Advances in Chemical Constituents, Clinical Applications, Pharmacology, Pharmacokinetics and Toxicology of Erigeron breviscapus

Wu, Ruixia; Liang, Yan; Xu, Min; Fu, Ke; Zhang, Yangliu; Wu, Lei; Wang, Zhang

doi:10.3389/fphar.2021.656335

REVIEW article

Front. Pharmacol., 02 September 2021

Sec. Ethnopharmacology

Volume 12 - 2021 | https://doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2021.656335

Advances in Chemical Constituents, Clinical Applications, Pharmacology, Pharmacokinetics and Toxicology of Erigeron breviscapus

Ruixia Wu¹

Yan Liang¹

Min Xu¹

Ke Fu¹

Yangliu Zhang²

Lei Wu¹

Zhang Wang²*

¹College of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Sichuan, China
²College of Ethnomedicine, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Sichuan, China

Dengzhanxixin (DZXX), the dried whole plant of Erigeron breviscapus (Vaniot) Hand.-Mazz., belonging to Compositae and first published in Materia Medica of South Yunnan by Lan Mao in the Ming Dynasty (1368 AD–1644 AD), is included in Medicinal Materials and Decoction Pieces of the 2020 edition of the Pharmacopeia of the People’s Republic of China. Its main chemical components are flavonoids that mainly include flavonoid, flavonols, dihydroflavones, flavonol glycosides, flavonoid glycosides, coffee acyl compounds, and other substances, such as volatile oil compounds, coumarins, aromatic acids, pentacyclic terpenoids, phytosterols, and xanthones. Among them, scutellarin and 1,5-dicoffeoylquininic acid are the main active components of DZXX. DZXX has pharmacological effects, such as improving cerebral and cerebrovascular ischemia, increasing blood flow, inhibiting platelet aggregation, promoting antithrombotic formation, improving microcirculation, reducing blood viscosity, protecting optic nerves, exhibiting anti-inflammatory properties, scavenging free radicals, and eliciting antioxidant activities. It is widely used in the treatment of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular ischemic diseases, kidney diseases, liver diseases, diabetic complications, and glaucoma. Pharmacokinetic studies have shown that the active components of DZXX have a low bioavailability and a high elimination rate in vivo. Nevertheless, its utilization can be improved through liposome preparation and combination with other drugs. Acute and subacute toxicity studies have shown that DZXX is a safe medicinal material widely used in clinical settings. However, its target and drug action mechanism are unclear because of the complexity of its composition. In this paper, the clinical application and pharmacological toxicology of DZXX are reviewed to provide a reference for further studying its active components and action mechanism.

Introduction

Dengzhanxixin (DZXX), the dried grass of Erigeron breviscapus (Vaniot) Hand.-Mazz. belonging to Compositae, is a perennial herb, 5–50 cm tall, with woody rhizomes and thick rhizomes. The stem is upright, with a few branches in the middle, and the whole plant is covered with multicellular short bristles or mixed with glandular hairs. The leaves are mainly concentrated at the base and are in the shape of a rosette. The leaves are obovate-lanceolate or wide-spoon-shaped. The base is half embracing, and the upper part is often reduced to a small bracteole with no petiole. The flower head is solitary at the top of the stem or branch, and the involucre is hemispherical. DZXX is mainly distributed in Yunnan, Guangxi, Guizhou, and other places. It is a characteristic medicinal material of Yunnan, and is listed as the four major cardio-cerebral vascular medicines along with ginkgo, panax notoginseng and salvia. DZXX is commonly used in Miao nationality, Yi, Tibetan, Dai, and other ethnic groups and was first published in the Ming Dynasty Lanmao’s Materia Medica of South Yunnan (about the 14th to 15th century). It has been used to treat ischemic cerebrovascular diseases, such as paralysis; it is included in the “Medicinal Materials and Decoction Pieces” of the 2020 edition of the Pharmacy of the People’s Republic of China. In the 1930s, the whole herb of the Yunnan Miao herb DZXX was used to treat stroke and hemiplegia. In the 1960s, under the impetus of the Chinese medicine movement, Luo San of Yunnan Miao Medicine cut the whole plant during the flowering period of DZXX at an altitude of 1,000–1,400 m, mixed with eggs and water and steamed for 15 min before taking it. The effect of treating cerebral palsy is remarkable. Since it was introduced to the world, it has been extensively applied and studied. It has officially entered the ranks of national legal medicinal materials, and a series of unilateral Chinese medicine preparations has been developed, used as raw materials, and applied in clinical practice. In 1994, DZXX was listed as a high-technology product of the National Torch Program and became an essential Chinese medicine for emergency treatment in Chinese medicine hospitals across the country. In 2000, it was listed as a national protected variety of Chinese medicine and prescription drug (Yang, 2014). Such drugs are administered to treat diseases such as hemiplegia, coronary heart disease, cerebral thrombosis, rheumatism, and microcirculation disorders, and they have a wide range of treatment, a definite curative effect, and minimal side effects. Especially for the treatment of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases and their sequelae, the curative effect is more obvious, the therapeutic effect is more than 95% (Tao, 2016).

Since the inclusion of the “Yunnan Pharmaceutical Standards” in 1997, according to incomplete statistics, the annual purchase of DZXX, which is widely used as a raw material in the pharmaceutical industry in Yunnan Province, has reached more than 1 million kg, mainly from wild DZXX resources. The total amounts of privately collected wild resources were 300, 400, 1,000, 1,100, 1,200, and 1,000 tons in 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, and 2000, respectively. The drug product based on the total flavonoids of DZXX requires about 1.5 million kg of raw materials. For breviscapine tablets, breviscapine injection, and other patented medicines based on breviscapine, the demand for raw materials is about 1.2 million kg. DZXX injection produced on the basis of phenolic acid compounds, such as scutellarin and total caffeic acid esters, requires about 400,000 kg of raw materials for medicinal materials, and the total demand is about 3.1 million kg. The domestic market demand for DZXX continues to increase by 15–20% per year. At present, the annual amount of wild DZXX available in Yunnan Province does not exceed 500,000 kg. With several years of collection, wild DZXX resources have become scarce (Zhang et al., 2013; Tao, 2016). At present, the wild resources of DZXX have been exhausted, and artificial cultivation of DZXX has become the only way to maintain the sustainable development of the medicine industry of DZXX. The survey shows that the stock of DZXX resources from Yunnan Province is only about 800–1,000 tons, and the supply can only meet 18.5% of the market demand (Wang N. et al., 2012). Now Yunnan has mastered the mature technology of planting breviscapine, and the planting scale of breviscapine in the province has reached 10,000 Mu (6.67 square kilometers). The output of medicinal materials reached 4,000 tons, from the serious gap in market demand to the resource demand that can guarantee the development of the breviscapine industry. At the same time, in view of the current artificial cultivation of mixed sources, poor stability, difficulty in seedling breeding, low seed production efficiency, lag in the development of high-quality and high-yield standardized planting technology, and serious pests and diseases, Yunnan Province has established a technical system for seed production and floating seedlings of DZXX and cultivate a professional planting technical team. Promote large-scale, standardized and industrialized production of Erigeron breviscapus.

The 2017 China Dengzhanhua Industry Development Report shows that in 2015, the sales of cardio-cerebrovascular Chinese patent medicines made from DZXX in Yunnan accounted for 1.71% of the national public medical institution cardio-cerebrovascular Chinese patent medicine market, compared with other categories such as Danhong injection, there is still a large market space. According to investigations and studies, the average treatment course of breviscapine-related preparations used in hospitals is 7–18 days. Most of them are used in elderly patients, mainly for patients with cerebral infarction and coronary heart disease and angina pectoris. At the same time, the medication indications and instructions are in line with the high rate. The dosages are all within the scope of the instructions, and the incidence of adverse events is less than 1%. A few adverse reactions occur mostly within half an hour. Most of them are immediate and mild, mainly middle-aged and elderly people, mainly manifested as skin allergies and headaches., Abdominal pain, the adverse reaction may be related to the use of super-indications and combined medication (Gao C. et al., 2007; Gao Z.et al., 2008; Ji et al., 2009; Li YY. et al., 2015; Xiang et al., 2018).

DZXX has become a common drug in the clinical treatment of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular related diseases. With the deepening of system, organ, and molecular levels, the scope of its clinical applications is expanding. This paper searches the published literature, using DZXX as key word; the search scope includes CNKI, Wanfang Database, Web of science database, Springer Link foreign language journal database and other databases. In this paper, the clinical application and pharmacological toxicology of DZXX and its related preparations are reviewed to clarify the main treatment-related mechanism of DZXX and its preparation and to provide ideas for further research.

