Guoqiang Qian’s research while affiliated with Guangdong Pharmaceutical University and other places

Introduction Safflower, a traditional Chinese medicine, is rich in chemical components including flavonoids, polysaccharides, and alkaloids. It exhibits pharmacological effects such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, and anti-thrombosis properties, making it a valuable resource in the medical field. Furthermore, due to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, safflower is increasingly being utilized in the cosmetics industry. Methods In this study, yeast was employed to ferment safflower, and the optimal fermentation conditions were established through single-factor experiments and response surface methodology. Subsequently, the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory efficacy of the safflower fermentation solution was assessed using both cellular and zebrafish models. Finally, the safety of the safflower fermentation solution was evaluated through a cosmetic eye irritation test. Results From a total of 20 yeast strains, YF-5 was identified as the dominant strain for safflower fermentation. By optimizing the fermentation conditions, it was established that the optimal parameters for YF-5 fermentation of safflower are as follows: a fermentation temperature of 36.55°C, a material-to-liquid ratio of 1:20.46, a fructose concentration of 6.20%, a fermentation duration of 72 h, and an inoculum volume of 4%. The biological activities of safflower, including its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, were enhanced through yeast fermentation. In HaCaT cell and zebrafish oxidative damage assays, safflower fermentation solution inhibits the production of malondialdehyde (MDA) and increases superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity as well as total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC). In the RAW264.7 cell inflammatory damage assays, a 20% safflower fermentation solution was found to inhibit the release of TNF-α and NO in the inflammatory model, with inhibition rates of 30.94 and 28.86%, respectively. In the zebrafish inflammatory damage assays, the quantity of fluorescent neutral proteins in the 5% safflower fermentation solution was 0.7 times that observed in the dexamethasone (0.1 mg/mL) positive control group, indicating that its anti-inflammatory activity is comparable to that of dexamethasone (0.1 mg/mL). In the chicken embryo chorionic membrane experiment, it was observed that the safflower fermentation solution did not cause significant damage to the blood vessels of the chorionic allantoic membrane (CAM). This finding demonstrates that the safflower fermentation solution possesses a certain degree of safety. Discussion Safflower fermentation solution has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory bioactivities, and it has passed cosmetic safety evaluations. It can be used as a new natural cosmetic ingredient added to cosmetic products.

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common chronic functional bowel disorder and is strongly associated with an increased risk of depression and anxiety. The brain–gut axis plays an important role in the pathophysiologic changes in IBS, yet effective treatments for IBS are still lacking. Sinisan, originating from the Treatise on Typhoid Fever by the medical sage Zhang Zhongjing, is a classic formula in the Eight Methods of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) that focuses on dispersing the liver and regulating the spleen, relieving depression and transmitting evils, and has been widely used in the treatment of liver-depression and spleen-deficiency, diarrhea, and related liver and stomach disorders. However, the therapeutic effect of sinisan in IBS has not been clarified. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of sinisan on stress-induced intestinal dysfunction and depressive behavior in IBS mice. We established a diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS-D) mouse model using a 4% acetic acid enema combined with restraint stress, and analyzed the results using behavioral tests, relevant test kits, hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining, immunofluorescence (IF), Western blot (WB), and quantitative fluorescence polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). The results showed that sinisan administration significantly alleviated intestinal dysfunction and depressive-like behaviors in IBS-D mice, improved mild colonic inflammation and intestinal mucosal permeability, up-regulated the expression of tight junction proteins ZO-1 and occludin. Sinisan significantly alleviated intestinal dysfunction and depressive-like behaviors in IBS-D mice by decreasing the expression of TNF-α, promoting the expression of tight junction proteins (occludin, ZO-1) expression, and inhibiting the Tlr4/Myd88 signaling pathway, thereby attenuating the inflammatory response, protecting the intestinal barrier, and alleviating symptoms in the IBS-D mouse model. Taken together, sinisan may ameliorate intestinal inflammation and the intestinal barrier by regulating 5-HT expression and the Tlr4/Myd88 pathway, thereby alleviating stress-induced intestinal dysfunction and depressive behaviors in IBS-D mice.

