Jieji Nabao is a common Tibetan herb. According to our ethnobotanical studies, one of its original plants is identified as Gentiana crassicaulis Duthie ex Burk. (Gentianaceae). Endemic to the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, this medicinal alpine plant is a threatened species. In this study, 163 individuals from 20 populations of G. crassicaulis were collected throughout its geographical range and amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) was used to investigate genetic variation in this species. A cluster analysis was performed on the AFLP data with Halenia elliptica and Gentiana straminea as the outgroups. From 64 pairs of AFLP primer combinations, 12 pairs were selected for amplification and a total of 315 bands were amplified, of which 254 bands were polymorphic, accounting for 80.63%. High genetic differentiation was detected between populations (87%), and low within populations (13%). The UPGMA (unweighted pair-group method with arithmetic means) tree was topologically consistent with the traditional taxonomic treatments at the species level, and the populations of G. crassicaulis were divided into two branches:one from Yunnan and Guizhou, the other from Tibet, Qinghai, Sichuan and Gansu. PCA analysis and the Mantel test showed that there was a positive correlation between genetic distance and geographical distance. In addition, combined with SSR and SNP markers within cpDNA, the genetic differentiation within the Sichuan population S1 was validated.

Collagen is the main constituent of gelatinous Chinese medicine, with deer hide gelatin (Cervi Corii Colla, DHG) made from deer hide (DH) through a complex thermal and high-pressure processing procedure. During this procedure some amino acids in collagen undergo hydroxylation and deamidation. In the present study, comparative analysis of proteins and peptides in DH and DHG was carried out using "peptidomics-modifications" methods. Nano-LC-MS/MS was used to analyze proteins and peptides in DH and DHG, and the number and sites of modification were determined as well. The amount of hydroxylation and deamidation that occurred in DHG was significantly greater than that in DH, suggesting that under thermal and high-pressure processing these modifications occurred more frequently on certain amino acids in collagen, and might be correlated with hydrophobicity. The occurrence and mechanism of hydroxylation and deamidation in DH processing procedures should be explored in further research. The present study provides important evidence of the chemical constituents and the correlation of processing procedures with these modifications, and also suggests some investigative ideas for DHG processing optimization and improvement of quality standards.

We observed the effect of calcium dobesilate (CaD) on apoptosis induced by cisplatin in human proximal tubular epithelial cells (HK-2) and explored the possible mechanism. Based on HK-2 cells apoptosis model induced by cisplatin, CCK-8 method was used to detect the effect of CaD on the proliferation of HK-2. Apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) assay was used to evaluate the level of oxidative stress. The mitochondrial membrane potential was measured by JC-1 method. The expression levels of p53, caspase-3, bcl-2 and bax in cisplatin-induced HK-2 were detected by Western blot. The expression of renal injury factor 1(KIM-1) and neutrophil gelatin-related apolipoprotein (NGAL), markers of acute kidney injury, were detected by ELISA. The results showed that CaD could reduce the oxidative stress level induced by cisplatin and inhibit apoptosis in renal tubular epithelial cells. Cisplatin can up-regulate the protein expressions of p53, caspase-3, bax, KIM-1 and NGAL, and reduce the expression of bcl-2. After using CaD, the protein levels of KIM-1, NGAL, p53, caspase-3 and bax were significantly reduced, while the levels of bcl-2 were increased. This study has shown that CaD can alleviate cisplatin-induced HK-2 injury and inhibit HK-2 apoptosis, which may be related to the regulation of bax/bcl-2/caspase-3 apoptosis signaling pathway.

Network pharmacology and bioinformatics technology were used to predict the mechanism of action of Fuzi-Lizhong pill (FLP) in the treatment of ulcerative colitis (UC). 26 components (23 prototype compounds and 3 metabolites) in the blood of FLP were selected as the research objects. PharmMapper database, SwissTargetPrediction platform, GeneCards and OMIM database were used to screen and predict potential targets of FLP in blood. The protein-protein interaction network model was constructed by using String database and Cytoscape software. DAVID platform, KEGG and Reactome databases were used for GO analysis and pathway analysis of potential targets. Network of drug ingredients-targets-pathways was constructed by Cytoscape software. AutoDock vina software was used to dock the molecules of the absorbed ingredients of FLP in blood with the key targets. 82 potential targets of FLP for treatment of UC were obtained. Potential targets mainly involve biological processes such as response to organic substance, regulation of apoptosis, regulation of programmed cell death, which played roles in the treatment of UC by adjusting pathways in cancer, Colorectal cancer, Vascular endothelial growth factor signaling pathway, Mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathway, arachidonic acid metabolism and the other signal pathways. From the perspective of network pharmacology, this study predicted the mechanisms of action of FLP in treating UC, indicating that FLP in treating UC had the characteristics of multiple ingredients, multiple targets and multiple pathways, which laid a foundation for further research.

