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Background: Radioiodine (131I) therapy (RAIT) is associated with oxidative stress (OS)?induced DNA damage in patients with differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC). The goal of this study was to evaluate the possible ameliorating effects of Panax Ginseng (PG) on RAIT?induced genotoxicity in patients with DTC. Materials and Methods: Forty DTC patients who had received 131I (100 to 175 mCi) were enrolled in this study. The patients were randomly classified (n = 10) into control, placebo, PG1 groups (receiving 500 mg/day of PG for 2 days before RAIT), and PG2 group (receiving 500 mg/day of PG for 2 days before to 1 day after RAIT). Blood samples were collected before and 2 days after RAIT. Lymphocyte micronuclei (MN) frequency was measured using the MN assay. Serum total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and ischemia?modified albumin (IMA) were measured using colorimetric assays. Serum albumin, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) were measured using commercial kits. Results: The mean of baseline MN frequency was the same in the four groups. RAIT increased the MN frequencies to at least three times the baseline values in the control (39 ± 5) and placebo groups (38 ± 6) (P < 0.001). PG caused a significant decrease in the MN frequencies in the treated groups compared to the control and placebo groups (P < 0.001). RAIT and PG administration had no significant effects on the serum IMA, TAC, and markers of liver and kidney toxicity. Conclusion: PG could be considered a useful remedy for the protection against RAIT?induced chromosomal damage in DCT patients.
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AIM To improve the quality standard for Guanxin Shengmai Pills.METHODS TLC was adopted in the qualitative identification of Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma and Notoginseng Radix et Rhizoma,the analysis was performed on a silica G thin layer plate,along with the low layer solution of chloroform-methanol-water(13 : 7 : 2)stood at below 10℃ as a mobile phase,and 10%sulfuric acid ethanol solution as a derivatization reagent.HPLC was applied to determining the contents of ginsenoside Rg1,ginsenoside Re,ginsenoside Rb1 and ginsenoside Rd,the analysis was performed on a 20℃ thermostatic Thermo Accucore-C18 column(4.6 mm×150 mm,2.6 μm),with the mobile phase comprising of acetonitrile-water flowing at 0.8 mL/min in a gradient elution manner,and the detection wavelength was set at 203 nm.RESULTS The clear TLC bands present without negative interference.Four constituents showed good linear relationships within their own ranges(R2≥0.999 9),whose average recoveries were 91.21%-106.86%with the RSDs of 0.68%-1.43%.CONCLUSION This specific and reproducible method can provide a reference for the quality control of Guanxin Shengmai Pills.
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ObjectiveTo investigate the influence of concentration ratio(CR) between the internal reference and target components on the quantitative accuracy of quantitative analysis of multi-components by single marker(QAMS) by taking ginsenosides as an example. MethodUltra performance liquid chromatography(UPLC) was employed, the contents of nine components in Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma(ginsenosides Rg1, Re, Rf, Rh1, Rb1, Rc, Rb2, Rb3, Rd) were determined by external standard method(ES). Using ginsenoside Rg1 as the internal reference, the contents of the remaining 8 ginsenosides were determined by QAMS, and the quantitative results were compared with those of ES to evaluate the quantitative accuracy of the established QAMS. According to the contents of these 9 ginsenosides, the simulated sample solutions with different CRs of ginsenoside Rg1 to ginsenosides Rf, Rb2, Rd were prepared with the reference substance(CR=100∶1, 10∶1, 5∶1, 2∶1, 1∶1, 0.5∶1, 0.25∶1), in order to validate the effect of the CRs between the internal reference and other components on the quantitative accuracy of the QAMS. ResultThe results of ginsenosides Re, Rf, Rb1, Rc, Rb2 calculated by the two methods were the same with the relative standard deviation(RSD)<3%, however, the results of ginsenosides Rh1, Rb3 and Rd calculated by the two methods were different with RSDs of 7.06%-9.61%. According to the result of the simulated sample solution, the difference between the calculated results of ES and QAMS was large when the CR between the internal reference(ginsenoside Rg1) and other components was 5 or 10 or even higher. ConclusionThe quantitative error of QAMS will increase when the CR between the quantitative component and the internal reference is too large, so it is suggested that when establishing the QAMS, the components with close concentration to the internal reference should be selected for quantification.
