Antioxidant activities of Salvia miltiorrhiza and Panax notoginseng

IntroductionAs a complex and persistent inflammatory bowel disease, the onset and progression of ulcerative colitis (UC) are closely associated with intestinal microbiota dysbiosis, host metabolic imbalance, and impaired intestinal barrier function. The traditional Chinese medicine Panax notoginseng (Sanqi) possesses multiple therapeutic properties, among which its anti-inflammatory effect is particularly remarkable. However, the specific molecular pathways through which Panax notoginseng exerts its anti-UC effects have not been fully elucidated. This study aims to clarify the efficacy and molecular mechanisms of Panax notoginseng extract in a mouse model of UC.MethodsA colitis model was established by inducing UC in ICR mice using dextran sulfate sodium (DSS). The experimental animals were divided into four groups: normal control group (CON), normal administration group (CONSQ), DSS-induced model group (DSS), and DSS-induced administration group (DSSSQ). The CONSQ and DSSSQ groups received oral gavage of 200 mg/kg Panax notoginseng extract. The evaluation indicators included the disease activity index, histopathological examination of colon tissue, expression of key intestinal barrier proteins, analysis of intestinal microbiota structure, and metabolomic testing of fecal samples.ResultsTreatment with Panax notoginseng extract repaired the damaged intestinal barrier, as evidenced by increased expression levels of Claudin-1, Occludin, ZO-1, and MUC-2 proteins. Simultaneously, the extract favorably modulated the structure of the intestinal microbiota, specifically by increasing the Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio and enriching probiotic genera (such as Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus). Furthermore, the extract significantly reduced the levels of characteristic metabolites (such as LysoPI and Etamiphylline). Correlation analysis based on multi-omics data revealed an interactive regulatory network centered on the intestinal microbiota, host metabolites, and intestinal barrier integrity, indicating that Panax notoginseng extract alleviates the pathological process of UC through a multi-target, synergistic approach.DiscussionThe results of this study demonstrate that Panax notoginseng extract exerts its therapeutic effects on UC by repairing the intestinal barrier, modulating the composition of the intestinal microbiota, and influencing the host metabolic profile. Multi-omics correlation analysis further revealed the central role of the microbiota–metabolite–barrier axis in the anti-UC effects of Panax notoginseng, providing strong evidence for its multi-target synergistic mechanism. These findings lay the foundation for a deeper understanding of the pharmacological mechanisms of Panax notoginseng in UC treatment and support its further development as a potential therapeutic agent for UC.

In vitro evaluation of antioxidant activities of aqueous extracts from natural and cultured mycelia of Cordyceps sinensis

Panax Notoginseng Extract Possesses Significant Antibacterial Activity against Pathogenic Streptococci

The antioxidant activities against superoxide radicals (O(2)(*)(-)), hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)), hydroxyl radicals (OH(*)), and singlet oxygen ('O(2)) was evaluated in fruit juice from different cultivars of thornless blackberries (Rubus sp.), blueberries (Vaccinium spp.), cranberries (Vaccinium macrocarpon Aiton), raspberries (Rubus idaeus L. and Rubus occidentalis L.), and strawberries (Fragaria x ananassa Duch.). Among the different cultivars, juice of 'Hull Thornless' blackberry, 'Earliglow' strawberry, 'Early Black' cranberry, 'Jewel' raspberry, and 'Elliot' blueberry had the highest antioxidant capacity against superoxide radicals (O(2)(*)(-)), hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)), hydroxyl radicals (OH(*)), and singlet oxygen ('O(2)). In general, blackberries had the highest antioxidant capacity inhibition of O(2)(*)(-), H(2)O(2), and OH(*). Strawberry was second best in the antioxidant capacity assay for these same free radicals. With regard to 'O(2) scavenging activity, strawberry had the highest value, while blackberry was second. Cranberries had the lowest inhibition of H(2)O(2) activity. Meanwhile, blueberries had the lowest antioxidant capacity against OH(*) and 'O(2). There were interesting and marked differences among the different antioxidants in their abilities to scavenge different reactive oxygen species. beta-Carotene had by far the highest scavenging activity against 'O(2) but had absolutely no effect on H(2)O(2). Ascorbic acid was the best at inhibiting H(2)O(2) free radical activity. For OH(*), there was a wide range of scavenging capacities from a high of 15.3% with alpha-tocopherol to a low of 0.88% with ascorbic acid. Glutathione had higher O(2)(*)(-) scavenging capacity compared to the other antioxidants.

