Colon-targeted oral nanoliposomes loaded with psoralen alleviate DSS-induced ulcerative colitis.

Oral administration, while convenient, but complex often faces challenges due to the complexity of the digestive environment. In this study, we developed a nanoliposome (NLP) encapsulating psoralen (P) and coated it with chitosan (CH) and pectin (PT) to formulate PT/CH-P-NLPs. PT/CH-P-NLPs exhibit good biocompatibility, superior to liposomes loaded with psoralen and free psoralen alone. After oral administration, PT/CH-P-NLPs remain stable in the stomach and small intestine, followed by a burst release of psoralen after reaching the slightly alkaline and gut microbiota-rich colon segment. In the DSS-induced ulcerative colitis of mice, PT/CH-P-NLPs showed significant effects on reducing inflammation, mitigating oxidative stress, protecting the integrity of the colon mucosal barrier, and modulating the gut microbiota. In conclusion, the designed nanoliposomes demonstrated the effective application of psoralen in treating ulcerative colitis.

Chemical Constituents and Biological Activities of Bruguiera Genus and Its Endophytes: A Review.

The genus Bruguiera, a member of the Rhizophoraceae family, is predominantly found in coastal areas as a mangrove plant, boasting a rich and diverse community of endophytes. This review systematically compiled approximately 496 compounds derived from both the Bruguiera genus and its associated endophytes, including 152 terpenoids, 17 steroids, 16 sulfides, 44 alkaloids and peptides, 66 quinones, 68 polyketides, 19 flavonoids, 38 phenylpropanoids, 54 aromatic compounds, and 22 other compounds. Among these, 201 compounds exhibited a spectrum of activities, including cytotoxicity, antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, antidiabetic, insecticidal and mosquito repellent, and enzyme inhibitory properties, etc. These findings provided promising lead compounds for drug discovery. Certain similar or identical compounds were found to be simultaneously present in both Bruguiera plants and their endophytes, and the phenomenon of their interaction relationship was discussed.

pH- and Matrix Metalloproteinase-Responsive Multifunctional Bilayer Microneedles Platform for Treatment of Tinea Pedis.

Persistent foot odor and itchiness are common symptoms of tinea pedis, significantly disrupting the daily life of those affected. The cuticular barrier at the site of the tinea pedis is thickened, which impedes the effective penetration of antifungal agents. Additionally, fungi can migrate from the skin surface to deeper tissues, posing challenges in the current clinical treatment for tinea pedis. To effectively treat tinea pedis, we developed a platform of bilayer gelatin methacrylate (GelMA) microneedles (MNs) loaded with salicylic acid (SA) and FK13-a1 (SA/FK13-a1@GelMA MNs). SA/FK13-a1@GelMA MNs exhibit pH- and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-responsive properties for efficient drug delivery. The MNs are designed to deliver salicylic acid (SA) deep into the stratum corneum, softening the cuticle and creating microchannels. This process enables the antibacterial peptide FK13-a1 to penetrate through the stratum corneum barrier, facilitating intradermal diffusion and exerting antifungal and anti-inflammatory effects. In severe cases of tinea pedis, heightened local pH levels and MMP activity further accelerate drug release. Our research demonstrates that SA/FK13-a1@GelMA MNs are highly effective against Trichophyton mentagrophytes, Trichophyton rubrum, and Candida albicans. They also reduced stratum corneum thickness, fungal burden, and inflammation in a guinea pig model of tinea pedis induced by T. mentagrophytes. Furthermore, it was discovered that SA/FK13-a1@GelMA MNs exhibit excellent biocompatibility. These findings suggest that SA/FK13-a1@GelMA MNs have significant potential for the clinical treatment of tinea pedis as well as other fungal skin disorders.

Daytime aspartame intake results in larger influences on body weight, serum corticosterone level, serum/cerebral cytokines levels and depressive-like behaviors in mice than nighttime intake.

