Response surface methodology (RSM) and Box- Behnken design (BBD) based on one-way experiments were used to optimize the extraction parameters of the lateral root polysaccharides of Aconitum carmichaelii. The extracted polysaccharides were named as refined fucose polysaccharide. The optimal conditions included a water to raw material ratio of 43, an extraction time of 2 h, and an extraction temperature of 90°C. The shape of RFP was shown by infrared spectroscopy (IR) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis. The monosaccharide composition and molecular weight of RFP was determined by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Furthermore, RFP exhibited moderate antioxidant activity by analyzing the scavenging rates of 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical, superoxide anion radical, hydroxyl radical, and ABTS + radical. RFP exerted cytoprotective effects against hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-induced injury in the rat renal tubular epithelial cell line rat renal tubular epithelial cells (NRK-52E) and inhibited apoptosis. In addition, researches found that RFP could alleviate cisplatin-induced acute kidney injury in mice by enhancing the levels of glutathione (GSH) and glutathione peroxidase-4 (GPX-4), decreasing the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and 4-hydroxynonenal (4-HNE), reducing lipid peroxidation, and thus inhibiting ferroptosis. In conclusion, this study provides a good strategy for obtaining bioactive polysaccharides from Fuzi.

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Chuanhuang Qingre capsule (CHQR) is composed of Andrographis paniculata and solidago virgaurea, mainly used for treating acute respiratory infection, acute tonsillitis and acute pharyngitis. However, the mechanism of CHQR in treating pharyngitis is still unclear. In this study, UHPLC-Q-Orbitrap HRMS technology was used to identify the chemical constituents in CHQR. Network pharmacology combined with a molecular docking approach was used to screen for possible mechanisms to predict CHQR for treating acute pharyngitis. Finally, a rat model of acute pharyngitis was used to confirm the mechanism of CHQR in treating acute pharyngitis.The results showed that UHPLC-Q-Orbitrap HRMS identified 68 compounds. Network analysis showed that TP53, AKT1, TNF, IL6 and EGFR were the key targets. The results of molecular docking showed reasonable binding force. The experimental results showed that CHQR could reduce inflammatory cell infiltration and improve pharyngitis symptoms in rats with acute pharyngitis. Elisa results showed that the levels of PGE2, IL-1β, TNF-α and IL-6 in serum decreased. It is suggested that CHQR can prevent and treat acute pharyngitis, mainly by inhibiting the TNF pathway and reducing of inflammatory cytokines levels, which can provide scientific references for clinical research.

Bile‐processed Coptidis Rhizoma (DL) is a unique processed product of Coptidis Rhizoma in traditional Chinese medicines, it's commonly used in the treatment of type 2 diabetes (T2DM) or non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) by folk Chinese physicians, but information about its active components and mechanism of action are still lacking. Network pharmacology combined with a molecular docking approach was used to screen for possible mechanisms to predict DL for treating NAFLD in T2DM. Validation of the effects of DL on key protein‐related effects such as anti‐inflammatory, antioxidant and insulin resistance inhibition through pharmacological assays. 32 components in DL were identified and 558 target targets were obtained. A total of 6165 targets related to T2DM, 5306 targets related to NAFLD were intersected with the component targets to obtain 329 common targets. PPI network analysis showed that 55 targets may be key targets for DL treatment of NAFLD inT2DM. Molecular docking showed that the components were well bound to the protein. The therapeutic effects of DL through anti‐oxidation, anti‐inflammation and alleviation of insulin resistance were validated based on animal studies. This study provides a solid basis and scientific rationale for the mechanism of DL and its application in the treatment of NAFLD in T2DM and other related diseases.