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OBJECTIVE@#Angelicae Sinensis Radix (ASR, Danggui in Chinese), Cistanches Herba (CH, Roucongrong in Chinese), Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma (PG, Renshen in Chinese), and Panacis Quinquefolii Radix (PQ, Xiyangshen in Chinese), widely used as medicine and dietary supplement around the world, are susceptible to fungal and mycotoxin contamination. In this study, we aim to analyze their fungal community by DNA metabarcoding.@*METHODS@#A total of 12 root samples were collected from three main production areas in China. The samples were divided into four groups based on herb species, including ASR, CH, PG, and PQ groups. The fungal community on the surface of four root groups was investigated through DNA metabarcoding via targeting the internal transcribed spacer 2 region (ITS2).@*RESULTS@#All the 12 samples were detected with fungal contamination. Rhizopus (13.04%-74.03%), Aspergillus (1.76%-23.92%), and Fusarium (0.26%-15.27%) were the predominant genera. Ten important fungi were identified at the species level, including two potential toxigenic fungi (Penicillium citrinum and P. oxalicum) and eight human pathogenic fungi (Alternaria infectoria, Candida sake, Hyphopichia burtonii, Malassezia globosa, M. restricta, Rhizopus arrhizus, Rhodotorula mucilaginosa, and Ochroconis tshawytschae). Fungal community in ASR and CH groups was significantly different from other groups, while fungal community in PG and PQ groups was relatively similar.@*CONCLUSION@#DNA metabarcoding revealed the fungal community in four important root herbs. This study provided an important reference for preventing root herbs against fungal and mycotoxin contamination.
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Stress and illness connection is complex and involves multiple physiological systems. Panax ginsengs, reputed for their broad-spectrum "cure-all" effect, are widely prescribed to treat stress and related illnesses. However, the identity of ginseng's "cure-all" medicinal compounds that relieve stress remains unresolved. Here, we identify ginsentides as the principal bioactives that coordinate multiple systems to restore homeostasis in response to stress. Ginsentides are disulfide-rich, cell-penetrating and proteolytic-stable microproteins. Using affinity-enrichment mass spectrometry target identification together with in vitro, ex vivo and in vivo validations, we show that highly purified or synthetic ginsentides promote vasorelaxation by producing nitric oxide through endothelial cells via intracellular PI3K/Akt signaling pathway, alleviate α1-adrenergic receptor overactivity by reversing phenylephrine-induced constriction of aorta, decrease monocyte adhesion to endothelial cells via CD166/ESAM/CD40 and inhibit P2Y12 receptors to reduce platelet aggregation. Orally administered ginsentides were effective in animal models to reduce ADP-induced platelet aggregation, to prevent collagen and adrenaline-induced pulmonary thrombosis as well as anti-stress behavior of tail suspension and forced swimming tests in mice. Together, these results strongly suggest that ginsentides are the principal panacea compounds of ginsengs because of their ability to target multiple extra- and intra-cellular proteins to reverse stress-induced damages.
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ObjectiveTo analyze the quantity-quality transfer of standard decoction of Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma(GRR) decoction pieces produced by fresh and traditional cutting, and to provide reference for quality control and application development of the decoction pieces produced by fresh cutting. MethodTen batches of representative GRR decoction pieces produced by fresh and traditional cutting and their standard decoctions were prepared by standard process, and high performance liquid chromatography(HPLC) fingerprint of the standard decoction was established and performed on an Agilent EC-C18 column(4.6 mm×150 mm, 2.7 μm) with acetonitrile(A)-0.1% phosphoric acid aqueous solution(B) as the mobile phase for gradient elution(0-23 min, 18%-21%A; 23-35 min, 21%-28%A; 35-80 min, 28%-32%A), and the detection wavelength was 203 nm. Then similarity evaluation, principal component analysis(PCA) and partial least squares-discriminant analysis(PLS-DA) of fingerprint of the standard decoction were performed to screen the differential components with variable importance in the projection(VIP) value>1. Quantitative analysis was carried out on the screened known differential components, and combined with the indicators of the dry extract rate and the transfer rate, to explore the differences in the quantity-quality transfer between the standard decoction of GRR decoction pieces produced by fresh and traditional cutting. ResultThe fingerprint similarity of the standard decoction of GRR decoction pieces produced by fresh and traditional cutting was more than 0.950, and 18 common peaks were identified, including 9 identified common peaks. The results of PCA and PLS-DA showed that there were some differences in the contents of index components between the two standard decoctions. The contents of ginsenoside Rg1, Re and Ro in GRR decoction pieces produced by fresh cutting were higher than those in traditional decoction pieces, while the contents of ginsenoside Rb1, Rc , Rb2 and Rd were lower than those in traditional decoction pieces. The contents of ginsenoside Rg1, Re, Rb1 and Ro in the standard decoction of GRR decoction pieces produced by fresh cutting were higher than those in the standard decoction of traditional decoction pieces, while the contents of ginsenoside Rc , Rb2 and Rd were comparable between the two standard decoctions. Compared with the standard decoction of the traditional decoction pieces, the average transfer rates of ginsenoside Rg1, Rb1, Rc, Rb2 and dry extract rate of the standard decoction of GRR decoction pieces produced by fresh cutting were significantly increased(P<0.05), and the average transfer rate of ginsenoside Re and Rd also increased, but the difference was not statistically significant. ConclusionThe dry extract rate, content and transfer rate of index components of standard decoction of GRR decoction pieces produced by fresh cutting are better than those of the standard decoction of traditional decoction pieces, which can provides data support for the subsequent clinical application of fresh cutting products.
