The American journal of Chinese medicine最新文献

Ginkgo biloba L., an ancient medicinal tree with origins tracing back over 280 million years, holds a unique place in both traditional and modern therapeutic systems. Widely used in East Asian ethnomedicine, and increasingly validated by pharmacological research, it serves as a rich source of bioactive compounds like terpene trilactones (ginkgolides, bilobalide), flavonoids (quercetin, kaempferol), alkaloids, proanthocyanidins, alkyl phenols, and organic/phenolic acids. This review provides a critical synthesis of Ginkgo biloba's traditional uses, phytochemical constituents, and pharmacological activities, and highlights its anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, neuroprotective, and vasoprotective properties. In addition, recent advances in the structural transformation and semi-synthetic modification of ginkgolides are presented to offer insights into their structure-activity relationships. Beyond therapeutic roles, Ginkgo biloba exhibits notable potential in non-pharmaceutical domains, which include its use as a natural colorant and photoprotective agent in cosmetics, and as a bio-based material in textile dyeing. Through a systematic examination of peer-reviewed literature, this review underscores Ginkgo biloba's multifaceted value as a promising botanical resource for both medicinal and industrial innovation.

Acute lung injury (ALI) can lead to severe respiratory system damage, characterized by extensive inflammation and lung tissue injury. Ophiopogonin D (OD), from Ophiopogon japonicus, has pharmacological effects such as anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant, hypoglycemic, anti-aging, and immune regulation properties. This study attempts to identify the protective mechanism of OD against ALI by the inhibition of ferroptosis of macrophages. The tissue-specific expression of USP25 in patients with COVID-19 was evaluated using single-cell data from the China National GeneBank and the GSE147507 dataset from Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO). C57BL/6 mice, Murine bone marrow derived macrophages (BMDM) or RAW264.7 cells were induced by Lipopolysaccharide (LPS). OD prevented ALI, and reduced inflammation levels and oxidative stress in mice models. OD significantly decreased the number of monocyte/macrophages (CD11b [Formula: see text]Ly6G-cells) in the peritoneal cavity after ALI induction. OD-mitigated inflammation and oxidative stress of macrophages in the ALI model. OD-reduced ferroptosis of macrophages in a model of ALI through the inhibition of ROS-induced mitochondrial damage. USP25 is significantly expressed in macrophages in patients with COVID-19 using single-cell analysis. OD-suppressed Rac1/NOX1-derived ROS to reduce the mitochondrial damage of macrophages in a model of ALI by the induction of USP25 activity. OD-identified USP25 at 907-VAL and 975-ARG in an ALI model to suppress USP25 Ubiquitination. OD from Ophiopogon japonicus induces USP25 activity to reduce ferroptosis of macrophages in ALI by binding the Rac1 and Nox1 complex. Therefore, it can be concluded that OD may be a potential therapeutic drug for the treatment of ALI.

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is a malignancy that faces serious resistance challenges in treatment. In this study, we identified Piperlongumine as a promising therapeutic candidate to overcome Osimertinib resistance in NSCLC. We systematically investigated the inhibitory effect of Piperlongumine on NSCLC cells and confirmed that it could effectively inhibit the in vitro kinase activity of wild-type (WT), exon 19 deletion, and L858R/T790M-mutated EGFR. We also found that Piperlongumine-induced intrinsic apoptosis by interfering with the EGFR signaling pathway, which was characterized by the down-regulation of the anti-apoptotic protein Mcl-1. Further mechanistic studies revealed that Piperlongumine-induced degradation of Mcl-1 was dependent on the Akt-GSK3β signaling pathway. Additionally, Piperlongumine-promoted interaction between Mcl-1 and β-TRCP, thereby enhancing β-TRCP-mediated ubiquitination and the degradation of Mcl-1. Furthermore, Piperlongumine significantly inhibited tumor growth in both Osimertinib-sensitive and resistant NSCLC xenograft models. These findings highlight the potential of Piperlongumine as an effective agent in overcoming EGFR-targeted therapy resistance and suggest new avenues for its clinical application in NSCLC treatment.

