Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity
Volume 2016 (2016), Article ID 4973239, 14 pages
http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2016/4973239

Review Article

Biological Activities of 2,3,5,4′-Tetrahydroxystilbene-2-O-β-D-Glucoside in Antiaging and Antiaging-Related Disease Treatments

Shuang Ling and Jin-Wen Xu

Murad Research Institute for Modernized Chinese Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China

Received 17 April 2016; Accepted 29 May 2016

Academic Editor: Ryuichi Morishita

Copyright © 2016 Shuang Ling and Jin-Wen Xu. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Abstract.

2,3,5,4′-Tetrahydroxystilbene-2-O-β-D-glucoside (THSG) is active component of the Chinese medicinal plant Polygonum multiflorum Thunb. (THSG). Pharmacological studies have demonstrated that THSG exhibits numerous biological functions in treating atherosclerosis, lipid metabolism, vascular and cardiac remodeling, vascular fibrosis, cardiac-cerebral ischemia, learning and memory disorders, neuroinflammation, Alzheimer and Parkinson diseases, diabetic complications, hair growth problems, and numerous other conditions. This review focuses on the biological effects of THSG in antiaging and antiaging-related disease treatments and discusses its molecular mechanisms.

1. Introduction

Aging is inevitable; it is a progressive, irreversible process that every human will experience in his life. The aging population of the international community brings increasing medical expenses and health care costs. Therefore, prevention and early treatment of aging-related diseases can be effective means of relieving society’s burden and living a better life for individuals. There are many theory researches of aging mechanisms. The most famous one is the oxidative stress theory. Free radicals and peroxides attack all components of cells, including proteins, lipids, RNA, and DNA. Oxidative damage occurs in various aging-associated disease pathologies, especially the cardiovascular diseases and neurological diseases. Theoretically, antioxidant supplementation should be able to reduce the risk of aging-related diseases. The Mediterranean diet with red wine, fruits, vegetables, and other plant foods has been shown to have cardiovascular protection against oxidative damage. At present, the extraction of biological antioxidants from plants is becoming one of the hot topics in the field of medical chemistry.

Polygonum multiflorum Thunb. (何首乌, he-shou-wu) (Figures 1(a) and 1(b)) is a traditional Chinese medicinal plant. As early as 973 A.D., it was incorporated into Kaibao Bencao, an encyclopedia of medical plants edited under an imperial edict of Song Taizu, the first emperor of the Song Dynasty. The plant is processed to product radix Polygoni Multiflori preparata (Figure 1(c)), traditionally taken to increase vitality, improve the health of blood and blood vessels, blacken hair, strengthen bones, nourish the liver and kidney, and prolong life. Currently, Polygonum multiflorum Thunb. is listed in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia, and radix Polygoni Multiflori preparata is widely used for clinically treating of arteriosclerosis, hyperlipidemia, hypercholesterolemia, and diabetes. It is also used in many Chinese medicinal supplements to improve general health.

(a)

(b)

(c)

(d)

Figure 1: The images of medicinal material Polygonum multiflorum and molecular structure of THSG. (a) Seedling herbs, (b) harvested herbs, (c) processed herbs, radix Polygoni Multiflori preparata, and (d) chemical structure of THSG.

2,3,5,4′-Tetrahydroxystilbene-2-O-β-D-glucoside (THSG) (Figure 1(d)) is the main component of Polygonum multiflorum Thunb., which is used as a standard compound for appraising Polygonum multiflorum Thunb. in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia [1]. THSG belongs to polyhydroxystilbene group. The structure of THSG is similar to that of resveratrol (3,4′,5-Trihydroxy-trans-stilbene), which is quite well known for its numerous biological activities especially in cardiovascular protection. As a resveratrol analog with glucoside, THSG has been proved to possess strong antioxidant and free radical scavenging activities even much stronger than resveratrol in superoxide anion radical scavenging, hydroxyl radical scavenging, and DPPH radical scavenging [2]. It is because THSG has a 2-O-Glu group in chemical structure, in which C₅-OH and -OH are more active to H-abstraction [3]. Furthermore, 2-O-Glu group can stabilize the phenoxyl free radicals and they are easy to be hydrolyzed in extreme pH environments (in the gastrointestinal environment).

Contemporary pharmacological studies have demonstrated that THSG exhibits numerous biological functions in antiaging and antiaging-related disease treatments. In this review, we focus on THSG, discussing its biological effects and molecular mechanisms.

2. Delaying the Senescence Effect

A few years ago, we found that THSG can delay vascular senescence and markedly enhance blood flow in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs), but it does not affect blood pressure or body weight [4]. The data revealed that senescence-associated β-galactosidase (SA-β-gal) staining, γH2AX phosphorylation, and p53 acetylation are suppressed by THSG in the aortic arches of SHRs. THSG promotes deacetylation of p53, a transcription factor associated with aging. THSG also induces endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) expression in the aortas and urinary mononitrogen oxide (NOx) production. In vitro, THSG activates SIRT1 activity, stimulates eNOS promoter reporter gene activity, and ameliorates H₂O₂-induced human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC) senescence [4]. Our unpublished data show that in vivo THSG is more effective in delaying vascular senescence than resveratrol.

A recent study revealed that THSG prolongs the lifespan of senescence-accelerated prone mouse (SAMP8) by 17% and notably improves their memory. THSG also increase neural klotho protein level and reduce levels of the neural insulin, the insulin receptors, insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), and IGF-1 receptor in the brain of SAMP8 [5]. In a subsequent report, this research group again demonstrated that THSG improves memory, reduces levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS), nitric oxide (NO), and IGF-1, and increases protein levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and klotho in serum. Furthermore, THSG upregulates klotho protein expression in cerebrum, heart, kidney, testis, and epididymis tissues of D-galactose induced aging mice [6].

A German study reported that THSG exerted a DAF-16-independent antiaging effect in a Caenorhabditis elegans model [7]. THSG prolongs the mean, median, and maximum adult lifespans of C. elegans by 23.5%, 29.4%, and 7.2%, respectively, and increases the resistance of C. elegans to lethal thermal stress, comparable to the effects of resveratrol. THSG also exerts a higher antioxidative capacity in nematode compared with resveratrol and reduces the levels of the aging pigment lipofuscin.

3. Cardiovascular Protection

3.1. Atherosclerosis and Lipid Metabolism

An experimental investigation using New Zealand rabbits demonstrated that THSG reduces atherosclerotic plaque accumulation caused by a high cholesterol diet, and lower plasma cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) cholesterol, and triglyceride levels [8]. Moreover, THSG decreases secretion protein levels of the intercellular adhesion molecule- (ICAM-) 1 and the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in the U937 foam cell cultured medium [8]. Subsequent studies have reported that in rat aortic walls in high-cholesterol-fed rats THSG improves the serum lipid profile and suppresses serum C-reactive protein (CRP), IL-6 and TNF-α levels, and matrix metalloproteinase- (MMP-) 2, MMP-9 mRNA, and protein expressions [9]. THSG also restores the mRNA and protein expression of eNOS in the rat aorta and improves acetylcholine-induced endothelium-dependent relaxation [10]. THSG exhibited antioxidant properties and protected against apoptosis in a lysophosphatidylcholine- (LPC-) induced endothelial cell injury model [11]. THSG suppresses intracellular ROS and malondialdehyde (MDA) and restores SOD and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) levels. THSG apparently reversed the loss of mitochondrial membrane potential, the activation of caspase-3 and poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase 1 (PARP-1), the decrease of Bcl-2, the upregulation of Bax, and the release of cytochrome C in LPC-stimulated HUVECs [11].

Ten years ago, a Japanese group found that THSG does not affect the food intake, growth, or blood pressure of SHRs, consistent with our data [4, 12], but significantly reduces free fatty acid content in serum. THSG significantly reduces cholesterol and neutral lipid content in the VLDL fraction and neutral lipid content in the high-density lipoprotein (HDL) fraction in the blood, as well as neutral lipid content in the liver [12]. Another study reported that THSG administration to rats for 1 week can effectively control serum levels of total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol. The expression of LDL receptors in the liver was significantly upregulated in a high-fat-fed rat model [13]. Furthermore, in vitro experiments revealed a downregulation effect of THSG on 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase and an upregulation effect on cholesterol 7 alpha-hydroxylase (CYP7A) in human steatosis L02 cells. THSG enhanced downregulation activities in TC, LDL cholesterol, and VLDL contents and increased activity in HDL cholesterol [14].

3.2. Vascular Remodeling and Fibrosis

In vitro, THSG prevents the proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) and blocks the G1/S phase progression of the cell cycle in platelet-derived growth factor-BB- (PDGF-BB-) or angiotensin II-induced VSMCs [15, 16]. THSG inhibits the phosphorylation of Rb and extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2); it also inhibits the expressions of cyclin D1, cyclin-dependent kinase-4 (CDK4), CDK2, cyclin E, the proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) in PDGF-BB-induced VSMCs [15], phosphorylated ERK1/2, MEK1/2, Src, c-fos, c-jun, and c-myc mRNA in angiotensin II-induced VSMCs [16]. In vivo, THSG inhibits neointimal hyperplasia in a rat carotid arterial balloon injury model [17], and the ratio of intima-to-media was significantly reduced, and the expressions of PCNA, α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), and PDGF-BB were suppressed. Moreover, signaling pathways associated with smooth muscle cell proliferation, migration, and inflammation were inhibited, in addition to the activation of AKT, ERK1/2, and nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) and the expressions of c-myc, c-fos, c-jun, MMP-2, MMP-9, and collagens I and III [17]. Our recent study reported that orally administering THSG for 14 weeks significantly inhibited vascular remodeling and fibrosis in SHRs with increasing blood flow and with constant blood pressure [18]. THSG reduces intima-media thickness in the aortic arch of SHRs, increases the vascular diastolic rate in response to acetylcholine, and reduces remodeling and fibrosis-related mRNA expression, such as that of genes ACTA2, CCL3, COL1A2, COL3A1, TIMP1 WISP2, IGFBP1, ECE1, KLF5, MYL1 BMP4, FN1, and the plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1). THSG inhibits the acetylation of Smad3 and prevents Smad3 binding to the PAI-1 proximal promoter in SHR aortas [18].

