Delving into the Latest Updates on Moutan cortex with Synapse

Overview

Basic Info

Drug Type

Small molecule drug

Synonyms

MD

Target

GnRHR

Action

antagonists

Mechanism

GnRHR antagonists(Gonadotropin-releasing hormone receptor antagonists)

Therapeutic Areas

NeoplasmsSkin and Musculoskeletal DiseasesOther Diseases

Active Indication

Menopausal symptomsBreast Cancer

Inactive Indication-

Originator Organization

Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine

Active Organization

Zhejiang Chinese Medical University

Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine

Inactive Organization-

License Organization-

Drug Highest PhasePreclinical

First Approval Date-

Regulation-

Pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) are recognized as emerging organic contaminants in marine environments and have gained worldwide attention. The aim of this study is to investigate for the first time, the occurrence, and potential ecological risks of PPCPs in the Djibouti's coastal waters. 25 PPCPs from 11 therapeutic groups of human and veterinary medicine were sought in water samples collected from 7 stations in the Gulf of Tadjourah and three estimation approaches (mRQ_MEC/PNEC, mRQ_STU, MCR) were explored to assess ecological risks to aquatic life. 16 out of the 25 PPCPs belonging to 5 human therapeutic classes (analgesic-anti-inflammatory, antibiotic, stimulant, topical analgesic, and antiepileptic) were detected in the Djiboutian coastal water samples, with concentrations ranging from 2.29 to 684.75 ng/L. To our knowledge, levofloxacin and capsaicin presence were confirmed for the first time in Djibouti coastal waters, indicating an additional risk to aquatic biota. Most offshore sites (M3, M4 and M5) exceeded the risk threshold based on sensitive mRQ_MEC/PNEC approach with RQ values higher than 145, 657 and 155, respectively. This result was mainly attributed to the detection of ibuprofen, carbamazepine, and caffeine at high levels. Station M4, the most polluted, is characterized by the direct discharge of untreated urban and hospital wastewater onto the coastline, notably from the unique Djiboutian tuberculosis treatment center. This work would contribute to future research on the Gulf Aden and East Africa coast and help to implement environmental policies related to PPCPs on the East Africa coast.

30 Jan 2026·JOURNAL OF THE SCIENCE OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURE

Olive leaf extract and butylated hydroxytoluene as antioxidants in refined versus whole wheat flour crackers: a physico‐chemical characterization

Article

Author: Bot, Francesca ; Paciulli, Maria ; Chiavaro, Emma ; Parenti, Ottavia ; Carini, Eleonora

Abstract:

BACKGROUND:

This study investigated the physico‐chemical properties of four cracker samples formulated with refined (RF) or whole wheat flour (WF), and enriched with olive leaf extract in either free form (OLE) or encapsulated form (MCR), as well as with butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) antioxidant, in comparison with non‐enriched control samples (CTR).

RESULTS:

The MCR sample showed the highest total antioxidant capacity. Free OLE showed an intermediate value among all the tested samples and OLE reduced the peroxide value significantly in comparison with CTR. Encapsulated OLE was similar to the other formulations. The WF crackers showed lower moisture content, softer texture, and a lower impact of the natural antioxidant on color the parameters than the RF samples. The antioxidant type displayed little impact on the physical properties of crackers, with MCR showing the highest moisture content and texture consistency, and free OLE was comparable to CTR and BHT. Although free OLE revealed the greatest impact on the crackers' color, encapsulation significantly reduced this effect. Significant changes in proton nuclear magnetic resonance ( 1 H NMR) parameters were mainly associated with the higher fiber and lower gluten content of WF in comparison with RF; the type of antioxidant used affected the size of its impact.

CONCLUSIONS:

The results revealed the potential of encapsulated OLE as a natural antioxidant for the development of clean label snacks. © 2025 The Author(s). Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.

01 Jan 2026·JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY

Moutan cortex ameliorates perimenopausal syndrome by regulating the KISS1R-ERK1/2-GnRH signaling pathway: Evidence from serum pharmacochemistry and network pharmacology

Article

Author: Wang, Jie ; Wang, Yinghao ; Huang, Meixia ; Wang, Yingzheng ; Ye, Yonghua ; Chen, Xi ; Ai, Xinyao ; Xu, Wei ; Chen, Wenjia

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE:

Moutan cortex (known as Mu Danpi in Chinese, or MD) has long been used in traditional Chinese medicine for treating perimenopausal syndrome (MPS) since its first recorded use in the ancient medical classic Shennong Bencao Jing. Hormone replacement therapy remains the conventional treatment for MPS; however, its long-term use is associated with increased risks of breast cancer and endometrial hyperplasia. This safety concern has driven demand for non-hormonal alternatives. Despite the historical efficacy of MD, its molecular mechanism of action, particularly its potential to modulate neuroendocrine pathways without estrogenic side effects, remains unclear.

AIM OF THE STUDY:

To elucidate the molecular mechanisms of MD in the treatment of MPS.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

The therapeutic effect of MD on MPS was evaluated in bilateral ovariectomy (OVX)-induced perimenopausal rats using body weight, tail temperature, HE staining, and hemorheological tests. The main active components of MD in rat plasma were identified and screened by ultraperformance liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry, followed by a network pharmacology analysis of the compounds. Component-target-disease and protein-protein interaction networks of MD were constructed using a network pharmacology approach. Subsequently, Gene Ontology (GO) functional enrichment and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analyses were performed. Molecular docking was performed to verify the interactions between the core components and targets of MD, ensuring the reliability of the network pharmacology prediction results. Additionally, ELISA was used to evaluate the effects of MD on GnRH secretion levels both in vivo and in vitro, while Western blot analysis was conducted to validate the expression of key target proteins in the KISS1R-ERK1/2-GnRH signaling pathway.

RESULTS:

MD significantly alleviated MPS symptoms in OVX rats. We identified 9 nine bioactive constituents in rat plasma and predicted 87 potential targets through network pharmacology. GO/and KEGG analyses revealed that these targets were enriched in the GnRH secretion pathway. Molecular docking confirmed that eight components spontaneously bound to key pathway proteins (e.g.., KISS1R, MAP2K1; docking score < -5.0). Furthermore, MD inhibited GnRH secretion in vivo and in vitro and downregulated KISS1R, PKC, p-raf-1, p-MEK1/2, p-ERK1/2, and CaM expression levels in the KISS1R-ERK1/2-GnRH pathway. Notably, the KISS1R inhibitor KP234 abolished the MD's-mediated suppression of GnRH secretion, further validating the significance of this pathway's role in MD'sthe mechanism of MD.

CONCLUSIONS:

MD alleviates MPS by suppressing GnRH secretion via the KISS1R-ERK1/2 pathway, providing mechanistic evidence supporting its use as a non-hormonal therapy. This study integrated serum pharmacochemistry and network pharmacology to elucidate herbal medicine mechanisms.

100 Deals associated with Moutan cortex

Login to view more data

R&D Status

10 top R&D records.

Login

to view more data

Indication	Highest Phase	Country/Location	Organization	Date
Menopausal symptoms	Preclinical	China	Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine	01 Jan 2026
Breast Cancer	Preclinical	China	Zhejiang Chinese Medical University	01 Oct 2025