Major specialized natural products from the endangered plant Heptacodium miconioides, potential medicinal uses and insights into its longstanding unresolved systematic classification.

A comprehensive phytochemical investigation of the flower buds and leaves/twigs of Heptacodium miconioides, a cultivated ornamental plant native to China and categorized as 'vulnerable', has led to the isolation of 45 structurally diverse compounds, which comprise 18 phenylpropanoids (1-4, 7-20), 11 pentacyclic triterpenoids (5, 6, 21-29), eight secoiridoid glycosides (30-37), three quinic acid derivatives (38-40), and a few miscellaneous components (41-45). Among them, (+)-α-intermedianol (1), (+)-holophyllol A (2), and (-)-pseudolarkaemin A (3) represent previously unreported enantiomeric lignans, while (+)-7'(R)-hydroxymatairesinol (4) is an undescribed naturally occurring lignan. Heptacoacids A (5) and B (6) are undescribed 24-nor-urs-28-oic acid derivatives.

Involvement of PI3K/AKT Pathway in the Rapid Antidepressant Effects of Crocetin in Mice with Depression-Like Phenotypes.

The current first-line antidepressants have the drawback of slow onset, which greatly affects the treatment of depression. Crocetin, one of the main active ingredients in saffron (Crocus sativus L.), has been demonstrated to have antidepressant activities, but whether it has a rapid antidepressant effect remains unclear.

Structurally Diverse Triterpene-26-oic Acids as Potential Dual ACL and ACC1 Inhibitors from the Vulnerable Conifer .

A preliminary phytochemical investigation on the 90% MeOH extract from the twigs and needles of the vulnerable conifer led to the isolation and characterization of 17 structurally diverse triterpen-26-oic acids, including nine previously undescribed ones (fortunefuroic acids A-I, -) featuring a rare furoic acid moiety in the lateral chain. Among them, - are uncommon 9β-lanostane-type triterpenoic acids. Friedo-rearranged triterpenoids and feature a unique 17,14-friedo-lanostane skeleton, whereas possesses a rare 17,13-friedo-cycloartane-type framework.

Forrestiacids E-K: Further [4 + 2]-Type Triterpene-Diterpene Hybrids as Potential ACL Inhibitors from the Vulnerable Conifer .

Seven [4 + 2]-type triterpene-diterpene hybrids derived from a rearranged or a normal lanostane unit (dienophile) and an abietane moiety (diene), forrestiacids E-K (-, respectively), were further isolated and characterized from (a vulnerable conifer endemic to China). The intriguing molecules were revealed with the guidance of an LC-MS/MS-based molecular ion networking strategy combined with conventional phytochemical procedures. Their chemical structures with absolute configurations were established by spectroscopic data, chemical transformation, electronic circular dichroism calculations, and single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis.

UHPLC Q-Orbitrap Mass Spectrometry-Based Molecular Networking for Identification of Chemical Constituents in the Multi-Herb Formula Runyan Mixture.

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) in-hospital preparations are approved for use only in the hospital where they are prepared. They are widely used in China because of their efficacy and affordable price. However, few researchers focused on their quality controls and treatment mechanisms, for which a key consideration is the elucidation of their chemical composition.

The mechanism of flavonoids from on inhibiting liver cancer based on experiments and network pharmacology.

(Batal.) Iljinsk., a subtropical tree belonging to the family Juglandaceae, is rich in polysaccharides, flavonoids, and terpenoids.

Preparation, Characterization, and In Vivo Evaluation of Gentiopicroside-Phospholipid Complex (GTP-PC) and Its Self-Nanoemulsion Drug Delivery System (GTP-PC-SNEDDS).

The objective of the present study was to develop a gentiopicroside-phospholipid complex (GTP-PC) and its self-nanoemulsion drug delivery system (GTP-PC-SNEDDS) to increase the oral bioavailability of gentiopicroside (GTP). The factors affecting the formation of GTP-PC were studied with the complexation efficiency and dissociation rate. The properties of the complex were investigated by means of differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectra (FT-IR), dissolution, etc.