Chemical Composition and Preparation of DZXX

At present, 25 kinds of flavonoids, 46 kinds of caffeoyl compounds, 78 kinds of volatile oils, and nearly 40 kinds of other compounds, including coumarin, pentacyclic triterpenes, aromatic acids, phytosterols, and oxythracrone, are isolated from DZXX (Zhang et al., 2000a; Zhang et al., 2000b; Guo et al., 2019). Table 1 and Figure 1 below show some familiar structural formulas. The chemical structure painted by ChemDraw Software.

TABLE 1

TABLE 1. Some typical chemical components in four types of DZXX.

FIGURE 1

FIGURE 1. Some typical chemical structures in four types of DZXX.

Flavonoids and Flavonoid Glycosides

Flavonoids and their glycosides are the main components of DZXX, which are mainly composed of flavonoids, flavonols, dihydroflavonoids, flavonol glycosides and flavonoid glycosides. Among them, scutellarin is considered to be the main active ingredient in flavonoids, and it is also the most studied ingredient in DZXX (Guo et al., 2019). See the Table 1 and Figure 1A below for details.

Caffeic Acid

DZXX caffeoyl compounds mostly exist in the form of a combination of the nucleus and different numbers of caffeic acid, in the form of quinic acid (CQA), 2,7-anhydro-3-deoxy-2-octylpyrrolidone acid (CDOA), 2, 7-anhydro-2-octylpyrrolidone acid (COA), 1- (2'-γ-pyrone) four types as main. The caffeoylquinic acid compounds in DZXX are mostly, and the main active ingredient is 1,5-diCQA. Table 1 and Figure 1B below show some of the caffeoyl (Guo et al., 2019). See the Table and Figure below for details.

Volatile Oils

Volatile oil compounds are mostly long-chain fatty acids, cyclics, long-chain fatty alkanes and other compounds. Table 1 and Figure 1C below show some of the volatile oils (Guo et al., 2019). See the Table and Figure below for details.

Others

Dzxx also contains coumarins, aromatic acids, pentacyclic triterpenes, phytosterols, xanthones and other compounds. The following Table 1 and Figure 1D below show some of the other compounds (Zhang et al., 2000a; Zhang et al., 2000b; Guo et al., 2019). See the Table and Figure below for details.

DZXX has been developed into numerous formulations, involving injections, granules, tablets, dispersible tablets, capsules, mixtures, extracts, and dripping pills. The number of formulations is nearly 20 products. According to the State Food and Drug Administration (Medical Products Administration, 2020), currently marketed single-prescription DZXX preparations are mainly oral and injectable. Their raw materials include breviscapine (3 approval numbers) and DZXX extract (2 approval numbers), and most of them are preparations with scutellarin as raw materials, oral preparations include breviscapine tablets (DZHSP) (66 approval number), DZXX granules (2 approval number), breviscapine dispersion tablets (4 approval document numbers), breviscapine chewable tablets (1 approval document number), Dengzhanhua dripping pills (1 approval document number), breviscapine dripping pills (2 approval document numbers). Injection preparations are available DZXX injection (DZXXI) (2 approval document numbers), breviscapine injection (DZHSI) (24 approval document numbers), breviscapine for injection (6 approval document numbers), breviscapine sodium chloride injection (1 approval document), breviscapine glucose injection (1 approval number). There are less preparations using DZXX extract as raw materials, mainly oral DZXX mixture (2 approval number), DZXX capsules (4 approval document number), and DZXX soft capsule (1 approval document number).

DZXXI was approved by China Food and Drug Administration in 2005 and listed in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia. DZXX injection is a sterile aqueous solution (injection) made by extracting phenolic components from E. breviscapus. The analysis of HPLC charts and ultraviolet spectra shows that the main component of DZXX includes caffeoyl derivatives (or caffeic acid analogs) and contains a small amount of scutellarin and other flavonoids with a pH between 5.5 and 7.5 (Yang et al., 2005). Flavonoids are represented by scutellarin, which is recognized as the main active ingredient of DZXX injection. Phenolic acids include caffeic acid, chlorogenic acid, and dicaffeoylquinic acid series isomers (Zhang et al., 2002; Zhou L. et al., 2011). DZXX injection is prepared by water decoction, alcohol precipitation (80% ethanol concentration), ethyl acetate extraction, water solubility (pH 8–8.5), activated carbon treatment, and liquid preparation (Yang et al., 2005). In addition, the extraction rate of DZXX after pulverization increases by about 0.17 percentage points (a relative increase of about 15%); however, the whole herb is fed more often because of difficulty in filtrating the components and no difference in extracting from the whole herb or cutting into sections. Flavonoid glycosides in DZXX are more polar, and ethyl acetate cannot be used to completely extract flavonoid glycosides. A certain amount of ethanol can be added to adjust the polarity of extracts and improve the extraction rate (Tang et al., 2002). According to the first edition of the Pharmacopoeia of the People’s Republic of China in 2020, the quality standards of scutellarin for flavonoids and 1,3-O-dicaffeoyl quinic acid for total phenolic acids in DZXX injection are established. Each 1 ml contains flavonoids based on scutellarin (C₂₁H₁₈O₁₂) and should be equivalent to 0.40–0.60 mg. The total caffeic acid content per milliliter is calculated as 1,3-O-dicaffeoylquinic acid (C₂₅H₂₄O₁₂), which should be 2.0–3.0 mg.

Breviscapine injection is a sterile aqueous solution made of flavonoid gluconate glycosides extracted from the whole plant of DZXX and extracted flavonoids. The main component of this solution is scutellarin, a small amount of apigenin-7-O-β-D-glucuronide, and other flavonoid glycosides, but it has no caffeoyl derivatives; its pH is 6.3–8.3 (Tian et al., 2014). The drug is included in Volume 20 of the Prescriptions of Traditional Chinese Medicines of the Ministry of Health of the People’s Republic of China. The quality standard of breviscapine injection has been established on the basis of scutellarin. Its content is determined through spectrophotometry. Breviscapine is based on scutellarin, and it should be 95.0–105.0% of the amount of specimens. Studies have found that the pH of breviscapine injection is about 6.8. When Na₂HPO₄ is used as a cosolvent, the color, pH, and drug content of the drug solution become more stable. In addition, the combination of EDTA-2Na and NaHSO₃ as an antioxidant is more conducive to improving the stability of the drug; when the amount of added sodium bisulfite is 0.2%, the color of the injection is light, and its stability is better (Wang et al., 2010).

Experimental studies have found that scutellarin is easily soluble in water, methanol, and ethanol below 90% concentration, slightly soluble in absolute ethanol and acetone, and hardly soluble in ethyl acetate. Most caffeoyl derivatives are easily soluble in water, ethanol, and water. Ethanol, methanol, and acetone are soluble in ethyl acetate but hardly soluble in chloroform. Other DZXX preparations, such as DZXX capsules, Dengzhanhua granules, and Yimaikang tablets, are all water extracts or 60–80% ethanol extracts, so they contain both flavonoids and caffeoyl derivatives (Yang et al., 2005). Some details about DZXX series preparations are presented in Table 2.

TABLE 2

TABLE 2. Information of DZXX series preparations.

Clinical Applications

Cerebrovascular Diseases

Cerebral Ischemia

Li divided 84 patients with ischemic stroke into a control group and an observation group. The control group was treated with modern medical treatment and given citicoline, aspirin, low-molecular dextran, and nimodipine. The observation group was treated with DZXX injection. After 60 days, DZXX injection improved the patient’s blood lipid index and blood viscosity, and significantly improved the prognosis of stroke patients. (Wang and Guo, 2011; Li, 2018). Yang Nan divided 120 patients with initial ischemic stroke and recurrent ischemic stroke into a control group and a breviscapine injection treatment group. Their results reveal that DZXX injection can effectively reduce plasma C-reactive protein and inhibit its pro-inflammatory effects, indicating that breviscapine can promote the stability of cerebral atherosclerotic plaques through anti-inflammatory activities and improve the prognosis of stroke (Yang, 2009). In another clinical study, breviscapine injection reduced plasma alpha granule membrane protein (GMP-140), platelet activating factor (PAF) and platelet aggregation rate in patients with cerebral ischemia, and improved transient ischemic attack (TIA) patients with platelet activity index, the total effective rate of treatment reached 94.34%, and the total incidence of adverse events was lower than that of the conventional treatment group (Jiang, 2017). A large number of clinical data indicate that DZXX preparations can improve patients’ cerebral ischemia and improve neuromotor function by anti-inflammatory, anti-thrombotic, improving blood rheology, and protecting nerves. The detailed study of DZXX and its related preparations in the treatment of patients with cerebral ischemia is shown in Table 3.

