Paeoniflorin Prevents Diabetic Nephropathy in Rats

The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that paeoniflorin prevents the progression of diabetic nephropathy by modulating the inflammatory process. Sprague–Dawley rats were divided into 5 groups: nondiabetic control rats; untreated diabetic model (DM) rats; and DM rats treated with 5, 10, or 20 mg/kg paeoniflorin in drinking water once daily. Rats received a single intravenous injection of streptozotocin to induce diabetes; 9 wk after injection, rats began the 8-wk daily paeoniflorin treatment regimen. Compared with that of nonDM controls, the urinary albumin:creatinine ratio was increased significantly in untreated DM rats; this ratio was decreased in DM rats treated with 5, 10, or 20 mg/kg paeoniflorin compared with that of untreated DM rats. In addition, paeoniflorin treatment effectively suppressed glomerular hypertrophy; blood glucose; the expression of transforming growth factor β, type IV collagen, and intercellular adhesion molecule 1; and renal infiltration of macrophages compared with levels in untreated DM rats. Furthermore, renal nuclear factor κB activity was increased in untreated but not paeoniflorin-treated DM rats. In conclusion, our data suggest that the preventive effects of paeoniflorin may be mediated by its antiinflammatory actions.Abbreviations: DM, diabetic model; ECM, extracellular matrix; ICAM1, intercellular adhesion molecule 1; MCP1, monocyte chemoattractant protein 1; NFκB, nuclear factor κB; TGFβ, transforming growth factor βDiabetic nephropathy is the most common cause of endstage renal disease and high mortality in humans. Adequate control of blood glucose may slow the rate of its progression, but it is still difficult to achieve strict glycemic control for diabetic patients in the longer term, due at least in part to the limitations of available therapeutic approaches.³ Recent studies have suggested the emerging role of inflammatory processes in the pathogenesis of diabetic nephropathy in addition to other well-known mechanisms.In human renal disease, transforming growth factor β (TGFβ) may mediate the buildup of tissue extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins.¹⁷ This cytokine reportedly stimulated ECM protein accumulation in diabetic tissues by upregulating the production of ECM proteins or by downregulating the production of ECM-degrading enzymes.²⁶ Renal levels of TGFβ1 increase in both experimental and human diabetes. In addition, TGFβ1 induces the synthesis of ECM components including collagen types I, III, and IV and fibronectin.^2,5Intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM1) is a key adhesion molecules. In addition, the ICAM1-dependent infiltration of macrophages into the kidney is very important in the pathogenesis of diabetic nephropathy.¹⁸ In addition, the expression of ICAM1 is rapidly induced and maintained for a long time in renal tissues after induction of diabetes in experimental type 1 diabetic rats.^14,20 Macrophage infiltration was blocked by antiICAM1 antibody, confirming that ICAM1 mediates macrophage infiltration into the diabetic kidney.⁶ Furthermore, ICAM1-deficient mice were protected from renal injury after the induction of diabetes, suggesting that the inflammatory process is a critical factor for the development of diabetic nephropathy.²¹Despite the availability of treatments that lower blood glucose and blood pressure, many diabetic patients are still prone to developing kidney failure, which no currently available therapies can reverse.²⁴ Therefore a search is needed for new therapeutic approaches—based on novel mechanisms of action—to the treatment of diabetic nephropathy. Paeoniflorin is a monoterpene glucoside and a component of the total glucoside extract obtained from the root of Paeonia lactiflora.²⁸ This extract was approved for marketing in China in 1998.²³ As a disease-modifying drug, the total glucoside extract of peony has both antiinflammatory and immune-regulatory effects and is used in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, hepatitis, systemic lupus erythematosus, and mesenteric hyperplastic nephritis.^8,9,27 The goal of this study is to address whether paeoniflorin might prevent the progression of diabetic nephropathy through the inhibition of the inflammatory processes including TGFβ, type IV collagens, and ICAM1 expression, monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 (MCP1), nuclear factor κB (NFκB) activation, and macrophage infiltration.     

高效液相色谱法测定妇血荣胶囊中芍药苷的含量

目的:建立妇血荣胶囊中芍药苷含量的HPLC检测方法.方法:采用甲醇提取样品;色谱条件:Alltech ODS柱(5μm,250mm×4.6 mm);流动相为乙腈-水(16:84,v/v);检测波长为230 nm.结果:线性范围为24.3～218.7 μg.mL-1(r=0.9999),平均回收率为101.21%,RSD为0.80%.结论:高效液相色谱法简单易行,准确,灵敏度高,适用于妇血荣胶囊中芍药苷的含量测定.     

