Paul Tao | Jiangsu University (original) (raw)

Papers by Paul Tao

Additional file 1. Minimum Standards of Reporting Checklist.

RSC Adv., 2019

Low-grade inflammation is usually defined as the chronic production and a low-grade state of infl... more Low-grade inflammation is usually defined as the chronic production and a low-grade state of inflammatory factors, it often does not have symptoms, and has been associated with neurodegenerative disease, obesity, and diabetes. Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFAs) are the precursors of many antiinflammatory metabolites, such as resolvins and neuroprotectins. It is of interest to study the metabolic profile of endogenous n-3 PUFAs in low-grade inflammatory conditions. To evaluate the protective effects of endogenous n-3 PUFAs on low-grade inflammation with the metabolomics approach, we fed fat-1 mice with an n-6 PUFAs rich diet for a long time to induce a low-grade inflammatory condition. Multi-analysis techniques, including structural analysis using quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry with MS E mode, were applied in untargeted metabolomics to search for meaningful metabolites with significant variance in fat-1 mice under low-grade inflammation. Following the untargeted metabolomics screening, several meaningful metabolites were selected which were associated with anti-inflammatory effects generated from endogenous n-3 PUFAs for further analysis. The results revealed that the purine metabolism, fatty acid metabolism and oxidative stress response pathways through insulin resistance were involved in anti-inflammatory mechanisms of n-3 PUFA in lowgrade inflammatory conditions. For the first time, this study explored the highlighted pathways as contributors to the anti-inflammatory effects of endogenous n-3 PUFAs in low-grade inflammatory conditions.

Chinese Medicine, 2019

Background: The combination of Radix Paeoniae Alba (RPA) and Rhizoma Atractylodis Macrocephalae (... more Background: The combination of Radix Paeoniae Alba (RPA) and Rhizoma Atractylodis Macrocephalae (RAM) has long been used as a classic herb pair for the treatment of gynecologic and gastrointestinal diseases, but the underlying mechanisms of the herb pair remain unknown. This study aims to explore the anti-inflammatory potentials of RPA-RAM herb pair and to elucidate the underlying mechanisms. Methods: The bioactive parts of RPA-RAM were extracted and screened through the inhibitory effects against nitric oxide (NO) production. The effects of optimized RPA-RAM extracts (OPAE) on inflammation-associated mediators were investigated by Western blotting, real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR), Enzyme-linked immunosorbent (ELISA) and immunofluorescence staining. Results: OPAE potently suppressed the productions of NO, TNF-α, IL-6 and MCP-1 in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)induced RAW 264.7 macrophages, concentration-dependently inhibited protein level of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), dramatically downregulated mRNA expression of iNOS, TNF-α, IL-6 and MCP-1. In addition, OPAE significantly prevented phosphorylation and degradation of inhibitory kappa Bα (IκBα) and subsequently restrained the nuclear translocation of NF-κB p65. Pretreatment with OPAE also attenuated the LPS-induced phosphorylation of ERK, JNK and p38. Conclusions: Our findings demonstrated that OPAE suppressed inflammatory responses in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages by decreasing critical molecules involved in MAPK and NF-κB pathway, suggesting that the herb pair could be a promising therapeutic candidate for inflammation-related diseases.

Journal of Separation Science, 2015

A traditional external standard method using HPLC coupled with evaporative light scattering detec... more A traditional external standard method using HPLC coupled with evaporative light scattering detection has been developed for fast and accurate determination of seven platycosides in Platycodi Radix. However, inevitable difficulties in reference standards preparation process, which are quite costly and time consuming, have made its application limited. To avoid this inconvenience, a simultaneous determination of multiple components with a single reference standard strategy, which could be realized by calibrating the standard curve with internal standard and response factors, was introduced to the HPLC coupled with evaporative light scattering detection method. This is the first time that an incorporation of these two methods has been realized. Among seven ingredients, platycodin D was selected as the internal standard for its relatively easy preparation and low cost. Moreover, according to the investigation on concentration-dependent effects over response factors and robustness test, platycoside E, deapioplatycodin D, platycodin D, and polygalacin D 2 were chosen to be the indicators for this novel method. The present method has not shown statistically significant differences with a traditional external standard method as verified sample analysis by the F-test (p = 95%, n = 6).

