A Review of Pharmacological and Toxicological Effects of Sophora tonkinensis with Bioinformatics Prediction

Sophora tonkinensis Gagnep. (ST) (Fabaceae) is distributed chiefly in south-central and southeast China and Vietnam. In traditional Chinese medicine theory, the root and rhizome of ST are toxic and mainly used in the treatment of pharyngeal and laryngeal diseases. Modern studies provide new insights into the pharmacological and toxicological aspects of ST. The pharmacological and toxicological properties of ST were reviewed in this paper based on the literature from Google Scholar and CNKI, and the bioinformatics platforms were applied to explore the pharmacological and toxicological potentials of ST. The results of the literature analysis showed that ST has hepatoprotective, immunomodulatory, and anticancer effects and produces obvious toxicity to the liver and nervous and cardiovascular system. The results of bioinformatics showed that the compounds from ST may be applied to the treatment of cancer and digestive and nervous system diseases and show the possibility to cause hematotoxicity, neurotoxicity, and immunotoxicity. The present review demonstrates that attention should be paid to the potential toxicity of ST in the treatment of diseases and provides the reference for the subsequent pharmacological toxicological studies on the mechanism and chemical basis of ST.

Bushen-Tiansui Formula Improves Cognitive Functions in an Aβ1–42 Fibril-Infused Rat Model of Alzheimer’s Disease

Bushen-Tiansui Formula (BTF) was empirically updated from a classical prescription named Kong-Sheng-Zhen-Zhong pill. It is based on the traditional Chinese medicine theory of the mutual relationship between the brain and the kidney and is intended to treat neurodegenerative diseases. This formulation has been used for several years to treat patients with Alzheimer’s disease- (AD-) like symptoms in our clinical department. However, the medicinal ingredients and the mechanisms by which BTF improves cognition and memory functions have not been characterized. In this study, we used UPLC-MS to generate a chromatographic fingerprinting of BTF and identified five possible active ingredients, including stilbene glycoside; epimedin A1, B, and C; and icariin. We also showed that oral administration of BTF reversed the cognitive defects in an Aβ1–42 fibril-infused rat model of AD, protected synaptic ultrastructure in the CA1 region, and restored the expression of BDNF, synaptotagmin (Syt), and PSD95. These effects likely occurred through the BDNF-activated receptor tyrosine kinase B (TrkB)/Akt/CREB signaling pathway. Furthermore, BTF exhibited no short-term or chronic toxicity in rats. Together, these results provided a scientific support for the clinical use of BTF to improve learning and memory in patients with AD.