Publications by authors named "Meizhu Wu"

Objective: To explore the functional roles and underlying mechanisms of neferine in the context of angiotensin II (Ang II)-induced hypertension and vascular dysfunction.

Methods: Male mice were infused with Ang II to induce hypertension and randomly divided into treatment groups receiving neferine or a control vehicle based on baseline blood pressure using a random number table method. The hypertensive mouse model was constructed by infusing Ang II via a micro-osmotic pump (500 ng/kg per minute), and neferine (0.

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Trifolin, a bioactive component of the Qingda granule, has demonstrated significant antihypertensive potential; however, its precise mechanisms of action remain largely unknown. This study aimed to investigate the antihypertensive effects of trifolin and unravel its underlying molecular mechanisms. The influence of trifolin on vascular contraction and relaxation and its regulatory effects on ion channels were evaluated through a vascular tension experiment.

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Death-associated protein kinase 1 (DAPK1) is a tumor suppressor gene involved in apoptosis, autophagy, and tumor progression. However, its role in hypertension (HTN) remains largely unexplored and lacks systematic evaluation. We administered adeno-associated virus (AAV) harboring short hairpin RNA targeting DAPK1 or control short hairpin RNA to male spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs) and Wistar-Kyoto rats.

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Isoliensinine, a bioactive alkaloid derived from Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn, has antihypertension effects. This study investigated its antihypertensive effect and molecular mechanism. Spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs) and Wistar Kyoto rats (n = 6 per group) were treated with 2.

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Trifolin exhibits anti-tumor activities; however, its effect on hypertension remains unknown. This study was performed to investigate trifolin's potential therapeutic effects and underlying mechanisms of action on angiotensin II (Ang II)-induced hypertension in mice and Ang II stimulated A7R5 cells. Mice were randomly allocated into six groups: control, Ang II, Ang II + Trifolin (0.

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Carbohydrate kinases serve an oncogenic role in several types of cancer; however, the function of FGGY carbohydrate kinase domain containing (FGGY) in colorectal cancer (CRC) remains unknown. The present study investigated the function and possible molecular mechanisms of FGGY in CRC. The results showed that elevated levels of FGGY mRNA and protein were observed in CRC tissues, and a higher expression of FGGY was associated with advanced N stage and reduced overall survival time in patients with CRC.

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Objective: To investigate the potential therapeutic effects, targets, and pathways of wogonoside in hypertension-induced renal injury using the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database and network pharmacology, and to validate the effects of wogonoside intervention on the renal tissues of spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR), angiotensin Ⅱ (Ang Ⅱ)-stimulated NRK-52E cell apoptosis, and the regulation of relevant pathways through and experiments.

Methods: GEO dataset and network pharmacology analyses were performed to investigate the key therapeutic targets of wogonoside for hypertensive nephropathy. The STRING database was used to analyze protein-protein interactions.

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Background: Although neferine exhibits obvious therapeutic effects against hypertension, its effects on cardiac protection remain unknown.

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate its potential cardioprotective effects and associated mechanisms.

Methods: Spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs) were randomly divided into four groups, namely SHR, SHR + Neferine-L (2.

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Eight butyl-phthalides, senkyunolide K(1), senkyunolide N(2), butylphthalide(3), senkyunolide I(4), senkyunolide H(5),(Z)-butylidenephthalide(6),(Z)-ligustilide(7), and 3-butylidene-7-hydroxyphthalide(8) were isolated from the aerial part of Ligusticum sinense by column chromatography on silica gel column, ODS, Sephadex LH-20 and semi-preparative HPLC. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic and chemical data, especially NMR and MS. Compound 1 was a new butyl-phthalide and compounds 2-8 were isolated from the aerial part of L.

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Background: Hypertension-induced cardiac disease is a common complication and a significant contributor to mortality in hypertensive patients, largely due to cardiomyocyte apoptosis. Although Trifolin has been identified as a potential antihypertensive compound, its therapeutic role in hypertension-induced cardiac injury remains uncertain.

Purpose: This study aims to evaluate the protective effects of Trifolin and explore the underlying mechanisms of its action against hypertension-induced cardiac injury.

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Gastrodin, a highly potent compound found in the traditional Chinese medicine Blume, exhibits significant antihypertensive properties. However, its role and the mechanism behind its protective effects on hypertensive cardiac conditions are not well understood. This study aims to investigate the cardiac protective effects and underlying mechanisms of gastrodin in angiotensin II (Ang II)-induced hypertensive models, both in vivo and in vitro.

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Article Synopsis
  • Dehydrocorydaline (DHC), an active component of a plant used in traditional medicine, shows promise in treating coronary heart disease due to its protective and pain-relieving effects, though the mechanism is not fully understood.
  • The study aimed to investigate whether DHC can mitigate myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury (MIRI) by affecting the FoxO signaling pathway to reduce cell death (apoptosis).
  • Experimental results demonstrated that DHC improved heart function in a mouse model of MIRI and reduced apoptosis and oxidative stress in heart cells exposed to hypoxia, principally through the FoxO pathway.
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Article Synopsis
  • A study utilized an OSMAC (One Strain Many Compounds) strategy to investigate the secondary metabolites and anti-inflammatory effects of the endophytic fungus Penicillium herquei JX4 found in the plant Ceriops tagal.
  • The researchers isolated, purified, and identified compounds from the fungus using various chromatography techniques, leading to the discovery of two new pinophol derivatives, pinophol H(1) and pinophol I(2).
  • Among these derivatives, pinophol H(1) exhibited strong inhibitory activity against nitric oxide production in mouse macrophage cells, demonstrating its potential as an anti-inflammatory agent with an IC_(50) value of 8.12 μmol
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Context: Ulcerative colitis has been clinically treated with Qing Hua Chang Yin (QHCY), a traditional Chinese medicine formula. However, its precise mechanisms in mitigating chronic colitis are largely uncharted.