Aspartame (APM) is one of the most widely used artificial sweeteners worldwide. Studies have revealed that consuming APM may negatively affect the body, causing oxidative stress damage to multiple organs and leading to various neurophysiological symptoms. However, it's still unclear if consuming APM and one's daily biological rhythm have an interactive effect on health. In this study, healthy adult C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into four groups: Control group (CON), oral gavage sham group (OGS), daytime APM intragastric group (DAI) and nighttime APM intragastric group (NAI). DAI and NAI groups were given 80 mg/kg body weight daily for 4 weeks. We found that DAI and NAI groups had significantly increased mean body weight, higher serum corticosterone levels, up-regulated pro-inflammatory responses in serum and brain, and exacerbated depressive-like behaviors than the CON and the two APM intake groups. Moreover, all these changes induced by APM intake were more significant in the DAI group than in the NAI group. The present study, for the first time, revealed that the intake of APM and daily biological rhythm have an interactive effect on health. This suggests that more attention should be paid to the timing of APM intake in human beings, and this study also provides an intriguing clue to the circadian rhythms of experimental animals that researchers should consider more when conducting animal experiments.

Blockage of mechanosensitive Piezo1 channel alleviates the severity of experimental malaria-associated acute lung injury.

BACKGROUND: Malaria-associated acute lung injury (MA-ALI) is a well-recognized clinical complication of severe, complicated malaria that is partly driven by sequestrations of infected red blood cells (iRBCs) on lung postcapillary induced impaired blood flow. In earlier studies the mechanosensitive Piezo1 channel emerged as a regulator of mechanical stimuli, but the function and underlying mechanism of Piezo1 impacting MA-ALI severity via sensing the impaired pulmonary blood flow are still not fully elucidated. Thus, the present study aimed to explore the role of Piezo1 in the severity of murine MA-ALI. METHODS: Here, we utilized a widely accepted murine model of MA-ALI using C57BL/6 mice with Plasmodium berghei ANKA infection and then added a Piezo1 inhibitor (GsMTx4) to the model. The iRBC-stimulated Raw264.7 macrophages in vitro were also targeted with GsMTx4 to further explore the potential mechanism. RESULTS: Our data showed an elevation in the expression of Piezo1 and number of Piezo1+-CD68+ macrophages in lung tissues of the experimental MA-ALI mice. Compared to the infected control mice, the blockage of Piezo1 with GsMTx4 dramatically improved the survival rate but decreased body weight loss, peripheral blood parasitemia/lung parasite burden, experimental cerebral malaria incidence, total protein concentrations in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, lung wet/dry weight ratio, vascular leakage, pathological damage, apoptosis and number of CD68+ and CD86+ macrophages in lung tissues. This was accompanied by a dramatic increase in the number of CD206+ macrophages (M2-like subtype), upregulation of anti-inflammatory cytokines (e.g. IL-4 and IL-10) and downregulation of pro-inflammatory cytokines (e.g. TNF-α and IL-1ß). In addition, GsMTx4 treatment remarkably decreased pulmonary intracellular iron accumulation, protein level of 4-HNE (an activator of ferroptosis) and the number of CD68+-Piezo1+ and CD68+-4-HNE+ macrophages but significantly increased protein levels of GPX4 (an inhibitor of ferroptosis) in experimental MA-ALI mice. Similarly, in vitro study showed that the administration of GsMTx4 led to a remarkable elevation in the mRNA levels of CD206, IL-4, IL-10 and GPX-4 but to a substantial decline in CD86, TNF-α, IL-1ß and 4-HNE in the iRBC-stimulated Raw264.7 cells. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings indicated that blockage of Piezo1 with GsMTx4 alleviated the severity of experimental MA-ALI in mice partly by triggering pulmonary macrophage M2 polarization and subsequent anti-inflammatory responses but inhibited apoptosis and ferroptosis in lung tissue. Our data suggested that targeting Piezo1 in macrophages could be a promising therapeutic strategy for treating MA-ALI.

