Sheng-Mai Yin Research Articles

Analysis of the Therapeutic Effect of Shengmai Yin Chinese Herbal Medicine in Pneumonia

Health education is an important method to improve patients’ cognitive level and quality of life. Shengmai Yin (SMY) contain a variety of active ingredients of Chinese herbal medicine, pathology effect is relatively broad, plays an important role in a variety of chronic diseases treatment. This study aims to analyze the effect of nursing health education combined with the treatment with SMY on elderly patients with community-acquired pneumonia. Meanwhile, pharmaceutical information regarding the chemical composition, pharmacological effects, and pharmacokinetic characteristics of SMY in traditional Chinese medicine was summarized and analyzed. Animal experiments were conducted to analyze the immunomodulatory effects of SMY on elderly community acquired pneumonia. A total of 80 elderly patients with community-acquired pneumonia admitted to our hospital from July 2019 to July 2022 were selected as the research objects. According to different nursing models, they were divided into a control group and a study group, with 40 cases in each group. Patients in the control group were given routine nursing, while patients in the study group were given health education nursing and SMY treament on the basis of the control group. The overall differences were compared between the two groups. In rat experiment, a rat model of chronic bronchitis was used and divided into control, model control group, low-dose group, medium-dose group, and high-dose group according to the dosage. The levels of immunoglobulins (IgA, IgG, IgM), and cytokines (IL-1, IL-6, TNF-α) in rat serum were determined using ELISA. The disease knowledge, the quality of life score and the effect of health education of the study group was better than that of the control group (P < 0.05), the temperature remission time of the two groups was not significantly different (P > 0.05), but the respiratory rate remission time and cough remission time were shorter than that of the control group (P < 0.05). In rat experiment, The levels of IgA, IgG, IgM, IL-1, IL-6, and TNF-α in the serum of the model control group were higher than those in the normal control group. Compared with those in the model control group, the low-dose group exhibited lower levels of IgG, IgM, and IL-1, whereas the medium- and high-dose groups exhibited lower levels of IgA, IgG, IgM, IL-1, IL-6, and TNF-α (all P < 0.05). Health education and SMY treatment have a good impact on elderly patients with community-acquired pneumonia, which can effectively improve the patients’ mastery of health knowledge, treatment effect and quality of life. In addition, SMY had a significant downregulating effect on immunity and cytokines, providing anti-infective, antiallergic, and immunomodulatory effects, and is hence effective in treating bronchitis.

Sheng Mai Yin shows anti-fatigue, anti-hypoxia and cardioprotective potential in an experimental joint model of fatigue and acute myocardial infarction

Ethnopharmacological relevanceCardiovascular disease (CVD) and fatigue are two common diseases endangering human life and health that may interact and reinforce one another. Myocardial infarction survivors frequently experience fatigue, and acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is one of the most common cardiovascular diseases that cause fatigue-induced sudden death. Sheng Mai Yin (SMY), a Chinese medicine prescription, is traditionally used for the treatment of diabetes and cardiovascular disease, and has been demonstrated to reduce fatigue and safeguard cardiac function. Aim of the studyThis study aims to investigate the effects and underlying mechanisms of SMY in treating fatigue and AMI. Materials and methodsThe pharmacological mechanisms of SMY in treating fatigue and AMI were predicted by bioinformatics and network pharmacology methods. After administering SMY at high, medium and low doses, the swimming time to exhaustion, hemoglobin level, serological parameters and hypoxia tolerance time were detected in C57BL/6N mice, and the left ventricular ejection fractions (LVEF), left ventricular fractional shortening (LVFS), grasp strength, cardiac histopathology, serological parameters and the expression of PINK1 and Parkin proteins were examined in Wistar rats. Results371 core targets for SMY and 282 disease targets for fatigue and AMI were obtained using bioinformatics and network pharmacology methods. Enrichment analysis of target genes revealed that SMY might interfere with fatigue and AMI through biological processes such as mitochondrial autophagy, apoptosis, and oxidative stress. For in vivo experiments, SMY showed significant anti-fatigue and hypoxia tolerance effects in mice; It also improved the cardiac function and grasp strength, decreased their cardiac index, myocardial injury and fibrosis degree, and induced serological parameters levels and the expression of PTEN-induced putative kinase 1 (PINK1) and Parkin proteins in myocardium, suggesting that SMY may exert cardioprotective effects in a joint rat model of fatigue and AMI by inhibiting excessive mitochondrial autophagy. ConclusionThis study revealed the anti-fatigue, anti-hypoxia and cardioprotective effects of SMY in a joint model of fatigue-AMI, and the pharmacological mechanism may be related to the inhibition of mitochondrial autophagy in cardiomyocytes through the PINK1/Parkin pathway. The discoveries may provide new ideas for the mechanism study of traditional Chinese medicine, especially complex prescriptions, in treating fatigue and AMI.