TABLE 3

TABLE 3. Clinical application of DZXX preparations in various diseases.

Cerebral Infarction

Wu divided 87 patients with cerebral infarction into a control group and an observation group. The control group was treated with compound Danshen injection, and the observation group was treated with DZXXI. After 14 days, DZXXI reduced plasma nitric oxide (NO) and plasma circulating endothelial cells (CEC) and endothelin (ET) levels in patients with cerebral infarction, improved the vascular endothelial function of patients with cerebral infarction, increased blood flow, and markedly improved microcirculation and nerve function (Wu et al., 2006). Another study also found that DZXXI can increase the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), reduce serum adhesion molecules and platelet inflammatory factors, promote angiogenesis, and antiplatelet Gather to improve cerebral infarction (Zhen et al., 2012; Hou et al., 2015). In addition, breviscapine injection can also reduce the plasma tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA) in patients with cerebral infarction, improve blood lipids, and improve cerebral infarction (Zhang et al., 2008). Clinical data show that DZXX preparations are more effective than conventional antihypertensive, lipid-lowering, anticoagulant and other traditional Chinese medicine treatments. DZXX preparations can improve the patient’s blood rheology and endothelial cell function, reduce blood lipids and inflammation, and improve the prognosis of patients with cerebral infarction. The detailed study of DZXX and its related preparations in the treatment of patients with cerebral infarction is shown in Table 3.

Hyperlipidemia

68 patients with hyperlipidemia-related cerebral infarction were randomly divided into DZXXI group and compound Danshen injection group, and intravenous drip. After 14 days, the basic cure rate in the DZXXI group was 64.71%, which was significantly higher than the 32.35% in the compound Danshen group (p < 0.01). After treatment, the whole blood specific viscosity, plasma specific viscosity, fibrinogen, total cholesterol, and three Acylglycerol is significantly lower than before treatment (p < 0.05) (Wu et al., 2004). In clinical treatments, breviscapine injection has obvious curative effects on hyperlipidemia. After treatment, patients’ TC, TG, LDL-C, MDA, oxidized low-density lipoprotein Ox-LDL, and plasma endothelin (ET) significantly decrease. By contrast HDL-C, SOD, and NO increase to varying degrees. DZHSI improves hyperlipidemia by scavenging oxygen free radicals, lowering blood lipids and other activities, enhancing the activity of antioxidant enzymes in patients with hyperlipidemia, reducing lipid peroxidation damage, and protecting patients’ vascular endothelial function (Yu, 2011). The detailed study of DZXX preparations in the treatment of patients with hyperlipidemia is shown in Table 3.

Hyperviscosity

DZXX injection (observation group) and compound Danshen injection (control group) were used to treat patients with hyperviscosity. After the treatment, the results of DZXX injection reveal that whole blood viscosity, plasma viscosity, hematocrit, fibrinogen, cholesterol, triglyceride, and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels significantly improve (p < 0.05). The results of the study showed that the observation of HCT, Fib, TC, TG and HDL-C in observation group were significantly improved without adverse reactions compared with before treatment and after treatment (Chang, 2008). Therefore, DZXX injection can prevent and treat hyperviscosity by improving blood rheology, reducing fibrinogen, enhancing blood lipids, and prolonging the time of partial thromboplastin activity (Shen and Li, 2002). After 48 hospitalized patients with hyperviscosity were treated with DZHSI, the whole blood, high-shear viscosity, low-shear viscosity, plasma viscosity, fibrinogen, and other factors are significantly lower than the initial values (p < 0.01). This result indicates that the treatment can reduce blood viscosity, increase tissue perfusion flow, and effectively prevent a series of pathophysiological changes induced by hyperviscosity (Han et al., 2004). The detailed study of DZXX preparations in the treatment of hyperviscosity patients is shown in Table 3.

Cardiovascular Diseases

Luo divided 60 patients with unstable angina pectoris into a treatment group and a control group. They were treated with DZXXI and compound Danshen injection. After 14 days, the clinical efficacy, electrocardiogram changes, and hemorheology of the patients in the DZXXI treatment group were all improved. The measured values of platelet CD41, CD63, CD62P and plasma D-dimer were significantly lower than the level before treatment, and the degree of improvement was more obvious than that of the control group, suggesting that DZXXI can improve angina pectoris by anti-platelet activation and improve coagulation and fibrinolysis activity (Luo, 2003). Other studies have also found that DZXXI can reduce the blood lipid level of patients with angina pectoris, improve lipid metabolism, reduce the expression levels of IL-6, CRP and TNF-α in the serum of patients, improve inflammation, and inhibit the development of angina pectoris (Zhao et al. (2008); Li and Yang, 2014). In addition, DZHSI can also inhibit platelet aggregation and internal coagulation function, activate the fibrinolytic system, promote fibrin degradation, interfere with related molecules before thrombosis, inhibit thrombosis, and thereby improve angina pectoris (Zhao et al., 2010). More clinical studies The data shows that compared with patients with angina pectoris who are given nitrate, anticoagulant, lipid-regulating western medicine and other traditional Chinese medicine compound injections, the symptoms of angina pectoris in patients treated with DZXX preparations are more improved, and the treatment efficiency is higher. The detailed study of DZXX preparations in the treatment of patients with angina pectoris is shown in Table 3.

Pulmonary Diseases

DZXXI can significantly improve the clinical symptoms of patients with acute exacerbation of pulmonary heart disease, increase PaO₂, decrease PaCO₂, increase pH, significantly decrease plasma D-dimer and Hb (Li et al., 2006), and reduce plasma IL-8 and TNF-α, CRP, blood viscosity, hematocrit, and fibrinogen levels. The mechanism of action of DZXX injection may be related to reducing blood viscosity, cytoinflammatory factor levels, and blood hyperviscosity in patients with COPD, correcting heart failure, respiratory failure, and other factors, ensuring a stable lung function for elderly patients with moderate to severe COPD, and decreasing the number of acute exacerbations (Cao et al., 2006; Xiao et al., 2015). Other researchs also found that conventional treatment combined with adjuvant breviscapine injection reduced the level of serum endothelin (ET), soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (sVCAM-1), and soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1) in patients with cor pulmonale, increase NO level and improve cardiac output (CO) and cardiac index (CI) (Kong et al., 2010). And In another study, it was found that DZHSI can enhance the body’s immune function and improve the therapeutic effect of patients with COPD (Li and Jia, 2015). These results indicate that breviscapine changes the vascular endothelial function of patients with chronic pulmonary heart disease, improves blood hypercoagulability and blood viscosity, and reduces the specific volume of blood cells. Consequently, this treatment reduces endothelial cell damage, restores the balance of vasoactive factors, minimizes platelet aggregation, lowers the occurrence of thrombosis, and improves heart function and clinical efficacy during decompensation (Kong et al., 2010). Detailed study of DZXX preparations in the treatment of pulmonary disease is shown in Table 3.

Kidney Diseases

A number of clinical treatments have shown that both DZXXI and scutellarin injection mainly reduce serum creatinine (Scr), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), 24 h urine total protein (24 h UTP) and microglobulin (B2M) content, and Increase the creatinine clearance rate (Ccr) to play a therapeutic role and improve the patient’s renal function (Wu et al., 2018). In addition, it can also improve kidney lipid metabolism, blood rheology indexes and inflammatory factor levels to improve renal function (Cheng et al., 2005). The detailed study of breviscapine and its related preparations in the treatment of patients with nephropathy is shown in Table 3.

