Discovery and confirmation of protein action site AK1 of ginsenosides in brain based on DARTS technology / 中国中药杂志

This study aims to explore the targets of ginsenosides in brain based on drug affinity responsive target stability(DARTS) technology. Specifically, DARTS technology was combined with label-free liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry(LC-MS) to screen out the proteins in the brain that might interact with ginsenosides. Based on the screening results, adenylate kinase 1(AK1) was selected for further confirmation. First, the His-AK1 fusion protein was yielded successively through the construction of recombinant prokaryotic expression vector, expression of target protein, and purification of the fusion protein. Biolayer interferometry(BLI) was employed to detect the direct interaction of Rg_1, Re, Rb_1, Rd, Rh_2, F1, Rh_1, compound K(CK), 25-OH-PPD, protopanaxa-diol(PPD), and protopanaxatriol(PPT) with AK1, thereby screening the ginsenoside monomer or sapogenin that had strong direct interaction with the suspected target protein AK1. Then, the BLI was used to further determine the kinetic parameters for the binding of PPD(strongest interaction with AK1) to His-AK1 fusion protein. Finally, molecular docking technology was applied to analyze the binding properties between the two. With DARTS and LC-MS, multiple differential proteins were screened out, and AK1 was selected based on previous research for target verification. Fusion protein His-AK1 was obtained by prokaryotic expression, and the response(nm) of Re, Rg_1, Rd, Rb_1, Rh_1, Rh_2, F1, PPT, PPD, 25-OH-PPD, and CK with His-AK1 was respectively 0.003 1, 0.001 9, 0.042 8, 0.022 2, 0.013 4, 0.037 3, 0.013 9, 0.030 7, 0.140 2, 0.016 0, and 0.040 8. The K_(on), K_(off), and K_D values of PPD and His-AK1 were determined by the BLI as 1.22×10~2 mol~(-1)·L·s~(-1), 1.04×10~(-2) s~(-1), 8.52×10~(-5) mol·L~(-1). According to the molecular docking result, PPD bound to AK1 with the absolute value of the docking score of 3.438, and hydrogen bonds mainly formed between the two. Thus, AK1 is one of the protein action sites of ginsenosides in the brain. The direct interaction between ginsenoside metabolite PPD and AK1 is the strongest.

Anti-fatigue Analysis of Common Mechanisms of Interaction of Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma "Tonifying Qi" and Notoginseng Radix et Rhizoma "Enriching Blood" / 中国实验方剂学杂志

Objective:To analyze the common active ingredients， potential target genes and pathways of Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma "Tonifying Qi" and Notoginseng Radix et Rhizoma "Enriching blood" in alleviating fatigue based on the network pharmacology technology. And the compound ingredients of total Ginsenoside Ginseng Root and Notoginseng total Saponins were selected to verify the core target genes in vitro. Method:The main active ingredients and related targets of Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma and Notoginseng Radix et Rhizoma were screened by traditional Chinese medicine systems pharmacology （TCMSP）. The data of fatigue genes were established by GeneCards comprehensive database and Human Mendelian Genetic Integrated Database（OMIM）. Depending， The data sets of fatigue-related genes are established based on the data bank of GeneCards and OMIM. The intersecting genes of drugs and disease were obtained by R software. Cytoscape software was used to establish the regulatory network among the active ingredients， drug targets and fatigue-related genes. PPI network of intersecting genes was constructed by STRING 11.0 software， and the core genes were screened by CytoHubba software and Matthews correlation coefficient （MCC） algorithm. Based on the results of network analysis， 24 male SPF ACR mice were randomly divided into control group， total Ginsenoside Ginseng Root group （0.08 g·kg-1） and Notoginseng total Saponins group （0.08 g·kg-1）. The corresponding drugs were given for 3 weeks. The expressions of core genes in muscle tissue were detected by real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR. Result:The 20 active components and 181 drug targets were screened from TCMSP. 33 intersecting genes of diseases and drugs were obtained when compared with GeneCards and OMIM comprehensive database using R software. 10 core genes including aryl hydrocarbon receptor （AHR）， androgen receptor （AR）， glutathione S-transferase P1 （GSTP1）， cysteine proteinase-3（Caspase-3）， cytochrome p450 enzyme 3A4 （CYP3A4）， intercellular adhesion molecule 1 （ICAM1） and nuclear factor kappa B inhibitor alpha （NFKBIA） were screened out by the algorithm of MCC. Total Ginsenoside Ginseng Root and Notoginseng total Saponins had no significant effect on GSTP1 and ICAM1 genes， but they could significantly inhibit the expressions of AHR， CYP3A4， Caspase-3， NFKBIA and AR （P<0.05，P<0.01）， and there were no significant difference in anti-fatigue effect between total Ginsenoside Ginseng Root and Notoginseng total Saponins groups. Conclusion:The mechanism of anti-fatigue of Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma and Notoginseng Radix et Rhizoma may be related to the regulation of AHR， CYP3A4 and Caspase-3 genes， and there is no significant difference in their anti-fatigue effects， through the analysis of network and experimental verification.

