Plant-derived nanovesicles: Further exploration of biomedical function and application potential

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are phospholipid bilayer vesicles actively secreted by cells, that contain a variety of functional nucleic acids, proteins, and lipids, and are important mediums of intercellular communication. Based on their natural properties, EVs can not only retain the pharmacological effects of their source cells but also serve as natural delivery carriers. Among them, plant-derived nanovesicles (PNVs) are characterized as natural disease therapeutics with many advantages such as simplicity, safety, eco-friendliness, low cost, and low toxicity due to their abundant resources, large yield, and low risk of immunogenicity in vivo. This review systematically introduces the biogenesis, isolation methods, physical characterization, and components of PNVs, and describes their administration and cellular uptake as therapeutic agents. We highlight the therapeutic potential of PNVs as therapeutic agents and drug delivery carriers, including anti-inflammatory, anticancer, wound healing, regeneration, and antiaging properties as well as their potential use in the treatment of liver disease and COVID-19. Finally, the toxicity and immunogenicity, the current clinical application, and the possible challenges in the future development of PNVs were analyzed. We expect the functions of PNVs to be further explored to promote clinical translation, thereby facilitating the development of a new framework for the treatment of human diseases.

Study on quality standard of compound Yuhong suppository / 药学实践杂志

Objective To establish the quality standard of compound Yuhong suppository. Methods Angelica dahurica, colophony and Sophora flavescens Alt. were identified by thin layer chromatography（TLC）method. The contents of sulfadiazine and dyclonine hydrochloride were determined by HPLC with diode array detection method. The mobile phase was methanol-0.02 mol/L potassium dihydrogen phosphate (adjusted to pH 3.3 with phosphoric acid) for gradient elution. The detection wavelength was 280 nm for sulfadiazine and dyclonine hydrochloride. Results The three Chinese traditional medicines were identified by TLC with clear spots. The linear ranges of sulfadiazine and dyclonine hydrochloride were good in 12.40-99.20 μg/ml (r=0.999 9) and 2.56-20.48 μg/ml (r=0.999 9). The average recovery was (99.21±0.43) % (n=9) and (99.54±0.68) % (n=9). Conclusion This method is accurate, sensitive, and reproducible. It can be used as a standard method for the quality control of compound Yuhong suppository.

Preparation and in vitro evaluation of berberine hydrochloride nanoemulsion oral drug delivery systems / 药学实践杂志

Objective To prepare berberine hydrochloride nanoemulsion, optimize its formulation composition and preparation process, and investigate its in vitro characteristics. Methods BBR-NE was prepared by water drop addition and pseudo-ternary phase diagram was drawn. The formulation of NE was optimized by central composite design-response surface methodology to choose the optimal formulation composition. The particle size, potential and appearance of the prepared BBR-NE were characterized. Results The optimal prescription of BBR-NE was determined as the oil phase Capryol 90 accounted for 32.84% of the system, the surfactant Tween-80 accounted for 33.90%, the co-surfactant 1,2-propylene glycol accounted for 16.95%, and water relative system accounted for 15.25%. The prepared NE was clear and transparent in appearance, regular in shape and uniform in size, with an average particle diameter of (68.85±8) nm, polydiseperse index of (0.245±0.03) and drug loading of 0.83 mg/g. The in vitro drug release results of NE showed that the in vitro drug release behavior was passive diffusion, which had a certain slow releasing effect and met the first-order release equation. Conclusion The BBR-NE can provide a new dosage form for the clinical use of berberine.

Research progress on AMPK/mTOR signaling pathway involved in immunometabolic regulation in sepsis / 中国小儿急救医学

The occurrence, development and prognosis of sepsis are closely related to immune regulation.Immunometabolism has been the research hotspot of immune intervention in sepsis in recent years.AMP-activated protein kinase(AMPK)and mammalian target of rapamycin(mTOR)are star molecules involved in metabolic regulation.As an important way of immunometabolic regulation in sepsis, AMPK-mTOR is involved in the process of chemotaxis of neutrophils, the polarization of macrophages, the development and differentiation of natural killer cells and dendritic cells, and the development and functional regulation of T cells.This article reviewed the research progress of AMPK-mTOR signaling pathway on regulating metabolic reprogramming in immune cells, which contributes to immunoregulation in sepsis.

