Based on plasma metabonomics and network analysis to research the mechanisms of Chaigui granules for treating depression / 药学学报

The purpose of this study was to systematically analyze the antidepressant mechanism of Chaigui granules from the perspective of biological metabolic network by using integrated metabolomics and biological network analysis tools. The model of chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) depression rat was established, and LC-MS-based plasma metabolomics was used to identify the key metabolites and analyze metabolic pathways underlying the antidepressant effects of Chaigui Granules. The key metabolites regulated by Chaigui granules was integrated with biological network analysis tools to further focus on the key metabolic pathways and explore the potential targets of the antidepressant effect of Chaigui granules. The results showed that there were significant differences in the plasma levels of 20 metabolites in the model group compared with the control group (P < 0.05), Chaigui granules significantly regulated 12 metabolites including docosatrienoic acid, 3-hydroxybutyric acid, 4-hydroxybenzaldehyde, chenodeoxycholic acid, cholic acid, L-glutamine, glycocholic acid, linoleyl carnitine, L-tyrosine, N-acetylvaline, palmitoylcarnitine, arachidonic acid. Further network analysis of the key metabolites regulated by Chaigui granules indicated that plasma arachidonic acid metabolism might be the core pathway for the antidepressant effect of Chaigui granules, with 10 proteins were potential targets for the antidepressant effect of Chaigui granules, including CYP2B6, CYP2E1, CYP2C9, CYP2C8, PLA2G6, PTGS2, ALOX15B, PTGS1, ALOX12 and ALOX5. The animal experimental operations involved in this paper was followed the regulations of the Animal Ethics Committee of Shanxi University and passed the animal experimental ethical review (Approval No. SXULL2020028).

Involvement of mitochondrial apoptotic pathway and MAPKs/NF-κ B inflammatory pathway in the neuroprotective effect of atractylenolide III in corticosterone-induced PC12 cells / 中国天然药物

Atractylenolide III (ATL-III), a sesquiterpene compound isolated from Rhizoma Atractylodis Macrocephalae, has revealed a number of pharmacological properties including anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer activity, and neuroprotective effect. This study aimed to evaluate the cytoprotective efficiency and potential mechanisms of ATL-III on corticosterone injured rat phaeochromocytoma (PC12) cells. Our results demonstrate that ATL-III increases cell viability and reduces the release of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH). The results suggest that ATL-III protects PC12 cells from corticosterone-induced injury by inhibiting the intracellular Ca overloading, inhibiting the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway and modulating the MAPK/NF-ΚB inflammatory pathways. These findings provide a novel insight into the molecular mechanism by which ATL-III protected the PC12 cells against corticosterone-induced injury for the first time. Our results provide the evidence that ATL-III may serve as a therapeutic agent in the treatment of depression.

Urinary metabolomics study of the effects of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi ethanol extract on D-galactose-induced rats / 药学学报

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the anti-aging effects and reveal the underlying mechanism of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi ethanol extract (SBG) in D-galactose-induced rats. Fifty rats were randomly divided into five groups: vehicle control group, D-galactose group, and D-galactose combined with 50, 100, 200 mg·kg-1 SBG. A rat aging model was induced by injecting subcutaneously D-galactose (100 mg·kg-1) for ten weeks. At the tenth week, the locomotor activity (in open-field test) and the learning and memory abilities (in Morris water maze test) were examined respectively. The urine was collected using metabolic cages and analyzed by high-resolution 1H NMR spectroscopy combined with multivariate statistical analyses. The SBG at doses of 50, 100 and 200 mg·kg-1 treatments groups could significantly ameliorate aging process in rats' cognitive performance. The 50, 100, 200 mg·kg-1 SBG regulated citrate, pyruvate, lactate, trimethylamine (TMA), pantothenate, β-hydroxybutyrate in urine favorably toward the control group. These biochemical changes are related to the disturbance in energy metabolism, glycometabolism and microbiome metabolism, which is helpful to further understanding the D-galactose induced aging rats and the therapeutic mechanism of SBG.

Research progress in antidepressive active ingredients and pharmacological effects of Angelicae Sinensis Radix / 中草药

Through literature analysis, this paper summarizes the application of Angelicae Sinensis Radix in depression. The organic acids, phthalides, and polyacetylenes of Angeliae Sinensis Radix have the effect of antidepression, neuroprotective and monoamine reuptake inhibition. This paper reviewed that Angelicae Sinensis Radix improved the possible mechanisms of depression including injury of nerve, oxidative stress, and neurotransmitter system disorders, which will provide scientific basis for clinical treatment of depression.

Urinary metabolomics study of the effects of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi ethanol extract on D-galactose-induced rats / 药学学报

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the anti-aging effects and reveal the underlying mechanism of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi ethanol extract (SBG) in D-galactose-induced rats. Fifty rats were randomly divided into five groups: vehicle control group, D-galactose group, and D-galactose combined with 50, 100, 200 mg x kg(-1) SBG. A rat aging model was induced by injecting subcutaneously D-galactose (100 mg x kg(-1)) for ten weeks. At the tenth week, the locomotor activity (in open-field test) and the learning and memory abilities (in Morris water maze test) were examined respectively. The urine was collected using metabolic cages and analyzed by high-resolution 1H NMR spectroscopy combined with multivariate statistical analyses. The SBG at doses of 50, 100 and 200 mg x kg(-1) treatments groups could significantly ameliorate aging process in rats' cognitive performance. The 50, 100, 200 mg x kg(-1) SBG regulated citrate, pyruvate, lactate, trimethylamine (TMA), pantothenate, β-hydroxybutyrate in urine favorably toward the control group. These biochemical changes are related to the disturbance in energy metabolism, glycometabolism and microbiome metabolism, which is helpful to further understanding the D-galactose induced aging rats and the therapeutic mechanism of SBG.

Antidepression constituents from Angelica Sinensis Radix in Xiaoyao Powder / 中草药

Objective: This current study focused on the identification of active constituents from Angelica Sinensis Radix in Xiaoyao Powder based on UPLC-PDA-guided isolation technique. Methods: The UPLC-PDA chromatogram of Xiaoyao Powder was compared with that of Angelica Sinensis Radix. The relative retention time of each peak and the Uhraviolet spectra provided by PDA were used in the analyses. The constituents were isolated from Angelica Sinensis Radix under the guidance of UPLC-PDA investigation. The structures of the isolates were elucidated by NMR techniques. The antidepression effect was evaluated on glutamate-induced neurons. Results: Five marker peaks of Xiaoyao Powder fingerprint belonged to Angelica Sinensis Radix and they were determined as coniferyl ferulate (1), E-butylidenephthalide (2), ligustilide (3), Z-butylidenephthalide (4), and 14-acetoxy-12-senecioyloxytetradeca-2E,8E,10E-trien-4,6-diyn-1-ol (5). Compound 5 was isolated from the plants in Umbelliferae for the first time. The treatment with compounds 1, 3, and 4 could protect PC12 and SH-SY5Y cells from glutamate-induced cytotoxicity. Antidepression bioactivity of compound 1 was first investigated. Conclusion: UPLC-PDA-guided isolation technique is confirmed to be a rapid and accurate method to identify the main active constituents from Angelica Sinensis Radix in Xiaoyao Powder.