The American journal of Chinese medicine
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Mitochondrial metabolism plays a crucial role in insulin resistance and insulin secretion in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D). Some studies have focused on how Cassia tora extracts affect insulin resistance and hyperglycemia. However, the effects of Cassia tora extracts on mitochondrial dysfunction associated with insulin secretion have not been well explained. ⋯ Furthermore, we examined how CSEE regulates the basal mechanism of insulin secretion through mitochondrial functions. Our experimental data suggest that pancreatic mitochondrial metabolism in HFD mice is enhanced to compensate for constrained glucose consumption. HFD-fed mice treated with CSEE showed improved pancreatic mitochondrial functions resulting in alleviation of insulin resistance at target tissue as well as basal hyperinsulinemia.
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Panax notoginseng is the most widely used Chinese medicinal herb for the prevention and treatment of ischemic diseases. Its main active ingredients are saponins, including ginsenoside Rb1, ginsenoside Rg1, and notoginsenoside R1, among others. ⋯ Regarding cell regeneration, P. notoginseng not only promotes the proliferation and differentiation of neural stem cells, but also protects neurons, endothelial cells and astrocytes in cerebral ischemia. In conclusion, P. notoginseng may treat cerebrovascular diseases through multiple pharmacological effects, and the most critical ones need further investigation.
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A previous study presented that glycyrrhizic acid as the hepatoprotective agent inhibits total parenteral nutrition-associated acute liver injury in rats. However, the anticancer effect and mechanism of glycyrrhizic acid in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is ambiguous. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effect of glycyrrhizic acid on apoptosis dysregulation and metastatic potential in HCC in vitro and in vivo. ⋯ Glycyrrhizic acid also significantly triggered apoptosis and extrinsic/intrinsic apoptotic signaling transduction. In addition, PD98059 (ERK inhibitor) and LY294002 (AKT inhibitor) obviously reduced cell invasion and expression of metastasis-associated proteins. Taken together, these results indicated that glycyrrhizic acid induces apoptosis through extrinsic/intrinsic apoptotic signaling pathways and diminishes EGFR/AKT/ERK-modulated metastatic potential in HCC in vitro and in vivo.
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Astragalusmembranaceus is the most popular traditional Chinese medicine for managing vital energy deficiency. Its injectable polysaccharide PG2 has been used for relieving cancer-related fatigue, and PG2 has immune-modulatory and anti-inflammatory effects. In this study, we explored the effects of PG2 in lung adenocarcinoma A549 and CL1-2 cells and investigated its anticancer activity, and the results were validated in severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) mice. ⋯ Consistent with the previous finding that MIF regulates matrix metalloproteinase-13 (MMP-13) and AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), treatment with PG2 reduced MMP-13 and activated AMPK in A549 and CL1-2 cells in this study. In SCID mice injected with A549 cells through the tail vein, intraperitoneal injection with PG2 reduced lung and abdominal metastases in parallel with decreased immunohistochemical staining of AXL, vimentin, MMP-13, and MIF in the tumor. Collectively, data revealed a potential application of PG2 in integrative cancer treatment through the suppression of MIF in cancer cells and their aggressiveness.
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Unlike Western medicines with single-target, the traditional Chinese medicines (TCM) always exhibit diverse curative effects against multiple diseases through its "multi-components" and "multi-targets" manifestations. However, discovery and identification of the major therapeutic diseases and the underlying molecular mechanisms of TCM remain to be challenged. In the current study, we, for the first time, applied an integrated strategy by combining network pharmacology with experimental evaluation, for exploration and demonstration of the therapeutic potentials and the underlying possible mechanisms of a classic TCM formula, Huanglian Jiedu decoction (HLJDD). ⋯ HLJDD exerted its antitumor activity on HCC in vitro, as demonstrated by impaired cell proliferation and colony formation abilities, induced apoptosis and cell cycle arrest, as well as inhibited migratory and invasive properties of HCC cells. The orthotopic HCC implantation mouse model further demonstrated the remarkable antitumour effects of HLJDD on HCC in vivo. In conclusion, our study demonstrated the effectiveness of integrating network pharmacology with experimental study for discovery and identification of the major therapeutic diseases and the underlying molecular mechanisms of TCM.