Content determination of seven active components of Eucommiae Cortex in aortic vascular endothelial cells of spontaneously hypertensive rats by UPLC-MS/MS / 中国中药杂志

In the present study, the contents of seven active components [genipinic acid(GA), protocatechuic acid(PCA), neochlorogenic acid(NCA), chlorogenic acid(CA), cryptochlorogenic acid(CCA),(+)-pinoresinol di-O-β-D-glucopyranosid(PDG), and(+)-pinoresinol 4'-O-β-D-glucopyranoside(PG)] of Eucommiae Cortex in aortic vascular endothelial cells of spontaneously hypertensive rats(SHR) were simultaneously determined by ultra-high liquid chromatography-triple quadrupole mass spectrometry(UPLC-MS/MS). The qualified SHR models were selected. The primary aortic endothelial cells(VECs) of rats were separated and cultured by ligation and adherence, followed by subculture. After successful identification, an UPLC-MS/MS method for simultaneously determining the contents of GA, PCA, NCA, CA, CCA, PDG, PG in seven components of Eucommiae Cortex in VECs was established, including specificity, linearity, matrix effect, recovery, accuracy, precision and stability. The established method had the lo-west limit of quantification of 0.97-4.95 μg·L~(-1), accuracy of 87.26%-109.6%, extraction recovery of 89.23%-105.3%, matrix effect of 85.86%-106.2%, and stability of 86.00%-112.5%. Therefore, the established accurate UPLC-MS/MS method could rapidly and simultaneously determine the contents of the seven active components of Eucommiae Cortex in VECs of SHRs, which provided a refe-rence for the study of cellular pharmacokinetics of active components of Eucommiae Cortex extract.

Study on metabolites of Laportea bulbifera extract in rat feces based on UHPLC-Q-TOF-MS~E technique / 中国中药杂志

This project is to study the metabolites of Laportea bulbifera extract in rat feces. After the SD rats were gavaged with the extract(136 g·kg~(-1), according to the crude drug dose), the metabolites in their feces were detected by UHPLC-Q-TOF-MS~E technique, and the obtained mass spectrometry data was combined with UNIFI software for prediction. The prototype components and metabolites in rat feces were identified with reference materials and related literature. A total of 43 metabolites were identified(including 8 prototype components and 35 metabolites). The metabolic pathways mainly include monocaffeoylquinic acid(hydrogenation reduction, ring-opening cracking, sulfation, hydroxylation, glucuronidation), quercetin(O-C2 bond ring-opening cleavage, C2-C3 double bond reduction, rutin carbonylation) and so on. The metabolites and metabolic process of L. bulbifera extract in rat feces were clarified, which provided a basis for the study of the active substances and its mechanism of action.

Effect of Intestinal Flora in Rats on Metabolism and Transformation of Effective Components in Polygonum orientale Inflorescences / 中国实验方剂学杂志

Objective:To observe the metabolic characteristics of effective components from Polygonum orientale inflorescences in intestinal flora of rats. Method:The incubating samples of effective components from P. orientale inflorescences in rat intestinal flora in vitro were detected by UPLC-ESI-Q-TOF-MS/MS, the mobile phase was consisted of 0.1%formic acid solution-0.1%formic acid acetonitrile solution and eluted in gradient mode at a flow rate of 0.3 mL·min-1.The mass spectral analysis was detected with electrospray ionization under positive ion mode and negative ion mode.The metabolites and possible biotransformation pathways of effective components form P. orientale inflorescences in rat intestinal flora in vitro was analyzed by Metabolite ToolsTM, mass defect filtration(MDF) and other metabolite analysis techniques and combined with the accurate relative molecular weight of the compounds, the fragment ion information and the literature data. Result:Eighteen metabolites were detected after incubation of effective components from P. orientale inflorescences in rat intestinal flora.The main biotransformation pathways were reduction, oxidation, hydrolysis in Ⅰ phase reaction and methylation in Ⅱ phase reaction. Conclusion:The effective components of P. orientale inflorescences can be transformed into a variety of metabolites under the action of intestinal flora in rats.It is suggested that whether the metabolites are bioactive components should be considered when P. orientale inflorescences is used as medicine.

UPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS analysis on prototypes components and metabolites of effective fractions of Polygonum orientale flower in rat serum and urine / 中国中药杂志

Ultra performance liquid chromatography coupled with time-of-flight mass spectrometry( UPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS) method was applied to analyze the prototypes and metabolites of the effective components of Polygonum orientale in SD rat serum and urine. The separation was performed on Agilent Eclipse Plus C_(18) column( 2. 1 mm×100 mm,1. 8 μm),with 0. 1% formic acid solution( A)-acetonitrile( B) as the mobile phase for gradient elution. Mass spectrometry data of biological samples were obtained under positive and negative electrospray ion mode. By comparing chromatogram differences between blank samples and drug treatment samples,prototype components and metabolites of the effective components of P. orientale extract were identified. The results showed that 12 metabolites were detected in serum and 26 metabolites in urine( including cross-components) of rats. The main metabolic pathways included hydrogenation,hydroxylation,glucuronidation,sulfation reaction,and methylation-glucuronidation,etc. The method established in this study was reliable and effective for studying the metabolic characteristics of the effective components of P. orientale in rats,and it can provide a reference for further studies on therapeutic material basis of this herb.

Effect of corneal bandage lens on ocular surface repair after pterygium excision / 国际眼科杂志(Guoji Yanke Zazhi)

@#AIM: To observe the effect of corneal bandage lens on ocular surface repair after pterygium excision combined with limbal stem cell transplantation.<p>METHODS: Totally 52 patients with unilateral primary pterygium were selected from January 2016 to January 2018 in the ophthalmology department of our hospital. All 26 cases(26 eyes)underwent pterygium excision combined with limbal stem cell transplantation and who were placed with bandage lens as the experimental group, the other 26 cases(26 eyes)without bandage lens placed as the control group. Ocular surface disease index(OSDI)questionnaires, tear break-up time(BUT), and corneal fluorescein staining(CFS)were recorded before operation and after operation.<p>RESULTS: BUT in the experimental group was longer than that in the control group(<i>P</i><0.05), OSDI and CFS scores were lower than those in the control group(<i>P</i><0.05)at 2wk, 1mo after operation. Compared with the preoperative situation, BUT in the two groups was shorter, OSDI and CFS scores were higher(<i>P</i><0.05). At 1mo after operation there were no significant differences in BUT, OSDI and CFS between the experimental group and those before the operation(<i>P</i>>0.05), but in the corresponding period, BUT in the control group was still shorter, OSDI and CFS scores were still higher than those before the operation(<i>P</i><0.05).<p>CONCLUSION: Surgical excision combined with autologous limbal stem cell transplantation and placing corneal bandage lens is a safe method to promote corneal healing, improve tear film stability and reduce postoperative discomfort in pterygium patients in the early stage after surgery, which is conducive to the repair of the ocular surface and has certain clinical application value.

Discovery of novel limonin derivatives as potent anti-inflammatory and analgesic agents / 中国天然药物

Novel series of limonin derivatives (V-A-1-V-A-8, V-B-1-V-B-8) were synthesized by adding various tertiary amines onto the C (7)-position of limonin. The synthesized compounds possessed favorable physicochemical property, and the intrinsic solubility of the novel compounds were significantly improved, compared with limonin. Different pharmacological models were used to evaluate the analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities of the target compounds. Compound V-A-8 exhibited the strongest in vivo activity among the novel limonin analogs; its analgesic activity was more potent than aspirin and its anti-inflammatory activity was stronger than naproxen under our testing conditions.

Discovery of novel limonin derivatives as potent anti-inflammatory and analgesic agents / 中国天然药物

Novel series of limonin derivatives (V-A-1-V-A-8, V-B-1-V-B-8) were synthesized by adding various tertiary amines onto the C (7)-position of limonin. The synthesized compounds possessed favorable physicochemical property, and the intrinsic solubility of the novel compounds were significantly improved, compared with limonin. Different pharmacological models were used to evaluate the analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities of the target compounds. Compound V-A-8 exhibited the strongest in vivo activity among the novel limonin analogs; its analgesic activity was more potent than aspirin and its anti-inflammatory activity was stronger than naproxen under our testing conditions.