Food Chemistry, 2019

Portulaca oleracea L. (Purslane) has great potential as food and traditional drugs in several cou... more Portulaca oleracea L. (Purslane) has great potential as food and traditional drugs in several countries. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the anti-inflammatory effects of purslane extract on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. Purslane extracts significantly reduced LPS-induced synthesis of NO in a dosedependent manner, as well as the expression levels of iNOS and COX-2. The productions of TNF-α and IL-6 were also significantly reduced at the higher dose of 400 μg/ml. Meanwhile, the expression levels of P65, p-P65, p-MEK and p-IκB-α were inhibited dose-dependently. The nuclear translocation of P65 was partially prevented by the extract, which explained the inhibition of NF-κB pathway. In addition, three reported flavonoids, named luteolin, kaempferol and quercitrin, were identified in the extract, which might be responsible for its antiinflammatory effects. Above all, our research has partially proved that purslane could be considered as a natural anti-inflammatory agent in further applications.

Journal of Separation Science, 2014

As a final step of the purine metabolism process, xanthine oxidase catalyzes the oxidation of hyp... more As a final step of the purine metabolism process, xanthine oxidase catalyzes the oxidation of hypoxanthine and xanthine into uric acid. Our research has demonstrated that Erycibe obtusifolia has xanthine oxidase inhibitory properties. The purpose of this paper is to describe a new strategy based on a combination of multiple mass spectrometric platforms and thin-layer chromatography bioautography for effectively screening the xanthine oxidase inhibitory and antioxidant properties of E. obtusifolia. This strategy was accomplished through the following steps. (i) Separate the extract of E. obtusifolia into fractions by an autopurification system controlled by liquid chromatography with mass spectrometry. (ii) Determine the active fractions of E. obtusifolia by thin-layer chromatography bioautography. (iii) Identify the structure of the main active compounds with the information provided by direct analysis in real time mass spectrometry. (iv) Calculate the IC 50 value of each compound against xanthine oxidase using high-performance liquid chromatography. Using the caulis of E. obtusifolia as the experimental material, seven target peaks were screened out as xanthine oxidase inhibitors or antioxidants. Our screening strategy allows for rapid analysis of small molecules with almost no sample preparation and can be completed within a week, making it a useful assay to identify unstable compounds and provide the empirical foundation for E. obtusifolia as a natural remedy for gout and oxidative-stress-related diseases.

J. Agric. Food Chem., 2014

A high-throughput superoxide anion radical (O 2 •−) scavenging capacity assay based on the xanthi... more A high-throughput superoxide anion radical (O 2 •−) scavenging capacity assay based on the xanthine oxidase/ xanthine reaction system was developed and validated in the present study. The reaction conditions including detection wavelength, concentrations of reactant components, reaction temperature, reaction time, pH, terminator reagent, and sample dissolving solvents were optimized. The accuracy and reliability of the assay were assessed by evaluation of linearity (r 2 = 0 .9513−0.9957), precision (intraday RSD 1.13−4.05% and interday RSD 2.13−5.62%), accuracy (95.64−97.42% recovery), and stability (RSD 2.62−6.19%), as well as comparison with the conventional colorimetric method. The EC 50 values obtained by the current method and the conventional assay were highly correlated (r > 0.99). This high-throughput O 2 •− scavenging assay may be used for screening and estimating potential superoxide anion radical (O 2 •−) scavengers, especially food extracts and natural products with a very small amount of test material.

