Traditional Chinese Medicine in Treatment of Parkinson's Disease by Regulating TLR4/NF-κB Signaling Pathway： A Review / 中国实验方剂学杂志

Parkinson's disease （PD） is a common neurological degenerative disease in the middle-aged and elderly， characterized by pathological changes of progressive degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra and Lewy body formation， with high prevalence and long course of disease. The drug is mainly used to treat PD in western medicine， and the early curative effect is remarkable. However， with the progression of the disease and the long-term use of the drug， the efficacy will be significantly reduced， or there may be sports complications， and the long-term efficacy is not good. As a traditional medical system， traditional Chinese medicine has a unique understanding of PD. Traditional Chinese medicine plays an important role in the treatment of PD， which is natural， mild， safe， and effective， and it can cooperate with western medicine to enhance its efficacy and reduce the adverse reactions of western medicine. The pathogenesis of PD is complex， involving multiple levels such as mitochondrial dysfunction and apoptosis. Neuroinflammation is also involved in the progressive degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in PD. The Toll-like receptor 4 （TLR4）/nuclear factor-κB （NF-κB） signaling pathway is a classic inflammatory pathway， and its expression changes play an important role in the occurrence and development of inflammatory response in the body. In recent years， the research on this pathway in TCM is increasing. This paper summarized the literature of traditional Chinese and western medicine in the past 10 years and reviewed the relevant mechanism of TCM regulation of TLR4/NF-κB pathway in the treatment of PD from the aspects of TCM monomer， compound， and other TCM therapies， so as to provide some references for the search for new targets of drug therapy and gene therapy and the in-depth study of TCM prevention and treatment of PD.

Mechanism of Sanhuang Xiexintang in Protecting Stress Gastric Ulcer in Rats / 中国实验方剂学杂志

ObjectiveTo explore the molecular mechanism of Sanhuang Xiexintang （SHXXT） in protecting stress gastric ulcer （SGU） in rats through network pharmacology， molecular docking， and animal experiments. MethodThe active ingredients and corresponding targets in SHXXT were collected and screened from the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform （TCMSP）， Traditional Chinese Medicine Information Database （TCMID）， Bioinformation Analysis Tool for Molecular Mechanism of Traditional Chinese Medicine （BATMAN-TCM）， and Swiss Target Prediction database. SGU-related targets were screened from the Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man （OMIM）， Therapeutic Target Database （TTD）， GeneCards database， and PharmGKB database. Herbal-ingredient-target （H-C-T） network was constructed by using Cytoscape 3.9.1 software. Protein-protein interaction （PPI） of drug and disease intersection targets was analyzed by using the Protein Interaction Platform （STRING） database. Gene ontology （GO） enrichment analysis and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes （KEGG） pathway analysis were conducted through the Database for Annotation Visualization and Integrated Discovery （DAVID）. The active ingredients and key targets were validated using AutodockVina 1.2.2 molecular docking software， and the experimental results were further validated through animal experiments. ResultThe 55 active ingredients were screened， and 255 potential target genes for SHXXT treatment of SGU were predicted. The PPI analysis showed that protein kinase B （Akt）， phosphatase and tensin homolog deleted on chromosome ten （PTEN）， tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α）， interleukin-1β （IL-1β）， and cyclooxygenase-2 （COX-2） are the core targets of SHXXT for protecting SGU. GO and KEGG analyses showed that SHXXT may affect the development of SGU by regulating various biological processes such as the phosphoinositide 3-kinase （PI3K）/Akt signaling pathway and inflammatory processes. The molecular docking results showed that both the active ingredients and key targets had good binding ability. Animal experiments showed that compared with the blank group， the ulcer index （UI） of the model group was significantly increased （P<0.01）， and the serum levels of TNF-α and IL-1β significantly increased （P<0.01）. The phosphorylation level of PTEN in gastric mucosal tissue was significantly down-regulated （P<0.05）. The phosphorylation levels of PI3K， Akt， and nuclear factor kappa-B （NF-κB） were significantly up-regulated （P<0.05）. Compared with the model group， the UI of the treatment group was significantly reduced （P<0.01）， and the serum levels of TNF-α and IL-1β were significantly reduced （P<0.01）. The phosphorylation level of PTEN in gastric mucosal tissue was significantly up-regulated （P<0.01）， and the phosphorylation levels of PI3K， Akt， and NF-κB were significantly downregulated （P<0.01）. ConclusionThe application of network pharmacology prediction， molecular docking simulation， and animal experimental validation confirms that SHXXT regulates the PI3K/Akt/NF-κB signaling pathway to regulate the inflammatory response of rats and thus protects the gastric mucosa of SGU rats.

Effect of Tongluo Juanbi Granules on Inflammatory Injury and Apoptosis of Osteoarthritis Based on TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB Signaling Pathway / 中国实验方剂学杂志

