This study aims to explore the effect of Lycii Fructus and Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma(LFSMR), a drug pair possesses the function of nourishing Yin, promoting blood circulation, and brightening the eyes, in treating retinitis pigmentosa(RP)by inhibiting the gliosis of Müller cells(MCs) and inducing their reprogramming and differentiation into various types of retinal nerve cells. Twelve C57 mice were used as the normal control group, and 48 transgenic RP(rd10) mice were randomly divided into the model group, positive control group, and low and high dose LFSMR groups, with 12 mice in each group. HE staining was used to detect pathological changes in the retina, and an electroretinogram was used to detect retinal function. Retinal optical coherence tomography was used to detect retinal thickness and perform fundus photography, and laser speckle perfusion imaging was used to detect local retinal blood flow. Digital PCR was used to detect gene expression related to retinal nerve cells, and immunofluorescence was used to detect protein expression related to retinal nerve cells. LFSMR could significantly improve the pathological changes, increase the amplitude of a and b waves, increase the retinal thickness, restore retinal damage, and increase retinal blood flow in mice with RP lesions. LFSMR could also significantly inhibit the m RNA expression of the glial fibrillary acidic protein( GFAP) during the pathogenesis of RP and upregulate m RNA expression of sex determining region Y box protein 2(SOX2), paired box protein 6(Pax6),rhodopsin, protein kinase C-α(PKCα), syntaxin, and thymic cell antigen 1. 1(Thy1. 1). LFSMR could significantly inhibit GFAP protein expression and enhance protein expression of SOX2, Pax6, rhodopsin, PKCα, syntaxin, and Thy1. 1. It could also reverse the pathological changes in the retina of rd10 mice, improve retinal function and fundus performance, increase retinal thickness, enhance local retinal blood flow, and exert therapeutic effects on RP. The mechanism of action of LFSMR may be related to inhibiting the gliosis of MCs and promoting their reprogramming and differentiation into various types of retinal nerve cells.

To investigate the efficacy of sodium alginate-konjac glucomannan (SA-KGM) films with anthocyanins (LRA) and tea polyphenols (TP) in meat, beef and grass carp were selected as representative meat products for preservation and freshness monitoring experiments at 4 °C. Concurrently, storage experiments of the films were conducted in this controlled environment. The results of the storage experiment showed that the films delayed meat spoilage by 2-4 days, nearly doubling the preservation time compared to the blank control. Additionally, the film exhibited significant capability to monitor the spoilage process of beef and grass carp. It was revealed by curve fitting analysis that there was a significant correlation between the color change of the film and the spoilage index of the meat. Throughout the storage experiment with the film, it was observed that moisture significantly influenced the microstructure and bonding situation of the films, thereby impacting their mechanical and barrier properties. However, the films were still able to maintain satisfactory physicochemical properties in general. The above findings were crucial in guiding the promotion of the film within the food preservation industry.

BACKGROUND: Goji berries (Lycium barbarum L) are herbal medicine that have a long history of use and multiple pharmacological activities. In this study, we investigated the potential therapeutic effects of Goji berries on atherosclerosis (AS) using network pharmacology and molecular docking.
METHODS: The active compounds of Goji berries were identified using the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology platform, as well as the literature and the targets of each active compound were obtained using the Swiss Target Prediction database. The AS-related targets were collected from the GeneCards and OMIM databases to obtain the common targets of Goji berries and AS. The drug-compound-target-disease network and protein-protein interaction network were constructed using the Cytoscape software to obtain the core target proteins of Goji berries related to AS. Gene ontology analysis of the core targets and Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes pathway enrichment analysis were performed by Metascape. The target-chemical correlations were verified using AutoDock molecular docking.
RESULTS: After analysis, 44 active compounds within Goji berries were obtained that exhibit associations with AS. Among these, the proteins exhibiting the highest degrees of interaction within the compound-targeted protein protein-protein interaction network were AKT1, SRC, MAPK3, MAPK1, RELA, and STAT3. The gene ontology-biology process analysis showed that compound-targeted proteins were mainly involved in regulating small molecule metabolic process, cellular response to chemical stress, reactive oxygen species metabolic process, and regulation of inflammatory response. Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes pathway mainly included lipid and AS in which AKT1, SRC, MAPK3, and MAPK1 were involved. Advanced glycation end-product-receptor for advanced glycation end-product signaling pathway in diabetic complications, Chagas disease, and pancreatic disease. Molecular docking assessment showed that fucosterol is bound to AKT1, MAPK3, and SRC.
CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that network pharmacology and molecular docking analyses contribute to a better understanding of Goji berries active compounds and targets as potential therapeutic drugs for treating AS.

BACKGROUND: The traditional medicinal application of Lycium barbarum is centered on the improvement of eyesight, as well as the nourishment of liver and kidney functions. Lycium barbarum polysaccharide (LBP), serving as the principal active constituent of Lycium barbarum, has been identified as the main contributor to these beneficial effects. Previous studies have indicated that Lycium barbarum polysaccharide exhibits a renoprotective effect against lead-induced injury, but its mechanism and efficacy remain unclear.
OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to examine the effectiveness of LBP in preventing lead-induced renal injury and investigate both the toxic mechanism of lead-induced renal injury and the efficacy mechanism of LBP against it, with a focus on the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway.
METHODS: The drug effect and mechanism of LBP on lead-induced kidney injury were investigated by administering positive drugs and LBP to mice with established lead-induced kidney injury.
RESULTS: The renal function of mice with lead-induced renal injury was significantly restored, renal tissue lesions and renal mitochondrial damage were delayed, a disorder of hematological parameters induced by lead was improved, the increase of lead-induced renal index was reduced, and the body weight of mice with lead-induced renal injury was increased by the LBP intervention, as revealed by the results of pharmacodynamic experiments. Based on PI3K /AKT /mTOR signaling pathway, the toxic mechanism of lead-induced kidney injury and the pharmacodynamic mechanism of LBP against lead-induced kidney injury were studied. The results showed that lead could activate the TLR4 receptor, and then activate PI3K /AKT /mTOR signaling pathway, inhibit autophagy of kidney tissue cells, and enhance apoptosis of kidney tissue cells to induce kidney injury; LBP inhibits the activation of TLR4 receptor, which in turn inhibits the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway, enhances the autophagy of kidney tissue cells, reduces the apoptosis of kidney tissues, and delays lead-induced kidney injury.

BACKGROUND: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA), is a typical autoimmune disease affecting nearly 1% of the world\'s population. The dysfunctional hyperproliferation of synovial fibroblast (SF) in articular cartilage of RA patients is considered as the essential etiology. Traditional chemotherapeutic agents for RA treatment are imperfect for their high cost and unpredictable side-effects. L. ruthenicum anthocyanins (LRAC) is a natural product that of potential for therapeutic application against RA.
METHODS: LRAC was characterized by UPLC-MS/MS. Bioinformatics analyses based on network pharmacology were applied to predict the potential targets of LRAC, and to select DEGs (differentially expressed genes) caused by RA pathogenesis from GSE77298. Interactions between LRAC and the predicted targets were evaluated by molecular docking. Effects of LRAC on SFs from RA patients were examined by in vitro assays, which were analyzed by flow cytometry and western blotting (WB).
RESULTS: LRAC was able to inhibit the abnormal proliferation and aggressive invasion of SFs from RA patients. LRAC was mainly constituted by petunidin (82.7%), with small amount of delphinidin (12.9%) and malvidin (4.4%) in terms of anthocyanidin. Bioinformatics analyses showed that in 3738 RA-related DEGs, 58 of them were collectively targeted by delphinidin, malvidin and delphinidin. AR, CDK2, CHEK1, HIF1A, CXCR4, MMP2 and MMP9, the seven hub genes constructed a central network mediating the signal transduction. Molecular docking confirmed the high affinities between the LRAC ligands and the protein receptors encoded by the hub genes. The in vitro assays validated that LRAC repressed the growth of RASF by cell cycle arresting and cell invasion paralyzing (c-Myc/p21/CDK2), initiating cell apoptosis (HIF-1α/CXCR4/Bax/Bcl-2), and inducing pyroptosis via ROS-dependent pathway (NOX4/ROS/NLRP3/IL-1β/Caspase-1).
CONCLUSIONS: LRAC can selectively inhibit the proliferation of RASFs, without side-effecting immunosuppression that usually occurred for RA treatment using MTX (methotrexate). These findings demonstrate the potential application of LRAC as a phytomedicine for RA treatment, and provide a valid approach for exploring natural remedies against autoimmune diseases.

This study compares the microbial diversity and content of bioactive compounds in dried goji berries available on the Polish market to those of the most highly valued goji berries from the Ningxia region in China. The content of phenols, flavonoids, and carotenoids were determined, as well as the antioxidant capacities of the fruits. The quantitative and qualitative composition of the microbiota inhabiting the fruits was assessed using metagenomics by high-throughput sequencing on the Illumina platform. The highest quality was demonstrated by naturally dried fruits from the Ningxia region. These berries were characterized by a high content of polyphenols and high antioxidant activity, as well as high microbial quality. The lowest antioxidant capacity was shown by goji berries cultivated in Poland. However, they contained a high amount of carotenoids. The highest microbial contamination was found in the goji berries available in Poland (>106 CFU/g), which is important in terms of consumer safety. Despite the widely accepted benefits of consuming goji berries, both the country of cultivation and the preservation method may influence their composition, bioactivity, and microbial quality.

