Hazel leaf, a by-product of hazelnuts, is commonly used in traditional folk medicine in Portugal, Sweden, Iran and other regions for properties such as vascular protection, anti-bleeding, anti-edema, anti-infection, and pain relief. Based on our previous studies, the polyphenol extract from hazel leaf was identified and quantified via HPLC fingerprint. The contents of nine compounds including kaempferol, chlorogenic acid, myricetin, caffeic acid, p-coumaric acid, resveratrol, luteolin, gallic acid and ellagic acid in hazel leaf polyphenol extract (ZP) were preliminary calculated, among which kaempferol was the highest with 221.99 mg/g, followed by chlorogenic acid with 8.23 mg/g. The inhibition of ZP on α-glucosidase and xanthine oxidase activities was determined via the chemical method, and the inhibition on xanthine oxidase was better. Then, the effect of ZP on hyperuricemia zebrafish was investigated. It was found that ZP obviously reduced the levels of uric acid, xanthine oxidase, urea nitrogen and creatinine, and up-regulated the expression ofOAT1 and HPRT genes in hyperuricemia zebrafish. Finally, the targeted network pharmacological analysis and molecular docking of nine polyphenol compounds were performed to search for relevant mechanisms for alleviating hyperuricemia. These results will provide a valuable basis for the development and application of hazel leaf polyphenols as functional ingredients.

Background: Bai Hu Tang (BHT) is a classic antipyretic in traditional Chinese medicine, however, there is little scientific evidence on the mechanism and material basis of its antipyretic effect. Methods: In LPS-induced febrile rats, after administration of BHT at 42 g/kg for half an hour, body temperature was measured at hourly intervals for 9 consecutive hours. Then, serum levels of TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6, and serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) levels of AVP, cAMP, PGE2, Ca and CRH, and the remaining sera were used for metabolomics. These were then combined with network pharmacology methodology to further analyse the antipyretic effect of BHT and then dock key targets with differential components. Results: Administration of BHT to LPS-induced febrile rats significantly reduced elevated body temperature, TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6 levels, but serum and CSF levels of AVP, cAMP, PGE2, Ca²⁺ and CRH were significantly elevated compared to the control group. Network pharmacological analyses indicated that the putative functional targets of BHT were regulation of immune responses, associated protein binding and inflammatory responses, and fine-tuning of phosphatase binding and activation of signalling pathways such as MAPK, PI3K, AKT, NF-kB, cAMP and inflammatory pathways. Metabolomic analysis showed that the antipyretic effect of BHT and its mechanism are likely to be involved in fatty acid metabolism, bile acid metabolism and amino acid metabolism in the organism, with L-arginine, glycyrrhetinic acid and N-acetylpentraxine as the main differential metabolites that play a significant role in heat recovery. The results also showed better docking of glycyrrhetinic acid with TNF-α, IL-6R, PTGS2. Conclusions: BHT provides a valuable adjunct to traditional clinical antipyretics by improving body temperature and metabolism and reducing inflammation.

Derived from hazelnuts, hazel leaf has been utilized in traditional folk medicine for centuries in countries such as Portugal, Sweden, and Iran. In our previous investigations, we conducted a preliminary assessment of the hazel leaf polyphenol extract (referred to as ZP) and identified nine compounds, such as kaempferol and chlorogenic acid, in its composition. ZP has shown promising properties as an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent. Our research has revealed that ZP has protective effects against cisplatin-induced acute kidney injury (AKI). We conducted a comprehensive examination of both the pathological and ultrastructural aspects and found that ZP effectively ameliorated renal tissue lesions and mitigated mitochondrial damage. Moreover, ZP significantly suppressed malondialdehyde levels while increasing glutathione and catalase concentrations in the kidneys of AKI-induced mice. ZP decreased the number of apoptotic cells and decreased pro-apoptotic protein expression in the kidneys of mice and human renal tubular epithelial cells (HK-2). Furthermore, treatment with ZP increased the levels of proteins marking anti-ferroptosis, such as GPX4, FTH1, and FSP1, in experiments both in vivo and in vitro. We elucidated the underlying mechanisms of ZP’s actions, revealing its inhibitory effect on Yap phosphorylation and its regulation of Lats expression, which exert a protective influence on the kidneys. Furthermore, we found that inhibiting the Hippo pathway compromised ZP’s nephroprotective effects in both in vitro and in vivo studies. In summary, this research shows that ZP exhibits renoprotective properties, effectively reducing oxidative damage, apoptosis, and ferroptosis in the kidneys by targeting the Hippo pathway.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the third most common cancer worldwide, widely prevalent across many countries, and poses a serious threat to human health. With changes in its epidemiology, the incidence of HCC is expected to continue rising. As a class of organic molecules widely distributed in nature, quinone compounds possess notable antioxidant, antibacterial, and antitumor properties. This article selects several quinone compounds that have shown notable research progress in recent years and artificially categorizes them into “plant-derived quinone compounds” and “non-plant-derived quinone compounds.” We then provide a detailed review of the research findings regarding HCC in vitro and in vivo experiments and clinical trials, including their potential toxic side effects. Additionally, based on the varying toxicity reduction of several selected plant-derived quinones when combined with doxorubicin, we further hypothesize that these plant-derived quinone compounds may also exert detoxifying effects on other non-plant-derived quinones discussed in this article. In summary, quinone compounds still hold significant research value and development potential in the fight against HCC. At the same time, we hope our review will provide valuable insights and inspiration for future research in this field.

Diabetes mellitus and atrophic gastritis are two chronic diseases with high incidence, and their comorbidity has attracted increasing attention. The traditional view primarily focuses on the unidirectional damage caused by diabetes to the gastric mucosa, but ignores the possible bidirectional pathological relationship between the two diseases. This article reviews research progress on the reciprocal pathogenesis between DM and the gastric mucosa and posits a theoretical framework of a “bidirectional vicious cycle.” On the one hand, diabetes may promote the occurrence and development of atrophic gastritis through multiple pathways. On the other hand, atrophic gastritis may have a profound reverse effect on glucose metabolism. The “common soil” for the coexistence of the two diseases is also revealed, including shared HLA class II susceptibility genes, Th17/Treg immune imbalance, and ROS-NF-κB-mitophagy disorders coupled with a molecular network. It should be noted that most of the proposed bidirectional framework is based on accumulating preclinical and observational evidence, and large-scale prospective cohort studies are urgently needed to establish causal temporal relationships. Based on the above mechanisms, this paper presents antioxidant-related intervention strategies and identifies the current study’s limitations. The purpose of this review is to promote the new clinical concept of “glucose-gastrotube co-administration” and provide a theoretical basis for breaking the mutually reinforcing cycle between the two diseases and reducing the risk of decompensation in gastric precancerous lesions and diabetes.