ObjectiveTo investigate the effects of Tongluo Juanbi granules on chondrocyte apoptosis and Toll-like receptor 4 （TLR4）/myeloid differentiation factor 88 （MyD88）/nuclear factor-κB （NF-κB） signaling pathway of rabbits with knee osteoarthritis （KOA） and study the mechanism of Tongluo Juanbi granules in the prevention and treatment of KOA. MethodThirty New Zealand rabbits were randomly assigned to the following five groups （n=6）： sham group， model group， low-dose and high-dose groups of Tongluo Juanbi granules （4.1 and 8.2 g·kg-1·d-1）， and celecoxib group （10.9 mg·kg-1·d-1）. The KOA model was established by destabilization of the medial meniscus （DMM） for six weeks. Six weeks after the modeling， the drug was given once a day for eight weeks. The pathological changes of cartilago articularis were observed by hematoxylin-eosin （HE） staining and Safranin O-Fast Green staining. Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling （TUNEL） staining was performed to detect chondrocyte apoptosis. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA） was used to detect the contents of interleukin-1β （IL-1β） and tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α） in synovial fluid. The mRNA and protein expression levels of genes related to the TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB signaling pathway were detected by real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction （Real-time PCR） and Western blot， respectively. ResultCompared with the sham group， the cartilago articularis of the model group significantly degenerated. Mankin's score was increased （P<0.01）， and the contents of IL-1β and TNF-α in synovial fluid were increased （P<0.01）. The number of apoptosis of chondrocytes was increased （P<0.01）. The mRNA and protein expressions of TLR4， MyD88， and NF-κB p65 in cartilage tissue were up-regulated （P<0.01）， while the mRNA and protein expressions of Bcl-2 were down-regulated （P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， chondrocyte degeneration in both low-dose and high-dose groups of Tongluo Juanbi granules was improved， and Mankin's score was decreased （P<0.01）. The contents of IL-1β and TNF-α were decreased （P<0.01）， and the number of apoptosis of chondrocytes was decreased （P<0.01）. The mRNA and protein expressions of TLR4， MyD88， and NF-κB p65 in cartilage tissue were down-regulated （P<0.01）， while the mRNA and protein expressions of Bcl-2 were up-regulated （P<0.01）. In addition， in the above observation indicators， the high-dose group of Tongluo Juanbi granules was significantly superior to the low-dose group of Tongluo Juanbi granules. ConclusionTongluo Juanbi granules could inhibit chondrocyte apoptosis in rabbits with KOA and improve cartilage degeneration， which may be related to inhibiting inflammatory responses mediated by TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB signaling pathway.

Blumea balsamifera （L.） DC Oil Alleviates LPS-Induced Inflammatory Response in Macrophages by Affecting Arachidonic Acid Metabolism Via NF-κB Nonclassical Pathway / 中山大学学报(医学科学版)

ObjectiveTo study the anti-inflammatory effects of Blumea balsamifera （L.） DC oil （BBO） based on nuclear factor kappa-B （NF-κB） nonclassical and arachidonic acid （AA） pathway. MethodsEffects of BBO on the production of slow reacting substance of anaphylaxis （SRS-A） were detected by the ileal smooth muscle method. The contents of prostaglandin E2 （PGE2） and leukotriene B4 （LTB4） in lipopolysaccharides （LPS） -induced macrophages were detected by ELISA kit. The expression of COX-2， 5-LOX， FLAP and RelB were detected by qRT-PCR. Western blot was performed to detect the effects of BBO on the level of NF-κB nonclassical pathway proteins TNF receptor associated factor 3 （TRAF3）， TNF receptor associated factor 2 （TRAF2）， NF-κB-inducing kinase （NIK）， p100 and RelB. ResultsThe contractile tension of guinea pig ileum was reduced （P<0.001）， and the SRS-A production inhibition rate reached 65.34% at 1mg·mL-1 BBO concentration. Compared with LPS group， BBO reduced the concentrations of PGE2 （P<0.05） and LTB4 （P<0.05）， and decreased the expressions of COX-2 （P<0.05）， 5-LOX （P<0.05） and FLAP （P<0.05） in AA pathway at concentrations of 40-80 μg·mL-1. Moreover， 40-80 μg·mL-1 BBO decreased the concentrations of TRAF3 （P<0.05）， TRAF2 （P<0.05）， and NIK （P<0.05）， and further inhibited the phosphorylation of p100 （P<0.05）， as well as the level of the transcription factor RelB in genes （P<0.05） and proteins （P<0.05） in nonclassical NF-κB pathway， whereas BBO did not cause such changes. ConclusionBBO may potentially exert its anti-inflammatory effects by suppressing the regulatory proteins TRAF3 and TRAF2 and the transcription factor RelB in NF-κB nonclassical pathway. The inhibitory action extending to the induction kinase function of NIK， further hindering the phosphorylation of p100 and its binding with the transcription factor RelB. Consequently， downstream elements in the AA pathway， including the pivotal rate-limiting enzymes COX-2， 5-LOX and FLAP， were altered. This modulation influences the levels of inflammatory mediators such as PGE2 and LTB4.

Neuroprotective effect of sodium aescinate on rats with Parkinson’s disease by regulating SIRT1/NF-κB signaling pathway / 中国药房

OBJECTIVE To explore the neuroprotective effect of sodium aescinate on rats with Parkinson’s disease by regulating the silent information regulator 1 （SIRT1）/nuclear factor-κB （NF-κB） signaling pathway. METHODS The Parkinson’s disease rat model was constructed by using 6-hydroxydopamine injection method. Forty-eight rats successfully modeled were randomly divided into model group， sodium aescinate low-dose group （1.8 mg/kg）， sodium aescinate high-dose group （3.6 mg/kg）， sodium aescinate+EX527 （sodium aescinate 3.6 mg/kg+SIRT1 inhibitor EX527 5 mg/kg） group， with 12 rats in each group. Another 12 healthy rats were selected as the sham operation group. Each group was injected with the corresponding drug solution intraperitoneally， once a day， for 21 consecutive days. Twenty-four hours after the end of the last administration， the motor and cognitive functions of rats were detected， and the morphology of neurons in the substantia nigra and CA1 region of hippocampal tissue were observed. The content of dopamine （DA） in the nigrostriatal and the expression levels of tyrosine hydroxylase （TH） and α-synuclein （α-Syn） in the substantia nigra were detected. The serum levels of pro-inflammatory factor [interleukin-6 （IL-6）， IL-18]， anti-inflammatory factor （IL-10）， and the expression levels of SIRT1， phosphorylated NF-κB p65 （p-NF-κB p65） and NF- κB p65 protein in nigrostriatal were detected. RESULTS Compared with sham operation group， the neurons in the substantia nigra and CA1 region of hippocampal tissue were seriously damaged in model group； the number of rotations， escape latency， the expression levels of α-Syn in substantia nigra， the levels of serum pro-inflammatory factors， the relative expression ratio of p-NF- κB p65 and NF-κB p65 protein in nigrostriatal were increased or prolonged significantly （P＜0.05）； the target quadrant residence time， the content of DA in nigrostriatal， the expression level of TH in substantia nigra， the serum level of anti-inflammatory factor， and the expression level of SIRT1 protein in substantia nigra striatum were significantly decreased or shortened （P＜0.05）. Compared with model group， the damage degrees of neuron in sodium aescinate groups were alleviated， and the quantitative indicators were significantly improved， which were more significant in the high-dose group （P＜0.05）； EX527 could reverse the improvement effect of high-dose sodium aescinate （P＜0.05）. CONCLUSIONS Sodium aescinate can inhibit the activation of NF-κB signal by up-regulating the protein expression of SIRT1， thereby reducing the neuroinflammation of rats with Parkinson’s disease， improving the motor and cognitive dysfunctions， and finally playing a neuroprotective role.