Sheng-Mai-Yin inhibits doxorubicin-induced ferroptosis and cardiotoxicity through regulation of Hmox1.

Doxorubicin (DOX) is a potent chemotherapeutic drug used for treating various cancers. However, its clinical use is limited due to its severe cardiotoxicity, which often results in high mortality rates. Sheng-Mai-Yin (SMY), a Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) prescription, has been reported to exert a cardioprotective effect in various cardiovascular diseases, including DOX-induced cardiotoxicity (DIC). This study aimed to provide novel insights into the underlying cardioprotective mechanism of SMY. SMY, composed of Codonopsis pilosula (Franch.), Ophiopogon japonicus (Thunb.), and Schisandra chinensis (Turcz.) at a ratio of 3:2:1, was intragastrically administered to male C57BL/6 mice for five days prior to the intraperitoneal injection of mitoTEMPO. One day later, DOX was intraperitoneally injected. Hematoxylin-eosin staining and Sirius red staining were carried out to estimate the pharmacological effect of SMY on cardiotoxicity. Mitochondrial function and ferroptosis biomarkers were also examined. AAV was utilized to overexpress Hmox1 to confirm whether Hmox1-mediated ferroptosis is associated with the cardioprotective effect of SMY on DOX-induced cardiotoxicity. The findings revealed that SMY therapy reduced the number of damaged cardiomyocytes. SMY therapy also reversed the inductions of cardiac MDA, serum MDA, LDH, and CK-MB contents, which dramatically decreased nonheme iron levels. In the meantime, SMY corrected the changes to ferroptosis indices brought on by DOX stimulation. Additionally, Hmox1 overexpression prevented SMY's ability to reverse cardiotoxicity. Our results showed that SMY effectively restrained lipid oxidation, reduced iron overload, and inhibited DOX-induced ferroptosis and cardiotoxicity, possibly via the mediation of Hmox1.

Effects of schisandra lignans on the absorption of protopanaxadiol-type ginsenosides mediated by P-glycoprotein and protopanaxatriol-type ginsenosides mediated by CYP3A4

