Mechanism of action of Orthosiphon stamineus against non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: Insights from systems pharmacology and molecular docking approaches

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is one of the most common complications of a metabolic syndrome caused by excessive accumulation of fat in the liver. Orthosiphon stamineus also known as Orthosiphon aristatus is a medicinal plant with possible potential beneficial effects on various metabolic disorders. This study aims to investigate the in vitro inhibitory effects of O. stamineus on hepatic fat accumulation and to further use the computational systems pharmacology approach to identify the pharmacokinetic properties of the bioactive compounds of O. stamineus and to predict their molecular mechanisms against NAFLD. Methods: The effects of an ethanolic extract of O. stamineus leaves on cytotoxicity, fat accumulation and antioxidant activity were assessed using HepG2 cells. The bioactive compounds of O. stamineus were identified using LC/MS and two bioinformatics databases, namely the Traditional Chinese Medicine Integrated Database (TCMID) and the Bioinformatics Analysis Tool for the Molecular Mechanism of Traditional Chinese Medicine (BATMAN-TCM). Pathway enrichment analysis was performed on the predicted targets of the bioactive compounds to provide a systematic overview of the molecular mechanism of action, while molecular docking was used to validate the predicted targets. Results: A total of 27 bioactive compounds corresponding to 50 potential NAFLD-related targets were identified. O. stamineus exerts its anti-NAFLD effects by modulating a variety of cellular processes, including oxidative stress, mitochondrial β-oxidation, inflammatory signalling pathways, insulin signalling, and fatty acid homeostasis pathways. O. stamineus is significantly targeting many oxidative stress regulators, including JNK, mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), NFKB1, PPAR, and AKT1. Molecular docking analysis confirmed the expected high affinity for the potential targets, while the in vitro assay indicates the ability of O. stamineus to inhibit hepatic fat accumulation. Conclusion: Using the computational systems pharmacology approach, the potentially beneficial effect of O. stamineus in NAFLD was indicated through the combination of multiple compounds, multiple targets, and multicellular components.     

至阳八阵穴隔附子饼灸治疗糖尿病胃轻瘫临床研究

目的观察至阳八阵穴隔附子饼灸治疗脾胃气虚型糖尿病胃轻瘫的疗效及对胃泌素(GAS)、胃动素(MTL)和血管活性肠肽(VIP)水平的影响。方法86例脾胃气虚型糖尿病胃轻瘫患者随机分为对照组和治疗组,每组43例。治疗组给予至阳八阵穴隔附子饼灸;对照组口服枸橼酸莫沙必利片。治疗12周后观察胃轻瘫主要症状指数量表症状积分改善情况、胃排空率及血清GAS、MTL、VIP水平。结果治疗组治疗后在胃轻瘫主要症状指数量表症状积分及胃排空率方面明显高于对照组,差异均有统计学意义(P<0.05)。治疗组治疗后血清GAS、MTL水平明显高于对照组,血清VIP水平明显低于对照组,差异均有统计学意义(P<0.05)。治疗组总有效率为90.7%,明显高于对照组的72.1%(P<0.05)。结论采用至阳八阵穴隔附子饼灸能快速促进糖尿病胃轻瘫患者胃功能的恢复,改善症状和体征,其作用机制可能与升高患者血清GAS和MTL水平,降低VIP水平有关。     

基于高通量测序技术研究药食两用薏苡仁中污染真菌多样性

目的:调查药食两用薏苡仁中污染真菌多样性,为其安全使用提供参考依据。方法:收集薏苡仁样品18批,提取真菌DNA并扩增ITS2序列,基于Illumina MiSeq PE250平台进行高通量测序。结果:共检测到4门18纲44目99科149属的真菌,子囊菌门Ascomycota是最优势菌门,镰刀菌属Fusarium(3.05%~60.32%)是属水平最优势属,其次是曲霉属Aspergillus(2.20%~45.44%)、白僵菌属Beauveria(0.07%~63.21%)、链格孢属Alternaria(0.80%~11.92%)、Arachnomyces(0.03%~39.36%)和青霉属Penicillium(0.24%~8.03%)。此外,共检测到5种潜在产毒真菌,分别是烟曲霉A.fumigatus、土曲霉A.terreus、梨孢镰刀菌F.poae、囊状青霉P.capsulatum和展青霉P.paxilli。结论:高通量测序技术可以快速有效地检测薏苡仁中污染真菌种类,为薏苡仁污染真菌毒素提供风险预警。     

粤东地区菊科药用植物资源研究

资源丰富,共有植物64属、115 种.文章介绍了的种类、生境、药用功效和利用现状,提出了保护及开发利用菊科植物资源的一些建议.     