The Terminalia chebula Retz extract treats hyperuricemic nephropathy by inhibiting TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB axis.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Hyperuricemic nephropathy (HN) is a renal injury caused by hyperuricemia and is the main cause of chronic kidney disease and end-stage renal disease. ShiWeiHeZiSan, which is composed mainly of components of Terminalia chebula Retz. And is recorded in the Four Medical Tantras, is a typical traditional Tibetan medicinal formula for renal diseases. Although T. chebula has been reported to improve renal dysfunction and reduce renal cell apoptosis, the specific mechanism of the nephroprotective effects of T. chebula on HN is still unclear. AIM OF THE STUDY: This study was conducted to evaluate the effects and specific mechanism of T. chebula extract on HN through network pharmacology and in vivo and in vitro experiments. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Potassium oxalate (1.5 g/kg) and adenine (50 mg/kg) were combined for oral administration to establish the HN rat model, and the effects of T. chebula extract on rats in the HN model were evaluated by renal function indices and histopathological examinations. UPLC-Q-Exactive Orbitrap/MS analysis was also conducted to investigate the chemical components of T. chebula extract, and the potential therapeutic targets of T. chebula in HN were predicted by network pharmacology analysis. Moreover, the activation of potential pathways and the expression of related mRNAs and proteins were further observed in HN model rats and uric acid-treated HK-2 cells. RESULTS: T. chebula treatment significantly decreased the serum uric acid (SUA), blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and serum creatinine (SCr) levels in HN rats and ameliorated renal pathological injury and fibrosis. A total of 25 chemical components in T. chebula extract were identified by UPLC-Q-Exactive Orbitrap/MS analysis, and network pharmacology analysis indicated that the NF-κB pathway was the potential pathway associated with the therapeutic effects of T. chebula extract on HN. RT‒PCR analysis, immunofluorescence staining and ELISA demonstrated that the mRNA and protein levels of TLR4 and MyD88 were significantly decreased in the renal tissue of HN rats after treatment with T. chebula extract at different concentrations, while the phosphorylation of P65 and the secretion of TNF-α and IL-6 were significantly inhibited. The results of in vitro experiments showed that T. chebula extract significantly decreased the protein levels of TLR4, MyD88, p-IκBα and p-P65 in uric acid-treated HK-2 cells and inhibited the nuclear translocation of p65 in these cells. In addition, the expression of inflammatory factors (IL-1ß, IL-6 and TNF-α) and fibrotic genes (α-SMA and fibronectin) was significantly downregulated by T. chebula extract treatment, while E-cadherin expression was significantly upregulated. CONCLUSION: T. chebula extract exerts nephroprotective effects on HN, such as anti-inflammatory effects and fibrosis improvement, by regulating the TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB axis, which supports the general use of T. chebula in the management of HN and other chronic kidney diseases.

Composition and diversity of the gut microbiota across different life stages of American cockroach (Periplaneta americana).

Periplaneta americana, one of the most widely distributed insects all over the world, can survive and reproduce in harsh environment which may be closely related to the critical roles of intestinal microorganisms in its multiple physiological functions. However, the composition and structure of gut microbiota throughout different life stages and its effects on the strong resilient and environmental adaptability of P. americana remain unclear. In this study, the gut microbiota across life stages including ootheca (embryos), nymph and adult of P. americana were investigated by 16S rRNA high-throughput sequencing. Multivariate statistical analysis showed the richness and diversity of bacterial communities were significantly different among ootheca, nymph and adult stage of P. americana. Taxonomic analysis showed Blattabacterium was the dominant genus in bacterial community of ootheca while the nutrient absorption-related genera including Christensenellaceae and Ruminococcaceae showed high relative abundance in nymph samples. Moreover, functional prediction analysis showed the metabolic categories in ootheca might have more influence on the basic life activities of the host than improved production and viability, while it was more associated to the society activities, reproduction and development of host in nymph and adult. It was suggested that the gut microbiota in each life stage might meet the requirements for environmental adaptability and survival of P. americana via transforming the composition and structure with specific metabolic capabilities. Overall, these results provided a novel sight to better understand the strong vitality and adaptability throughout life stages of P. americana.

Inhibitory Effect of ß-Sitosterol on the Ang II-Induced Proliferation of A7r5 Aortic Smooth Muscle Cells.

Objective: To explore the effects of ß-sitosterol on VSMC proliferation. Materials and Methods: A7r5 cells were pretreated with 2 µM angiotensin II (Ang II) for 24 hr to establish an excessive VSMC proliferation model, followed by treatment with ß-sitosterol for 24 hr. Cells were divided into five groups: control, Ang II, and Ang II + ß-sitosterol (2, 4, 8 µM). CCK-8 assay, flow cytometry, and Ad-mCherry-GFP-LC3B assay analyzed cell proliferation, cell cycle, cell apoptosis, and autophagic flux. Additionally, the expression of proteins was detected by the western blotting. Results: ß-Sitosterol effectively inhibited Ang II-induced A7r5 cell proliferation (IC50 : 6.841 µM at 24 hr). It achieved this by arresting cell cycle progression, promoting apoptosis, inhibiting autophagy, and suppressing the contractile-synthetic phenotypic switch. Mechanistically, ß-sitosterol downregulated PCNA, Cyclin D1, and Bcl-2, while upregulating pro-caspase 3, cleaved-caspase 3, and Bax to induce cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. Additionally, it suppressed the contractile-synthetic phenotypic transformation by downregulating OPN and upregulating α-SMA. The Ad-mCherry-GFP-LC3B Assay and western blotting revealed ß-sitosterol's autophagy inhibitory effects by downregulating LC3, ULK1, and Beclin-1 while upregulating P62 expression. Discussion and Conclusion. This study found for the first time that ß-sitosterol could inhibit the proliferation of A7r5 cells induced by Ang II. ß-Sitosterol treatment may be recommended as a therapeutic strategy to prevent the cardiovascular diseases.

