Corydalis humosa Migo is a traditional Chinese medicine that clears away damp heat, relieves sore. Protopine (PRO) is an alkaloid component isolated from C. humosa Migo. However, the role of protopine in acute kidney injury (AKI) has not yet been reported. This study aims to investigate the effect and mechanism of protopine isolated from C. humosa Migo on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced AKI in mice. Inflammation accumulation was assessed by small animal living imaging. The blood urea nitrogen (BUN), and serum creatinine (Scr) were measured to assess the effects of protopine on renal function in LPS-induced AKI. The levels of tumor necrosis factor (TNF), interleukin-2 (IL-2), interferon-γ (IFN-γ), and (interleukin-10) IL-10 in serum were detected by cytometric bead array. Flow cytometry was used to detect the levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in primary kidney cells. The proportions of granulocytes, neutrophils, and macrophages in peripheral blood were examined to evaluate the effect of protopine on immune cells in mice with AKI. Toll-like receptor (TLR4) and apoptotic signaling pathway were detected by Western blot analysis. The results showed that protopine markedly improved the renal function, relieve inflammation, reversed inflammatory cytokines, transformed apoptosis markers, and regulated the TLR4 signaling pathway in mice with AKI induced by LPS. The protopine isolated from C. humosa Migo protected mice against LPS-induced AKI by inhibiting apoptosis and inflammation via the TLR4 signaling pathway, thus providing a molecular basis for a novel medical treatment of AKI.

A new ionone glycoside, frehmaglutoside I (1), and three new rhemaneolignans A–C (2–4) were isolated from the 95% EtOH extract of the roots of Rehmannia glutinosa. Their structures were determined by extensive spectroscopic (UV, IR, HR-ESI-MS, 1D and 2D NMR) analyses. In addition, these compounds were evaluated for their protective effects on cardiocytes impaired by doxorubicin in H9c2 cells. Among them, compounds 1–3 exhibited protective effects against DOX-induced cardiotoxicity.

The aim of this study was to investigate the estrogen-like effects of 2-phenylacetamide (PA), which is the main compound isolated from the seeds of Lepidium apetalum Willd (LA). Results showed that LA and PA could promote the proliferation of MCF-7 cells. The mouse uterine weight test showed that, LA and PA could increase the uterus index of immature female mice, and the levels of luteinizing hormone (LH) and estrogen (E2). LA could increase the expression of ERα and ERβ, while PA could increase the expression of ERα, ERβ and GPR30 in the uterus and MCF-7 cells. In addition, co-incubation of the estrogen receptor blocker with LA or PA abolished the inductive effect of the proliferation. PA has estrogenic activities and was the material basis of LA that played the estrogenic effect. LA and PA might be used for the treatment of perimenopause syndrome in a novel application.

Sixteen new prenylated flavonoids, sinoflavonoids P–Z (1–11) and sinoflavonoids NA–NE (12–16), were isolated from the fruit of Sinopodophyllum hexandrum, along with eight known analogues (17–24). Their structures were elucidated on the basis of extensive spectroscopic data (HR-ESI-MS, ¹H-NMR, ¹³C-NMR, HSQC, HMBC). The cytotoxic activities of compounds 1–18, 20, and 22 were evaluated by MTT assay. Compound 6 showed the most potent cytotoxicity in MCF-7, and HepG2 cell lines, with IC₅₀ values of 6.25 and 3.83 μM, respectively.

Lepidium apetalum Willd has been used to reduce edema and promote urination. Cis-desulfoglucotropaeolin (cis-DG) and trans-desulfoglucotropaeolin (trans-DG) were isolated from Lepidium apetalum Willd, and caused a significant increase in cell viability in a hypertonic model in NRK52e cells. In the hypertonic model, cis-DG and trans-DG significantly promoted the cell viability of NRK52e cells and inhibited the elevation of Na⁺ in the supernatant, inhibited the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone (RAAS) system, significantly reduced the levels of angiotensin II (Ang II) and aldosterone (ALD), and lowered aquaporin-2 (AQP2) and Na⁺–K⁺ ATP content in renal medulla. After treatment with cis-DG and trans-DG, expression of calcineurin (CAN) and Ca/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMK II) was decreased in renal tissue and Ca²⁺ influx was inhibited, thereby reducing the secretion of transforming growth factor-β (TGFβ), reversing the increase in adhesion and inflammatory factor E-selectin and monocyte chemotactic protein 1 (MCP-1) induced by high NaCl, while reducing oxidative stress status and decreasing the expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX2). Furthermore, inhibition of protein kinase C (PKC) expression also contributed to these improvements. The cis-DG and trans-DG reduced the expression of p-p44/42 MAPK, p-JNK and p-p38, inhibited the phosphorylation of the MAPK signaling pathway in NRN52e cells induced by high salt, decreased the overexpression of p-p38 and p-HSP27, and inhibited the overactivation of the p38-MAPK signaling pathway, suggesting that the p38-MAPK pathway may play a vital role in the hypertonic-induced adhesion and inflammatory response. From the results of this study, it can be concluded that the mechanism of cis-DG and trans-DG may mainly be through inhibiting the p38-MAPK signaling pathway, inhibiting the excessive activation of the RAAS system, and thereby reducing adhesion and inflammatory factors.

Six new coumarin glycosides, genglycoside A–F (1–6), were isolated from the aerial parts of Gendarussa vulgaris, along with ten known analogues (7–16). Their structures were unambiguously established on the basis of extensive spectroscopic data and HPLC analysis. The cytotoxic activities of all isolated compounds were evaluated by MTT assay. Compound 12 showed the most potent cytotoxicity in Eca-109, MCF-7, and HepG2 cell lines. By the preliminary structure–activity relationships, it was firstly discovered that the glycosylation or esterification at 7,8-dihydroxy or 7-hydroxy drastically reduced the cytotoxic activity of the parent coumarin.