赤芍中芍药苷提取工艺的优化

本文提出一条从赤芍中提取芍药苷的工艺,包括醇水溶液回流提取、液液分配、硅胶柱层析等工序,并对各工序的操作条件进行了优化。采用优化后的提取工艺,可得到纯度大于97.0%的芍药苷产品,总回收率超过87.0%。本工艺具有产品纯度高、操作简单、成本低、回收率高、易于工业化等优点。     

Paeoniflorin induces apoptosis of lymphocytes through a redox-linked mechanism

Paeoniflorin (PF), isolated from paeony root, has been used as a herbal medicine for more than 1,200 years in China, Korea, and Japan for its anti-allergic, anti-inflammatory, and immunoregulatory effects. In this study, we found that PF induces apoptosis in both murine T-lineage cells and human T-cell leukemia Jurkat cells. This apoptosis was mediated through the reduction of mitochondrial membrane potential, activation of caspase, and fragmentation of DNA. Interestingly, PF induced generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and a reducing agent, dithiothreitol (DTT), and a ROS scavenger, N-acetyl cysteine (NAC), successfully attenuated the PF-induced apoptosis. Additionally, PF induced the phosphorylation of three mitogen-activated protein (MAP) family kinases, extracellular signal-regulated kinase, c-Jun amino-terminal kinase (JNK), and p38 MAP kinase. Curcumin, an anti-oxidant and JNK inhibitor, inhibited PF-induced apoptosis, suggesting the possible involvement of curcumin-sensitive JNK or other redox-sensitive elements in PF-induced apoptosis. These results partially explain the action mechanism of PF-containing paeony root as a herbal medicine.     

Paeoniflorin: A neuroprotective monoterpenoid glycoside with promising anti-depressive properties

BackgroundDepression, as a prevalent and debilitating psychiatric disease, severely decreases the life quality of individuals and brings heavy burdens to the whole society. Currently, some antidepressants are applied in the treatment of severe depressive symptoms, while there are still some undesirable drawbacks. Paeoniflorin is a monoterpenoid glycoside that was firstly extracted from Paeonia lactiflora Pall, a traditional Chinese herb that is widely used in the Chinese herbal formulas for treating depression.PurposeThis review summarized the previous pre-clinical studies of paeoniflorin in treating depression and further discussed the potential anti-depressive mechanisms for that paeoniflorin to be further explored and utilized in the treatment of depression clinically.MethodsSome electronic databases, e.g., PubMed and China National Knowledge Infrastructure, were searched from inception until April 2021.ResultsThis review summarized the effective anti-depressive properties of paeoniflorin, which is related to its functions in the upregulation of the levels of monoaminergic neurotransmitters, inhibition of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis hyperfunction, promotion of neuroprotection, promotion of hippocampus neurogenesis, and upregulation of brain-derived neurotrophic factor level, inhibition of inflammatory reaction, downregulation of nitric oxide level, etc.ConclusionThis review focused on the pre-clinical studies of paeoniflorin in depression and summarized the recent development of the anti-depressive mechanisms of paeoniflorin, which approves the role of paeoniflorin plays in anti-depression. However, more high-quality pre-clinical and clinical studies are expected to be conducted in the future.     

近红外光谱法快速测定白芍中芍药苷含量

本研究旨在应用近红外光谱法建立一种白芍药材中芍药苷含量的快速测定方法。利用HPLC测定样品中芍药苷含量,并以其作为参考值,运用偏最小二乘法(PLS)建立芍药苷含量与近红外光谱之间的多元校正模型,对未知样品进行含量预测。结果表明,所建芍药苷定量分析模型的相关系数(R2)、内部交叉验证均方差(RMSECV)、校正均方差(RMSEC)分别为0.99395、0.33068、0.0563;经内部验证,模型的预测均方差(RMSEP)和平均回收率分别为0.0756和100.07%。该方法操作简便,无污染,结果准确可靠,可用于白芍中芍药苷含量的快速测定。     