Elucidation of the mechanism of action of Runyan Mixture in the treatment of pharyngitis using a network pharmacological approach.

This study aimed to elucidate the mechanism of action of Runyan Mixture in treating pharyngitis using a network pharmacological approach. The active components of the Runyan Mixture were obtained from the traditional chinese medicine systems pharmacology database and evaluated using Lipinski's rules. The SwissTargetPrediction database was used to predict the action targets of the Runyan Mixture, and a protein-protein interaction network was constructed using the STRING database.

UHPLC-Q-Exactive Orbitrap MS/MS-Based Untargeted Metabolomics and Molecular Networking Reveal the Differential Chemical Constituents of the Bulbs and Flowers of .

Both the bulbs and flowers of Miq. (BFT and FFT) are widely applied as expectorants and antitussives in traditional Chinese medicine, but few studies have been conducted to compare the chemical compositions of these plant parts. In this study, 50% methanol extracts of BFT and FFT were analyzed via UHPLC-Q-Exactive Orbitrap MS/MS, and the feasibility of using non-targeted UHPLC-HRMS metabolomics and molecular networking to address the authentication of bulb and flower samples was evaluated.

Detection of the role of intestinal flora and tryptophan metabolism involved in antidepressant-like actions of crocetin based on a multi-omics approach.

Rationale: Depression is a serious mood disorder, and crocetin has a variety of pharmacological activities, including antidepressant effect. The alterations of intestinal flora have a significant correlation with depression, and crocetin can alter the composition of intestinal flora in mice with depression-like behaviors.

Objective: This study investigated the underlying antidepressant mechanisms of crocetin through multi-omics coupled with biochemical technique validation.

Phytochemical and biological studies on rare and endangered plants endemic to China. Part XXV. Structurally diverse triterpenoids and diterpenoids from two endangered Pinaceae plants endemic to the Chinese Qinling Mountains and their bioactivities.

A joint phytochemical investigation on the MeOH extracts of the twigs and needles of two endangered Pinaceae plants endemic to the Chinese Qinling Mountains, Picea neoveitchii (an evergreen spruce) and Larix potaninii var. chinensis (a deciduous larch), led to the isolation and characterization of 34 and 24 structurally diverse terpenoids, respectively. Among them, seven are previously undescribed, including a picane-type [i.

Study on Secondary Metabolites of Endophytic Fungus, , from L. Guided byUHPLC-HRMS/MS-Based Molecular Network.

As a traditional Chinese medicine, Linn has been used for a long time in China. However, the studies on secondary metabolites of its endophytic fungi were not fully sufficient. Thus, the endophytic fungus, , collected from the lateral buds of , was here investigated.

Structurally diverse mono-/dimeric triterpenoids from the vulnerable conifer Pseudotsuga gaussenii and their PTP1B inhibitory effects. The role of protecting species diversity in support of chemical diversity.

A preliminary phytochemical investigation on the MeOH extract of the twigs and needles of Pseudotsuga gaussenii (a 'vulnerable' plant endemic to China) led to the isolation and characterization of 25 structurally diverse mono- and dimeric triterpenoids. 19 of them are previously undescribed, including eight cucurbitane-type triterpenoids (gaussenols A-H, 1-8, resp.), one serratene-type triterpene (gaussenol I, 9), and 10 triterpenic dimers (gaussenols J-S, 10-19, resp.

Structurally diverse glycosides of secoiridoid, bisiridoid, and triterpene-bisiridoid conjugates from the flower buds of two Caprifoliaceae plants and their ATP-citrate lyase inhibitory activities.

The ethanolic extracts of the dried flower buds of two Caprifoliaceae plants, Lonicera japonica and Abelia × grandiflora, showed considerable inhibitory activities against adenosine triphosphate (ATP)-citrate lyase (ACL), a new promising drug target for the treatment of metabolic disorders. Bioassay-guided purification in conjunction with HPLC-PDA profiling led to the isolation and characterization of thirty-five (1-35) and fourteen (1'-14') structurally diverse compounds from the above two plant extracts, respectively. Compounds 1-9 and 1'-6' are previously undescribed glycosides.