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ObjectiveTo analyze the quantity-quality transfer of standard decoction of Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma(GRR) decoction pieces produced by fresh and traditional cutting, and to provide reference for quality control and application development of the decoction pieces produced by fresh cutting. MethodTen batches of representative GRR decoction pieces produced by fresh and traditional cutting and their standard decoctions were prepared by standard process, and high performance liquid chromatography(HPLC) fingerprint of the standard decoction was established and performed on an Agilent EC-C18 column(4.6 mm×150 mm, 2.7 μm) with acetonitrile(A)-0.1% phosphoric acid aqueous solution(B) as the mobile phase for gradient elution(0-23 min, 18%-21%A; 23-35 min, 21%-28%A; 35-80 min, 28%-32%A), and the detection wavelength was 203 nm. Then similarity evaluation, principal component analysis(PCA) and partial least squares-discriminant analysis(PLS-DA) of fingerprint of the standard decoction were performed to screen the differential components with variable importance in the projection(VIP) value>1. Quantitative analysis was carried out on the screened known differential components, and combined with the indicators of the dry extract rate and the transfer rate, to explore the differences in the quantity-quality transfer between the standard decoction of GRR decoction pieces produced by fresh and traditional cutting. ResultThe fingerprint similarity of the standard decoction of GRR decoction pieces produced by fresh and traditional cutting was more than 0.950, and 18 common peaks were identified, including 9 identified common peaks. The results of PCA and PLS-DA showed that there were some differences in the contents of index components between the two standard decoctions. The contents of ginsenoside Rg1, Re and Ro in GRR decoction pieces produced by fresh cutting were higher than those in traditional decoction pieces, while the contents of ginsenoside Rb1, Rc , Rb2 and Rd were lower than those in traditional decoction pieces. The contents of ginsenoside Rg1, Re, Rb1 and Ro in the standard decoction of GRR decoction pieces produced by fresh cutting were higher than those in the standard decoction of traditional decoction pieces, while the contents of ginsenoside Rc , Rb2 and Rd were comparable between the two standard decoctions. Compared with the standard decoction of the traditional decoction pieces, the average transfer rates of ginsenoside Rg1, Rb1, Rc, Rb2 and dry extract rate of the standard decoction of GRR decoction pieces produced by fresh cutting were significantly increased(P<0.05), and the average transfer rate of ginsenoside Re and Rd also increased, but the difference was not statistically significant. ConclusionThe dry extract rate, content and transfer rate of index components of standard decoction of GRR decoction pieces produced by fresh cutting are better than those of the standard decoction of traditional decoction pieces, which can provides data support for the subsequent clinical application of fresh cutting products.
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BACKGROUND:Ginseng extracts have been found to significantly improve osteoarthritis,but the therapeutic effects of ginseng polysaccharide extracts on osteoarthritis have not been reported. OBJECTIVE:To investigate the effect of ginseng polysaccharide on the expression of prostaglandin E2/6-keto-prostaglandin F1α in traumatic osteoarthritis model rats. METHODS:Sixty male Sprague-Dawley rats were selected and randomly divided into healthy group,model group,ginseng polysaccharide low-dose group,ginseng polysaccharide medium-dose group,ginseng polysaccharide high-dose group and dexamethasone group.Except for 10 rats in the healthy group,the other rats were taken to establish traumatic osteoarthritis models.The healthy group and model group were given 0.2 mL of normal saline intraperitoneally.The low-,medium-,and high-dose groups were intraperitoneally injected with 0.1,0.25,0.5 μg/mL ginseng polysaccharide,respectively.In the dexamethasone group,0.2mg/kg dexamethasone(0.2 mL)was injected intraperitoneally.Injections were given once every 3 days,for 4 consecutive weeks.Serum prostaglandin E2 and 6-keto-prostaglandin F1α levels were detected by ELISA.The bone and joint function of rats were assessed by the Mankin's score.Hematoxylin-eosin staining was used to observe the pathologic morphology of the knee joints of rats.Western blot and PCR were used to detect the protein and mRNA expression of tumor necrosis factor α and interleukin-1β,interleukin-10 in articular cartilage tissue,respectively. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Compared with the model group,serum prostaglandin E2 levels were decreased in the medium-dose group and dexamethasone group,while serum 6-keto-prostaglandin F1α levels were increased(P<0.05).Compared with the medium-dose group and dexamethasone group,the above-mentioned indicators were significantly improved in the high-dose group,and there was no significant difference between the medium-dose group and dexamethasone group(P>0.05).Compared with the model group,the Mankin's score was reduced in the medium-dose group and dexamethasone group(P<0.05),but there was no significant difference between the medium-dose group and dexamethasone group(P>0.05).Compared with the medium-dose group and dexamethasone group,the Mankin's score was significantly reduced in the high-dose group(P<0.05).The cartilage tissue layer of rats in the model and low-dose groups was significantly thinned,the cracks and chondrocytes deep into the bone layer were largely lost,the tide line was seriously broken and blurred,the collagen fibers in the synovial layer were increased and thickened,and a large number of chondrocytes were destroyed and arranged irregularly.These pathological changes were improved in the medium-dose group and dexamethasone group compared with the model group as well as improved in the high-dose group compared with the medium-dose group.Compared with the model group,the expression of tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin-1β was reduced,while the expression of interleukin-10 was increased in the medium-dose group and dexamethasone group(P<0.05).These indicators in the joint were significantly improved in the high-dose group compared with the medium-dose group and dexamethasone group(P<0.05),but there was no significant difference between the medium-dose group and dexamethasone group(P>0.05).To conclude,ginseng polysaccharide can improve the inflammatory level and pathological morphology of traumatic osteoarthritis rats and reduce the Mankin's score.Its mechanism may be related to the regulation of prostaglandin E2/6-keto-prostaglandin F1α levels.
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Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma(GRR) has the function of replenishing vital energy and can lighten the body and prolong the life when taken for a long time, which is suitable for the development of anti-aging products, so this paper intends to sort out the progress of anti-aging research on GRR. After combing, the results of modern studies have shown that a variety of components in GRR have anti-aging effect, which can prolong the lifespan of aging animal models, as well as delay the aging of various systems. The anti-aging mechanisms mainly include anti-cellular senescence, anti-oxidative stress, inhibiting telomere shortening, maintaining mitochondrial homeostasis and so on. The anti-aging ingredients of GRR involved in the researches mainly include ginsenoside Rg1 and ginsenoside Rb1, in addition, ginsenoside Rg3, ginsenoside Rd, ginsenoside Rg2, ginsenoside Re, ginsenoside Rb2, oligosaccharides of GRR, polysaccharides of GRR, water extract of GRR, total saponins of Panax ginseng stems and leaves are also included. Therefore, under current background of population aging, the in-depth development of GRR and its transformation into anti-aging products are of great significance for delaying senility and improving the health conditions of aging population.
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Objective: This systematic review aimed to evaluate the nephroprotective effect of Panax noto-ginseng. Methods: The search for scientific articles in the literature was carried out in the Medli-ne (PubMed), Web of Science, Embase, and Virtual Health Library (BVS) databases. Eligibility criteria consisted of preclinical in vivo or clinical studies that demonstrated the nephroprotective effect of Panax notoginseng, as assessed by one or more of the following laboratory tests: serum creatinine, serum urea, glomerular filtration rate, creatinine clearance, proteinuria, or albuminuria. Results: Fourteen articles were included, all of which consisted of preclinical trials. The nephropathy models used in the studies were diabetic kidney disease (n=8), kidney injury induced by nephrotoxic substances (n=5), or ischemia (n=1). All studies showed that Panax notoginseng has a nephroprotective effect when used in the treatment of kidney diseases. Although three studies did not observe a reduction in serum creatinine and/or urea levels, these studies found that albuminuria decreased significantly. Conclusion:Panax notoginseng has a nephroprotective effect in different animal models of nephropathy. The clinical use of Panax notoginseng tends to be promising as an adjuvant in the pharmacotherapy of renal dysfunctions and in the prevention of drug-induced nephrotoxicity (AU)