Diabetes Complications

Patients with stage IV diabetic nephropathy were divided into treatment and control groups. The treatment group was injected with 20 ml of DZXX, and the control group was administered with 0.2 g of inosine once a day for 2 weeks and 1 course. The results show that DZXXI can significantly reduce proteinuria in patients with diabetes. DZXXI can reduce the urinary microalbumin excretion rate (UAER), increase SOD and GSH-Px activities, inhibit reactive oxygen species production and membrane lipid peroxidation, remove reactive oxygen species, increase tissue antioxidant enzyme activities, decrease ROS production through MAPK and JAK-STAT channels, reduce the thickening of the basement membrane of the diabetic glomerulus and the proliferation of the mesangial matrix, and delay glomerular sclerosis (Chen, 2009; Cheng et al., 2007). Kang used breviscapine injection to treat diabetic nephropathy and found that the urine albumin excretion rate of patients significantly decreases, and the hematocrit, platelet aggregation rate, and plasma fibrinogen significantly improve. These results suggest that breviscapine may reduce urine albumin in patients with diabetes, alleviate patients’ microcirculation disorders, and reduce blood viscosity (Kang and Liu, 2003). After 45 patients with diabetic peripheral neuropathy were treated with DZXXI, sensory nerve conduction velocity (SNCV) and motor nerve conduction velocity (MNCV) were restored, and the levels of SOD and NO were improved. By expanding blood vessels, removing oxygen free radicals, improving blood rheology indexes, and improving clinical efficacy (Du et al., 2019). The detailed study of DZXX preparation in the treatment of diabetic patients is shown in Table 3.

Liver Diseases

DZXXI has a good curative effect on patients with chronic hepatitis B hepatic fibrosis. In particular, it reduces the serum indices of liver fibrosis especially the hepatic fibrosis indices hyaluronic acid (HA) and laminin (LN), improves the liver function and B-ultrasound imaging indices of the patients (Wu Y. H. et al., 2011), restores albumin level and prothrombin time activity (PTA), improves ALT, AST, and ALB and decreases the total bilirubin level of hyperbilirubinemia (Liu, 2014) Therefore, DZXX injection likely dilates small arteries, improves liver microcirculation and metabolism, and eliminates harmful substances, thereby improving liver function and reducing liver fibrosis (Wu D. F. et al., 2011). The detailed study of DZXX preparation in the treatment of liver disease is shown in Table 3.

Vertebrobasilar Insufficiency

The 116 patients with vertebrobasilar artery insufficiency were randomly divided into a treatment group of 60 cases and a control group of 56 cases. The treatment group received intravenous infusion of DZXXI, and the control group received intravenous infusion of betahistine hydrochloride injection. Observed after 15 days of treatment, the total effective rate of the treatment group was 91.67%, and the total effective rate of the control group was 85.71%. The average blood flow velocity of the vertebrobasilar artery of the two groups was significantly improved, and the average blood flow velocity of the vertebral artery and the basilar artery were increased in the treatment group compared with the control group (p < 0.05) (Fang, 2008). Clinically, DZXX preparations can resist thrombosis, improve blood viscosity and microcirculation, and increase local blood supply. See Table 3 for detailed research.

Eye Diseases

DZXXI can effectively improve the ocular hemodynamics of open-angle glaucoma patients with controlled intraocular pressure after selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT), and improve the flow velocity and resistance index of the short posterior ciliary artery and central retinal artery), shorten the arm-retinal circulation time (A-CT) and retinal filling time (A-VT), increase the thickness of the retinal optic nerve fiber layer (RNFL), increase the area of the optic disc, improve the blood circulation of the optic disc, and improve the RNFL and optic disc edge Area, so as to protect the function of the optic nerve. The clinical studies are shown in Table 3.

Osteoarthritis of the Knee

DZXXI is used clinically to treat knee osteoarthritis, which can effectively reduce cytokines in synovial fluid, remove pathogenic factors in joints, relieve pain and improve knee joint function, and improve the clinical symptoms and function of patients with knee osteoarthritis due to blood stasis block. The clinical studies are shown in Table 3.

Pancreatitis

Clinically, breviscapine injection can effectively improve the nutritional status of patients with acute pancreatitis, increase the levels of albumin, prealbumin, transferrin, and hemoglobin, and reduce serum amylase, white blood cells, c-reactive protein, and tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin-1 levels, improve immunity, and help patients recover (Zhang et al., 2016). Breviscapine injection can also reduce blood creatinine (Cr), urea nitrogen (BUN), 24 h urine protein levels, improve kidney function and inflammatory factors to improve pancreatitis symptoms (Bai et al., 2014). The clinical studies are shown in Table 3.

Ear Diseases

Thirty patients with sudden deafness were treated with breviscapine injection. After 14 days, breviscapine injection was 70% effective, which was higher than 56.7% in the control group. Breviscapine injection significantly improves the blood viscosity of patients, resists platelet aggregation, improves clinical efficacy, and also greatly reduces the rate of deafness (Zhu et al., 2011). The clinical studies are shown in Table 3.

Necrosis of the Femoral Head

Twenty-eight patients with femoral head necrosis (osteonecrosis of the femoral head, ONFH) were treated with DZXX injection perfusion in the internal circumflex femoral artery. Imaging showed that small branch vessels increase and elongate, the femoral head and neck vessels increase, and the area enlarges. The average Harris score before the treatment of the hip joint function was 64.9 ± 3.6, and the average after treatment was 76.3 ± 5.2. The difference was statistically significant (p < 0.05). The pain of the hip joint was reduced, the walking distance was increased, and the claudication was reduced. There were no obvious complications during follow-up (Ni et al., 2013). The clinical studies are shown in Table 3.

Pharmacological Effects

Looking at the literature, it is found that DZXXI, DZHSI, and DZHSP are the most commonly used DZXX preparations in pharmacological research. Therefore, the pharmacological researches on these three preparations and their main active ingredients are reviewed. And Main pharmacological action and action mechanism of DZXX preparation show in Figure 2.

FIGURE 2

FIGURE 2. Main pharmacological action and action mechanism of DZXX preparations.

Dengzhanxixin Injection (DZXXI)

Cerebrovascular Diseases

Combined with clinical experimental data, it is found that DZXXI can reduce blood lipids, blood viscosity and serum adhesion molecules in the treatment of cerebrovascular diseases, thereby reducing platelet aggregation, increasing blood flow in brain tissue, improving blood supply, and reducing inflammatory factors TNF-α, IL-6 and the apoptotic factor caspase-3, thereby reducing the damage after cerebral ischemia and cerebral infarction (Wang JL. et al., 2005; Yin et al., 2017), and also improving hyperlipidemia and hyperviscosity. In the rat MCAO model, it was found that DZXXI up-regulated the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and VEGF receptor Flk-1, induced angiogenesis in ischemic brain tissue, promoted damaged vascular endothelial repair, reduced EEG pathological spikes, increased the regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) in the ischemic area (Guo et al., 2016). This may also be related to the significant reduction in NF-κB expression, inhibiting the formation or release of inflammatory mediators, and reducing nerve excitability, eliminating abnormal discharge after DZXXI treatment of cerebral ischemia and reperfusion in rats, thereby improving microcirculation, increasing oxygen supply to brain tissue, and reducing reperfusion injury after cerebral ischemia (Niu et al., 2007). In clinical and animal experiments, it has been found that DZXXI also upregulates brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), inhibits delayed neuron necrosis, and reduces cell apoptosis (Zhou Y. R. et al., 2011). In addition, in Liu’s research, it was found that DZXX may improve cell energy balance by regulating neuronal metabolism, maintain BBB stability after cerebral ischemia in rats, reduce brain edema, and play a role in brain protection (Liu et al., 2009). Related pharmacological studies are shown in Table 4.

TABLE 4

TABLE 4. Pharmacological Effects of DZXXI preparations in various Diseases.

Cardiovascular Diseases

Combined clinical trials have found that DZXXI can also improve heart blood supply and angina pectoris by reducing adhesion molecules and platelet aggregation, improving blood viscosity and blood lipids. In addition, in animal and cell experiments, it has been found that DZXXI can reduce the release of inflammatory factors IL-6 and MCP-1 in cardiac microvascular endothelial cells (CMEC) induced by TNF-α stimulation, and protect vascular endothelial cells by inhibiting inflammation (Zhang et al., 2009). It was also found in the rat model of myocardial infarction that DZXXI can directly inhibit the overexpression of TNF-α, regulate the balance of PAI-1 and tPA, slow down thrombosis, and improve the hemodynamics of the heart after infarction (Huang et al., 2010). DZXXI can also reduce the content of MDA in the heart and lung tissues of hypoxic rats, increase the level of SOD, and improve heart function by scavenging oxygen free radicals (Li and Zhang, 2010). Related pharmacological studies are shown in Table 4.

Pulmonary Diseases

In the COPD rat model test, it was found that DZXXI can reduce rat hematocrit, reduce the expression of pulmonary arteriole type collagen and endothelin 1 (ET-1), reduce pulmonary vascular resistance, thereby inhibiting pulmonary vasoconstriction and remodeling, relieving pulmonary hypertension and preventing the formation of hypoxic pulmonary hypertension (Zhang et al., 2009), which is also consistent with the previous literature reports of clinical therapeutic effects. DZXX can improve the proportion of blood flow in the lungs and increase the partial pressure of arterial blood oxygen, improve hypoxemia, reduce hematocrit, and reduce pulmonary vascular resistance (Li et al., 2006; Xiao et al., 2015). In addition, DZXXI can also reduce the content of MDA, increase the expression of SOD, improve lung hypoxia and improve lung function through anti-oxidation (Li and Zhang, 2010). Animal experiments have also found that DZXXI can reduce neutrophil infiltration in lung tissue and inhibit inflammatory damage by inhibiting NF-κB activation. This is also in line with the reduction of TNF-α, IL-8, CPR and other inflammatory factors in patients with COPD in clinical trials (Chen et al., 2008). Related pharmacological studies are shown in Table 4.

Kidney Diseases

Consistent with clinical treatment data, DZXXI also effectively reduces the animal’s BUN and Scr levels in the treatment of animal kidney disease models and improves renal function. A number of experimental data show that DZXXI can reduce the level of TNF-α, increase the activity of Bcl-2 and SOD, reduce the content of BAX and MDA in the animal kidney injury and renal insufficiency model. DZXXI protects the kidney by reducing kidney inflammatory factors, scavenging oxygen free radicals, and reducing renal tissue cell apoptosis. Related pharmacological studies are shown in Table 4.

Others

Eye Diseases

DZXXI can promote the recovery of optic nerve axoplasmic transport block in acute experimental high intraocular pressure rats. After 20 days of administration, it was found that axoplasmic transport was partially restored, and the number of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) increased, thereby protecting the optic nerve (Li Q. C. et al., 2007). In addition, DZXXI was intraperitoneally administered to glaucoma rats. After 7 days, it was found that the density in RGCs and the thickness of layers in retina increased, which had a certain protective effect on experimental glaucoma in rats (Zhu et al., 2000; Li Q. C. et al., 2007). Related pharmacological studies are shown in the Table 4.

Diabetes Complications

Studies have also found that injecting DZXX into the vitreous of diabetic mice can increase the GAP-43 protein and promote the regeneration of the optic nerve in diabetic mice (Tian et al., 2020). In addition, combined with previous clinical studies, DZXXI increases the activity of SOD and GSH-Px in the renal tissues of patients with diabetic nephropathy and reduces the production of related inflammatory factors IL-6, TNF-α and hs-CRP, inhibit the production of reactive oxygen species and membrane lipid peroxidation and reduce renal inflammation, thereby delaying glomerular sclerosis (Cheng et al., 2007; Li et al., 2011). In addition, studies have found that DZXXI can also up-regulate the protein expression of MMP-9 in kidney tissue to achieve the purpose of treating diabetic nephropathy (Wang and Li, 2006). Related pharmacological studies are shown in the Table 4.

Breviscapine Injection (DZHSI)

Cerebrovascular Diseases

In an MCAO (Middle cerebral artery occlusion) rat model, DZHSI can inhibit neuron-specific enolase levels, 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal and 8-hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine and increase the expression levels of nuclear factor red sample 2 related factor (Nrf2) and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) protein. These results suggest that DZHSI may increase the expression of the Nrf2/HO-1 pathway and play a role in the treatment of cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury (Guo et al., 2014). DZHSI can also prevent the activation of protein kinase C (PKC) induced by cerebral ischemia and reperfusion, reduce calcium overload, and decrease the volume of ischemic infarction (Chen and Dong, 1998; Shuai and Dong, 1998). DZHSI is used in advance on forebrain ischemia–reperfusion model gerbils, and results reveal that pre-administration before ischemia can significantly inhibit the decrease in hippocampal ATP and adenylate pool content caused by cerebral ischemia–reperfusion and reduce the water content of the brain cortex, the mechanism of action may be related to the reduction of energy metabolism disorders and cerebral edema caused by cerebral ischemia and reperfusion (Wang J. G. et al., 2005). DZHSI can also inhibit the production and release of interleukins and other inflammatory factors and caspase and other apoptotic factors, inhibit the activation of NLRP3 inflammasomes in hippocampus, and reduce the pathological damage and apoptosis of ischemic neurons (Hao et al., 2017; Wang et al., 2020). Related pharmacological studies are shown in the Table 4.

Cardiovascular Diseases

The clinical treatment results of DZHSI also show that it can improve blood viscosity and blood lipids in patients with angina pectoris, reduce the expression of prethrombotic molecular markers, reduce the platelet aggregation rate, and protect vascular endothelial cells. Animal experiments have found that high-fat feeding combined with the intravenous injection of calf serum albumin can be used to establish an atherosclerosis model in rabbit. Treatment with DZXXI can increase plasma vasodilator, HDL-C, TIMP-1 levels, reduce TC, TG, LDL-C, vasoconstrictor (ET-1), and MMP-9 levels, decrease plaque lesions, and delay plaque progression. These results indicate that DZXX injection can regulate lipid metabolism, may improve vascular endothelial functions, and adjust the balance of MMP-9/TIMP-1, thereby reducing atherosclerotic plaque (Cai et al., 2017). It was found that in animal models of myocardial ischemia, DZHSI mainly reduces myocardial cell apoptosis and relieves myocardial ischemia by down-regulating apoptotic factors such as caspase 3 and STAT1. In addition, DZHSI can also reduce the myocardial injury of ischemia-reperfusion rats by inhibiting inflammatory factors such as TNF-α (Han et al., 2012; Wang et al., 2017). Related pharmacological studies are shown in the Table 4.

Pulmonary Diseases

DZHSI can inhibit the increase in bronchial wall thickness and collagen fiber thickness in COPD model rats, reduce MMP-9, TGF-and Smad3 mRNA levels in lung tissue in COPD rats, raise Smad7 mRNA levels and improve fibrosis in lung tissue, thus delaying or improving the disease progression of COPD airway remodeling (Du et al., 2017). In addition, DZHSI can also improve lung tissue fibrosis by increasing lung tissue SOD content, reducing MDA level, and removing oxygen free radicals in lung tissue (Li, 2009). At the same time, DZHSI can reduce the content of Bcl-2 in lung cancer cells and increase the expression of Bax and Caspase 3 to promote the apoptosis of non-small cell lung cancer A549 CELL and play an anti-cancer effect (Wei et al., 2020). Related pharmacological studies are shown in the Table 4.

Kidney Diseases

In the rat model of kidney injury, after DZHSI administration, the levels of BUN, Scr, and MDA are reduced, SOD activity is increased, and kidney injury is improved through anti-oxidation (Lou et al., 2015). This is consistent with the results of clinical trials. Experimental studies have found that DZHSI can affect vasoactive substances in renal tissues, down-regulate the expression of transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1 and α-SMA proteins, increase the level of type IV collagen, and reduce renal damage due to renal fibrosis (Li et al., 2013). Related pharmacological studies are shown in the Table 4.

Diabetes and Complications

DZHSI reduces the expression of VEGF, the levels of nitric oxide and angiotensin Ⅱ in the kidney tissue of diabetic nephropathy rat models, protects vascular endothelial cells, activates blood vessels and improves renal hemodynamics (Gao Y. et al., 2007; Cui and Liu, 2016). In addition, studies have also found that DZHSI improves renal cell apoptosis through its anti-apoptotic effect. Other studies have shown that DZHSI can inhibitthe expression of MMP-9 and reduce the deposition of the mesangial matrix, thereby blocking the occurrence and development of diabetic nephropathy (Deng et al., 2014). Zhao found that DZHSI inhibited renal cell apoptosis by affecting the expression of apoptosis-related genes bcl-2 and bax, thus exerting a renal protective effect (Zhao et al., 2009). Similarly, for retinopathy caused by diabetes, DZHSI can also delay the course of diabetic retinopathy by reducing the expression of VEGF in the rat retina (Wang Y. H. et al., 2015). Related pharmacological studies are shown in the Table 4.

