Detection of endotoxin contamination in Chinese herbs by NF-κB activity-based reporter assays

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Y.-H. Hsu ◽  
S.-L. Fu
Keyword(s):  
Chinese Herbs ◽  
Endotoxin Contamination ◽  
Reporter Assays

Evaluation of EndoTrap® blue for removing endotoxin contamination from Echinacea extracts

Planta Medica ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 72 (11) ◽  
Author(s):  
S Gusenleitner ◽  
K Woelkart ◽  
S Barth ◽  
R Bauer
Keyword(s):  
Endotoxin Contamination

Integrated Quantitative Analysis of the Phosphoproteome and Transcriptome in Tamoxifen-resistant Breast Cancer*

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lungwani Muungo
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
High Rate ◽  
System Level ◽  
Clinical Samples ◽  
Transcriptome Data ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Reporter Assays ◽  
Treated Breast ◽  
Mcf 7 ◽  
Resistant Cells

Quantitative phosphoproteome and transcriptome analysisof ligand-stimulated MCF-7 human breast cancer cells wasperformed to understand the mechanisms of tamoxifen resistanceat a system level. Phosphoproteome data revealed thatWT cells were more enriched with phospho-proteins thantamoxifen-resistant cells after stimulation with ligands.Surprisingly, decreased phosphorylation after ligand perturbationwas more common than increased phosphorylation.In particular, 17?-estradiol induced down-regulation inWT cells at a very high rate. 17?-Estradiol and the ErbBligand heregulin induced almost equal numbers of up-regulatedphospho-proteins in WT cells. Pathway and motifactivity analyses using transcriptome data additionallysuggested that deregulated activation of GSK3? (glycogensynthasekinase 3?) and MAPK1/3 signaling might be associatedwith altered activation of cAMP-responsive elementbindingprotein and AP-1 transcription factors intamoxifen-resistant cells, and this hypothesis was validatedby reporter assays. An examination of clinical samples revealedthat inhibitory phosphorylation of GSK3? at serine 9was significantly lower in tamoxifen-treated breast cancerpatients that eventually had relapses, implying that activationof GSK3? may be associated with the tamoxifen-resistantphenotype. Thus, the combined phosphoproteomeand transcriptome data set analyses revealed distinct signal

Analysis of Chinese herbal formulae recommended for COVID-19 in different schemes in China: A data mining Approach

2020 ◽  
Vol 23 ◽  
Author(s):  
LiWei Yin ◽  
YaCen Gao ◽  
ZiPing Li ◽  
MengYu Wang ◽  
KaiXin Chen
Keyword(s):  
Data Mining ◽  
Early Stage ◽  
Herbal Medicines ◽  
Chinese Herbs ◽  
Recovery Stage ◽  
Prescription Pattern ◽  
Middle Stage ◽  
Chinese Herbal ◽  
Severe Stage ◽  
Herbal Formulae

Background: Novel coronavirus pneumonia (NCP), or coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), is a worldwide health threat that has affected millions of people globally. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has been introduced for the treatment of COVID-19. However, efficacy differs among herbal medicines, and the ideal prescription pattern for TCM herbal formulae for COVID-19 treatment needs to be explored. Therefore, the data mining method has been used in this study to analyze the TCM prescription pattern for COVID-19. Objective: The aim of this study was to analyze the TCM prescription pattern in Regional Schemes in China for COVID-19 in order to provide a new reference for the use of TCM in COVID-19 treatment. Method: By searching the TCM treatment protocols of COVID-19 in 23 Regional Schemes, TCM syndromes and herbal medicines were analyzed by data mining. The Ancient and Modern Medical Case Cloud Platform (V2.1 personal Edition) was used to perform frequency statistics, correlation analysis, and cluster analysis. A total of 82 TCM syndromes and 171 Chinese herbal medicines were found. The course of the disease can be divided into the early stage, middle stage, severe stage, and recovery stage. Results: In the early stage, the focus is primarily on resolving dampness, dispelling cold, and diffusing the lungs. In the middle stage, the treatment priority is clearing heat and resolving toxins, promoting lung function, and relieving asthma. In the severe stage, the focus is on tonifying Qi, restoring Yang, and relieving depletion of Yin and Yang. In the recovery stage, the main treatment is to invigorate the spleen and regulate Qi, tonify Qi, nourish Yin, and clear residual disease evil. There are certain differences between the Regional Schemes and the Nation Schemes, but the core prescription pattern of the former is consistent with the latter. The effectiveness of these 171 Chinese herbs include but are not limited to inhibiting COVID-19, strengthening immune system function, preventing heart failure, acting as antioxidants, oxidative stress inhibitory effects, maintaining organ function, and improving leukocyte survival. Conclusion: This study may help to improve understanding of TCM herbal prescription pattern, practices, reveal the efficacy of combinations of Chinese herbs, and provide new ideas for TCM treatment for COVID-19.

