Asparagus cochinchinensis Extract Alleviates Metal Ion‐Induced Gut Injury in Drosophila: An In Silico Analysis of Potential Active Constituents

Abstract

Metal ions and sulfate are components of atmospheric pollutants that have diverse ways of entering the human body. We used Drosophila as a model to investigate the effect of Asparagus cochinchinensis (A. cochinchinensis) extracts on the gut and characterized gut homeostasis following the ingestion of metal ions (copper, zinc, and aluminum). In this study, we found that the aqueous A. cochinchinensis extract increased the survival rate, decreased epithelial cell death, and attenuated metal ion-induced gut morphological changes in flies following chronic exposure to metal ions. In addition, we screened out, by network pharmacology, six natural products (NPs) that could serve as putative active components of A. cochinchinensis that prevented gut injury. Altogether, the results of our study provide evidence that A. cochinchinensis might be an effective phytomedicine for the treatment of metal ion-induced gut injury.

Anti-Inflammatory Response and Muscarinic Cholinergic Regulation during the Laxative Effect of Asparagus cochinchinensis in Loperamide-Induced Constipation of SD Rats

“…In an effort to identify novel drugs for the treatment of constipation, we investigated the inflammatory responses and the cholinergic regulation exerted during the laxative effects of SPA in Lop-induced constipated SD rats. A. cochinchinensis roots have been implicated in the recovery of neuronal cells and gut injury in studies using animals and Drosophila [ 22 , 23 , 24 ]. The results of the current study clearly demonstrate that SPA induces laxative effects, including the elevation of stool excretion and the recovery of histological changes induced by Lop injection in the colon.…”

“…These functional compounds include β-sitosterol [ 3 ], daucosterol [ 4 ], n-ethatriacontanoic acid [ 5 ], palmitic acid [ 9 ], 9-heptacosylene [ 10 ], smilagenin [ 11 ], diosgenin [ 12 ], sarsasapogenin-3-O-β-D-glucoside feeding grapes imidacloprid [ 13 ], 5-methoxy methyl furfural, yame sapogenin, diosgenin-3-O-β-D imidacloprid feeding glucose glycosides [ 13 , 14 ], aspacochioside D [ 7 ], iso-agatharesinoside [ 15 ], and seven steroidal saponins [ 21 ]. The roots of A. cochinchinesis have several therapeutic properties, including antiaging and antioxidant effects [ 22 , 28 , 29 ], antibacterial inflammatory effects [ 22 , 26 , 27 ], anticancer effects [ 23 , 24 , 30 ], and hepatoprotective activity [ 25 ]. Moreover, they are administered in combination with other herbs to treat lung diseases, immune system-related diseases, and aging [ 9 , 10 ].…”

“…The root extract with A. cochinchinensis significantly increases the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and reduces the contents of malondialdehyde (MDA) in the brain [ 23 ]. Moreover, an aqueous extract with A. cochinchinesis stimulates the nerve growth factor (NGF) expression and secretion in neuronal cells [ 24 ]. Furthermore, changes associated with gut injuries induced by metal ion treatment, such as the survival rate of epithelial cells and morphological changes in the gut, were effectively alleviated by treatment with the aqueous A. cochinchinesis extract [ 25 ].…”

Oligosaccharides from Asparagus cochinchinensis for ameliorating LPS-induced acute lung injury in mice

“…Modern pharmacological studies have demonstrated that Asparagi radix possesses anti-inflammatory, [4][5][6][7][8] anti-asthma, 9 anti-oxidant, 10 anti-ageing 11,12 and other pharmacological effects. [13][14][15][16] Asparagi radix also has mild toning effects on the body; therefore, it is widely used as herbal medicine and in health care products. To date, the analysis of chemicals, including saponins, [17][18][19] oligofurostanosides, 20 steroids, 21 inulin-type fructans, 22 and other chemical constituents 23,24 in Asparagi radix, has been reported.…”

Development of microsatellite markers based on expressed sequence tags in Asparagus cochinchinensis (Asparagaceae)

“…The tuberous roots of this plant have various medicinal properties including anti-inflammatory ( Lee et al, 2015 ), antibacterial, and antipyretic qualities ( Samad et al, 2013 ). In addition, previous research has also demonstrated that A. cochinchinensis has antitumor properties, particularly targeting lung cancer ( Zhang and Jin, 2016 ). Such uses have led to a great demand for this plant, increasing the risk of extinction in this species due to over-collection of its wild populations ( Jiang et al, 2010 ).…”