3.3. Heart

THSG improves cardiac ischemia-reperfusion, cardiac remodeling, and cardiac stem cells. The infarct size, ST segment recovery, and incidence of arrhythmia in the THSG postconditioning group are all significantly improved compared with the control group [19]. THSG has also been shown to promote mitochondrial biogenesis and induce the expression of erythropoietin (EPO) in nonhematopoietic cells, including primary cardiomyocytes, and enhance EPO–EPO receptor autocrine activity. THSG robustly increases the endurance performance activity of healthy and doxorubicin-induced cardiomyopathic mice in ischemic disorders, stimulates myocardial mitochondrial biogenesis, and improves cardiac function [20].

In cardiac remodeling, THSG can attenuate pressure overload-induced cardiac pathological changes. Such pathological changes include increases in heart weight/body weight and left ventricular weight/body weight ratios, increased myocyte cross-sectional areas and left ventricular posterior wall, hypertrophic ventricular septum, and accumulation of myocardial interstitial perivascular collagen, as well as elevated cardiac hydroxyproline content [21]. Furthermore, THSG significantly reduces myocardium angiotensin II, enhances the activities of SOD and GSH-Px in serum and myocardial tissue, and inhibits the protein expression of transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-β1) and the phosphorylation of ERK1/2 and p38 MAP kinase in myocardial tissue [22]. However, THSG treatment increases the percentage of the S-phase in sorted c-kit(+) rat cardiac stem cells and promotes expressions of PCNA, VEGF, the T-box transcription factor, hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide-gated 2 (HCN2), HCN4, the α myosin heavy chain, β myosin heavy chain mRNA, stem cell antigen 1, cardiac troponin-I, GATA-4, Nkx2.5, and connexin 43 protein [22].

3.4. Platelets

In vitro, THSG treatment inhibits adenosine diphosphate- (ADP-) or thrombin-induced platelet aggregation dose-dependently. THSG does not affect intracellular calcium ion dynamics at rest; however, in the ADP or thrombin stimulation, THSG reduces dose-dependently the rise in intracellular calcium flow [23]. Another study demonstrated that THSG prevents dose-dependently collagen-induced platelet aggregation and ATP secretion [24]. THSG also inhibits platelet P-selectin expression, glycoprotein IIb-IIIa binding, and platelet spreading on immobilized fibrinogen, as well as Fc receptor FcγRIIa, Akt (Ser473), and GSK3β (Ser9) phosphorylations [24].

4. Neuroprotective Effects

4.1. Learning and Memory

In β-amyloid peptide-induced dementia mice, ischemia-reperfusion gerbils, and D-galactose induced dementia mouse models, oral administration of THSG for dementia prevention or treatment improves learning and memory function in Morris water maze tests. THSG significantly decreases MDA level and monoamine oxidase B activity in the cerebral cortex, reduces the affinity of NMDA receptors with ³H-MK801, and increases expression of nerve growth factor (NGF) and neurotrophic factor-3 in the hippocampal CA1 region [25–27]. Moreover, THSG promotes the differentiation of PC12 cells, increases the intracellular calcium level in hippocampal neurons, and facilitates high-frequency stimulation-induced hippocampal long-term potentiation (LTP) in a bell-shaped manner. The facilitation of LTP induction by THSG required calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II and ERK activation [28]. In vivo, THSG treatment also restores memory impairment, as assessed using the passive avoidance test, in models for sleep-deprived mice, amyloid-β-injected aging mice, and kainic acid-injected brain-damage mice. Concurrently, THSG induces expressions of erythropoietin, PPAR-γ coactivator 1α (PGC-1α), and hemoglobin in astrocytes and PC12 neuronal-like cells and in the hippocampus of mice [29].

4.2. Neuroinflammation

Neuroinflammation is closely implicated in the pathogenesis of neurological diseases. Thus, the inhibition of microglial inflammation may have potential therapeutic significance for neurological diseases. Researchers have used a microglia BV2 cell line as a model to investigate the antineuroinflammatory effects of THSG, finding that THSG reduced the LPS-induced microglia-derived release of proinflammatory factors such as TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, and NO and attenuated LPS-induced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase activation and subsequent ROS production [30, 31]. THSG failed to suppress IκB-α degradation, NF-κB phosphorylation and nuclear translocation, and ERK1/2, JNK, and p38 phosphorylation. However, THSG markedly reduced the binding of NF-κB to its DNA element in the iNOS promoter [31]. Moreover, THSG stimulates the secretion of the glial cell-line derived neurotrophic factor and the secretion of brain-derived neurotrophic factor and NGF in cultured rat primary astroglial cells, by activating the ERK1/2 pathway [32].

