ABSTRACT
Ma-Xing-Shi-Gan Decoction is a classic prescription. However, the interaction among multiple components of the decoction and the change of phase state are not clear. Moreover, the relationship between the physical phase state aggregated by multiple components and the efficacy still needs to be studied. In this study, we monitored the particle size changes of Ma-Xing-Shi-Gan Decoction in real time. Then we isolated different phase states by centrifugation, analyzed their composition distribution and tested their antibacterial activity. We added chemical interference agents to investigate the interaction of multi-component physical phase states accompanied by the observation of particle size change and morphology. We also studied the correlation between antibacterial activity and physical structure of phase states. The results showed during boiling process the degree of hybridization of particles was decreased and the particle size distribution was narrowed and stabilized at 170 nm. The distribution of organic and inorganic components was heterogeneous among different phase states. S-13500, supernatant isolated by 13 500 ×g centrifugation, constituted by ephedrine, amygdalin, glycyrrhizic acid and inorganic components Ca, K, Mg, etc., had the strongest antibacterial activity. The molecular interaction force in the active physical phase state was mainly hydrophobic and hydrogen bond. The destruction of the interaction force will lead to the change of phase structure and the decrease of antibacterial activity in vitro and in vivo. This study confirms that, in the boiling process of the Ma-Xing-Shi-Gan Decoction, the chemical components interweave and interact to form new physical phase states, leading to heterogeneous distribution of components. The antimicrobial activity of the active phase depends on both chemical composition and physical structure, which provides a direct evidence for the physical basis of the efficacy of traditional Chinese medicine.
ABSTRACT
Extracellular vesicle-like nanoparticles (EVNs) isolated from edible plants have been shown to have multiple activities, while EVNs from medicinal plants have rarely been reported. In this paper, medicinal parts of medicinal and edible homologous fresh Curcumae Longae Rhizoma (CLR), Lilii Bulbus (LB), Polygonati Rhizoma (PR), and Gastrodiae Rhizoma (GR) are used to squeeze juice to collect EVNs. The physical and chemical properties, antioxidant capacity, and cellular uptake behavior of EVNs are determined. The results show that the particle size of EVNs from different sources ranges from 150 nm to 200 nm, and the polydispersity index (PDI) values of four EVNs are less than 0.2. Different EVNs all contain lipids, proteins, and carbohydrates, but their contents are different. The stability of EVNs is different at 4 ℃ and -80 ℃, among which the CLR-derived EVNs are most stable. Antioxidant experiments confirm that the four EVNs have different antioxidant activities while structural damage of EVNs leads to the reduced antioxidant capacity. Cellular uptake studies prove that four EVNs differ in the uptake capacity by RAW264.7 cells, which is associated with the structural interference of EVNs. The available evidence implies that the specific structure of EVNs may be necessary to their pharmacological activity and transport property.
ABSTRACT
Plant-derived extracellular vesicles (EVs) are membranous vesicles secreted by plants, which include lipid bilayer as the basic framework and encapsulate various proteins, nucleic acid and other active substances. They play an important role in plant growth and development, tissue repair and self-defense. In recent years, extracellular vesicle-like nanoparticles (EVNs) are prepared from plant samples referring to the separation method of EVs and show unique functions. In this review, the above structures are collectively called plant-derived vesicles (PDVs). The biogenesis, separation and characterization methods, in vivo and in vitro properties of PDVs have been reviewed. The biomedical applications of PDVs as natural therapeutic agents and functional drug carriers are described, and finally some opinions on the existing problems and future prospect in this field are put forward.
ABSTRACT
The research on the pharmacodynamic substance basis of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) is a key scientific issue for the inheritance and development of TCM. At present, a large number of remarkable achievements have been made in the field of chemical components in Chinese medicine, however, another important aspect, namely the physical structure and mode of action of the multi-component assembly of TCM, has not been clearly understood and deeply studied. From the bottleneck of restricting material ba-sic research, we objectively analyzed the common cause of the existing problems. Based on the new discoveries and advances of active substances from TCM emerging in recent years, we extracted and summarized the concept of structural Chinese medicine, elaborated the basic ideas, main features and research modes, hoping to provide theoretical and practical references for the study on the pharmacodynamic substance basis and other research fields of TCM.
Subject(s)
Drugs, Chinese Herbal/pharmacology , Medicine, Chinese TraditionalABSTRACT
Cardiac glycoside is a class of steroidal glycosides with significant physiological activities to the heart. Several drugs had been approved for the treatment of heart failure and atrial fibrillation. In recent studies, the researchers have found that cardiac glycoside can selectively inhibit the proliferation of human tumor cells and has potent antitumor efficacy. Unfortunately, the poor solubility and severe adverse effects of cardiac glycoside hindered further clinical application in the field of anticancer. It is an effective strategy to solve the "drug-like" problem of cardiac glycoside by changing the pharmacokinetics and distribution in vivo and reducing the dosage and side effects by virtue of modern preparations technology and treatment scheme. In this review, a brief introduction of the developmental course and mechanism of cardiac glycosides in anticancer field was made, and recent research progress of cardiac glycosides preparations were summarized and discussed. Finally, the further research direction was prospected.
ABSTRACT
Wendantang (WDT) is a classical traditional Chinese medicine prescription composed of Pinelliae Rhizoma, Bambuseae Caulis in Taenias, Aurantii Fructus Immaturus, Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium, Zingiberis Rhizoma Recens, Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma, with the effect in regulating Qi-movement and phlegm and relieving stomach and gallbladder. The clinical studies have proved that WDT has significant therapeutic effects on depression, insomnia, schizophrenia, Alzheimer's disease and other nervous system diseases, but wihtout systematic understanding of material basis and compatibility principle because of the complex chemical composition and the scattered research results. Focusing on the neurological diseases and based on the origin of ancient recipes and modern research examples, the author sorted out and summarized the active ingredients constituting the recipe, paid attention to the effect of the compatibility on the composition and efficacy transmission, and judged the rationality of composition intention and selection. On this basis, it comprehensively identifies the potential components and effective paths that can well treat the nervous system diseases, and had the overall understanding about mutual relationship between composition and efficiency. In this article, we expect to find its scientific basis of effective materials and the key technology of quality standards, and define the direction of future research, so as to provide valuable reference for secondary development and new preparations designed of classic prescriptions.