Liver Diseases

In vivo and in vitro experiments have demonstrated that breviscapine significantly reduces ALT, AST, and hydroxyproline levels in a dose-dependent manner. Breviscapine inactivates CCl₄ and LPS-induced MAPK (p38, ERK1/2 and JNK) signals and Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)/nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) signaling pathway, downregulates the expression and chemokine secretion of inflammatory factors, such as TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1β protein and MCP-1 factor, enhances Bcl2 levels, reduces bcl2-related X protein, apoptotic protease activator 1, caspase 3, and PARP activities, and decreases apoptosis levels. Breviscapine can also block CCl₄-induced oxidative stress by reducing ROS production, improving antioxidants, and blocking mitogen-activated protein kinase pathways; by contrast, it can induce CCl₄-induced acute liver injury and LPS induction by inhibiting inflammation and apoptosis of L02 cells, elicit a protective effect on apoptosis, and improve the histological changes and collagen deposition induced by CCl₄ in mice (Liu Y. et al., 2018). According to histopathological analysis, DZHSI can reduce the levels of the liver enzymes aspartate and alanine aminotransferase, decrease MDA levels, and increase the SOD activity. Western blot and RT-q polymerase chain reaction have shown that breviscapine pretreatment can reduce the expression of mitochondrial fusion protein 2 (mfn2), caspase-3, and cytoplasmic cytochrome c protein. Therefore, breviscapine pretreatment may reduce lipid peroxidation, inhibit oxidative stress, and inhibit the protein and mRNA expression of Mfn2 to achieve a protective effect against liver ischemia–reperfusion injury (Lin et al., 2016; Bao et al., 2018).

Breviscapine Pills (DZHSP)

Cardiovascular Diseases

Similarly, in pharmacological experiments, it was found that DZHSP mainly exerts anti-inflammatory effects by lowering blood lipids, changing hemodynamics, reducing interleukins, tumor necrosis factor and other inflammatory factors, increasing the activity of SOD in the body, and reducing caspase and other apoptotic factors, thereby exerting anti-oxidation, anti-apoptosis of cardiomyocytes, improve symptoms of cardiovascular disease (Shi et al., 2016; Wu et al., 2017). See the Table 4 for more research.

Liver Diseases

Give DZHSP intragastric treatment to rats with ischemia-reperfusion liver injury. The degeneration and necrosis of hepatocytes are reduced, ALT and AST are significantly reduced, and SOD activity is significantly increased (An et al., 2013). DZHSP improves the body’s elimination of free radicals through anti-oxidation and enhancement of SOD activity, and ability to protect liver function and reduce liver damage. For liver transplantation donor liver, DZHSP pretreatment can significantly inhibit inflammation-related factors and apoptosis-related pathways and protect microcirculation endothelial cells to reduce ischemia-reperfusion injury after liver transplantation in rats (Zhong et al., 2016). See the Table 4 for specific research.

Pulmonary Diseases

DZHSP reduces the pulmonary artery pressure in rats with chronic hypoxic pulmonary hypertension, inhibits the proliferation of pulmonary arterioles media smooth muscle cells and the production and accumulation of pulmonary artery wall collagen, reduces the activation and expression of PKC, and blocks various PKC signaling pathways thereby Inhibit chronic hypoxic pulmonary hypertension and pulmonary vascular remodeling. See the Table 4 for specific research.

Kidney Diseases

The animal model of kidney injury was treated with DZHSP and found that DZHSP inhibits reactive oxygen species (ROS) and kidney injury molecule-1 (KIM-1), reduces the expression of TNF-α, MCP-1, MIP-2 inflammatory factors, inhibits inflammatory cells chemotaxis and activation, reduce the level of selectin expression, inhibit oxidative stress, reduce lipid peroxidation and free radical damage, thereby reducing renal ischemia-reperfusion injury (Jia et al., 2011; Zhao et al., 2019). See the Table 4 for specific research.

Diabetes and Complications

It can also be found in diabetic nephropathy models that DZHSP can reduce renal fibrosis and tubular damage, improve the expression of fibrosis markers of diabetic nephropathy, reduce proteinuria and serum creatinine, and phosphorylate PKCβII/Akt/JNK1/2/p38 signaling pathway Inhibit renal fibrosis (Jiang et al., 2016). See the table for specific research. After diabetic retinopathy (DR) rats were treated with DZHSP intragastrically for 120 days, the lipid peroxide level in the retina was significantly reduced, and the superoxide dismutate activity was significantly increased, suggesting that DZHSP may enhance the antioxidant capacity and Inhibit retinal cell apoptosis to improve retinopathy (Han, 2009). See the Table 4 for specific research.

Scutellarin

As the main active ingredient studied in DZXX preparations, scutellarin has multiple effects such as anti-oxidation, anti-free radical, anti-coagulation, anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptosis and anti-fibrosis. See Table 4 for the pharmacological studies.

Pharmacological experimental studies have shown that in the MCAO rat model, scutellarin inhibits the release of TNF-α, IL-1β and other inflammatory factors, reduces the expression of MMP-9, Caspase 3, increases the expression of anti-apoptotic factor Bcl-2, and prevents Extracellular matrix damage and blood-brain barrier destruction, inhibit cell inflammation and apoptosis, promote the recovery of nerve function, and improve cerebrovascular diseases (Wang L. Z. et al., 2006; Yang et al., 2019a; Chen et al., 2020).

Taking cognitive dysfunction rats as the research object, it was found that scutellarin can significantly improve their learning and memory decline. Further research found that scutellarin reduces the content of MDA in the hippocampus, increases the level of SOD, and reduces the inflammation Factors NF-κB, TNF-α, IL-6 expression, reduce the beta amyloid precursor protein (APP) in brain tissue, reduce the generation of free radicals, inhibit neuronal toxicity, reduce cell apoptosis and inflammation, thereby improving recognition Cognitive dysfunction (Guo et al., 2011a; Guo et al., 2011b; Guo and Guan, (2013); Wang Y. J. et al., 2018).

It has also been found in animals and cell models of myocardial ischemia that scutellarin mainly improves dyslipidemia, increases tPA levels against platelet aggregation, increases fibrinolytic activity, reduces the expression of MMPs, stabilizes heart plaques, and reduces the expression of inflammatory factors in cardiomyocytes Scutellarin can also reduce ROS and MDA content, increase SOD activity, increase cell viability and mitochondrial membrane potential, inhibit myocardial inflammation, apoptosis and oxidative stress, and reduce myocardial cell damage.

In an animal model of lipopolysaccharide-mediated liver cell injury, scutellarin significantly increases the activities of SOD, GSH-Px, and CAT in liver tissues, reduces the content of XOD, MDA, and NO, and resists lipid peroxidation, reduces the production of lipid peroxide, enhances the body’s ability to scavenging free radicals, expands blood vessels, improves liver hemoperfusion and protects the liver (Yang and Guo, (2010)). In addition, scutellarin can also reduce the content of TNF-α, IL-6, IFN-γ inflammatory factors to improve liver inflammatory response and reduce liver damage (Niu et al., 2015). And scutellarin was found to reduce the expression of apoptotic factor Stat3 in liver cancer cells, and inhibit the metastasis of liver cancer cells by inhibiting the STAT3/Girdin/Akt signaling pathway (Xu and Zhang, 2013).

Scutellarin can inhibit the proliferation, migration and invasion of renal cancer cells (ACHN, 786-O) in a dose-dependent manner in vivo and in vitro, and induce their apoptosis, and significantly reduce cyclin D1 (cyclin D1) and cyclin-dependent kinases (CDK1), Bcl-2, MMP-2, MMP-9 and other key protein expression, enhance the expression of Bax, cleaved Caspase-3 and p21, induce cancer cell apoptosis, and also increase PTEN by inhibiting the P13K/AKT/mTOR pathway, partially inhibit the proliferation and invasion of renal cell carcinoma (Deng et al., 2018). In addition, scutellarin can also reduce the levels of TNF-α and IL-6 in kidney tissue to exert anti-inflammatory effects, up-regulate the expression of nuclear factor red-like 2 related factor 2 (Nrf2), and increase heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1), regulate the Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway to play a role in lowering blood sugar and renal protection (Liu et al., 2019; Sun et al., 2019).

In diabetic animals and cell models, it was found that scutellarin can reduce the blood sugar level of diabetic rats by improving inflammation and anti-oxidation. In addition, scutellarin up-regulates the expression of Nrf2 and promotes the expression of HO-1, SOD, CAT in the kidney, which may inhibit the oxidative damage of the kidney through the Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway and improve diabetic nephropathy (Liu T. et al., 2018; Mei et al., 2019; Gao et al., 2020). Scutellarin can reduce the expression of NF-κB, TNF-α, ERK1/2, reduce retinal damage caused by the activation of microglia during the development of diabetic retinopathy, and can also inhibit VEGF and its downstream protein p-ERK, phosphorylate focal adhesions Kinase (p-FAK), phosphorylated tyrosine protein kinase (p-Src), inhibits the angiogenesis of diabetic retinopathy by down-regulating vascular endothelial growth factor/ERK/FAK/Src pathway signals, and improves microvascular dysfunction (Mei et al., 2019).