4.3. Alzheimer and Parkinson Diseases

In chronic aluminum exposure or amyloid-β(1–42)-injected rat models, THSG improves cognitive impairment evaluated using passive avoidance task or Morris water maze tests. THSG reverses the rise in amyloid precursor protein (APP) expression and the downregulation in Src and NR2B mRNA and protein levels in the rat hippocampus [33, 34]. In APP transgenic mouse models, THSG also reverses the increase in α-synuclein expression and aggregation in the hippocampus at the late stage of transgenic mice [35].

In 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine-treated C57BL/6 mouse models of Parkinson disease, THSG protects dopaminergic neurons from degradation in substantia nigra tyrosine hydroxylase-positive cells, enhances striatal dopaminergic transporter protein levels, and increases striatal Akt and GSK3β phosphorylation and the upregulation of the Bcl-2/BAD ratio. Furthermore, in the pole test, THSG reduces the times required to turn the body and climbing down to the floor [36]. In vitro, THSG protects PC12 cells and SH-SY5Y cells against MPP+-induced neurotoxicity. The antiapoptotic effects of THSG were probably mediated through the inhibition of ROS generation and modulation of JNK activation [37, 38], involving activation of PI3K-Akt pathway [39].

4.4. Cerebral Ischemia

Previous studies have shown that THSG significantly decreases the percentage of apoptotic cells in injured rat brain tissue induced by ischemia reperfusion, promotes Bcl-2, and inhibits Bax protein expression in brain tissue [40]. THSG also promotes changes in animal nerve behavior; improves neurological function scores; increases the expression of NGF, growth-associated protein 43, and PKA catalytic subunit proteins; and presents a positive correlation between neurological function scores and determined protein expression [41]. In the middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) models, THSG significantly reduces the brain infarct volume and the number of apoptosis cells in the cerebral cortex according to a TUNEL assay [42]. Furthermore, the authors used an in vitro ischemic model of oxygen-glucose deprivation followed by reperfusion (OGD-R), revealing that THSG reverses intracellular ROS generation and mitochondrial membrane potential dissipation and inhibits c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) and Bcl-2 family-related apoptotic signaling pathway. Concurrently, THSG prevents the expression of iNOS induced by OGD-R through the activation of SIRT1 and inhibition of NF-κB [42].

5. Diabetes and Other Diseases

5.1. Diabetes

The beneficial effects of THSG in alleviating diabetic complications are reflected in diabetic nephropathy and gastrointestinal disorders. Treatment with THSG reduces the increase in total cholesterol and triglyceride levels of diabetic rats [43]. Treatment with THSG also significantly reduces blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, 24 hours urinary protein levels, the ratio of kidney weight/body weight, and MDA and markedly increases the activities of SOD and GSH-Px in diabetic rats. Furthermore, THSG inhibits diabetes-induced expression of TGF-β1 and cyclooxygenase-2 and restores the reduction of SIRT1 expression in diabetic nephropathy [43]. For disorders of gastrointestinal function in diabetes, long-term preventive treatment with THSG relieves delayed gastric emptying and increases intestinal transit, impaired nonadrenergic-noncholinergic relaxations, and deficiency of neuronal NO synthase expression in streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice. Moreover, THSG prevented significant decreases in PPAR-γ and SIRT1 expression in diabetic ileum [44].

5.2. Bone Mineral Density

Recently, a study reported that THSG promotes bone mineral density and bone strength in the femoral bones of rats and enhances the bone mineral weight and bone mineral size in the iliac and humeral section after 90 days of administration [45]. Another report described in greater detail how in vitro THSG significantly enhances the cell survival, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, and calcium deposition in H₂O₂-injured osteoblastic MC3T3-E1 cells. THSG enhances mRNA expressions of ALP, collagen I, and osteocalcin but weakens the receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand and IL-6, as well as intracellular ROS and MDA production [46].

5.3. Hair Growth

A report indicated that a THSG fed group had significantly more hair growth compared with the control group, and that THSG accelerated the growth rate of early hair in C57BL/6J mice. In vitro, THSG also promoted hair growth in the cultured tentacles follicles of mice, with longer hair than that in the control group after 8 days [47]. Another report indicated that in vitro THSG increased the proliferation of dermal papilla cells of mice compared with the control group [48]. In addition, THSG promoted tyrosinase activity and melanin biosynthesis dose-dependently [49, 50].

