Latest ArticlesThis work investigates the effects of Guilingji (GLJ) on D-galactose-induced aging and changes in serum metabolites by UHPLC-Q exactive orbitrap-MS in rats. The rat model of aging by subcutaneous injection of D-galactose (300 mg·kg-1) was used to analyze the effect of different concentrations of GLJ (37.5, 75, 150 mg·kg-1) on an open field test in aging rats. Rat serum was collected after 8 weeks and subjected to LC-MS to analyze the anti-aging effect of GLJ. Animal experimentation was approved according to the Committee on the Ethics of Animal Experiments of Shanxi University (SXULL2014032). GLJ significantly improved the autonomous activity of rats. Compared with the control group, 23 metabolites in the treated group changed significantly, involving three main pathways. The group that was given GLJ had altered regulation of 4 serum metabolites in two pathways. Our results indicate that GLJ can delay aging behavior in rats; the mechanism of this anti-ageing effect remains to be determined.
The chemical constituents of Rehmanniae Radix Preparata were prepared according to the traditional method of "jiu zheng jiu shai" and investigated using multiple chromatographic methods. Six alkaloids were isolated and their structures were elucidated from spectral data and physicochemical properties, as follows:rehmanniae alkaloid A (4-{[(5-O-á-D-galactopyranosyloxy)methyl]-1H-pyrrole-2-carbaldehyde-1-yl}butyric acidmethyl ester) (1), baimantuoluoamide B (2), capparisine C (3), harman-3-carboxylic acid (4), (2S)-1-[2-(furan-2-yl)-2-oxoethyl]-5-oxopyrrolidine-2-carboxylate (5), and 1-[2-(furan-2-yl)-2-oxoethyl]pyrrolidin-2-one (6). Among them, compound 1 is a new alkaloid. Compounds 2-6 were newly isolated from Rehmannia glutinosa Libosch. The effect of compounds 1-6 on NRK-52e cell injury induced by LPS was investigated. The results show that compounds 1-3 exhibit protective effects against LPS-induced damage to NRK-52e cells.
Four alkaloids were isolated from the total alkaloids of the twigs and leaves of Alstonia yunnanensis (Apocynaceae) by using silica gel, ODS, Sephadex LH-20, and HPLC chromatography. Structures were determined by physical, chemical and spectroscopic methods and identified as N4-methylpseudoakuammigine (1), pseudoakuammigine (2), vinorine (3), picraline (4). Among them, compound 1 is a new monoterpenoid indole alkaloid.
Cerebral malaria (CM) is the deadliest complication of Plasmodium falciparum infection and even with effective anti-malarial treatment the mortality of children can be as high as 18%; up to one-third of CM survivors are left with neurological and cognitive deficits. The pathophysiology of CM is not completely understood, but mechanical obstruction and immunopathology are its mainstream theories. Adjuvant therapy aims to improve clinical outcomes and/or reduce mortality, as well as preventing long-term neurocognitive deficits. Improving survival and reducing neurological damage to survivors are new goals for new antimalarials and adjuvant therapies. Herein, we discussed what is known about the disease mechanism of CM and systematically summarize the progress of adjuvant therapy research in protecting the vascular endothelium, reducing adhesion formation, regulating immune balance, interfering with malarial metabolism, protecting nerves, improving nitric oxide bioavailability, improving energy metabolism and alleviating inflammation, with the aim of exploiting this understanding to reduce the neurological damage to children with CM. This work also highlights some preclinical studies which may be candidate strategies in future clinical trials.
Drug screening against Candida albicans has become more urgent due to the increasing incidence of infection and the development of drug-resistant strains. The microfluidic chip technique has shown great potential for high-throughput drug screening. In this study we developed a concentration gradient microfluidic chip platform for drug screening against Candida albicans. The generated concentration gradient on this platform was investigated qualitatively by monitoring the distribution of the fluorescent tracer fluorescein sodium and quantitatively by following the distribution of the model drug fluconazole as analyzed by HPLC; the effect of different flow conditions on the concentration gradient were determined. The ratio of the two aqueous phase flow rates was determined in the subsequent drug screening studies. Alamar Blue, an indicator of cell viability, was used in the susceptibility test for amphotericin B, fluconazole, itraconazole, voriconazole, posaconazole, terbinafine, 5-fluorocytosine and caspofungin as carried out on the established chip platform. The MIC range of the drugs, which was consistent with the MIC values of the CLSI-recommended standard, were obtained quickly and efficiently through the use of this platform, indicating that this new platform can quickly screen a series of antibacterial drugs in one run. In addition, the strain of Candida albicans we used showed resistance to terbinafine in our platform assay, consistent with the results of a 96-well plate assay, indicating that the platform can also be used for rapid screening of resistant strains.