Ethnopharmacological relevanceGinseng Radix et Rhizoma (GRR) and Schisandrae Chinensis Fructus (SCF) are frequently used as herb pairs in traditional herbal formulas especially for the synergetic beneficial effects on lung and heart. Shengmai-yin (SMY), a noted formula, was first published in the traditional Chinese medicine classic named Yixue Qiyuan written by Zhang Yuansu in the Jin Dynasty, and has been used for deficiency of both qi and yin, palpitation, shortness of breath and spontaneous sweating. In SMY, GRR, a sovereign herb, plays an essential role in tonifying lung and supplementing qi, and SCF as an adjuvant herb contributes to the effects of nourishing yin and promoting fluid production, both of which are traditionally used as invigorants in China, Korea, Japan, and Russia. However, the underlying compatibility mechanism of GRR-SCF has remained unknown. Aim of the studyIn order to explore the impact and underlying mechanism of schisandra chinensis extract (SCE) on the absorption of ginsenosides Rb1, Rc, Rb2 and Rd belonging to protopanaxdiol (PPD)-type and ginsenosides Rg1 and Re belonging to protopanaxtriol (PPT)-type, pharmacokinetic studies, molecular docking technique and single-pass intestinal perfusion (SPIP) experiment were conducted. Material and methodsPreliminarily, pharmacokinetic characteristics of ginseng extract (GE) in the presence and absence of SCE were studied. Thereafter, molecular docking was used to predict whether ginsenosides were P-glycoprotein (P-gp) or cytochrome P450 isoenzyme 3A4 (CYP3A4) substrates. Finally, the effects and underlying mechanism of SCE on the absorption of GE were further investigated by in situ SPIP experiment. ResultsOur findings indicated that SCE could increase exposure in vivo and the intestinal absorption of distinct ginsenosides. Additionally, we found that the PPD-type ginsenosides Rb1, Rc, Rb2, and Rd were substrates for P-gp, and the PPT-type ginsenosides Rg1 and Re were substrates for CYP3A4 rather than P-gp. SCE, which has been found with extensive inhibitory effects on P-gp and CYP3A4, could remarkably promote the intestinal absorption of ginsenosides Rg1, Re, Rb1, Rc, Rb2, and Rd, obtaining similar effects comparable with ketoconazole known as a classic dual inhibitor of P-gp and CYP3A4. ConclusionsThe study demonstrated that SCE could improve the absorption of GE, and revealed the underlying compatibility mechanism of GRR and SCF from the perspective of P-gp and CYP3A4-mediated interactions to some extent, which provided a certain scientific reference for the compatibility and clinical practice of GRR-SCF as common herb pairs in traditional prescriptions such as SMY. Moreover, this study also furnished a strategy for improving the oral bioavailability of different types of ginsenosides by drug combinations.

Effect of Shengmai Yin on Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Radioresistant Cells.

To investigate the mechanism by which Chinese medicine Shengmai Yin (SMY) reverses epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) through lipocalin-2 (LCN2) in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) cells CNE-2R. Morphological changes in EMT in CNE-2R cells were observed under a microscope, and the expressions of EMT markers were detected using quantitative real-time PCR (RT-qPCR) and Western blot assays. Through the Gene Expression Omnibus dataset and text mining, LCN2 was found to be highly related to radiation resistance and EMT in NPC. The expressions of LCN2 and EMT markers following SMY treatment (50 and 100 µ g/mL) were detected by RT-qPCR and Western blot assays in vitro. Cell proliferation, migration, and invasion abilities were measured using colony formation, wound healing, and transwell invasion assays, respectively. The inhibitory effect of SMY in vivo was determined by observing a zebrafish xenograft model with a fluorescent label. The CNE-2R cells showed EMT transition and high expression of LCN2, and the use of SMY (5, 10 and 20 µ g/mL) reduced the expression of LCN2 and reversed the EMT in the CNE-2R cells. Compared to that of the CNE-2R group, the proliferation, migration, and invasion abilities of SMY high-concentration group were weakened (P<0.05). Moreover, SMY mediated tumor growth and metastasis in a dose-dependent manner in a zebrafish xenograft model, which was consistent with the in vitro results. SMY can reverse the EMT process of CNE-2R cells, which may be related to its inhibition of LCN2 expression. Therefore, LCN2 may be a potential diagnostic marker and therapeutic target in patients with NPC.

The Protective Effect of Sheng Mai Yin on Diabetic Cardiomyopathy via NLRP3/Caspase-1 Pathway.