Role of PPARγ in Ulcerative Colitis and Traditional Chinese Medicine Intervention： A Review / 中国实验方剂学杂志

Ulcerative colitis （UC） is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease primarily affecting the colon and rectum， with the typical symptoms such as abdominal pain， bloody diarrhea， and tenesmus. The pathogenesis of UC remains to be fully elucidated. The disease is prone to recurrence， seriously affecting the patients' quality of life. Conventional therapies for UC have limitations， including unsatisfactory clinical efficacy， lengthy courses， and adverse reactions. Therefore， there is an urgent need to explore new therapeutic agents. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma （PPARγ）， a ligand-dependent nuclear receptor protein that plays a crucial role in maintaining intestinal homeostasis， is closely associated with the onset and development of UC. Traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） has advantages such as multi-targeting and mild side effects in the treatment of UC. Recent studies have shown that TCM can exert the therapeutic effects on UC by modulating PPARγ. The TCM methods for regulating PPARγ include clearing heat， drying dampness， moving Qi， activating blood， resolving stasis， invigorating the spleen， warming the kidney， and treating with both tonification and elimination. On one hand， TCM directly activates PPARγ or mediates signaling pathways such as nuclear factor-κB （NF-κB）， mitogen-activated protein kinase （MAPK）， Toll-like receptor 4 （TLR4）， and regulates helper T cell 17 （Th17）/regulatory T cell （Treg） balance to promote macrophage polarization from the pro-inflammatory M1 phenotype to the anti-inflammatory M2 phenotype， thereby inhibiting intestinal inflammation. On the other hand， TCM regulates the intestinal metabolism to activate PPARγ， lower the nitrate level， and maintain local hypoxia. In this way， it can restore the balance between specialized anaerobes and facultative anaerobes， thereby improving the gut microbiota and treating UC. This article summarizes the role of PPARγ in UC and reviews the research progress of TCM in treating UC by intervening in PPARγ in the last five years， aiming to give insights into the treatment and new drug development for UC.

Inhibitory effect and mechanism of total flavonoids from Melicope pteleifolia on transplanted tumor of colorectal cancer in nude mice / 中国药房

OBJECTIVE To study the inhibitory effect and mechanism of total flavonoids from Melicope pteleifolia （TF-MPL） on transplanted tumor of colorectal cancer in nude mice. METHODS The transplanted tumor model of colorectal cancer was induced by injecting 0.2 mL colorectal cancer cell LoVo subcutaneously via the right armpit of nude mice. After successful modeling， nude mice were randomly divided into model group， 5-fluorouracil group （positive control， 10 mg/kg）， TF-MPL high- dose and low-dose groups （25， 12.5 mg/kg）； a normal group （normal saline containing 0.3% carboxymethyl cellulose sodium） without modeling was additionally set up， with 6 mice in each group. Each group was intraperitoneally injected with the corresponding drug solution/solvent for 21 consecutive days. The inhibitory rate of the transplanted tumor， liver and spleen index， and the levels of tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α） and interleukin-6 （IL-6） in serum were detected after the last medication； the morphological changes of tumor tissue were observed； immunohistochemical staining was used to detect protein expressions of Toll- like receptor 4 （TLR4） and nuclear factor-κB subunit p65 （NF-κB p65） in tumor tissue of nude mice. Western blot assay was used to detect protein expressions of TLR4， myeloid differentiation factor 88 （MyD88）， TNF receptor-associated factor 6 （TRAF6）， interleukin-1 receptor-associated kinase 1 （IRAK-1）， NF-κB p65 and caspase-3 in tumor tissue of nude mice. RESULTS Compared with the model group， TF-MPL high-dose group showed a significant decrease in tumor weight （inhibitory rate of 36.91%）， liver and spleen index， serum levels of TNF-α and IL-6 and protein expressions of TLR4， MyD88， TRAF6，IRAK-1 and NF- κB p65 （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）； the expression of caspase-3 protein was increased significantly （P＜0.05）， and more tumor cell shrinkage and deformation， nuclear pyknosis and fragmentation were observed. CONCLUSIONS TF-MPL can significantly inhibit the growth of transplanted tumor of colorectal cancer in nude mice， the mechanism of which may be associated with reducing inflammatory response， inhibiting TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB signaling pathway， and promoting apoptosis in colorectal cancer cells.

