Introduction/Overview
Heart failure is the terminal stage of various cardiovascular diseases, with complex pathological and physiological processes involving multiple links such as excessive activation of the neuroendocrine system, myocardial fibrosis, and ventricular remodeling. Although significant progress has been made in modern drug treatment, the incidence rate, rehospitalization rate and mortality rate of heart failure are still high, and it is urgent to develop new, efficient and safe therapeutic drugs. In this context, searching for natural products with cardioprotective activity from traditional medicinal plants has become one of the important strategies for new drug development.
Angoroside C (CAS number: 115909-22-3) is derived from the traditional Chinese medicine Xuanshen(Scrophularia ningpoensis A iridoid glycoside compound isolated from Hemsl. Xuanshen, as a classic formula for clearing heat, cooling blood, nourishing yin, and reducing gunpowder, has a long history of clinical application in traditional Chinese medicine. Modern pharmacological research has also confirmed its multiple activities such as anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and cardiovascular protection. Angroside C, as one of the main active ingredients of Scrophularia ningpoensis, has attracted much attention in recent years due to its outstanding anti-inflammatory and anti-tumor effects, especially in improving ventricular remodeling. Research has shown that Angeloside C can significantly inhibit the production of inflammatory mediators such as prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), nitric oxide (NO), and tumor necrosis factor - α (TNF - α) induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in a concentration dependent manner, and exhibits cytotoxicity against various cancer cells. More importantly, it has shown beneficial effects on ventricular remodeling caused by pressure overload or myocardial infarction in animal models, indicating its enormous value as a potential candidate drug for anti heart failure.
This article aims to systematically review the chemical structure, plant origin, pharmacological activity, mechanism of action, pharmacological evaluation, and clinical application prospects of Angroside C, in order to provide comprehensive scientific references for the in-depth research and development of this natural product.
Chemical structure and physicochemical properties
Angroside C is a phenylethanoid glycoside compound, whose chemical structure is composed of an acteoside and an additional glucose unit connected by a glycosidic bond, belonging to the disaccharide chain phenylethanoid glycoside. Its molecular formula is C34H44O20 and its molecular weight is 784.7610. Its structural core contains caffeoyl, phenethyl, and two glucosyl groups, and the unique physicochemical properties and biological activity are determined by its multi hydroxyl and polyphenolic hydroxyl structural characteristics.
From the analysis of the parameters related to drug properties, the logarithmic value of the lipid water partition coefficient (LogP) of Angoroside C is 0.1253, indicating its good hydrophilicity. Its topological polar surface area (TPSA) is as high as 282.2100 Å ², which is closely related to the presence of multiple hydroxyl and sugar groups in its molecule, and also indicates that it has more hydrogen bond donor and acceptor sites. The water solubility value is 4.8320 (usually referring to logS or related solubility indicators), further confirming its good water solubility. These properties may make its distribution within living organisms more inclined towards hydrophilic environments. However, higher TPSA and polarity also result in lower ability to cross the blood-brain barrier, which to some extent limits its direct effects on central nervous system related diseases, but may also reduce the risk of central nervous system side effects. In addition, preliminary pharmacological screening showed that Angeloside C had no significant inhibitory effect on hERG potassium channels (hERG inhibition: No), and the Ames test result was 0.0, suggesting that it may not have mutagenicity and potential cardiotoxicity risks, providing preliminary positive signals for its safety.
Plant sources and extraction methods
Angroside C is mainly derived from the plant Scrophularia in the family Scrophulariaceae(Scrophularia ningpoensis Dry roots of Hemsl. Xuanshen is mainly produced in Zhejiang, Sichuan, Hubei and other places in China. Among them, "Zhejiang Xuanshen" produced in Zhejiang has the best quality and is a high-quality resource plant for Angroside C. In addition, in other plants of the same genus such as Scrophularia buergeriana It has also been detected in (Northern Scrophularia), but the content may vary.
The extraction of Angroside C from Scrophularia ningpoensis is usually carried out by solvent extraction combined with modern chromatographic techniques for separation and purification. The standard procedure is as follows:
1. Extract After crushing the dried roots of Xuanshen, methanol, ethanol, or their aqueous solutions (such as 70% ethanol) are commonly used for heating reflux extraction or ultrasound assisted extraction. Ethanol aqueous solution is a commonly used extraction solvent due to its low cost, low toxicity, and high extraction efficiency.
2. Enrichment and preliminary separation The extract obtained by vacuum concentration of the extract is often enriched and purified using macroporous adsorption resins (such as D101, AB-8, etc.). Strong polar impurities such as polysaccharides and proteins are washed away with water first, and then gradient elution is performed with different concentrations of ethanol (such as 30% -70%). Angoroside C is usually enriched in the medium polarity elution site.
3. Refined and purified Further separate and purify the fraction rich in Angeloside C using methods such as silica gel column chromatography, reverse phase silica gel column chromatography (such as ODS-C18), and preparative high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) to obtain high-purity Angeloside C monomer compounds. High performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) techniques are key methods for identifying its chemical structure.