Pueraria lobata (Willd.) Ohwi is a traditional medicinal herb that has been extensively used in Chinese medicine for various therapeutic purposes. In this study, twelve chemical constituents were isolated from the roots of P. lobata, comprising three puerosides (compounds 1–3), six alkaloids (compounds 4–9), and three additional compounds (compounds 10–12). Notably, compound 1 (4R-pueroside B) was identified as a novel compound. The structures of all compounds were elucidated using a range of spectroscopic techniques, including CD spectroscopy for the first-time determination of the absolute configurations of pueroside B isomers (compounds 1 and 2). Enzyme inhibition assays revealed that, with the exception of compound 2, all isolated compounds exhibited varying degrees of α-glucosidase and α-amylase inhibitory activity. Remarkably, compound 12 demonstrated IC50 values of 23.25 μM for α-glucosidase inhibition and 27.05 μM for α-amylase inhibition, which are superior to those of the positive control, acarbose (27.05 μM and 36.68 μM, respectively). Additionally, compound 11 exhibited inhibitory activity against α-glucosidase and α-amylase comparable to the positive control, acarbose. Molecular docking studies indicated that compound 12 interacts with the active sites of the enzymes via hydrogen bonds, van der Waals forces, and hydrophobic interactions, which likely contribute to their inhibitory effects. These findings suggest that the chemical constituents of P. lobata could be potential natural sources of α-amylase and α-glucosidase inhibitors, with compound 12 being particularly promising for further investigation.

Litsea cubeba, which is found widely distributed across the Asian region, functions as both an economic tree and a medicinal plant with a rich historical background. Previous investigations into its chemical composition and biological activity have predominantly centered on volatile components, leaving the study of non-volatile components relatively unexplored. In this study, we employed UPLC-HRMS technology to analyze the non-volatile components of L. cubeba branches and leaves, which successfully resulted in identifying 72 constituents. Comparative analysis between branches and leaves unveiled alkaloids, organic acids, and flavonoids as the major components. However, noteworthy differences in the distribution of these components between branches and leaves were observed, with only eight shared constituents, indicating substantial chemical variations in different parts of L. cubeba. Particularly, 24 compounds were identified for the first time from this plant. The assessment of antioxidant activity using four methods (ABTS, DPPH, FRAP, and CUPRAC) demonstrated remarkable antioxidant capabilities in both branches and leaves, with slightly higher efficacy observed in branches. This suggests that L. cubeba may act as a potential natural antioxidant with applications in health and therapeutic interventions. In conclusion, the chemical composition and antioxidant activity of L. cubeba provides a scientific foundation for its development and utilization in medicine and health products, offering promising avenues for the rational exploitation of L. cubeba resources in the future.

Lactobacillus paracasei (L. paracasei), a common probiotic lactobacillus, has important functions in the food industry and human health. However, different strains of L. paracasei inevitably show differences in activity and colonization resistance, leading to differentiation in their functions, as well as their physical or chemical properties. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the characteristics of L. paracasei R3 (L.p R3) isolated from healthy human feces and determine whether the criteria for edible probiotics is met. The hemolysis type, biofilm-forming ability, antibiotic susceptibility, toxicity, and effective activity of L.p R3 were determined by establishing its probiotic activity traits in vitro and in vivo. The results showed that L.p R3 had a moderate biofilm formation ability, was sensitive to 11 antibiotics, was resistant to eight antibiotics, and was not hemolytic. The culture characteristics, morphology, and biochemical responses of the strain were consistent with the seed batch characteristics. In toxicity assays, L.p R3-fed mice showed no abnormalities in body weight, growth, or various organs. Additionally, L.p R3 was found to be effective in the prevention and treatment of colorectal cancer. In conclusion, our results revealed that L.p R3 has potential value as an edible probiotic without toxic side effects and alleviated the tumor progression of colorectal cancer in mice.

Background: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic and recurrent gastrointestinal inflammation, the pathophysiological mechanisms of that is not fully understood, and the current conventional treatment drugs are often associated with serious side effects. Saikosaponins(SSs) are the main active component of Bupleurum chinense DC. (BC). Saikosaponin A has been reported to have a positive effect on the remission of DSS induced colitis. Aim: However, the studies on the mechanism and safety of SSs are still limited. Materials and methods: We established zebrafish colitis model induced by sodium glucan sulfate (DSS) and gave intervention treatment with different saikosaponins. Results : It was found that saikosaponin B1 (SSB1) and saikosaponin D (SSD) had the most prominent inhibitory ability on neutrophils infiltration in the larval intestine among the 6 saikosaponin monomers. In this study, we explored the effect and mechanism of SSB1 and SSD on DSS induced colitis in zebrafish. The results showed that both SSB1 and SSD could reduce the histological injury, tissue inflammatory cytokines and ROS expression in zebrafish. Moreover, we observed that both SSB1 and SSD significantly inhibited ferroptosis in DSS stimulated zebrafish colitis. In Conclusion: conclusion, our results suggested that Saikosaponin B1/D play a protective role in inhibiting ferroptosis by up-regulating NRF2/HO-1 pathway.