Following small molecules and monoclonal antibodies, oligonucleotides are expected to overcome the rare and refractory human diseases. It has been attracted the attention of the pharmaceutical industry since the approval of six oligonucleotides in recent years because of their unique mechanism of regulating disease gene transcription at the RNA level. As a new class of drug molecules, oligonucleotides are highly polar, charged, and need to be improved by means of chemical modification and drug delivery systems. And therefore, they have different clinical pharmacology properties compared with chemical molecules and monoclonal antibodies, which pose new challenges for early clinical development. This paper reviews the characteristics of oligonucleotides from the perspective of technological development, mechanism of action, human pharmacokinetics, efficacy and safety.
Hepatic selective insulin resistance refers to that insulin fails to suppress hepatic glucose production but continues to promote hepatic lipogenesis in insulin resistance. Therefore, type 2 diabetes mellitus is characterized with dyslipidemia apart from hyperglycemia. This review highlights the roles and molecular mechanisms of the key hepatic lipogenesis factors such as sterol regulatory factor binding protein 1c (SREBP1c), mammalian rapamycin target complex 1 (mTORC1), endoplasmic reticulum stress (ER stress), FoxO1, lipid synthesis substrate, etc.
There is no specific drug that has been approved for 2019-nCoV. There are a number of factors that pose major challenges in their development. Approaches to the development of anti-2019-nCoV include screening existing broad-spectrum antiviral drugs, repositioning of readily available clinical compounds, and de novo development of novel and specific agents for 2019-nCoV. Candidate compounds can be developed either to inhibit virus-based targets, such as RNA proteases, polymerase, spike glycoproteins, and viral envelop and membrane proteins, or to inhibit host-based targets, such as receptors and proteases that are utilized by virus for viral entry and endocytosis. Recently, the RNA polymerase remdesivir had demonstrated clinical efficacy in one patient with severe novel coronavirus pneumonia (NCP). The broad-spectrum viral protease inhibitor Kaletra® is also recommended in the current NCP clinical practice. Both drugs had lately been proceeded into multiple controlled phase Ⅲ clinical trials to test their safety and efficacy in NCP. Combinational therapies consisting of multiple drugs provide other viable options against 2019-nCoV, based on scientific and clinical rationales. Using bioinformatics and database analysis, we have identified 75 clinically compounds, including 20 marketed compounds, that are efficacious in inhibiting key targets in virus- and host-based approaches, which may facilitate the development of new therapeutic options for 2019-nCoV.
Depression is a common mental illness with mood disorders as the main clinical feature. In recent years numerous studies have shown that mitochondrial function and structure are abnormal in patients with depression, and changes in mitochondrial ultrastructure can lead to energy metabolism disorders in the body. It is suggested that 'mitochondrial energy metabolism disorder' may be the pathogenesis of depression. This paper reviews the intrinsic association of mitochondrial energy metabolism with depression and notes potential mechanisms from the standpoint of mitochondrial structure and function on the molecular level. We provide a reference for understanding the pathogenesis of depression and identifying the possible targets of antidepressant drugs.
This study aimed to investigate the effect of the petroleum ether fraction of Xiaoyaosan (XY-A) in a rat depression model with consideration of an underlying mechanism based on gut microbiota and metabolomics. All procedures involving animal treatment were approved according to the Committee on the Ethics of Animal Experiments of Shanxi University. A rat model was established using the chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) procedure and XY-A and venlafaxine (positive control) were used as intervention drugs. Sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene combined with LC-MS metabolomics was used to investigate the effects of XY-A on gut microbiota and metabolites in CUMS-induced depression, and Pearson correlation analysis was carried out on gut microbiota and metabolites. The results showed that XY-A significantly improved the depression-like behavior of CUMS rats and restored the level of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in the hippocampus. Gut microbiota analysis revealed that XY-A can increase the diversity of microbial species in CUMS rats and significantly restored the relative abundance of intestinal Rothia [Prevotella], with effects on intestinal inflammation and the production of short-chain fatty acids. Cecal content metabolomics identified twenty biomarkers that were altered by depression, whereas administration of XY-A ameliorated the changes in seventeen metabolites, with the most strongly affected metabolic pathways being linoleic acid metabolism, taurine and hypotaurine metabolism, primary bile acid biosynthesis, and arginine and proline metabolism. Correlation analysis further showed that there was a strong relationship between the gut microbiota and the cecal content metabolites. In summary, XY-A may exert antidepressant effects by regulating the composition of the gut microbiota and the metabolites and pathways of the cecum. The results provide a reference for the potential molecular mechanism of antidepressant action of XY-A.
No. 86 Xueyuan South Road, Haidian District, Beijing
010-62199257
qkjq@cast.org.cn
Copyright © 2025 China Association for Science and Technology. All rights reserved. For all open access content, the relevant licensing terms apply.
Sponsored by the Office of the Leading Group for Cybersecurity and Informatization of CAST, and supported by Science and Technology Review Publishing House
