1. Academic Validation
  2. Mahuang Xixin Fuzi decoction ameliorates apoptosis via the mitochondrial-mediated signaling pathway in MCM cells

Mahuang Xixin Fuzi decoction ameliorates apoptosis via the mitochondrial-mediated signaling pathway in MCM cells

  • J Ethnopharmacol. 2022 Oct 28;297:115538. doi: 10.1016/j.jep.2022.115538.
Jia Yang 1 Qihui Sun 1 Qingyun Ma 1 Qinhui Yu 1 Xiaoyun Liu 2 Yanliang Liu 1 Yuxiu Han 1 Yong Yang 3 Rong Rong 4
Affiliations

Affiliations

  • 1 Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, PR China.
  • 2 Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, PR China; Shandong Provincial Collaborative Innovation Center for Antiviral Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, Shandong, 250355, PR China.
  • 3 Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, PR China; Shandong Provincial Collaborative Innovation Center for Antiviral Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, Shandong, 250355, PR China. Electronic address: yy7204@163.com.
  • 4 Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, PR China; Shandong Provincial Collaborative Innovation Center for Antiviral Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, Shandong, 250355, PR China. Electronic address: rosierong@163.com.
Abstract

Ethnopharmacological relevance: Mahuang Xixin Fuzi Decoction (MXF), as a classical prescription of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), has been used to treat the symptoms of fever, nasal congestion and headache in elderly people for almost a thousand years.

Aim of the study: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects and possible mechanisms of MXF on thermal stimulation-induced mouse cardiac myocytes (MCM) cell Apoptosis.

Materials and methods: The Apoptosis of the MCM cell model was induced by a PCR-calculated temperature control system with a gradual heating pattern at 43 °C for 1 h. The cytotoxic effects were determined using real-time cell analyzer (RTCA) technology. Annexin V-FITC/7-AAD staining, and JC-1 fluorescence were used to assess Apoptosis. Specific substrates, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs), and Western blotting were used to identify proteins in the mitochondrial-mediated pathway. The identification of chemical components in the mouse heart was performed by ultra-performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry analysis.

Results: MXF inhibited Apoptosis through the mitochondrial-mediated signaling pathway, including ameliorating ∆Ψm reduction, blocking mitochondrial Cyt C release, reducing Bax levels and increasing Bcl-2 levels, suppressing caspase-9 and Caspase-3 activation in cytoplasmic fractions. Moreover, the components of MXF that act on the heart are mainly ephedra Alkaloids and aconitine Alkaloids.

Conclusions: The findings demonstrated that MXF treatment markedly reduced MCM cell Apoptosis induced by thermal stimulation, which may be ascribed to the mitochondrial-mediated signaling pathway.

Keywords

Apoptosis; MXF; Mitochondria apoptosis pathway; Thermal stimulation.

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