Ethnobotanical study on medicinal plants around Mt.Yinggeling,Hainan Island,China

Aim of the study

The main objectives were to collect information on the use of medicinal plants and compare medicinal plant traditions between Run and Qi.

Materials and methods

Information was obtained from semi-structured interviews, personal conversation and guided fieldtrips with herbalists.

Results

385 species belonging to 290 genera in 104 families were used for the treatment of various diseases. Rubiaceae (20 species), Euphorbiaceae and Compositae (19 species respectively) were predominant families used by herbalists. The most species were used for injuries (20.1%), muscular–skeletal system disorders (18.3%) and infections/infestations (18.0%). The coefficient of similarity (36.6%) shown a high consensus of plant species used by Run and Qi. The ‘informant agreement ratio’ values for both Run and Qi are rather low (less than 0.3).

Conclusions

Traditional medicinal plants still play an important role in medical practices of Li Ethnic Group around Mt.Yinggeling. There is a close relationship of medicinal plant traditions between Run and Qi. Further investigation is necessary to record this valuable knowledge before its disappearance.     

隔药饼灸治疗肩关节周围炎临床观察

目的观察隔药饼灸治疗北美地区肩周炎的临床疗效。方法62例北美地区肩周炎患者接受隔药饼灸治疗,共治疗10次。观察指标包括临床疗效、McGill量表测评、治疗过程中患者不适记录等。结果62例肩周炎患者治疗后,有18例获得痊愈,总有效率为90.3%;McGill量表测评表明,治疗后的PRI感觉分、PRI情绪分、PRI总分、VAS和PPI治疗前后的积分差值,与治疗前比较差异均有统计学意义（P〈0.01,P〈0.05）;治疗中,所有患者没有出现因治疗导致的特殊不适。结论隔药饼灸能够有效地干预肩周炎患者的临床症状,改善疼痛,促进其临床痊愈。     

长白山区治疗糖尿病药用植物的调查研究

经过3年调查研究，最后初步确定长白山区治疗糖尿病的药用植物共有24科、37属、38种，为国内外专家研究长白山区的药用植物提供了第一手原始资料。     

Mao's heritage: Medicinal plant knowledge among the Bai in Shaxi,China, at a crossroads between distinct local and common widespread practice

Ethnopharmacological relevance

The study focuses on medicinal plant knowledge among the Bai in the Shaxi Valley, Northwest Yunnan, where no ethnobotanical study has been conducted so far. In an area of high biodiversity, distinct medicinal plant knowledge is documented and the influence of herbals on local knowledge is revealed.

Aim of the study

To analyse current medicinal plant knowledge among the Bai in the context of the influence of the Han culture and mainstream Chinese herbal medicine.

Materials and methods

During fieldwork in summer 2005, semistructured interviews were conducted with 68 stakeholders, and voucher specimens of all plants mentioned were prepared.

Results

A total of 176 medicinal plant species were documented and 1133 use-reports have been collected. Overall, 91.5% of the documented plants are already established as known drugs, and are mentioned in books on medicinal plants in Yunnan and China. Furthermore, the way in which they are used largely coincides. Fourteen plant species represent novel recordings, 9 of which were independently mentioned by three or more informants.

Conclusions

The medicinal plant knowledge of the Bai is strongly influenced by mainstream Chinese herbal medicine and especially by medicinal plant books from the 1970s, which were distributed under Mao Zedong's directive to improve rural health care. We conclude that these herbals have exerted, and continue to exert, a strong influence on the standardisation of plant knowledge among rural populations in China. However, distinct local use of plants also exists, indicating that plant knowledge specific to the Bai people is alive and practiced.