Sheng Mai Yin (SMY) has therapeutic effects on myocardial infarction (MI), heart failure (HF), diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM), and myocarditis. To study whether SMY can relieve pyroptosis and play a protective role in diabetic cardiomyopathy, a molecular docking technique was used to predict the possible mechanism of SMY against DCM. Then, a DCM rat model was induced by intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (STZ), divided into 5 groups: the DM group (model), SMY-L group (2.7 mL/kg SMY), SMY-M group (5.4 mL/kg SMY), SMY-H group (10.8 mL/kg SMY), and Met group (120 mg/kg metformin). Rats in the CTL group (control) and DM group were given normal saline. After 8 weeks, the levels of blood glucose, lipids, and myocardial enzymes were detected according to the kit instructions. Cardiac function was detected by echocardiography. HE and Masson were used to observing the pathological changes, collagen deposition, and collagen volume fraction (CVF). The apoptosis rate of cardiomyocytes was determined by Tunel. The IL-1β level was determined by ELISA and RT-PCR. The expressions of NLRP3, caspase-1, and GSDMD were measured using RT-PCR and Western blotting. The docking results suggested that SMY may act on NLRP3 and its downstream signal pathway. The in vivo results showed that SMY could reduce blood glucose and lipid levels, improve heart function, improve histopathological changes and myocardial enzymes, and alleviate cardiomyocyte apoptosis and myocardial fibrosis. SMY inhibited the mRNA and protein expressions of NLRP3, ASC, Caspase-1, and GSDMD and IL-1β production. SMY can reduce DCM by regulating the NLRP3/caspase-1 signaling pathway, providing a new research direction for the treatment of DCM.

Protective Effect of Shengmaiyin in Myocardial Hypertrophy-Induced Rats: A Genomic Analysis by 16S rDNA.

Background The gut-cardiac axis theory provides new insights into the complex mechanisms of cardiac hypertrophy and provides new therapeutic targets. Cardiac hypertrophy is a risk factor for heart failure. Shengmaiyin (SMY) is a traditional Chinese medicine formula with clear effects in the treatment and prevention of cardiac hypertrophy, but the mechanism by which it improves cardiac hypertrophy is still unclear. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the protective effect and mechanism of SMY on isoproterenol (ISO)-induced myocardial hypertrophy in rats. Methods First, various pharmacodynamic methods were used to evaluate the therapeutic effect of SMY on ISO-induced myocardial hypertrophy in rats. Then, 16S rDNA amplicon sequencing technology was used to study the effect of SMY on the intestinal flora of rats with myocardial hypertrophy. Finally, the mechanism underlying the effect of SMY on cardiac hypertrophy was predicted by bioinformatics network analysis and verified by Western blotting. Results SMY increased ejection fraction (EF%) and left ventricular fractional shortening (FS%), ameliorated myocardial cell injury and fibrosis, regulated blood lipids and energy metabolism, and decreased cardiac hypertrophy marker gene expression. The gut microbiota of ISO-induced myocardial hypertrophy rats were significantly changed, while SMY effectively ameliorated the dysbiosis of the intestinal flora in rats with myocardial hypertrophy, especially Prevotella 9, Lactobacillus, and Clostridium. Mechanistic studies have shown that the anticardiac hypertrophy effect of SMY is related to the inhibition of the expression of HIF1α/PPAR signalling pathway-related proteins. Conclusion SMY significantly improves cardiac function, relieves myocardial cell fibrosis and necrosis, resists cardiac hypertrophy, improves blood lipid metabolism and energy metabolism, regulates intestinal microbial disturbance, and protects the heart.

Integrated Metabolomics and Network Pharmacology Analysis Immunomodulatory Mechanisms of Qifenggubiao Granules.