Pathological Mechanism of Diabetes Based on NF-κB Signaling Pathway and Traditional Chinese Medicine Intervention： A Review / 中国实验方剂学杂志

As people's living standards improve， the development trend of diabetes has gradually become severe. Diabetes is a chronic inflammatory disease associated with abnormal expression of nuclear factor-kappa B （NF-κB） in patients. NF-κB exists in various tissue cells and participates in the regulation of a variety of genes related to immune function and inflammation. Varieties of factors can activate NF-κB when the body is stimulated by external factors， so as to produce inflammation and other reactions. Previous studies on NF-κB mainly focus on cancer， and the pathological mechanism of the treatment of diabetes by related signaling pathways and the progress of traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） treatment have not been systematically elaborated on. By referring to the relevant literature in China and abroad， it was found that NF-κB is not isolated in the development and progression of diabetes but is associated with signal molecules related to inflammation， oxidative stress， and energy metabolism， and it is involved in mediating inflammation， pancreatic β cell apoptosis， insulin signal transduction， and other physiological functions. Therefore， blocking the transmission of NF-κB signaling pathway is beneficial to the treatment of diabetes. At present， Western medicine for the treatment of diabetes mainly includes oral hypoglycemic drugs and insulin injections， but the adverse reactions are obvious. TCM has been characterized by multi-target， extensive action， and excellent curative effects in the treatment of diabetes. TCM and its compounds with functions of tonifying Qi and promoting blood circulation， regulating qi and eliminating phlegm， clearing heat and detoxifying， and nourishing Yin and moistening dryness can effectively intervene in the abnormal expression of NF-κB signaling pathway in vivo through anti-inflammatory effects. In this paper， the association between NF-κB signaling pathway and diabetes was summarized， and the modern research progress of TCM intervention of NF-κB signaling pathway in the treatment of diabetes in the past five years was reviewed， so as to lay a laboratory foundation for the study of a new pathological mechanism of diabetes based on NF-κB signaling pathway and provide new targets and research direction for the prevention and treatment of diabetes and development of related TCM.

Natural Products Treat Atopic Dermatitis via NF-κB Signaling Pathway： A Review / 中国实验方剂学杂志

Atopic dermatitis （AD） is a chronic， recurrent， inflammatory， and pruritus skin disease caused by multiple internal and external factors， ranking first in the global burden of skin diseases. Due to the adverse reactions and high costs of conventional treatments and biologics， the development of natural products has attracted much attention. The nuclear factor-κB （NF-κB） signaling pathway is a key pathway for inhibiting inflammation and modulating immunity. This paper summarizes the pharmacological effects and molecular mechanisms of natural products such as flavonoids， alkaloids， phenols， terpenoids， coumarins， glycosides， and anthraquinones via NF-κB signaling pathway， aiming to provide guidance for the development of natural products. Basic studies have shown that natural products have high safety and efficacy. Oral or topical administration of natural products can regulate the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase （PI3K）/protein kinase B （Akt）， mitogen-activated protein kinase （MAPK）， nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 （Nrf2）， high mobility group box 1 protein （HMGB1）/receptor for advanced glycation endproducts （RAGE）， and nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor protein 3 （NLRP3） signaling pathways to exert anti-inflammatory， anti-allergy， antioxidant activities， thus reversing the pathological changes of AD. However， it is worth noting that the clinical application of natural products is still insufficient， and more rigorous clinical trials are still needed to verify their effects. The basic experiments and clinical evidence prove that natural products may play a role in alleviating AD， which provide a basis for evaluating the functioning mechanism of natural active substances and enrich the candidates for the development of potential drugs.

Role of NF-κB Signaling Pathway in "Reflux Esophagitis-esophageal Cancer" and Traditional Chinese Medicine Intervention：A Review / 中国实验方剂学杂志

Reflux esophagitis is an inflammatory disease of esophageal mucosa damage caused by the reflux of gastric contents into the esophagus. Its incidence is on the rise， and it has become an important precancerous disease of esophageal cancer. Studies have shown that the continuous inflammatory response stimulates the esophageal mucosa， causing abnormal proliferation of esophageal epithelial cells and damage to esophageal mucosal tissue， which eventually leads to the occurrence of heterogeneous hyperplasia and even carcinogenesis. The nuclear transcription factor-kappa B （NF-κB） signaling pathway is one of the most classical inflammatory and cancer signaling pathways. It has been found that abnormal activation of the NF-κB signaling pathway is crucial to the development and prognosis of reflux esophagitis and esophageal cancer. It is widely involved in the proliferation， autophagy， apoptosis， and inflammatory response of esophageal epithelial cells and tumor cells， accelerating the transformation of reflux esophagitis to esophageal cancer and making it a potential target for the treatment of reflux esophagitis and esophageal cancer. Currently， there is no specific treatment for reflux esophagitis and esophageal cancer， and large side effects often appear. Therefore， finding a promising and safe drug remains a top priority. In recent years， traditional Chinese medicine scholars have conducted a lot of research on NF-κB signaling pathway， and the results indicate that NF-κB signaling pathway is an important potential target for traditional Chinese medicine to prevent and treat reflux esophagitis and esophageal cancer， but there is a lack of comprehensive and systematic elaboration. Therefore， this paper summarized the relevant studies in recent years， analyzed the relationship among NF-κB signaling pathway， reflux esophagitis， esophageal cancer， and transformation from inflammation to cancer， and reviewed the research literature on the regulation of the NF-κB signaling pathway in traditional Chinese medicine to prevent and treat reflux esophagitis and esophageal cancer， so as to provide new ideas for the prevention and treatment of reflux esophagitis and esophageal cancer.