In order to explore the effects of different pretreatment methods on the ultrasonic far-infrared synergistic drying characteristics and quality of wolfberry, the bioactive components (polysaccharide, total phenol, total flavonoids, and antioxidants), the quality characteristics (rehydration ratio, color, vitamin C content, and betaine content), and the microstructure of the dried products were used as evaluation indices to test wolfberry treated by five different pretreatments (hot blanching; candied pretreatment; NaOH solution treatment; NaCl solution treatment; and Na2CO3 solution treatment). The results showed that hot blanching pretreatment improved the drying rate and shortened the drying time, and that the vitamin C content of dried products pretreated by hot blanching (92.56 mg/100 g) was higher than that of dried products pretreated by other methods. All five pretreatment methods increased the contents of the total phenols, vitamin C, and betaine of wolfberry. Wolfberry treated by candied pretreatment had lower color differences and higher contents of polysaccharide (0.83 g/g), total phenol (9.26 mg/g), and total flavonoids (2.61 mg/g) than wolfberry treated by the other pretreatment methods. Wolfberry pretreated by NaCl solution had the strongest antioxidant capacity (65.01%). Wolfberry pretreated by Na2CO3 solution had the highest betaine content (3.24%). The observation of the microstructure of the dried products revealed that hot blanching caused the most damage to wolfberry, while the candied pretreatment was less destructive to the tissue cells of wolfberry. On the whole, the dried wolfberry products obtained by the candied pretreatment were of a better quality than products obtained by the other pretreatment methods.

Background: Lycium barbarum (L. barbarum), popularly referred to as Goji berry, is a promising herb known for its powerful anti-antioxidant, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory properties. It is used in traditional Chinese medicine for treating inflammatory and infectious diseases. It has also shown good anti-cancer properties and has been tested against liver, colon, prostate, breast, and cervical cancers. However, no study has yet evaluated the role of goji berries against oral cancer. Hence, the present paper aims to evaluate the anticancer properties of L. barbarum against oral squamous cell carcinoma. Method: Ethanolic extract of L. barbarum (EELB) was tested for its anticancer properties by performing the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay, colony formation, cell proliferation, and scratch wound test. The impact of EELB on the signaling transduction pathways of Extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK1/2), protein kinase (AKT1), cyclin D1 and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) was also assessed by western blot. Results: The results showed that EELB can impede CAL-27 cell growth, proliferation and migration in-vitro. It even reduced the phosphorylation of ERK1/2 and AKT1 with concomitant downregulation of cyclin D1 (CCND1), cadherin 2 (CDH2), and vimentin (VIM) and upregulation of cadherin 1 (CDH1) expression suggesting its anti-proliferative and anti-EMT effects in oral cancer. Conclusion: Goji berry has good antiproliferative and anti-invasive properties. It affects potential EMT markers and signaling transduction pathways involved in oral cancers. Hence goji berry can be tried as a potential anticancer agent to manage oral squamous cell carcinoma.

The molecular weight, the triple-helix conformation, the monosaccharide content, the manner of glycosidic linkages, and the polysaccharide conjugates of polysaccharides all affect bioactivity. The purpose of this study was to determine how different molecular weights affected the bioactivity of the Lycium barbarum polysaccharides (LBPs). By ethanol-graded precipitation and ultrafiltration membrane separation, one oligosaccharide (LBPs-1, 1.912 kDa) and two polysaccharides (LBPs-2, 7.481 kDa; LBPs-3, 46.239 kDa) were obtained from Lycium barbarum. While the major component of LBPs-1 and LBPs-2 was glucose, the main constituents of LBPs-3 were arabinose, galactose, and glucose. LBPs-2 and LBPs-3 exhibited triple-helix conformations, as evidenced by the Congo red experiment and AFM data. Sugar residues of LBPs-2 and LBPs-3 were elucidated by NMR spectra. The polysaccharides (LBPs-2 and LBPs-3) exhibited much higher antioxidant capacities than oligosaccharide (LBPs-1). LBPs-3 showed higher oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity than LBPs-2, but a lower capability for scavenging ABTS+ radicals. In zebrafish, LBPs-2 and LBPs-3 boosted the growth of T-lymphocytes and macrophages, enhanced the immunological response, and mitigated the immune damage generated by VTI. In addition to the molecular weight, the results indicated that the biological activities would be the consequence of various aspects, such as the monosaccharide composition ratio, the chemical composition, and the chemical reaction mechanism.

OBJECTIVE: In our previous study, we showed that Lycium chinense Miller fruit extract (LFE) exerted hepatoprotective effects in mice. In the current study, we examined the effect of LFE on liver enzyme levels in subjects with mild hepatic dysfunction.
METHODS: A total of 90 subjects, aged 19 to 70 years old, with abnormal alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels, were randomly placed into either an LFE (n = 45) treatment group or a placebo group (n = 45). During the 12-week clinical trial, subjects in each group received either LFE or placebo capsules, and were instructed to take four tablets per day (1760 mg/day). The primary outcome of the study was the changes of ALT and γ-glutamyltransferase (GGT) levels in each subject. The safety of LFE supplementation was assessed and adverse events were recorded.
RESULTS: LFE supplementation for 12 weeks resulted in a significant reduction of ALT (P = 0.0498) and GGT (P = 0.0368) levels in comparison to the placebo. No clinically significant changes were observed in any safety parameters.
CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that LFE can be applied to subjects with mild hepatic dysfunction with no possible side effects.
BACKGROUND: This study was registered at the Clinical Research Information Service (CRIS) as no. KCT0003985.