Natural Product Compounds from Plants in Neurodegenerative Diseases
Namrita Lall in Medicinal Plants for Cosmetics, Health and Diseases, 2022
KCHO-1, an herbal combination of 30% ethanol and extract of nine herbs (Curcumalonga, Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge, Gastrodia elata Blume, Chaenomeles sinensis (Dum. Cours.) Koehne, Polygala tenuifolia Willd., Paeonia japonica (Makino) Miyabe & H. Takeda, Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch., Atractylodes japonica Koidz. ex Kitam and processed Aconitum carmichaelii Debeaux) was administered in the ALS mice model. The results demonstrated improved motor function and delayed onset of the disease. KCHO-1 reduced the oxidative stress in activated microglia and the spinal cord of hSOD1G93a Tg transgenic mice model (Kook et al., 2017). PYM50018 (Myogane), a saponin-type natural product–derived small molecule, has demonstrated neuroprotective activity in several clinical models and is currently in phase I of a clinical trial for the treatment of ALS (Dunkel et al., 2012).
The in vivo pharmacokinetics, tissue distribution and excretion investigation of mesaconine in rats and its in vitro intestinal absorption study using UPLC-MS/MS
Published in Xenobiotica, 2019
Xiuxiu Liu, Minghai Tang, Taohong Liu, Chunyan Wang, Qiaoxin Tang, Yaxin Xiao, Ruixin Yang, Ruobing Chao
Chronic heart failure (CHF) is a clinical syndrome with the pathological manifestations of the left ventricular diastolic and/or systolic dysfunction caused by various cardiac diseases (Chinese Society of Cardiology and Editorial board of Chinese Journal of Cardiology, 2014). Signs and symptoms commonly include shortness of breath, excessive tiredness, leg swelling and exercise limitation (Maeder et al., 2010). Approximately 1–2% of adult populations in developed countries suffer from CHF, in which prevalence has increased to ≥ 10% among persons aged ≥70 years (Juillière et al., 2013). At present, the commonly used clinical medicines for the treatment of CHF are furosemide, hydrochlorothiazide, captopril, metoprolol, telmisartan and digoxin. Some traditional Chinese medicines, such as “Sini Decoction” (Miao et al., 2015; Zhao et al., 2009), “Shenfu Decoction/Injection” (Song et al., 2012; Wei et al., 2015) and “Qili Qiangxin Capsules” (Li et al., 2013), were also used for treatment of CHF in China. In these traditional formulas, the lateral roots of Aconitum carmichaelii Debx. (“Fuzi” in Chinese) is a commonly used ingredient.
Guizhi-Shaoyao-Zhimu decoction attenuates bone erosion in rats that have collagen-induced arthritis via modulating NF‐κB signalling to suppress osteoclastogenesis
Published in Pharmaceutical Biology, 2021
Shu-jun Wei, Qing Zhang, Yong-jing Xiang, Lan-yu Peng, Wei Peng, Qiang Ren, Yong-xiang Gao
Guizhi-Shaoyao-Zhimu decoction (GSZD), a well-known Chinese medicine formula, was first recorded in the Synopsis of Prescriptions of the Golden Chamber. GSZD is composed of the twigs of Cinnamomum cassia (L.) J. Presl (Lauraceae), the radix of Cynanchum otophyllum CK Schneid (Paeoniaceae), the rhizome of Anemarrhena asphodeloides Bunge (Liliaceae), the radix and rhizome of Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch. ex DC. (Leguminosae), the whole plant of Ephedra sinica Stapf (Ephedraceae), the rhizome of Zingiber officinale Roscoe (Zingiberaceae), the rhizome of Atractylodes macrocephala Koidz (Asteraceae), the radix of Saposhnikovia divaricata (Turcz.) Schischk. (Umbelliferae) and the processed lateralis radix of Aconitum carmichaelii Debeaux (Ranunculaceae). The GSZD has been widely applied to treat arthritis and its related diseases for more than 1000 years. Clinical studies have demonstrated that GSZD can reduce inflammatory responses, suppress immunity, improve microcirculation and reduce joint swelling and pain. Due to these properties, this decoction has been used clinically as a reliable alternative and complementary approach to treating RA (Guo et al. 2016; Daily et al. 2017). However, the mechanistic basis for the beneficial effects of GSZD in the treatment of RA remains to be identified. As such, herein we sought to determine the anti-bone destruction properties of GSZD in rats with type II collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) and the effect of GSZD on the induction of OCs by RANKL, and to identify the potential mechanisms responsible for the activity of the decoction. The obtained information would be beneficial for the expansion GSZD clinical utility.
Nephrotoxicity induced by natural compounds from herbal medicines – a challenge for clinical application
Published in Critical Reviews in Toxicology, 2022
Jinqiu Rao, Ting Peng, Na Li, Yuan Wang, Caiqin Yan, Kai Wang, Feng Qiu
The purpose of HMs processing is aim to eliminate or reduce the toxicity, intensity, or side effects of drugs. Xanthium fructus, crotons fructus, abrin and ricin can be used after being processed by frying, because in the process of frying, high temperature makes the irreversible degeneration of toxic proteins, leading to volatilization of toxic volatile oil (Jackson et al. 2006; Song 2013; Shan 2019). Additionally, Aconitum carmichaelii Debx. need to be boiled for more than two hours, so that the diester-type alkaloids can be hydrolyzed into less toxic products (Wong et al. 2019). Alkaloids from Aconitum were not only the main medicinal but also toxic components of Fuzi. Modern pharmaceutical research suggests that during the processing (stir-fried and steamed), the toxic components are hydrolyzed and their structures were changed to form a single ester type of alkaloid, so as to reduce the toxicity and facilitate oral administration (Yang, Dai, et al. 2019; Zhang and Zhao 2019). The processed products of rhubarb (raw, cooked, alcohol-processed and charcoal-processed) were widely used in modern clinical practice in China. After being treated with wine or vinegar, the glycosidic bonds of anthraquinone components in rhubarb were broken at high temperatures, as well as a large number of free anthraquinones (especially emodin and chrysophanol) were produced. As a result, the toxicity, laxative and gastrointestinal irritation of rhubarb were greatly reduced (Zhu et al. 2016). Besides, frying and roasting are the most commonly used methods for reducing toxicity and increasing the efficiency of HMs containing AAs. Vinegar roasting can reduce the trace aristolochic acid salt in processed products, which is easy to decoct into AAs for removing AAs or making AAs unable to decoct (Wang et al. 2005).