Objetivo: Esta revisão sistemática teve como objetivo avaliar o efeito nefroprotetor do Panax notoginseng. Métodos: A busca por artigos científicos na literatura foi realizada nas bases de dados Medline (PubMed), Web of Science, Embase e Biblioteca Virtual em Saúde (BVS). Os critérios de elegibilidade incluíram estudos pré-clínicos in vivo ou clínicos que demonstraram o efeito nefroprotetor do Panax notoginseng, avaliado por meio de um ou mais dos seguintes exames laboratoriais: creatinina sérica, ureia sérica, taxa de filtração glomerular, clearance de creatinina, proteinúria e albuminúria. Resultados: Foram incluídos 14 artigos, todos consistindo em ensaios pré-clínicos. Os modelos de nefropatia utilizados pelos estudos foram a doença renal diabética (n=8), lesão renal induzida por substâncias nefrotóxicas (n=5) e lesão renal por isquemia (n=1). Todos os estudos demonstraram que o Panax notoginseng possui efeito nefroprotetor no tratamento das nefropatias. Apesar de três estudos não terem observado redução nos níveis séricos de creatinina e/ou ureia, verificou-se que a albuminúria diminuiu significativamente. Con-clusão: O Panax notoginseng apresenta efeito nefroprotetor em diferentes modelos animais de nefropatia. O uso clínico do Panax notoginseng é promissor como adjuvante na farmacoterapia de disfunções renais e na prevenção da nefrotoxicidade induzida por medicamentos (AU)
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Humans , Diabetic Nephropathies , Renal Insufficiency, Chronic , Panax notoginseng , Acute Kidney InjuryABSTRACT
Background: The search for herbal remedies has gained significant attention due to chemical drugs’ potentially harmful side effects. Finding plants that can mitigate these adverse effects is crucial for enhancing the well-being of individuals undergoing chemical drug treatments. Aim: Numerous studies have demonstrated the potent antioxidant properties of ginseng. Azathioprine, a widely used drug, has been shown to induce detrimental side effects on various body tissues. Thus, this study aimed to assess the efficacy of ginseng in reducing the harmful effects of azathioprine on ovarian tissue. Materials and Methods: In this study, mice were divided into groups and injected with ginseng root extract and azathioprine. Ovarian weight and histological analysis were conducted to evaluate the number of ovarian follicles and corpus luteum. Furthermore, the levels of FSH, LH, and progesterone in the blood of the study groups were assessed using ELISA. Results: In treatment group 4 (ginseng extract and azathioprine), compared to treatment group 2 (azathioprine only), a significant increase in the weight of both left and right ovaries was observed. Treatment group 4 also exhibited a notable increase (P<0.05) in the number of primordial, primary, and atretic follicles. The concentration of progesterone significantly increased in treatment group 4 compared to treatment group 2 (p<0.01). Conclusion: The findings of this study indicate that azathioprine can have destructive effects on ovarian tissues, while ginseng extract demonstrates the potential to reduce these detrimental side effects. Furthermore, ginseng extract appears to positively regulate FSH and progesterone hormones.
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Purpose: Sildenafil citrate is widely used drug for the treatment of Erectile Dysfunction (ED) and Ginseng is a natural aphrodisiac reported to benefit this condition. The objective of the present study was to develop orodispersible tablets (ODTs) containing combination of Sildenafil citrate and Ginseng extract to improve the bioavailability, reduce the dosing frequency and thereby maintaining the therapeutic efficacy of the drug. Methods: The ODTs were prepared using superdisintegrants such as Croscarmellose sodium (CCS), povidone, and sodium starch glycolate (SSG) at varying concentrations (2%, 4% and 6%) by direct compression. The bitter taste of Sildenafil citrate was masked by Doshion resin. The optimized formulation based on least disintegration time (DT) was chosen to reformulate using sublimating agents such as camphor, menthol or thymol at varying concentrations (1%, 2%, 3%) to further reduce the DT. The compatibility of drug with excipients was investigated and the prepared formulations were evaluated for pre and post-compression parameters. Results: The post-compression parameters such as weight variation, hardness, friability, DT and in-vitro drug release was found within specified limit. The formulation with camphor (2%) had DT of 12 sec and drug release >90% within 5 min hence was considered as optimized formulation. The accelerated stability study and kinetics modelling was performed for optimized formulation. Conclusion: The formulated Sildenafil citrate and Ginseng ODT’s were found to be promising formulation with quicker DT and drug release which will eventually have higher bioavailability and better efficacy along with averting the issues of swallowing and improving patient compliance.
