ginsenoside-ro and Disease-Models--Animal

Sijunzi decoction (SJZD) is a Chinese classical formula to treat spleen qi deficiency syndrome (SQDS) and has been widely used for thousands of years. However, the quality control (QC) standards of SJZD are insufficient. Chinmedomics has been designed to discover and verify bioactive compounds of a variety of formula rapidly. In this study, we used Chinmedomics to evaluate the SJZD's efficacy against SQDS to discover the potential quality-markers (q-markers) for QC. A total of 56 compounds in SJZD were characterized in vitro, and 23 compounds were discovered in vivo. A total of 58 biomarkers were related to SQDS, and SJZD can adjust a large proportion of marker metabolites to normal level and then regulate the metabolic profile to the health status. A total of 10 constituents were absorbed as effective ingredients that were associated with overall efficacy. We preliminarily determined malonyl-ginsenoside Rb2 and ginsenoside Ro as the q-markers of ginseng; dehydrotumulosic acid and dihydroxy lanostene-triene-21-acid as the q-markers of poria; glycyrrhizic acid, isoglabrolide, and glycyrrhetnic acid as the q-markers of licorice; and 2-atractylenolide as the q-marker of macrocephala. According to the discovery of the SJZD q-markers, we can establish the quality standard that is related to efficacy.

Topics: Animals; Biomarkers, Pharmacological; Disease Models, Animal; Drugs, Chinese Herbal; Ginsenosides; Male; Medicine, Chinese Traditional; Qi; Quality Control; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Spleen

Acute lung injury (ALI) is an excessive and uncontrolled inflammatory response in lung, of which remains the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in worldwide. Chikusetsusaponin V (CsV), a bioactive compounds derived from Panacis Japonica, has been reported to have anti-inflammatory effects. However, it is still unclear whether CsV can protect mice against ALI. This study aimed to investigate the protective roles and potential mechanisms of CsV on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced ALI in mice. The mice were pretreated with CsV (5, 10, and 20 mg/kg) four days before LPS treatment. 24 h later LPS administration, the histopathological changes, wet/dry ratio, and MPO activity in lung tissues were detected. The inflammatory cells, including total cells, neutrophils, and macrophages in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were detected under a light microscope. The levels of pro-inflammatory cytokine TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 in the BALF were assessed by ELISA. In addition, the expressions of NF-κB and LXRα in lung tissues were detected by western blot analysis. The results showed that pretreatment of CsV attenuated the lung histopathological damages, lung wet/dry ratio, and MPO activity induced by LPS. In addition, CsV also reduced the LPS-induced increases in the number of inflammatory cells and pro-inflammatory cytokine TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 in the BALF. Furthermore, western blot analysis showed that CsV significantly inhibited the activation of NF-κB signaling pathway. CsV dose-dependently increased the expression of LXRα. In vitro, the anti-inflammatory effects of CsV can be reversed by LXRα inhibitor, GGPP. In conclusion, the results showed that CsV protected against LPS-induced ALI due to its ability to activate LXRα.

Topics: Acute Lung Injury; Animals; Anti-Inflammatory Agents; Cytokines; Disease Models, Animal; Humans; Inflammation Mediators; Lipopolysaccharides; Liver X Receptors; Lung; Mice; Mice, Inbred C57BL; NF-kappa B; Saponins; Signal Transduction

Our recent biosystems analysis revealed similarities between embryonic implantation and cancer cell adhesion, which suggests that abortifacients may be good for safe and effective metastatic chemoprevention targeting circulating tumor cells (CTC). Here we test the hypothesis by using the well-known abortion herb Achyranthes bidentata Blume (A. bidentata). Five compounds were separated from the herb root. Among them, ginsenoside Ro was the most potent in inhibiting embryonic implantation within non-cytotoxic concentrations. It specifically inhibited the metastatic dissemination capability of colon cancer cells HT29, including the migration and invasion ability, and their adhesion to human endothelium through inhibiting integrin αvβ6, MMP-2, MMP-9, and ERK phosphorylation by HT29. Pretreatment of nude mice with oral ginsenoside Ro followed by HT29 intravenous inoculation and 40-day oral ginsenoside Ro significantly prevented lung metastasis with downregulation of integrin αvβ6 and no toxicity. The present study firstly introduces the new conception of utilizing safe and effective abortion botanic medicines for CTC-based metastatic chemoprevention.

Topics: Achyranthes; Animals; Antigens, Neoplasm; Cell Adhesion; Cell Line, Tumor; Cell Movement; Chemoprevention; Disease Models, Animal; Drugs, Chinese Herbal; Endometrium; Female; Ginsenosides; Humans; Integrins; MAP Kinase Signaling System; Matrix Metalloproteinases; Mice; Phytochemicals; Plant Extracts; Plant Roots; Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays