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Li H, Wang R, Chen Y, Zhao M, Lan S, Zhao C, Li X, Li W. Integrated network pharmacology and pharmacological investigations to discover the active compounds of Toona sinensis pericarps against diabetic nephropathy. JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY 2024; 333:118441. [PMID: 38851471 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2024.118441] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2024] [Revised: 05/22/2024] [Accepted: 06/05/2024] [Indexed: 06/10/2024]
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE Toona sinensis (A. Juss.) Roem. Is a deciduous woody plant native to Eastern and Southeastern Asia. Different parts of this plant have a long history of being applied as traditional medicines to treat various diseases. The fruits have been used for antidiabetic, antidiabetic nephropathy (anti-DN), antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and other activities. AIM OF THE STUDY The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of EtOAc (PEAE) and n-BuOH extracts (PNBE) from T. sinensis pericarps (TSP) on kidney injury in high-fat and high-glucose diet (HFD)/streptozotocin (STZ)-induced DN mice by network pharmacology and pharmacological investigations, as well as to further discover active compounds that could ameliorate oxidative stress and inflammation, thereby delaying DN progression by regulating the Nrf2/NF-κB pathway in high glucose (HG)-induced glomerular mesangial cells (GMCs). MATERIALS AND METHODS The targets of TSP 1-16 with DN were analyzed by network pharmacology. HFD/STZ-induced DN mouse models were established to evaluate the effects of PEAE and PNBE. Six groups were divided into normal, model, PEAE100, PEAE400, PNBE100, and PNBE400 groups. Fasting blood glucose (FBG) levels, organ indices, plasma MDA, SOD, TNF-α, and IL-6 levels, as well as renal tissue Nrf2, HO-1, NF-κB, TNF-α, and TGF-β1 levels were determined, along with hematoxylin-eosin (H&E) and immunohistochemical (IHC) analysis of kidney sections. Furthermore, GMC activity screening combined with molecular docking was utilized to discover active compounds targeting HO-1, TNF-α, and IL-6. Moreover, western blotting assays were performed to validate the mechanism of Nrf2 and NF-κB in HG-induced GMCs. RESULTS Network pharmacology predicted that the main targets of PEAE and PNBE in the treatment of DN include IL-6, INS, TNF, ALB, GAPDH, IL-1β, TP53, EGFR, and CASP3. Additionally, major pathways include AGE-RAGE and IL-17. In vivo experiments, treatment with PEAE and PNBE effectively reduced FBG levels and organ indices, while plasma MDA, SOD, TNF-α, and IL-6 levels, renal tissue Nrf2, HO-1, NF-κB, TNF-α, and TGF-β1 levels, and renal function were significantly improved. PEAE and PNBE significantly improved glomerular and tubule injury, and inhibited the development of DN by regulating the levels of oxidative stress and inflammation-related factors. In vitro experiments, compound 11 strongly activated HO-1 and inhibited TNF-α and IL-6. The molecular docking results revealed that compound 11 exhibited a high binding affinity towards the targets HO-1, TNF-α, and IL-6 (<-6 kcal/mol). Western blotting results showed compound 11 effectively regulated Nrf2 and NF-κB p65 protein levels, and significantly improved oxidative stress damage and inflammatory responses in HG-induced GMCs. CONCLUSION PEAE, PNBE, and their compounds, especially compound 11, may have the potential to prevent and treat DN, and are promising natural nephroprotective agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huiting Li
- School of Pharmacy, Shandong Second Medical University, Weifang, 261053, China.
| | - Rongshen Wang
- School of Pharmacy, Shandong Second Medical University, Weifang, 261053, China; Key Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology and Translational Research, Shandong Second Medical University, Weifang, 261053, China.
| | - Ying Chen
- School of Pharmacy, Shandong Second Medical University, Weifang, 261053, China.
| | - Mengyao Zhao
- School of Pharmacy, Shandong Second Medical University, Weifang, 261053, China.
| | - Shuying Lan
- School of Pharmacy, Shandong Second Medical University, Weifang, 261053, China.
| | - Chunzhen Zhao
- School of Pharmacy, Shandong Second Medical University, Weifang, 261053, China; Key Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology and Translational Research, Shandong Second Medical University, Weifang, 261053, China.
| | - Xu Li
- Affiliated Hospital of Shandong Second Medical University, Weifang, 261041, China.
| | - Wanzhong Li
- School of Pharmacy, Shandong Second Medical University, Weifang, 261053, China; Key Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology and Translational Research, Shandong Second Medical University, Weifang, 261053, China.
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Nie W, Wang Y, Tian X, Liu J, Jin Z, Xu J, He M, Shen Q, Guo H, Luan T. Cucurbitacin B and Its Derivatives: A Review of Progress in Biological Activities. Molecules 2024; 29:4193. [PMID: 39275042 PMCID: PMC11397067 DOI: 10.3390/molecules29174193] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2024] [Revised: 09/02/2024] [Accepted: 09/03/2024] [Indexed: 09/16/2024] Open
Abstract
The emergence of natural products has provided extremely valuable references for the treatment of various diseases. Cucurbitacin B, a tetracyclic triterpenoid compound isolated from cucurbitaceae and other plants, is the most abundant member of the cucurbitin family and exhibits a wide range of biological activities, including anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, and even agricultural applications. Due to its high toxicity and narrow therapeutic window, structural modification and dosage form development are necessary to address these issues with cucurbitacin B. This paper reviews recent research progress in the pharmacological action, structural modification, and application of cucurbitacin B. This review aims to enhance understanding of advancements in this field and provide constructive suggestions for further research on cucurbitacin B.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenzhe Nie
- Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines of the Changbai Mountain, Ministry of Education, College of Pharmacy, Yanbian University, Yanji 133002, China
| | - Yalan Wang
- Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines of the Changbai Mountain, Ministry of Education, College of Pharmacy, Yanbian University, Yanji 133002, China
| | - Xinlu Tian
- Department of Pharmacy, Shenyang Medical College, Shenyang 110034, China
| | - Jinying Liu
- Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines of the Changbai Mountain, Ministry of Education, College of Pharmacy, Yanbian University, Yanji 133002, China
| | - Zhanhui Jin
- Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines of the Changbai Mountain, Ministry of Education, College of Pharmacy, Yanbian University, Yanji 133002, China
| | - Junjie Xu
- Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines of the Changbai Mountain, Ministry of Education, College of Pharmacy, Yanbian University, Yanji 133002, China
| | - Miaohai He
- Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines of the Changbai Mountain, Ministry of Education, College of Pharmacy, Yanbian University, Yanji 133002, China
| | - Qingkun Shen
- Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines of the Changbai Mountain, Ministry of Education, College of Pharmacy, Yanbian University, Yanji 133002, China
| | - Hongyan Guo
- Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines of the Changbai Mountain, Ministry of Education, College of Pharmacy, Yanbian University, Yanji 133002, China
| | - Tian Luan
- Department of Pharmacy, Shenyang Medical College, Shenyang 110034, China
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Fu X, Liang F. Mechanism of Sophorae Flavescentis Radix against ovarian cancer via new pharmacology, molecular docking, and experimental verification. NAUNYN-SCHMIEDEBERG'S ARCHIVES OF PHARMACOLOGY 2024; 397:6837-6850. [PMID: 38561549 DOI: 10.1007/s00210-024-03065-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/29/2024] [Accepted: 03/21/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