芍药苷通过IL-10-STAT3信号通路抑制脂多糖诱导BV2细胞炎症与吞噬作用

小胶质细胞是中枢神经系统中重要免疫细胞,也是炎症反应中的主要效应细胞。芍药苷被证实能有效抑制炎症反应,在调节免疫方面具有巨大药用价值。本文旨在阐明BV2细胞炎症反应中芍药苷对细胞炎症及吞噬的抑制作用,并探索其中潜在机制。体外实验利用脂多糖（lipopolysaccharide,LPS）诱导BV2细胞发生炎症反应,芍药苷能有效抑制BV2细胞TNF-α和NO的产生以及BV2细胞异常增加的吞噬功能,并且在此过程中IL-10-STAT3信号通路被激活;芍药苷的抑制作用在我们使用STAT3抑制剂JSI-124后显著降低,TNF-α和NO的表达量增加、BV2细胞的吞噬功能增强。上述结果表明,芍药苷能有效抑制BV2细胞炎症作用及吞噬作用,这一过程中依赖IL-10-STAT3信号通路的激活。这将加深我们对芍药苷抑制小胶质细胞炎症作用机制的认识。     

响应面法优选牡丹果荚中丹皮酚和芍药苷提取工艺的研究

以牡丹果荚为原料,采用响应面分析法对影响微波辅助提取牡丹果荚中芍药苷和丹皮酚的主要因素(料液比、微波功率、微波时间)进行优化。结果表明:微波辅助提取牡丹果荚中的芍药苷及丹皮酚的最佳提取工艺条件为:液料比10∶1、微波功率253 W、微波时间10 min,牡丹果荚芍药苷和丹皮酚的得率分别为2.92、0.91 mg·g-1。与传统提取法相比,微波辅助提取方法不仅提取时间短,原料使用量少,而且提取率高,是一个高效的提取方法。     

Paeoniflorin, a monoterpene glycoside, attenuates lipopolysaccharide-induced neuronal injury and brain microglial inflammatory response

Chronic activation of microglial cells endangers neuronal survival through the release of various proinflammatory and neurotoxic factors. Paeoniflorin (PF), a water-soluble monoterpene glycoside found in the root of Paeonia lactiflora Pall, has a wide range of pharmacological functions, such as anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-cancer effects. Neuroprotective potential of PF has also been demonstrated in animal models of neuropathologies. Here, we have examined the efficacy of PF in the repression of inflammation-induced neurotoxicity and microglial inflammatory response. In organotypic hippocampal slice cultures, PF significantly blocked lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced hippocampal cell death and productions of nitric oxide (NO) and interleukin (IL)-1β. PF also inhibited the LPS-stimulated productions of NO, tumor necrosis factor-α, and IL-1β from primary microglial cells. These results suggest that PF possesses neuroprotective activity by reducing the production of proinflammatory factors from activated microglial cells.     

芍药苷对巨细胞病毒感染小鼠脑组织损伤及海马神经元细胞凋亡的影响

海马组织在学习、记忆中发挥着重要作用,而且海马组织对巨细胞病毒(Cytomegalovirus,CMV)感染非常敏感,会使海马组织中的神经元大量丢失,神经元细胞发生凋亡.芍药苷可以减轻小鼠炎性脑损伤,其可能与提高机体抗氧化能力、清除体内自由基有关,但是芍药苷在CMV感染小鼠中研究甚少.为探讨芍药苷对CMV感染小鼠脑组织损伤及海马神经元细胞凋亡的影响,本研究将新生昆明小鼠随机分为4组:对照组、小鼠巨细胞病毒组(MCMV组)、芍药苷低剂量组(Pae-L组)和芍药苷高剂量组(Pae-H组),后三组通过腹腔注射MCMV病毒悬液建立模型,之后对照组和MCMV组经腹腔注射生理盐水,Pae-L组经腹腔注射10 mg/kg芍药苷,Pae-H组经腹腔注射30 mg/kg芍药苷;荧光定量PCR检测各组小鼠脑组织中MCMV-DNA载量的变化;Morris水迷宫检测各组小鼠学习记忆功能指标的变化;蛋白质免疫印迹(Western Blot)检测各组小鼠脑组织中MMP-9的表达变化;NeuN免疫染色检测各组小鼠海马组织中NeuN阳性细胞的变化;TUNEL染色检测各组小鼠海马组织中神经元细胞凋亡的变化;Western Blot检测各组小鼠海马组织中Bax、Bcl-2蛋白表达的变化.结果显示,与对照组比较,MCMV组小鼠的逃避潜伏期明显增加,穿越平台次数明显减少,脑组织中MMP-9蛋白表达水平显著上调,海马组织中NeuN阳性细胞数目显著减少,海马组织中神经元细胞凋亡指数显著增加,海马组织中Bax蛋白表达水平显著上调,Bcl-2蛋白表达水平显著下调;与MCMV组比较,Pae-L组和Pae-H组小鼠脑组织中MCMV-DNA载量减少,逃避潜伏期减少,穿越平台次数增加,脑组织中MMP-9蛋白表达水平下调,海马组织中NeuN阳性细胞数目增加,海马组织中神经元细胞凋亡指数减少,海马组织中Bax蛋白表达水平下调,Bcl-2蛋白表达水平明显上调.本研究提示,芍药苷能够改善MCMV感染引起的脑损伤,减轻海马组织中神经元细胞的凋亡.     