Background: Qifenggubiao granules (QFGBG) is a new Chinese medicine independently developed by Heilongjiang Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, which combines the essence of Yupingfeng powder and Shengmai yin (invention patent number: CN1325098C, approval number: Sinopharm Zhunzi B20020410), and has been included in the 2020 edition of Chinese Pharmacopoeia. It has remarkable pharmacodynamic results and conclusive clinical effects in the treatment of allergic rhinitis, chronic cough and other diseases. Previous pharmacological studies have shown that it has immunomodulatory effect, but its immunomodulatory mechanism is still unclear. Methods: In this study, cyclophosphamide (CTX) was used to establish the immune hypofunction model in mice, and the weight change, index of immune organs in spleen and thymus, pathological sections of immune organs and inflammatory factors were used to evaluate the model. Based on the metabolic biomarkers obtained by metabonomics technology, the potential targets of Qifeng Gubiao Granule immunomodulation were obtained by integrating the targets of blood components, metabolites and diseases through network pharmacology. Meanwhile, GO enrichment analysis and KEGG pathway analysis were carried out on the potential targets. Results: QFGBG can increase body weight and organ index, and recover immune organ damage caused by CP. Metabonomics identified 13 metabolites with significant changes, among which the level of phospholipid (PC) metabolites decreased significantly in the model group. Sphingosine -1- phosphate, 1- palmitoyl phosphatidylcholine [LysoPC (16:0/0:0)] and other metabolites were significantly increased in the model group, and 98 targets of Qifeng’s external immune regulation were obtained by intersecting 629 component targets, 202 metabolite targets and 1916 disease targets. KEGG pathway analysis obtained 233 related metabolic pathways, and the top 20 metabolic pathways mainly involved IL-17 signaling pathway, TNF signaling pathway, Sphingolipid signaling pathway, and so on. Conclusion: QFGBG may act on AKT1, IL6, MAPK3, PTGS2, CASP3, MAPK1, ESR1, PPARG, HSP90AA1, PPARA and other targets, acting through Sphingolipid signaling pathway and signaling pathway. Combined with pharmacodynamic evaluation, the immunomodulatory effect of QFGBG was confirmed, and the immunomodulatory mechanism of QFGBG with multiple targets and multiple pathways was preliminarily clarified.

Shengmai Yin alleviated plaque vulnerability and ischemic myocardial damage in diesel exhaust particle-aggravated atherosclerosis with myocardial ischemia

Exposure to diesel exhaust particles (DEP) increases the risk of ischemic heart disease, especially heart attacks and ischemic/thrombotic strokes. Shengmai Yin (SMY) is a traditional Chinese medicine used to treat coronary heart disease. The aim of this study was to determine the protective role of SMY and the mechanism by which SMY affects DEP-induced cardiovascular injury. This study is expected to provide the basis for the development of an adaptive signature of SMY in the prevention of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and premature death from global air pollution exposure. We developed animal models of myocardial ischemia and atherosclerosis (AS) in response to DEP exposure. After SMY treatment, serum lipids returned to normal. Aortic plaque area and MMP9 expression were significantly reduced and collagen fiber expression increased after SMY treatment compared to DEP exposure alone. Thus, the risk of plaque formation and vulnerability is reduced. In addition, SMY improved left ventricular structure, morphology, function, blood flow, infarct area, myocardial damage, and ROS accumulation to varying degrees in ApoE-/- mice. These results indicate that the use of SMY is effective, to varying degrees, for the treatment of dyslipidemia, atherosclerosis, myocardial ischemia, and oxidative stress in ApoE-/- mice. SMY has a potential protective effect in DEP-aggravated AS in people with myocardial ischemia.