The study aims to elucidate the pharmacological mechanisms of Sophorae Flavescentis Radix (SFR, Kushen) against ovarian cancer (OV) by employing an integrated approach that encompasses network pharmacology, molecular docking, and experimental validation. The effective components and potential targets of SFR were identified through screening the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology (TSMSP) public database using network pharmacology. Core anti-OV targets were pinpointed using protein-protein interaction (PPI) networks. Datasets from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), the Human Protein Atlas (HPA), and Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis (GEPIA) were used to investigate the mRNA and protein expressions of critical target genes in both normal and cancerous ovarian tissues, alongside their relationship to overall ovarian survival. Functional and pathway enrichment assessments of putative targets were carried out with Gene Ontology (GO) and the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG). The assessment of stable binding effects was conducted through molecular docking with quercetin, luteolin, and formononetin, and validated by anti-OV cell activity. The investigation identified 22 active SFR components yielding 152 potential targets following the intersection with known OV targets. Analysis of PPI network highlighted 13 crucial target genes, including tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and interleukin-1A (IL-1A). GO enrichment analysis covered 703 biological activities, 72 cellular components, and 144 chemical functions. The KEGG enrichment analysis suggested that anti-cancer effects of SFR are mediated by the TNF, interleukin-17 (IL-17), and AGE-RAGE signaling pathways. Molecular docking demonstrated that TNF and IL-1A were stable and strong binding to quercetin, luteolin, and formononetin, indicating that these stable structures significantly inhibited A2780 OV cell viability. This study demonstrated the ability of TNF and IL-1A combined with quercetin, luteolin, and formononetin to decrease the activity of OV cells, suggesting potential therapeutic effect against OV.
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Affiliation(s)
- XuLi Fu
- Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Guangzhou Twelfth People's Hospital, Guangzhou, 510000, China
| | - Feimei Liang
- Gynaecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, 510410, China.
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Liu W, Huang J, Hu J, Bu Z, Zhou Z, Yu J, Wang H, Wu X, Wu P. The dual role of CCND1 in heterotopic ossification: A Non-canonical Pathway for Celecoxib treatment. Heliyon 2024; 10:e34936. [PMID: 39157338 PMCID: PMC11327559 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e34936] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2024] [Revised: 07/11/2024] [Accepted: 07/18/2024] [Indexed: 08/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Objective To explore the effective targets of Celecoxib in the treatment of heterotopic ossification using network pharmacology methods. Methods Potential molecules related to heterotopic ossification were obtained by retrieving the GEO and CTD databases and intersecting them. Potential binding targets of Celecoxib were acquired from the STITCH database. A protein-protein interaction network was constructed between potential binding targets of Celecoxib and potential related molecules of heterotopic ossification using the STRING database. Molecules in the protein-protein interaction network were further analyzed using GO and KEGG enrichment analysis in R software, followed by enrichment analysis of active molecules in the Celecoxib-heterotopic ossification target dataset. Hub genes were selected based on the "degree" value and enrichment within the protein-protein interaction network. The binding affinity of hub genes to Celecoxib was observed using molecular docking techniques. Finally, in vitro experiments were conducted to validate the effectiveness of hub genes and explore their regulatory role in the progression of heterotopic ossification. Additionally, the therapeutic effect of Celecoxib, which modulates the expression of the hub genes, was investigated in the treatment of heterotopic ossification. Results 568 potential molecules related to heterotopic ossification and 76 potential binding targets of Celecoxib were identified. After intersection, 13 potential functional molecules in Celecoxib's treatment of heterotopic ossification were obtained. KEGG analysis suggested pathways such as Rheumatoid arthritis, NF-kappa B signaling pathway, Pathways in cancer, Antifolate resistance, MicroRNAs in cancer play a role in the treatment of heterotopic ossification by Celecoxib. Further enrichment analysis of the 13 potential functional molecules identified 5 hub genes: IL6, CCND1, PTGS2, IGFBP3, CDH1. Molecular docking results indicated that Celecoxib displayed excellent binding affinity with CCND1 among the 5 hub genes. Experimental validation found that CCND1 is highly expressed in the progression of heterotopic ossification, promoting heterotopic ossification in the early stages and inhibiting it in the later stages, with Celecoxib's treatment of heterotopic ossification depending on CCND1. Conclusion In the process of treating heterotopic ossification with Celecoxib, immune and inflammatory signaling pathways play a significant role. The therapeutic effect of Celecoxib on heterotopic ossification depends on the hub gene CCND1, which plays different roles at different stages of the progression of heterotopic ossification, ultimately inhibiting the occurrence of heterotopic ossification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Liu
- Department of Orthopedics, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200072, China
| | - Junchao Huang
- Department of Orthopedics, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200072, China
| | - Jianhai Hu
- Department of Orthopedics, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200072, China
| | - Ziheng Bu
- Department of Orthopedics, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200072, China
| | - Zheng Zhou
- Department of Orthopedics, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200072, China
| | - Jianing Yu
- Department of Orthopedics, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200072, China
| | - Huajun Wang
- Department of Sports Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Speed Capability, The Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Precision Orthopedics and Regenerative Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Frigid Zone Cardiovascular Diseases, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510630, China
| | - Xinbo Wu
- Department of Orthopedics, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200072, China
| | - Peng Wu
- Department of Orthopedics, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200072, China
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Chen Z, Su X, Cao W, Tan M, Zhu G, Gao J, Zhou L. The Discovery and Characterization of a Potent DPP-IV Inhibitory Peptide from Oysters for the Treatment of Type 2 Diabetes Based on Computational and Experimental Studies. Mar Drugs 2024; 22:361. [PMID: 39195477 DOI: 10.3390/md22080361] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2024] [Revised: 08/05/2024] [Accepted: 08/07/2024] [Indexed: 08/29/2024] Open
Abstract
The inhibition of dipeptidyl peptidase-IV (DPP-IV) is a promising approach for regulating the blood glucose levels in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D). Oysters, rich in functional peptides, contain peptides capable of inhibiting DPP-IV activity. This study aims to identify the hypoglycemic peptides from oysters and investigate their potential anti-T2D targets and mechanisms. This research utilized virtual screening for the peptide selection, followed by in vitro DPP-IV activity assays to validate the chosen peptide. Network pharmacology was employed to identify the potential targets, GO terms, and KEGG pathways. Molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulations were used to provide virtual confirmation. The virtual screening identified LRGFGNPPT as the most promising peptide among the screened oyster peptides. The in vitro studies confirmed its inhibitory effect on DPP-IV activity. Network pharmacology revealed that LRGFGNPPT exerts an anti-T2D effect through multiple targets and signaling pathways. The key hub targets are AKT1, ACE, and REN. Additionally, the molecular docking results showed that LRGFGNPPT exhibited a strong binding affinity with targets like AKT1, ACE, and REN, which was further confirmed by the molecular dynamics simulations showcasing a stable peptide-target interaction. This study highlights the potential of LRGFGNPPT as a natural anti-T2D peptide, providing valuable insights for potential future pharmaceutical or dietary interventions in T2D management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhongqin Chen
