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Oxidative stress and inflammation undoubtedly contribute to the pathogenesis of many human diseases. The nuclear transcription factor erythroid 2-related factor (Nrf2) and the nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) play central roles in regulation of oxidative stress and inflammation and thus are targets for developing agents against oxidative stress- and inflammation-related diseases. Our previous study indicated that the EtOH extract of Litsea garrettii protected human bronchial epithelial cells against oxidative insult via the activation of Nrf2. In the present study, a systemic phytochemical investigation of L. garrettii led to the isolation of twenty-one chemical ingredients, which were further evaluated for their inhibitions on oxidative stress and inflammation using NAD(P)H:quinone reductase (QR) assay and nitric oxide (NO) production assay. Of these ingredients, 3-methoxy-5-pentyl-phenol (MPP, 5) was identified as an Nrf2 activator and an NF-κB inhibitor. Further studies demonstrated the following: (i) MPP upregulated the protein levels of Nrf2, NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase 1 (NQO1), and glutamate-cysteine ligase regulatory subunit (GCLM); enhanced the nuclear translocation and stabilization of Nrf2; and inhibited arsenic [As(III)]-induced oxidative insult in normal human lung epithelial Beas-2B cells. And (ii) MPP suppressed the nuclear translocation of NF-κB p65 subunit; inhibited the lipopolysaccharide- (LPS-) stimulated increases of NF-κB p65 subunit, COX-2, iNOS, TNF-α, and IL-1β; and blocked the LPS-induced biodegrade of IκB-α in RAW 264.7 murine macrophages. Taken together, MPP displayed potential preventive effects against inflammation- and oxidative stress-related diseases.

The Broussonetia genus (Moraceae), recognized for its value in many Chinese traditional herbs, mainly includes Broussonetia papyrifera (L.) L’Hér. ex Vent. (BP), Broussonetia kazinoki Siebold (BK), and Broussonetia luzonica (Blanco) Bureau (BL). Hitherto, researchers have found 338 compounds isolated from BP, BK, and BL, which included flavonoids, polyphenols, phenylpropanoids, alkaloids, terpenoids, steroids, and others. Moreover, its active compounds and extracts have exhibited a variety of pharmacological effects such as antitumor, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, anti-obesity, antibacterial, and antiviral properties, and its use against skin wrinkles. In this review, the phytochemistry and pharmacology of Broussonetia are updated systematically, after its applications are first summarized. In addition, this review also discusses the limitations of investigations and the potential direction of Broussonetia. This review can help to further understand the phytochemistry, pharmacology, and other applications of Broussonetia, which paves the way for future research.

In this paper, the confusion of the sources of medicinal materials was briefly expounded, and the differences among the varieties were pointed out. At the same time, the chemical components and pharmacological properties of Elsholtzia ciliata (Thunb.) Hyland (E.ciliata) were reviewed. The structures of 352 compounds that have been identified are listed. These mainly include flavonoids, terpenoids, phenylpropanoids, alkaloids, and other chemical components. They have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, insecticidal, antiviral, hypolipidemic, hypoglycemic, analgesic, antiarrhythmic, antitumor, antiacetylcholinesterase, and immunoregulator activities. At present, there are many researches using essential oil and alcohol extract, and the researches on antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, and other pharmacological activities are relatively mature. This paper aims to summarize the existing research, update the research progress regarding the phytochemicals and pharmacology of E. ciliate, and to provide convenience for subsequent research.

Cynanchum auriculatum Royle ex Wight. (CA), Cynanchum bungei Decne. (CB) and Cynanchum wilfordii (Maxim.) Hemsl. (CW) are three close species belonging to the Asclepiadaceous family, and their dry roots as the bioactive part have been revealed to exhibit anti-tumor, neuroprotection, organ protection, reducing liver lipid and blood lipid, immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory, and other activities. Until 2021, phytochemistry investigations have uncovered 232 compounds isolated from three species, which could be classified into C21-steroids, acetophenones, terpenoids, and alkaloids. In this review, the morphology characteristics, species identification, and the relationship of botany, extraction, and the separation of chemical constituents, along with the molecular mechanism and pharmacokinetics of bioactive constituents of three species, are summarized for the first time, and their phytochemistry, pharmacology, and clinical safety are also updated. Moreover, the direction and limitation of current research on three species is also discussed.

strategies, [7] and trojan horse strategies [8] for drug-loaded nanocarriers to improve the drug delivery efficiency. However, the high IFP caused by the accumulation of lymph fluid in tumor tissues and the fibrin produced by gene overexpression, hindering the permeability of drug-loaded nanocarriers, has yet to resolve.Driving nanocarriers refer to a kind of nanomotors that can rely on their actuation mechanisms into externally powered sources and chemically propelled ones. [9] An efficient, intelligent and biocompatible nanomotors is suitable for the physiological environment. [10] Compared with other drug-loaded nanocarriers, the driving force of the nanomotors seemed to be a solution to the problem of effective drug delivery against the high IFP in tumor therapy. [11] There were some nanomotors that could respond to the high concentration of H 2 O 2 in TME, [12] but the required power was still orders of magnitude higher than that in the cellular environment. [13] There were also reports on the nanomotors that could respond to the acidic pH value of TME and be used to improve the ECM environment. [14] The nanomotors often solved the delivery of drugs from the blood vessel to the vicinity of tumor, [15] however, which did not directly resist the abnormal pressure inside the deep after reaching the tumor site. Indeed, IFP even reached 30 to 100 mmHg, which could not be ignored as the important factor during the drug delivery process. [16] Thus, the pressure counterwork was unique challenge, and it could answer the existed problem and mechanism of many treatment methods about the modifying, targeting and immunizing nanocarriers.Herein, we provide a strategy for preparing the dual-fuel driven nanocarriers to effectively counterwork the gradient pressures during the drug such as doxorubicin hydrochloride (DOX HCl) delivery in tumor treatment. This is a self-propelled nanocarrier, consisting of CaO 2 and CAT fuels wrapped in the biodegradable tube-shaped poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) nanoparticles (Figure 1A). The photosensitive poly(ε-caprolactone)-b-o-nitrobenzyl-poly(ethyleneglycol)-onitrobenzyl-b-poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL-NB-PEG-NB-PCL) copolymers as the skeletal precursors are equally divided by The abnormal pressure in tumor tissue is a significant limitation on the drug delivery efficiency of tumor therapy. This work reports a gradient-driven nanomotor as drug nanocarrier with the pressure-counterworking function. The dual-fuel nanomotors are formed by co-electrospinning of the photosensitive polymers with calcium peroxide (CaO 2 ) and catalase (CAT), followed by ultraviolet (UV) irradiation and bovine serum albumin (BSA) incubation. The UV-responsive cleavage nanomotors can effectively release O 2 molecules at the fractures as a driving force to increase the delivery speed and escape the phagocytosis of macrophage system in normal tissues. Furthermore, CAT catalyzes H 2 O 2 produced by CaO 2 and the tumor interstitial fluids to provide stronger power for the nanomotors. Additionally, according to the...

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