Search Results (12)

Cuscutae Semen (CS), a traditional herb recognized as a nutraceutical food in China, has been widely utilized in managing aging-related diseases throughout history. However, whether this mechanism is associated with mitochondrial stress tolerance remains unclear. In the present study, Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) was used to investigate the effects of CS on their longevity. The data demonstrated that CS prolonged the average lifespan of the nematodes by 15.26%, reducing lipofuscin accumulation by 61.46%, as well as improving spontaneous motility. CS treatment significantly enhanced the resistance of C. elegans to hydrogen peroxide-induced oxidative stress and 37 °C induced heat stress, reducing reactive oxygen species (ROS) production by 71.45%. Additionally, membrane potential (MMP) and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) were increased by 354.72% and 69.64%, respectively. However, mitochondrion-specific ROS and calcium flux were significantly reduced to 45.86% and 63.25%, respectively, in C. elegans treated with CS. Consistently, the polymerase chain reaction data revealed that CS significantly up-regulated the expressions of the antioxidant-related genes skn-1, ctl-1, sod-3, and gst-4; the heat shock gene hsp-16.2; and the autophagy-related genes lgg-1 and bec-1. Considering the crucial role of the silent information regulator sirtuin 1 (SIR-2.1/SIRT1) in aging-related mitochondrial oxidative stress, we examined its expression and transcriptional activity. As expected, treatment with CS induced SIRT1 expression, and isorhamnetin identified from CS extract significantly enhanced SIRT1 transcriptional activity in HEK293T cells. Collectively, our results provided evidence that CS prolonged the lifespan of C. elegans by ameliorating oxidative stress damage and mitochondrial dysfunction via SIRT1. Full article

Silk microfiber scaffolds have garnered increasing interest due to their outstanding properties, with degumming being the process used to extract the sericin from the cocoon. In the present study, an attempt to tune the biodegradation period of silk through degumming with various sodium borohydride (NaBH₄) concentrations and degumming times was studied. We considered the process, the number of baths used, and the salt concentration. Herein, we report a novel method of expanding microfibers from two-dimensional (2D) to three-dimensional (3D) using a modified gas-foaming technique. Porous three-dimensional (3D) silk fibroin (SF) scaffolds were fabricated by the SF fibers, which were extracted by the NaBH₄ degumming method and NaBH₄ gas-foaming approach. This study showed that higher salt concentrations, reaching 1.5% in a double bath, effectively removed sericin from silk fibroin, resulting in clean, smooth 3D scaffolds. These scaffolds were then fabricated using a freeze-drying method. The scaffolds were then submerged in solutions containing semen cuscutae (SC) and their surfaces were coated with various percentages of total flavonoids. The scaffolds had no toxicity to the cells in vitro. This work provides a new route for achieving a TFSC-loaded scaffold; it is proved that the coated silk fibroin fiber scaffold has excellent compatibility. Compared with non-drug-loaded silk scaffolds, drug-loaded silk scaffolds promote cell growth. Full article

Drug prediction and treatment using bioinformatics and large-scale modeling have emerged as pivotal research areas. This study proposes a novel multi-level collaboration framework named Syn-COM for feature extraction and data integration of diseases and drugs. The framework aims to explore optimal drug combinations and interactions by integrating molecular virtuality, similarity clustering, overlap area, and network distance. It uniquely combines the characteristics of Chinese herbal medicine with clinical experience and innovatively assesses drug interaction and correlation through a synergy matrix. Gouty arthritis (GA) was used as a case study to validate the framework’s reliability, leading to the identification of an effective drug combination for GA treatment, comprising Tamaricis Cacumen (S_i = 0.73), Cuscutae Semen (S_i = 0.68), Artemisiae Annuae Herba (S_i = 0.62), Schizonepetae Herba (S_i = 0.73), Gleditsiae Spina (S_i = 0.89), Prunellae Spica (S_i = 0.75), and Achyranthis Bidentatae Radix (S_i = 0.62). The efficacy of the identified drug combination was confirmed through animal experiments and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) component analysis. Results demonstrated significant reductions in the blood inflammatory factors IL1A, IL6, and uric acid, as well as downregulation of TGFB1, PTGS2, and MMP3 expression (p < 0.05), along with improvements in ankle joint swelling in GA mice. This drug combination notably enhances therapeutic outcomes in GA by targeting key genes, underscoring the potential of integrating traditional medicine with modern bioinformatics for effective disease treatment. Full article

Sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) is a common condition that results from the loss of function of hair cells, which are responsible for converting sound into electrical signals within the cochlea and auditory nerve. Despite the prevalence of SNHL, a universally effective treatment has yet to be approved. To address this absence, the present study aimed to investigate the potential therapeutic effects of TS, a combination of Cuscutae Semen and Rehmanniae Radix Preparata. To this end, both in vitro and in vivo experiments were performed to evaluate the efficacy of TS with respect to SNHL. The results showed that TS was able to protect against ototoxic neomycin-induced damage in both HEI-OC1 cells and otic hair cells in zebrafish. Furthermore, in images obtained using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), an increase in the number of kinocilia, which was prompted by the TS treatment, was observed in the zebrafish larvae. In a noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) mouse model, TS improved hearing thresholds as determined by the auditory brainstem response (ABR) test. Additionally, TS was found to regulate several genes related to hearing loss, including Trpv1, Cacna1h, and Ngf, as determined by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis. In conclusion, the findings of this study suggest that TS holds promise as a potential treatment for sensorineural hearing loss. Further research is necessary to confirm these results and evaluate the safety and efficacy of TS in a clinical setting. Full article

Cuscutae Semen (CS; Chinese common name “Tusizi”) is one of the most common traditional herbal medicines used to treat liver and kidney diseases in China. Although it is most commonly used as a processed product, little progress has been made on the quality control of CS and salt-processed Cuscutae Semen (PCS). The purpose of this study was to establish a comprehensive strategy integrating chromatographic analysis and chemometric methods for quality evaluation and discrimination of CS and PCS. An accurate and reliable HPLC method was established for the simultaneous quantification of 12 analyte compounds in CS and PCS. The results showed that this method exhibited desirable sensitivity, precision, stability, and repeatability. Multivariate chemometric methods were applied to analyze the obtained HPLC fingerprints, including hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA), principle component analysis (PCA), and partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA). The results indicated that CS and PCS samples showed a clear classification of the two groups, and three chemical markers with great contributions to the differentiation were screened out. Collectively, the chemometrics combined with the quantitative analysis based on HPLC fingerprint results indicated that salt processing may change the contents and types of components in Cuscutae Semen. Full article

To guarantee the safety and efficacy of herbal medicines, accurate identification and quality evaluation are crucial. The ripe dried seeds of Cuscuta australis R.Br. and C. chinensis Lam. are known as Cuscutae Semen (CS) and are widely consumed in Northeast Asia; however, the seeds of other species can be misidentified as CS owing to morphological similarities, leading to misuse. In this report, we propose a multilateral strategy combining microscopic techniques with statistical analysis and DNA barcoding using a genus-specific primer to facilitate the identification and authentication of CS. Morphology-based identification using microscopy revealed that the useful diagnostic characteristics included general shape, embryo exudation, hairiness, and testa ornamentation, which were used to develop an effective identification key. In addition, we conducted DNA barcoding-based identification to ensure accurate authentication. A novel DNA barcode primer was produced from the chloroplast rbcL gene by comparative analysis using Cuscuta chloroplast genome sequences, which allowed four Cuscuta species and adulterants to be discriminated completely. Therefore, this investigation overcame the limitations of universal DNA barcodes for Cuscuta species with high variability. We believe that this integrated approach will enable CS to be differentiated from other species, thereby improving its quality control and product safety in medicinal markets. Full article

Since arginase has been shown to compete with nitric oxide (NO) synthase, emerging evidence has reported that arginase inhibition improves obesity by increasing NO production. Semen cuscutae (SC), which is a well-known Chinese medicine, has multiple biological functions such as anti-oxidant function and immune regulation. In this study, we investigated whether the SC as a natural arginase inhibitor influences hepatic lipid abnormalities and whole-body adiposity in high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obese mice. The lipid accumulation was significantly reduced by SC treatment in oleic acid-induced hepatic steatosis in vitro. Additionally, SC supplementation substantially lowered HFD-induced increases in arginase activity and weights of liver and visceral fat tissue, while increasing hepatic NO. Furthermore, elevated mRNA expressions of sterol regulatory element-binding transcription factor 1 (SREBP-1c), fatty-acid synthase (FAS), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma (PPAR-γ)1, and PPAR-γ2 in HFD-fed mice were significantly attenuated by SC supplementation. Taken together, SC, as a novel natural arginase inhibitor, showed anti-obesity properties by modulating hepatic arginase and NO production and metabolic pathways related to hepatic triglyceride (TG) metabolism. Full article

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common type of dementia in the elderly. It is characterized by the accumulation of amyloid-beta (Aβ) and progressive cognitive impairment. To alleviate the symptoms of AD, functional foods and nutrients have been used for centuries. In this study, we investigated whether Cuscutae Japonicae Semen (CJS), a medicinal food traditionally used in East Asia, has effects on memory improvement and synapse protection in AD. We orally administered CJS to 5x familiar AD (5xFAD) transgenic mice and performed the Morris water maze test. The results showed that CJS treatment ameliorated the decline of memory function. Then, we demonstrated that CJS attenuated the degeneration of pre- and post-synaptic proteins in the hippocampi of 5xFAD mice. To demonstrate the effects of CJS in vitro, we treated Aβ in primary neuronal culture with CJS and observed that CJS rescued the loss of functional synapses. The protective effects of CJS on the synapse were due to the inhibition of activated caspase-3 expression. Additionally, CJS inhibited the phosphorylation of glycogen synthase kinase-3β and tau proteins, which contribute to synaptic dysfunction. Taken together, our results suggest that CJS is efficient in alleviating memory loss by rescuing caspase-3-mediated synaptic damage in AD treatment. Full article