Pharmacokinetics

Studies on the pharmacokinetics and absolute bioavailability of scutellarin in dogs have shown that after the intravenous administration of scutellarin, it is metabolized, is excreted rapidly, and has a short elimination half-life; its oral administration is almost not absorbed, and the absolute bioavailability is only 0.2–0.75% (Liu et al., 2002). The main reasons for the low oral bioavailability of scutellarin are low solubility in gastrointestinal fluid, poor membrane permeability, first-pass metabolism in the gastrointestinal tract, and efflux of transport proteins. The average bioavailabilities of 1,5-dicaffeoylquinic acid (1,5-DCQA) in dogs and rats are only 3.50 and 0.52%, respectively. The causes of low bioavailability of caffeic acid esters were intestinal metabolism, poor self-absorption and efflux of transporters (Xia, 2016).

After the oral and intravenous administration of breviscapine, the drug-time curve has a multipeak phenomenon. Further experiments should confirm whether the multi-peak phenomenon is related to the liver and intestinal circulation. The in vivo process of total caffeic acid esters in DZXX injection conforms to the two-compartment model of intravenous injection. At the same time, the drug–time curve shows a multipeak phenomenon. Because scutellarin in DZXX injection is also an effective ingredient for promoting blood circulation and removing blood stasis, whether the pharmacokinetic behavior of the two ingredients influences each other needs to be further explored (Zhang et al., 2005; Li et al., 2007b; Li et al., 2007c). Studies have shown that scutellarin is mainly absorbed in the intestinal tract via passive diffusion, and absorption is linearly related to concentration in the range of 50–400 μg/ml, and absorption is not affected by pH at pH 6.0–7.4. Ge Qinghua et al. found that intravenous administration of 90 mg or 1.8 g of scutellarin in beagle dogs is rapidly eliminated in the body after intravenous administration, whereas the absolute bioavailability of oral administration is only 0.40 ± 0.19% (Ding and Jiang, 2003; Ju et al., 2005). Rats are intragastrically given 80 mg/kg scutellarin after 4, 8, and 12 h after administration; the content of scutellarin in the kidney is the highest, followed by the heart, liver and brain. After scutellarin is injected into the blood, the half-life of the distribution phase is very short, i.e., 1.3 min in rabbits. Domestic dogs are only 7 min (Jiang et al., 2003). Rats are given the same amount of scutellarin aglycone and scutellarin via gavage. Scutellarin aglycone is easily absorbed through oral administration. The relative bioavailability of scutellarin aglycone is 301.8% compared with that of scutellarin (Che et al., 2006). In addition, the half-life (t_1/2) and residence time (MRT) of caffeic acid in breviscapine injection in rats were significantly higher than that of caffeic acid monomer alone. Certain components in breviscapine injection are different from caffeic acid interacts, prolonging the time of caffeic acid in rats (Dai et al., 2013). Aspirin injection combined with DZXX injection in rat tail vein, T1/2β of coffee increased significantly, the clearance rate of CL decreased, and the area under the plasma concentration–time curve AUC (0–t) and the surface volume of distribution (Vd) increased, indicating that aspirin can slow down the metabolic process of caffeic acid in the body (Dai et al., 2014). After the intravenous injection of scutellarin liposomes in beagle dogs, the blood concentration is greatly increased, the pharmacokinetic properties of the scutellarin original drug are significantly improved, and it has a sustained release effect (Lv et al., 2006)..

In a PK-PD study, after the MCAO model of rats, a one-time intravenous bolus of DZXXI (5 ml/kg/day), from 5 min to 50 h after cerebral ischemia, can reduce cerebral infarction rate in MCAO rats. The onset of T is cerebral ischemia for 5 min, the duration of T is 48 h, T_max is 24 h, T1/2 is 21.84 h, and E_max is 11.71%. DZXXI reduces cerebral infarction rate in MCAO model rats with fast onset and long maintenance time. The reduction has the characteristics of quick onset and long maintenance time and provides a reference for specific drug screening, optimal dosing regimen, and clinical rational use of ischemic stroke. The peak of drug influence lags the peak of plasma concentration, and the effect of reducing the cerebral infarction rate is negatively correlated with the average blood concentration of the seven chemical components at 5–10 min of cerebral ischemia and positively correlated at 10 min–6 h; in addition, the time-quantity relationship of seven chemical components was negatively correlated. The pharmacokinetic values of the seven chemical components in Dengzhanhua injection were the highest 5 min after cerebral ischemia. The lowest detectable values of baicalin and isochlorogenic acid B appeared after 6 h of cerebral ischemia and could not be detected after 8 h. The lowest detectable value of 5-caffeinyl quinic acid and 4,5-bisphenol quinic acid appeared at the 3rd hour of cerebral ischemia and no longer visible at the 4th hour. The lowest detectable values of 4-caffeinylquinic acid, 3,5-bisphenol-quinic acid, and chlorogenic acid were observed 2 h after cerebral ischemia and no longer detected after 3 h (Liu G. et al., 2020).

Toxicological Research and Safety Evaluation

From the records of traditional literature to the acute and subacute toxicity experiments of this product, DZXX has low toxicity and is a safe medicinal material. Subacute toxicity test shows that scutellarin (mainly containing scutellarin B and scutellarin A) has no effect on blood, liver and kidney functions, and no substantial changes in organs (Wang Z. et al., 2012).

The acute toxicity test of DZXX injection shows that the mice developed abnormal mental behavior and breathing, followed by behavioral disorders, convulsions, and death after a single intravenous or intraperitoneal injection of E. breviscapus injection. Female and male intravenous bolus injections of DZXX injection measured with the Bliss method had LD₅₀ of 1,676.75 and 1,744.76 mg kg⁻¹, respectively, and no significant difference were detected. Long-term toxicity test observe that the rats intraperitoneally injected with 480 mg kg⁻¹ DZXX once a day for 2 months, its body weight increased slowly, and pathological examination found that some renal tubular epithelium in the cortex of renal tissue had mild turbid swelling. The weight gain of rats was slow, and pathological examination shows that some renal tubular epithelia in the inner cortex of renal tissues had mild turbid swelling, but 120 and 30 mg kg⁻¹ dose groups did not cause drug damage and delayed toxicity after drug treatment was terminated. The results of the long-term toxicity test of DZXX injection in beagle dogs show that animals in the 160 mg kg⁻¹ dose group of DZXX injection were continuously administered intravenously for 60 days, and drug damage and reactions occurred after drug withdrawal. Blood biochemical examination revealed that treatment for 30 days increases creatinine levels. Some animals in the 40 mg kg dose group also had drug reactions during the administration, and their blood biochemical examination indicated that the total protein content increased after administration. The dose of 10 mg kg had no significant effect on mental behavior, blood and urine biochemical examinations (Guo and Li, 2012).

A safety test study on breviscapine injection has shown that breviscapine was intravenously injected into the abdominal cavity of guinea pigs for three consecutive times for 14 and 21 days after the administration, and no allergic reaction was found. with the rabbit ear margin intravenous injection of DZXX injection 1 time/day for three consecutive days, no obvious irritation was observed at the injection site. At the same time, hemolytic test showed that breviscapine injection had no hemolysis and agglutination. The rabbits were injected intramuscularly with breviscapine injection. No obvious hyperemia, redness, and swelling were observed on the surface of the muscle. The rabbits had normal activities and no obvious abnormal reactions. After execution, the order of muscle irritation at the administration site was level 0; the rabbits were continuously injected with the drug in the ear vein once a day. After the administration for 5 days, no abnormal reaction was observed in the ear veins. The microscopic examination of the tissue section revealed that the endothelium of the ear veins was intact and smooth. No inflammatory reaction was found in the wall of the ear vein and no blood column formation in the lumen (Liang and Su, 2014).