Optimizing the extraction process (such as solvent ratio, temperature, time) and adopting combined separation techniques are key to improving the yield and purity of Angoroside C.
Pharmacological activity research
A large number of pharmacological studies both in vitro and in vivo have confirmed that Angeloside C has multiple biological activities, mainly including anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, and cardiovascular protective effects.
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anti-inflammatory activity Angoroside C exhibits strong anti-inflammatory potential. In the LPS induced macrophage (such as RAW264.7 cells) inflammation model, Angeloside C can significantly inhibit the production of key inflammatory mediators PGE2, NO, as well as pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF - α, interleukin-6 (IL-6), etc. in a concentration dependent manner. This anti-inflammatory effect is the basis for its treatment of a variety of inflammatory related diseases, including cardiovascular diseases (atherosclerosis, myocarditis) and some cancers.
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Antitumor activity Angoroside C exhibits cytotoxicity and growth inhibitory effects on various human cancer cell lines. It has been reported that it can inhibit the proliferation and induce apoptosis of liver cancer, breast cancer, colon cancer and other cells. Its anti-tumor mechanism may involve inducing cell cycle arrest, activating apoptotic pathways, and inhibiting tumor cell invasion and metastasis. It is worth noting that its role may be related to the regulation of certain drug transporters, such as ABCB1 (P-glycoprotein) and ABCG2 (breast cancer resistant protein), which are closely related to tumor multidrug resistance.
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Cardiovascular protective activity - improving ventricular remodeling This is the most distinctive pharmacological activity of Angroside C. Ventricular remodeling is the core pathological process in the occurrence and development of heart failure, characterized by myocardial cell hypertrophy, apoptosis, interstitial fibrosis, and changes in cardiac geometry. In animal models of ventricular remodeling and heart failure induced by abdominal aortic constriction (AAC) or coronary artery ligation, administration of Angroside C can:
- Significantly improve cardiac function parameters, such as increasing left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and reducing left ventricular end diastolic diameter (LVEDD).
- Reduce the degree of myocardial cell hypertrophy and myocardial fibrosis.
- Reduce the levels or gene expression of angiotensin II (Ang II), endothelin-1 (ET-1), and transforming growth factor - β 1 (TGF - β 1) in myocardial tissue. These factors are key neuroendocrine and cytokine factors that promote ventricular remodeling.
- Its cardioprotective effect may also be related to the inhibition of oxidative stress and inflammatory response.
Mechanism of action and molecular targets
The multiple pharmacological activities of Angroside C stem from its regulation of multiple signaling pathways and molecular targets. According to existing research, its mechanism of action is complex and interconnected.
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The core pathway of anti-inflammatory and cardiac protection:
- NF - κ B signaling pathway This is the key target of Angroside C's anti-inflammatory effect. It can inhibit LPS induced degradation of I κ B α and nuclear translocation of NF - κ B p65 subunit, thereby downregulating the expression of downstream inflammatory factors (TNF - α, IL-6, iNOS, COX-2).
- MAPK signaling pathway Angoroside C can inhibit the phosphorylation of p38 MAPK, JNK, and ERK1/2 activated by LPS or stress overload, which are involved in inflammatory response, cellular stress, and hypertrophy.
- AMPK signaling pathway Adenosine activated protein kinase (AMPK) is a core regulator of cellular energy metabolism. Angroside C may exert anti myocardial hypertrophy, improve energy metabolism, and regulate autophagy by activating AMPK (target PRKAA1) and inhibiting its downstream mammalian rapamycin target protein (mTOR) pathway. The activation of AMPK also helps to suppress inflammation and fibrosis.
- TGF - β 1/Smad pathway In cardiac fibrosis, Angeloside C reduces the expression of TGF - β 1, inhibits downstream Smad2/3 phosphorylation and nuclear translocation, thereby reducing the synthesis of collagen (type I and III) and combating myocardial fibrosis.
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Potential interactions with related disease targets:
Based on its chemical structure and activity, it is speculated that Angoroside C may interact with multiple other targets that are associated with the pathological processes of heart failure, neurodegenerative diseases, and tumors
- EHMT2 Histone methyltransferase, involved in epigenetic regulation. Its inhibition may affect the gene expression profile of the heart.
- APP Starch like precursor protein, associated with Alzheimer's disease. The antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of Angroside C may indirectly affect its pathological process.
- PTPN1 Protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B is a negative regulator of the insulin signaling pathway and is associated with metabolic diseases.
- MAOA Monoamine oxidase A degrades catecholamines, and its activity is associated with cardiac and neurological function.
- ESR2 The activation of estrogen receptor beta has a protective effect on the cardiovascular system.
- ALOX15 15- Lipoxygenase, involved in inflammation and oxidative stress.
- ABCB1/ABCG2 As mentioned earlier, as a drug efflux pump, Angeloside C may affect tumor resistance or pharmacokinetics of itself and other drugs by regulating or inhibiting these proteins.