Phytotherapy Research, 2021

Erycibes are members of the Convolvulaceae family, including more than 10 species worldwide that ... more Erycibes are members of the Convolvulaceae family, including more than 10 species worldwide that are distributed in tropical Asia. Some Erycibes species have long been used as traditional remedies for rheumatoid arthritis, fever, hepatitis, and liver injury in China and Thailand. A total of 152 compounds from Erycibes plants have been isolated and identified, categorized as flavonoids, coumarins, quinic acid derivatives, lignans, and alkaloids. Coumarins are the characteristic and active constituents of this species, including scopoletin and scopolin. Modern pharmacological studies have shown that the extracts and bioactive components of Erycibes plants exhibit several biological activities, including antiinflammatory, analgesic, hepatoprotective, anti-gout, antitumor, antioxidation, and other therapeutic effects. However, in recent years, due to destructive exploitation and utilization, some Erycibes plants' natural resources have become rare or endangered. Developing substitutes is a strategy to alleviate the pressure on those endangered medicinal plant resources. To provide a scientific basis for the development and protection of those threatened Erycibes species, this review summarized the current status of the chemical compositions, pharmacological activities, quality control studies, and the development of substitutes for Erycibes plants. In particular, the rationale for use of Porana sinensis currently on the market is discussed.

Journal of Functional Foods, 2021

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is acccounting for over 50% of all cases of dementia worldwide. Currentl... more Alzheimer's disease (AD) is acccounting for over 50% of all cases of dementia worldwide. Currently there are no effective treatments available for AD. Plant-based medications and dietary interventions have attracted increasing research interest as an alternative strategy for the protection and treatment of AD. Thereby, this review aims to summarize different medical interventions with dietary materials such as edible medicinal plants and ways to capitalize on the therapeutic advantages of their components to provide an alternative approach to enhance their long-term pleiotropic benefits in AD. Given the established mechanisms in AD pathogenesis, we elucidate different pathophysiological changes associated with lowering the disease incidence with these mainly plant-based dietary materials, providing laboratory evidence on the feasibility and potential of dietary intervention in the prevention and treatment of AD. In particular, we highly recommend the concept of dietary intervention as an alternative or supplementary therapeutic strategy.

Food & Function, 2021

Rhodiola species are edible medicinal plants, which have been traditionally used in both Asia and... more Rhodiola species are edible medicinal plants, which have been traditionally used in both Asia and Europe as an adaptogen, a tonic, an anti-depressant and anti-inflammatory supplement. However, whether it presents a therapeutic effect on colitis or not remains unknown. The aim of this study is to investigate the protective effect of a Rhodiola crenulata extract (RCE) on mice with DSS-induced colitis. RCE significantly alleviated the pathological abnormalities in colitic mice, including the correspondingly increased colon length, ameliorated colonic injury and reduced pro-inflammatory factors. The protective effect was similar to that of the positive control, 5-aminosalicylic acid. The DSS-induced epithelial apoptosis and maintained intestinal barrier function were attenuated by RCE through the upregulation of the level of tight junction proteins such as ZO-1 and occludin. Notably, RCE prevented gut dysbiosis in colitic mice by restoring the microbial richness and diversity, and decreasing the abundance of Proteobacteria phylum and opportunistic pathogenic Parasutterella and Staphylococcus, as well as increasing the abundance of beneficial microbes in Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium, which were closely correlated with its protective effect against colitis. Meanwhile, chemical characterization of RCE was performed by UPLC-HR-MS to explain its material basis. A total of 63 compounds were identified, while the content of two bioactive ingredients (salidroside, 1.81%; rosavin, 0.034%) was determined.

Currently, the world is challenged by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Epidemiol... more Currently, the world is challenged by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Epidemiologists and researchers worldwide are invariably trying to understand and combat this precarious new disease. Scrutinizing available drug options and developing potential new drugs are urgent needs to subdue this pandemic. Several intervention strategies are being considered and handled worldwide with limited success, and many drug candidates are yet in the trial phase. Despite these limitations, the development of COVID-19 treatment strategies has been accelerated to improve the clinical outcome of patients with COVID-19, and some countries have efficiently kept it under control. Recently, the use of natural and traditional medicine has also set the trend in coronavirus treatment. This review aimed to discuss the prevailing COVID-19 treatment strategies available globally by examining their efficacy, potential mechanisms, limitations, and challenges in predicting a future potential treatment candidate and bridging them with the effective traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). The findings might enrich the knowledge on traditional alternative medication and its complementary role with Western medicine in managing the COVID-19 epidemic.