Effect of molecular weight of chitosans on their antioxidative activities in apple juice

Panax notoginseng (PN) is a traditional Chinese herb experimentally proven to have anti-inflammatory effects, and it is used clinically for the treatment of atherosclerosis, cerebral infarction, and cerebral ischemia. This study aimed to determine the anti-inflammatory effects of PN against bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis in mice. First, in an in vitro study, culture media containing lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was used to stimulate macrophage cells (RAW 264.7 cell line). TNF-α and IL-6 levels were then determined before and after treatment with PN extract. In an animal model (C57BL/6 mice), a single dose of PN (0.5 mg/kg) was administered orally on Day 2 or Day 7 postbleomycin treatment. The results showed that TNF-α and IL-6 levels increased in the culture media of LPS-stimulated macrophage cells, and this effect was significantly inhibited in a concentration-dependent manner by PN extract. Histopathologic examination revealed that PN administered on Day 7 postbleomycin treatment significantly decreased inflammatory cell infiltrates, fibrosis scores, and TNF-α, TGF-β, IL-1β, and IL-6 levels in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid when compared with PN given on Day 2 postbleomycin treatment. These results suggest that PN administered in the early fibrotic stage can attenuate pulmonary fibrosis in an animal model of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

:Water-distilled essential oil from the leaves of Artemisia absinthium L. collected from Ardabil, north-western Iran, was investigated for enzyme inhibition, radical scavenging properties and phytochemical analysis. In this study, total phenolic content (TPC), ferrous-ion chelating (FIC), superoxide anion and nitric oxide radical scavenging and tyrosinase inhibition activity of the leaf essential oil of A. absinthium was determined. TPC of the leaf oil of A. absinthium was determined to be 168.86 ± 9.50 µg gallic acid equivalent/mg sample. The IC of ferrous-ion chelating of A. absinthium oil was 900.32 µg. Superoxide anion and nitric oxide radical scavenging activities of this oil had IC50 of 74.85 µg and 133.34 µg respectively. The IC50 of tyrosinase inhibition activity of A. absinthium oil was 4.52 mg. There was not correlation between ferrous ion chelating activity with total phenolic implying that the oil contain no chelating ligands. The effects of radical scavenging and tyrosinase inhibition tests are ascribed that the leaf oil of A. absinthium have good potential as a natural antioxidant agent.

The effects of supplemental ultraviolet-B (s-UV-B; 3.6 kJ m−2 day−1 above ambient) radiation on plant metabolite profile and free radical scavenging activities of Withania somnifera (an indigenous medicinal plant) under field conditions were investigated. The metabolite profiles of both leaves and roots were analyzed via GC–MS. The methanolic extracts were examined for their DPPH radical-, superoxide radical-, hydrogen peroxide-, hydroxyl radical-, and nitric oxide radical scavenging activities, ferrous ion chelating activity, and reducing power. GC–MS profile of leaves revealed increment in compounds such as isophytol (138.1 %), β-stigmasterol (183.05 %), trans-squalene (233.3 %), and Withaferin A (155.0 %), while compounds such as eugenol, β-carotene, lycopene, and vitamin E were detected in s-UV-B-treated leaves only. In roots, compounds such as ledol, neophytadiene, palmitic acid, retinol, sitosteryl oleate, and campesterol registered their presence only under s-UV-B. Methanolic extracts of treated plant organs were found to be more potent as free radical scavengers (their EC50 values being lower than those of control extracts). Anomalies were observed for nitric oxide radical scavenging in both leaves and roots. The present study indicates that s-UV-B alters the composition and contents of plant metabolites leading to an increase in their free radical scavenging activities. Hence, s-UV-B-treated plant organs might be more effective in combating oxidative stress as well as from a nutritional and health perspective.

The effects of supplemental ultraviolet-B (s-UV-B; 3.6kJm(-2) day(-1) above ambient) radiation were investigated on plant metabolite profile, essential oil content and composition, and free radical scavenging capacities of methanolic extracts of Coleus forskohlii (an indigenous medicinal plant) grown under field conditions. Essential oil was isolated using hydrodistillation technique while alterations in metabolite profile and oil composition were determined via gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy (GC-MS). Leaf and root methanolic extracts were investigated via various in vitro assays for their DPPH radical-, superoxide radical-, hydrogen peroxide-, hydroxyl radical-, and nitric oxide radical scavenging activities, ferrous ion chelating activity, and reducing power. Phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of alkaloids, anthocyanins, coumarins, flavonoids, glycosides, phenols, saponins, steroids, tannins, and terpenoids. Oil content was found to be reduced (by ∼7%) in supplemental UV-B (s-UV-B) treated plants; the composition of the plant extracts as well as essential oil was also considerably altered. Methanolic extracts from treated plant organs showed more potency as free radical scavengers (their EC50 values being lower than their respective controls). Anomalies were observed in Fe(2+) chelating activity for both leaves and roots. The present study concludes that s-UV-B adversely affects oil content in C. forskohlii and also alters the composition and contents of metabolites in both plant extracts and oil. The results also denote that s-UV-B treated plant organs might be more effective in safeguarding against oxidative stress, though further studies are required to authenticate these findings.

