Therapeutic Effects of Shikonin on Skin Diseases: A Review

Shikonin is one of the primary active components extracted from the dried root ofZicao (Lithospermum erythrorhizon, Onosma paniculata, or Arnebia euchroma), a traditional Chinese herbal medicine. Shikonin is known to not only exert anti-proliferative, anti-inflammatory, and anti-angiogenic activities, but also play a crucial role in triggering the production of reactive oxygen species, suppressing the release of exosomes, and inducing apoptosis. Increasing evidence suggests that shikonin has a protective effect against skin diseases, including psoriasis, melanoma, and hypertrophic scars. In order to evaluate the application potential of shikonin in the treatment of skin diseases, this review is the first of its kind to provide comprehensive and up-to-date information regarding the uses of shikonin and its derivatives on skin diseases and its underlying mechanisms. In this review, we have focused on the signaling pathways and cellular targets involved in the anti-dermatosis effects of shikonin to bridge the gaps in the literature, thereby providing scientific support for the research and development of new drugs from a traditional medicinal plant.

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Guizhi-Fuling-Wan, a Traditional Chinese Herbal Medicine, Ameliorates Memory Deficits and Neuronal Apoptosis in the Streptozotocin-Induced Hyperglycemic Rodents via the Decrease of Bax/Bcl2 Ratio and Caspase-3 Expression

Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine ◽

10.1155/2012/656150 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 2012 ◽

pp. 1-11 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Kuo-Jen Wu ◽

Yuh-Fung Chen ◽

Huei-Yann Tsai ◽

Chi-Rei Wu ◽

W. Gibson Wood

Keyword(s):

Diabetes Mellitus ◽

Herbal Medicine ◽

Chinese Herbal Medicine ◽

Neuronal Apoptosis ◽

Caspase 3 ◽

Memory Deficits ◽

Therapeutic Effects ◽

Apoptosis Pathway ◽

Traditional Chinese Herbal Medicine ◽

Chinese Herbal

Brain neuronal apoptosis and cognitive impairment are associated with hyperglycemia and diabetes mellitus. The present study determined if the Chinese herbal medicineGuizhi-Fuling-Wan(GFW) would reduce memory loss and neuronal apoptosis in streptozotocin- (STZ-) induced hyperglycemic rodents. Two weeks after STZ induction, GFW was orally administered once daily for 7 days. GFW significantly improved spatial memory deficits in STZ-induced hyperglycemic mice. GFW decreased TUNEL-positive cells and caspase-3 positive cells in STZ-induced hyperglycemic rats. It also was found that GFW treatment reduced caspase-3 protein levels and increased levels of the antiapoptotic protein Bcl-2 that were indicative of neuroprotection. The protective therapeutic effects of GFW on neuronal apoptosis and cognition deficits caused by STZ-induced hyperglycemia may be due in part to inhibition of the cellular apoptosis pathway. GFW may have therapeutic effects in patients with diabetes-mellitus-induced neuropathology.

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A Mini Review of Progress in Free Radicals and Conformational Research of Hypocrollins

Advanced Materials Research ◽

10.4028/www.scientific.net/amr.554-556.2085 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 554-556 ◽

pp. 2085-2088

Author(s):

Ping Lv ◽

Liu Zhi Yang ◽

Tao Wang ◽

Feng Tang

Keyword(s):

Human Immunodeficiency Virus ◽

Free Radicals ◽

Herbal Medicine ◽

Antiviral Activity ◽

Skin Diseases ◽

Antitumor Property ◽

Traditional Chinese Herbal Medicine ◽

Chinese Herbal ◽

Immunodeficiency Virus ◽

Hypocrellin B

Hypocrellins, natural photosensitizers including hypocrellin A (HA) and hypocrellin B (HB), have been used as a traditional Chinese herbal medicine to cure various skin diseases. Hypocrellins have excellent antiviral activity, which can inhibit the growth of human immunodeficiency virus. They also exhibit significant light-induced antitumor property. In this article, the progress on of free radicals research and conformational research Hypocrollins is introduced.