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Objective:To preliminarily screen the key genes of primary immune thrombocytopenia(ITP)by bioinformatics method and explore the pathogenesis,so as to predict the potential traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)for the treatment of ITP.Methods:Based on the original microarray data set GSE80401 under the National Center for Biotechnology Information(NCBI),the differential miRNA of ITP were obtained by analyzing the adjusted P<0.05 and |logFC|≥1 as the screening criteria for differential miRNA.miRTarBase,miRDB and TargetScan were used to predict miRNA target genes.The target of ITP was searched in Genecards database,and the predicted up-regulated target genes and down-regulated target genes were intersected with disease targets.On this basis,the mapped target genes were respectively constructed into PPI network through String database and Cytoscape to screen core target genes,and the core target genes were enriched and analyzed in DAVID and Omicsbean databases for GO and KEGG pathways.The key genes were imported into the Coremine Medical database to analyze the TCM for the treatment of key genes.Results:Total of 422 differential genes and 17 key genes were finally screened,including BCL2L1,CCND1,CD44,CDKN1A,CREB1,GRB2,MAPK1,MAPK8,PIK3R1,CDK2,CAV1,FGF2,IGF1,SMAD2,SMAD4,TLR4 and VEGFA,mainly involving proteoglycan,FoXO,PI3K-Akt,human T cell leukemia virus 1 infection,endocrine resistance,focal adhesion and other signal pathways.A total of 12 TCM for ITP prevention and treatment,including ginseng,Radix Paeoniae Rubra,Angelica sinensis,bee venom,cobra,Psoralea corylifolia,Rehmannia glutinosa,buffalo horn,hemp seed,dodder seed,Wulingzhi and Jinji NaPi were screened.TLR4 maps the most TCM,followed by CCND1 and VEGFA.Among many TCM,ginseng acts on 17 targets at the same time,Radix Paeoniae Rubra,Angelica sinensis and bee venom act on 11 targets at the same time,cobra and Psoralea corylifolia act on 9 and 8 targets at the same time,Rehmannia glutinosa and buffalo horn act on 7 targets at the same time,hemp seed act on 4 targets at the same time,dodder seed act on 3 targets at the same time,and wulingzhi act on 2 targets at the same time.It is suggested that these drugs had the potential of multi-target prevention and treatment of ITP.Conclusion:The key pathogenic genes of ITP and the TCM with preventive and thera-peutic effects could be preliminarily predicted based on the analysis of genetic information,which can provide targets and research ideas for the development of related TCM.
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Objective:To investigate the pharmacological effects and molecular mechanisms of Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma, Poria and Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma for the treatment of ulcerative colitis based on the network pharmacology and molecular docking methods.Methods:TCMSP database was applied to get the active components of Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma, Poria and Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma, and SwissTargetPrediction database was applied to predict their targets; OMIM, DrugBank, TTD, PharmGKB and GeneCards databases were used to obtain the disease targets of ulcerative colitis; Venn Diagram website was used to draw the venn diagrams of drug-disease intersecting targets; drug-component-target network diagrams were created in Cytoscape 3.8.2, and the targets and active components with high correlation in the network were analyzed; protein interaction networks of intersecting targets were constructed using the String platform, and the NetworkAnalyzer plug-in in Cytoscape 3.8.2 was applied to Topology analysis and screening of core targets were performed using the Metascape platform; GO and KEGG analysis were performed using the Metascape platform; molecular docking validation was performed using vina inside pyrx software.Results:A total of 14 active components of Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma, Poria and Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma were screened, and the core components were kaempferol, stigmasterol, hederagenin, α-amyrin; 148 drug targets, 1 307 disease targets and 50 drug-disease intersection targets were obtained; there were 23 core points such as ESR1, PTPN2, PIK3R1, SRC, EGFR, and AKT1. The results of GO analysis indicated that the targets were mainly located in the cell membrane region and were involved in the regulation of biological functions such as monooxygenase and oxidoreductase activities, as well as the regulation of hormones and lipids, etc. The results of KEGG pathway enrichment analysis revealed that the main enrichment pathways were PI3K-Akt, JAK-STAT and MAPK signaling pathways. The molecular docking results showed that the main components, kaempferol and serpentine, could bind stably to several core targets such as PIK3R1 and ESR1. Relevant literature has verified the pharmacological action of each core component.Conclusions:Kaempferol, hederagenin and α-amyrin are the active components of Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma, Poria and Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma. They play therapeutic roles in improving immune dysregulation, reducing inflammatory response, inhibiting epithelial cell apoptosis and repairing mucosal damage by regulating targets such as PIK3R1, PTPN2 and ESR1, and modulating PI3K-Akt pathway, JAK-STAT pathway and MAPK pathway.
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Objective:To compare and analyze rhizome and main root of Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma (GRR); To provide the basis of whether removing the rhizome of Ginseng (RG) when processing by checking whole consistency of chromatographic fingerprints from rhizome and main root of GRR.Methods:The chromatographic consistency of different parts of GRR samples was compared using high performance thin layer chromatography (HPTLC); HPLC was used to determine the fingerprint of different parts of GRR, and combining it with the reference substance for common peak identification and similarity analysis; differences were analyzed using principal component analysis and orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA).Results:In the HPTLC spectrum, the characteristic spectra of rhizome and main root of GRR and whole GRR were similar, and there was a clear total of 7-9 spots. HPLC fingerprints of RRR presented 13 common peaks, and identified 6 peaks, including ginsenoside Rg1&Re (mixed), Rf, Rb1, Rc, Ro and Rd; the similarity of all samples ranged from 0.842 to 0.993; the differences in peak areas comprehensively contributed to the similarity differences between samples, with head being the main influence; ginsenoside Ro, Rb1 and other six components were differential markers, and the relative content in the head of GRR is significantly higher than that in the main root. Conlusions The analysis of differential profiling of chemical constituents showed that the chemical substances are almost the same between the head and the main root. The processing of GRR to remove head will result in the loss of ginsenosides, the overall effective component of GRR. Considering the human and resource costs, it was suggested that the whole root of GRR, instead of removing its rhizome, could be used in classical and traditional prescriptions.