6. Summary

Although THSG has been found to exhibit many medicinal properties, because no systematic study has investigated its regulatory mechanisms and proteomics or genomics data, its functional targets remain unclear. Nevertheless, we summed up the signal transduction pathways that are regulated by THSG, shown in Figure 2, which presents multipathway multitarget characteristics that block and activate different signaling and gene expression. In all the animal experiments in this study, the rats and mice were the main models (Table 1). However, the experiments involving the genetic model and the specific gene knockout model were used less. Most experimental drug dosages of THSG are between 20 and 120 mg/kg, with some individual extreme doses of 300 mg/kg or more. In most studies, THSG has been administered daily by oral gavage, but in some cases it has been delivered by intraperitoneal injection. The pharmacologic activity of THSH in low concentration in cellular studies is summarized in this review (Table 2). Dosages of THSG in vitro are normally between 0.1 and 100 μmol/L, whilst in some dosages the concentration will reach a maximum of 300 μmol/L. Then the high concentration of THSG may play a role in toxicological effects instead of activation effects. Because of this, clinical value may be restricted.

Table 1: Summary of animal experiments of THSG.

Classification
Diseases
Animals
Sex
Induction
Treatment
Duration
Dosage
Administration
Evaluation
Reference number

Antiaging
Vascular senescence
SHRs rats
Male
Genotype
Posttreatment
14 weeks
50 mg/kg
Oral gavage daily
SA--gal stain; blood flow assay; p53 and phospho- H2AX determination
[4]

Senescence
SAMP8 mice
Male
Genotype
Posttreatment
30 days
70 days
2, 20, or 50 M
Water ad libitum
SA--gal stain; Morris water maze assay; lifespan assays
[5]

Senescence
Kunming mice
Male
D-galactose
Posttreatment
4 weeks
8 weeks
42, 84, or 168 mg/kg
Oral gavage daily
Morris water maze assay; Klotho expression in cerebrum, heart, kidney, testis, and epididymis tissues
[6]

Longevity
C. elegans
Male/female
Genotype
Posttreatment
10 hours
50 or 100 M
Culture liquid
Lifespan assays
[7]

Dermal thinning
Kunming mice
Male
Natural aging
Posttreatment
8 weeks
18 mg/kg
Oral gavage daily
Dermal layer thickness determination
[51]

Atherosclerosis
Atherosclerosis
NZW rabbits
Male
High cholesterol diet
Posttreatment
12 weeks
25, 50, or 100 mg/kg
Oral gavage daily
Atherosclerotic plaque area; plasma cholesterol; LDL cholesterol; VLDL cholesterol; plasma triglyceride.
[8]

Vascular dysfunction
SD rats
Male
Atherogenic-Diet
Posttreatment
12 weeks
30, 60, or 120 mg/kg
Oral gavage daily
Vascular reactivity study; eNOS, CRP, IL-6, and TNF- expression
[9, 10]

Myocardial ischaemia
Cardiac ischemia-reperfusion
Wistar rats
Male
Occluding left anterior descending coronary artery
Pretreatment
10 min before reperfusion
7.5 mg/kg
Intravenous injection
ST segment recovery; myocardial infarct size
[16]

Cardiac ischemia-reperfusion
C57BL/6J mice
Male
Doxorubicin-induced cardiomyopathy
Posttreatment
1 week
10, 30, or 90 mg/kg
Ad libitum
Myocardial mitochondrial biogenesis, improving cardiac function; EPO expression
[17]

Cardiovascular organ remodeling
Vascular injury
SD rats
Male
Carotid arterial balloon injury
Posttreatment
2 weeks
30, 60, or 120 mg/kg
Oral gavage daily
Carotid neointimal formation; PCNA, a-SMA, PDGF-BB gene expression; VSMCs proliferation and migration.
[14]

Vascular remodeling and fibrosis
SHR rats
Male
Genotype
Posttreatment
14 weeks
50 mg/kg
Oral gavage daily
Intima-media thickness in the aortas, remodeling- related mRNA expressions, and effect on Smad3 deacetylating
[15]

Cardiac remodeling
SD rats
Male
Pressure-overloaded rats induced by abdominal aortic banding
Posttreatment
30 days
30, 60, or 120 mg/kg
Oral gavage daily
Heart weight and left ventricular weight indexes, MMPs, TIMPs, collagens, TGF-β1 protein, ERK1/2, JNK, and p38 activation
[18]

Lipid metabolism
Serum cholesterol
SHR rats
Male
Genotype
Posttreatment
4 weeks
0.15% THSG in rodent chow
Ad libitum
Cholesterol and neutral lipid content VLDL and HDL fraction
[20]

Serum cholesterol
SD rats
Male
20% lard, 10% cholesterol, and 0.2% propylthiouracil
Posttreatment
1 week
90, 180 mg/kg
Oral gavage daily
Serum TC, TG, LDL- and HDL-cholesterol levels, and LDL receptor mRNA expression
[21]

