Publications by authors named "Zheng-Zhi Wu"

Three neolignan glycosides, including a new compound (7S,8R)-dihydro-3'-hydroxy-7-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-1'-benzofuranpropanol-9-O-β-D-xylopyranoside (1), were isolated from the root of Nothopanax davidii. Their structures were determined by extensive spectroscopic analyses, particularly NMR, HR-ESI-MS, and ECD experiments, and the absolute configuration of 2 was first definitively determined. The anti-tumor activity was assessed on four tumor cells by MTT assay, the anti-inflammatory activity was determined by inhibition of NO production in LPS reduced RAW264.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Chronic heart failure (CHF) is the final destination of most cardiovascular diseases and the most important cause of death. The main clinical manifestations were pulmonary congestion and decreased cardiac output. The purpose of this systematic review is to evaluate the effectiveness of Yiqi Huoxue therapy on CHF.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Previous studies have shown that berberine has neuroprotective effects against Alzheimer's disease, including antagonizing tau phosphorylation, and inhibiting acetylcholinesterase activity and neural cell apoptosis. However, its low bioavailability and adverse reactions with conventional administration limit its clinical application. In this study, we prepared berberine nanoliposomes using liposomes characterized by low toxicity, high entrapment efficiency, and biodegradability, and modified them with lactoferrin.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • The biosynthesis of berberine alkaloids starts with demethylation of berberine, but past efforts to synthesize them faced issues like low yields and toxic reagents.
  • Recent research improved the synthesis method for compounds like demethyleneberberine (DMB), columbamine, and palmatine, making the process more efficient.
  • DMB was found to inhibit monoamine oxidase B (MAO-B), an enzyme linked to Parkinson's disease, suggesting potential therapeutic benefits of berberine alkaloids, especially DMB.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Objective: To investigate the antidepressant-like effects of Chaihu Shugan Powder (CSP, ) and to explore its underlying mechanisms.

Methods: Thirty-two Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into control (CON), chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS), fluoxetine (FLU), and CSP groups, 8 rats in each group. All of the rats except for those in the control group were subjected to 3 consecutive weeks of CUMS to establish the depression model.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Receptor activator of NF-κB ligand (RANKL) facilitates differentiation of osteoclast precursors into osteoclasts, resulting in bone erosion in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients. Fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLS) are the main cells for producing RANKL. Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) signaling is activated in FLS of RA patients (RA-FLS), which has been linked to RANKL production.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Chrysoeriol is a flavone found in diverse dietary and medicinal herbs such as Lonicerae Japonicae Flos (the dried flower bud or newly bloomed flower of Lonicera japonica Thunb.). These herbs are commonly used for treating inflammatory diseases.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Objective: To evaluate the mechanisms underlying the protective effect of Chinese herbal medicine Fructus broussonetiae (FB) in both mouse and cell models of Alzheimer's disease (AD).

Methods: APP/PS1 mice treated with FB for 2 months and vehicle-treated controls were run through the Morris water maze and object recognition test to evaluate learning and memory capacity. RNA-Seq, Western blotting, and immunofluorescence staining were also conducted to evaluate the effects of FB treatment on various signaling pathways altered in APP/PS1 mice.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Objective: To investigate the pharmacokinetic characteristics of 17 bioactive components including ginsenoside Rg1, Rb1, Rd, berberine, epiberberine, jatrorrhizine, palmatine, columbamine, coptisine, evodiamine, dehydroevodiamine, rutaecarpine, limonin, hyperin, curcumin, demethoxycurcumin and bisdemethoxycurcumin in rat plasma after oral administration of Xintiantai I extract powder (XI) and Xintiantai I without guide drug borneol extract powder (XI without borneol), and study the compatibility effects of guide drug borneol on the pharmacokinetics.

Methods: A UHPLC-MS/MS method was established and fully validated for the comparative pharmacokinetics of 17 bioactive components. The pharmacokinetics parameters of 17 bioactive components after oral administration of XI and XI without borneol were calculated by the software of DAS 3.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Alpinia oxyphylla, a traditional herb, is widely used for its neuroprotective, antioxidant and memory-improving effects. However, the neuroprotective mechanisms of action of its active ingredients are unclear. In this study, we investigated the neuroprotective effects of various organic extracts of Alpinia oxyphylla on PC12 cells exposed to hydrogen peroxide-induced oxidative injury in vitro.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

To observe the effect of Shudihuang on behaviors and expression of BDNF/TrkB and NRG-3 in prefrontal cortex and striatum of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) model rats. Thirty 4-week-old spontaneous hypertension rats (SHR) were randomly divided into model group, methylphenidate hydrochloride (MPH, 2 mg·kg⁻¹·d⁻¹) and Shudihuang group (2.4 g·kg⁻¹·d⁻¹).