Protective Effect of Zingiberis Rhizoma Recens on LPS-induced Acute Lung Injury in Mice Through TLR4/NF-κB Signaling Pathway / 中国实验方剂学杂志

ObjectiveTo explore the protective effect and mechanism of Zingiberis Rhizoma Recens alcohol extract on lipopolysaccharide （LPS）-induced acute lung injury in mice. MethodBalb/c mice were randomly divided into normal group， model group， dexamethasone group， and low- and high-dose Zingiberis Rhizoma Recens groups. Mice in the normal group were instilled with normal saline through the nose， and the other groups were instilled with normal saline containing LPS （50 μg）. After 30 minutes of modeling， the dexamethasone group was gavaged with 5 mg·kg-1 of dexamethasone acetate solution， the low- and high-dose Zingiberis Rhizoma Recens groups were gavaged with different doses of （7， 14 g·kg-1） of Zingiberis Rhizoma Recens alcohol extract， and the normal group and the model group were gavaged with the same volume of water. After 24 hours of modeling， the total number of white blood cells in bronchoalceolar lavage fluid （BALF） was detected by cell counter， and the levels of the inflammatory factors including tumor necrosis factor （TNF）-α， interleukin （IL）-1β， IL-6， and superoxide dismutase （SOD）， and myeloperoxidase （MPO） was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA）. Haematoxylin-eosin （HE） staining method was used to observe the pathological changes of lung tissue in each group， and the Western blot was used to detect the protein expression of nuclear transcription factor （NF）-κB p65， phosphorylation （p）-NF-κB p65， and Toll-like receptor 4 （TLR4） in lung tissue. ResultCompared with the normal group， the white blood cell count in BALF and the levels of TNF-α， IL-1β， IL-6， and MPO in the model group was increased （P<0.01）， and the level of SOD was decreased （P<0.05）. Pathological damage of lung tissue was obvious， and the protein expression of NF-κB p65， p-NF-κB p65， and TLR4 in lung tissue was increased （P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， the white blood cell count in BALF and the levels of TNF-α， IL-1β， IL-6， and MPO in the treatment group was decreased （P<0.05，P<0.01）， and the level of SOD was increased （P<0.05，P<0.01）. Pathological damage of lung tissue was alleviated， and the protein expression of NF-κB p65， p-NF-κB p65， and TLR4 in lung tissue was decreased （P<0.01）. ConclusionZingiberis Rhizoma Recens alcohol extract may play a protective role in LPS-induced acute lung injury in mice by inhibiting the TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway.

Puerarin alleviates lipopolysaccharide-induced acute kidney injury in mice by modulating the SIRT1/NF-κB pathway / 南方医科大学学报

OBJECTIVE@#To investigate the role of the SIRT1/NF-κB pathway in mediating the effect of puerarin against lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced acute kidney injury (AKI).@*METHODS@#Fifteen BALB/C mice were randomized into control group, LPS group and puerarin treatment group, and in the latter two groups, the mice were given an intraperitoneal injection of LPS (5 mg/kg), followed by daily injection of normal saline for 3 days or injection of puerarin (25 mg/kg) given 1 h later and then on a daily basis for 3 days. On day 5 after modeling, the kidney tissues were taken for histological observation and detection of cell apoptosis. The renal function indexes including urea nitrogen (BUN), serum creatinine (Scr) and kidney injury molecule 1 (KIM-1) and the levels of tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α) and interleukin 1β (IL-1β) were measured, and the expressions of SIRT1 and NF-κB-p65(acetyl K310) in the renal tissues were detected.@*RESULTS@#Intraperitoneal injection of LPS caused obvious glomerular capillary dilatation, hyperemia, renal interstitial edema, and renal tubular epithelial cell swelling and deformation in the mice. The mouse models of LPS-induced AKI also showed significantly increased renal tubular injury score and renal cell apoptosis (P < 0.01) with increased serum levels of BUN, Scr, KIM-1, TNF-α and IL-1β (P < 0.01), enhanced renal expressions of TNF-α, IL-1β and NF-κB p65(acetyl K310) (P < 0.01) and lowered renal expression of SIRT1 (P < 0.05). Treatment with puerarin effectively alleviated LPS-induced renal interstitial edema and renal tubular epithelial cell shedding, lowered renal tubular injury score (P < 0.01) and renal cell apoptosis rate (P < 0.01), and decreased serum levels of BUN, Scr, KIM, TNF-α and IL-1β (P < 0.01). Puerarin treatment significantly reduced TNF-α, IL-1β and NF-κB p65 (acetyl K310) expression in the renal tissue (P < 0.05) and increased SIRT1 expression by 17% (P < 0.05) in the mouse models.@*CONCLUSION@#Puerarin can effectively alleviate LPS-induced AKI in mice possibly by modulating the SIRT1/NF-κB signaling pathway.

Mechanism of Flavonoids from Mulberry Leaves on Insulin Resistance and Inflammatory Response in Diabetic Mice / 中国实验方剂学杂志

ObjectiveTo observe the glucose-lowering， insulin resistance-improving， and anti-inflammatory effects of flavonoids from mulberry leaves （FML） and explore their underlying mechanism. MethodMale db/db mice aged 6-7 weeks were randomly divided into a model group， a high-dose FML group （1.00 g·kg·d-1）， and a low-dose FML group （0.50 g·kg-1·d-1）. C57BL mice of the same age were assigned to the normal group. After six weeks of intervention， fasting blood glucose （FBG）， serum fasting insulin levels （Fins）， interleukin-6 （IL-6）， tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α）， free fatty acid （FFA）， blood creatinine （SCr）， blood urea nitrogen （BUN）， and aspartate aminotransferase （AST） levels were measured， and the homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance （HOMA-IR） was calculated. Superoxide dismutase （SOD）， glutathione peroxidase （GSH-Px）， and catalase activities in the liver were measured. Morphological changes in the liver were assessed by hematoxylin-eosin （HE） staining. The protein expression of cyclooxygenase-2 （COX-2）， inducible nitric oxide synthase （iNOS）， and nuclear factor-κB （NF-κB） in the liver was detected by Western blot. ResultCompared with the model group， the high-dose and low-dose FML groups showed significant reductions in FBG， Fins， HOMA-IR， IL-6， TNF-α， and FFA levels （P<0.05， P<0.01）， and increased levels of SOD， GSH-Px， and catalase in the liver （P<0.05， P<0.01）. HE staining of the liver in the FML groups showed improved arrangement of hepatocytes， reduced inflammatory cell infiltration， and alleviated cellular steatosis compared with the model group. The protein expression of COX-2， iNOS， and NF-κB in the liver significantly decreased in the FML groups as compared with that in the model group （P<0.05， P<0.01）. ConclusionFML have glucose-lowering and insulin resistance-improving effect， which may be attributed to their regulation of the NF-κB pathway in the liver of diabetic mice， leading to the suppression of the release of COX-2， iNOS， and inflammatory cytokines， thereby improving the inflammatory state.

