Potential Effects of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Anti-Aging and Aging-Related Diseases: Current Evidence and Perspectives.

Aging and aging-related diseases present a global public health problem. Therefore, the development of efficient anti-aging drugs has become an important area of research. Traditional Chinese medicine is an important complementary and alternative branch of aging-related diseases therapy. Recently, a growing number of studies have revealed that traditional Chinese medicine has a certain delaying effect on the progression of aging and aging-related diseases. Here, we review the progress in research into using traditional Chinese medicine for aging and aging-related diseases (including neurodegenerative diseases, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and cancer). Furthermore, we summarize the potential mechanisms of action of traditional Chinese medicine and provide references for further studies on aging and aging-related diseases.

High-Transparency and Colorless Polyimide Film Prepared by Inhibiting the Formation of Chromophores.

Colorless polyimides (CPIs) with outstanding mechanical properties are essential materials in the production of flexible display panels, foldable windows, and even spacecraft cockpits. This paper specifically elaborates that the Morkit unit, and azo and nitro chromophores are important factors contributing to yellow PI, together with the well-known charge transfer complex (CTC) theory. Three diamine monomers, two anhydrides monomers, and three blockers were used to inhibit chromophores formation and, thus, obtain CPI films. The cut-off wavelength was blue-shifts to 334 nm and the transmittance is improved to 98.9% in the UV-vis range. Mechanical and thermal properties of the CPI films are not reduced through coupling effects of the blockers. Therefore, the inhibition method of the Morkit units and chromophore groups is a promising process for preparing CPIs to be used as flexible display materials.

Comparative Transcriptome Analysis Uncovers the Regulatory Roles of MicroRNAs Involved in Petal Color Change of Pink-Flowered Strawberry.

The pink-flowered strawberry is popular in China due to its high ornamental value. In the present study, sRNAome, transcriptome, and degradome sequencing were performed to understand the functions of microRNAs (miRNAs) and their target genes during flower development in pink-flowered strawberry. Nine small RNA libraries and a mixed degradome library from flower petals at different developmental stages were constructed and sequenced. A total of 739 known miRNAs and 964 novel miRNAs were identified via small RNA sequencing, and 639 miRNAs were identified to cleave 2,816 target genes based on the degradome data. Additionally, 317 differentially expressed miRNAs among the various stages of flower development were identified, which regulated 2,134 differentially expressed target genes. These target genes were significantly enriched in the transcriptional regulation, phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, and plant hormone signal transduction pathways. Furthermore, integrated microRNAomic and transcriptomic analyses suggested that 98 miRNAs targeted several transcription factors, including MYBs (26), bHLHs (12), NACs (14), and SPLs (19), related to anthocyanin accumulation. In addition, 27 differentially expressed miRNAs might affect anthocyanin biosynthesis by regulating 23 targets involved in the hormone signal transduction pathway. The quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) analysis confirmed the expression changes of 21 miRNA-target pairs. Furthermore, the transient expression of candidate miRNAs was performed in the pink-flowered strawberry cultivar "Fenyun" at the bud stage. Introduction of FamiR156a, FamiR396e, and FamiR858_R-2 in the "Fenyun" increased flower color intensity, while transient expression of FamiR828a decreased flower color intensity. Overall, the present study uncovers the regulatory functions of microRNAs, including anthocyanin biosynthesis, hormone signaling, and regulation factors during flower development and coloration in pink-flowered strawberry. This work expands the knowledge of miRNAs affecting coloration in strawberry and provides rich resources for future functional studies.

Preliminary study on the mechanism of oridonin-induced apoptosis in human squamous cell oesophageal carcinoma cell line EC9706.

OBJECTIVE: To study the apoptosis-inducing effect of the Chinese medicine oridonin in the human oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma cell line EC9706, in vitro. METHODS: The effect of oridonin on cell proliferation was studied using the colorimetric 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. Effects on the cell cycle and apoptosis were studied by flow cytometry; effects on intracellular Ca(2+) concentration were studied by measuring the fluorescence intensity of a fluorescent Ca(2+) probe by laser scanning confocal microscopy. RESULTS: The EC9706 cell-proliferation rate decreased with time and oridonin concentration (10-40 µmol/l). The number of cells in G0 and G1 phases increased significantly following exposure to oridonin for 48 and 72 h respectively, and oridonin was shown to be most effective at inducing apoptosis in EC9706 cells at 40 µmol/l. Compared with the control group, all concentrations of oridonin tested (10-40 µmol/l) significantly increased the Ca(2+) fluorescence intensity of EC9706 cells. CONCLUSIONS: Oridonin was shown to inhibit proliferation and induce apoptosis in the human oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma cell line EC9706, in vitro. These data provide preliminary experimental evidence for the anticancer effects of oridonin, which is as a traditional Chinese medicine used to treat various cancers, including oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma. Further studies are required to elucidate the mode of action.