Metabolomics combined with intestinal microbiota reveals the mechanism of compound Qilian tablets against diabetic retinopathy.

Background: Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is one of the common chronic complications of diabetes mellitus, which has developed into the leading cause of irreversible visual impairment in adults worldwide. Compound Qilian tablets (CQLT) is a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) developed for treating DR, but its mechanism is still unclear. This study explored the mechanism of action of CQLT in treating DR through metabolomics and intestinal microbiota.

A combination of alkaloids and saponins attenuates coxsackievirus B3‑induced acute myocarditis in mice via NF‑κB signaling.

Timely treatment of viral myocarditis (VMC), a form of cardiac inflammation caused by viral infections, can reduce the occurrence of dilated cardiomyopathy and sudden death. Our previous study demonstrated the anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic effects of KX, a combination of alkaloids and saponins, on an autoimmune myocarditis model . The present study explored the effects of KX on coxsackievirus B3 (CVB3)-induced acute VMC in mice.

Combination of alkaloids and Panax quinquefolium saponins modulates different stages of experimental autoimmune myocarditis via the NF-κB and TGF-β1 pathways.

Chronic cardiac inflammation and fibrosis can progress into severe forms of cardiomyopathy. alkaloids (KuShen) have been previously reported to exert anti-inflammatory effects, whereas saponins (XiYangShen) has been shown to alleviate cardiac fibrosis. Therefore, the potential effects of their combination (KX) on different stages of autoimmune myocarditis were investigated in the present study.