Shengmai Yin formula exerts cardioprotective effects on rats with chronic heart failure via regulating Linoleic Acid metabolism

The objective of this study was to investigate the protective effects of Shengmai Yin(SMY) on rats with chronic heart failure(CHF).Sprague‐Dawley rats were used to establish a CHF animal model via ligation of the left anterior descending branch of the coronary artery and exhaustive swimming.Echocardiography, serum biochemical indicators and histopathology were used to evaluate the pharmacodynamics of SMY in CHF rats.UPLC-Q-TOF/MS analysis based on serum was performed to identify the potential metabolites in the pathological process of CHF. Metabolic pathway analysis was carried out to elucidate the metabolic network associated with SMY treatment of CHF.Moreover,quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR), Western blotting (WB), and Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) were used to measure the RNA and protein expression levels in related pathways. Results revealed that SMY significantly restored the cardiac function of CHF rats, reduced the serum biochemical indicators, and alleviated cardiac histological damage. Metabolomics analysis shows that the therapeutic effect of SMY for CHF involves 14 biomarkers and 8 metabolic pathways, especially linoleic acid pathway, to be influenced, which implied the potential mechanism of SMY in treating CHF. Two key indicators Lipoxygenase arachidonic acid 15 lipoxygenase (ALOX15) and Cytochrome P450 1A2(CYP1A2) of linoleic acid metabolism pathway were verified by RT-PCR, WB and ELISA. Verification result showed that compared with the model group, expression levels of ALOX15 and CYP1A2 in SMY group were lower. In conclusion, SMY has cardioprotective effect on chronic heart failure rats, and its mechanism may be related to linoleic acid metabolism pathway.

Ginsenosides regulation of lysophosphatidylcholine profiles underlies the mechanism of Shengmai Yin in attenuating atherosclerosis

Ethnopharmacological relevanceThe traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) preparation, Shengmai Yin (SMY), is widely applied in cardiovascular disease treatments. However, the pharmacological mechanism of its therapeutic effects has not been fully clarified. Aim of this studyThis study aimed to clearly define the efficacy and underlying mechanism of SMY and its active components in protecting against atherosclerosis. Materials and methodsThe pharmacological effects of SMY and its components were evaluated upon a mouse hypercholesteremia model induced by a high cholesterol diet (HCD) for 12 weeks and Apoe−/− mice, a mouse atherosclerosis model. Pathological indicators including serum cholesterol levels, cytokines and histological changes in aortic root plaques were assessed. Untargeted metabolomic, untargeted lipidomic and targeted lipidomic changing profiles were investigated to clarify pharmacological mechanisms. ResultsSMY and red ginseng crude extracts (GE) significantly decreased the serum cholesterol levels in hypercholesteremia mice and reduced the aortic root plaque areas and exerted antiatherogenic efficacy in Apoe−/− mice. Moreover, total red ginseng saponin extracts (TGS) showed the most apparent improvement on maintaining lipid homeostasis, representing the effects of red ginseng in SMY on atherosclerosis treatment. Mechanically, TGS inhibited serum secreted phospholipase A2 (sPLA2) activity and lowered the serum levels of lysophosphatidylcholine (lysoPC), which is a risk factor for atherosclerosis. ConclusionsOur findings revealed that ginsenosides from SMY exerted therapeutic effects on atherosclerosis by maintaining lipid homeostasis including cholesterol and lysoPCs.

Effect of Shengmai Yin on the DNA methylation status of nasopharyngeal carcinoma cell and its radioresistant strains

Shengmai Yin (SMY) is a Chinese herbal decoction that effectively alleviates the side effects of radiotherapy in various cancers and helps achieve radiotherapy's clinical efficacy. In this study, we explored the interaction mechanism among SMY, DNA methylation, and nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). We identified differences in DNA methylation levels in NPC CNE-2 cells and its radioresistant cells (CNE-2R) using the methylated DNA immunoprecipitation array and found that CNE-2R cells showed genome-wide changes in methylation status towards a state of hypomethylation. SMY may restore its original DNA methylation status, and thus, enhance radiosensitivity. Furthermore, we confirmed that the differential gene Tenascin-C (TNC) was overexpressed in CNE-2R cells and that SMY downregulated TNC expression. This downregulation of TNC inhibited NPC cell radiation resistance, migration, and invasion. Furthermore, we found that TNC was hypomethylated in CNE-2R cells and partially restored to a hypermethylated state after SMY intervention. DNA methyltransferases 3a may be the key protein in DNA methylation of TNC.