Learning and memory
β-amyloid peptide- or D-galactose- induced dementia
BALb/c mice
Female
Intracranial injection of 3 L β-amyloid or subcutaneous injection of 50 mg/kg D-galactose for 60 days
Posttreatment
60 days
33, 100, or 300 mg/kg
Oral gavage daily
Morris water maze assay; passive avoidance test; MAO-B activity in the cerebral cortex; NGF and NT-3 expression in hippocampal CA1 region
[25, 26]

Ischemia- reperfusion
Gerbils
Male
Ischemia-reperfusion
Posttreatment
7 days
1.5, 3, or 6 mg/kg
Intraperitoneal injection
Morris water maze test
[27]

Stress; aging; brain damage
C57BL/6J mice
Male
Sleep-deprived; amyloid-β-injected; kainic acid-injected brain damage
Posttreatment
3 days; 17 days and 24 days; 2 weeks
50, 100, or 200 mg/kg
Ad libitum
Passive avoidance task; erythropoietin, PGC-1, and haemoglobin expression
[29]

Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases
Alzheimer’s disease
SD rats
Male
Chronic aluminum exposure
Posttreatment
1, 3, or 5 months
4 g/kg
Oral gavage daily
Passive avoidance task or Morris water maze tests; APP
[33]

Alzheimer’s disease
SD rats
Male
Amyloid-β()-injected
Posttreatment
4 weeks
25 mg/kg
Oral gavage daily
Passive avoidance task or Morris water maze tests; synaptic structures; Src and NR2B expression
[34]

Alzheimer’s disease
APP Tg mice
Male
APPV717I Tg mice
Posttreatment
6 months
120 or 240 mol/kg/d
Oral gavage daily
-synuclein expression and aggregation in the hippocampus
[35]

Parkinson’s disease
C57BL/6 mice
Male
MPP⁺-induced damage
Posttreatment
14 days
20 or 40 mg/kg
Oral gavage daily
Pole test; tyrosine hydroxylase-positive neurons in the substantia nigral compacts
[36]

Cerebral ischemia
Cerebral ischemia
SD rats
Male
Middle cerebral artery occlusion
Posttreatment
7 days prior to surgery
30, 60, or 120 mg/kg
Oral gavage daily
Percentage of apoptotic cells in injured rat brain tissue; Bcl-2 and Bax protein expression in brain tissue
[40]

Cerebral ischemia
SD rats
Male
Middle cerebral artery occlusion
Posttreatment
7 days prior to surgery
60 or 120 mg/kg
Oral gavage daily
Animal’s nerve behavior and neurological function score; expression of NGF, GAP-43, and PKA catalytic subunit proteins.
[41]

Cerebral ischemia
Mice
Male
Middle cerebral artery occlusion
Posttreatment
At the onset of reperfusion
15 or 40 mg/kg
Intraperitoneal administration
The brain infarct volume and the number of positive cells
[42]

Diabetes
Diabetic nephropathy
SD rats
Male
60 mg/kg streptozotocin intraperitoneal injection
Posttreatment
8 weeks
10 or 20 mg/kg
Treatment with TSG
Blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, 24 h urinary protein, ratio of kidney weight/body weight, SOD and GSH-Px activities, and TGF-β1 and COX-2 expression.
[43]

Diabetic gastrointestinal dysmotility
Kunming mice
Male
150 mg/kg streptozotocin intraperitoneal injection
Posttreatment
8 weeks
10, 30, or 60 mg/kg
Oral gavage daily
Gastric emptying, intestinal transit, and NANC relaxations
[44]

Bone
Bone mineral density and bone strength
SD rats
Male and female
Natural development (110 ± 10 g)
Posttreatment
90 days
150, 300, or 600 mg/kg
Oral gavage daily
Bone mineral density and bone strength; bone mineral weight and bone mineral size
[45]

Hair
Hair growth
C57BL/6J mice
Female
Natural development (20–26 g)
Posttreatment
9, 18 days
50, 100, or 150 mg/kg
Oral gavage daily
Hair follicles and capillary growth
[47]

Table 2: Summary of experiments of THSG in vitro.

Classification
Model
Cell types
Induction
THSG concentration
Potential targets or/and pathway
Reference number

Antioxidation
ROS accumulation
3T3 cells; MCF-7
Doxorubicin on MCF-7
60, 120, 180, and 240 mol/L
SOD; ROS; MitoSOX
[52]

Apoptosis; ROS accumulation
Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs)
Lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC)
0.1, 1, and 10 mol/L
Caspase-3, Bcl-2, PARP-1, Bax, cytochrome C, SOD, glutathione peroxidase, and MDA
[14]

Cardiovascular protection
VSMCs migration
Vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs)
Tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α)
0.1–100 mol/L
Vimentin, TGFβ1, TGFβR1, and Smad2/3
[53]

