Preparation and characterization of active oxidized starch films containing licorice residue extracts and its potential against methicillin-resistant S. aureus

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common cause of neurodegenerative dementia and one of the top medical concerns worldwide. Currently, the approved drugs to treat AD are effective only in treating the symptoms, but do not cure or prevent AD. Although the exact causes of AD are not understood, it is recognized that tau aggregation in neurons plays a key role. Chuanxiong Rhizoma (CR) has been widely reported as effective for brain diseases such as dementia. Thus, we explored the protections of CR in AD by a tau pathogenesis–based network pharmacology approach. According to ultra-HPLC with triple quadrupole mass spectrometry data and Lipinski’s rule of five, 18 bioactive phytochemicals of CR were screened out. They were shown corresponding to 127 tau pathogenesis–related targets, among which VEGFA, IL1B, CTNNB1, JUN, ESR1, STAT3, APP, BCL2L1, PTGS2, and PPARG were identified as the core ones. We further analyzed the specific actions of CR-active phytochemicals on tau pathogenesis from the aspects of tau aggregation and tau-mediated toxicities. It was shown that neocnidilide, ferulic acid, coniferyl ferulate, levistilide A, Z-ligustilide, butylidenephthalide, and caffeic acid can be effective in reversing tau hyperphosphorylation. Neocnidilide, senkyunolide A, butylphthalide, butylidenephthalide, Z-ligustilide, and L-tryptophan may be effective in promoting lysosome-associated degradation of tau, and levistilide A, neocnidilide, ferulic acid, L-tryptophan, senkyunolide A, Z-ligustilide, and butylidenephthalide may antagonize tau-mediated impairments of intracellular transport, axon and synaptic damages, and neuron death (especially apoptosis). The present study suggests that acting on tau aggregation and tau-mediated toxicities is part of the therapeutic mechanism of CR against AD.

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A Tau Pathogenesis-Based Network Pharmacology Approach for Exploring the Protections of Chuanxiong Rhizoma in Alzheimer’s Disease

In this study, we investigated the antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties of Cnidium officinale hexane (COH) extract and senkyunolide A (SA). The antibacterial activities were measured using the paper disk diffusion method and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) against Propionibacterium acnes and Malassezia furfur. COH extract showed antibacterial activity at a concentration of 50 mg ml-1. The MICs of COH and SA were determined using the broth microdilution method. COH was found to be active on all the bacteria tested (10 ≤ MIC ≤ 20 mg ml-1). SA showed antibacterial activity against P. acnes. The anti-inflammatory properties were determined using a pancreatic lipase inhibition activity method, lipoxygenase inhibition activity, and inhibition of nitric oxide production activity. COH and SA inhibited the production of nitric oxide by up to 50 µg ml-1 in a dose-dependent manner. COH and SA possess antibacterial and anti-inflammatory activities. They could be used as antibacterial ingredients in various industries.

Tae Y Kim

Papers

Antibacterial Activity of Senkyunolide A Isolated from Cnidium Officinale Extract.