Context Sinisan (SNS) has been used to treat psychosomatic diseases of the digestive system. But little is known about how SNS affects water immersion restraint stress (WIRS). Objective To study the effects of SNS on colonic tissue injury in the WIRS model. Materials and methods Forty-eight Kunming (KM) mice were randomized into 6 groups (n = 8): The control and WIRS groups receiving deionized water; the SNS low-dose (SL, 3.12 g/kg/d), SNS middle-dose (SM, 6.24 g/kg/d), SNS high-dose (SH, 12.48 g/kg/d), and diazepam (DZ, 5 mg/kg/d) groups; each with two daily administrations for 5 consecutive days. The 5 treatment groups were subjected to WIRS for 24 h on day 6. The effects of SNS on colon tissue injury caused by WIRS were assessed by changes in colon histology, inflammatory cytokines, brain-gut peptides, and tight junction (TJ) proteins levels. 16S rRNA gene sequencing was used to detect the regulation of the gut microbiota. Results SNS pretreatment significantly reduced TNF-α (0.75- to 0.81-fold), IL-6 (0.77-fold), and IFN-γ (0.69-fold) levels; and increased TJ proteins levels, such as ZO-1 (4.06- to 5.27-fold), claudin-1 (3.33- to 5.14-fold), and occludin (6.46- to 11.82-fold). However, there was no significant difference between the levels of substance P (SP) and vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) in the control and WIRS groups. SNS regulated the composition of gut microbiota in WIRS mice. Conclusion The positive effects of SNS on WIRS could provide a theoretical basis to treat stress-related gastrointestinal disorders.

Introduction Liver cancer is a malignant tumor with high incidence and short survival time. In order to increase the cure rate and disease-free survival rate of liver cancer, it is necessary to seek effective treatment methods. Objectives The objective of this study is to evaluate the therapeutic effects of IL-21 and IFN-γ inducing the formation of CD4⁺CXCR5⁺CD57⁺T cells on liver cancer. Methods The methods of analyze the relationship between CD4⁺CXCR5⁺CD57⁺T cells and the survival time of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and study the effect of IL-21 combined with IFN-γ in inducing stem cells to differentiate into CD4⁺CXCR5⁺CD57⁺T cells. The effects of IL-21 combined with IFN-γ induced CD4⁺CXCR5⁺CD57⁺T cells on liver cancer were studied through animal experiments, and the regulatory mechanism, and the effect of hepatitis B virus (HBV) on it. Results The study found that the number of CD4⁺CXCR5⁺CD57⁺T cells in serum of liver cancer patients with prolonged survival time increased significantly, the expression of CD4, CD57, and CXCR5 in the tumor microenvironment increased, and the serum IL-21 and IFN-γ concentrations increased. IL-21 and IFN-γ induce stem cells to differentiate into CD4⁺CXCR5⁺CD57⁺T cells and induce HepG2 cells apoptosis. HBV leads to a decrease in the number of CD4⁺CXCR5⁺CD57⁺T cells and a chronic inflammatory response. Treg cells can regulate CD4⁺CXCR5⁺CD57⁺T cells. IL-21 combined with IFN-γ induced an increase in the number of CD4⁺CXCR5⁺CD57⁺T cells in hepatocarcinoma-bearing mice, which has an inhibitory effect on H22 liver cancer. Conclusion The conclusion of the study is that IL-21 combined with IFN-γ induces stem cells to differentiate into CD4⁺CXCR5⁺CD57⁺T cells, Treg can control the increase in their number, and HBV can cause their number to decrease, which can control the growth of liver cancer.

Chlorogenic acid, a natural compound widely found in a great variety of natural products, with its wide range of potentially practical values, has been quite frequently researched in many basic scientific experiments for its biological activities, such as antimicrobial properties, and other physicochemical effects. In this study, we investigated the anti-virus role of chlorogenic acid on the toll-like receptor 7 (TLR7) signaling pathway in diverse immune cells infected with H1N1. Through the course of obtaining peripheral blood mononuclear cell(PBMC) from fresh umbilical cord blood, and stimulations by inducing factors, rhGM-CSF and rhIL-4, separately, we established a co-culture system of distinct immune cells with the medium of the H1N1 virus-infected cells(human respiratory epithelial cell). Then chlorogenic acid was added into the system as an drug intervention. The cell supernatant and immune cells were collected for RT-PCR to determine the expression levels of cytokines related to the TLR7 pathway. The results indicated that chlorogenic acid could ameliorate H1N1 virus-infected cell survival and down-regulate the expression levels of the TLR7 pathway cytokines, thus avoiding too much damage from the over-reactive immune system.