Gastric cancer (GC) remains a leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide, posing a significant threat to human health. Recently, gambogic acid (GA) has garnered attention for its anticancer properties in GC. However, it remains unclear whether GA can regulate other forms of cell death beyond apoptosis. In this study, we found that GA inhibited proliferation and induced ferroptosis in GC cells. Western blot analysis was employed to assess ferroptosis and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress-related proteins, as well as forkhead box A2 (FOXA2) expression. Additionally, malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione (GSH) levels were measured following GA treatment, and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) was used to evaluate miR-1291 expression. Our findings revealed that GA treatment elevated reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels and promoted intracellular Fe[Formula: see text], MDA, and GSH accumulation. Furthermore, GA upregulated SLC7A11 and ferritin expression while suppressing glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4) in AGS and HGC27 cells, suggesting its role in ferroptosis induction. Notably, GA increased miR-1291 levels and downregulated FOXA2 expression. Subsequent analyses showed FOXA2 as a direct target of miR-1291. Functional experiments involving miR-1291 and FOXA2 knockdown or overexpression further suggested that the miR-1291/FOXA2 axis mediates ferroptosis. Finally, tumor xenograft models showed that GA effectively inhibited tumor growth by inducing ferroptosis. In conclusion, our study provides compelling evidence that GA induces ferroptosis in GC through the miR-1291/FOXA2 axis, highlighting its potential as a novel therapeutic strategy and preventive target for gastric cancer treatment.

Bile acid metabolism mediated by gut microbiota is significantly related to immunity regulation that plays an important role in the development and treatment of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Our previous study has demonstrated that Panax notoginseng saponins (PNS) alleviate colitis due to the regulation of T helper 17/Regulatory T cells (Th17/Treg) balance via gut microbiota. However, the effects and mechanism of PNS on colitis pertinent to bile acid metabolism mediated by gut microbiota remain elusive. This study aims to investigate the anti-colitis mechanism of PNS by regulating the Th17/Treg balance pertinent to gut microbiota-bile acid metabolism. Results showed that PNS significantly decreased the relative abundance of Allobaculum, Dubosiella, Muribaculum, and Alistipes, and up-regulated the relative contents of conjugated bile acids, such as TCA and TCDCA. Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) showed that the gut microbiota remodeled by PNS had a regulatory effect on bile acid metabolism, and up-regulated the relative contents of TCA and TCDCA, which alleviated IBD and promoted Treg cell expression in vivo and in vitro. Taken together, PNS could reshape the profiling of gut microbiota to generate more TCA and TCDCA, which improve the balance of Th17/Treg to exert anti-IBD effects.

Among the spectrum of digestive system cancers, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) poses a particularly formidable challenge due to its poor prognosis. Geniposide, an iridoid glucoside extracted from the fruit of Gardenia jasminoides Ellis, exhibits a diverse array of biological activities. The goal of this study is to delineate the specific roles and underlying mechanisms of geniposide on the progression of HCC. Cell viability, apoptosis and migration of Huh7 and HepG2 cells were, respectively, assessed via CCK-8, flow cytometry and trans-well assays. The level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) was assessed with a dihydroethidium (DHE) probe. The measurement of mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) was conducted using JC-1 staining. Ferroptosis-related markers were evaluated by Western Blot assay. Transcriptome sequencing was performed in HCC cells both treated and untreated with geniposide. In vivo experiments were applied with the subcutaneous xenograft tumor model. In vitro experiments revealed that geniposide exerted a concentration-dependent suppression on cell viability and migration, concurrently eliciting apoptosis in HCC cells. Ferroptosis was identified as the main form of geniposide-induced cell death in HCC. Geniposide promoted the iron ions levels, ROS accumulation, and the expression of ferroptosis markers, which were partially reversed by the addition of deferoxamine (DFO, ferroptosis inhibitor). Intersection analysis was applied between upregulated genes of HCC cells and ferroptosis-related genes. DUOX1 was proven to be involved in geniposide-mediated roles in HCC. In vivo experiments further clarified the suppressive effects of geniposide on tumors. Geniposide treatment increased intracellular iron ions and induced ferroptosis in HCC. Geniposide attenuated tumor progression and oxidative stress via DUOX1-mediated ferroptosis.

