Jinyinqingre Oral Liquid alleviates LPS-induced acute lung injury by inhibiting the NF-κB/NLRP3/GSDMD pathway / 中国天然药物

Acute lung injury (ALI) is a prevalent and severe clinical condition characterized by inflammatory damage to the lung endothelial and epithelial barriers, resulting in high incidence and mortality rates. Currently, there is a lack of safe and effective drugs for the treatment of ALI. In a previous clinical study, we observed that Jinyinqingre oral liquid (JYQR), a Traditional Chinese Medicine formulation prepared by the Taihe Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Hubei University of Medicine, exhibited notable efficacy in treating inflammation-related hepatitis and cholecystitis in clinical settings. However, the potential role of JYQR in ALI/acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and its anti-inflammatory mechanism remains unexplored. Thus, the present study aimed to investigate the therapeutic effects and underlying molecular mechanisms of JYQR in ALI using a mouse model of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced ALI and an in vitro RAW264.7 cell model. JYQR yielded substantial improvements in LPS-induced histological alterations in lung tissues. Additionally, JYQR administration led to a noteworthy reduction in total protein levels within the BALF, a decrease in MPAP, and attenuation of pleural thickness. These findings collectively highlight the remarkable efficacy of JYQR in mitigating the deleterious effects of LPS-induced ALI. Mechanistic investigations revealed that JYQR pretreatment significantly inhibited NF-κB activation and downregulated the expressions of the downstream proteins, namely NLRP3 and GSDMD, as well as proinflammatory cytokine levels in mice and RAW2647 cells. Consequently, JYQR alleviated LPS-induced ALI by inhibiting the NF-κB/NLRP3/GSDMD pathway. JYQR exerts a protective effect against LPS-induced ALI in mice, and its mechanism of action involves the downregulation of the NF-κB/NLRP3/GSDMD inflammatory pathway.

The virulence of Streptococcus pneumoniae partially depends on dprA

Abstract Streptococcus pneumoniae is one of the most frequent opportunistic pathogens worldwide. DNA processing protein A (DprA) is an important factor involved in bacterial uptake and DNA integration into bacterial genome, but its role in S. pneumoniae virulence remains unclear. The aim of this study was to characterize the effects of the pneumococcal dprA gene on the pathogenesis of S. pneumoniae. To construct a dprA-deficient pneumococcal strain, the dprA gene of the S. pneumoniae strain D39 was inactivated. The virulence of this dprA-deficient strain, designated ΔD39, was compared with that of the wild-type strain by evaluating their respective capabilities to adhere to human pulmonary epithelial cells (PEC-A549) and by analyzing their choline-binding protein expression levels. In addition, the expression profiles of genes associated with virulence and host survival assays were also conducted with the mutant and the wild-type strain. Our results indicate that the capability of ΔD39 to adhere to the PEC-A549 airway cells was significantly lower (p < 0.01) compared with D39. Additionally, the 100-KD choline-binding protein was not detected in ΔD39. The addition of competence-stimulating peptide (CSP) lead to a significantly reduction of psaA mRNA expression in the dprA-deficient mutant and an increased level of psaA transcripts in the wild-type strain (p < 0.01). The median survival time of mice intraperitoneally infected with ΔD39 was significantly higher (p < 0.01) than that of mice infected with D39. The results of this study suggest that DprA has a significant effect on virulence characteristics of S. pneumoniae by influencing the expression of choline-binding protein and PsaA.

Study Progress in One of Traditional Chinese Medicine “Guijiu” Source Plants:Diphylleia Sinensis / 中国药师

Diphylleia sinensis is the dried rhizome of Diphylleia sinensis H.L.Li., which belongs to the subfamily of podophyl-lum ( berberidaceae ) , which is always recorded in monograph on materia medica in all ages as one of traditional Chinese medicine“Guijiu” herbal resources .Based on the previous researches in our laboratory and the literatures , the research progress in pharmacog-nosy, chemical constituent, endogeny fungus, quality control, pharmacology and the other aspects of Diphylleia sinensis were systemati-cally reviewed for the comprehensive utilization of its resources , and the development prospects of Diphylleia sinensis was also discussed in the paper , which can provide complete references and ideas for the rational utilization and development of Diphylleia sinensis.