- Shenzhen Institute of Guangdong Ocean University, Shenzhen 518120, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Aquatic Products Processing and Safety, Guangdong Province Engineering Laboratory for Marine Biological Products, Zhanjiang Municipal Key Laboratory of Marine Drugs and Nutrition for Brain Health, National Research and Development Branch Center for Shellfish Processing (Zhanjiang), Guangdong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Seafood, Guangdong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Prefabricated Seafood Processing and Quality Control, College of Food Science and Technology, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang 524088, China
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Seafood Deep Processing, Dalian Polytechnic University, Dalian 116034, China
| | - Xiaojie Su
- Shenzhen Institute of Guangdong Ocean University, Shenzhen 518120, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Aquatic Products Processing and Safety, Guangdong Province Engineering Laboratory for Marine Biological Products, Zhanjiang Municipal Key Laboratory of Marine Drugs and Nutrition for Brain Health, National Research and Development Branch Center for Shellfish Processing (Zhanjiang), Guangdong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Seafood, Guangdong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Prefabricated Seafood Processing and Quality Control, College of Food Science and Technology, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang 524088, China
| | - Wenhong Cao
- Shenzhen Institute of Guangdong Ocean University, Shenzhen 518120, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Aquatic Products Processing and Safety, Guangdong Province Engineering Laboratory for Marine Biological Products, Zhanjiang Municipal Key Laboratory of Marine Drugs and Nutrition for Brain Health, National Research and Development Branch Center for Shellfish Processing (Zhanjiang), Guangdong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Seafood, Guangdong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Prefabricated Seafood Processing and Quality Control, College of Food Science and Technology, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang 524088, China
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Seafood Deep Processing, Dalian Polytechnic University, Dalian 116034, China
| | - Mingtang Tan
- Shenzhen Institute of Guangdong Ocean University, Shenzhen 518120, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Aquatic Products Processing and Safety, Guangdong Province Engineering Laboratory for Marine Biological Products, Zhanjiang Municipal Key Laboratory of Marine Drugs and Nutrition for Brain Health, National Research and Development Branch Center for Shellfish Processing (Zhanjiang), Guangdong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Seafood, Guangdong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Prefabricated Seafood Processing and Quality Control, College of Food Science and Technology, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang 524088, China
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Seafood Deep Processing, Dalian Polytechnic University, Dalian 116034, China
| | - Guoping Zhu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Aquatic Products Processing and Safety, Guangdong Province Engineering Laboratory for Marine Biological Products, Zhanjiang Municipal Key Laboratory of Marine Drugs and Nutrition for Brain Health, National Research and Development Branch Center for Shellfish Processing (Zhanjiang), Guangdong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Seafood, Guangdong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Prefabricated Seafood Processing and Quality Control, College of Food Science and Technology, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang 524088, China
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Seafood Deep Processing, Dalian Polytechnic University, Dalian 116034, China
| | - Jialong Gao
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Aquatic Products Processing and Safety, Guangdong Province Engineering Laboratory for Marine Biological Products, Zhanjiang Municipal Key Laboratory of Marine Drugs and Nutrition for Brain Health, National Research and Development Branch Center for Shellfish Processing (Zhanjiang), Guangdong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Seafood, Guangdong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Prefabricated Seafood Processing and Quality Control, College of Food Science and Technology, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang 524088, China
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Seafood Deep Processing, Dalian Polytechnic University, Dalian 116034, China
| | - Longjian Zhou
- Shenzhen Institute of Guangdong Ocean University, Shenzhen 518120, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Aquatic Products Processing and Safety, Guangdong Province Engineering Laboratory for Marine Biological Products, Zhanjiang Municipal Key Laboratory of Marine Drugs and Nutrition for Brain Health, National Research and Development Branch Center for Shellfish Processing (Zhanjiang), Guangdong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Seafood, Guangdong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Prefabricated Seafood Processing and Quality Control, College of Food Science and Technology, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang 524088, China
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Seafood Deep Processing, Dalian Polytechnic University, Dalian 116034, China
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Mariana Kustiawan P, Siregar KAAK, Syaifie PH, Zein Muttaqin F, Ibadillah D, Miftah Jauhar M, Djamas N, Mardliyati E, Taufiqu Rochman N. Uncovering the anti-breast cancer activity potential of east Kalimantan propolis by In vitro and bioinformatics analysis. Heliyon 2024; 10:e33636. [PMID: 39071605 PMCID: PMC11283153 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e33636] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2024] [Accepted: 06/25/2024] [Indexed: 07/30/2024] Open
Abstract
Numerous side effects of breast cancer drugs have prompted researchers to explore more into new therapeutic approaches derived from natural substances. In this context, our study focused on uncovering the potential of East Kalimantan propolis from Trigona apicalis for breast cancer treatment including the underlying mechanisms through bioinformatics approached. We conducted integrated in vitro and bioinformatics analysis of network pharmacology, molecular docking, molecular dynamics and MM-GBSA analysis. Initially, in vitro cytotoxic assay demonstrated the anti-breast cancer activity potential of ethanol extract of East Kalimantan propolis, particularly its ethyl acetate fraction, which exhibited similar activity to doxorubicin, as indicated by their IC50 value. This study revealed eight propolis compounds, consisting of flavonoids and phenolic acids, in East Kalimantan propolis. By integrating microarray datasets (GSE29431, GSE36295, and GSE42568) analysis with potential targets derived from propolis compounds, 39 shared target genes were identified. Subsequently, GO and KEGG pathway, protein-protein interaction (PPI) network, core hub genes and gene expression analysis revealed three major targets, namely, PTGS2, CXCL2, and MMP9. Among them, only MMP9 was highly expressed in breast cancer than normal. Moreover, molecular docking revealed the six of propolis compounds which exhibited pronounced binding affinity towards MMP-9, better than marimastat as control drug. Dynamic simulation confirmed the stability of chrysin and quercetin as best compounds. Additionally, MM-GBSA analysis revealed a relative binding energy for chrysin (-25.6403 kcal/mol) that was comparable to marimastat (-27.3827 kcal/mol). In conclusion, this study reveals how East Kalimantan Propolis affect breast cancer and emphasizes MMP9 as a key target for future therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paula Mariana Kustiawan
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Universitas Muhammadiyah Kalimantan Timur, Samarinda, East Kalimantan, 75124, Indonesia