Design and Synthesis of Novel Chalcone Derivatives: Anti-Breast Cancer Activity Evaluation and Docking Study.

Chalcone is a common simple fragment of natural products with anticancer activity. In a previous study, the research group discovered a series of chalcone derivatives with stronger anticancer activities. To find better anticancer drugs, novel chalcone derivatives A1-A14, B1-B14 have continuously been designed and synthesized. The antiproliferative activity of these compounds against breast cancer cells (MCF-7) was investigated by the Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) method with 5-fluorouracil (5-Fu) as the control drug. The results showed that compound A14 exhibited excellent antiproliferative ability compared to the control drug 5-Fu. Scratch experiments and cloning experiments further confirmed that compound A14 could inhibit the proliferation and colony formation activity of MCF-7 cells. In addition, molecular docking primarily explains the interaction between compound and protein. These results suggested that compound A14 could be a promising chalcone derivative for further anti-breast cancer research.

Two New Lactam Derivatives from Micromelum falcatum (Lour.) Tan. with Brine Shrimp Larvae Toxicity.

Chemical investigation of the stems of Micromelum falcatum (Lour.) Tan. led to the isolation of two new lactam derivatives, named 3-(hydroxy(10-hydroxyphenyl)methyl)-4-(16-hydroxyphenyl)-1-methylpyrrolidin-2-one (1) and 3-(hydroxy(10-hydroxy-9-methoxyphenyl)methyl)-4-(16-hydroxyphenyl)-1-methylpyrrolidin-2-one (2), along with five known compounds, trans-4-hydroxycinnamic acid (3), 4-hydroxybenzaldehyde (4), m-hydroxybenzoic acid (5), p-hydroxybenzoic acid (6), and gallic acid (7). Their structures were determined on the basis of spectroscopic studies, including nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectrum, mass spectrometry (MS) data, ultraviolet (UV) spectrum, infrared (IR) data, and comparison with the literature. All compounds were evaluated for toxicity against brine shrimp larvae and cytotoxicity to HeLa and HepG-2 cells. Compounds 1-2 exhibited moderate brine shrimp larvae toxicity with an LC50 value of 50.6 and 121.8 µg mL-1, respectively.

Antifungal activity of compounds from Gordonia sp. WA8-44 isolated from the gut of Periplaneta americana and molecular docking studies.

Invasive fungal infections are on the rise, leading to a continuous demand for antifungal antibiotics. Rare actinomycetes have been shown to contain a variety of interesting compounds worth exploring. In this study, 15 strains of rare actinobacterium Gordonia were isolated from the gut of Periplaneta americana and screened for their anti-fungal activity against four human pathogenic fungi. Strain WA8-44 was found to exhibit significant anti-fungal activity and was selected for bioactive compound production, separation, purification, and characterization. Three anti-fungal compounds, Collismycin A, Actinomycin D, and Actinomycin X2, were isolated from the fermentation broth of Gordonia strain WA8-44. Of these, Collismycin A was isolated and purified from the secondary metabolites of Gordonia for the first time, and its anti-filamentous fungi activity was firstly identified in this study. Molecular docking was carried out to determine their hypothetical binding affinities against nine target proteins of Candida albicans. Chitin Synthase 2 was found to be the most preferred antimicrobial protein target for Collismycin A, while 1,3-Beta-Glucanase was the most preferred anti-fungal protein target for Actinomycin D and Actinomycin X2. ADMET prediction revealed that Collismycin A has favorable oral bioavailability and little toxicity, making it a potential candidate for development as an orally active medication.

Anti-Vibrio parahaemolyticus compounds from Streptomyces parvus based on Pan-genome and subtractive proteomics.