Anti-inflammatory and Protective Effect of Linggui Zhugantang on LPS-induced Acute Lung Injury in Mice via NF-κB Signaling Pathway / 中国实验方剂学杂志

ObjectiveTo observe the therapeutic effect and underlying mechanism of Linggui Zhugantang on lipopolysaccharide （LPS）-induced acute lung injury （ALI） in mice. MethodSeventy-two 7-week-old C57BL/6 mice of SPF grade were randomly divided into a normal group， a model group， a dexamethasone group （5 mg·kg-1）， and high-， medium-， and low-dose Linggui Zhugantang groups （9.36， 4.68，2.34 g·kg-1）， with 12 mice in each group. Except for the normal group， the remaining groups underwent intranasal instillation of LPS （50 μg per mouse） for the induction of the ALI model. The treatment groups received oral administration for 7 days prior to modeling. After 12 hours of modeling， mouse lung tissues were taken to measure the wet/dry weight ratio （W/D）. Hematoxylin-eosin （HE） staining was performed to observe the pathological morphological changes in lung tissues. Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid （BALF） was collected for total cell count using a cell counter， and Wright-Giemsa staining was conducted to classify and quantify inflammatory cells （neutrophils and macrophages）. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA） was used to determine the expression levels of inflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α） and interleukin-6 （IL-6） in BALF. Western blot analysis was performed to detect the expression of nuclear factor-κB （NF-κB） inhibitory protein α （IκBα）， NF-κB p65， and their phosphorylated proteins， and the ratio of phosphorylated protein/total protein was calculated. ResultCompared with the normal group， the model group exhibited severe lung tissue damage， disrupted alveolar structure， thickened alveolar walls， infiltration of extensive inflammatory cells and red blood cells， and significantly aggravated lung edema （P<0.01）. The total cell count， inflammatory cell count， expression levels of IL-6， and TNF-α in BALF， as well as NF-κB p65 and phosphorylated IκBα in lung tissues， were significantly upregulated in the model group （P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， high-， medium-， and low-dose Linggui Zhugantang groups， as well as the dexamethasone group， showed improved lung injury， reduced lung edema （P<0.01）， downregulated total cell count， neutrophil count， expression levels of IL-6 and TNF-α in BALF， and NF-κB p65 and phosphorylated IκBα in lung tissues （P<0.01）， and reduced macrophage count （P<0.05）. ConclusionLinggui Zhugantang has anti-inflammatory and protective effects on LPS-induced ALI in mice， effectively reducing inflammation and promoting diuresis and edema elimination. Its mechanism may be related to the inhibition of NF-κB pathway activation.

Huoxin Pill Reduces Myocardial Ischemia Reperfusion Injury in Rats via TLR4/NFκB/NLRP3 Signaling Pathway / 中国结合医学杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To explore the protective effect of Huoxin Pill (HXP) on acute myocardial ischemia-reperfusion (MIRI) injury in rats.@*METHODS@#Seventy-five adult SD rats were divided into the sham-operated group, model group, positive drug group (diltiazem hydrochloride, DH), high dose group (24 mg/kg, HXP-H) and low dose group (12 mg/kg, HXP-L) of Huoxin Pill (n=15 for every group) according to the complete randomization method. After 1 week of intragastric administration, the left anterior descending coronary artery of the rat's heart was ligated for 45 min and reperfused for 3 h. Serum was separated and the levels of creatine kinase (CK), creatine kinase isoenzyme (CK-MB) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and malondialdehyde (MDA), hypersensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) were measured. Myocardial ischemia rate, myocardial infarction rate and myocardial no-reflow rate were determined by staining with Evans blue and 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC). Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform (TCMSP) and Bioinformatics Analysis Tool for Molecular mechANism of Traditional Chinese Medicine (BATMAN) databases were used to screen for possible active compounds of HXP and their potential therapeutic targets; the results of anti-inflammatory genes associated with MIRI were obtained from GeneCards, Drugbank, Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man (OMIM), and Therapeutic Target Datebase (TTD) databases was performed; Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment were used to analyze the intersected targets; molecular docking was performed using AutoDock Tools. Western blot was used to detect the protein expression of Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)/nuclear factor kappa-B (NFκB)/NOD-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3).@*RESULTS@#Compared with the model group, all doses of HXP significantly reduced the levels of LDH, CK and CK-MB (P<0.05, P<0.01); HXP significantly increased serum activity of SOD (P<0.05, P<0.01); all doses of HXP significantly reduced the levels of hs-CRP and IL-1β (P<0.05, P<0.01) and the myocardial infarction rate and myocardial no-reflow rate (P<0.01). GO enrichment analysis mainly involved positive regulation of gene expression, extracellular space and identical protein binding, KEGG pathway enrichment mainly involved PI3K-Akt signaling pathway and lipid and atherosclerosis. Molecular docking results showed that kaempferol and luteolin had a better affinity with TLR4, NFκB and NLRP3 molecules. The protein expressions of TLR4, NFκB and NLRP3 were reduced in the HXP group (P<0.01).@*CONCLUSIONS@#HXP has a significant protective effect on myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats, and its effect may be related to the inhibition of redox response and reduction of the inflammatory response by inhibiting the TLR4NFκB/NLRP3 signaling pathway.