Ischemic Stroke (IS) is a severe neurological disease with high mortality rates worldwide, involving a complex cascade reaction in which the ubiquitination process of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-[Formula: see text]B) pathway has been proposed as a therapeutic target for IS on account of the fact that NF-[Formula: see text]B can be suppressed by the Ubiquitin-Proteasome System (UPS). This review systematically discusses the epidemiology of IS, the NF-[Formula: see text]B signaling pathway, and the anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic effects that TCM monomers and formulations exert by regulating the ubiquitination process of the NF-[Formula: see text]B signaling pathway. We initially offer an overview of the incidence and treatment of IS, following which the canonical pathway and non-canonical pathway of NF-[Formula: see text]B are introduced. Next, the ubiquitination mechanisms of NF-[Formula: see text]B when using traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) to treat IS were highlighted. We also discussed the involvement of MyD88, an upstream protein, in the herb-based treatment of IS. Finally, we proposed future research directions for screening advantageous herbal components. Given previous research, we anticipate that TCM drugs will present promising candidates for IS treatment in clinical medicine.

The gut microbiota serves as a crucial modulator of host immunity and plays a pivotal role in regulating airway inflammation, maintaining immune balance, and affecting the course of associated diseases through gut-lung axis interactions. Recent studies increasingly demonstrate that patients with chronic inflammatory airway diseases (CIAD) commonly exhibit gut dysbiosis. This imbalance in gut microbiota can promote pulmonary inflammation and airway remodeling by affecting the synthesis of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), impairing intestinal mucosal barrier integrity, and disrupting immune regulation. With increasing attention to the gut-lung axis, microbiota-targeted therapeutic strategies have attracted growing attention. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), characterized by its multi-component composition, multi-target approach, and holistic regulatory properties, holds unique advantages in restoring gut microbial balance for the treatment of CIAD. This paper systematically reviews the therapeutic potential of TCMs and their bioactive constituents in managing CIAD through gut microbiota modulation. By regulating gut microbial composition and stimulating the generation of SCFAs, TCMs exert anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, and gut barrier-protective effects. TCMs thus offer novel perspectives and promising therapeutic strategies for CIAD treatment.

As cancer continues to pose a significant threat to human health, the search for effective therapeutic agents has become a critical focus in medical research. Cordyceps is a fungus used in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) valued for its potential health benefits, which include boosting energy, supporting the immune system, and acting as an anti-oxidant. Cordycepin, also known as 3[Formula: see text]-deoxyadenosine, is a bioactive nucleoside derived from Cordyceps. This compound recently has garnered widespread attention for its potential anticancer properties. Through systematic integration of our prior experimental evidence with literature retrieval from PubMed, we confirmed its efficacy in inducing apoptosis, suppressing proliferation, and blocking metastasis across a broad range of cancer types. These effects are primarily attributed to its modulation of key signaling pathways, such as MAPK, AMPK, mTOR, and Wnt/[Formula: see text]-catenin, all of which play crucial roles in various malignant conditions. In addition, cordycepin's ability to modulate immune responses through the regulation of adenosine receptor (AR), and in particular the A3 adenosine receptor (A3AR), has gained attention as an innovative strategy for enhancing the effectiveness of immunotherapy. Recent advancements in improving cordycepin's biostability, bioavailability, and transport efficiency within the body system have further supported the clinical application of this compound in medical oncology. This review highlights key research findings and explores promising future directions with the aim of contributing to ongoing studies in cancer management.

Ischemic stroke seriously endangers both the health and quality of life of patients. The gut microbiota, which plays a crucial role in modulating communication between the gut and the nervous system, has emerged as a promising target for therapeutic interventions in stroke. Electroacupuncture (EA), which is associated with intestinal immunity, has been proven to exert significant beneficial effects in ischemic stroke, but its exact mechanism remains unclear. In this study, we investigated the regulatory mechanism of EA on the microbiome-gut-brain axis following ischemic stroke. In rat models of ischemic stroke, EA treatment significantly reduced cerebral infarct volume and neuronal damage following cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury, and also modulated the composition, diversity, and taxonomic distribution of the gut microbiota. Fecal microbiota transplantation from EA-treated donors significantly reduced cerebral infarct volume and neuronal damage in the ischemic hemisphere of recipient mice, and likewise upregulated Treg cell expression to suppress immune-inflammatory responses in the brain. These results indicate that, through modulation of the gut microbiota, which in turn regulates Treg-mediated immune-inflammatory responses, EA ameliorates cerebral ischemic injury to thereby improve the prognosis of ischemic stroke patients. This study provides new perspectives on the efficacy of EA in the treatment of ischemic stroke.