Lycium barbarum is a traditional Chinese medicinal plant that has been widely used as a functional food and dietary supplement. Lycium barbarum polysaccharide (LBP) is an important active substance found in Lycium barbarum^[1]. It has been recorded in the “Ben Cao Gang Mu (Compendium of Materia Medica)” to have anti-aging and skin whitening effects. Previous studies have focused on its antioxidant properties to explain its efficacy^[2]. However, the scientific understanding of the anti-aging and skin whitening effects of LBP, especially the underlying mechanisms, is still unclear. Wu et al. (Prog Biochem Biophys, 2023, 50(8): 1926-1936. DOI: 10.16476/j. pibb. 2023.0219) investigated the new function and mechanism of LBP1C, which is extracted from Lycium barbarum. This specific extract was found to delay cell senescence by promoting autophagy, thereby achieving the effects of anti-aging and skin whitening. As the era of aging approaches, the development of anti-aging drugs and strategies is now more focused on promoting healthy aging^[3]. This study demonstrated that LBP1C improved the motor ability of C. elegans during aging, promoting healthy aging. Mechanistically, LBP1C increased autophagy by promoting TFEB nuclear translocation, while reducing the accumulation of SASP and lipofuscin in cells and C.elegans. These findings provide new scientific evidence for understanding the efficacy of “skin whitening”. With age, the malfunctioning of autophagy can lead to the loss of proteostasis. Therefore, exploring direct modulators of autophagy is a promising approach for geroprotective interventions^[4]. LBP1C, as a natural autophagy activator, shows potential application prospects in this field.
This study has revealed the potential of LBP1C extracted from Lycium barbarum in terms of antiaging and skin whitening effects by activating autophagy. These findings provide a scientific and theoretical foundation for further research in clinical applications. Consulting Lycium barbarum as a medicinal and food source offers promising opportunities for translation. However, despite the credible and comprehensive research conducted by Wu et al., there are still certain unresolved issues. For example, the mechanism by which LBP1C regulates TFEB nuclear translocation requires further exploration, and the effects of LBP1C on humans remain unexplored. In conclusion, this study utilizes modern scientific technology to elucidate the principles of traditional Chinese medicine. Given the contemporary need for healthy aging, the potential application of LBP1C is tremendous, offering exciting prospects for following translational studies.]]> 2023/8/14 11:13:34 XIAO Jia 8true This work provides evidence for the inhibitory regulatory role of acetylcholine in locomotion. The loss-of-function of acetylcholine-gated chloride channel receptors likely disrupts the balance of neuronal and circuit physiology, thereby affecting the regulation of locomotion. Moreover, this study highlights the powerful role of quantitative behavior analysis in discovering and understanding more sophisticated functions of neural circuits.]]> 2023/6/20 16:48:54 SI Guang-Wei 7true via different underlying mechanisms in the central nervous system[2-3]. However, the specific effects and mechanisms of quercetin in the central nervous system are still controversial, especially in the field of basic synaptic transmission.
The calyx of Held synapse displays classic features of conventional synapse, such as the presence of calcium, sodium, and potassium ion channels in the presynaptic nerve terminals, the ability to generate action potentials, and short-term synaptic plasticity[4-5]. Li et al. (Prog Biochem Biophys, 2023, 50(6): 1391-1402. DOI: 10.16476/j. pibb. 2023.0191) investigated the presynaptic effect of quercetin using capacitance measurement techniques at the giant glutamatergic central synapse, the calyx of Held, which provides a unique feasibility to study the presynaptic kinetics of synaptic transmission. The authors showed that quercetin inhibits presynaptic vesicle endocytosis without affecting calcium influx and exocytosis. The slowdown of endocytosis further leads to inhibition of vesicle mobilization and the replenishment of the readily releasable pool (RRP). In addition, the quercetin-induced inhibition of vesicle endocytosis and RRP replenishment enhances the short-term depression (STD) during high-frequency repetitive stimulation.
This study provides new insights into the quercetin-modulated presynaptic mechanisms at the synapse of the calyx of Held and suggests a protective effect that prevents excessive excitatory synaptic transmission in brain circuits. On the other hand, the specific roles of quercetin in different brain regions (e. g., cortex, hippocampus) remain to be explored in combination with the whole neural circuit. Finally, extensive basic research is required to confirm the exact treatment and the mechanism of quercetin in clinical diseases.]]> 2023/6/20 16:48:56 KANG Jian-Sheng 6true 2023/12/22 11:24:59 ZHUO Yan 5true 2024/5/28 15:48:25 FAN Zhi-Peng 4true In vitro-induced Regulatory T Cells in The Treatment of Ischemic Stroke]]> 2025/4/25 17:27:25 MA Yin-Zhong 3true 2026/2/9 10:56:37 LIU Yang 2true 2026/1/20 21:34:15 YIN Ting 1true