Absorption of Inula cappa extract based on everted intestinal sac method / 中国中药杂志

To investigate the absorptive characteristics of Inula cappa extract based on the rat everted intestinal sac method . Nine representative ingredients in I. cappa extract were selected as the study objects. An UPLC-MS/MS method was established to determine and detect their cumulative absorption amount for expounding the absorptive characteristics of ingredients in different intestinal sections. According to the results， the transport mechanism of 8 compounds showed passive diffusion by the reverted gut sac method. And scopolin was actively transported in the intestine. The best absorption site of chlorogenic acid was duodenum. The best absorption site of cryptochlorogenic acid， 1，3--dicaffeoylquinic acid， luteolin-7-glucoside and 3，4--dicaffeoylquinic acid were jejunum. The best absorption site of neochlorogenic acid， scopolin， 4，5--dicaffeoylquinic acid and 3，5--dicaffeoylquinic acid was ileum. The absorption of all the compounds was affected by pH and bile. All of the nine ingredients in I. cappa extract could be absorbed in intestines， but with differences in the absorption rate， the best absorptive site and mechanism， indicating that the intestinal absorption of I. cappa extract was selective.

Effect of nucleophosmin on breast cancer resistance in MCF-7/MTX cells / 中国药学杂志

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the mechanism of nucleophosmin (NPM) in the formation of breast cancer drug resistance. METHODS: The methotrexate-resistant breast cancer cells (MCF-7 /MTX) was established by escalating the concentrations of methotrexate to drug-sensitive MCF-7 cells (MCF-7/S). The cells viability of MCF-7/MTX was detected by MTT test, cell growth curve was drawn and doubling time was calculated. The cell morphology and ultrastructure were observed using optical and transmission electron microscopy. The expression of NPM and factors related to drug resistance were tested by Real-time PCR and Western blot assay. Then the NPM level was attenuated by RNA interfering technology, and the resistance mechanism was explored in MCF-7/MTX cells. RESULTS The MCF-7/MTX cell line was successfully established and resistance factor was 64. The resistant cells has spindle shaped morphology and tended to grow slowly, and the variations appeared in the internal structure of cells. MCF-7/MTX cells possessed cross-resistance to various chemotherapeutic drugs. The expressions of NPM and multidrug-resistant factors P-gp, MRP1, BCRP were up-regulated in the resistant cells. Further, the overexpression of NPM activated PI3K/Akt signaling pathway and inhibited downstream apoptotic factors. Then knockdown of NPM by siRNA significantly decreased the drug resistance of MCF-7/MTX cells, suppressed PI3K/Akt pathway and promoted the downstream cells apoptosis. CONCLUSION The high expression of NPM has an important role in the formation of breast cancer drug resistance, and it is expected to be a novel molecular target for breast cancer treatment in clinical.

Proteomic analysis of proteins associated with the paclitaxel-induced drug-resistant human breast cancer cells / 中国药学杂志

OBJECTIVE: To investigate multidrug resistance (MDR) in the paclitaxel-induced drug-resistant breast cancer MCF-7 cells (MCF-7/Tax) using proteomic analysis. METHODS: MCF-7/Tax cell line was established by escalating the concentrations of paclitaxel to drug-sensitive MCF-7 cells (MCF-7/S). The biological characteristics of MCF-7/Tax cells were analyzed using MTT test and flow cytometry. The global protein profiles of MCF-7/Tax and MCF-7/S were compared using two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DF) and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS). We confirmed the protein and mRNA levels of five differential patterns of expression by Western blot and Real-time PCR, respectively. RESULTS: The resistance factor of MCF-7/Tax was 115. Significant differential expressions of 17 proteins between MCF-7/Tax and MCF-7/S were identified with 11 proteins upregulated and six proteins downregulated in MCF-7/Tax cells. With western blot and real-time PCR, we confirmed that heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein (hnRNP C1/C2), SET nuclear oncogene (SET), aspartate aminotransferase (AAT), transgelin-2 were upregulated, and nucleoside-diphosphate kinase A (NDKA) was downregulated in MCF-7/Tax cells. CONCLUSION: The identification of differential proteins, particularly transgelin-2 provides new insights into the mechanism of MDR to paclitaxel and novel biological targets for breast cancer treatment.