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The chemical complexity of traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs) makes the active and functional annotation of natural compounds challenging. Herein, we developed the TCMs-Compounds Functional Annotation platform (TCMs-CFA) for large-scale predicting active compounds with potential mechanisms from TCM complex system, without isolating and activity testing every single compound one by one. The platform was established based on the integration of TCMs knowledge base, chemome profiling, and high-content imaging. It mainly included: (1) selection of herbal drugs of target based on TCMs knowledge base; (2) chemome profiling of TCMs extract library by LC‒MS; (3) cytological profiling of TCMs extract library by high-content cell-based imaging; (4) active compounds discovery by combining each mass signal and multi-parametric cell phenotypes; (5) construction of functional annotation map for predicting the potential mechanisms of lead compounds. In this stud TCMs with myocardial protection were applied as a case study, and validated for the feasibility and utility of the platform. Seven frequently used herbal drugs (Ginseng, etc.) were screened from 100,000 TCMs formulas for myocardial protection and subsequently prepared as a library of 700 extracts. By using TCMs-CFA platform, 81 lead compounds, including 10 novel bioactive ones, were quickly identified by correlating 8089 mass signals with 170,100 cytological parameters from an extract library. The TCMs-CFA platform described a new evidence-led tool for the rapid discovery process by data mining strategies, which is valuable for novel lead compounds from TCMs. All computations are done through Python and are publicly available on GitHub.
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Objective@#To explore the therapeutic effects of ginseng total saponins (GTSs) on cognitive impairments in astronauts caused by prolonged exposure to microgravity environment.@*Methods@#Fifty specific pathogen-free (SPF) male Wistar rats were randomized into control, hindlimb suspension (HLS), Huperzine A (HLS-Hup A 0.1 mg/kg), low-dose GTSs (HLS-GTSs 100 mg/kg), and high-dose GTSs (HLS-GTSs 200 mg/kg) groups, based on the completion time of reward-directed conditioning tasks. Except for rats in the control group, the others were subjected to HLS and treated with drugs (day 20 – 58), received reflex test under the condition of rewarding, and underwent Nissl body staining and Western blot detection on hippocampal.@*Results@#After modeling, rats in HLS group exhibited a reduction in the number of lever presses and an increase in the completion time of the reward-directed operant conditioning task Ⅰ (P < 0.05) when compared with the control group, which were not substantially altered in the HLS-GTSs 100 and 200 mg/kg groups (P > 0.05). In the reward-directed operant conditioning task Ⅱ, the HLS group rats demonstrated a marked decrease in the number of lever presses (P < 0.05) and nose pokes (P < 0.01) when compared with the control group rats; the HLS-GTSs 100 mg/kg showed a significant increase in the number of lever presses and nose pokes (P < 0.05), while the HLS-GTSs 200 mg/kg demonstrated a significant reduction in completion time and an elevation in the number of lever presses (P < 0.05) when compared with the HLS group rats. In visual signal discrimination task, compared with the control group rats, the HLS group rats showed decrease in the indexes of the visual signal discrimination(P < 0.01), while HLS-GTSs 100 and 200 mg/kg groups exhibited manifest increase in it (P < 0.01). In reward extinction experiment, the number of lever presses in HLS rats significantly increased when compared with the control group (P < 0.01); compared with the HLS group, HLS-GTSs 100 and 200 mg/kg groups demonstrated a marked descrease (P < 0.05). The expressions of N-methyl-D-aspartic acid receptor 1 (NR1) and phosophorylated N-methyl-Daspartic acid receptor 2B (p-NR2B) proteins were markedly decreased in rats in the HLS group (P < 0.05 and P < 0.01, respectively), while that of NR2B protein maintained the same (P > 0.05). GTSs increased the expression levels of p-NR2B (P < 0.01).@*Conclusion@#GTSs improved the learning and memory ability of complex operations by regulating the NR1/NR2B phosphorylation pathways in rats.