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Dysregulation of miR-124 has been reported to be involved in the pathophysiology of depression. Chaihu-Shugan-San, a traditional Chinese medicine, has antidepressive activity; however, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. In this study, to generate a rodent model of depression, rats were subjected to a combination of solitary confinement and chronic unpredictable mild stress for 28 days.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Tiantai No. 1, a Chinese medicine predominantly composed of powdered , , and Ginkgo leaf at a ratio of 2:1:2 and dissolved in pure water, is neuroprotective in animal models of various cognitive disorders, but its molecular mechanism remains unclear. We administered Tiantai No.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

The genus Rosa (roses) has long been used in traditional or folk medicine worldwide for the treatment of various types of arthritis including rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. The active constituents of Rosa spp., such as flavonoids, triterpenoids, and phytosterols, could act on different targets in the NF-κB signalling pathway, inhibit pro-inflammatory enzymes (e.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

RL, a traditional remedy for Rheumatoid arthritis (RA), comprises two edible herbs, Rosae Multiflorae Fructus and Lonicerae Japonicae Flos. We have reported that RL could inhibit the production of inflammatory mediators in immune cells. Here we investigated the effects and the mechanism of action of RL in collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) rats.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

A new taraxerene-type hexacyclic triterpene acid named (12R,13S)-3-methoxy-12,13-cyclo-taraxerene-2,14-diene-1-one-28-oic acid (1), together with a known compound 3,7-dihydroxy-5-octanolide (2), was isolated from the roots of Euscaphis japonica. The structure of new compound 1 was elucidated on the basis of NMR, HR-ESIMS and X-ray diffraction analysis. It showed promising inhibitory activity on oleic acid induced triglyceride accumulation on HepG2 cells.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

This study was carried out to evaluate the anti-inflammatory and free radical scavenging activities of flavans from flex centrochinensis S. Y. Hu in vitro and their structure-activity relationship.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Objective: To study the effect of Tiantai No. 1 [symbol in text] on gene expression profile in hippocampus of Alzheimer's disease (AD) rat, molecular genetic target points of the effect of this drug were defined, its molecular genetic pharmacodynamic mechanism of anti-AD was further explored at molecular gene level, and a scientific basis was provided for its clinical availability and promotion.

Methods: Thirty male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into three groups with 10 rats per group: sham-operation group, model group and Tiantai No.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Aim: To explore the effect of sophocarpine on experimental liver fibrosis and the potential mechanism involved.

Methods: Sophocarpine was injected intraperitoneally in two distinct rat hepatic fibrosis models induced either by dimethylnitrosamine or bile duct ligation. Masson's trichrome staining, Sirius red staining and hepatic hydroxyproline level were used for collagen determination.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: A herbal formula (RL) consisting of Rosae Multiflorae Fructus (Yingshi) and Lonicerae Japonicae Flos (Jinyinhua) has been traditionally used to treat inflammatory disorders. This study aims to investigate the anti-inflammatory mode and mechanism of action of the ethanol extract of RL so as to provide a pharmacological basis for the use of RL in treating inflammatory diseases.

Materials And Method: RL consisting of Yingshi and Jinyinhua (in 5:3 ratio) was extracted using absolute ethanol.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Objective: To screen microRNAs with specific expression of in hippocampus of rats with chronic stress induced depression model, and observe the effect of traditional Chinese medicine Chaihu Shugan San on the expression of microRNA in hippocampus.

Method: SD rats were randomly divided into 3 groups: the normal control group, the model control group and the Chaihu Shugan San group. The depression model was replicated by unpredictable chronic mild stress combined with separation.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Objective: To investigate the chemical constituents in leaves of Ilex centrochinensis and their antitumor bioactivity.

Method: Various chromatography techniques such as column chromatography on silica gel, Sephadex LH-20 and preparative HPLC were used to isolate and purify the compounds and their structures were identified by spectral data and physicochemical properties. Their antitumor effect was tested by MTT method.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • A model utilizing alumina (Al(2)O(3)), steroids, and ethanol is developed for testing corticosteroids' stability in pressurized metered-dose inhalers (pMDIs), focusing on how these substances interact under stress conditions.* -
  • The study identifies that corticosteroids with a C21-OH group are more reactive to Al(2)O(3), highlighting the necessity for aluminum canisters with an inert coating to maintain stability.* -
  • The research also outlines the degradation pathways for specific corticosteroids and demonstrates that the model accurately predicts the degradation profile of beclomethasone dipropionate (BDP) consistent with actual product observations.*
View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Objective: To investigate the effects of andrographolide on extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) signaling pathway and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) expression in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-activated macrophages.

Methods: LPS-activated mouse peritoneal macrophages were cultured in media with different concentrations of andrographolide. Cytotoxicity of andrographolide was detected by cell counting kit-8.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Objective: To explore the presence of informative protein biomarkers in the salivary proteome of breast cancer patients with thick white or thick yellow tongue fur.

Methods: Salivia samples were collected from 20 breast cancer patients with thick white or yellow tongue fur and 10 healthy controls. The samples were profiled by using isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantitation (iTRAQ) technology coupled with liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS).

View Article and Find Full Text PDF