| | - Khalish Arsy Al Khairy Siregar
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Universitas Muhammadiyah Kalimantan Timur, Samarinda, East Kalimantan, 75124, Indonesia
- Center of Excellence Life Sciences, Nano Center Indonesia, South Tangerang, Indonesia
| | - Putri Hawa Syaifie
- Center of Excellence Life Sciences, Nano Center Indonesia, South Tangerang, Indonesia
| | - Fauzan Zein Muttaqin
- Department of Pharmaceutical Analysis and Medicinal Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universitas Bhakti Kencana, Bandung, Indonesia
| | - Delfritama Ibadillah
- Center of Excellence Life Sciences, Nano Center Indonesia, South Tangerang, Indonesia
| | | | - Nailulkamal Djamas
- Research Center for Horticultural and Estate Crops, National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), Bogor, 16915, Indonesia
| | - Etik Mardliyati
- Research Center for Vaccine and Drugs, National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), Bogor, 16911, Indonesia
| | - Nurul Taufiqu Rochman
- Research Center for Advanced Material, National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), PUSPIPTEK, South Tangerang, Banten, 15314, Indonesia
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Deng Y, Fang X, Xu L, Wang H, Gan Q, Wang Q, Jiang M. Integrating network pharmacology and experimental models to investigate the efficacy and mechanism of Tiansha mixture on xerosis. Arch Dermatol Res 2024; 316:468. [PMID: 39002062 DOI: 10.1007/s00403-024-03201-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2024] [Revised: 06/18/2024] [Accepted: 06/23/2024] [Indexed: 07/15/2024]
Abstract
Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Inhibitors (EGFRIs) is a common cancer therapy, but they occasionally cause severe side effects such as xerosis. Tiansha mixture (TM), a traditional Chinese medicines formulation, is develpoed to treat xerosis. This study aims to understand mechanisms of TM on xerosis. Bio-active compounds were selected from databases (TCMSP, TCM-ID, HERB, ETCM) and removed for poor oral bioavailability and low drug likeness. Then a network-based approach filtered out potential active compounds against xerosis. KEGG enrichment analysis identified PI3K/AKT and ERK/MAPK pathways, which were further verified by molecular docking. Afterwards, the effect of TM on activation of PI3K/AKT and ERK/MAPK pathways was validated in gefitinib-induced xerosis rats, where AKT-activator SC79 and MAPK-activator CrPic were also applied. Skin damage was assessed by dorsal score and HE and Tunel stainings. the levels of inflammation factors IL-6 and TNF-α in serum and skin tissue were measured by ELISA. Western blot was used to detect protein levels in the pathways. Network pharmacology identified 111 bio-active compounds from TM and 14 potential targets. Docking simulation showed apigenin, luteolin, and quercetin bio-active compounds in TM bound to IKBKG, INSR, and RAF-1 proteins. In xerosis model rats, TM mitigated xerosis damage, decreased inflammation factors, and phosphorylation of PI3K/AKT and ERK/MAPK proteins. SC79 or CrPic or their combination reversed TM's effect. The current study identified potential targets and PI3K/AKT and ERK/MAPK pathways involved in the effect of TM on xerosis, thus providing a foundation for TM clinical application.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuan Deng
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine pharmacy, Hangzhou Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine (Hangzhou TCM Hospital Affiliated to Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, No. 453 Stadium Road, Xihu District, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310007, China
| | - Xinhua Fang
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine pharmacy, Hangzhou Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine (Hangzhou TCM Hospital Affiliated to Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, No. 453 Stadium Road, Xihu District, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310007, China
| | - Lihua Xu
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine pharmacy, Hangzhou Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine (Hangzhou TCM Hospital Affiliated to Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, No. 453 Stadium Road, Xihu District, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310007, China
| | - Haixia Wang
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine pharmacy, Hangzhou Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine (Hangzhou TCM Hospital Affiliated to Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, No. 453 Stadium Road, Xihu District, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310007, China
| | - Qinting Gan
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine pharmacy, Hangzhou Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine (Hangzhou TCM Hospital Affiliated to Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, No. 453 Stadium Road, Xihu District, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310007, China
| | - Qian Wang
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine pharmacy, Hangzhou Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine (Hangzhou TCM Hospital Affiliated to Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, No. 453 Stadium Road, Xihu District, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310007, China
| | - Meng Jiang
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine pharmacy, Hangzhou Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine (Hangzhou TCM Hospital Affiliated to Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, No. 453 Stadium Road, Xihu District, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310007, China.
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Garaci E, Paci M, Matteucci C, Costantini C, Puccetti P, Romani L. Phenotypic drug discovery: a case for thymosin alpha-1. Front Med (Lausanne) 2024; 11:1388959. [PMID: 38903817 PMCID: PMC11187271 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2024.1388959] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2024] [Accepted: 05/28/2024] [Indexed: 06/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Phenotypic drug discovery (PDD) involves screening compounds for their effects on cells, tissues, or whole organisms without necessarily understanding the underlying molecular targets. PDD differs from target-based strategies as it does not require knowledge of a specific drug target or its role in the disease. This approach can lead to the discovery of drugs with unexpected therapeutic effects or applications and allows for the identification of drugs based on their functional effects, rather than through a predefined target-based approach. Ultimately, disease definitions are mostly symptom-based rather than mechanism-based, and the therapeutics should be likewise. In recent years, there has been a renewed interest in PDD due to its potential to address the complexity of human diseases, including the holistic picture of multiple metabolites engaging with multiple targets constituting the central hub of the metabolic host-microbe interactions. Although PDD presents challenges such as hit validation and target deconvolution, significant achievements have been reached in the era of big data. This article explores the experiences of researchers testing the effect of a thymic peptide hormone, thymosin alpha-1, in preclinical and clinical settings and discuss how its therapeutic utility in the precision medicine era can be accommodated within the PDD framework.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Maurizio Paci
- Department of Chemical Sciences and Technologies, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, Rome, Italy
| | - Claudia Matteucci
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
| | - Claudio Costantini
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Paolo Puccetti
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Luigina Romani
- San Raffaele Sulmona, L’Aquila, Italy
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
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Islam MT, Aktaruzzaman M, Saif A, Akter A, Bhat MA, Hossain MM, Alam SMN, Rayhan R, Rehman S, Yaseen M, Raihan MO. In Silico-Based Identification of Natural Inhibitors from Traditionally Used Medicinal Plants that can Inhibit Dengue Infection. Mol Biotechnol 2024:10.1007/s12033-024-01204-8. [PMID: 38834897 DOI: 10.1007/s12033-024-01204-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2024] [Accepted: 05/15/2024] [Indexed: 06/06/2024]
