Qijiao Shengbai Capsules (QJ), a commonly used clinical adjuvant therapy for cancer and leukopenia following chemotherapy or radiotherapy, bolster Qi and replenish blood. Nonetheless, the pharmacological mechanism by which QJ functions is still ambiguous. see more This study endeavors to elucidate the active components and mechanisms of QJ through a combination of high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) fingerprints and network pharmacology. Skin bioprinting Twenty QJ samples' HPLC fingerprints were characterized. Using the Similarity Evaluation System for Chromatographic Fingerprint of Traditional Chinese Medicine (version 2012), 20 QJ batches were evaluated for similarity, revealing a result surpassing 0.97. The reference standard analysis showed eleven common peaks, with ferulic acid, calycosin 7-O-glucoside, ononin, calycosin, epimedin A, epimedin B, epimedin C, icariin, formononetin, baohuoside I, and Z-ligustilide being present. The 'component-target-pathway' network, formulated by network pharmacy, pinpointed 10 key components in QJ, such as ferulic acid, calycosin 7-O-glucoside, ononin, and calycosin. The components' actions on potential targets EGFR, RAF1, PIK3R1, and RELA within the phosphoinositide 3-kinase-protein kinase B (PI3K-Akt), mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), and other signaling pathways contributed to auxiliary tumor, cancer, and leukopenia treatment. High binding activity of 10 key effective components with core targets was verified through molecular docking performed on the AutoDock Vina platform, showing binding energies less than -5 kcal/mol. This study, employing HPLC fingerprint analysis and network pharmacology, offers preliminary data on QJ's active components and mechanisms. This data forms the basis for quality control strategies and serves as a reference for further mechanistic study.
The varying sources of Curcumae Radix decoction pieces contribute to the difficulty in distinguishing them based on traditional traits, and the combined use of Curcumae Radix from multiple origins might affect its clinical performance. immunity support The objective of this study was to rapidly identify and evaluate the odor components of 40 batches of Curcumae Radix samples from Sichuan, Zhejiang, and Guangxi, employing the Heracles Neo ultra-fast gas phase electronic nose. Odor patterns from decoction pieces of Curcumae Radix, sourced from diverse origins, were used to identify and analyze their constituent odor components. This process included processing and analyzing chromatographic peaks to establish a rapid identification procedure. To establish validity, Principal Component Analysis, Discriminant Factor Analysis, and Soft Independent Modeling of Class Analogy were formulated. Concurrently, one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and variable importance in projection (VIP) were employed to identify odor components with statistical significance (p<0.05) and high variable importance (VIP>1). Thirteen odor components, including -caryophyllene and limonene, were postulated as differential odor markers for Curcumae Radix decoction pieces of distinct origins. Heracles Neo ultra-fast gas phase electronic nose analysis demonstrated the ability to precisely and rapidly differentiate Curcumae Radix decoction pieces based on their distinct odor profiles. This application can be implemented in quality control procedures of Curcumae Radix decoction pieces' production, encompassing online detection. This study details a groundbreaking technique for the prompt evaluation and quality control of Curcumae Radix decoction pieces.
Chalcone isomerase, a crucial rate-limiting enzyme in the flavonoid biosynthesis pathway of higher plants, dictates flavonoid production. RNA extraction from varied segments of Isatis indigotica, and subsequent conversion to cDNA, formed the basis of this study. A chalcone isomerase gene, known as IiCHI, was successfully cloned from I. indigotica, utilizing primers that contained enzyme restriction sites. A complete open reading frame was evident within the 756-base-pair IiCHI sequence, resulting in the production of 251 amino acids. Through homology analysis, IiCHI's close resemblance to the Arabidopsis thaliana CHI protein, encompassing typical chalcone isomerase active sites, became evident. Phylogenetic tree analysis revealed IiCHI's classification within the CHI clade. The construction and purification of the pET28a-IiCHI recombinant prokaryotic expression vector culminated in the production of the recombinant IiCHI protein. In vitro enzymatic studies on IiCHI protein showed that it could convert naringenin chalcone to naringenin, but was unable to catalyze the synthesis of liquiritigenin from isoliquiritigenin. Above-ground plant tissues exhibited higher IiCHI expression than below-ground tissues, as determined by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), with the highest levels of expression found in flower structures, followed by leaves and stems, and no expression in roots and rhizomes. This study of *Indigofera indigotica* confirms the operation of chalcone isomerase, offering support for the flavonoid synthesis pathway and its components.