Recent Advance in Extraction Technology of Dioscin Chemical Composition / 中国药师

Dioscin chemical compositions are the main effective components in clinical commonly used Chinese medicines such as Diaoxinxuekang capsules and Xinnaoshutong capsules etc , which show distinct curative effect on cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases.Meanwhile, they are the important raw materials for the synthesis of steroid hormone drugs .The studies on the extraction technology exhibit important significance in the exploration of pharmacological activities of the components , which also are the external requirements for the growing demand of steroid hormone drugs market .In this paper , the relatively mature extraction methods re-searched in recent years were summarized ,and the advantages and disadvantages of the different processes were discussed in order to provide reference for the further studies and application .

Research Progress in Endophyte in Rhizoma Paridis / 中国药师

The endogenous microorganism in paridis rhizoma mainly includes bacteria and fungi,and shows different physiological activities,such as microorganism inhibition and anti-tumor activity. The principal active substance steroid saponin in paridis rhizoma can be generated from the fermentation liquor of some endogenous bacteria,and the chemical structure of vancomycin and progesterone can be transformed by the endophyte. It is supposed that paridis rhizoma may benefit from the attributions of the endogenous bacteria against illness and environment changes. It would also benefit in productivity, transformation and modification of the other active sub-metabolites and compounds in paridis rhizoma. Thus,it is valuable in drug development and source insufficiency alleviation of Chinese medicines through separation,identification,screening and clone of the endogenous microorganism in paridis rhizoma.

Technology of Diosgenin from Doscorea zingiberensis by Bio-enzyme Pretreatment-alcohol Extraction and Acid Hydrolysis Method / 医药导报

Objective To explore a clean and efficient new method for extraction of Diosgenin. Methods Yield of the total saponins was evaluated to determine the optimal enzymolysis temperature,pH,solid to liquid ratio,dosage of enzyme and enzymolysis time.Using diosgenin yield as an index,solid to liquid ratio,concentration of sulfuric acid and hydrolysis time were optimized in the saponins hydrolysis process via orthogonal experiment. Results The best conditions for the enzyme pretreatment were as follows:the temperature for enzymolysis was 70℃,pH 5.5,solid to liquid ratio was 1:4,dosage of enzyme was 8 mL?kg-1,and extraction time was 24 h.The best conditions of total saponins hydrolysis were as follows:the solid to liquid ratio was 1:4,concentration of sulfuric acid was 2.0 mol?L-1 ,and hydrolysis time was 5 h. Conclusion The new method is environmental friendly and highly efficient,and expected to be applied in industrial production.

Research Progress and Utilization of Radix Bupleuri Preparations / 中国药师

Radix bupleuri is mainly used to treat cold fever and liver disease, and the curative effect is remarkable. The prepara-tions previously explored including bupleurum injection, tablets and capsules all show their own characters and different applicable peo-ple. Recently, many researchers carried out extensive research on its dosage forms. The early formulations have been improved as well, and successively developed dropping pill, nasal sprays, transdermal patches and the other new dosage forms. In the paper, the recent research progress in bupieurum preparations were summarized in order to provide reference for the improvement and application.

Recent Advances in Clean Production Technology of Dioscin / 中国药师

Dioscin is the main raw material for the synthesis of steroid hormone drugs. Currently, the direct acid hydrolysis is the mainly industrial production method for dioscin. However, the use of strong acid can not only destroy the structure of dioscin resulting in very low yield, but also produce a large amount of waste water and residues, which seriously pollute the environment. So the clean production of dioscin is the urgent demand of water conservation and environmental protection. In the paper, the recent research pro-gresses in the clean production technology and process of dioscin were summarized, and the advantages and problems were discussed in order to provide reference for the improvement and application of the new technology and process.