Abstract
Dengue fever (DF) is an endemic disease that has become a public health concern around the globe. The NS3 protease-helicase enzyme is an important target for the development of antiviral drugs against DENV (dengue virus) due to its impact on viral replication. Inhibition of the activity of the NS3 protease-helicase enzyme complex significantly inhibits the infection associated with DENV. Unfortunately, there are no scientifically approved antiviral drugs for its prevention. However, this study has been developed to find natural bioactive molecules that can block the activity of the NS3 protease-helicase enzyme complex associated with DENV infection through molecular docking, MM-GBSA (molecular mechanics-generalized born surface area), and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. Three hundred forty-two (342) compounds selected from twenty traditional medicinal plants were retrieved and screened against the NS3 protease-helicase protein by molecular docking and MM-GBSA studies, where the top six phytochemicals have been identified based on binding affinities. The six compounds were then subjected to pharmacokinetics and toxicity analysis, and we conducted molecular dynamics simulations on three protein-ligand complexes to validate their stability. Through computational analysis, this study revealed the potential of the two selected natural bioactive inhibitors (CID-440015 and CID-7424) as novel anti-dengue agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Md Tarikul Islam
- Department of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Jashore University of Science and Technology, Jashore, 7408, Bangladesh
| | - Md Aktaruzzaman
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Biological Science and Technology, Jashore University of Science and Technology, Jashore, 7408, Bangladesh
| | - Ahmed Saif
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Rajshahi, Rajshahi, 6205, Bangladesh
| | - Ayesha Akter
- Department of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering, Faculty of Science, Noakhali Science and Technology University, Noakhali, Bangladesh
| | - Mashooq Ahmad Bhat
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mirza Mahfuj Hossain
- Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Technology, Jashore University of Science and Technology, Jashore, 7408, Bangladesh
| | - S M Nur Alam
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Technology, Jashore University of Science and Technology, Jashore, 7408, Bangladesh
| | - Rifat Rayhan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Jashore University of Science and Technology, Jashore, 7408, Bangladesh
| | - Saira Rehman
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Pharmacognosy Department, Lahore University of Biological and Applied Sciences, Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Yaseen
- Institute of Chemical Sciences, University of Swat, Charbagh, 19130, Swat, Pakistan.
| | - Md Obayed Raihan
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Health Sciences and Pharmacy, Chicago State University, Chicago, IL, USA.
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10
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ZHANG G, LIN Y, CHEN X, QIN J, HE Y, LIU T, ZHANG L, ZHANG L. Cinnamomi cortex extract mitigated monosodium urate-induced acute gouty arthritis in rats through nuclear factor-κB-NOD-like receptor thermal protein domain associated protein 3 signaling pathway. J Vet Med Sci 2024; 86:623-630. [PMID: 38030283 PMCID: PMC11187596 DOI: 10.1292/jvms.23-0085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2023] [Accepted: 11/13/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Cinnamomi cortex was applied to mitigate joint injury since ancient China. However, the effect of Cinnamomi cortex on gouty arthritis (GA) was rarely reported. This study aimed to explore the effect of Cinnamomi cortex on monosodium urate (MSU)-induced acute GA (AGA) in rats, and clarify the underlying mechanism. The results showed that Cinnamomi cortex extract (CE) containing rich polyphenols and flavonoids alleviated joint swelling and inflammation by reducing programmed cell death in MSU-induced AGA rats. Network pharmacology analysis showed that CE's predictive inflammatory pathways included nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) and necroptosis pathways. CE reduced expression of pyroptosis-related regulators including Gasdermin D and Caspase 1 via regulating NF-κB/NOD-like receptor thermal protein domain associated protein 3 signaling pathway in AGA rats. In conclusion, this study provided a theoretical basis for Cinnamomi cortex applied as a new veterinary medicine to protect against GA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gengpeng ZHANG
- The Fourth Clinical Medical College of Guangzhou University
of Chinese Medicine, Shenzhen, China
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, The Seventh
Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Yuejia LIN
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, The Seventh
Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Xianhua CHEN
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, The Seventh
Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Jian QIN
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, The Seventh
Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Yuhai HE
- The Fourth Clinical Medical College of Guangzhou University
of Chinese Medicine, Shenzhen, China
- Shenzhen Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Shenzhen,
China
| | - Taoli LIU
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, The Seventh
Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Li ZHANG
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, The Seventh
Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Lu ZHANG
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences-Shenzhen Hospital,
Shenzhen, China
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11
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Luo Y, Duan G, Zhao Q, Bi X, Wang J. DTKGIN: Predicting drug-target interactions based on knowledge graph and intent graph. Methods 2024; 226:21-27. [PMID: 38608849 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymeth.2024.04.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2023] [Revised: 01/16/2024] [Accepted: 04/09/2024] [Indexed: 04/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Knowledge graph intent graph attention mechanism Predicting drug-target interactions (DTIs) plays a crucial role in drug discovery and drug development. Considering the high cost and risk of biological experiments, developing computational approaches to explore the interactions between drugs and targets can effectively reduce the time and cost of drug development. Recently, many methods have made significant progress in predicting DTIs. However, existing approaches still suffer from the high sparsity of DTI datasets and the cold start problem. In this paper, we develop a new model to predict drug-target interactions via a knowledge graph and intent graph named DTKGIN. Our method can effectively capture biological environment information for targets and drugs by mining their associated relations in the knowledge graph and considering drug-target interactions at a fine-grained level in the intent graph. DTKGIN learns the representation of drugs and targets from the knowledge graph and the intent graph. Then the probabilities of interactions between drugs and targets are obtained through the inner product of the representation of drugs and targets. Experimental results show that our proposed method outperforms other state-of-the-art methods in 10-fold cross-validation, especially in cold-start experimental settings. Furthermore, the case studies demonstrate the effectiveness of DTKGIN in predicting potential drug-target interactions. The code is available on GitHub: https://github.com/Royluoyi123/DTKGIN.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Luo
- School of Computer Science and Engineering, Central South University, Changsha 410083, China; Hunan Provincial Key Lab on Bioinformatics, Central South University, Changsha 410083, China
| | - Guihua Duan
- School of Computer Science and Engineering, Central South University, Changsha 410083, China; Hunan Provincial Key Lab on Bioinformatics, Central South University, Changsha 410083, China.