Shengmai Yin formula modulates the gut microbiota of spleen-deficiency rats

BackgroundSpleen-deficiency syndrome, an important pathological change in traditional Chinese medicine, has been proven to attribute to intestinal dysbacteriosis. Shengmai Yin (SMY), a classic formula for replenishing qi and restoring pulse, is a common medicine for critical emergencies in traditional Chinese Medicine. Interestingly, our previous study established a spleen-deficiency rat model and verified the potency of SMY formula in curing spleen-deficiency rats. Our goal herein was to explore whether SMY can modulate the composition of intestinal flora and alleviate spleen-deficiency in rats.MethodsThis experiment was randomly divided into three groups, namely the normal control group (NC), model control group (MC), and the Shengmai Yin group (SMY). After the treatment, the weight and symptom indexes of the rats were recorded, histological changes in the colon were observed, levels of serum D-xylose, gastrin (GAS), and vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) were measured, and gut microbiota profiling was conducted by 16S rRNA sequencing.ResultsThe body mass of the spleen-deficiency model rats significantly decreased compared with that of the NC group, and SMY treatment significantly increased body mass compared with the MC group (P < 0.01). Colon histopathology revealed that SMY treatment alleviated colonic mucosal damage in spleen-deficiency rats. The serum levels of D-xylose and gastrin (GAS) were significant increased by SMY (P < 0.05, P < 0.01), and vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) was reduced by SMY (P < 0.01) compared with MC. Furthermore, alpha diversity was significantly decreased in the model rats compared to the normal rats (P < 0.05) and increased with SMY treatment (P < 0.01). The most abundant phyla were Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes, followed by Proteobacteria, Verrucomicrobia, and Actinobacteria. At the genus level, there was a lower relative abundance of Lactobacillus, Bacteroides, Akkermasia, and Allobaculum, and a higher relative abundance of Lachnospiraceae NK4A 136 group, Ruminococcaceae UCG-014, and Sphingomonas in the MC group. The relative abundance of Actinobacteria, Alistipes, Bifidobacterium, Bifidobacterium, Bifidobacteriaceae, Lachnospiraceae NK4A136group, Lactobacillus, Lactobacillaceae, Bacilli, Verrucomicrobiae, and Akkermansia were significantly abundant in the treatment groups, and thus may be singled out as potential biomarkers for SMY in the treatment of spleen deficiency. In addition, analysis on the correlation between species and physicochemical indexes showed that the abundance of Parasutterella was negatively correlated with the change in GAS, and positively correlated with the change in VIP (P < 0.01).ConclusionOur findings have provided preliminary evidence that modulating the gut microbiota may play a role in the treatment of spleen deficiency with SMY. However, further studies are needed to clarify the mechanism by which SMY regulation of related gut microbiota occurs.

Exploring the mechanism of Shengmai Yin for coronary heart disease based on systematic pharmacology and chemoinformatics.

Objective: To explore the mechanism of Shengmai Yin (SMY) for coronary heart disease (CHD) by systemic pharmacology and chemoinformatics.Methods: Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database (TCMSP), traditional Chinese medicine integrative database (TCMID) and the traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) Database@Taiwan were used to screen and predict the bioactive components of SMY. Pharmmapper were utilized to predict the potential targets of SMY, the TCMSP was utilized to obtain the known targets of SMY. The Genecards and OMIM database were utilized to collect CHD genes. Cytoscape was then used for network construction and analysis, and DAVID was used for Gene Ontology (GO) and pathway enrichment analysis. After that, animal experiments were then performed to further validate the results of systemic pharmacology and chemoinformatics.Results: Three major networks were constructed: (1) CHD genes’ protein–protein interaction (PPI) network; (2) SMY–CHD PPI network; (3) SMY known target–CHD PPI network. The other networks are minor networks generated by analyzing the three major networks. Experimental results showed that compared with the model group, the Shengmai injection (SMI) can reduce the myocardial injury score and the activities of serum aspartate aminoconvertase (AST), CK and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) in rats (P<0.05), and reduce serum lipid peroxide (LPO) content and increase serum superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activities in myocardial infarction rats (P<0.05). SMI can also decrease the expression of MMP-9 mRNA and increase that of TIMP-1 mRNA (P<0.01).Conclusion: SMY may regulate the signaling pathways (such as PPAR, FoxO, VEGF signaling), biological processes (such as angiogenesis, blood pressure formation, inflammatory response) and targets (such as AKT1, EGFR, MAPK1) so as to play a therapeutic role in CHD.