Prospects for Discovering the Secondary Metabolites of Cordyceps Sensu Lato by the Integrated Strategy

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
pp. 97-120
Author(s):  
Shabana Bibi ◽  
Yuan-Bing Wang ◽  
De-Xiang Tang ◽  
Mohammad Amjad Kamal ◽  
Hong Yu
Keyword(s):  
Drug Design ◽  
Biological Activities ◽  
Design Methods ◽  
Chinese Herbs ◽  
Active Metabolites ◽  
Computer Aided Drug Design ◽  
Design Concepts ◽  
Conventional Drug ◽  
Computer Aided ◽  
Design Techniques

: Some species of Cordyceps sensu lato are famous Chinese herbs with significant biological activities, often used as edible food and traditional medicine in China. Cordyceps represents the largest entomopathogenic group of fungi, including 40 genera and 1339 species in three families and incertae sedis of Hypocreales. Objective: Most of the Cordyceps-derivatives have been approved clinically for the treatment of various diseases such as diabetes, cancers, inflammation, cardiovascular, renal and neurological disorders and are used worldwide as supplements and herbal drugs, but there is still need for highly efficient Cordyceps-derived drugs for fatal diseases with approval of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Methods: Computer-aided drug design concepts could improve the discovery of putative Cordyceps- derived medicine within less time and low budget. The integration of computer-aided drug design methods with experimental validation has contributed to the successful discovery of novel drugs. Results: This review focused on modern taxonomy, active metabolites, and modern drug design techniques that could accelerate conventional drug design and discovery of Cordyceps s. l. Successful application of computer-aided drug design methods in Cordyceps research has been discussed. Conclusion: It has been concluded that computer-aided drug design techniques could influence the multiple target-focused drug design, because each metabolite of Cordyceps has shown significant activities for the various diseases with very few or no side effects.

Interference of Gold Nanoparticles with In vitro Endotoxin Detection Assays

2020 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 204-213 ◽  
Author(s):  
Melissa A. Vetten ◽  
Mary Gulumian
Keyword(s):  
Gold Nanoparticles ◽  
Gold Nanoparticle ◽  
Surface Reactivity ◽  
In Vitro Assays ◽  
Limulus Amebocyte Lysate ◽  
Chromogenic Assay ◽  
Nanoparticle Suspensions ◽  
Endotoxin Contamination ◽  
Factor C

Background: Endotoxin-free engineered nanoparticle suspensions are imperative for their successful applications in the field of nanomedicine as well as in the investigations in their toxicity. Gold nanoparticles are known to interfere with various in vitro assays due to their optical properties and potential for surface reactivity. In vitro endotoxin testing assays are known to be susceptible to interference caused by the sample being tested. Objective: This study aimed to identify a preferred assay for the testing of endotoxin contamination in gold nanoparticle suspensions. Methods: The interference by gold nanoparticles on three assays namely, the commonly used limulus amebocyte lysate chromogenic assay, the limulus amebocyte lysate gel-clot method, and the less common recombinant Factor C (rFC) assay, was tested. Results: Possible interference could be observed with all three assays. The interference with the absorbance- based chromogenic assay could not be overcome by dilution; whilst the qualitative nature of the gel-clot assay excluded the possibility of distinguishing between a false positive result due to enhancement of the sensitivity of the assay, and genuine endotoxin contamination. However, interference with the rFC assay was easily overcome through dilution. Conclusion: The rFC assay is recommended as an option for endotoxin contamination detection in gold nanoparticle suspensions.

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