The benefits of Angroside C on ventricular remodeling are likely achieved through the synergistic effects of multiple targets and pathways mentioned above:Reduce Ang II levels and decrease mRNA expression of ET-1 and TGF - β 1 It is a key link that has been proven, and these effects collectively lead to inflammation inhibition, fibrosis reduction, and cardiomyocyte protection, ultimately delaying or reversing the process of ventricular remodeling.
Evaluation of drug properties and pharmacokinetics
Although Angroside C has shown good pharmacological activity in preclinical studies, its successful development as a drug depends on its pharmacological properties, including pharmacokinetic properties, oral bioavailability, metabolic stability, and safety.
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pharmacokinetics Currently, there is relatively limited pharmacokinetic research on the Angeloside C system. Due to its high molecular weight and polarity (high TPSA), predicting its oral absorption may face challenges, and its bioavailability may be low. The prototype drug may be affected by hydrolysis (glycosidic bond cleavage) and microbial metabolism during intestinal absorption. After entering the bloodstream, due to its low LogP value and low blood-brain barrier permeability, it is mainly distributed in the blood and various tissues and organs throughout the body, making it difficult to enter the central nervous system. The phenolic hydroxyl and glycosidic bonds in the structure of Angroside C make it prone to II binding reactions (such as glucuronidation and sulfation), as well as possible gut microbiota metabolism. Its excretion pathway may mainly be through the kidneys and bile. Detailed in vivo pharmacokinetic studies are needed in the future to clarify its absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion (ADME) characteristics.
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Challenges and optimization of drug development:
- Oral bioavailability This is the main challenge facing the development of Angroside C. Strategies to improve its bioavailability include developing prodrugs (such as esterification modification to increase lipid solubility), using novel delivery systems (such as nanoparticles, liposomes, microemulsions, phospholipid complexes, etc.) to enhance its intestinal permeability and stability, or exploring non oral delivery routes (such as injections).
- Metabolic stability It is necessary to study its stability in liver microsomes, plasma, and intestinal contents, and clarify its main metabolic enzymes and metabolites.
- safety The preliminary hERG and Ames test results are negative, indicating a positive signal, but a comprehensive preclinical safety evaluation is still needed, including acute toxicity, chronic toxicity, reproductive toxicity, etc., to assess its therapeutic window.
Clinical application prospects and prospects
Angroside C, as a natural product with clear anti-inflammatory and anti ventricular remodeling activities, has a clinical application prospect mainly focused on the cardiovascular field, especially in the prevention and treatment of heart failure.
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As a candidate drug for anti heart failure Angroside C exhibits unique advantages in targeting ventricular remodeling, a key target for heart failure treatment. It may serve as a supplement or adjuvant to existing standard treatments for heart failure, such as ACEI/ARB, beta blockers, MRA, SGLT2 inhibitors, particularly suitable for patient populations with distinct inflammatory and fibrotic features. Its multi-target mechanism of action may bring synergistic benefits.
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Other potential indications:
- Inflammatory diseases: Such as rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, atherosclerosis, etc.
- neoadjuvant therapy Utilizing its anti-tumor activity and potential to reverse multidrug resistance (by regulating ABCB1/ABCG2), in combination with chemotherapy drugs.
- Metabolic diseases Through acting on AMPK, PTPN1 and other targets, it may be beneficial to diabetes and its complications.
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Future research directions and challenges:
- In depth mechanism research Using chemical biology methods such as molecular docking, surface plasmon resonance, proteomics to identify its direct target and draw more accurate signal network diagrams.
- Structural modification and optimization Reasonably modify its structure while retaining the core pharmacophore to improve its pharmacokinetic properties, especially oral bioavailability.
- Delivery system development Actively developing a new nano drug delivery system suitable for Angeloside C to address its solubility, stability, and targeting issues.
- Preclinical and clinical research Complete preclinical pharmacological, pharmacokinetic, and safety evaluations of the system to provide solid data for its application for clinical trials. Ultimately, its effectiveness and safety in the human body need to be validated through rigorous clinical trials.
Conclusion
Angroside C is a highly valuable natural active compound discovered from the traditional Chinese medicine Scrophularia ningpoensis. It has emerged in the field of new drug development for heart failure treatment due to its significant anti-inflammatory effects and clear improvement in ventricular remodeling. Its multi-target and multi pathway mode of action conforms to the concept of systemic therapy for complex diseases. Although there are challenges in drug formulation, especially in oral bioavailability, these challenges are expected to be gradually overcome with the advancement of modern pharmaceutical chemistry, pharmacology, and pharmacology technologies through structural optimization, dosage form innovation, and in-depth mechanism research. The in-depth study of Angroside C not only contributes to the development of new cardiovascular treatment drugs, but also serves as a typical case for interpreting the scientific connotation of traditional Chinese medicine, achieving modernization and internationalization of traditional Chinese medicine. In the future, we look forward to more translational medicine research to promote the transition of Angeloside C from the laboratory to clinical practice, bringing new treatment options for patients with major diseases such as heart failure.