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A Recipe Composed of Chinese Herbal Active Components Regulates Hepatic Lipid Metabolism of NAFLDIn VivoandIn Vitro

BioMed Research International ◽

10.1155/2016/1026852 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 2016 ◽

pp. 1-12 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Sheng-xi Meng ◽

Qian Liu ◽

Ya-jun Tang ◽

Wen-jing Wang ◽

Qing-shan Zheng ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Lipid Metabolism ◽

Fatty Liver ◽

Chlorogenic Acid ◽

Uniform Design ◽

Multiple Regression Equation ◽

Therapeutic Effects ◽

Active Components ◽

Chinese Herbal ◽

Screening Experiment ◽

Atractylodes Macrocephala

This study is to investigate the therapeutic effects of the recipe composed ofAtractylodes macrocephalapolysaccharide, chlorogenic acid, and geniposide (named ACG) on experimental nonalcoholic fatty liver (NAFL). The research was divided into two parts as screening experiment and verification experiment. In the screening experiment, we used high-fat diet (HFD) induced NAFL rat model and uniform design to get the recipe from five Chinese herbal active components. In the verification experiment, HFD induced fatty liver rat and mouse NAFL models and free fatty acid (FFA) induced HepG2 cell model were used to verify the effects of ACG. According to the multiple regression equation of the hepatic triglyceride (TG) contents of each group in the screening experiment, the recipe ACG was obtained and the doses ofAtractylodes macrocephalapolysaccharide, chlorogenic acid, and geniposide for rats were 266.67, 3.33, and 45 mg/kg, respectively. The results of verification experiment verified that ACG could significantly reduce hepatic TG contents of NAFL rats and mice, as well as the cellular TG content of FFA-induced HepG2 cells. ACG could also improve HOMA-IR and hepatic mitochondrial ultrastructure of NAFL mice. Our study verified that ACG recipe could regulate lipid metabolism of NAFLin vivoandin vitro.

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Therapeutic Effects of Bee Venom

Chemical Science International Journal ◽

10.9734/csji/2019/v26i130078 ◽

2019 ◽

pp. 1-5

Author(s):

Rezzan Aliyazicioglu

Keyword(s):

Inflammatory Diseases ◽

Scientific Evidence ◽

Bee Venom ◽

Therapeutic Effects ◽

Active Components ◽

The Central Nervous System ◽

Underlying Mechanisms ◽

Analgesic Activities ◽

History Of Use ◽

Pain Symptoms

Bee venom (BV) has a long history of use in Korea for the relief of pain symptoms and for the treatment of various inflammatory diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis. There is some evidence for the underlying mechanisms involved in the venom’s anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities. Recent clinical and experimental reearch has confirmed that the venom and its active components can be applied to a broad spectrum of immunological and neurodegenerative diseases, including autoimmune diseases and Parkinson’s disease. BV has been shown to exhibit these effects by modulating immune cells in the periphery, together with glial cells and neurons in the central nervous system. This review sets out the latest scientific evidence concerning the therapeutic effects of BV and various components thereof in the context of a number of diseases, and provides a detailed description of the mechanisms.

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A Mini Review of Progress in Chemical Synthesis and Photochemistry of Hypocrollins

Advanced Materials Research ◽

10.4028/www.scientific.net/amr.554-556.1867 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 554-556 ◽

pp. 1867-1871

Author(s):

Wen Yu Shi ◽

Ping Lv

Keyword(s):

Human Immunodeficiency Virus ◽

Free Radicals ◽

Herbal Medicine ◽

Antiviral Activity ◽

Skin Diseases ◽

Antitumor Property ◽

Traditional Chinese Herbal Medicine ◽

Chinese Herbal ◽

Immunodeficiency Virus ◽

Hypocrellin B

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Metabolomics integrated with transcriptomics reveals the distribution of iridoid and crocin metabolic flux in Gardenia jasminoides Ellis

PLoS ONE ◽

10.1371/journal.pone.0256802 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 16 (9) ◽

pp. e0256802

Author(s):

Yuan Pan ◽

Xiao Zhao ◽

Yu Wang ◽

Jun Tan ◽

Da-xia Chen

Keyword(s):