Introduction: Vibrio parahaemolyticus is a foodborne pathogen commonly found in seafood, and drug resistance poses significant challenges to its control. This study aimed to identify novel drug targets for antibacterial drug discovery. Methods: To identify drug targets, we performed a pan-genome analysis on 58 strains of V. parahaemolyticus genomes to obtain core genes. Subsequently, subtractive proteomics and physiochemical checks were conducted on the core proteins to identify potential therapeutic targets. Molecular docking was then employed to screen for anti-V. parahaemolyticus compounds using a in-house compound library of Streptomyces parvus, chosen based on binding energy. The anti-V. parahaemolyticus efficacy of the identified compounds was further validated through a series of experimental tests. Results and Discussion: Pangenome analysis of 58 V. parahaemolyticus genomes revealed that there were 1,392 core genes. After Subtractive proteomics and physiochemical checks, Flagellar motor switch protein FliN was selected as a therapeutic target against V. parahaemolyticus. FliN was modeled and docked with Streptomyces parvus source compounds, and Actinomycin D was identified as a potential anti-V. parahaemolyticus agent with a strong binding energy. Experimental verification confirmed its effectiveness in killing V. parahaemolyticus and significantly inhibiting biofilm formation and motility. This study is the first to use pan-genome and subtractive proteomics to identify new antimicrobial targets for V. parahaemolyticus and to identify the anti-V. parahaemolyticus effect of Actinomycin D. These findings suggest potential avenues for the development of new antibacterial drugs to control V. parahaemolyticus infections.

Current application status and structure-activity relationship of selective and non-selective JAK inhibitors in diseases.

JAK kinase includes four family members: JAK1, JAK2, JAK3, and TYK2. It forms the JAK-STAT pathway with signal transmitters and activators of subscription (STAT). This pathway is one of the main mechanisms by which many cytokine receptors transduce intracellular signals, it is associated with the occurrence of various immune, inflammatory, and tumor diseases. JAK inhibitors block the signal transduction of the JAK-STAT pathway by targeting JAK kinase. Based on whether they target multiple subtypes of JAK kinase, JAK inhibitors are categorized into pan-JAK inhibitors and selective JAK inhibitors. Compared with pan JAK inhibitors, selective JAK inhibitors are associated with a specific member, thus more targeted in therapy, with improved efficacy and reduced side effects. Currently, a number of JAK inhibitors have been approval for disease treatment. This review summarized the current application status of JAK inhibitors that have been marketed, advances of JAK inhibitors currently in phase Ш clinical trials, and the structure-activity relationship of them, with an intention to provide references for the development of novel JAK inhibitors.

Design, Synthesis, and Bioactivity Evaluation of Novel Rosin Diterpenoid Derivatives as Potential Anti-glioma Agents.

Glioma is the most common brain tumor and its treatment options are limited. Abietic acid and dehydroabietic acid are tricyclic diterpenoid oxygen compounds with strong lip solubility and anti-glioma activity. In this study, novel rosin diterpenoid derivatives were designed and synthesized using abietic acid and dehydrogenated abietic acid as lead compounds and their activities against T98G, U87MG, and U251 cells were evaluated by CCK-8 methods. The in vivo activity of compounds with stronger activity in vitro was preliminarily studied through the Zebrafish model. The results showed that the IC50 values of B6, B8, B10, and B12 were 11.47 to 210.6 µM, which were exhibited higher antiproliferative potency against T98G, U87MG, and U251. The scratch experiment showed that B12 inhibited the migration of T98G in a time-dependent and concentration-dependent manner. The results of in vivo activity further explained that B12 could inhibit the proliferation of the T98G. The pKa values of B6, B8, B10, and B12 were 7.17 to 7.35, which were within the ideal range of glioma drugs. The ADME predictions indicated that these derivatives could pass through the blood-brain barrier. In addition, molecular docking primarily explained interaction between compounds and protein. These results suggested that B12 should be a promising candidate that merits further attention in the development of anti-glioma drugs.

Anti-Klebsiella pneumoniae activity of secondary metabolism of Achromobacter from the intestine of Periplaneta americana.