This pot experiment, focusing on the 3-leaf stage seedlings of Rheum officinale, investigated the interplay between soil microecology and plant secondary metabolites under varying water deficit conditions. It analyzed response mechanisms across drought gradients (normal, mild, moderate, and severe). The root of R. officinale exhibited fluctuating levels of flavonoids, phenols, terpenoids, and alkaloids, a pattern directly correlated with the severity of drought conditions, as the results demonstrate. During a period of slight drought, the concentration of previously cited substances became comparably elevated, with a notable increase in the root's content of rutin, emodin, gallic acid, and (+)-catechin hydrate. The levels of rutin, emodin, and gallic acid were considerably reduced in response to severe drought stress, contrasting with the levels found in plants experiencing a normal water supply. The number of bacterial species, the Shannon diversity index, the richness index, and the Simpson index were substantially greater in the rhizosphere soil than in the control soil; the severity of drought conditions led to a significant decline in both the number of bacterial species and their richness in the soil. The rhizosphere of *R. officinale* exhibited a dominance of Cyanophyta, Firmicutes, Actinobacteria, Chloroflexi, Gemmatimonadetes, Streptomyces, and Actinomyces bacteria when subjected to water deficit conditions. A positive correlation was found between the relative levels of rutin and emodin in the root tissue of R. officinale and the relative abundance of Cyanophyta and Firmicutes. The same positive correlation was observed between the relative levels of (+)-catechin hydrate and (-)-epicatechin gallate and the relative abundance of Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes. In summary, appropriate drought stress has the potential to augment the presence of secondary metabolites in R. officinale, arising from both physiological induction and enhanced connections with beneficial microbes.
We aim to provide guidance for the safety surveillance of Chinese medicinal materials and the updating of mycotoxin limit standards by examining the mycotoxin contamination status and anticipating the exposure risk in Coicis Semen. Using UPLC-MS/MS, the concentration of 14 mycotoxins was measured in 100 Coicis Semen samples obtained from five prominent Chinese medicinal material markets. Through the application of Chi-square tests and one-way ANOVA to sample contamination data, a probability evaluation model was developed using the Monte Carlo simulation approach. Employing the margin of exposure (MOE) and margin of safety (MOS) metrics, a health risk assessment was carried out. Coicis Semen samples exhibited varying detection rates for mycotoxins, with zearalenone (ZEN) at 84%, aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) at 75%, deoxynivalenol (DON) at 36%, sterigmatocystin (ST) at 19%, and aflatoxin B2 (AFB2) at 18%. The corresponding mean contamination levels were 11742 g/kg, 478 g/kg, 6116 g/kg, 661 g/kg, and 213 g/kg, respectively. The 2020 Chinese Pharmacopoeia's standards for AFB1, aflatoxins, and ZEN were breached, with over-standard rates of 120%, 90%, and 60% respectively, as determined by analysis. Coicis Semen displayed a negligible risk of contamination by AFB1, AFB2, ST, DON, and ZEN, but the disturbing statistic of 86% of samples harboring two or more toxins compels immediate concern. A strengthening of research examining the synergistic toxicity of diverse mycotoxins is crucial for advancing the evaluation of cumulative exposure from mixed contamination, and the subsequent revision of toxin limits.
This study explored the physiological and biochemical responses of 2-year-old Panax notoginseng to cadmium stress, using pot experiments to examine the influence of brassinosteroid (BR). Exposure to 10 mg/kg of cadmium, according to the findings, significantly impaired root viability in P. notoginseng, notably elevating the levels of H₂O₂ and MDA in both leaves and roots, resulting in oxidative stress within P. notoginseng, and diminishing the activities of SOD and CAT enzymes. Chlorophyll content in P. notoginseng was affected by cadmium stress, resulting in an elevation in leaf Fo, a decrease in Fm, Fv/Fm, and PIABS, and impairment of the photosynthetic system in P. notoginseng. Cadmium's influence on P. notoginseng included an increase in soluble sugar content within the plant's leaves and roots, a reduction in soluble protein synthesis, a decrease in both fresh and dry weight, and a resultant inhibition of plant growth. The external spray application of 0.01 mg/L BR to cadmium-stressed *P. notoginseng* reduced the accumulation of H₂O₂ and MDA in leaves and roots, thus diminishing oxidative damage. Simultaneously, treatment with BR increased antioxidant enzyme activity and root activity in *P. notoginseng* improving chlorophyll content. Further, this BR application lowered *P. notoginseng* leaf F₀, and increased Fm, Fv/Fm, and PIABS, indicating alleviation of cadmium stress on the photosynthetic system and improved soluble protein synthesis.