This study leveraged the potent anti-proliferative and anti-metastatic properties of Platycodonis Radix-Curcumae Rhizoma (PR-CR) herbal combination, in conjunction with silibinin-loaded nanoparticles (NPs), a key component of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). The strategy focused on modulating the tumor microenvironment and inhibiting cell metastasis through the combined effects on tumor cells and their surrounding milieu. The impact of PR-CR on cellular uptake of nanoparticles and in vitro inhibition of breast cancer proliferation and metastasis was investigated; this analysis aimed to provide a scientific rationale for increasing nanoparticle absorption and bolstering therapeutic efficacy. intracellular biophysics Silibinin-laden lipid-polymer nanoparticles (LPNs), prepared via the nanoprecipitation method, underwent transmission electron microscopy analysis. The NPs exhibited a spherical or quasi-spherical form, showcasing a clear core-shell configuration. 1074 nanometers represented the mean particle size, whereas the zeta potential was -2753 millivolts. A cellular uptake assay using the in vitro Caco-2/E12 coculture cell model and confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) was conducted. The findings indicated that PR-CR could facilitate the uptake of nanoparticles. Furthermore, an in situ intestinal absorption assay, employing a CLSM vertical scanning technique, demonstrated that PR-CR enhanced the absorption of NPs by the enterocytes in mice. A study of the inhibitory impact of NPs on the proliferation and migration of 4T1 cells was conducted, employing 4T1 breast cancer cells and co-cultured 4T1/WML2 cells, respectively. prokaryotic endosymbionts The CCK8 assay results highlighted that 4T1 breast cancer cell proliferation was more effectively inhibited by nanoparticles incorporating PR-CR. Analysis of the wound healing assay revealed that nanoparticles incorporating PR-CR significantly reduced the migratory capacity of 4T1 breast cancer cells. This study expands upon existing research on oral absorption of Traditional Chinese Medicine nanoparticles, and moreover, provides a fresh outlook on leveraging Traditional Chinese Medicine to mitigate the spread of breast cancer.
The Rutaceae family encompasses Zanthoxylum, a genus containing 81 species and 36 varieties native to China. Zanthoxylum species are commonly employed as culinary seasonings. Zanthoxylum plants have been the subject of in-depth study by scholars across China and internationally in recent years, leading to the discovery that the distinctive numbing feeling is attributable to amides. Amides are definitively identified as a crucial material for pharmacological effects, prominently in anti-inflammatory analgesia, anesthesia, and other related therapeutic contexts. Reported pharmacological activity of 123 amides isolated from 26 Zanthoxylum species is summarized, aiding clinical application, new drug development, and promoting sustainable utilization of this plant resource.
Arsenic, ubiquitous in nature and historically used in medicine, is also present in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), wherein realgar (As2S2 or As4S4), orpiment (As2S3), and white arsenic (As2O3) are notable examples. The widespread use of TCM compound formulas, featuring realgar, is observed among the above representative medications. The 2020 Chinese Pharmacopoeia catalogs 37 Chinese patent medicines, with realgar being one of them. A common method in elemental analysis primarily concentrates on determining the absolute quantity of elements, ignoring the study of their speciation and oxidation states. The form of arsenic substantially influences its activity, toxicity, bioavailability, and metabolic pathways in vivo, leading to different biological responses from various forms of arsenic. For this reason, the investigation of arsenic's speciation and valence is crucial for a thorough appraisal of Traditional Chinese Medicine products which include arsenic and their compound formulas. This article scrutinized four facets of arsenic speciation and valence: its properties, the process of absorption and metabolism, its toxic effects, and the analytical methods used for assessment.
Throughout the history of China, the fruits of Lycium barbarum, both a traditional Chinese herb and functional food, have been utilized extensively. L. barbarum polysaccharides (LBPs), as predominant active components, demonstrate immunomodulatory, antioxidant, hypoglycemic, neuroprotective, anti-tumor, and prebiotic activities. LBPs' biological efficacy is contingent upon a complex interplay of their molecular weight, monosaccharide composition, glycosidic bond type, branching degree, protein content, chemical modifications, and spatial structure. This paper's approach to exploring LBPs involved a systematic combination and integration of the advancements in the fields of structure, function, and structure-activity relationships, drawing upon prior work from this research group. A simultaneous assessment of the impediments to defining the structure-activity relationship of LBPs was made, and possible solutions were proposed, with the goal of encouraging the strategic use of LBPs and exploring their health-promoting potential in detail.