Paeoniflorin attenuated bupivacaine-induced neurotoxicity in SH-SY5Y cells via suppression of the p38 MAPK pathway

Bupivacain, a common local anesthetic, can cause neurotoxicity and permanent neurological disorders. Paeoniflorin has been widely reported as a potential neuroprotective agent in neural injury models. However, the roles and molecular basis of paeoniflorin in bupivacaine-induced neurotoxicity are still undefined. In the current study, 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay was performed to detect cell viability. Apoptotic rate was measured through double-staining of Annexin V-FITC and propidium iodide on a flow cytometer. Western blot assay was carried out to examine the protein levels of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38 MAPK), phosphorylated-p38 MAPK (p-p38 MAPK), Bcl-2, and Bax. caspase-3 activity was determined using a caspase-3 activity assay kit. We found that paeoniflorin dose-dependently attenuated bupivacaine-induced viability inhibition and apoptosis in SH-SY5Y cells. Moreover, paeoniflorin inhibited bupivacaine-induced activation of p38 MAPK pathway in SH-SY5Y cells. Paeoniflorin alone showed no significant effect on cell viability, apoptosis and p38 MAPK signaling in SH-SY5Y cells. Inhibition of p38 MAPK signaling by SB203580 or small interfering RNA targeting p38 (si-p38) abated bupivacaine-induced viability inhibition and apoptosis in SH-SY5Y cells. In conclusion, paeoniflorin alleviated bupivacaine-induced neurotoxicity in SH-SY5Y cells via suppression of the p38 MAPK pathway, highlighting the potential values of paeoniflorin in relieving bupivacaine-induced neurotoxicity.     

Paeoniflorin: a monomer from traditional Chinese medical herb ameliorates Schistosoma japonicum egg-induced hepatic fibrosis in mice

Treatment of liver fibrosis associated with Schistosoma japonicum ova-induced granulomas remains a challenging proposition. There is a close relationship between high levels of interleukin-13 (IL-13) and the development of severe schistosome fibrosis. In contrast, IL-13 receptor (R) α2 has an effective role in attenuation of profibrosis. Several Chinese herbs have significant beneficial effects in liver disease. Accordingly, the purpose of the present study was to investigate the therapeutic effect of Paeoniflorin (PAE) on liver fibrosis. A mouse model for liver fibrosis was established, using infection with S. japonicum cercariae via the skin. Liver tissue was used to examine the effect of PAE on hydroxyproline, collagen I and III, and IL-13 and IL-13Rα2. The results showed that PAE has significant suppressive effect on the increase of both hepatic hydroxyproline and collagen I and III, which are the main components of extracellular matrix (ECM). Meanwhile, PAE not only inhibits IL-13 production, it also elevates IL-13Rα2 in PAE-pretreated groups compared with controls. These results suggested that PAE can improve liver fibrosis due to S. japonicum infection. The effect of PAE appears to depend on a decrease of IL-13 and an increase of IL-13Rα2.     

