Dianthus superbus L. has been extensively studied for its potential medicinal properties in traditional Chinese medicine and is often consumed as a tea by traditional folk. It has the potential to be exploited in the treatment of inflammation, immunological disorders, and diabetic nephropathy. Based on previous studies, this study continued the separation of another subfraction of Dianthus superbus and established reversed-phase/reversed-phase and reversed-phase/hydrophilic (RPLC) two-dimensional (2D) high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) modes, quickly separating two C-glycosylflavones, among which 2″-O-rhamnosyllutonarin was a new compound and isomer with 6‴-O-rhamnosyllutonarin. This is the first study to investigate the effects of 2″-O-rhamnosyllutonarin and 6‴-O-rhamnosyllutonarin on cellular glucose metabolism in vitro. First, molecular docking was used to examine the effects of 2″-O-rhamnosyllutonarin and 6″-O-rhamnosyllutonarin on AKT and AMPK; these two compounds exhibited relatively high activity. Following this, based on the HepG2 cell model of insulin resistance, it was proved that both of the 2″-O-rhamnosyllutonarin and 6‴-O-rhamnosyllutonarin demonstrated substantial efficacy in ameliorating insulin resistance and were found to be non-toxic. Simultaneously, it is expected that the methods developed in this study will provide a basis for future studies concerning the separation and pharmacological effects of C-glycosyl flavonoids.

Androgenetic alopecia (AGA) is a prevalent form of non-scarring hair loss, affecting approximately 32.13% of the population. Seborrheic alopecia is the most frequently observed among its various types, contributing to over 25% of hair loss cases in men. Identifying effective natural compounds or therapeutic agents that stimulate hair growth remains a key research focus. Platycladus orientalis L., known for its medicinal properties, shows potential in promoting hair darkening and regeneration, although its mechanisms remain unclear. In this study, Fr2 of Platycladus orientalis L. was found to significantly enhance hair growth in mice. Similarly, (7E)-7,8-Dehydroheliobuphthalmin (DHHB) was successfully isolated and purified for the first time through a combination of medium-pressure liquid chromatography and two-dimensional high-performance liquid chromatography. In an alopecia areata (AGA) model using dermal papilla cells (DPCs), DHHB was found to significantly promote cell proliferation and differentiation by down-regulating the expression of androgen receptor (AR) proteins, and activating the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, as compared with the dihydrotestosterone-induced model group. These results indicate that DHHB is a major bioactive compound in Platycladus orientalis L. and represents a promising candidate for promoting hair growth.

Androgenetic alopecia (AGA) is the most common form of hair loss, characterized by the progressive miniaturization of hair follicles driven by dihydrotestosterone (DHT)-mediated androgen receptor signaling. Current pharmacotherapies remain limited in efficacy and are often associated with undesirable side effects. Pungenin, a phenolic glucoside isolated from Picea wilsonii Mast., was investigated for its therapeutic efficacy in DHT-induced AGA model mice in this study. In primary mouse hair follicle cells exposed to DHT, pungenin mitigated cellular injury, restored normal morphology and viability, and significantly reduced the expression of type II 5α-reductase (Srd5α2). Topical treatment with pungenin markedly accelerated hair regeneration, as demonstrated by histological analysis and serum biochemical measurements. Transcriptomic profiling combined with network pharmacology suggested that the protective effects of pungenin are associated with transcriptional regulation of the PI3K/AKT/FoxO/mTOR axis, identifying 25 putative therapeutic targets, with qPCR further confirming the altered expression of key genes within this network. Collectively, these findings demonstrate that pungenin protects hair follicles against DHT-induced injury through suppression of Srd5α2 and transcriptional modulation of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling axis, supporting further preclinical evaluation of pungenin as a potential candidate for AGA management.