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Aim To investigate the sites and mechanisms of action of Ginseng-Rhodiola rosea in the treat ment of myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury ( MI-RI) via using network pharmacology approach, molecu¬lar docking techniques and experimental studies. Methods The active ingredients and targets of Gin¬seng-Rhodiola rosea were screened through the TCMSP database and literature supplementation, and the GEN-EC ARDS ,DISGENET and DRUGBANK databases were searched to obtain the targets of MIRI. Functional pro¬tein interaction networks (PPIs) and the STRING database were used to screen out core targets. The DAVID database was also selected for gene ontology functional analysis ( GO) and KEGG signaling pathway enrich¬ment analysis. Lastly, the preliminary validation was performed with the help of molecular docking techniques and experimental studies. Results Forty-three active ingredients and 348 potential targets of Ginseng-Rhodiola were obtained, and targets such as IL-6 , TNF-α and VEGFA were found to be closely related to MIRI, mainly involving TNF, PDK-Akt, HIF-1 and other signaling pathways.The molecular docking results showed that soysterol, ginsenoside rh2 and rhodioloside had good binding effects and high matching with IL-6, TNF-α,Caspase-3,VEGFA,MAPK1 and other targets, among which the best binding was between Caspase-3 and ginsenoside rh2. The results of the experimental study further showed that Ginseng-Rhodiola rosea could improve myocardial tissue necrosis after myocardial ischemia-reperfusion , reduce myocardial cell edema and vascular congestion, and decrease the expression levels of TNF-α and IL-6 in MIRI rats. Conclusions Ginseng-Rhodiola may modulate multiple targets such as IL-6,TNF-α, Caspase-3, VEGFA and MAPK1 through dousterol, ginsenoside rh2 and rhodiol glycosides to inhibit inflammatory response and oxidative stress, reduce cardiomyocyte damage and exert therapeutic effects on MIRI.
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AIM: To study the mechanism of Ginseng Yixin granules (QSYXG) in treating ejection fraction preserved heart failure (HFpEF) based on network pharmacology. METHODS: Effective chemical composition information of QSYXG particles was collected through TCMSP database; DisGeNET, GeneCards, OMIM database for obtaining HFpEF related targets; Metascape GO and KEGG enrichment analysis of the intersection targets of HFpEF; STRING Construction and analysis of the database PPI network; Cytoscape3.7.2 Software construction network diagram; Docking of the major active components to the core target with the AutoDock Vina software molecules, the results were visualized and analyzed with pymol. RESULTS: A total of 66 components and corresponding targets were obtained, HFpEF corresponds to 1 931 targets, The intersection of 127 targets, the main active ingredients are quercetin, kaempferol, β-sitosterol, etc.; TNF, AKT1, IL-6, P53 and JUN as the core targets, Good docking of the key components with the core targets; Mainly involving the positive regulation of gene expression, signal transduction, negative regulation of apoptotic process, positive regulation of cell proliferation and senescence, hypoxia response, negative regulation of gene expression, inflammatory response and so on, PI3K-Akt, AGE-RAG, MAPK, TNF, IL-17, and HIF-1 are the main associated signaling pathways. CONCLUSION: QSYXG may treat HFpEF by activating targets of TNF, AKT1, IL-6, P53, JUN, and regulating apoptotic process, cell proliferation, hypoxia response, and inflammatory response.
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Dao-di medicinal materials produced in a specific environment always present excellent appearance and high quality. Because of the unique appearance, Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma is regarded as a paradigm in the research on excellent appearance. This paper systematically summarized the research progress in the genetic and environmental factors influencing the formation of the excellent appearance of Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma, aiming to provide reference for the quality improvement of Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma and the scientific connotation of Dao-di Chinese medicinal materials. The Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma with high quality generally has a robust and long rhizome, a large angle between branch roots, and the simultaneous presence of a robust basal part of rhizome, adventitious roots, rhizome bark with circular wrinkles, and fibrous roots with pearl points. The cultivated and wild Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma have significant differences in the appearance and no significant difference in the population genetic diversity. The differences in the appearance are associated with cell wall modification, transcriptional regulation of genes involved in plant hormone transduction, DNA methylation, and miRNA regulation. The rhizosphere soil microorganisms including Fusarium and Alternaria, as well as the endophytes Trichoderma hamatum and Nectria haematococca, may be the key microorganisms affecting the growth and development of Panax ginseng. Cultivation mode, variety, and root exudates may be the main factors influencing the stability of rhizosphere microbial community. Ginsenosides may be involved in the formation of the excellent appearance. However, most of the available studies focus on the partial or single factors in the formation of Dao-di medicinal materials, ignoring the relationship within the complex ecosystems, which limits the research on the formation mechanism of Dao-di medicinal materials. In the future, the experimental models for the research involving genetic and environmental factors should be established and mutant materials should be developed to clarify the internal relationship between factors and provide scientific support for the research on Dao-di medicinal materials.