Chemical composition combined with network pharmacology and quality markers analysis for the quality evaluation of Qing-fei-da-yuan granules.

Qing-fei-da-yuan granules (QFDYGs) had been proved to be an effective TCM prescription for treating coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), which are composed of a variety of TCMs, and characterized by multiple components, multiple targets and overall regulation. It is meaningful to further study the chemical composition and pharmacology of QFDYGs for quality evaluation. However, due to the complexity of the components of QFDYGs, there are no reliable and simple analytical methods for current quality evaluation. In this work, antipyretic activity assessment of QFDYGs in the LPS-induced New Zealand rabbit model was carried out to verify the efficacy firstly. It was proved that QFDYGs can be used to relieve fever to help preventing or controlling the prevalence of influenza and pneumonia. Subsequently, UHPLC-ESI-QTOF-MS/MS combined with network pharmacology, quality markers and fingerprint analysis were used to establish the quality control condition. The chemical compositions were analyzed by UHPLC-ESI-QTOF-MS/MS, and 79 of them were identified, such as arecoline, mangiferin, paeoniflorin, etc. Then, the network pharmacology strategy based on 45 candidate components (CCs) in conjunction with influenza and pneumonia diseases was employed to screen the potential active ingredients. According to the drug-CCs-genes-diseases (D-CCs-G-D) networks, baicalein, honokiol, baicalin, paeoniflorin, saikosaponin A, glycyrrhizic acid and hesperidin were selected as quality markers. And a method for content determination of the 7 quality markers was established by optimizing extraction methods, chromatographic conditions and methodological verification. Finally, the quality of 15 batches of QFDYGs was evaluated by using the 7 quality markers combined with fingerprints and principal component analysis (PCA). The analyzed results showed that baicalin, paeoniflorin, glycyrrhizic acid and hesperidin were the high content and stable quality markers. QFDYGs were characterized by overall consistency and individual ingredient differences among the 15 batches. Our quality evaluation study will provide reference for the further development and research of QFDYGs.

MiR-122-5p regulates the mevalonate pathway by targeting p53 in non-small cell lung cancer.

The 5-year survival rate of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients is very low. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are involved in the occurrence of NSCLC. miR-122-5p interacts with wild-type p53 (wtp53), and wtp53 affects tumor growth by inhibiting the mevalonate (MVA) pathway. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the role of these factors in NSCLC. The role of miR-122-5p and p53 was established in samples from NSCLC patients, and human NSCLC cells A549 using the miR-122-5p inhibitor, miR-122-5p mimic, and si-p53. Our results showed that inhibiting miR-122-5p expression led to the activation of p53. This inhibited the progression of the MVA pathway in the NSCLC cells A549, hindered cell proliferation and migration, and promoted apoptosis. miR-122-5p was negatively correlated with p53 expression in p53 wild-type NSCLC patients. The expression of key genes in the MVA pathway in tumors of p53 wild-type NSCLC patients was not always higher than the corresponding normal tissues. The malignancy of NSCLC was positively correlated with the high expression of the key genes in the MVA pathway. Therefore, miR-122-5p regulated NSCLC by targeting p53, providing potential molecular targets for developing targeted drugs.

A closed-loop recycling process for carbon fiber-reinforced polymer waste using thermally activated oxide semiconductors: Carbon fiber recycling, characterization and life cycle assessment.

The objective of this study is to investigate the properties of recycled carbon fiber (rCF) and its environmental impact, with a specific focus on the energy consumption of the recycling process based on the use of thermally activated oxide semiconductors (TASC). The mechanical and surface properties of rCF obtained under the optimal process parameters were characterized. The life cycle assessment method was used to evaluate the environmental impact of a closed-loop recycling process for carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) waste using TASC. The results indicated that the decomposition rate of resin was 95.5 %, and no carbonaceous solid was generated. The gaseous produced of the recycling process were mainly CO2 and H2O, and no liquid products were produced. The surface oxidation degree of rCF was relatively slight. COOH was generated on the surface of rCF, which was conducive to improving the interfacial adhesion viscosity with resin. The monofilament tensile strength of rCF was maintained above 97 %. Compared with landfill and incineration, CFRP waste recycling using TASC can make global warming potential, acidification potential and eutrophication potential reduced by 28 %, 32 %, and 25 %, respectively. Ozone layer depletion potential, human toxicity potential and terrestrial ecotoxicity potential in disposing CFRP waste using TASC were 30 %, 21 % and 41 % of that using pyrolysis, respectively. The energy consumption in carbon fiber recycling by TASC was only 23 % of that in virgin carbon fiber manufacturing. TASC is found to be a promising potential strategy for managing CFRP waste.

