Infinitus (China) Co., Ltd.

With accelerated urbanization, air pollution has become an environmental problem that requires urgent resolution. Intensified inflammation, atopic dermatitis, and itchy skin have been reported in humans exposed to increasing PM_2.5 concentrations. PM_2.5 is the particulate matter whose aerodynamic equivalent diameter is less than or equal to 2.5 μm in ambient air. Madecassoside, a pentacyclic triterpenoid active component, which is found in and extracted from the plant Centella Asiatica, possesses unique pharmacological properties, such as anti-inflammatory activity, which are used to treat skin wounds. This study investigated the effects of madecassoside in terms of pyroptosis antagonism, cell membrane repair promotion, and skin barrier repair using THP-1 and HaCaT cells stimulated with PM_2.5. We measured IL-1β and LDH contents in culture supernatants of THP-1 cells. The expressions of the proteins related to cell membrane repair and skin barrier repair were detected by western blotting, quantitative reverse transcription PCR and immunofluorescence. We found that madecassoside reduced the release of the inflammatory factor IL-1β and the lytic cell death marker lactate dehydrogenase and repaired PM_2.5-induced gasdermin D-mediated cell membrane damage. Further, madecassoside may have the potential to promote skin barrier repair by alleviating skin barrier-related protein damage and nuclear transfer. Therefore, madecassoside possesses anti-PM_2.5 stimulating activity through repairing gasdermin D-mediated cell membrane damage and possibly protecting the skin barrier, indicating that madecassoside has good anti-inflammatory repair efficacy.

The world is currently witnessing a rise in viral infections, while the availability of antiviral drugs remains limited. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has historically served as a valuable source of novel compounds for disease treatment. In this study, we assessed the antiviral potential of various TCM compounds using Drosophila melanogaster as a model organism. Our findings reveal that natural polysaccharide extracts, prepared from 10 commonly used medicinal herbs or fungi, exhibit antiviral activity against two picorna-like viruses. Importantly, the antiviral effect is not directly attributable to the compound itself but is instead mediated by cellular responses induced by treatment with the extract. We observed that the polysaccharide extract triggers a broad transcriptional response, which partially overlaps with NF-κB pathway activation in Drosophila. However, the antiviral activity of the extract was independent of classical innate immune pathways, such as RNA interference or NF-κB signaling. Instead, the extract appears to uniquely stimulate detoxification pathways, including upregulation of cytochrome P450 and glutathione S-transferase genes, which correlates with its antiviral effects.

The degumming process is vital for eco-friendly textile production, with β-1,4-Endo-xylanase serving as the key hydrolase responsible for xylan degradation during this procedure. However, its limited resistance to alkali hampers the application due to reduced activity in alkaline environments. Herein, we employed the strategies for computer-aid high surface charged, to enhance resistance and activity of xylanase, generating the optimal mutant (Q130K/E195K) of 79 mutants, with improved 9.40-fold (310.06 min) pH half-life and increased 2.55-fold activity (714.54 U. mg^-1) by WT (wild type). Moreover, molecular dynamics analysisy that positive changes in intermolecular interactions and surface charge for the improved catalytic activity of the best variant. Furthermore, treated with the optimal mutant for degumming, the fibers have less stickiness, better dispersion, and improved properties like strength, whiteness, and hydrophilicity. These finding expected provide theoretical guidance for the potential application of high-performance xylanase in green industry.