Due to its high morbidity and mortality rates, heart failure poses a substantial impediment to human societal advancement. Due to the intricate pathology and limited treatment choices, the identification of new disease targets and the development of new treatment methods is a pressing matter. Macrophages, innate immune cells that have become inextricably linked to the evolution of heart failure, are indispensable for maintaining cardiac homeostasis and adapting to stressful situations. Significant research on cardiac macrophages has emerged in recent years, highlighting their potential role in heart failure intervention, with macrophages becoming a focus of increased attention. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) significantly influences the modulation of inflammatory responses, the management of heart failure, and the preservation of homeostasis. This article reviews research on cardiac macrophages and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) applications, examining the source and classification of cardiac macrophages, and the link between macrophages and cardiac inflammation, myocardial fibrosis, cardiac angiogenesis, and cardiac electrical conduction. This provides a foundation for further basic research and clinical applications.
We aim to investigate the expression, prognosis, and clinical meaning of C5orf46 in gastric cancer, and to study the interrelation between active components of C5orf46 and traditional Chinese medications. Utilizing the ggplot2 package, a differential expression analysis was conducted on C5orf46 within gastric cancer and normal tissues. Survival analysis, univariate regression analysis, and multivariate regression analysis all utilized the survival package. The impact of C5orf46 expression in gastric cancer on overall survival was assessed through the application of nomogram analysis. The GSVA package determined the quantity of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes. The Coremine, TCMSP, and PubChem databases were employed to identify potential components connected to the C5orf46 gene and traditional Chinese medicine. Employing molecular docking, the binding power of potential components with C5orf46 was characterized. Cell experiments were carried out to analyze the expression levels of the C5orf46 gene in blank, model, and drug treatment cell groups. C5orf46 expression levels were noticeably elevated in gastric cancer tissues when compared to healthy tissues, exhibiting a stronger predictive capacity, especially in early-stage cancers (T2, N0, M0). The tumor node metastasis (TNM) stage of gastric cancer is positively correlated with C5orf46 expression levels, and negatively correlated with the probability of patient survival. Gastric cancer showed a positive correlation between C5orf46 expression and helper T cells 1, as well as macrophage infiltration; however, an inverse correlation was observed with B cells, central memory T cells, helper T cells 17, and follicular helper T cells. Analysis of C5orf46 yielded seven potential components. Three of these exhibited activity during screening, correlating with five traditional Chinese medicines—Sojae Semen Nigrum, Jujubae Fructus, Trichosanthis Fructus, Silybi Fructus, and Bambusae Concretio Silicea. Molecular docking experiments revealed that C5orf46 possesses a good binding capacity for sialic acid and adenosine monophosphate (AMP). Comparison of RT-qPCR and Western blot results showed that the drug treatment groups exhibited significantly lower levels of C5orf46 mRNA and protein expression than the model group. The lowest expression level was exhibited at the 40 mol/L concentration. Mevastatin This research showcases the potential for using traditional Chinese medicine compounds in the clinical treatment of gastric cancer and other cancers.
This investigation delved into the impact and underlying mechanisms of Stellera chamaejasme extract (SCE) on the multidrug resistance phenomenon in breast cancer. The chemotherapy-sensitive breast cancer cell line, MCF-7, and the adriamycin (ADR)-resistant MCF-7/ADR cell line were chosen for the experimental work. The MTT assay was applied to identify cell proliferation activity. Pi staining facilitated the detection of the cell cycle's progression. Using 4',6-diamidino-2-phenylindole dihydrochloride (DAPI) staining and flow cytometry, apoptosis was measured. The use of Dansylcadaverine (MDC) staining and GFP-LC3B-Mcherry adenovirus transfection allowed for the determination of autophagy levels. The protein expression levels of Bcl-2, Bax, caspase-9, caspase-3, LC3B, p62, and Beclin-1 were evaluated using Western blot. In the results, SCE exhibited a powerful effect on significantly reducing the proliferation rate of both sensitive and resistant breast cancer cell lines. The 0.59 ADR factor proved significantly higher than the drug resistance factor, which was 0.53. The SCE treatment produced a marked increase in the percentage of sensitive/resistant cells compartmentalized within the G0/G1 phase.