Water and organic extracts (diethyl ether, chloroform, ethyl acetate, acetone, ethanol and methanol) obtained from Hizikia fusiformis were screened on reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging assays (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), superoxide anion, hydrogen peroxide and hydroxyl radical) and lipid peroxidation (inhibition of linoleic acid oxidation) inhibitory assays. Water, methanol and ethanol extracts showed significant ROS radical scavenging activities. Water extracts showed high scavenging activities on hydrogen peroxide (around 76%) and DPPH radicals (around 75%) while it presented a moderate scavenging activity on hydroxyl radicals (around 54%). Comparatively higher ROS scavenging activities were recorded in hydroxyl radical and DPPH scavenging assays. DPPH radical scavenging activities were well correlated with the polyphenolic content. ROS scavenging and lipid peroxidation inhibition activities indicated that H. fusiformis might be a valuable natural antioxidative source containing both water and fatsoluble antioxidative components.

SummaryIn this study, we examined the antioxidant activities of red pepper (Capsicum annuum, L.) pericarp and red pepper seed extracts. The extracts were evaluated by various antioxidant assays, including 1,1‐diphenyl‐2‐picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging, superoxide anion radical scavenging, hydroxyl radical scavenging, [2,2′‐azino‐bis(3‐ethylbenzthiazoline‐6‐sulphonic acid)] (ABTS) radical scavenging, ferrous chelating activity, superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and reducing power, along with the determination of total phenolic and flavonoid contents. All the extracts showed strong antioxidant activity by the testing methods. The red pepper pericarp extract exhibited strong ferrous chelating activity and high scavenging activity against free radicals, including both the hydroxyl and DPPH radicals, but it exhibited weaker scavenging activity for the superoxide anion radical and for SOD. In contrast, the red pepper seed extract exhibited strong SOD activity and high scavenging activity against the superoxide anion radical, but showed weaker ferrous chelating activity, hydroxyl radical scavenging, and DPPH radical scavenging. We observed that the reducing power level and ABTS radical scavenging activity of the red pepper seed were higher than those of the red pepper pericarp at the highest tested concentration. Most of the test results for the red pepper seed and red pepper pericarp extracts increased markedly with increasing concentration; however, the metal chelating, SOD and ABTS radical scavenging activities did not increase with the concentration. Highest total phenolic and flavonoid contents were obtained from the red pepper pericarp extracts. Overall, the red pepper seed and red pepper pericarp extracts were highly effective for the antioxidant properties assayed, with the exceptions of ferrous chelating activity, hydroxyl radical scavenging and SOD activity.

Centrifugal partition chromatography (CPC), as a continuous liquid-liquid partition chromatography with no solid support matrix, combined with evaporative light scattering detection (ELSD) was employed for systematic separation and purification of weak-chromophoric saponins from a highly valued and important traditional Chinese herbal medicine, Panax notoginseng. To separate and isolate high-purity saponins from extract of Panax notoginseng using CPC-ELSD with a simple and low toxicity solvent system. Samples were preparaed by extracting the root material with acetone, treated with n-butanol and then freeze-dried. CPC-ELSD was applied in the separation and detection of notoginsenoside and ginsenosides from extract of Panax notoginseng using a solvent system composed of ethyl acetate-n-butanol-water (1:1:2, v/v/v). The saponins were analysed and identified by their retention time with high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) coupled with ELSD, as well as electrospray ionisation tandem mass spectrometry (ESI-MS(n) ) in the negative and positive ion modes with the authentic standards. A total of 9.6 mg of notoginsenoside R₁, 67.8 mg of ginsenoside Rg₁, 2.3 mg of Re and 286.5 mg of Rb₁ were purified from 487.2 mg of n-butanol extract of P. notoginseng. The purities of obtained saponins in a single run were assessed to be over 98% by HPLC-ELSD. CPC-ELSD was proved to be a very fast and efficient tool for separation of high-purity dammarane saponins.

The roots of Panax notoginseng (PN) are commonly used as a therapeutic agent to stop hemorrhage and as a tonic to promote health in traditional Korean medicine. Stroke triggers an inflammatory response that not only plays a central role in the pathogenesis of cerebral ischemia, but also induces secondary damage. This study was designed to investigate the neuroprotective effects of the methanol extract of PN on the infarct volume induced by middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) (90-min occlusion and 24-h reperfusion) in rat brains. The PN extract (50 mg/kg, i.p.) was administered 2 h after the onset of MCAO. The PN-treated groups had a reduction in infarct volume by 23.82 ± 8.9%. In the PN extract–treated groups, the microglial density was significantly decreased in the peri-infarct region; the underlying mechanism was inhibition of inflammatory mediators, such as inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase (COX)-2, via blocking of the NF-κB pathway. Furthermore, in vitro studies showed that the PN extract significantly reduced the production of iNOS-derived NO and COX-2– derived prostaglandin E2 through the regulation of gene transcription levels in primary microglia and BV-2 cells. These results suggest that anti-inflammatory and microglial activation inhibitory effects of the PN extract may contribute to its neuroprotective effects in brain ischemia.

Effects and mechanism of copper oxide nanozymes on wound healing of full-thickness skin defects in diabetic mice

Formation of long-lived reactive species of blood serum proteins induced by low-intensity irradiation of helium-neon laser and their involvement in the generation of reactive oxygen species