Endothelial dysfunction
HUVECs
TNF-α
1, 10, 25, 50, and 100 mol/L
Vimentin, TGFβ/Smad signaling, TGFβ1, phosphorylation of Smad2 and Smad3, and nuclear translocation of Smad4
[54]

Cardioprotection
Primary rat cardiomyocytes
Doxorubicin
10–300 mol/L
Apoptosis pathway; ROS generation; mitochondrial membrane potential loss; intracellular [Ca²⁺]
[55]

Endothelial dysfunction
HUVECs
Oxidized low-density lipoprotein (oxLDL)
1, 10, 25, 50, and 100 mol/L
Vimentin, ICAM-1, VCAM-1, TGFβ1, phosphorylation of Smad2 and Smad3, and nuclear translocation of Smad4, TGFβ/Smad pathway; caspase-3 activation
[56]

VSMCs proliferation
VSMCs
Angiotensin II (Ang II)
1, 10, 25, 50, and 100 mol/L
Phosphorylated ERK1/2, MEK1/2, and Src; c-fos, c-jun, and c-myc; intracellular ROS; Src-MEK1/2-ERK1/2 signal pathway
[16]

Cardiac fibroblast proliferation
Primary rat cardiac fibroblast
Ang II; hydrogen peroxide
3–100 mol/L; 30 mol/L
ROS-extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 pathway; ERK1/2 activation; MMP-2; MMP-9; MEK
[57]

Endothelial dysfunction
937 cells
Ox-LDL
30, 60, and 120 g/L
ICAM-1; VCAM-1
[58]

VSMCs proliferation
VSMCs
Platelet-derived growth factor- (PDGF-) BB
0.1, 1, 10, and 100 mol/L
NO-cGMP/PKG pathway
[59]

VSMCs proliferation
VSMCs
PDGF-BB
1–50 mol/L
ERK1/2
[15]

VSMCs proliferation; oxidation of lipoprotein
Porcine coronary arterial smooth cells (CASMCs)
LDL, VLDL, ox-LDL, and ox-VLDL
0.1–100 mol/L
Oxidation of lipoprotein, proliferation, and decrease of NO content
[60]

Inflammation
RAW 264.7 macrophage cells
Lipopolysaccharide (LPS)
1, 10, and 100 mol/L
COX-2
[61]

Endothelial dysfunction
ECV304
LPC
10 mol/L
Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)
[62]

Cardiac stem cells (CSCs) proliferation
Rat CSCs
—
1, 10, and 100 mol/L
VEGF; T-box transcription factor (Tbx5), hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide-gated 2 (HCN2), hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide gated 4 (HCN4), alpha myosin heavy chain (αMHC), beta myosin heavy chain (βMHC), stem cell antigen 1 (Sca-1), cardiac troponin-I, GATA-4, Nkx2.5, and connexin 43 protein
[22]

Normal cells
Primary hepatocytes; primary cardiomyocytes; C2C12 myoblasts
—
1.5, 6, 25, and 100 mol/L
EPO-EPOR; mitochondrial activity and Hb production
[20]

Lipid metabolism
Steatosis hepatic cell
Steatosis hepatic L02 cell
—
50, 100, and 300 mol/L
HMG-CoA reductase; DGAT1; CYP7A; lipolysis
[12]

Learning and memory
—
Astrocytes; PC12 cells
—
0.4, 2, and 10 g/mL
Erythropoietin; PPAR-γ coactivator 1α (PGC-1α); haemoglobin-β
[29]

Neurotoxicity
Rat hippocampal neurons
Staurosporine
200 mol/L
PI3K/Akt signaling; mitochondrial apoptotic pathways
[63]

Neuroinflammation
Mouse microglial BV2 cell lines
LPS
20–80 mol/L
NF-κB signaling pathway; ROS production and NADPH oxidase activation
[30]

Neuroinflammation
Mouse microglial BV2 cell lines
LPS
1, 10, 30, 50, and 100 μmol/L
iNOS; reducing the binding activity of NF-κB
[31]

Cell model of Parkinson's disease
Human dopaminergic neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells.
1-Methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPP+)
3.125, 6.25, 12.5, 25, and 50 μmol/L
ROS; mitochondrial membrane potential; the ratio of Bax to Bcl-2; caspase-3; apoptosis
[38]

Differentiation of PC12 cells
PC12 cells
—
1, 5 mol/L
MEK and ERK signaling pathways; calcium, CaMKII
[28]

Parkinson’s disease
—
PC12 cells
MPP+
0.1, 1, and 10 mol/L
PI3K/Akt signaling pathway; apoptotic
[39]

—
PC12 cells
MPP+
1, 5, and 10 mol/L
ROS generation; JNK
[37]

Bone
Oxidative stress
Osteoblastic MC3T3-E1 cells
Hydrogen peroxide
0.1, 1, and 10 mol/L
ALP; OCN; COL-I; RNAKL; IL-6; MDA; calcium
[46]