Objective: To elucidate the therapeutic efficiency of QHCY on chronic colitis and explore its underlying molecular mechanisms.

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Quercetin is known for its antihypertensive effects. However, its role on hypertensive renal injury has not been fully elucidated. In this study, hematoxylin and eosin staining, terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL) staining, and Annexin V staining were used to assess the pathological changes and cell apoptosis in the renal tissues of angiotensin II (Ang II)-infused mice and Ang II-stimulated renal tubular epithelial cell line (NRK-52E).

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As a main extraction compound from Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi, Baicalin exhibits various biological activities. However, the underlying mechanism of Baicalin on hypertension-induced heart injury remains unclear. In vivo, mice were infused with angiotensin II (Ang II; 500 ng/kg/min) or saline using osmotic pumps, followed by intragastrically administrated with Baicalin (5 mg/kg/day) for 4 weeks.

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The components with hypoglycemic activity in Plumeria rubra were isolated and purified by various column chromatography techniques and activity tracing methods. The physical and chemical properties of all the purified monomer compounds were characterized and analyzed, and a total of six compounds were isolated and identified, including 6″-acetyl-6-hydroxy-benzyl-benzoate-2-O-β-D-glucoside(1), 6-acetyl-6-hydroxy-benzyl-benzoate-2-O-β-D-glucoside-(1→6″)-β-D-glucoside(2), 2-hydroxy-6-methoxy-benzyl-benzoate-2-O-β-D-glucoside(3), 6-hydroxy-benzyl-benzoate-2-O-β-D-glucoside(4), 6-hydroxy-benzyl-benzoate-2-O-β-D-glucoside-(1→6″)-β-D-glucoside(5), and 6-hydroxy-benzyl-benzoate-2-O-β-D-glucoside-(1→6″)-β-D-xyloside(6). Compounds 1 and 2 were new compounds, and compounds 3-6 were isolated from Plumeria for the first time.

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Background: Hypertension, a highly prevalent chronic disease, is known to inflict severe damage upon blood vessels. In our previous study, isoliensinine, a kind of bibenzyl isoquinoline alkaloid which isolated from a TCM named Lotus Plumule (Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn), exhibits antihypertensive and vascular smooth muscle proliferation-inhibiting effects, but its application is limited due to poor water solubility and low bioavailability. In this study, we proposed to prepare isoliensinine loaded by PEG-PLGA polymer nanoparticles to increase its efficacy METHOD: We synthesized and thoroughly characterized PEG-PLGA nanoparticles loaded with isoliensinine using a nanoprecipitation method, denoted as, PEG-PLGA@Isoliensinine.

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Objective: To explore the regulatory effect of Pien Tze Huang (PZH) on targeting partner of NOB1 (PNO1) and it's down-stream mediators in colorectal cancer (CRC) cells.

Methods: Quantitative polymerase chain reaction was performed to determine mRNA levels of PNO1, TP53, and CDKN1A. Western blotting was performed to determine protein levels of PNO1, p53, and p21.

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Five rare carboxyl-substituted phenylpropionic acid derivatives, plumeriapropionics A-E (-), together with one known analog, cerberic acid B (), were isolated from flowers of L. Their structures were elucidated using comprehensive spectroscopic methods. To date, only one compound of this structural type has been reported.

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Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the molecular mechanisms of isoliensinine, a kind of bibenzyl isoquinoline alkaloid which isolated from a TCM named Lotus Plumule (), in treating renal interstitial fibrosis (RIF) by using RNA sequencing, KEGG analysis and in vivo experimental approaches.

Methods: Spontaneous hypertension rats (SHRs) were randomly assigned into five groups, consisting of SHR, SHR+Isoliensinine-L (2.5 mg/kg/day), SHR+Isoliensinine-M (5 mg/kg/day), SHR+Isoliensinine-H (10 mg/kg/day), and SHR+Valsartan (10 mg/kg/day) groups (n = 6 for each group).

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The effects and underlying mechanisms of gastrodin treatment on hypertensive vascular dysfunction and proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) were determined in vitro and in vivo. Using a pharmacological target network interaction analysis, 151 common targets and a PPI network were identified containing the top 10 hub genes. Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes (KEGG) analysis identified the PI3K/AKT pathway as a significantly enriched pathway.

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Quercetin is an essential flavonoid mostly found in herbal plants, fruits, and vegetables, which exhibits anti-hypertension properties. However, its pharmacological impact on angiotensin II (Ang II) induced the increase of blood pressure along with in-depth mechanism needs further exploration. The present study pointed out the anti-hypertensive role of quercetin and its comprehensive fundamental mechanisms.

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Context: Gastrodin has been used as antihypertension therapy in China; however, the mechanisms underlying the effects of gastrodin have yet to be fully elucidated.

Objective: To explore the therapeutic efficiency of gastrodin as an antihypertensive and determine the mechanisms underlying this effect.

Materials And Methods: C57BL/6 mice were continuously administered angiotensin II (Ang II) (500 ng/kg/min) to induce hypertension.

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Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Qingda granule (QDG) exhibits significant therapeutic effects on high blood pressure, vascular dysfunction, and elevated proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells by inhibiting multiple pathways. However, the effects and underlying mechanisms of QDG treatment on hypertensive vascular remodeling are unclear.

Aim Of The Study: The aim of this study was to determine the role of QDG treatment in hypertensive vascular remodeling in vivo and in vitro.

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