| | - Qichang Zhao
- School of Computer Science and Engineering, Central South University, Changsha 410083, China; Hunan Provincial Key Lab on Bioinformatics, Central South University, Changsha 410083, China
| | - Xuehua Bi
- School of Computer Science and Engineering, Central South University, Changsha 410083, China; Hunan Provincial Key Lab on Bioinformatics, Central South University, Changsha 410083, China
| | - Jianxin Wang
- School of Computer Science and Engineering, Central South University, Changsha 410083, China; Hunan Provincial Key Lab on Bioinformatics, Central South University, Changsha 410083, China
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12
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Dang J, Zhang G, Li J, He L, Ding Y, Cai J, Cheng G, Yang Y, Liu Z, Fan J, Du L, Liu K. Neem Leaf Extract Exhibits Anti-Aging and Antioxidant Effects from Yeast to Human Cells. Nutrients 2024; 16:1506. [PMID: 38794743 PMCID: PMC11124485 DOI: 10.3390/nu16101506] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2024] [Revised: 05/08/2024] [Accepted: 05/13/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Neem leaves have long been used in traditional medicine for promoting longevity. However, the precise mechanisms underlying their anti-aging effects remain elusive. In this study, we investigated the impact of neem leaf extract (NLE) extracted from a 50% ethanol solution on the chronological lifespan of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, revealing an extension in lifespan, heightened oxidative stress resistance, and a reduction in reactive oxygen species. To discern the active compounds in NLE, LC/MS and the GNPS platform were employed. The majority of identified active compounds were found to be flavonoids. Subsequently, compound-target pharmacological networks were constructed using the STP and STITCH platforms for both S. cerevisiae and Homo sapiens. GOMF and KEGG enrichment analyses of the predicted targets revealed that "oxidoreductase activity" was among the top enriched terms in both yeast and human cells. These suggested a potential regulation of oxidative stress response (OSR) by NLE. RNA-seq analysis of NLE-treated yeast corroborated the anti-oxidative effect, with "oxidoreductase activity" and "oxidation-reduction process" ranking high in enriched GO terms. Notably, CTT1, encoding catalase, emerged as the most significantly up-regulated gene within the "oxidoreductase activity" cluster. In a ctt1 null mutant, the enhanced oxidative stress resistance and extended lifespan induced by NLE were nullified. For human cells, NLE pretreatment demonstrated a decrease in reactive oxygen species levels and senescence-associated β-galactosidase activity in HeLa cells, indicative of anti-aging and anti-oxidative effects. This study unveils the anti-aging and anti-oxidative properties of NLE while delving into their mechanisms, providing novel insights for pharmacological interventions in aging using phytochemicals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinye Dang
- Key Laboratory of Bio-Resource and Eco-Environment of Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, China
| | - Gongrui Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Bio-Resource and Eco-Environment of Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, China
| | - Jingjing Li
- Key Laboratory of Bio-Resource and Eco-Environment of Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, China
| | - Libo He
- Key Laboratory of Bio-Resource and Eco-Environment of Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, China
- College of Food and Biological Engineering, Chengdu University, Chengdu 610106, China
| | - Yi Ding
- Key Laboratory of Bio-Resource and Eco-Environment of Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, China
| | - Jiaxiu Cai
- Key Laboratory of Bio-Resource and Eco-Environment of Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, China
| | - Guohua Cheng
- Key Laboratory of Bio-Resource and Eco-Environment of Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, China
| | - Yuhui Yang
- Key Laboratory of Bio-Resource and Eco-Environment of Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, China
| | - Zhiyi Liu
- Key Laboratory of Bio-Resource and Eco-Environment of Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, China
| | - Jiahui Fan
- Key Laboratory of Bio-Resource and Eco-Environment of Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, China
| | - Linfang Du
- Key Laboratory of Bio-Resource and Eco-Environment of Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, China
| | - Ke Liu
- Key Laboratory of Bio-Resource and Eco-Environment of Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, China
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13
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Wang F, Mai J, Wang H, Xu Y, Zhou X, Xie Z, Yu B, Liu P, Liu W, Cheng Y. Identification of Erzhu Jiedu Recipe and its molecular mechanism underlying inhibited human hepatoma cells by UHPLC-Q-Exactive Orbitrap HRMS and network pharmacology. JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY 2024; 325:117893. [PMID: 38336184 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2024.117893] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2023] [Revised: 01/24/2024] [Accepted: 02/06/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024]
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE Erzhu Jiedu Recipe (EZJDR) is a formula of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) for treating hepatitis B virus-related hepatocellular carcinoma (HBV-HCC). However, its effective components and the mechanism of action remain unclear. AIM OF THE STUDY To explain how the active compounds of EZJDR suppress the growth of hepatoma cells. METHODS UHPLC-Q-Exactive Orbitrap HRMS was used to identify the chemical constituents of EZJDR and their distribution in the serum and liver of mice. Together with experimental investigations, network pharmacology unraveled the molecular mechanism of components of EZJDR underlying the inhibited Hep3B cells. RESULTS A total of 138 compounds which can be divided into 18 kinds of components (such as sesquiterpenoids, diterpenoids, anthraquinones, flavonoids and so on) were found in the aqueous extract of EZJDR. Of these components, the tricyclic-diterpenoids exhibited a highest exposure in the serum (74.5%) and liver (94.7%) of mice. The network pharmacology revealed that multiple components of EZJDR interacted with key node genes involved in apoptosis, proliferation, migration and metabolism through various signaling pathways, including ligand binding and protein phosphorylation. In vitro experiments demonstrated that 6 tricyclic-diterpenoids, 2 anthraquinones and 1 flavonoid inhibited the viability of Hep3B cells, with IC50 values ranging from 3.81 μM to 37.72 μM. Dihydrotanshinone I had the most potent bioactivity, arresting the S phase of cell cycle and inducing apoptosis. This compound changed the expression of proteins, including Bad, Bax, Bcl-2, Bal-x, caspase3 and catalase, which were associated with mitochondria-mediated apoptotic pathways. Moreover, dihydrotanshinone I increased the levels of p21 proteins, but decreased the phosphorylated p53, suggesting accumulation of p53 protein prevented cell cycle progression of Hep3B cells with damaged DNA. CONCLUSIONS These results suggested that multiple components of EZJDR-diterpenoid, anthraquinone and flavonoid-could be the effective material for the treatment of HBV-HCC. This research provided valuable insights into the molecular mechanism of action underlying the therapeutic effects of EZJDR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fangyuan Wang
- Key Laboratory of Liver and Kidney Diseases (Ministry of Education), Institute of Liver Diseases, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Clinical Medicine, Shuguang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 201203, China
| | - Jingyin Mai
- Emergency Department, Shanghai Municipal Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 200071, China
| | - Haoyi Wang
- Key Laboratory of Liver and Kidney Diseases (Ministry of Education), Institute of Liver Diseases, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Clinical Medicine, Shuguang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 201203, China
| | - Ying Xu
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Compound Chinese Medicines, Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Institute of Interdisciplinary Integrative Medicine Research, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 201203, China
| | - Xianglu Zhou
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Compound Chinese Medicines, Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Institute of Interdisciplinary Integrative Medicine Research, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 201203, China
| | - Zhishen Xie
- Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou, 450046, China
| | - Bao Yu
- College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chongqing College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chongqing, 402760, China
| | - Ping Liu
- Key Laboratory of Liver and Kidney Diseases (Ministry of Education), Institute of Liver Diseases, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Clinical Medicine, Shuguang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 201203, China
| | - Wei Liu
- Key Laboratory of Liver and Kidney Diseases (Ministry of Education), Institute of Liver Diseases, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Clinical Medicine, Shuguang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 201203, China; Department of Pharmacy, The SATCM Third Grade Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Preparations, Shuguang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 201203, China; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Compound Chinese Medicines, Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Institute of Interdisciplinary Integrative Medicine Research, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 201203, China.
| | - Yang Cheng
- Key Laboratory of Liver and Kidney Diseases (Ministry of Education), Institute of Liver Diseases, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Clinical Medicine, Shuguang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 201203, China.