Anti-inflammatory effect and mechanism of the ethanol extract and the drug-containing serum of Zhuang medicine Stahlianthus involucratus on LPS-induced RAW264.7 cell inflammation / 中国药房

OBJECTIVE To study the anti-inflammatory effect and mechanism of the ethanol extract and the drug-containing serum of Zhuang medicine Stahlianthus involucratus on lipopolysaccharide （LPS）-induced RAW264.7 cell inflammation. METHODS The drug-containing serum or blank serum was obtained by intragastrical administration of ethanol extract of S. involucratus （75.35 g/kg） or purified water. Using RAW264.7 cells as objects， RAW264.7 cells were divided into normal control group， LPS group （1 μg/mL）， S. involucratus ethanol extract high-dose， medium-dose and low-dose groups （50， 25， 12.5 μg/mL）， 4% or 15% blank serum groups， 4% or 15% blank serum+LPS groups， 4% or 15% drug-containing serum groups， 4% or 15% drug-containing serum+LPS groups. After culturing for 24 h， cell viability， the contents of nitric oxide tumor necrosis factor α （TNF-α）， interleukinand IL-6 as well as mRNA expressions of Toll-like eceptor 4 （TLR4） and nuclear factor κB （NF- κB） and protein expressions of nitric oxide synthase （NOS） and cyclooxygenase 2 （COX-2） were all detected in each group. 0771-4953513。E-mail：zhuhuagx@163.com RESULTS After culturing for 24 h， there was no statisticalsignificance in the difference of cell viability. Compared with normal control group， the contents of NO， TNF-α， IL-1β and IL-6， mRNA expressions of TLR4 and NF-κB， and protein expressions of NOS and COX-2 were increased significantly in LPS group （P＜0.05）. Compared with 4% or 15% blank serum groups， the levels of above indexes were increased significantly in 4% or 15% blank serum+LPS groups （P＜0.05）. Compared with LPS group， the levels of above indexes were decreased significantly in S. involucratus ethanol extract groups （P＜0.05）. Compared with 4% or 15% blank serum+LPS groups， the levels of above indexes were decreased significantly in 4% or 15% drug-containing serum+LPS groups （P＜0.05）. CONCLUSIONS The ethanol extract and the drug-containing serum of S. involucratus can significantly alleviate LPS-induced inflammatory reaction， the mechanism of which may be associated with inhibiting the activity of TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway， down-regulating the protein expressions of COX-2 and NOS， and reducing the release of inflammatory factors.

Mechanism of Buyang Huanwu Decoction glycosides against atherosclerotic inflammation through NF-κB signaling pathway / 中国中药杂志

This study aims to explore the effect of Buyang Huanwu Decoction glycosides on the inflammatory response of apolipoprotein E~(-/-)(ApoE~(-/-)) mice and RAW264.7 cells through nuclear factor kappa-B(NF-κB) signaling pathway. In the in vivo experiment, ApoE~(-/-) mice were fed with high-fat diets for 12 weeks to induce the animal model of atherosclerosis, and 75 μg·mL~(-1) oxidized low-density lipoprotein(Ox-LDL) incubated RAW264.7 cells for 24 h to establish the atherosclerosis cell model. Automatic biochemical analyzer, hematoxylin-eosin(HE) staining, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA), Western blot, and droplet digital polymerase chain reaction(PCR) were used to determine the blood lipid levels, aortic intimal thickness, inflammatory factor content, NF-κB pathway-related proteins, and mRNA expression levels, and evaluate arterial atherosclerotic lesions and anti-atherosclerotic mechanisms of the drug. The model of atherosclerosis was successfully established in ApoE~(-/-) mice after 12 weeks of feeding with high-fat diets. In the model group, the plasma levels of total cholesterol(TC), triglyceride(TG), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol(LDL-C) were increased(P<0.01), the intima of the blood vessels was thickened, the levels of inflammatory factors tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α) and interleukin-6(IL-6) were increased, and the protein and mRNA expressions of NF-κB and inhibitor of NF-κB(IκBα) were significantly increased as compared with the control group. Compared with the model group, the high-dose Buyang Huanwu Decoction glycoside group decreased the plasma levels of TC, TG, and LDL-C, reduced the plaque area and thickness and the content of inflammatory factor TNF-α, and inhibited the protein and mRNA expressions of NF-κB and IκBα, with the effect same as Buyang Huanwu Decoction. In the in vivo experiment, 75 μg·mL~(-1) Ox-LDL stimulated RAW264.7 cells for 24 h to successfully establish a foam cell model. As compared with the control group, the nuclear amount of NF-κB and the protein and mRNA expressions of IκBα in the model group increased. Compared with the model group, the middle-dose and high-dose Buyang Huanwu Decoction glycoside groups decreased the nuclear amount of NF-κB and the protein and mRNA expressions of IκBα. The above results show that the glycosides are the main effective substances of Buyang Huanwu Decoction against atherosclerosis, which inhibit the NF-κB pathway and reduce the inflammatory response, thus playing the role against atherosclerotic inflammation same as Buyang Huanwu Decoction.