Paeoniflorin modulates gut microbial production of indole-3-lactate and epithelial autophagy to alleviate colitis in mice

BackgroundTotal glucosides of peony (TGP), extracted from the root and rhizome of Paeonia lactiflora Pall, has well-confirmed immunomodulatory efficacy in the clinic. However, the mechanism and active ingredients remain largely unclear.Hypothesis/PurposeOur previous study revealed a low systemic exposure but predominant gut distribution of TGP components. The aim of this study was to investigate involvement of the gut microbiota in the immunoregulatory effects and identify the active component.MethodsMice received 3% DSS to establish a model of colitis. The treatment group received TGP or single paeoniflorin (PF) or albiflorin (AF). Body weight, colon length, inflammatory and histological changes were assessed. Gut microbiota structure was profiled by 16s rRNA sequencing. Antibiotic treatment and fecal transplantation were used to explore the involvement of gut microbiota. Metabolomic assay of host and microbial metabolites in colon was performed.ResultsTGP improved colonic injury and gut microbial dysbiosis in colitis mice, and PF was responsible for the protective effects. Fecal microbiota transfer from TGP-treated mice conferred resilience to colitis, while antibiotic treatment abrogated the protective effects. Both TGP and PF decreased colonic indole-3-lactate (ILA), a microbial tryptophan metabolite. ILA was further identified as an inhibitor of epithelial autophagy and ILA supplementation compromised the benefits of TGP.ConclusionOur findings suggest that TGP acts in part through a gut microbiota-ILA-epithelial autophagy axis to alleviate colitis.     

Paeoniflorin inhibits cell growth and induces cell cycle arrest through inhibition of FoxM1 in colorectal cancer cells

Paeoniflorin (PF) exhibits tumor suppressive functions in a variety of human cancers. However, the function of PF and molecular mechanism in colorectal cancer are elusive. In the present study, we investigated whether PF could exert its antiproliferative activity, anti-migration, and anti-invasive function in colorectal cancer cells. We found that PF inhibited cell growth and induced apoptosis and blocked cell cycle progression in the G0/G1 phase in colorectal cancer cells. Moreover, we found that PF suppressed cell migration and invasion in colorectal cancer cells. FoxM1 has been reported to play an important oncogenic role in human cancers. We also determine whether PF inhibited the expression of FoxM1, leading to its anti-cancer activity. We found that PF treatment in colorectal cancer cells resulted in down-regulation of FoxM1. The rescue experiments showed that overexpression of FoxM1 abrogated the tumor suppressive function induced by PF treatment. Notably, depletion of FoxM1 promoted the anti-tumor activity of PF in colorectal cancer cells. Therefore, inhibition of FoxM1 could participate in the anti-tumor activity of PF in colorectal cancer cells.     

相同基源的赤芍和白芍中芍药苷含量的比较

通过采用HPLC法比较了中江产芍药的根部不同加工品-赤芍和白芍中芍药苷的含量,以期为研究二者功效差异的具体原因奠定基础.结果表明,赤芍和白芍的化学成份及其含量均存在一定差异,大、中、小三个规格的赤芍和白芍中芍药苷含量分别2.97%、2.94%、2.98%和1.86%、1.82%、1.91%;白芍中芍药苷含量低于赤芍,芍药苷含量与规格无明显关系,化学成份及其含量的差异可能是二者功效差异的具体原因之一.     

芍药苷通过抑制脊髓Akt-NF-kB信号通路及小胶质细胞激活缓解炎症性疼痛

芍药苷具有抑制炎症和镇痛的作用，在治疗炎症疼痛方面具有重要价值，但其作用机制尚不明确。本研究发现，弗氏完全佐剂诱导小鼠炎症疼痛模型，用80 mg/kg芍药苷腹腔注射能有效缓解疼痛。检测发现芍药苷治疗后，小鼠机械性痛阈与热板痛阈均明显升高（机械性痛阈值：由6.38±1.00 g提高至8.31±0.81 g；热板痛阈值：由5.78±0.76 s提高至9.90±1.58 s）；同时抑制外周炎症因子TNF-α等的释放（由708.71±46.55 pg/mL降低至588.65±16.02 pg/mL）；免疫组织化学检测发现，芍药苷能有效抑制脊髓背角小胶质细胞的激活；NO检测结果发现，脊髓部位NO合成降低（3.55±0.28 μmol/L·g^-1Pro降至2.25±0.71 μmol/L·g^-1Pro）；Western 印迹检测证实，脊髓部位iNOS在使用芍药苷后，表达恢复正常水平。同时发现，Akt-NF-κB信号可能参与芍药苷的镇痛作用。上述结果提示，芍药苷缓解慢性炎症疼痛可通过抑制炎症因子释放，也通过抑制脊髓小胶质细胞的激活，而此过程依赖抑制Akt-NF-κB信号的激活。