), the slough molted from the nymph of Cryptotympana pustulata, is a widely used medicinal material in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). N-acetyldopamine oligomers (NAOs), the homologues of acetyldopamine, including N-acetyldopamine dimers/trimers/tetramers/pentamers (NADs/NATrs/NATes/NAPs), side-chain isomer of dimers/trimers (SCIDs/SCITrs), are major bioactive ingredients of CP. However, owing to commercially unavailable reference substances of all NAOs, simultaneous quantification of these NAOs in biological samples is difficult, and thus their pharmacokinetics are still unknown.

Full-length sequence of the novel HLA-B*40:537 allele by next-generation sequencing in a Chinese individual.

One nucleotide substitution in codon 116 of HLA-B*40:06:01:12 results in a novel allele, HLA-B*40:537.

Three new species of the genus Asceua Thorell, 1887 (Araneae: Zodariidae) from Yunnan Province, China.

Three new species of the genus Asceua Thorell, 1887 are described and named as: A. calciformis sp. nov.

Three new spider species of Araneus Clerck, 1757 (Araneae, Araneidae) from the Gaoligong Mountains of Yunnan, China.

Both sexes of three new species of the spider genus Araneus Clerck, 1757 are described and named as: A. breviscapus n. sp.

Comparing steamed and wine-stewed Rehmanniae Radix in terms of Yin-nourishing effects via metabolomics and microbiome analysis.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Rehmanniae Radix Praeparata (RRP), the processed root of Rehmannia glutinosa, has been widely used to treat Yin deficiency syndrome in traditional Chinese medicine. RRP is available in two forms: processed by steaming with water (SRR) or processed by stewing with yellow rice wine (WRR). Previous work has documented chemical differences in the secondary metabolomes and glycomes of SRR and WRR.

Holistic quality evaluation of Callicarpae Formosanae Folium by multi-chromatography-based qualitative and quantitative analysis of polysaccharides and small molecules.

Callicarpae Formosanae Folium (CFF), derived from the leaves of Callicarpa formosana Rolfe, is a common Chinese medicinal herb used for the treatment of hematemesis. Phytochemical studies found that phenylpropanoids, flavonoids, terpenoids and polysaccharides were the main ingredients of CFF. However, there is limited scientific information concerning holistic quality method and quality consistency evaluation of CFF.

Three new species of the genus Latreille, 1804 (Araneae, Tetragnathidae) from China.

Three new species of Latreille, 1804 are described from China: Li & Liu, (♂♀) and Li & Liu, (♂♀) from Yunnan Province, and Li & Liu, (♂♀) from Hubei and Hunan provinces. Detailed descriptions, photographs of somatic features and copulatory organs, and a distribution map of these three species are provided.

Structure-specific antitumor effects and potential gut microbiota-involved mechanisms of ginseng polysaccharides on B16F10 melanoma-bearing mice.

Ginseng polysaccharides (GPs) have shown gut microbiota-related antitumor effects. However, the relation between their structures and antitumor functions remains unknown. Here, crude polysaccharide (GP-c) and its fractions neutral polysaccharide (GP-n) and pectin (GP-a) were prepared for structure characterization and anti-B16F10 melanoma effect evaluation, and their influence on gut microbiota diversities and short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) were also analyzed.

Impact of sulfur-fumigation on carbohydrate components of Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma.

Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma (AMR) is one of commonly used medicinal and edible herbs in China. It is often sulfur-fumigated during post-harvest processing. Carbohydrates are important active components of AMR.

The Global Burden of Disease attributable to low physical activity and its trends from 1990 to 2019: An analysis of the Global Burden of Disease study.

Introduction: Low physical activity (LPA) is associated with several major non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and premature mortality. In this study, we aimed to assess the global burden and trends in disease attributable to LPA (DALPA) from 1990 to 2019.

Methods: Annual age-standardized disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) and death rates of DALPA [all-cause and five specific causes (ischaemic heart disease, diabetes mellitus, stroke, colon and rectal cancer, and breast cancer)] by sex, age, geographical region and social deprivation index (SDI) score from 1990 to 2019 were available from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) study 2019.

Quality consistency evaluation of commercial Prunellae Spica by integrating determination of secondary metabolites and saccharides.

Introduction: Prunellae Spica (PS) is a commonly used medicinal herb in China. Secondary metabolites and saccharides are major bioactive components of PS. However, holistic quality consistency of commercial PS is ambiguous due to lack of comprehensive evaluation methods and reliable quality control markers.

Integrating Multi-Type Component Determination and Anti-Oxidant/-Inflammatory Assay to Evaluate the Impact of Pre-Molting Washing on the Quality and Bioactivity of Cicadae Periostracum.

Cicadae Periostracum (CP) is a traditional Chinese medicinal herb derived from the slough that is molted from the nymph of the insect Fabricius. Washing with water to remove residual silt is a primary processing method of CP that is recommended by the Chinese Pharmacopoeia, but how washing methods affect the quality and bioactivity of CP is unknown. In this study, the quality and bioactivity of non-washed CP (CP-NW), post-molting-washed CP (CP-WAT), and pre-molting-washed CP (CP-WBT) were comparatively investigated.