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ObjectiveBased on spatial metabolomics technology combined with pharmacological indexes, to analyze the mechanism of Fritillariae Cirrhosae Bulbus(FCB) powder in improving bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis in rats. MethodSixty SD rats were randomly divided into five groups, including the blank group, the model group, and high, medium, low dosage groups of FCB. Except for the blank group, rats in all other groups were injected with bleomycin by tracheal injection to establish a pulmonary fibrosis model. Postoperatively, the high, medium and low dosage groups of FCB were administered aqueous solutions of FCB powder at doses of 0.36, 0.18, 0.09 g·kg-1, respectively, continuously for 28 d. The blank and model groups were given an equal volume of distilled water by gavage. After the last administration, lung tissues and blood samples were collected, the pathological conditions of rat lung tissues were comprehensively evaluated by hematoxylin-eosin(HE) and Masson staining, and aerodynamic assisted desorption electrospray ionization mass spectrometry imaging(AFADESI-MSI) was used for MSI of rat lung tissues from different experimental groups. Spatial metabolomics analysis was conducted on the fibrotic areas of lung tissues in the model group and the high dosage group of FCB based on HE staining images. Differential metabolites between groups were screened by orthogonal partial least squares-discriminant analysis(OPLS-DA), with variable importance in the projection(VIP) values>1, t-test P<0.05, and fold change analysis. Metabolic pathway analysis of the identified differential metabolites was performed using Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG). Protein expression levels of nuclear transcription factor-κB p65(NF-κB p65) and heme oxygenase-1(HO-1) in rat lung tissues were detected by Western blot. Biochemical assessments of superoxide dismutase(SOD), malondialdehyde(MDA) and glutathione(GSH) levels in rat lung tissues were conducted. Serum levels of interleukin(IL)-1β, IL-6, nuclear factor erythroid 2 related factor 2(Nrf2), and tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α) were measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA), and some of the screened signaling pathways with strong correlation were verified. ResultThe results of MSI experiment showed that after 28 d of the administration of FCB powder to rats with pulmonary fibrosis, the content of L-arginine in the fibrotic regions of lung tissues was significantly different from that of rats in the model group, and the content of phosphatidylcholine was lower than that in the fibrotic region of lung tissues of rats in the model group. Western blot results confirmed that, in comparison to the model group, oral administration of FCB powder for 28 d could inhibit the elevated expression of NF-κB p65 protein in the lung tissues of rats with pulmonary fibrosis. Furthermore, high dose of FCB powder was able to significantly inhibit the expression of HO-1 after oral administration (P<0.05). The cytokine detection results indicated that the concentrations of IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α in the serum of rats from the high, medium, low dosage groups of FCB were reduced by comparing with the model group, and the high dose of Chuanbeimu powder administered by gavage could significantly inhibit the trend of decreased SOD, GSH, Nrf2 contents and increased MDA content induced by bleomycin. ConclusionOral administration of FCB powder has the potential to partially ameliorate bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis in rats, and its mechanism may be related to the regulation of pathways associated with inflammation(NF-κB p65) and oxidative stress(Nrf2/HO-1).
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Phyllanthi Fructus is a highly unique medicine and food homologous item, which exhibits distinctive flavor, notable nutritional value, and abundant pharmacological activity. It has enormous potential in the creation of health products and pharmaceuticals. However, due to the unique laws of quality formation and transfer of Phyllanthi Fructus, its appearance, shape, chemical compositions, nutrients, and sensory flavors are frequently greatly influenced by botanical resources, the processing and storage conditions. As a result, the current quality evaluation model is difficult to meet the needs of Phyllanthi Fructus as a medicine and food homologous item in the development of diversified products. This paper constructs the hierarchical utilization mode of Phyllanthi Fructus based on its unique quality formation and transmission laws, explores the quality evaluation model for food-oriented use and medicinal-oriented use, respectively, and systematically describes the quality evaluation idea under diversified application scenarios. This paper aims to serve as a reference for the construction of a quality evaluation model suitable for the medicine and food homologous item of Phyllanthi Fructus.
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Traditional Chinese herbs (TCH) are currently gaining attention in disease prevention and health care plans. However, their general bitter taste hinders their use. Despite the development of a variety of taste evaluation methods, it is still a major challenge to establish a quantitative detection technique that is objective, authentic and sensitive. Based on the two-bottle preference test (TBP), we proposed a novel quantitative strategy using a standardized animal test and a unified quantitative benchmark. To reduce the difference of results, the methodology of TBP was optimized. The relationship between the concentration of quinine and animal preference index (PI) was obtained. Then the PI of TCH was measured through TBP, and bitterness results were converted into a unified numerical system using the relationship of concentration and PI. To verify the authenticity and sensitivity of quantified results, human sensory testing and electronic tongue testing were applied. The quantified results showed a good discrimination ability. For example, the bitterness of Coptidis Rhizoma was equal to 0.0579 mg/mL quinine, and Nelumbinis Folium was equal to 0.0001 mg/mL. The validation results proved that the new assessment method for TCH was objective and reliable. In conclusion, this study provides an option for the quantification of bitterness and the evaluation of taste masking effects.
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The hydrophilicity of the normal decoction pieces (NDP) of Indigo Naturalis is not good, therefore, it is not suit for decoctions. In this paper, powder modification technology is used and some NDP and alcohol are ground together in the vibromill to prepare the hydrophilic decoction pieces (HDP) of Indigo Naturalis. Initially, the properties of NDP, ultrafine decoction pieces (UDP) and HDP are compared, the hydrophilicity of UDP was promoted slightly, that of HDP is promoted dramatically. Then, three batches of Indigo Naturalis are prepared to HDP separately, but there is no obvious difference in the contact angle. Furthermore, the size distribution, surface area and micro-shape of HDP are bigger than that of UDP and smaller than NDP. The contents of indigo and indirubin in three decoction pieces are the same, as well as the species of inorganic substance, although there is a little difference in the proportion of five inorganic substances. The fact suggests the change of physical state and the qualitative and quantitative change of organism and inorganic substances are not the main factors to influence the hydrophilicity. In addition, hydroxyl, methylene and methyl can be identified at the wavenumber of 3 356 cm(-1) and 1 461 cm(-1) in infrared spectrum; the content of alcohol in HDP is 0.67% measured by gas chromatogram. The stability of HDP in the heating condition is studied, the fact suggests the hydrophilic effect of HDP at 40 degrees C is relatively stable. All above research suggests that the alcohol is the main factor to influence the hydrophilicity and maybe the intermolecular force which fixed alcohol molecule on the surface of Indigo Naturalis is the basic principle to produce the hydrophilicity.
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<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To establish the method for determining muscone in rat intestinal perfusate by GC-MS/MS and study its intestinal absorption kinetic characteristics in rats.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>The GC-MS/MS method was used to determine the content of muscone in rat intestinal circulation fluid. In situ intestinal circulation perfusion was adopted to study absorption kinetics of muscone in rats.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>Muscone was proved to be well absorbed in each section of small intestine. Its absorption rate constants (Ka) and the absorption rate (A) in the rat intestine showed duodenum > jejunum (P < 0.05) , duodenum > ileum (P < 0.01). Its Ka, A and t1/2 in rat small intestine was 0.990 h(-1) , 43.58% and 0.705h, respectively.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Muscone was well absorbed in each intestinal section, with duodenum better than jejunum (Ka, T1/2, P < 0.05) significantly better than ileum (Ka, T1/2, P < 0.01; A, P < 0.05). There is no obvious statistical difference between jejunum and ileum.</p>