Platelet
Platelet aggregation, secretion
Platelets
Collagen; thrombin; U46619; ADP
10, and 50 mol/L
Platelet Fc γ RIIa, Akt (Ser473), and GSK3β(Ser9) phosphorylation.
[24]

Pigmentation
Induction of pigmentation
B16F1 melanoma cells
—
10 g/L
Microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF); cAMP response element (CRE) binding protein (CREB) activation; p38 MAPK pathway
[50]

Induction of pigmentation
B16 melanoma cells
—
0.1–12.5 g/mL
Murine tyrosinase
[49]

Figure 2: The signal transduction pathways regulated by THSG in the antiaging and aging-related diseases. THSG displays different activities in blocking and activating signaling and gene expression in vitro and in vivo.

From the perspective of drug effects, THSG achieves favorable results in delaying senescence and in treating aging-related diseases, especially in the cardiovascular and nervous system. Some studies have shown that THSG may be more effective than resveratrol in delaying senescence. Nevertheless, more research is necessary to explain the mechanism of THSG.

Abbreviations

ADP: | Adenosine diphosphate
ALP: | Alkaline phosphatase
Ang II: | Angiotensin II
APP: | Amyloid precursor protein
BDNF: | Brain-derived neurotrophic factor
CaMKII: | Calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II
CASMC: | Coronary arterial smooth cell
CDK: | Cyclin-dependent kinases
COX-2: | Cyclooxygenase-2
CRP: | C-reactive protein
CYP7A: | Cholesterol 7 alpha-hydroxylase
CSC: | Cardiac stem cells
DAF-16: | A homologous protein of Forkhead box protein O in C. elegans
DAT: | Dopaminergic transporter
eNOS: | Endothelial NO synthase
EPO: | Erythropoietin
ERK1/2: | Extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2
GAP-43: | Growth associated protein 43
GDNF: | Glial cell-line derived neurotrophic factor
GPIIb-IIIa/PAC-1: | Glycoprotein IIb/IIIa
GSH-Px: | Glutathione peroxidase
HCN2: | Hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide-gated 2
HDL: | High-density lipoprotein
γH2AX: | Histone H2AX phosphorylated on serine 139
HMG-CoA: | 3-Hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A
HUVECs: | Human umbilical vein endothelial cells
ICAM-1: | Intercellular adhesion molecule-1
IGF-1: | Insulin-like growth factor-1
iNOS: | Inducible NO synthase
JNK: | c-Jun N-terminal kinase
LDL: | Low-density lipoprotein
LTP: | Long-term potentiation
LPC: | Lysophosphatidylcholine
LPS: | Lipopolysaccharide
MAO-B: | Monoamine oxidase B
MCAO: | Cerebral artery occlusion
MDA: | Malondialdehyde
MMP: | Matrix metalloproteinase
MPO: | Myeloperoxidase
MPP+: | 1-Methyl-4-phenylpyridinium ion
MPTP: | Ethyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine
NADPH: | Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate
NANC relaxation: | Nonadrenergic-noncholinergic relaxation
NF-kappaB: | Nuclear factor κB
NGF: | Nerve growth factor
nNOS: | Neuronal NO synthase
NO: | Nitric oxide
NOx: | Nitric oxide and nitrogen dioxide (NO and NO₂)
NT-3: | Neurotrophic factor-3
OGD-R: | Oxygen-glucose deprivation followed by reperfusion
PAI-1: | Plasminogen activator inhibitor-1
PARP-1: | Poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase 1
PCNA: | Proliferating cell nuclear antigen
PDGF-BB: | Platelet-derived growth factor-BB
PGC-1α: | PPAR-γ coactivator 1α
PLC: | Lysophosphatidylcholine
PPAR-γ: | Peroxisome proliferator activated receptor gamma
RANKL: | Receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand
ROS: | Reactive oxygen species
SA-β-gal: | Senescence-associated β-galactosidase
SAMP8: | Senescence-accelerated prone mouse
α-SMA: | α-smooth muscle actin
SOD: | Superoxide dismutase
Tbx5: | T-box transcription factor
THSG: | 2,3,5,4′-Tetrahydroxystilbene-2-O-β-D-glucoside
TGF-β1: | Transforming growth factor beta 1
TNF-α: | Tumor necrosis factor α
TUNEL assay: | Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase mediated dUTP nick end labeling assay
VCAM-1: | Vascular cell adhesion molecule 1
VEGF: | Vascular endothelial growth factor
VLDL: | Very-low-density lipoprotein
VSMCs: | Vascular smooth muscle cells.

Competing Interests

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Acknowledgments

This work was supported by grants from the Specialized Research Fund for the National Natural Science Foundation of China (81274130), the National Natural Science Foundation of China Youth Fund (81102532), the Doctoral Program of Higher Education of China (20113107110006), and the Shanghai 085 Project of Higher Education Connotation Construction (085ZY1202).

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