Analysis on Mechanisms of Modified Guipitang in Treatment of Yin-Fire Insomnia with Anxiety Based on Network Pharmacology / 中国实验方剂学杂志

Objective:To explore the mechanism of modified Guipitang in the treatment of Yin-Fire insomnia with anxiety with the help of network pharmacological analysis technology. Method:Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology (TCMSP) was used to screen the main components and target genes of modified Guipitang. GeneCards and Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man (OMIM) were used to establish the target gene sets of insomnia and anxiety. STRING 11.0 software was used to analyze the interaction between the overlapping genes, and Cytoscape_3.6.1 software analysis and Matthews correlation coefficient (MCC) algorithm were used to screen the core genes. Based on the results of network analysis, 48 SD female rats were randomly divided into blank control group, model group, eszopiclone tablets group (0.2 mg·kg-1·d-1), modified Guipitang low，medium，and high-dose groups (0.31，1.25，5 g·kg-1·d-1). The model of insomnia with anxiety was established by intraperitoneal injection of Para-chlorophenylalanine (PCPA) and these rats were treated with corresponding drugs for 7 days. Then the frequency, time and distance of the activities were observed in the experiment of autonomic activity. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to detect the mRNA expressions of proactivated protein kinase 8 (MAPK8), RAC-alpha serine/threonine protein kinase (Akt1), mitogen-activated protein kinase 3 (MAPK3) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in rat hippocampus. Result:A total of 228 active compounds were screened from TCMSP database and 181 intersecting genes of diseases and drugs were obtained by comparing with GeneCards and OMIM comprehensive database. 9 core genes, including MAPK3, MAPK8, Akt1 and IL-6 were identified by STRING software and MCC algorithm. Animal experiments showed that the number of activity times, time and distance of modified Guipitang in high and medium dose groups were significantly lower than those in the model group. The high and middle dose groups of modified Guipitang could significantly inhibit the mRNA expression of MAPK3, MAPK8, Akt1 and IL-6 in hippocampus（P<0.01）, while the low dose group had no significant effect. Conclusion:The mechanism of modified Guipitang in treating Yin-fire insomnia with anxiety may be related to the regulation of MAPK3, MAPK8, Akt1 and IL-6 genes.

Qualitative detection of ginsenosides in brain tissues after oral administration of high-purity ginseng total saponins by using polyclonal antibody against ginsenosides / 中国天然药物

Given the limited studies and conflicting findings, the transport character of ginsenosides crossing the blood-brain barrier (BBB) remains unclear. The present study was designed to qualitatively determine the distribution of ginsenosides in brain tissues after oral administration of ginseng total saponins, using high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS) combined with immunohistochemistry. In brain tissue homogenates, ginsenoside Rg1 was detectable and no other ginsenosides or their metabolites were found. No ginsenosides were detected in cerebrospinal fluid. Immunohistochemistry staining of brain tissue sections by using anti-ginsenoside polyclonal antibodies revealed the localization of ginsenosides in brain tissues. Furthermore, immunofluorescence double staining revealed that ginsenosides widely existed in vascular endotheliocytes and astrocytes, and in few neurons. These results indicated that Rg1 was the main component that entered the brain after oral administration of ginseng total saponins and that ginsenosides could cross the BBB, although the transport capability of ginsenosides through the BBB may be poor.

Qualitative detection of ginsenosides in brain tissues after oral administration of high-purity ginseng total saponins by using polyclonal antibody against ginsenosides / 中国天然药物

Given the limited studies and conflicting findings, the transport character of ginsenosides crossing the blood-brain barrier (BBB) remains unclear. The present study was designed to qualitatively determine the distribution of ginsenosides in brain tissues after oral administration of ginseng total saponins, using high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS) combined with immunohistochemistry. In brain tissue homogenates, ginsenoside Rg1 was detectable and no other ginsenosides or their metabolites were found. No ginsenosides were detected in cerebrospinal fluid. Immunohistochemistry staining of brain tissue sections by using anti-ginsenoside polyclonal antibodies revealed the localization of ginsenosides in brain tissues. Furthermore, immunofluorescence double staining revealed that ginsenosides widely existed in vascular endotheliocytes and astrocytes, and in few neurons. These results indicated that Rg1 was the main component that entered the brain after oral administration of ginseng total saponins and that ginsenosides could cross the BBB, although the transport capability of ginsenosides through the BBB may be poor.