Oxygen is an essential element for life, which is mostly consumed at mitochondria for energy metabolism. For the genome inside nucleus, oxygen conducts structural regulations and chemical modifications through multiple pathways, where reactive oxygen species (ROS) serve as important messenger molecules. The highly activated ROS have the ability to produce different kinds of DNA lesions, while ferrous ions provide supports in many forms. Under the combinatorial action of oxygen and iron, almost all the genomic biochemical processes, such as replication, transcription and DNA damage repair are affected. Moreover, the variation of environmental oxygen concentration, particularly hypoxia that presents in many major diseases and critical physiological stages, provokes the responds at the genomic level. While the factors that lead to these genomic alterations are potential drug targets and deserve systematic investigations, herein, we collect the existing knowledge in the effects of ROS, ferrous ion and cell hypoxia on genome, along with brief discussions of the related drug molecules.

N-Acetylaspartate (NAA) is a highly abundant brain metabolite. Nowadays, as an important marker reflecting the function of nervous system, NAA is widely used in the results analysis of nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (¹H MRS). NAA is synthesized in mitochondria of neurons and metabolized in oligodendrocytes. Additionally, NAA may be converted to the dipeptide N-acetylaspartylglutamate (NAAG), and catabolized into NAA and glutamate in astrocytes. NAA is related to a variety of central nervous system diseases, including Canavan disease, multiple sclerosis, depression, schizophrenia and other mental diseases. Therefore, NAA may be a biomarker of these diseases, and its related enzymes may be used as therapeutic targets for drug screening. Here, we combined the current research on the molecular mechanisms of NAA to reveal the process of NAA generation, metabolism and transport in the brain, explain the possible physiological effects of NAA and discuss its relationship with central nervous system diseases, explore the prospect of NAA in disease prediction and diagnosis, as well as the targeted treatment that may become the breakthrough of refractory diseases.

Animal derived traditional Chinese medicines (ATCMs) are an important part of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). The lack of proper ideas and strategies made it not systematic and perfect enough on investigating bioactive components and quality evaluation of ATCMs, which restrict many aspects of ATCMs investigation including clinical applications, pharmaceutical technologies, and quality control. Therefore, based on our previous investigations of animal horn and animal derived gelatin TCMs, and the research progress at home and abroad, ideas and strategies for investigating the correlations between proteins/peptides and their bioactivities in animal horn and animal gelatin derived TCMs based on integrated "proteomics/peptidomics-modifications" methods was proposed. Firstly, proteomics and peptidomics analysis can be used to study proteins and peptides in ATCMs. Secondly, modification analysis can be used to reveal those chemical modifications on proteins and peptides of ATCMs. Thirdly, the correlations between components, modifications and traditional bioactivities can be systemic discussed. Based on the present study, hopefully, enough evidences and reference can be provided to resolve the issues in ATCMs investigations on modernization and bioactive material basis.

Abnormal expression of polycomb repressive complex 2 (PRC2) is related to the development of a variety of diseases. Inhibition of normal or overactive PRC2 can reduce cell survival and inhibit tumor growth in several cancers. Therefore, the identification and development of small molecule inhibitors has become an active field of current epigenetic-related anti-tumor strategies. A small molecule inhibitor targeting the S-adenosyl-L-methionine (SAM) binding site of enhancer of zeste homologue 2 (EZH2) has been approved by FDA. However, acquired drug resistance is of concern. Drugs targeting two different binding sites of embryonic ectoderm development (EED) are also being developed. The development of EZH2-EED proton pump inhibitor has attracted extensive attention due to its unique mechanism of action. In this paper, we review the research progress on various small molecule inhibitors that target PRC2-related proteins to provide a basis for further research and development of related drugs.

DNA barcoding technology, a method of identifying biological species through a standard sequence, is widely used in the identification of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), promoting the renaissance of TCM authentication discipline. The whole industrial chain of TCM includes three sections:the planting and collecting in the upstream chain, the production of TCM in the midstream chain and the circulation in the downstream chain. DNA barcoding technology, which possesses accurate, common, and objective advantages, plays an important role in the whole industrial chain of TCM. In the upstream, it is used to identify the seeds, seedlings and medicinal plants, ensuring the original source is correct. In the middle, it is used to identify Chinese medicinal materials, Chinese herbal slices and Chinese patent medicines, ensuring the materials of enterprises are correct and the clinical medication is safe. In the downstream, it participates in the establishment of traceability system for TCM, achieving the recording, inquiry and traceability of information. Therefore, DNA barcoding technology should help to control the whole production process, to protect the rights and interests of consumers and contribute to the supervision of TCM. Combined with some study cases in recent years, this paper introduces the application of DNA barcoding technology in the whole industrial chain of TCM, which is of great significance to promote the modernization of TCM industry and their internationalization.

A tadalafil analogue was detected during routine screenings from two "fatigue reliever, immunity enhancer" dietary supplements by using UHPLC/Q-TOF HRMS. The MS² spectrum of this compound was almost identical to that of 2-hydroxypropylnortadalafil. However, the retention time of this analogue was different from that of the 2-hydroxypropylnortadalafil isomers. The analogue was purified by using preparative HPLC and the structure was elucidated by mass spectrometric and NMR spectroscopic experiments. The spectral data suggested that the analogue bore a 3-hydroxypropyl group instead of the N-methyl group in tadalafil. The structure was further confirmed by comparison of the ¹H NMR spectra data with those of the reference standard, and thus named as 3-hydroxypropylnortadalafil. The structure is first reported in China.