Preparation and in-vitro drug release of Baizhu Huanglian pellets containing colon-targeting capsules / 药学实践杂志

Objective Colon-targeting capsules based on gastric pellets and enteric pellets were prepared from Baizhu Huanglian prescription. The formulation composition and preparation process were optimized and the in-vitro release characteristics were investigated. Methods Optimum formulation composition and process parameters of Baizhu Huanglian pellets were screened out by single factor experiment and orthogonal design. The pellets core were prepared by extrusion-spheronization technique and coated in the fluid bed using bottom spray coating technique. To investigate the effect of coating level of the isolation layer, the proportion of polymer, the amount of plasticizer and weight gain of enteric coating on the release behavior of the enteric pellets. The pellets release behavior was fitted by model as well. Results The prescription of gastric pellets was drug loading 50%, PVPP 5%, MCC to lactose 1∶2 and wetting agent 40%. The process parameters were extrusion frequency 20 Hz, rounding speed 500 r/min and rounding time 5 min. The prescription of enteric pellets was drug loading 27%, PVPP 5%, MCC to lactose 5∶2, wetting agent 30% and adhesive 20%. The process parameters were extrusion frequency 20 Hz, rounding speed 700 r/min and rounding time 7 min. For enteric coating layer, the coating mixture of EUDRAGIT®L30D-55 to EUDRAGIT® FS30D was 1∶2. The amount of plasticizer was 10%. The increased weight of coating layer was 15%. The release time of enteric pellets in-vitro was up to 24 hours. The release behavior of the pellets conforms to the Higuchi model. Conclusion The colon targeting capsule of Baizhu Huanglian pellets were successfully prepared and showed the characteristics of sustained release and colon targeting.

6-Formylindolo3,2-bcarbazole alleviates lipopolysaccharide-induced acute lung injury via suppressing endoplasmic reticulum stress / 中华危重病急救医学

Objective:To investigate the effect and mechanism of 6-formylindolo[3,2-b]carbazole (FICZ) on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced acute lung injury (ALI) in mice.Methods:Male C57BL/6J mice aged 8-12 weeks were divided into 4 groups with 8 mice in each group, according to the method of simple random sampling. Sepsis-induced ALI mice model was established by intraperitoneal injection of LPS 5 mg/kg (LPS group), and phosphate buffer saline (PBS) control group (PBS group) was injected with equal volume of PBS. The LPS+FICZ group was intervened by intraperitoneal injection of 1 μg FICZ 1 hour after LPS stimuli, while the FICZ control group (FICZ group) was given the same amount of FICZ 1 hour after intraperitoneal injection of PBS. Serum and lung tissue were collected 24 hours after LPS stimuli, and the pathological changes of lung tissue were analyzed by hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining and wet/dry weight (W/D) ratio of lung tissue. The concentrations of inflammatory factors in serum and lung tissue were detected by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The expression levels of endoplasmic reticulum stress signaling pathway related molecules were detected by real-time fluorescent quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) and Western blotting.Results:Compared with PBS group, inflammatory cell infiltration, alveolar collapse and obvious alveolar exudative lesions had increased, lung tissue W/D ratio was significantly increased, serum interleukin-6 (IL-6) level, lung tissue IL-6 mRNA expression, and the mRNA expressions of glucose-regulated protein 78 (GRP78), protein kinase R-like endoplasmic reticulum kinase (PERK), CCAAT/EBP homologous protein (CHOP), and the protein expressions of GRP78, PERK, activating transcription factor 6 (ATF6), CHOP in lung tissue were significantly increased in LPS group. However, the indexes of FICZ group were not affected. Compared with LPS group, LPS+FICZ group had less inflammatory cell infiltration, relatively intact alveolar structure. Lung W/D weight ratio in LPS+FICZ group was significantly decreased (5.38±0.10 vs. 6.60±0.30, P < 0.01), so as serum IL-6 (ng/L: 15.55±3.77 vs. 32.22±3.84) and lung IL-6 mRNA expression (2 -ΔΔCt: 0.79±0.21 vs. 6.89±0.92, both P < 0.01). The mRNA expressions of GRP78, PERK and CHOP were also significantly decreased [GRP78 mRNA (2 -ΔΔCt): 1.90±0.16 vs. 7.55±1.29, PERK mRNA (2 -ΔΔCt): 1.68±0.20 vs. 4.54±0.89, CHOP mRNA (2 -ΔΔCt): 1.13±0.24 vs. 4.44±1.13, all P < 0.05], and the protein expressions of GRP78, PERK, ATF6 and CHOP were significantly decreased (GRP78/GAPDH: 0.59±0.02 vs. 0.77±0.01, PERK/GAPDH: 0.48±0.03 vs. 1.04±0.05, ATF6/GAPDH: 0.51±0.03 vs. 0.65±0.01, CHOP/GAPDH: 0.91±0.05 vs. 1.11±0.07, all P < 0.05). Conclusion:FICZ protects LPS-induced ALI possibly via suppressing endoplasmic reticulum stress and reducing IL-6 expression in blood and lung tissue.

Extraction process optimization for Yuchang granules by orthogonal experiment / 药学实践杂志

Objective To investigate the extraction process of Yuchang granules .Methods The extraction process was optimized by orthogonal experiment based on the content of berberine ,atractylodes lactone Ⅰ and the extraction yield .Results Through the visual analysis of orthogonal experiment ,the analysis of variance and the verification experiments ,the optimum extraction process was obtained as follows :extracting 1 h for twice with 10 times water of medicinal herbs and the 70％ ethanol depositing concentration .Conclusion This process is consistent and feasible .It is a simple and convenient method to extract Yuchang granules .