Intervention of Osteoking in Rats with Myofascial Pain Syndrome / 中国实验方剂学杂志

ObjectiveTo clarify the intervention effect of Osteoking （OK） in rats with myofascial pain syndrome （MPS） and preliminarily explore the pharmacological mechanism of OK in relieving chronic pain from the perspective of anti-inflammatory disease. MethodThe 60 SD rats were divided into normal group， model group， low， medium， and high dose OK groups （0.66， 1.31， 2.63 mL·kg-1）， and positive celecoxib group （21 mg·kg-1）. The MPS rat model was established by beating combined with the centrifugal exercise method， and the OK and celecoxib were given at the same time. SMALGO paw pressure pain manometer detected the shock pain point tenderness threshold of rats， and the Von-Frey needle and acetone stimulation method detected the mechanical hyperalgesia threshold and cold hyperalgesia stimulation response respectively. Eight weeks and 10 weeks after modeling， the spontaneous discharge state and convulsion response of MPS rats were determined by electromyograph （EMG） instrument. The gait changes of MPS rats were detected using a CatWalk gait analyzer. The expression levels of interleukin-1 β （IL-1β）， tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α）， substance P （SP）， and bradykinin （BK） were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA）. The protein expression levels of nuclear transcription factor-κB （NF-κB） inhibiting protein α （IκBα）， phosphorylates （p）- IκBα， NF-κB p65， and p-NF-κB p65 were detected in MPS rats by Western blot. The positive expression of p-NF-κB p65 was detected by immunofluorescence. ResultCompared with the normal group， the model group shows 100% positive rates for EMG signal and local convulsions response at both the 8th and 10th weeks. The tenderness threshold and mechanical hyperalgesia threshold are significantly reduced. Cold hyperalgesia score is significantly increased， and gait is abnormal. The expression levels of serum and trigger points IL-1β， TNF-α， SP， BK， p-IκBα， and p-NF-κB p65， as well as the positive expression intensity of p-NF-κB p65 are significantly increased （P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， the positive rate of EMG detection and local convulsion response is significantly reduced in the medium and high dose OK groups （P<0.05）. The tenderness threshold and mechanical hyperalgesia threshold increase significantly in the medium and high dose OK groups， and the cold hyperalgesia score is significantly reduced in the high dose OK group （P<0.01）. The standing time， swing time， and walking period are significantly increased. The swing speed， maximum contact area， and maximum contact intensity are significantly decreased in the high dose OK group （P<0.05）. Moreover， the protein expression levels of p-IκBα/IκBα and p-NF-κB p65/NF-κB p65 are significantly reduced in the medium and high dose OK groups （P<0.05，P<0.01）. The positive expression intensity of p-NF-κB p65 is significantly decreased in the high dose OK group （P<0.01）. ConclusionThe mechanism of OK in relieving the pain in trigger points of MPS and improving gait abnormalities is related to the downregulation of the NF-κB p65 inflammatory signaling pathway to reduce the expression of inflammatory factors and pain mediators in blood and trigger point tissue.

Traditional Chinese Medicine Treats Hepatic Fibrosis via NF-κB Signaling Pathway： A Review / 中国实验方剂学杂志

Hepatic fibrosis is a common complication of chronic liver disease， seriously affecting patients' quality of life and leading to severe consequences such as cirrhosis and liver cancer. Modern medicine has made progress in the treatment of hepatic fibrosis， while it still faces certain challenges and limitations. Therefore， seeking new therapeutic strategies is of great clinical significance. The nuclear factor-κB （NF-κB） signaling pathway plays a role in regulating inflammation and immune responses. Recent studies have shown that the NF-κB signaling pathway plays a key role in the occurrence and development of hepatic fibrosis. The abnormal activation of the NF-κB signaling pathway leads to the overexpression of genes related to liver inflammation and fibrosis， thereby promoting the development of hepatic fibrosis. Traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） is a traditional treatment method with unique advantages and potential. In recent years， increasing studies have proved that TCM can treat hepatic fibrosis by regulating the NF-κB signaling pathway. The active ingredients in Chinese herbal medicines can intervene in the activation of the NF-κB signaling pathway to inhibit inflammatory responses， thereby reducing the severity of hepatic fibrosis. This article reviews the mechanisms of TCM in treating hepatic fibrosis via the NF-κB signaling pathway and evaluates the efficacy and discusses the clinical application prospects of relevant Chinese herbs and formulae， aiming to provide references for further research and clinical practice.

Dendrobium Polysaccharides Mitigate CSE-induced Inflammatory Damage of Human Bronchial Epithelial Cells via TLR4/NF-κB Pathway / 中国实验方剂学杂志

ObjectiveTo observe the effects of Dendrobium polysaccharides on the secretion of inflammatory cytokines and Toll-like receptor 4 （TLR4）/nuclear factor （NF）-κB pathway in 16HBE cells exposed to cigarette smoke extract （CSE）. MethodThe 16HBE cells were classified into the control， CSE， and CSE+ Dendrobium polysaccharides （100， 200， 400 mg·L-1） groups. The cell-counting kit-8 （CCK-8） assay was employed to measure the cell viability， and a microscope was used to observe the cell morphology. The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was employed to measure the levels of interleukin （IL）-8， IL-1β， IL-4， IL-13， and transforming growth factor （TGF）-β in cell culture supernatants. Real-time PCR was carried out to determine the mRNA levels of Toll-like receptor 4 （TLR4）， nuclear factor-κB （NF-κB）， and IL-4. Western blot was employed to determine the protein levels of interleukin-4 receptor （IL-4R）， TLR4， myeloid differentiation primary response protein 88 （MyD88）， NF-κB， phosphorylated nuclear factor-κB （p-NF-κB）， and nucleoproteins nuclear factor-κB （NEs-NF-κB）. The immunofluorescence assay was employed to measure the nuclear translocation of NF-κB. ResultCompared with the control group， the CSE group showed elevated levels of IL-8， IL-1β， IL-4， IL-13， and TGF-β in the cell culture supernatants （P<0.05， P<0.01）， up-regulated expression levels of TLR4， MyD88， NF-κB， p-NF-κB， NEs-NF-κB， and IL-4 （P<0.01）， and significant nuclear translocation of NF-κB. Compared with the CSE group， Dendrobium polysaccharides increased the cell survival rate， recovered the cell activity， lowered the levels of IL-8， IL-1β， IL-4， IL-13， and TGF-β， down-regulated the expression of TLR4， MyD88， NF-κB， p-NF-κB， NEs-NF-κB， and IL-4 （P<0.05， P<0.01）， and reduced the nuclear translocation of NF-κB. ConclusionDendrobium polysaccharides showed significant protective effects on the 16HBE cells exposed to CSE by inhibiting the TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway.