Black ginseng: a novel medicine for treating heart failure.

Black ginseng (BG) was processed by "steaming and drying" (generally nine times) repeatedly to produce "rare saponins" and secondary ginsenosides. Both ginseng (GS) and red ginseng (RG) were commonly used in treating heart failure (HF), and the latter was confirmed to be more potent, implying the presence of rare ginsenosides that contribute positively to the treatment of heart failure. Previous research indicated that rare ginsenosides are more abundant in BG than in RG.

Effective substances and mechanism of red ginseng on rats with spleen-deficiency syndrome based on the substance and energy metabolism as well as the "brain-gut" axis.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Red ginseng (RG), a processed product of ginseng (GS), is a generally used qi-tonifying medicine in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). According to the TCM principle, RG is also generally applied to spleen-deficiency syndrome (SDS) clinically for its warmer property. However, the effective substances and mechanism of RG on SDS have not been well investigated.

The correlations of adverse effect and tonifying effect of ginseng medicines.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Ginseng has been used for thousands of years, it is described as both a tonic for restoration of strength and a panacea. However, the adverse effect is also reported clinically. In the theory of Traditional Chinese Medicine, the occurrence of adverse reactions is closely related to warm property of ginseng, which can easily lead to fireness (, in Chinese).

The Ameliorative Effects of Arctiin and Arctigenin on the Oxidative Injury of Lung Induced by Silica via TLR-4/NLRP3/TGF- Signaling Pathway.

Silicosis remains one of the most serious diseases worldwide, with no effective drug for its treatment. Our research results have indicated that arctiin and arctigenin could increase the mitochondrial membrane potential, which in turn reduces the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), blocks the polarization of macrophages, and inhibits the differentiation of myofibroblasts to reduce oxidative stress, inflammation, and fibrosis. Further, our study revealed that arctiin and arctigenin suppressed the activation of NLRP3 inflammasome through the TLR-4/Myd88/NF-B pathway and the silica-induced secretion of TNF-, IL-1, TGF-, and -SMA.

Chemical Constituents of Stems and Leaves of L. and Its Fingerprint.

L. is a widely cultivated herbal medicinal plant in China and other countries. In this study, two new 2, 3-dihydrobenzofuran glucosides (, ) and fourteen known metabolites (-) were isolated from the stems and leaves of (SLT).

Mechanism Investigation of L. against Chronic Nonbacterial Prostatitis by Metabolomics and Network Pharmacology.

The major objective of this study was to investigate the anti-chronic nonbacterial prostatitis (CNP) mechanism of by metabolomics and network pharmacology. The study demonstrated that the flavonoids and polysaccharides of could alleviate prostatitis by improving the level of DHT, reducing the secretion of PSA and TNF-α. Besides, both could enhance Na/K-ATPase activity, decrease the O consumption, CO production, heat production, energy expenditure of rats and promote respiratory exchange ratio of rats.

Metabolomics analysis based on a UPLC-Q-TOF-MS metabolomics approach to compare Lin-Xia-Shan-Shen and garden ginseng.

: Meyer which has been cultivated and grown naturally in mountainous forests is formally called "Lin-Xia-Shan-Shen" (LXSS), but when cultivated it is called garden ginseng (GG), according to the (2015 edition). The medicinal value of LXSS is significantly higher than that of GG based on the clinical experience of TCM. This study aimed to evaluate the variety of chemical constituents in LXSS and GG.

Neuroprotective effect of arctigenin against neuroinflammation and oxidative stress induced by rotenone.

: the present study was to investigate the neuroprotective effect of arctigenin, the major active component of a traditional Chinese medicine "Arctii Fructus", against PD in a rat model induced by rotenone. : in the present study, rotenone was injected subcutaneously in the backs of rats to mimic the progressive neurodegenerative nature of PD and arctigenin was administered. Behavioral analyses including a grid test, bar test and open-field test were used to evaluate motor activities and behavioral movement abilities.

Two new sesquiterpene lactones from leaves of yacon, Smallanthus sonchifolius.

The chemical constituents of 95% EtOH extract of yacon leaves were separated to yield two new sesquiterpene lactones, together with three known compounds. The two new compounds were characterized to be 8β-angeloyloxy-13-methoxyl-11, 13-dihydromelampolid-14-oic acid methyl ester (1) and 8β-(3-methylbut-2-enoyl) oxy-13-methoxyl-11, 13-dihydromelampolid-14-oic acid methyl ester (2) on the basis of NMR spectra, HR-MS and other spectroscopic methods. The cytotoxicity of compounds 1-5 were evaluated on human hepatoma cell Bel-7402 and all the compounds showed moderate cytotoxicity.

Metabolomics analysis of anaphylactoid reaction reveals its mechanism in a rat model.

Background: Anaphylactoid reactions, accounting for more than 77% of all immune-mediated immediate hypersensitivity reactions, have become a serious threat to public health, but their effect mechanism is not clear and diagnostic tests are limited. Comprehensive metabolite analysis may reveal the anaphylactoid effect mechanism systematically and provide reference for future diagnostic purposes.

Methods: Plasma from Brown Norway rats given intravenous injection of saline, compound 48/80 (2.

Two new compounds from Atractylodes macrocephala with neuroprotective activity.

In the present study, two new compounds, together with six known compounds, were isolated from rhizome of Atractylodes macrocephala Koidz by a series of silica gel, ODS column chromatography, and preparative HPLC. Their structures were characterized as atractylenolide II (1), atractylenolide I (2), biepiasterolid (3), isoatractylenolide I (4), atractylenolide III (5), 3β-acetoxyl atractylenolide I (6), (4E,6E,12E)-tetradeca-4,6,12-triene-8,10-diyne-13,14-triol (7), (3S,4E,6E,12E)-1-acetoxy-tetradeca-4,6,12-triene-8,10-diyne-3,14-diol (8) on the basis of 1D, 2D NMR, and circular dichroism analyses. Among them, compounds 6 and 8 were novel compounds.

A new sesquiterpene lactone from yacon leaves.

The chemical constituents of 60% EtOH extract of yacon leaves were separated to yield a new compound, together with four known compounds, which were isolated for the first time from yacon. The new compound was characterised and named as chlorodalin (1) on the basis of NMR (1D and 2D), HR-MS and other spectral methods. The cytotoxic activities of 1-5 were evaluated on two human tumour cell lines and the new compound showed significant cytotoxic activity.

Proteomics Study on Nonallergic Hypersensitivity Induced by Compound 4880 and Ovalbumin.

Nonallergic hypersensitivity reaction (NHR) accounts for more than 77% of all immune-mediated immediate hypersensitivity reactions and has become a serious threat to public health. Here, proteomics was used to study the NHR mechanism of two typical substances, the compound 4880 and ovalbumin. Twelve different proteins were suggested as potential biomarkers for examining the NHR mechanism, and our results revealed that the mechanism mainly encompassed 2 processes, i.

What caused the changes in the usage of Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma from ancient to current times?

Ancient Chinese medicine treatises on Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma (AMR), the rhizome of Atractylodes macrocephala Koidz, indicated that it possessed an expectorant effect. However, in modern times, it is commonly used as a tocolytic agent. In this study, the components of AMR that are responsible for its expectorant and tocolytic effects were evaluated in order to clarify the differences in its application between ancient and modern times.

Integrative analysis of proteomics and metabolomics of anaphylactoid reaction induced by Xuesaitong injection.

Injection with natural compounds is an important method in the application of natural medicine, but its adverse drug reactions (ADRs) occur frequently, particularly the anaphylactoid reaction, which accounts for more than 77% of all reactions and has become a serious threat to public health. Here, the Xuesaitong injection (XSTI) was employed as an example to elucidate its anaphylactoid mechanism and look for potential biomarkers to assay the anaphylactoid reaction of herbal medicine injection by proteomics and metabolomics. These results disclosed that 13 differential proteins and 28 metabolites, which were further approved using the ELISA method and reference standards, respectively, were suggested as potential biomarkers to examine the anaphylactoid mechanism.

[Splitted fractions and unoverlapping analysis of chemical constituents of Poria cocos].

With the combined applications of steam distillation, water extraction and alcohol precipitation, liquid-liquid extraction and column chromatography over macroporous resin, a splitted-fractions method of the chemical constituents of Poria cocos was established. The unoverlapping property of the fractions of P. cocos was qualitatively analysed by using principal component analysis and cluster analysis.

Cytotoxic constituents from the leaves of Broussonetia papyrifera.

Aim: To investigate the chemical constituents from the leaves of Broussonetia papyrifera.

Methods: The chemical constituents were isolated and purified by macroporous adsorptive resin D101, silica gel, and ODS column chromatography and preparative HPLC. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of 1D and 2D NMR analyses.

Two new oleanane-type pentacyclic triterpenoid saponins from the husks of Xanthoceras sorbifolia Bunge.

Two new triterpenoid saponins (1, 2) and a known saponin (3) were isolated from the husks of Xanthoceras sorbifolia Bunge., and their structures were elucidated as 3-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl(1 → 6)-[angeloyl(1 → 2)]-β-D-glucopyranosyl-28-O-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl(1 → 2)-[β-D-glucopyranosyl(1 → 6)]-β-D-glucopyranosyl-21β,22α-dihydroxyl-olean-12-ene (1), 3-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-28-O-[β-D-glucopyranosyl(1 → 2)]-β-D-glucopyranosyl-21β,22α-dihydroxyl-olean-12-ene (2), and 3-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-28-O-[α-L-rhamnopyranosyl(1 → 2)]-β-D-glucopyranosyl-21β,22α-dihydroxyl-olean-12-ene (3), on the basis of the spectral analysis of NMR and chemical methods. Cytotoxic assay indicated that none of them showed obvious inhibitory effect on the proliferation of two human tumor cell lines.