Preparation and quality assessment of high-purity ginseng total saponins by ion exchange resin combined with macroporous adsorption resin separation / 中国天然药物

AIM@#To prepare high-purity ginseng total saponins from a water decoction of Chinese ginseng root.@*METHOD@#Total saponins were efficiently purified by dynamic anion-cation exchange following the removal of hydrophilic impurities by macroporous resin D101. For quality control, ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography with a charged aerosol detector (CAD) was applied to quantify marker components. The total saponin content was estimated by a colorimetric method using a vanillin-vitriol system and CAD response.@*RESULTS@#D201, which consisted of a cross-linked polystyrene matrix and -N(+)(CH3)3 functional groups, was the best of the four anion exchange resins tested. However, no significant difference in cation exchange ability was observed between D001 (strong acid) and D113 (weak acid), although they have different functional groups and matrices. After purification in combination with D101, D201, and D113, the estimated contents of total saponins were 107% and 90% according to the colorimetric method and CAD response, respectively. The total amount of representative ginsenosides Re, Rd, Rg1, and compound K was approximately 22% based on ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography-CAD quantitative analysis.@*CONCLUSION@#These findings suggest that an ion exchange resin, combined with macroporous adsorption resin separation, is a promising and feasible purification procedure for neutral natural polar components.

Determination of total ginsenosides in ginseng extracts using charged aerosol detection with post-column compensation of the gradient / 中国天然药物

AIM@#Variation in structure-related components in plant products prompted the trend to establish methods, using multiple or total analog analysis, for their effective quality control. However, the general use of routine quality control is restricted by the limited availability of reference substances. Using an easily available single marker as a reference standard to determine multiple or total analogs should be a practical option.@*METHOD@#In this study, the Ultra-HPLC method was used for the baseline separation of the main components in ginseng extracts. Using a plant chemical component database, ginsenosides in ginseng extracts were identified by Ultra-HPLC-MS analysis. The charged aerosol detection (CAD) system with post-column compensation of the gradient generates a similar response for identical amounts of different analytes, and thus, the content of each ginsenoside in ginseng extracts was determined by comparing the analyte peak area with the reference standard (determination of total analogs by single marker, DTSM). The total ginsenoside content was determined by the summation of reference standard and other ginsenoside components.@*RESULTS@#The results showed that DTSM approaches were available for the determination of total ginsenosides in a high purity ginseng extract because of the removal of impurities. In contrast, DTSM approaches might be suitable for determination of multiple ginsenosides without interference from impurities in the crude ginseng extract.@*CONCLUSION@#Future practical studies similar to the present study should be conducted to verify that DTSM approaches based on CAD with post-column inverse gradient for uniform response are ideal for the quality control of plant products.

Advance of studies on application of hapten antibodies / 中国中药杂志

Hapten antibodies are active components of traditional Chinese medicines, have been widely applied in all of study fields of traditional Chinese medicine. First, hapten monoclonal antibodies could be designed into ELISA kits for quantitative analysis on the content of effective components in plant crude extracts or biological samples, which be applied for quality control and studies on pharmacokenetics of traditional Chinese medicines. Second, hapten monoclonal antibodies could be coupled with solid-phase carriers to generate immunoaffinity chromatography column, which could be used for knock-out extract preparation or pre-treatment of complicated sampless. Finally, a single-chain variable fragment antibody (scFV) gene segment of effective components of hapten monoclonal antibodies could be transformed into relative plant cells to gain new varieties with high-enrichment effective components, and thus achieve the molecular breeding of medicinal plants.

Hippocampal cAMP response element binding protein and antidepressant treatments / 生理学报

With the deepening research on pathogenesis of depression, the focus has diverted from the mechanism of regulating monoamines to the basic pathophysiology of depression and the long-term mechanism of antidepressant treatments. cAMP response element binding protein (CREB) in the brain, especially in the hippocampi, as a converging agent of many intracellular signaling transduction pathways is getting increasing attention. To better understand the basic pathophysiology of depression and the long-term mechanism of antidepressant treatments, it is significant to make clear the correlation between hippocampal CREB and antidepressant treatments. This review mainly refers to the formation of CREB and its distribution in hippocampi, the upstream signaling transduction pathways of hippocampal CREB and antidepressant treatments, and the possible antidepressant mechanisms by regulating hippocampal CREB.