Supramolecular prodrug inspiried by the <i>Rhizoma Coptidis</i>-<i>Fructus Mume</i> herbal pair alleviated inflammatory diseases by inhibiting pyroptosis

Wenhui Qian; Bei Zhang; Ming Gao; Yuting Wang; Jiachen Shen; Dongbing Liang; Chao Wang; Wei Wei; Xing Pan; Qiuying Yan; Dongdong Sun; Dong Zhu; Haibo Cheng

doi:10.1016/j.jpha.2024.101056

Volume 15 Issue 2

Feb. 2025

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Article Navigation > Journal of Pharmaceutical Analysis > 2025 > 15(2): 101056

Wenhui Qian, Bei Zhang, Ming Gao, Yuting Wang, Jiachen Shen, Dongbing Liang, Chao Wang, Wei Wei, Xing Pan, Qiuying Yan, Dongdong Sun, Dong Zhu, Haibo Cheng. Supramolecular prodrug inspiried by the Rhizoma Coptidis-Fructus Mume herbal pair alleviated inflammatory diseases by inhibiting pyroptosis[J]. Journal of Pharmaceutical Analysis, 2025, 15(2): 101056. doi: 10.1016/j.jpha.2024.101056

Citation:

Wenhui Qian, Bei Zhang, Ming Gao, Yuting Wang, Jiachen Shen, Dongbing Liang, Chao Wang, Wei Wei, Xing Pan, Qiuying Yan, Dongdong Sun, Dong Zhu, Haibo Cheng. Supramolecular prodrug inspiried by the Rhizoma Coptidis-Fructus Mume herbal pair alleviated inflammatory diseases by inhibiting pyroptosis[J]. Journal of Pharmaceutical Analysis, 2025, 15(2): 101056. doi: 10.1016/j.jpha.2024.101056

Citation:

Wenhui Qian, Bei Zhang, Ming Gao, Yuting Wang, Jiachen Shen, Dongbing Liang, Chao Wang, Wei Wei, Xing Pan, Qiuying Yan, Dongdong Sun, Dong Zhu, Haibo Cheng. Supramolecular prodrug inspiried by the Rhizoma Coptidis-Fructus Mume herbal pair alleviated inflammatory diseases by inhibiting pyroptosis[J]. Journal of Pharmaceutical Analysis, 2025, 15(2): 101056. doi: 10.1016/j.jpha.2024.101056

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Supramolecular prodrug inspiried by the Rhizoma Coptidis-Fructus Mume herbal pair alleviated inflammatory diseases by inhibiting pyroptosis

doi: 10.1016/j.jpha.2024.101056

a. School of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210023, China;
b. Department of Pharmacy, Jinling Hospital, Nanjing University School of Medicine, Nanjing, 210002, China;
c. Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Traditional Chinese Medicine Prevention and Treatment of Tumor, Nanjing, 210023, China

Funds:

The work was financial supported by the Project of National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No.: 82274219 and 81930117). We also thank the Key Project of Traditional Chinese Medicine Technology Development Plan of Jiangsu Province, China (Grant No.: ZD202201) and Jiangsu Province Postgraduate Scientific Research Practice and Innovation Plan Project, China (Grant Nos.: KYCX21_1735 and SJCX21_0679).

Received Date: Mar. 25, 2024
Accepted Date: Jul. 28, 2024
Rev Recd Date: Jul. 25, 2024
Publish Date: Jul. 31, 2024

Abstract

Abstract

Sustained inflammatory responses are closely related to various severe diseases, and inhibiting the excessive activation of inflammasomes and pyroptosis has significant implications for clinical treatment. Natural products have garnered considerable concern for the treatment of inflammation. Huanglian-Wumei decoction (HLWMD) is a classic prescription used for treating inflammatory diseases, but the necessity of their combination and the exact underlying anti-inflammatory mechanism have not yet been elucidated. Inspired by the supramolecular self-assembly strategy and natural drug compatibility theory, we successfully obtained berberine (BBR)-chlorogenic acid (CGA) supramolecular (BCS), which is an herbal pair from HLWMD. Using a series of characterization methods, we confirmed the self-assembly mechanism of BCS. BBR and CGA were self-assembled and stacked into amphiphilic spherical supramolecules in a 2:1 molar ratio, driven by electrostatic interactions, hydrophobic interactions, and π-π stacking; the hydrophilic fragments of CGA were outside, and the hydrophobic fragments of BBR were inside. This stacking pattern significantly improved the anti-inflammatory performance of BCS compared with that of single free molecules. Compared with free molecules, BCS significantly attenuated the release of multiple inflammatory mediators and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced pyroptosis. Its anti-inflammatory mechanism is closely related to the inhibition of intracellular nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-κB) p65 phosphorylation and the noncanonical pyroptosis signalling pathway mediated by caspase-11.
- Self-assembly,
- Anti-inflammation,
- Supramolecular,
- Pyroptosis,
- Traditional Chinese medicine

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References

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