Volatile molecules for COVID-19: A possible pharmacological strategy?

COVID-19 is a novel coronavirus disease with a higher incidence of bilateral pneumonia and pleural effusion. The high pulmonary tropism and contagiousness of the virus, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), have stimulated new approaches to combat its widespread diffusion. In developing new pharmacological strategies, the chemical characteristic of volatility can add therapeutic value to the hypothetical drug candidate. Volatile molecules are characterized by a high vapor pressure and are consequently easily exhaled by the lungs after ingestion. This feature could be exploited from a pharmacological point of view, reaching the site of action in an uncommon way but allowing for drug delivery. In this way, a hypothetical molecule for COVID-19 should have a balance between its lung exhalation characteristics and both antiviral and anti-inflammatory pharmacological action. Here, the feasibility, advantages, and disadvantages of a therapy based on oral administration of possible volatile drugs for COVID-19 will be discussed. Both aerosolized antiviral therapy and oral intake of volatile molecules are briefly reviewed, and an evaluation of 1,8-cineole is provided in view of a possible clinical use and also for asymptomatic COVID-19.     

桃红四物汤化学成分、药理作用、临床应用的研究进展及质量标志物的预测分析

桃红四物汤,活血祛瘀之经典名方。该文对近年来桃红四物汤的化学成分、药理作用以及临床应用研究进展进行总结与分析。目前,桃红四物汤不同提取部位化学成分的研究较为系统,其药理作用研究主要集中在活血化瘀、调经镇痛、促进骨折愈合等方面,临床可应用于多系统、多脏腑疾病的治疗,例如妇科疾病、内科疾病、骨伤科疾病、皮肤科疾病等。在此基础上,依照质量标志物(Q-marker)有效、特有、传递与溯源、可测和处方配伍的"五原则"对桃红四物汤Q-marker进行预测分析,提示阿魏酸、芍药苷、苦杏仁苷、芍药内酯苷、梓醇、没食子酸、羟基红花黄色素A可作为该复方的Q-marker,后续可选择这些Q-marker为指标,根据药材、饮片、中间体、对应实物的量值传递进行桃红四物汤全程质量控制并创建其质量可溯源体系。     

Impact of different types of olive oil on cardiovascular risk factors: A systematic review and network meta-analysis

Background and aimThis network meta-analysis (NMA) compares the effects of different types of olive oil (OO) on cardiovascular risk factors.Methods and resultsLiterature search was conducted on three electronic databases (Medline, Web of Science, and Cochrane Central). Inclusion criteria: Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) (≥3 weeks duration of intervention) comparing at least two of the following types of OO: refined OO (ROO), mixed OO (MOO), low phenolic (extra) virgin OO (LP(E)VOO), and high phenolic (extra) virgin OO (HP(E)VOO). Random-effects NMA was performed for seven outcomes; and surface under the cumulative ranking curve (SUCRA) was estimated, using an analytical approach (P-score). Thirteen RCTs (16 reports) with 611 mainly healthy participants (mean age: 26–70 years) were identified. No differences for total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, triacylglycerols, and diastolic blood pressure were observed comparing ROO, MOO, LP(E)VOO and HP(E)VOO. HP(E)VOO slightly reduce LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C) compared to LP(E)VOO (mean difference [MD]: −0.14 mmol/L, 95%–CI: −0.28, −0.01). Both, HP(E)VOO and LP(E)VOO reduces SBP compared to ROO (range of MD: −2.99 to −2.87 mmHg), and HP(E)VOO may improve oxidized LDL-cholesterol (oxLDL-C) compared to ROO (standardized MD: −0.68, 95%–CI: −1.31, −0.04). In secondary analyses, EVOO may reduce oxLDL-C compared to ROO, and a dose-response relationship between higher intakes of phenolic compounds from OO and lower SBP and oxLDL-C values was detected. HP(E)VOO was ranked as best treatment for LDL-C (P-score: 0.83), oxLDL-C (0.88), and SBP (0.75).ConclusionsHP(E)VOO may improve some cardiovascular risk factors, however, public health implications are limited by overall low or moderate certainty of evidence.     

16种植物挥发油对柏子仁黄曲霉菌的抑制作用考察

目的:从16种植物(香茅、香叶、松节、山苍子、薄荷、干姜、丁香、姜黄、红花椒、肉桂、罗勒、迷迭香、青花椒、竹叶花椒、八角茴香、肉豆蔻)挥发油中筛选出对黄曲霉菌生长有较好抑制效果的植物挥发油。方法:采用平板培养法从柏子仁药材表面分离得到黄曲霉菌,利用水蒸气蒸馏法提取16种植物挥发油,采用滤纸片熏蒸后测定黄曲霉菌的菌落直径,对16种植物挥发油抑制黄曲霉菌生长的效果进行研究。结果:采用性状、显微及DNA条形码鉴定的方法从柏子仁药材上成功分离了黄曲霉菌,上述16种植物挥发油对黄曲霉菌的抑菌率分别为2. 93%,0. 05%,0. 37%,76. 07%,0. 34%,0. 15%,50. 05%,8. 51%,1. 43%,58. 20%,0. 07%,2. 60%,8. 73%,100. 00%,52. 62%,0. 07%。结论:16种植物挥发油对黄曲霉菌均有着不同程度的抑菌活性,其中竹叶花椒挥发油、山苍子挥发油、肉桂挥发油的抑菌效果较好,可为柏子仁生长储藏过程中防治黄曲霉菌的污染提供参考,并为植物挥发油作为中药仓储过程中的抑菌剂提供应用依据。     

