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Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is a common microvascular complication of diabetes mellitus (DM), which can lead to renal failure in diabetic patients. At present, the first-line drugs for DN are mainly the renin–angiotensin system (RAS) inhibitors or angiotensin receptor blockers, and the latest approved aldosterone receptor antagonist finerenone, which delay the progression of DN to end-stage renal disease (ESRD), but the therapeutic effect is still not ideal. With a history of thousands of years, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has rich experience in the treatment of DN. Based on the theory of TCM, the clinical treatment of DN mainly focuses on generating fluid and nourishing blood, nourishing Qi and Yin, detoxifying and detumescent. In recently years, the therapeutic effects and mechanisms of TCM prescription, Chinese herbal medicine, and its active components on DN have received extensive attention in new drug development. This paper reviews the research progress of the mechanism of TCM on DN.

Alcoholic liver disease (ALD) often leads to hepatitis, hepatic cirrhosis, and even hepatocellular carcinoma. Fisetin has been shown to confer protection against liver injury. Herein, we investigated whether fisetin could prevent ethanol-induced hepatotoxicity. Mice were fed on 5% (v/v) Lieber–DeCarli ethanol diet. Human primary hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) co-cultured with ethanol were used to verify the therapeutic effect of fisetin. The results of alanine/aspartate aminotransferase (ALT/AST), Triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC) in serum, Oil O Red and Masson staining revealed that fisetin (80mg/kg) ameliorated ethanol-induced mice liver injury and fibrosis. Besides, immunofluorescence results of $\alpha$-SMA revealed that fisetin suppressed HSCs activation. The suppression was dose-dependent. Furthermore, fisetin promoted SIRT1-mediated autophagy and inhibited Sphk1-mediated endoplasmic reticulum stress (ER stress) both in vitro and in vivo. Molecular docking results indicated potential interaction of fisetin with SIRT1 and SphK1. The inhibitory effect of fisetin on HSCs activation was reversed on co-culturing with EX-527, a specific inhibitor against STIR1 overexpression. Thus, fisetin has the potential to ameliorate alcohol-induced liver injury through suppression of HSCs activation, SIRT1-mediated autophagy and Sphk1-mediated ER stress.

Chronic respiratory diseases are long-term conditions affecting the airways and other lung components that are characterized by a high prevalence, disability rate, and mortality rate. Further optimization of their treatment is required. Natural products, primarily extracted from organisms, possess specific molecular and structural formulas as well as distinct chemical and physical properties. These characteristics grant them the advantages of safety, gentleness, accessibility, and minimal side effects. The numerous advances in the use of natural products for treating chronic respiratory diseases have provided a steady source of motivation for new drug research and development. In this paper, we introduced the pathogenesis of chronic respiratory diseases and natural products. Furthermore, we classified natural products according to their mechanism for treating chronic respiratory diseases and describe the ways in which these products can alleviate the pathological symptoms. Simultaneously, we elaborate on the signal transduction pathways and biological impacts of natural products’ targeting. Additionally, we present future prospects for natural products, considering their combination treatment approaches and administration methods. The significance of this review extends to both the research on preventing and treating chronic respiratory diseases, as well as the advancement of novel drug development in this field.

The purpose of this study was to explore the effect of periostin on autophagy and factors related to bone metabolism in osteoblasts. According to experimental design, some osteoblast-like cells (MC3T3-E1) were transfected by lentiviral vector to silence periostin gene. Celigo$\text{®}$ Image Cytometer and Real-Time PCR were used to assess target gene silencing effects. Western blotting was used to evaluate autophagy-associated factors (LC3B,Beclin1) and factors related to bone metabolism (RANKL, OPG, NF-$\mathrm{\kappa }$BP65). Another part of osteoblasts was added with recombinant periostin protein at concentration of 75ng/mL. Monodansylcadaverine (MDC) detection was conducted to trace formation of autophagy vesicles. Factors associated with autophagy and bone metabolism were reassessed using western blotting. When periostin gene was silenced, western blotting analysis showed that the expression of LC3B-I, Beclin1, RANKL and NF-$\kappa$BP65 in experimental group was significantly increased; however, OPG expression was decreased. After adding recombinant periostin protein, MDC detection revealed significantly fewer green fluorescent particles in the experimental group. Western blotting results showed that the expression of LC3B, Beclin1, RANKL and NF-$\kappa$BP65 was decreased; however, OPG expression was increased. This study examined the regulatory mechanism of periostin in bone metabolism, which will provide a future reference for the treatment of primary teeth abnormal replacement caused by inflammation.