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14
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Li N, Du X, Qu T, Ren H, Lu W, Cui X, Hu J, Chen Z, Tao H. Pharmacodynamic material basis and pharmacological mechanisms of Cortex Mori against diabetes mellitus. JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY 2024; 324:117781. [PMID: 38253278 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2024.117781] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2023] [Revised: 01/05/2024] [Accepted: 01/15/2024] [Indexed: 01/24/2024]
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE The application of Cortex Mori (CM) in the treatment of diabetes mellitus (DM) has been extensively documented in traditional medicine. In recent years, the chemical composition of CM has been gradually unraveled, and its therapeutic mechanism in treating DM, diabetic nephropathy, diabetic cardiomyopathy, and other related conditions has been highlighted in successive reports. However, there is no systematic study on the treatment of DM based on the chemical composition of CM. AIM OF THE STUDY This study was conducted to systematically explore the hypoglycemic activity mechanism of CM based on its chemical composition. METHODS The material basis of Cortex Mori extract (CME) was investigated through qualitative analyses based on liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS). The possible acting mechanism was simulated using network pharmacology and validated in streptozotocin (STZ) + high fat diet (HFD)-induced diabetic rats and glucosamine-induced IR-HepG2 model with the assistance of molecular docking techniques. RESULTS A total of 39 compounds were identified in CME by the LC-MS-based qualitative analysis. In diabetic rats, it was demonstrated that CME significantly ameliorated insulin resistance, blood lipid levels, and liver injury. The network pharmacology analysis predicted five major targets, including AKT1, PI3K, FoxO1, Gsk-3β, and PPARγ. Additionally, three key compounds (resveratrol, protocatechuic acid, and kaempferol) were selected based on their predicted contributions. The experimental results revealed that CME, resveratrol, protocatechuic acid, and kaempferol could promote the expression of AKT1, PI3K, and PPARγ, while inhibiting the expression of FoxO1 and Gsk-3β. The molecular docking results indicated a strong binding affinity between resveratrol/kaempferol and their respective targets. CONCLUSIONS CME contains a substantial amount of prenylated flavonoids, which may be the focal point of research on the efficacy of CM in the treatment of DM. Besides, CME is effective in controlling blood glucose and insulin resistance, improving lipid levels, and mitigating liver injury in patients with DM. Relevant mechanisms may be associated with the activation of the PI3K/Akt pathway, the inhibition of the expression of FoxO1 and Gsk-3β, and the enhancement of PPARγ activity. This study represents the first report on the role of CME in the treatment of DM through regulating PPARγ, FoxO1, and Gsk-3β.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ning Li
- Shaanxi Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710003, China
| | - Xia Du
- Shaanxi Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710003, China
| | - Tong Qu
- Shaanxi Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710003, China
| | - Hui Ren
- Shaanxi Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710003, China
| | - Wenjing Lu
- Shaanxi Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710003, China
| | - Xiaomin Cui
- Shaanxi Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710003, China
| | - Jing Hu
- Shaanxi Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710003, China
| | - Zhiyong Chen
- Shaanxi Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710003, China.
| | - Hongxun Tao
- School of Food and Biological Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu, 212013, China.
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15
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Wang J, Cheng J. Network pharmacology and molecular docking-based strategy for predicting anti-tumour mechanism of linarin. Nat Prod Res 2024:1-9. [PMID: 38646849 DOI: 10.1080/14786419.2024.2343920] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2023] [Accepted: 02/26/2024] [Indexed: 04/23/2024]
Abstract
The aim was to explore the anti-tumour mechanism of linarin (LIN) based on network pharmacology and molecular docking. PharmMapper database and GeneCards database were used to screen anti-tumour related targets of LIN. Enrichment analysis of GO and KEGG was conducted to predict the key targets and pathways. At last, LIN was docked with the key targets. ESR1, ESR2, EGFR, AR, TGFBR2, F2, MAPK10, MAPK14, CDK2 and HSP90AA1 were identified as the key targets. The key pathways included pathways in cancer, prostate cancer, pancreatic cancer and breast cancer. KEGG pathway maps indicated that the anti-tumour effect of LIN may be mainly achieved by intervening related targets in the following pathways: AR-HSP/AR-AR/PSA/proliferation and evading apoptosis;F2/GPCR/…/ROCK/tissue invasion and metastasis;F2/GPCR/…/Raf/MAPK signalling pathway/proliferation and sustained angiogenesis; EGFR/Grb2/…/Raf/MAPK signalling pathway/proliferation and sustained angiogenesis; ER/Oestrogen signalling pathway/proliferation;TGFBR2/Smad2/3/TGF-β signalling pathway/insensitivity to anti-growth signals; oxidative stress/KEAP1/NRF2/…/proliferation and evading apoptosis. LIN had strong binding activity with ESR2, EGFR, AR, CDK2 and HSP90AA1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun Wang
- College of Life Science and Technology, Hubei Engineering University, Xiaogan, China
- Hubei Province Research Center of Engineering Technology for Utilization of Botanical Functional Ingredients, Hubei Engineering University, Xiaogan, China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Quality Control of Characteristic Fruits and Vegetables, Hubei Engineering University, Xiaogan, China
| | - Jingjing Cheng
- College of Life Science and Technology, Hubei Engineering University, Xiaogan, China
- Hubei Province Research Center of Engineering Technology for Utilization of Botanical Functional Ingredients, Hubei Engineering University, Xiaogan, China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Quality Control of Characteristic Fruits and Vegetables, Hubei Engineering University, Xiaogan, China
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16
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Guo K, Jiang Y, Qiao W, Yuan P, Xue M, Liu J, Wei H, Wang B, Zhu X. Revealing the active ingredients and mechanism of P. sibiricumm in non-small-cell lung cancer based on UPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS, network pharmacology, and molecular docking. Heliyon 2024; 10:e29166. [PMID: 38617965 PMCID: PMC11015457 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e29166] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2023] [Revised: 03/27/2024] [Accepted: 04/02/2024] [Indexed: 04/16/2024] Open
Abstract