The preventive role of wheat germ oil against sertraline‐induced testicular damage in male albino rats

Sertraline is an antidepressant medication used extensively in the therapy of depression. The present investigation was intended to estimate the actual protective role of wheat germ oil on sertraline‐caused testicular injury in albino rats. Sertraline (human therapeutic dose, 15.63 mg/kg) was orally administrated to rats for 28 successive days. Sertraline‐administered rats were concurrently supplemented with wheat germ oil (human therapeutic dose, 68.75 mg/kg) for 28 successive days. Sertraline administration induced an elevation in testicular DNA damage and acute testicular damage illustrated by the histopathological alterations including marked degeneration and necrosis of germ cells lining seminiferous tubules, as well as interstitial oedema, congestion of interstitial blood vessel. Wheat germ oil administration potentially mitigated the histopathological alterations of sertraline‐administered rats. Lipid peroxidation, oxidative stress biomarker, showed a significant elevation in testicular tissue of sertraline‐administered rats. Furthermore, glutathione content and catalase activity were decreased in testicular tissue of sertraline‐administered rats. Serum testosterone level was elevated in sertraline‐administered rats. Wheat germ oil significantly reduced lipid peroxidation of testicular tissue and improved the antioxidant defences. Finally, wheat germ oil has a preventive role against testicular damage induced by sertraline in rats probably via its potential to prevent reactive oxygen species.     

基于UPLC-LTQ-Orbitrap-MS分析刺果番荔枝叶的化学成分

目的利用UPLC-LTQ-Orbitrap-MS技术对刺果番荔枝叶的化学成分进行定性分析。方法采用Waters Acquity UPLC HSS T 3色谱柱(2.1 mm×100 mm,1.8μm),流动相为0.1%甲酸水(A)和乙腈(B)梯度洗脱,流速为0.3 mL/min,进样量2μL,在电喷雾正负离子模式下采集数据。经Reaxys数据库检索番荔枝属类化合物信息,通过质谱信息比对各化合物的m/z值、保留时间、质谱特征碎片等,并结合文献数据对鉴定的化合物进行验证。结果根据各化合物的特征裂解规律,从刺果番荔枝叶中共鉴定出45个化合物,包括16个生物碱类,14个番荔枝内酯类,7个黄酮类和8个其他类化合物,其中以番荔枝内酯类和生物碱类成分居多,与文献报道番荔枝内酯与生物碱类化合物是发挥抗癌的主要活性成分一致。结论利用UPLC-LTQ-Orbitrap-MS技术对刺果番荔枝叶中的化学成分进行了快速、准确的定性分析,为刺果番荔枝叶的提取分离与药效物质基础的研究提供依据。     

HPLC法同时测定健儿膏中8种成分

目的建立HPLC法同时测定健儿膏(党参、山药、甘草等)中白术内酯Ⅲ、白术内酯Ⅰ、党参炔苷、紫丁香苷、去氢土莫酸、土莫酸、去氢茯苓酸、茯苓酸的含有量。方法该药物甲醇提取液的分析采用Diamonsil Plus C18色谱柱(4.6 mm×250 mm,5μm);流动相乙腈-0.05%磷酸,梯度洗脱;体积流量1.0 mL/min;柱温30℃;检测波长210、220、266 nm。结果 8种成分在各组范围内线性关系良好(r≥0.999 1),平均加样回收率96.99%~100.01%,RSD 0.83%~1.47%。结论该方法准确可靠,重复性好,可用于健儿膏的质量控制。     

白芷酒炖前后挥发性成分的HS-SPME-GC-MS分析

目的探讨白芷酒炖前后对挥发性成分的影响。方法采用顶空固相微萃取技术(HS-SPME)结合气相色谱-质谱法(GC-MS)对白芷酒炖前后挥发性成分及其相对百分含量进行对比分析。结果从白芷生品中初步检测出53个峰,鉴定出36个成分;从白芷酒炖中检测出32个峰,鉴定出26个成分;与生品成分比较,酒炖白芷中有22种成分未测到,但新增了12种成分,表明酒炖白芷中的挥发性成分的组成和含量均发生了变化。结论白芷酒炖后由于受热及辅料黄酒的作用使挥发性成分的种类及含量发生了明显变化,并存在成分转化,本研究为白芷酒炖的炮制机理及其在都梁丸中应用的物质基础研究提供了科学依据。     

基于UPLC-LTQ-Orbitrap高分辨质谱的葛根芩连汤的化学成分分析

目的基于超高效液相色谱-离子阱-静电场轨道阱质谱(UPLC-LTQ-Orbitrap-MS)的分析方法鉴定葛根芩连汤中化学成分。方法采用色谱柱Dikma Endeavorsil C18(100 mm×2.1 mm,1.8μm),流动相为0.1%甲酸水(A)-乙腈(B),体积流量0.3 mL/min,梯度洗脱。质谱采用ESI源,正负离子模式分别采集一级、二级质谱数据。结果通过对照品指认、软件预测分析,结合文献报道,从葛根芩连汤中鉴定出67个化合物,包括黄酮类36个、生物碱类12个、三萜类及三萜皂苷类4个及其他15个。结论利用UPLC-LTQ-Orbitrap-MS系统阐明葛根芩连汤中化学成分,并初步归纳其各类主要化学成分的质谱裂解特点,为葛根芩根芩连汤的质量控制和作用机制研究提供了参考依据。