Jianpi Gushen Huayu decoction ameliorated diabetic nephropathy through modulating metabolites in kidney, and inhibiting TLR4/NF-κB/NLRP3 and JNK/P38 pathways.

BACKGROUND: Jianpi Gushen Huayu Decoction (JPGS) has been used to clinically treat diabetic nephropathy (DN) for many years. However, the protective mechanism of JPGS in treating DN remains unclear. AIM: To evaluate the therapeutic effects and the possible mechanism of JPGS on DN. METHODS: We first evaluated the therapeutic potential of JPGS on a DN mouse model. We then investigated the effect of JPGS on the renal metabolite levels of DN mice using non-targeted metabolomics. Furthermore, we examined the effects of JPGS on c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK)/P38-mediated apoptosis and the inflammatory responses mediated by toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)/nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB)/NOD-like receptor family pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3). RESULTS: The ameliorative effects of JPGS on DN mice included the alleviation of renal injury and the control of inflammation and oxidative stress. Untargeted metabolomic analysis revealed that JPGS altered the metabolites of the kidneys in DN mice. A total of 51 differential metabolites were screened. Pathway analysis results indicated that nine pathways significantly changed between the control and model groups, while six pathways significantly altered between the model and JPGS groups. Pathways related to cysteine and methionine metabolism; alanine, tryptophan metabolism; aspartate and glutamate metabolism; and riboflavin metabolism were identified as the key pathways through which JPGS affects DN. Further experimental validation showed that JPGS treatment reduced the expression of TLR4/NF-κB/NLRP3 pathways and JNK/P38 pathway-mediated apoptosis related factors. CONCLUSION: JPGS could markedly treat mice with streptozotocin (STZ)-induced DN, which is possibly related to the regulation of several metabolic pathways found in kidneys. Furthermore, JPGS could improve kidney inflammatory responses and ameliorate kidney injuries in DN mice via the TLR4/NF-κB/NLRP3 pathway and inhibit JNK/P38 pathway-mediated apoptosis in DN mice.

Mechanical study of alisol B 23-acetate on methionine and choline deficient diet-induced nonalcoholic steatohepatitis based on untargeted metabolomics.

Alisol B 23-acetate (AB23A) has been demonstrated to have beneficial effects on nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). However, the mechanisms of AB23A on NASH remain unclear. This study aimed to investigate the mechanisms underlying the metabolic regulatory effects of AB23A on NASH. We used AB23A to treat mice with NASH, which was induced by a methionine and choline deficient (MCD) diet. We initially investigated therapeutic effect and resistance to oxidation and inflammation of AB23A on NASH. Subsequently, we performed untargeted metabolomic analyses and relative validation assessments to evaluate the metabolic regulatory effects of AB23A. AB23A reduced lipid accumulation, ameliorated oxidative stress and decreased pro-inflammatory cytokines in the liver. Untargeted metabolomic analysis found that AB23A altered the metabolites of liver. A total of 55 differential metabolites and three common changed pathways were screened among the control, model and AB23A treatment groups. Further tests validated the effects of AB23A on modulating common changed pathway-involved factors. AB23A treatment can ameliorate NASH by inhibiting oxidative stress and inflammation. The mechanism of AB23A on NASH may be related to the regulation of alanine, aspartate and glutamate metabolism, d-glutamine and d-glutamate metabolism, and arginine biosynthesis pathways.

A silver catalyst with a high-energy surface prepared by plasma spraying for the hydrogen evolution reaction.

A self-supported silver electrode was prepared by plasma spraying and used for catalysing the hydrogen evolution reaction. Thanks to the non-equilibrium synthetic conditions, the silver catalyst exposes high-energy (200) crystal planes, which enhance the adsorption of hydrogen and improve the intrinsic catalytic activity. As a result, the silver catalyst delivers an overpotential of 349 mV at 10 mA cm-2, which was much lower than those of Ag foil (742 mV) and commercial Ag powder (657 mV). This work provides a new idea of preparing active electrocatalysts by traditional processes.

The catalytic oxidation performance of toluene over the Ce-Mn-Ox catalysts: Effect of synthetic routes.

Ce-Mn-Ox catalysts were synthesized by impregnation (CM-IM), co-precipitation (CM-CP), citrate sol-gel (CM-SG) and hydrothermal (CM-HT) methods. The synthesis methods exhibited a great impact on the physicochemical properties of catalysts, resulting in different catalytic activity. The catalytic oxidation activity of toluene followed the sequence: CM-HT (T50: 234 °C; T90: 246 °C) > CM-SG (T50: 242 °C; T90: 249 °C) > CM-CP (T50: 243 °C; T90: 259 °C) > CM-IM (T50: 251 °C; T90: 261 °C), which was consistent with the sequence of surface relative percentage of Cov, Ce3+, Mn3+, Oα and r values. Among them, CM-HT showed the best catalytic oxidation performance of toluene due to more structural defects, oxygen vacancies, surface adsorption oxygen, normalized conversion rate and other active species. In addition, CM-HT catalysts showed reliable water resistance and good durability, implying the potential industrial application.