A strategy to explore the quality markers of Ziziphi Spinosae semen by combining metabolic in vivo study with network pharmacology

Rationality of the ethanol precipitation process in modern preparation production of Zishui-Qinggan decoction evaluated by integrating UPLC-QTOF-MS/MS-based chemical profiling/serum pharmacochemistry and network pharmacology

INTRODUCTION

Zishui-Qinggan decoction (ZQD) is a classical traditional Chinese medicine formula (TCMF) for alleviating menopausal symptoms (MPS) induced by endocrine therapy in breast cancer patients. In the production of TCMF modern preparations, ethanol precipitation (EP) is a commonly but not fully verified refining process.

OBJECTIVES

Chemical profiling/serum pharmacochemistry and network pharmacology approaches were integrated for exploring the rationality of the EP process in the production of ZQD modern preparations.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Ultra-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-QTOF-MS/MS) was applied to identify the chemical profiles and absorbed components of ZQD. Network pharmacology was used to identify targets and pathways related to MPS-relieving efficacy.

RESULTS

The chemicals of ZQDs without/with EP process (referred to as ZQD-W and ZQD-W-P, respectively) were qualitatively similar with 89 and 87 components identified, respectively, but their relative contents were different; 51 components were detectable in the serum of rats orally administered with ZQD-W, whereas only 19 were detected in that administered with ZQD-W-P. Key targets, such as AKT1, and pathways, such as the PI3K-Akt signalling pathway, affected by ZQD-W and ZQD-W-P were similar, while the neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction pathway among others and the MAPK signalling pathway among others were specific pathways affected by ZQD-W and ZQD-W-P, respectively. The specifically absorbed components of ZQD-W could combine its specific key targets.

CONCLUSION

The EP process quantitatively altered the chemical profiles of ZQD, subsequently affected the absorbed components of ZQD, and then affected the key targets and pathways of ZQD for relieving MPS. The EP process might result in variation of the MPS-relieving efficacy of ZQD, which deserves further in vivo verification.

An integrated liver, hippocampus and serum metabolomics based on UPLC-Q-TOF-MS revealed the therapeutical mechanism of Ziziphi Spinosae Semen in p-chlorophenylalanine-induced insomnia rats

Ziziphi Spinosae Semen (ZSS), a well-known herbal medicine for treating insomnia, is popular in not only China but also in Europe, India and Iran. However, its underlying mechanisms remain unclear. In this work, taking the targeted organs of insomnia, the liver and hippocampus, as the objects, a combination metabolomics based on ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-TOF-MS) was established to illustrate the abnormality of metabolic characteristics of the liver, hippocampus and serum of p-chlorophenylalanine (PCPA)-induced insomnia rats and to demonstrate the mechanism of ZSS in treating insomnia. The results showed that ZSS could restore the brain cell morphology, decrease the degree of hepatocyte necrosis and regulate the disturbance of neurotransmitters and hormones in insomnia rats. In terms of metabolomics, a total of 33 liver metabolites, 25 hippocampal metabolites and 18 serum metabolites were finally selected as the potential biomarkers and an important pathway of phenylalanine, tyrosine and tryptophan biosynthesis was common in three tissues in PCPA rats. Meanwhile, ZSS significantly reversed the levels of 23 liver metabolites, 15 hippocampal metabolites and 5 serum metabolites. The present study demonstrates the actions of ZSS in treating insomnia by enhancing both cerebral and hepatic functions.

Screening the components in multi-biological samples and the comparative pharmacokinetic study in healthy and depression model rats of Suan-Zao-Ren decoction combined with a network pharmacology

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Suanzaoren Decoction (SZRD) is a classic traditional Chinese prescription, which has been commonly used for treating insomnia, depression and other nerve system diseases for a long time.

AIM OF THIS STUDY

The present study aimed to explore the metabolic profiles in multi-biological samples and pharmacokinetic mechanism between healthy and depression model rats combined with a network pharmacology approach after administration of SZRD.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In our study, an ultra-high performance liquid chromatography (UPLC)-Q-Exactive Orbitrap Mass Spectrometry method was firstly used to study the prototype components and metabolites of SZRD in plasma, brain, urine, and feces between healthy and depressed rats. The possible metabolic pathways were also speculated. Then a network pharmacological study was conducted on the components in the plasma of model rats. According to the above components screened by network pharmacology and the other reported representative active components, the comparative pharmacokinetic study was established for the simultaneous determination of mangiferin, spinosin, ferulic acid, liquiritin, formononetin. magnoflorine and isoliquiritin between healthy and depression model rats. Finally, molecular docking was used to validate the binding affinity between key potential targets and active components in pharmacokinetics.

RESULTS

A total of 115 components were identified in healthy rats, and 101 components were identified in model rats. The prototype components and metabolites in plasma, brain, urine, and feces were also distinguished. The main metabolic pathways included phase I and phase II metabolic reactions, such as dehydrogenation, oxidation, hydroxylation, gluconaldehyde conjugation, glutathione conjugation and so on. These results provided a basis for the further study of antidepressive pharmacokinetic and pharmacological action in SZRD. Then, according to the degree value of network pharmacological study, it was predicted that 10 components and 10 core targets, which involved in the critical pathways such as neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction, cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) signaling pathway, serotonergic synapse, phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase (PI3K)-Akt signaling pathway, etc. Finally, the established pharmacokinetic method was successfully applied to compare the pharmacokinetic behavior of these 7 active components in plasma of healthy and depressed rats after oral administration of SZRD. It showed that except magnoflorine, the pharmacokinetic parameters of each component were different between healthy and depressed rats. Molecular docking analysis also indicated that the active compounds in pharmacokinetics could bind tightly to the key targets of network pharmacological study.

CONCLUSION

This study may provide important information for studying the action mechanism of SZRD in treating depression.

DNA barcoding identification of grafted Semen Ziziphi Spinosae and transcriptome study of wild Semen Ziziphi Spinosae

Semen Ziziphi Spinosae (SZS) is the dried and ripe seeds of Ziziphus jujuba var. spinosa. Currently, the yield of naturally grown SZS is unstable owing to environmental factors. Grafting high-quality sour jujube scions onto sour jujube or jujube tree stocks can result in a greater yield. However, the effects of grafting on the quality and gene expression of SZS have rarely been reported. This study used a DNA barcoding technique, high-performance liquid phase-evaporative luminescence detector (HPLC-ELSD), and transcriptomics to investigate the origin and genetic differences between grafted and wild jujube seeds. DNA barcoding identified all samples as Ziziphus jujuba var. spinosa. HPLC-ELSD analysis revealed a higher content of grafted SZS compared to that of the wild SZS. Transcriptome analysis of the metabolic pathways in SZS showed that 22 and 19 differentially expressed gene sequences encoded enzymes related to flavonoids and saponin synthesis, respectively. Weighted correlation network analysis (WGCNA) identified 15 core genes governing the differences in medicinal components between grafted and wild SZS. This study demonstrated the use of DNA barcoding and fingerprint methods to identify jujube seed species and effectively capture ingredient information of medicinal materials. Additionally, transcriptome technology provided data for identifying core differential genes, facilitating studies on quality differences between grafted and wild SZS.