Metabolic Pathways ◽

Metabolic Flux ◽

Developmental Stages ◽

Genomic Library ◽

Active Components ◽

Traditional Chinese Herbal Medicine ◽

Chinese Herbal ◽

Gardenia Jasminoides ◽

Natural Colorants ◽

Metabolite Abundance

Gardenia jasminoides Ellis (G. jasminoides) fruits are used as a resource for obtaining natural colorants and in traditional Chinese herbal medicine. However, G. jasminoides presents a relatively long flowering period and different ripening periods, so there are significant differences in the accumulation of metabolites in fruits of different colors. In addition, the complete metabolic pathways of iridoidsand crocins, which are used as medicinal composition of G. jasminoides, are poorly understood at present. In this research, we comprehensively compared the transcriptome and metabolites profiles of the developmental stages and locations of iridoid and crocin biosynthesis. A large number of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and differentially accumulated metabolites (DAMs) were detected in four groups of samples, and clear variation in the pattern of metabolite abundance and gene expression were observed among different fruit colors and parts. Geniposide and gardenoside mainly accumulated in the sarcocarp of green fruit (GFS) and the sarcocarp of red fruit (FS), respectively. Crocin mainly accumulated in the peel and sarcocarp of red fruits. In the iridoid pathway, we hypothesized that there was a transport mechanism from the sarcocarp to the peel of G. jasminoides because of the inconsistent expression of G8O, 10-HGO and IS associated with differences in fruit ripening. UGTs play an important role in the biosynthesis of the active components of G. jasminoides. Combined transcriptome and metabonomics analysis showed a negative correlation between the biosynthesis of geniposide and crocin. The redirection of the metabolic flux and the regulation of key enzymes may be the main reasons for the changes in the biosynthesis of iridoid and crocin in G. jasminoides fruit. Our study expended valuable information for functional genomic library and provided new insights for metabolic engineering of secondary metabolite in G. Jasminoides.

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Network pharmacology reveals hub bio-active ingredients and possible mechanisms of a Chinese herbal prescription Ru-kang-yin against breast cancer

10.21203/rs.3.rs-69347/v1 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Shirun Chu ◽

Fang Chen ◽

Jun Li ◽

Mei Yang ◽

Delin Xu

Keyword(s):

Breast Cancer ◽

Therapeutic Targets ◽

Network Pharmacology ◽

Pathway Enrichment Analysis ◽

Active Ingredients ◽

Active Components ◽

Active Compounds ◽

Chinese Herbal ◽

Underlying Mechanisms ◽

Herbal Prescription

Abstract Background Ru-kang-yin (RKY), a traditional Chinese herbal prescription, has been clinically used as adjuvant therapy for breast cancer via inhibiting cell invasion, proliferation, and promoting apoptosis. However, its anti-breast cancer bio-active ingredients and possible mechanisms are still unclear. In the present study, the hub bio-active compounds and underlying mechanisms of RKY in treatment of breast cancer were systematically elucidated by the approach of network pharmacology. Methods By using network pharmacology approach, a total of 53 nonredundant bio-active components met the drug screening criteria and 155 putative targets of RKY in treatment of breast cancer were identified. Besides, 381 potential breast cancer-related targets were obtained. Among of the targets, 56 shared targets of RKY and breast cancer were acquired. Results Based on topological network analysis of PPI network of shared targets, 19 hub therapeutic targets of RKY against breast cancer were obtained. GO and KEGG pathway enrichment analysis of core therapeutic targets showed that the core targets remarkably involved in multiple biological functions and KEGG pathways which mainly participated in inflammatory response, cell proliferation, and apoptosis. Conclusions These findings uncover the hub bio-active compounds and underlying mechanisms of RKY against breast cancer and provide crucial information regarding using RKY as a promising candidate for treating breast cancer.