[Active ingredients and in vitro anti-inflammatory effects of Polygoni Cuspidati Rhizoma et Radix decoction pieces by integrated processing and traditional processing: a comparative analysis].

The present study explored the differences in active ingredients and in vitro anti-inflammatory effects of the decoction pieces by integrated processing(IPDP) and traditional processing(TPDP) of Polygoni Cuspidati Rhizoma et Radix(PCRER).The content of polydatin, resveratrol, emodin-8-O-ß-D-glucoside, emodin, and physcion in IPDP and TPDP was determined by high-performance liquid chromatography(HPLC).The inflammation model was induced by lipopolysaccharide(LPS) in RAW264.7 cells.The mRNA levels of inflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α), interleukin-6(IL-6), and interleukin-1ß(IL-1ß) in 60% ethanol extracts of IPDP and TPDP of different concentrations(5 and 10 µg·mL~(-1)) were determined by PCR.The results showed that the content of polydatin and emodin-8-O-ß-D-glucoside in IPDP was significantly higher than that in TPDP, while the content of resveratrol, emodin, and physcion was higher in TPDP.The anti-inflammatory results showed that ethanol extracts of IPDP of different concentrations(5 and 10 µg·mL~(-1)) significantly inhibited the increase in the mRNA levels of IL-1ß and TNF-α induced by LPS, whereas TPDP only had a significant inhibitory effect on IL-1ß.This study preliminarily showed that the total content of five active ingredients in IPDP was higher than that in TPDP, and IPDP was superior to TPDP in anti-inflammatory activity in vitro, which provided an experimental basis for the production and application of IPDP.

Coptis chinensis and dried ginger herb combination inhibits gastric tumor growth by interfering with glucose metabolism via LDHA and SLC2A1.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Coptis chinensis Franch (CC) and Zingiber officinale Roscoe (dried ginger; DG) are traditional Chinese medicines. CC can dry dampness, relieve fire and detoxify, and is used to treat gastritis, gastric ulcer, colitis. DG can warm spleen and stomach for dispelling cold, used for the treatment of spleen and stomach deficiency. Both CC and DG are widely used to treat gastrointestinal diseases. CC-DG herb medicine combination originates from Huanglian decoction and Pinellia xiexin decoction in "Shanghan Lun" to comfort the stomach and intestines. CC and DG are used for the treatment of nausea and choking diaphragm which highly associated with gastric cancer clinically in ancient time. AIM OF THE STUDY: This study aimed to investigate the effects and underlying molecular mechanisms of CC-DG combination on gastric cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The CC-DG extract was subjected to HPLC analysis. Viability (MTT) and cytotoxicity (CCK8) assays were performed using the SGC7901 and MFC cells. Cell cycle and apoptosis were measured by flow cytometry. The mRNA expression levels were measured by RT-PCR. In vivo anti-tumor activity of CC-DG was assessed in a tumor xenograft model. RESULTS: Twelve different proportions of CC-DG were tested for inhibitory effects on gastric cancer cells; CC-DG ratio 1:1 was found most effective. CC-DG administration significantly reduced the cell proliferation, migration, and colony formation, while increased cell apoptosis compared with the control group. CC-DG regulated differentially expressed genes in SGC7901 cells were subjected to pathway enrichment analysis. CC-DG significantly inhibited the cell glucose metabolism, downregulated the expression of LDHA and SLC2A1 genes, and changed the expression of other related genes including ME2, LDHD, LDHB, HIF1A, PKM, Pcx, and Got1. In addition, CC-DG suppressed tumorigenesis and inhibited MKI67 expression in the tumor xenograft model. CONCLUSIONS: CC-DG inhibited the proliferation, migration, invasion of SGC7901/MFC gastric cells, and in turn, suppressed tumorigenesis by regulating glucose metabolism through regulation of LDHA and SLC2A1 genes.

[Chemical constituents of ethyl acetate extract from Polygonum perfoliatum].

OBJECTIVE: To study the chemical constituents of Polygonum perfoliatum. METHODS: The chemical constituents of Polygonum perfoliatum were isolated and purified by chromatography on silica gel, Sephadex LH-20 and Semi-preparative HPLC. The structures of compounds were elucidated and identified by physicochemical properties, H-NMR, 13C-NMR and ESI-MS. RESULTS: Ten compounds were isolated and identified as 5-hydroxymethyl-2-furaldEhyde (1), methyl caffeoate (2), protocatechuic aldehyde (3), quercetin (4), pinocernbrin (5), catechin (6), taxifolin (7), taxifolin-3-O-beta-D-xylopyranoside (8), 13-epitorulosal (9), coumarin-7-O-beta-D-glucose glycosidic (10). CONCLUSION: [corrected] Compounds 6-9 are isolated from this plant for the first time.