A sensitive and effective method was developed for clarifying the pharmacokinetic properties of six compounds (including hyperin, chlorogenic acid, neochlorogenic acid, p-coumaric acid, astragalin, and isoquercitrin) in two processed Cuscutae Semen samples by high performance liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS). The six compounds were separated by acetonitrile and 0.1% formic acid-water on an Agilent Eclipse plus C18 column (4.6 mm × 100 mm, 1.8 μm). All compounds were analyzed with negative ion mode in multiple reaction monitoring (MRM). The lower limits of quantification (LLOQ) of hyperin, astragalin, neochlorogenic acid, chlorogenic acid, isoquercitrin, and p-coumaric acid were 1, 0.1, 4, 0.1, 2, and 4 ng·mL⁻¹, respectively. The validated approach was effectively used for the pharmacokinetics of six compounds of two processed Cuscutae Semen samples after oral administration to rat. The results indicated that salt processing could improve the adsorption and bioavailability of astragalin in Cuscutae Semen. Full article

The seeds of Cuscuta chinensis Lam. and C. campestris Yuncker have been commonly used as Chinese medical material for preventing aging. Our previous studies have found that C. chinensis and C. campestris possess anti-inflammatory activities in rodents. However, their other biological activities, such as memory-improving properties, have not yet been explored. In the present study, we examined the memory-improving effects of the extracts of C. chinensis and C. campestris on scopolamine (SCOP)-induced memory deficit and explored their underlying mechanism in mice. Both Cuscuta species improved SCOP-induced memory deficits in the passive avoidance test, elevated plus-maze, and spatial performance test of the Morris water maze in mice. In addition, compared with mice injected with SCOP, mice pretreated with both Cuscuta species stayed for a longer time on the platform for the probe test of the Morris water maze. Moreover, both Cuscuta species reduced brain acetylcholinesterase activity and malondialdehyde levels that were increased by SCOP, and the species restored the activities of antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase and catalase) and the levels of glutathione that were decreased by SCOP in the brains of mice. Both Cuscuta species further decreased brain interleukin-1β and tumor necrosis factor-α levels that were elevated by SCOP. We demonstrated that both Cuscuta species exhibited a protective activity against SCOP-induced memory deficit, cholinergic dysfunction, oxidative damage, and neuroinflammation in mice, and C. campestris has better potential than C. chinensis. In addition, we provided evidence that the seeds of C. campestris can be used as Cuscutae Semen in Traditional Chinese Medicine. Full article

Semen Cuscutae is commonly used in traditional Chinese medicine and contains a series of compounds such as flavonoids, chlorogenic acids and lignans. In this study, we identified different kinds of compositions by ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography (UPLC) coupled to electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (MS). A total of 45 compounds were observed, including 20 chlorogenic acids, 23 flavonoids and 2 lignans. 23 of them are reported for the first time including 6-O-caffeoyl-β-glucose, 3-O-(4′-O-Caffeoylglucosyl) quinic acid, etc. Their structures were established by retention behavior, extensive analyses of their MS spectra and further determined by comparison of their MS data with those reported in the literature. As chlorogenic acids and flavonoids are phenolic compounds that are predominant in Semen Cuscutae, in conclusion, phenolic compounds are the major constituents of Semen Cuscutae. Full article

Wuzi-Yanzong-Wan (WZYZW), a classical traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) prescription containing Fructus Lych, Semen Cuscutae (fried), Fructus Rubi, Fructus Schisandrae chinensis (steamed) and Semen Plantaginis (fried with salt), is widely used to treat impotence, sterility, spermatorrhea, premature ejaculation, lumbago and post-micturation dribble. However, the chemical profile of WZYZW has not been established yet. In this work, a rapid and sensitive method for systematically screening and identifying the chemical constituents of WZYZW in both positive and negative ion modes using Ultra-Performance LC coupled with ESI-linear ion trap-Orbitrap tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-ESI-LTQ-Orbitrap-MS) has been developed. Based on the chromatographic and spectrometric data, and referring to the literature, we could tentatively identify 106 compounds, including organic acids, flavonoids, phenylpropanoids, alkaloids and terpenoids. Fourteen ingredients from Fructus Lych were identified, while 10 ingredients were from Semen Cuscutae (fried), 33 ingredients were from Fructus Rubi, 37 ingredients were from Fructus Schisandrae chinensis (steamed), and 20 ingredients were from Semen Plantaginis (fried with salt). The results may provide essential data for further quality control, pharmacological research and clinical evaluation of WZYZW. Furthermore, this study indicates the developed approach based on UPLC-ESI-LTQ-Orbitrap-MS is suitable for characterizing the chemical profiles of TCM prescriptions. This is the first report to provide a comprehensive analysis of the chemical constituents of WZYZW. Full article