Exploring the HIF-1α signalling pathway and the mechanism of YiQiHuoXue decoction against Precancerous Lesions of Gastric Cancer based on Network Pharmacology and Molecular Docking.

Precancerous Lesions of Gastric Cancer (PLGC) are an essential step in the advancement of Gastric cancer (GC). Early intervention represents the most effective strategy to impede the development of PLGC. However, additional research is necessary to comprehend the molecular mechanism of PLGC. YQHXD is originated from Si Wu Decoction, has been utilized as an empirical formula for the treatment of PLGC for several years. In this study, we employed network pharmacology, molecular docking, and experimental validation to examine the inhibitory and ameliorative properties of YQHXD on PLGC. Multiple databases were utilized to gather genetic information on drugs in PLGC and YQHXD, in order to obtain cross-targets. We discovered 142 common targets between YQHXD and PLGC. GO and KEGG enrichment analyses indicate that YQHXD treatment of PLGC might be linked with cellular response to oxygen levels and the HIF-1α signaling pathway. Finally, we performed in vitro experiments, of which the results reveal that YQHXD mitigates gastric mucosal atrophy, intestinalization, and heterogeneous hyperplasia, and reduces the expression of inflammatory factors in rats. Therefore, we considered that YQHXD has the potential to delay the PLGC process by inhibiting the HIF-1α signaling pathway.

Constituent analysis, laxative activity, and toxicological evaluation of methanol extract of noni fruit (Morinda citrifolia L., Rubiaceae).

Noni fruits have gained considerable popularity as dietary supplements. However, the major constituents, the laxative activity, and the toxicity of Noni fruit remains still unknown. The purpose of the present study was, therefore, to analyze the constituents of methanol extract of Noni fruit by UPLC-MS, and further evaluate laxative activity and safety aspects of this Noni fruit-derived products in mice. UPLC-MS analysis identified eleven major constituents from this Noni fruit extract. Administration of this extract obviously shortened the time of first fecal excrement, significantly increased the total number and the weight of stools, and remarkably restored the intestinal transit to normal level in the constipated mice, with low toxicity to liver and kidney, and meanwhile, the abundance, composition, and function of gut microbiota remained homeostasis. These results revealed the laxative activity of the methanol extract of Noni fruit with low toxicity and no influence on gut microbiota.

Cucurbitacin IIb Extracted from Hemsleya penxianensis Induces Cell Cycle Arrest and Apoptosis in Bladder Cancer Cells by Regulating Cell Cycle Checkpoints and Mitochondrial Apoptotic Pathway.

Cucurbitacin IIb (CuIIb) extracted from Hemsleya penxianensis has been demonstrated anticancer activity in many malignancies, however, its effect against bladder cancer cells and the molecular mechanism remains unclear. Accordingly, in the present study, we evaluated the effect and further the underlying mechanism of CuIIb on bladder cancer cells. Cell viability and clonogenicity were examined to evaluate growth suppressive effect of CuIIb, alongside mechanism exploration was conducted based on RNA sequencing (RNA-seq). The results showed that CuIIb exposure inhibited the growth of T24 and UM-UC-3 bladder cancer cells as indicated by its obvious suppression on cell viability and clonogenicity. Mechanistic studies by RNA-seq and quantifying analysis of RNA-seq data by TMNP indicated cell cycle modulated by cell cycle checkpoints and apoptosis mediated by PI3K/Akt pathway might account for the anticancer activity of CuIIb. Consistently, results of flow cytometry and AO/EB staining demonstrated that the growth-suppressive effect of CuIIb was mediated by cell cycle arrest in G2/M phase and robust induction of cell apoptosis, which was further confirmed by immunoblotting and mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm) analysis. Collectively, the results presented herein indicated that CuIIb exhibited anticancer activity on bladder cancer which may be a potential candidate for improving bladder cancer outcomes.

Optimal ratio of 18α- and 18ß-glycyrrhizic acid for preventing alcoholic hepatitis in rats.

The glycyrrhizic acid (GA) epimers 18α- and 18ß-GA exert anti-inflammatory and hepatoprotective activities, which may help to protect against alcoholic liver disease, particularly alcoholic hepatitis (AH). The aim of the present study was to investigate the optimal ratio of 18α- and 18ß-GA for preventing AH in rats. Different groups of rats were administered seven different ratios of 18α- and 18ß-GA (10:0, 8:2, 6:4, 5:5, 4:6, 2:8 and 0:10; 10.83 mg/kg), vehicle control, or silymarin (22.75 mg/kg) as a positive control, followed by administration of 40% alcohol (10 ml/kg) once a day for four weeks. Subsequently, livers were isolated and routinely processed for histological examination. The serum levels of 23 cytokines and chemokines associated with AH were examined with a Bio-Plex 200 Luminex assay. It was revealed that all ratios of 18α- and 18ß-GA prevented alcohol-induced liver injury, as evidenced by a lesser degree of histopathological changes in the liver as compared with those in the model group. Furthermore, the levels of 15 cytokines/chemokines were significantly altered after alcohol administration, which was significantly inhibited by, pre-treatment with different proportions of 18α- and 18ß-GA, particularly at a ratio of 4:6, for most cytokines/chemokines associated with AH, including tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-1ß, IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL-7, IL-6, monocyte chemotactic protein 1 (MCP-1), macrophage inflammatory protein (MIP)-1α, MIP-3α, macrophage- and granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor, chemokine (C-X-C motif) ligand 1(GRO/KC), vascular endothelial growth factor and C-C motif chemokine ligand 5 (RANTES). Taken together, based on these results the optimal ratio of 18α- and 18ß-GA to prevent AH in model rats was considered to be 4:6.

The complete chloroplast genome sequence of Amentotaxus yunnanensis (Taxaceae).

The complete chloroplast genome sequence of Amentotaxus yunnanensis has been defined in this study. The genome is 138,604 bp in length and one of the large inverted repeats found till date. The overall GC content of the genome is 35.1%. The A. yunnanensis chloroplast genome contains 118 unique genes, including 81 protein-coding genes, 31 tRNA genes, and 4 rRNA genes. Nine protein-coding genes and 6 tRNA contain a single intron, while another species (ycf3) has a couple of introns. A neighbor-joining phylogenetic analysis suggested that A. yunnanensis is closely related to A. argotaenia and A. formosana within the Taxaceae family.

Characterization of the complete chloroplast genome of the Camellia nitidissima, an endangered and medicinally important tree species endemic to Southwest China.

The Camellia nitidissima is an endangered tree species native to Southwest China with high economic and medicinal values. Genetic information of C. nitidissima would provide good knowledge for the conservation of this wild resource. In this article, we characterized the complete chloroplast genome of C. nitidissima using Illumina sequencing technology. The size of circular genome is 157,247 bp, containing a large single copy (LSC) region of 86,880 bp and a small single copy (SSC) region of 18,258 bp. The LSC region and SSC region are separated by a pair of inverted repeat regions (IRa and IRb), each of 26,068 bp. In total, 136 genes are encoded in this cp genome, including 89 protein-coding genes (81 species), 39 tRNA genes (30 species), and 8 rRNA genes (4 species). The overall G + C content of the chloroplast genome is 37.3%. The phylogenetic analysis suggests that C. nitidissima is closely related to C. petelotti.