Medicinal Plant Research 2024, Vol.14, No.4, 180-195 http://hortherbpublisher.com/index.php/mpr 187 Additionally, in a study on diabetic nephropathy, Do et al. (2018) found that E. ulmoides effectively reduced the accumulation of advanced glycation end-products (AGEs) and mitigated renal damage in streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice. Notably, E. ulmoides treatment did not alter blood glucose levels but significantly upregulated the expression of glyoxalase 1 (Glo1) and nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), both of which play crucial roles in detoxifying AGEs and reducing oxidative stress. Histological analysis revealed that E. ulmoides significantly reduced glycation and oxidative damage in kidney tissues. This suggests that E. ulmoides, through its antioxidative and anti-glycation properties, may be a potential therapeutic agent for preventing or treating diabetic complications, particularly in protecting kidney function. 5.3 Synergistic effects The therapeutic efficacy of Eucommia ulmoides is often attributed to the synergistic interactions between its various bioactive compounds. For instance, the combination of Eucommia ulmoides and Dipsaci Radix (EU-DR) has been shown to exert a multi-component, multi-target, and multi-pathway interaction mechanism in the treatment of osteoporosis. The flavonoids in EU-DR play a significant role in regulating osteoclast differentiation-related signaling pathways, demonstrating strong binding efficiency to target proteins involved in bone metabolism (Feng et al., 2022). Similarly, the multitarget mechanism of Eucommia ulmoides in treating ankylosing spondylitis involves the interaction of its bioactive molecules with multiple targets such as IL-1B, PTGS2, and IL-8, mediated through interleukin-17 and TNF-α signaling pathways (Zhang et al., 2022). These synergistic effects highlight the complex interplay of E.ulmoides's compounds in modulating various biological processes and enhancing therapeutic outcomes. 6 Case Studies 6.1 The antihypertensive effects of Eucommia ulmoides extract through gut microbiota modulation The lignans, flavonoids, and iridoids in E. ulmoides extracts are considered the primary active components responsible for its antihypertensive effects. However, the significant antihypertensive effects remain difficult to fully explain due to the low oral bioavailability of these compounds. In recent years, researchers have begun to focus on the relationship between E. ulmoides extracts and the gut microbiota, hypothesizing that gut microbiota may play a key role in the antihypertensive effects. Yan et al. (2022) explored the mechanism by which E. ulmoides extracts exert their antihypertensive effects by regulating the gut microbiota, particularly by enriching Parabacteroides strains. In a six-week treatment of hypertensive mouse models induced by a high-salt diet and N(omega)-Nitro-L-arginine methyl ester, E. ulmoides extracts were administered. The results showed that E. ulmoides extracts significantly lowered blood pressure, improved kidney function, and reduced inflammation. Moreover, the study found that E. ulmoides extracts significantly altered the diversity and composition of the gut microbiota, especially by enriching Parabacteroides strains. Further animal experiments confirmed the crucial role of the Parabacteroides strain XGB65 in reducing blood pressure and renal inflammation (Figure 3). The study provides the first evidence that E. ulmoides reduces blood pressure through the regulation of gut microbiota, revealing the important role of the Parabacteroides strain XGB65 in this process. This discovery offers significant theoretical and practical references for the development of novel antihypertensive probiotics and prebiotic therapies, with potential clinical application value. 6.2 Effects of Eucommia ulmoides male flower extracts on Alzheimer’s disease E. ulmoides, a traditional Chinese medicinal herb, has garnered significant attention for its various bioactive components, known for their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. Research indicates that the male flowers of E. ulmoides also contain abundant active compounds, which hold therapeutic potential for Alzheimer’s disease (AD) (Huang et al., 2021; Sun et al., 2022).
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