The rats were continuously administered through the intraperitoneal injection of E. breviscapus for 90 days. The drug was discontinued every 7 days for 14 days. The main manifestations were fluctuations in blood routine indicators and prolonged PT and aPTT. The high-dose group of 20 crude drugs/g and the middle-dose group of 10 crude drugs/g in all female and male rats had lower HCT (p < 0.01 or p < 0.05) and decreased in a dose-dependent manner. WBC, YLM, and MID decreased (p < 0.01), but they were similar to the values after 90 days of administration, and no abnormality was detected in body weight and liver function, which was presumed to be the performance of the drug’s blood-activating and stasis-removing effect. Indicators can be restored after the drug administration was terminated. No obvious delayed toxicity was observed, and the safe dose range was 20 g/kg and below (Wu et al., 2007).

The acute toxicity test of compound Dengzhanhua dripping pills was performed on mice once a day and observed for 7 days. Within 7 days after the administration, the physiological conditions of the mice were normal, their weight increased, and no death occurred. In a long-term toxicity test, rats were intragastrically treated once per day at doses of 0.9, 0.45, and 0.225 g/kg for 10 weeks of continuous administration and withdrawal for 2 weeks, the body weight, blood biochemical examination, organ coefficient, organ tissue structure, and other aspects of rats in each group were normal, and no obvious specific pathological changes related to drug toxicity were found (Wan et al., 2003).

The oral toxicity of DZXX extract is relatively small. When a mouse is given 80 g kg⁻¹ through gavage once, no death was observed within 3 days; LD₅₀ (ip) = 13.14 ± 5.43 was calculated with the simplified probability unit method (g kg⁻¹), LD₅₀ (iv) = (10.02 ± 1.55) g kg⁻¹ (Wang and Wang, 1985; Liang and Su, 2014).

The ADRs of DZXX-related preparations mainly include allergic reactions, nervous system reactions, digestive system reactions, cardiovascular system reactions, respiratory system reactions, and blood system reactions. ADR symptoms include rash, chills, fever, and shortness of breath, palpitation, headache, lower extremity edema, elevated blood pressure, and abdominal pain. The top 10 ADR symptoms are pruritus, rash, dizziness, chills, palpitation, headache, fever, suffocation, nausea, and flush. The most common systems and organs affected by ADRs are damage to the skin and its accessory organs. Men have more adverse reactions than women. The most severe ADR occurs in elderly patients aged 60 years and older (Li Y. et al., 2015).

Conclusion

According to the China Cardiovascular Disease Report 2018, the current number of cases of cardiovascular diseases in China is estimated to be 290 million, including stroke 13 million, coronary heart disease 11 million, pulmonary heart disease 5 million, heart failure 4.5 million, rheumatic heart disease 2.5 million, congenital heart disease 2 million, hypertension 245 million. Cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases are currently the number one cause of death among Chinese residents. The incidence increases and tends to affect younger individuals. The mortality rate in rural areas is higher than that in urban areas. In 2016, the death rate of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases in rural areas was 309.33/100,000. Of these cases, the death rate of heart disease was 151.18/100,000. In urban areas, the death rate of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases was 265.11/100,000. Of these cases, the death rate of heart disease was 138.70/100,000. Hypertension, hyperlipidemia, diabetes, obesity, and elevated blood uric acid are the main risk factors of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. With the increase in the number of patients with cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, the demand for drugs increases yearly. The sales of cardiovascular drugs in China are second only to anticold and gastrointestinal drugs, ranking third. The amount of sales of cardiocerebral vascular drugs in China has shown an increasing trend, that is, it increased from 60.93 billion yuan in 2013 to 83.44 billion yuan in 2017, with a compound annual growth rate of 8.2%. Therefore, the pharmaceutical market’s demand for DZXX raw materials and biological drugs has also increased (Zhou, 2006; Hu et al., 2019). According to reports, in 2019, the sales revenue of traditional Chinese medicine preparations composed of DZXX as a raw material was about 3 billion yuan.

At present, the preparation of marketed DZXX varies. For example, breviscapine granules are extracted with alcohol, and DZXX injection is extracted with water. The chemical compositions of similar products from different manufacturers differ, and different batches of the same pharmaceutical company also have significant differences. Such differences are unreasonable. In addition, chemical fingerprint analysis via HPLC-DAD and other techniques has revealed that the chemical composition spectrum is also significantly different. Although DZXX and breviscapine injections differ in terms of preparation processes and chemical compositions, their clinical functions and indications are the same. It can be inferred that scutellarin is one of the common substance base, but it also suggests that there are still a large number of invalid components in different preparations in theory, and it is necessary to further explore the basis of pharmacodynamic substances to provide guarantee for the improvement of prescription and technology. Therefore, for the different preparations of E. breviscapus included in the national drug standards, the rationality of existing traditional Chinese medicine preparations should be studied in terms of their curative effect or efficacy. Improvement plans should be carried out on the premise of focusing on the material basis of drug effects. The preparation process and quality standards of related preparations should be standardized, some of the preparations should be eliminated on the basis of effectiveness, and the preparations of different processes should be compared and examined to find a more comprehensive material basis for using original medicinal materials. Based on HPLC and other techniques, the quality control methods of fingerprinting and determination of pharmacodynamic components from medicinal materials from medicinal materials, intermediate raw materials to preparations, and qualitative and quantitative studies of flavonoids, caffeoyl and other chemical components in DZXX related preparations were carried out to ensure the homogeneity, safety and stability of product quality, and to further improve the quality control level of breviscapine asarum and lay the foundation for the entry of breviscapine asarum into the international market (Wang, 2009; Zhou, 2006).

The bioavailability of oral preparations of DZXX medicinal components is low. Their injections have a short half-life and are rapidly eliminated from the body. They are also associated with poor patient compliance and inconvenient use. Therefore, the development of a drug delivery system with simple preparation process, high drug loading, improved oral absorption, and improved bioavailability of baicalin and total caffeic acid ester as main pharmacodynamic components of breviscapine is the main breakthrough point in future work, and is also the key link to give full play to the advantages of breviscapine in the treatment of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. Studies on new formulations of E. breviscapus have focused on the same aspects of DZXX preparations. Most of them have explored the bioavailability of flavonoids but have rarely investigated the simultaneous improvement of the main effective components of breviscapine. Coffee acyl components occupy a large proportion of DZXX, but the present research on light lamps mainly focuses on flavonoids, coffee acyl components also have good activity. Research has shown that 3,5-di-O-caffeoyl quinic acid can increase serum SOD, GSH-Px, NOS activities and reduce MDA content in MCAO rats to increase BBB permeability, and improve cerebral ischemia. Studies on the bioavailability of baicalin and total caffeic acid esters, the mechanism of action, pharmacodynamics, and structure-activity relationships of the active ingredients of DZXX should be performed in detail (Sheng et al., 2016). Furthermore, research on new formulations is insufficient at cellular and molecular levels, at the same time; there are still many deficiencies in the study of animal and human for pharmacokinetics. Therefore, studies on the drug release characteristics, transport in the body, absorption kinetics, bioavailability, and efficacy of E. breviscapus should be conducted (Xia, 2016).

DZXX has complex chemical components and extensive pharmacological effects. It has the characteristics of multiple components, multiple targets, and overall regulation when it exerts its drug effects. Studies on the effect of DZXX on some metabolites in rats with ischemic brain injury have verified and explained the traditional mechanism, but studies have yet to discover new biomarkers and mechanism of action. Recent studies were based on the BBB, and they involved the use of the ROS/RNS-MMP-TJ signaling pathway as the entry point to explore the molecular mechanism of DZXX injection that protects the BBB damage caused by cerebral ischemia in rats. However, mechanisms and pathways in diseases treated with DZXX remain unclear. Therefore, methods such as network pharmacology and HPLC should be applied to study the distribution of the active ingredients of DZXX-related preparations, therapeutic targets, and signal pathways, to determine and clarify their chemical composition, to investigate their mechanism of action and regulation, and to provide a scientific theoretical basis for clinically applying DZXX-related preparations.

Author Contributions

RW conceived the study. YL was responsible for organizing the literature and drawing chemical formulas. MX, KF, and LW reviewed and summarized the literatures. YZ was in charge of consulting the literature. RW wrote the manuscript and drew the figures. ZW supervised the study and gave final approval of the version to be published. The final version of the manuscript was read and approved by all authors.

Funding

This work was supported by the national natural science foundation of China (NO.81102895), the special scientific research fund for doctoral programs of higher education in China’s ministry of education (NO.20115132120007), the key project of Sichuan province applied and basic research program (NO.2016JY0017), the first batch of young Chinese medicine research special program of Sichuan provincial Chinese medicine administration (NO. 2016Q051).

Conflict of Interest

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Publisher’s Note

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References

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