Crocetin ameliorates non-alcoholic fatty liver disease by modulating mitochondrial dysfunction in L02 cells and zebrafish model.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Traditional Chinese medicine considers that the etiology and pathogenesis of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) are related to liver depression and qi stagnation. Saffron and its active ingredient, crocetin (CCT), are used for the treatment of metabolic diseases owing to their "Liver deobstruent" and "Liver tonic" effects. However, the effect of CCT on NAFLD has not been fully elucidated.

Antidepressant mechanism and active compounds of saffron from network pharmacology study.

Saffron has been applied in depression treatment, but its antidepressant compounds and mechanisms are unclear. In this research, a network pharmacology-based method was proposed to screen the active compounds and the potential mechanisms of saffron for depression treatment. Firstly, the chemical compounds of saffron were collected from literature and filtered by drug-like prediction.

Exploring the Protective Effects and Mechanism of Crocetin From Saffron Against NAFLD by Network Pharmacology and Experimental Validation.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a burgeoning health problem but no drug has been approved for its treatment. Animal experiments and clinical trials have demonstrated the beneficial of saffron on NAFLD. However, the bioactive ingredients and therapeutic targets of saffron on NAFLD are unclear.

Comparative transcriptomic profiling reveals the regulation of terpenoid biosynthesis in Sinocalycanthus chinensis.

Sinocalycanthus chinensis, a diploid (2n = 22) deciduous shrub, belongs to the Calycanthaceae family of magnoliids and is rich secondary metabolites, such as terpenoids. However, the regulation of terpenoid biosynthesis in S. chinensis is largely unknown.

Optimization of the saffron compound essence formula and its effect on preventing skin photoaging.

Objective: The main aim of this study was to optimize the formula of saffron compound essence (SCE) and investigate the protective effects and mechanisms of SCE against skin photoaging.

Materials And Methods: The formula of SCE was optimized using single factor and orthogonal experiments. The optimized SCE was then applied on the back skin of mice under ultraviolet irradiation.

A 1,8-naphthalimide-based lysosome-targeting dual-analyte fluorescent probe for the detection of pH and palladium in biological samples.

Fluorescent probes containing 1,8-naphthalimide dyes have been used to detect biomolecules in the environmental and biological fields. However, most of the probes only exhibit single fluorescent output to one analyte, making them insufficient for detection of more analytes. Herein, we developed a novel 1,8-naphthalimide-based lysosome-targeting dual-analyte sensitive fluorescent probe (DPPP) for the detection of pH and palladium (Pd) using two different emissive channels.

Metformin Attenuates the Metabolic Disturbance and Depression-like Behaviors Induced by Corticosterone and Mediates the Glucose Metabolism Pathway.

Background: Metabolism disturbances are common in patients with depression. The drug metformin has been reported to exhibit antidepressant activity. The purpose of this study was to investigate metabolism disturbances induced by corticosterone (CORT) and determine if metformin can reverse these effects and their accompanying depression-like behaviors.

Crocetin ameliorates chronic restraint stress-induced depression-like behaviors in mice by regulating MEK/ERK pathways and gut microbiota.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: This study aimed at determining the effects of saffron on depression as well as its neuroprotective and pharmacological effects on the intestinal function of crocetin in mice exposed to chronic restraint stress.

Materials And Methods: Chronic stress was induced in two-week-old ICR mice by immobilizing them for 6 h per day for 28 days. The mice were orally administered with crocetin (20, 40, 80 mg/kg), fluoxetine (20 mg/kg) or distilled water.

Network pharmacology-based study of the mechanisms of action of anti-diabetic triterpenoids from .

Diabetes is a complex illness requiring long-term therapy. , a recently confirmed new food resource, shows significant hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic effects in type II diabetes. Triterpenoid saponins are considered as the effective medicinal components of and are useful for the treatment of diabetes mellitus.