BACKGROUND: Klebsiella pneumoniae is one of the main pathogens of clinical isolation and nosocomial infections, as K. pneumoniae show broad-spectrum resistance to ß-lactam and carbapenem antibiotics. It is emerging clinical need for a safe and effective drug to anti-K. pneumoniae. At present, Achromobacter mainly focused on its degradation of petroleum hydrocarbons, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, assisting insects to decompose, degrade heavy metals and utilize organic matter, but there were few reports on the antibacterial activity of the secondary metabolites of Achromobacter. RESULTS: In this study, a strain WA5-4-31 from the intestinal tract of Periplaneta americana exhibited strong activity against K. Pneumoniae through preliminary screening. The strain was determined to be Achromobacter sp. through the morphological characteristics, genotyping and phylogenetic tree analysis, which is homologous to Achromobacter ruhlandii by 99%, its accession numbe in GenBank at National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) is MN007235, and its deposit number was GDMCC NO.1.2520. Six compounds (Actinomycin D, Actinomycin X2, Collismycin A, Citrinin, Neoechinulin A and Cytochalasin E) were isolated and determined by activity tracking, chemical separation, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and mass spectrometry (MS) analysis. Among them, Actinomycin D, Actinomycin X2, Collismycin A, Citrinin and Cytochalasin E showed a good effect on anti-K. pneumoniae, with MIC values of 16-64 µg/mL. CONCLUSIONS: The study reported Achromobacter, which was from the intestinal tract of Periplaneta americana with the activity against K. Pneumoniae, can produce antibacterial compounds for the first time. It lays the foundation for development of secondary metabolites of insect intestinal microorganisms.

A cell transmembrane peptide chimeric M(27-39)-HTPP targeted therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a prevalent malignant tumor, with a growing incidence and death rate worldwide. The aims and challenges of treating HCC include targeting the tumor, entering the tumor tissue, inhibiting the spread and growth of tumor cells. M27-39 is a small peptide isolated from the antimicrobial peptide Musca domestica cecropin (MDC), whereas HTPP is a liver-targeting, cell-penetrating peptide obtained from the circumsporozoite protein (CSP) of Plasmodium parasites. In this study, M27-39 was modified by HTPP to form M(27-39)-HTPP, which targeted tumor penetration to treat HCC. Here, we revealed that M(27-39)-HTPP had a good ability to target and penetrate the tumor, effectively limit the proliferation, migration, and invasion, and induce the apoptosis in HCC. Notably, M(27-39)-HTPP demonstrated good biosecurity when administered at therapeutic doses. Accordingly, M(27-39)-HTPP could be used as a new, safe, and efficient therapeutic peptide for HCC.

The Efficient Synthesis and Anti-Fatigue Activity Evaluation of Macamides: The Unique Bioactive Compounds in Maca.

Macamides are a class of amide alkaloids that are only found in maca and are widely considered to be its bioactive marker compounds. More than thirty macamide monomers have been identified in recent years; however, it is difficult to obtain a single macamide monomer from the maca plant because of their similar structures and characteristics. We used the carbodiimide condensation method (CCM) to efficiently synthesize five typical macamides, including N-benzyl-hexadecanamide (NBH), N-benzyl-9Z,12Z,15Z-octadecenamide, N-(3-methoxybenzyl)-9Z,12Z-octadecenamide, N-benzyl-9Z,12Z-octadecenamide, and N-(3-methoxybenzyl)-9Z,12Z,15Z-octadecadienamide. All the synthesized macamides were purified by a one-step HPLC with a purity of more than 95%. NBH is the most abundant macamide monomer in natural maca, and it was selected to evaluate the anti-fatigue effects of macamides. The results indicated that NBH could enhance the endurance capacity of mice by increasing liver glycogen levels and decreasing blood urea nitrogen, lactate dehydrogenase, blood ammonia, and blood lactic acid levels. Macamides might be the active substances that give maca its anti-fatigue active function.

Design, Synthesis, anticancer evaluation and in silico studies of 2,4,6-trimethoxychalcone derivatives.

Chalcone, a common chemical scaffold of many naturally occurring compounds, has been widely used as an effective template for drug discovery due to its broad biological activities. In this study, a series of chalcone derivatives were designed and synthesized based on the hybridization of 1-(2,4,6-trimethoxyphenyl)butan-1-one with chalcone. Interestingly, most of the target compounds exhibited inhibitory effect of tumor cells in vitro. Especially, (E)-3-(5-bromopyridin-2-yl)-1-(2,4,6-trimethoxyphenyl)prop-2-en-1-one (B3) revealed over 10-fold potency than 5-fluorocrail against the Hela and MCF-7 cells with IC50 values of 3.204 and 3.849 µM respectively. Moreover, B3 displayed low toxicity on normal cells. Further experiments indicated that B3 effectively inhibited the proliferation and migration of tumor cells, and promoted their apoptosis. The calculation and prediction of ADME showed that the target compounds may have good pharmacokinetic properties and oral bioavailability. Reverse molecular docking suggested that the possible target of B3 is CDK1. Taken together, these results suggested that B3 appears to be a promising candidate that merits further attention in the development of anticancer drugs.