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Network Pharmacology-based to Investigate Pharmacological Mechanisms of Active Ingredients in Gegen Qinlian Pill to Ameliorate Irinotecan-induced Diarrhea

10.21203/rs.3.rs-107306/v1 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Yihan Wu ◽

Yanfen Cheng ◽

Yuhan Yang ◽

Di Wang ◽

Xiaoqin Yang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Serum Sample ◽

Interaction Network ◽

Chemical Compounds ◽

Network Pharmacology ◽

Therapeutic Effects ◽

Active Components ◽

Promising Strategy ◽

Gut Toxicity ◽

Underlying Mechanisms ◽

Compound Target

Abstract Background: The application of natural extracts or compounds derived from Chinese medicine is deemed to a promising strategy to prevent irinotecan (CPT-11)-induced gut toxicity. Based on the protective activity of Gegen Qinlian decoction in our previous study, we speculated that Gegen Qinlian Pill (GQP) would exhibit similar therapeutic effects. However, the effective material basis and the potential mechanisms underlying the effect of GQP in the treatment of diarrhea induced by CPT-11 have not been fully elucidated. Herein, we primarily investigated amelioration effect of GQP on the CPT-11 induced gut toxicity, and further explore its anti-diarrhea mechanism.Methods: Firstly, the protective effect of GQP towards alleviating diarrhea in mice following CPT-11 administration was investigated. Furthermore, the effective ingredients of GQP in serum sample of mice by HPLC-Q-TOF-MS analysis was obtained. Next, based on these active components, an interaction network linking “compound-target-pathway” was established. Finally, a predicted mechanism within vivo validation of GQP based on Gene Ontology (GO) functional and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analyses were obtained. Results: A total of 19 chemical compounds derived from the GQP were identified in its serum sample. Then, an interaction network linking “compound-target-pathway” was established to illuminate the interaction between these components absorbed into serum and their targets for diarrhea. GQP exerted a curative effect on diarrhea and diarrhea-related diseases by targeting different targets, regulating inflammation, oxidative stress, and proliferation processes. Conclusion: Taken together, this study provides a novel and scientific strategy to discover the potential effective constituents of herbs or herbal formula, and elucidated basic pharmacological effects and underlying mechanisms of GQP in the treatment of CPT-11 induced gut toxicity.

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Gan-Lu-Yin (Kanroin), Traditional Chinese Herbal Extracts, Reduces Osteoclast Differentiation In Vitro and Prevents Alveolar Bone Resorption in Rat Experimental Periodontitis

Journal of Clinical Medicine ◽

10.3390/jcm10030386 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (3) ◽

pp. 386

Author(s):

Yuji Inagaki ◽

Jun-ichi Kido ◽

Yasufumi Nishikawa ◽

Rie Kido ◽

Eijiro Sakamoto ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Bone Resorption ◽

Alveolar Bone ◽

Osteoclast Differentiation ◽

Raw264.7 Cells ◽

Tartrate Resistant Acid Phosphatase ◽

Therapeutic Effects ◽

Traditional Chinese Herbal Medicine ◽

Chinese Herbal ◽

Experimental Periodontitis

Gan-Lu-Yin (GLY), a traditional Chinese herbal medicine, shows therapeutic effects on periodontitis, but that mechanism is not well known. This study aims to clarify the precise mechanism by investigating the inhibitory effects of GLY extracts on osteoclastogenesis in vitro and on bone resorption in periodontitis in vivo. RAW264.7 cells are cultured with soluble receptor activator of nuclear factor-kappa B (sRANKL) and GLY extracts (0.01–1.0 mg/mL), and stained for tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) to evaluate osteoclast differentiation. Experimental periodontitis is induced by placing a nylon ligature around the second maxillary molar in rats, and rats are administered GLY extracts (60 mg/kg) daily for 20 days. Their maxillae are collected on day 4 and 20, and the levels of alveolar bone resorption and osteoclast differentiation are estimated using micro-computed tomography (CT) and histological analysis, respectively. In RAW264.7 cells, GLY extracts significantly inhibit sRANKL-induced osteoclast differentiation at a concentration of more than 0.05 mg/mL. In experimental periodontitis, administering GLY extracts significantly decreases the number of TRAP-positive osteoclasts in the alveolar bone on day 4, and significantly inhibits the ligature-induced bone resorption on day 20. These results show that GLY extracts suppress bone resorption by inhibiting osteoclast differentiation in experimental periodontitis, suggesting that GLY extracts are potentially useful for oral care in periodontitis.

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