Rhodiola species, belonging to the family Crassulaceae, have long been used as an adaptogen, toni... more Rhodiola species, belonging to the family Crassulaceae, have long been used as an adaptogen, tonic, antidepressant, and antistress medicine or functional food in Asia and Europe. Due to the valuable application, the growing demand of Rhodiola species has led to a rapid decrease in resource content. This review aims to summarize the integrated

Due to the increasing prevalence of cancer year by year, and the complexity and refractory nature... more Due to the increasing prevalence of cancer year by year, and the complexity and refractory nature of the disease itself, it is required to constantly innovate the development of new cancer treatment schemes. At the same time, the understanding of cancers has deepened, from the use of chemotherapy regimens with high toxicity and side effects, to the popularity of targeted drugs with specific targets, to precise treatments based on tumor characteristics rather than traditional anatomical location classification. In precision medical, in the view of the specific tumor diseases and their biological characteristics , it has great potential to develop tissue-agnostic targeted therapy with broad-spectrum anticancer significance. The present review has discussed tissue-agnostic targeted therapy based on the biological and genetic characteristics of cancers, expounded its theoretical basis and strategies for drug development. And the feasible drug targets, FDA-approved drugs, as well as drug candidates in clinical trials have also been summarized. In conclusion, the "tissue-agnostic targeted therapy" is a breakthrough in anticancer therapies.

The plant origin is one of the most important factors for the quality control of traditional Chin... more The plant origin is one of the most important factors for the quality control of traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs) and highly affected on their safety and effectiveness in clinical applications. Multi-origin has been widely observed for many TCMs. Siegesbeckiae Herba (SH) is a traditional anti-rheumatic TCM which is originated from the plants of Siegesbeckia pubescens Makino (SP), S. orientalis L. (SO), and S. glabrescens Makino (SG). In the present study, an UPLC-QTOF/MS method were validated and successfully applied for the determination of the chemical profiles in the three SH species. The data were statistical analyzed with the OPLS-DA analysis and One-Way ANOVA F-test. Obvious differences in chemistry were observed in different SH species and 40 components were identified. Finally, 6 components were selected as potential chemical markers for the discrimination of SP, SO and SG based on the characteristic distribution in individual SH species.

Sigesbeckiae Herba is a traditional Chi-nese herbal medicine and has been used for inflam-matory ... more Sigesbeckiae Herba is a traditional Chi-nese herbal medicine and has been used for inflam-matory diseases with a long history. The current official plant origins of Sigesbeckiae Herba include Sigesbeckia orientalis L. (SO), S. pubescens Markino (SP) and S. glabrescens Markino (SG). In this work, a systemic review about the scientific work for medicinal Sigesbeckiae Herba regarding their botanical descriptions, reported bioactive components, pharmacological activities and toxicities was performed. The results indicate that a total of 251 compounds including flavonoids, diterpenoids, sesquiterpenoids, triter-penoids, and sterols have been isolated from Sigesbeckia plants and reported to be characteristically distributed in SO, SP and SG. The extracts and pure compounds derived from Sigesbeck-iae Herba are reported to present various pharmacological activities including anti-inflammation, immunomodulation, anti-cancer, and others. Although no significant side-effects and toxicities for Siges-beckiae Herba have been reported in clinics, the potential pulmonary toxicity for the water extracts of SH are reported in experimental animals. In conclusion , Sigesbeckiae Herba is a valuable Chinese herbal medicine and has been investigated to present multiple pharmacological activities. The main pharmacological investigations support its traditional use for treating chronic inflammatory diseases. The available literature shows that much of the activity of Sigesbeckiae Herba can be attributed to diterpenoids, sesquiter-penoids and flavonoids. However, further investigations on the molecular mechanisms to pharmacological activities and the potential toxicities is recommended. Moreover, further investigations on the comparative comprehension among the three medicinal Sigesbeckia plants (SO, SP and SG) both in chemistry and pharmacology are also recommended for their precise applications in clinics.