A novel antimicrobial peptide M1-8 targets the lysosomal pathway to inhibit autolysosome formation and promote apoptosis in liver cancer cells.

Lysosomes, a central regulator of autophagy, play a critical role in tumour growth. Lysosomal protease cathepsin D can initiate apoptosis when released from lysosomes into the cytosol. In this study, we observed that Musca domestica cecropin (Mdc) 1-8 (M1-8), a small anti-tumour peptide derived from Mdc, inhibits hepatoma cell growth by blocking autophagy-lysosome fusion. This effect is likely achieved by targeting lysosomes to activate lysosomal protease D. Additionally, we examined whether lysosomal content and cathepsin D release were involved in M1-8-induced apoptosis. After exposure to M1-8, human hepatoma HepG2 cells rapidly co-localized with lysosomes, disrupted lysosomal integrity, caused leakage of lysosomal protease cathepsin D, caspase activation and mitochondrial membrane potential changes; and promoted cell apoptosis. Interestingly, in M1-8-treated HepG2 cells, autophagic protein content increased and the lysosome-autophagosome fusion was inhibited, suggesting that M1-8 can cause apoptosis through autophagy and lysosomes. This result indicates that a small accumulation of autophagy and autolysosome inhibition in cells can cause cell death. Taken together, these data suggest a novel insight into the regulatory mechanisms of M1-8 in autophagy and lysosomes, which may facilitate the development of M1-8 as a potential cancer therapeutic agent.

Malaria-derived exosomes exacerbate liver injury during blood stage of Plasmodium berghei infection.

Liver injury is a common clinical feature of Plasmodium spp. infection and contributes to multi-organ failure of severe malaria. Malaria-derived exosomes (MD-Exos) have recently engaged as key mediators in parasite-host interactions, modulating the subsequent pathogenic process. However, the role of MD-Exos in malaria-related liver injury and the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Herein, exosomes from C57BL/6 mice infected with or without P. berghei ANKA serum (namely inf-Exos or un-Exos) were isolated and characterized by transmission electron microscopy, western blotting, and nanoparticle tracking analysis. The miRNAs profiling between inf-Exos and un-Exos were generated using RNA-seq and qPCR. The functions of inf-Exos on liver injury were investigated after two types of exosomes injected into mice intravenously (i.v.), by examining histopathological and apoptotic changes, macrophage polarization, and pro-inflammatory response. The infected red blood cells-stimulated mouse Raw264.7 macrophage cells targeted by inf-Exos or un-Exos were cultured for further study and verification the potential mechanisms. We found that both inf-Exos and un-Exos displayed a typical cup-shaped structure with a diameter of 60-200 nm, and had a positive expression of exosomal markers (e.g., CD9, CD63, and CD81). Compared with infected control mice, the treatment of inf-Exos but not un-Exos dramatically enhanced peripheral blood parasitemia and ECM incidence, exacerbated liver histopathological damage, elevated numbers of liver apoptotic cells, CD68+and CD86+ macrophages. The CD68+-TREM-1+ macrophages in liver tissues and the mRNA levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines (e.g., iNOS, TNF-α, IL-1ß, and IL-6) were increased by inf-Exos treatment in vivo. Meanwhile, the treatment of inf-Exos resulted in a substantial increase of the mRNA levels of CD86, iNOS, TNF-α, IL-1ß, and IL-6, but led to a remarkable decrease of Bcl-6 and SOCS-1 in Raw264.7 cells stimulated with iRBC in vitro. Notably, compared to un-Exos, five types of miRNAs (including miR-10a-5p, miR-10b-5p, miR-155-5p, miR-205-5p, and miR-21a-5p), that were previously reported to target Bcl-6 or SOCS-1, present higher abundance on inf-Exos, as demonstrated by RNA-seq and qPCR. Collectively, our data suggest that inf-Exos exacerbate malaria-induced liver pathology via triggering excessive pro-inflammatory response and promoting macrophage M1 polarization. Our findings will provide new insights into the roles of inf-Exos in malaria parasite-host interaction and pathogenesis of liver injury.