Multivariate analysis based on chromatographic fingerprinting for the evaluation of batch-to-batch reproducibility in traditional Chinese medicinal production

In traditional Chinese medicinal production, a high degree of batch-to-batch reproducibility is required to achieve successful batches that meet the quality standard of traditional Chinese medicinal preparations (TCMPs). In this paper, multivariate statistical process monitoring (MSPM) based on chromatographic fingerprinting has been introduced to evaluate the batch-to-batch reproducibility of TCMPs. A commonly used TCMP product, Sheng-Mai-Yin (SMY) oral liquid, is selected as a typical example to demonstrate the feasibility of this approach. A number of batches are prepared through normal operation procedures to simulate the common-cause variations induced by preparation days, herb materials, and operators. Another number of abnormal batches are designed to simulate different types of deviations, including the changes of herb material quality attributes and abnormal operation conditions. The high-performance liquid chromatographic fingerprinting is used to construct the integrative pattern of SMY products. A principle component analysis model is established of the fingerprint data of the normal batches. Multivariate (Hotelling T2 and DModX) control charts are successfully applied to monitor the abnormal batches. As an effective multivariate analysis method in this study, MSPM based on chromatographic fingerprinting promises great applications in batch monitoring and evaluation for the production of TCMPs.

Long-Term Treatment with a Chinese Herbal Formula, Sheng-Mai-San, Improves Cardiac Contractile Function in Aged Rats: The Role of Ca2+Homeostasis

A Chinese herbal formula Sheng-Mai-Yin (SMY), the liquid dosage form of Sheng-Mai-San, has been used clinically for treating heart failure, particularly in aged patients. To investigate the effect of SMY treatment on the contractile function of aged hearts, we first examined cardiac hemodynamics in aged rats. To define the mechanism involved in the enhancement of cardiac function, we investigated the effect of SMY treatment on Ca(2+) homeostasis in ventricular cardiomyocytes isolated from aged rats. Ca(2+) release was assessed by measurements of changes in cardiac Ca(2+) transients and Ca(2+) sparks, using laser scanning confocal microscopy. The functional status of Ca(2+)-release regulators, including L-type Ca(2+) channels, sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) Ca(2+)-adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase), and ryanodine receptors (RyRs), was also assessed. The results indicated that SMY treatment (2 g/kg per day for 30 doses within 6 weeks, intragastically) significantly improved hemodynamic parameters in aged rats. SMY treatment markedly increased the amplitude and shortened the duration of Ca(2+) transients in aged cardiomyocytes, and reversed the age-related increase in frequency, decrease in amplitude, and changes in spatiotemporal properties of Ca(2+) sparks in cardiomyocytes. In addition, SMY treatment increased the L-type Ca(2+) current density, SR Ca(2+) content, and SR Ca(2+)-ATPase expression, and decreased the sensitivity of RyRs to Ca(2+), all of which are causally related to increases in the amplitude of Ca(2+) transients and the size of Ca(2+) sparks. In conclusion, the improvement in cardiac contractile function afforded by SMY treatment in aged rats is likely mediated by an increase in Ca(2+) release from the SR through L-type Ca(2+) current-activated RyRs.