The alcohol extraction of P. sibiricum has exhibited significant inhibitory effects on the production of free radicals and the proliferation of non-small-cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) A549 cells. Despite the diverse components found in alcohol extraction of P. sibiricum and its multiple targets, the active components and associated targets remain largely unidentified. Hence, there is a need for additional investigation into the pharmacodynamic elements and mechanisms of action. This study aimed to analyze and identify the components responsible for the anti-tumor activity of alcohol extraction from P. sibiricum using UPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS for the first time. Subsequently, the targets of the active components were predicted using the SwissTargetPrediction database, whereas the targets for NSCLC were sourced from the Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man database (OMIM) and the GeneCards database. Next, the targets of chemical composition were integrated with disease targets via Venny online. GO and KEGG pathway enrichment analyses were performed utilizing DAVID. Subsequently, a network analysis of "components-targets-pathways" was established using Cytoscape 3.8.2 and assessed with the "network analyzer" plug-in. Molecular docking was conducted utilizing Autodock 1.5.6. The study aimed to examine the anti-proliferative impacts and underlying mechanisms of alcohol extraction from P. sibiricum on NSCLC through in vivo and in vitro investigations utilizing an animal model of transplanted tumor, CCK8 assay, cell scratch test, RT-qPCR, and western blotting. The study unveiled that 17 active components extracted from P. sibiricum alcohol demonstrated anti-non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) effects through the modulation of 191 targets and various significant signaling pathways. These pathways include Endocrine resistance, PI3K/AKT, Chemical carcinogenesis-receptor activation, Proteoglycans in cancer, EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor resistance, AMPK signaling pathway, and other related signaling pathways. Network analysis and molecular docking results indicated that specific compounds such as (25S)-26-O-(β-d-glucopyranosyl)-furost-5-en3β,22α,26-triol3-O-β-d-glucopyranosyl-(1→2)-β-d-glucopyranosyl-(1→4)-β-d-glucopyranoside, Timosaponin H1, Deapi-platycodin D3, (3R)-5,7-dihydroxy-6,8-dimethyl-3-(4'-hydroxybenzyl)-chroman-4-one, Disporopsin, Funkioside F, Kingianoside E, Parisyunnanoside H, and Sibiricoside B primarily targeted 17 key proteins (BCL2, EGFR, ESR1, ESR2, GRB2, IGF1R, JUN, MAP2K1, MAPK14, MAPK8, MDM2, MMP9, mTOR, PIK3CA, RAF1, RPS6KB1, and SRC) collectively. In conclusion, the alcohol extraction of P. sibiricum demonstrated inhibitory effects on cell proliferation, induction of apoptosis, and inhibition of metastasis through various pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaili Guo
- Department of Pharmacology, Shaanxi University of Chinese Medicine, Shaanxi, Xianyang, 712046, China
- Key Laboratory of Pharmacodynamics and Material Basis of Chinese Medicine of Shaanxi Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shaanxi Xianyang, 712046, China
- Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Traditional Medicine Foundation and New Drug Research, Shaanxi, Xianyang, 712046, China
| | - Yu Jiang
- Department of Pharmacology, Shaanxi University of Chinese Medicine, Shaanxi, Xianyang, 712046, China
- Key Laboratory of Pharmacodynamics and Material Basis of Chinese Medicine of Shaanxi Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shaanxi Xianyang, 712046, China
- Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Traditional Medicine Foundation and New Drug Research, Shaanxi, Xianyang, 712046, China
| | - Wei Qiao
- 521 Hospital of NORINCO GROUP, Shaanxi, Xi'an, 710065, China
| | - Panpan Yuan
- Department of Pharmacology, Shaanxi University of Chinese Medicine, Shaanxi, Xianyang, 712046, China
- Key Laboratory of Pharmacodynamics and Material Basis of Chinese Medicine of Shaanxi Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shaanxi Xianyang, 712046, China
- Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Traditional Medicine Foundation and New Drug Research, Shaanxi, Xianyang, 712046, China
| | - Miao Xue
- Department of Pharmacology, Shaanxi University of Chinese Medicine, Shaanxi, Xianyang, 712046, China
- Key Laboratory of Pharmacodynamics and Material Basis of Chinese Medicine of Shaanxi Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shaanxi Xianyang, 712046, China
- Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Traditional Medicine Foundation and New Drug Research, Shaanxi, Xianyang, 712046, China
| | - Jiping Liu
- Department of Pharmacology, Shaanxi University of Chinese Medicine, Shaanxi, Xianyang, 712046, China
- Key Laboratory of Pharmacodynamics and Material Basis of Chinese Medicine of Shaanxi Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shaanxi Xianyang, 712046, China
| | - Hao Wei
- Key Laboratory of Pharmacodynamics and Material Basis of Chinese Medicine of Shaanxi Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shaanxi Xianyang, 712046, China
| | - Bin Wang
- Key Laboratory of Pharmacodynamics and Material Basis of Chinese Medicine of Shaanxi Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shaanxi Xianyang, 712046, China
| | - Xingmei Zhu
- Department of Pharmacology, Shaanxi University of Chinese Medicine, Shaanxi, Xianyang, 712046, China
- Key Laboratory of Pharmacodynamics and Material Basis of Chinese Medicine of Shaanxi Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shaanxi Xianyang, 712046, China
- Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Traditional Medicine Foundation and New Drug Research, Shaanxi, Xianyang, 712046, China
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Li B, Chen XF, Wu HS, Su J, Ding YY, Zhang ZH, Rong M, Dong YJ, He X, Li LZ, Lv GY, Chen SH. The anti-hyperlipidemia effect of Atractylodes macrocephala Rhizome increased HDL via reverse cholesterol transfer. Heliyon 2024; 10:e28019. [PMID: 38560167 PMCID: PMC10979170 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e28019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2023] [Revised: 03/08/2024] [Accepted: 03/11/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Aim Atractylodes macrocephala Rhizome (AM) has been used to treat hyperlipidemia for centuries, but its functional components and mechanisms are not clear. This research aimed to investigate the active components in AM and the mechanisms that underlie its anti-hyperlipidemia effect. Methods SD rats were fed a high-sucrose high-fat diet in conjunction with alcohol (HSHFDAC) along with different AM extracts (AMW, AMO, AME, and AMP) for 4 weeks. AM's active components were analyzed using multiple databases, and their mechanisms were explored through network pharmacology. The relationship between AM's effect of enhancing serum HDL-c and regulating the expression of reverse cholesterol transport (RCT)-related proteins (Apo-A1, LCAT, and SR-BI) was further validated in the HSHFDAC-induced hyperlipidemic rats. The kidney and liver functions of the rats were measured to evaluate the safety of AM. Results AMO, mainly comprised of volatile and liposoluble components, contributed the most significant anti-hyperlipidemia effect among the four extracts obtained from AM, significantly improving the blood lipid profile. Network pharmacology analysis also suggested that volatile and liposoluble components, comprise AM's main active components and they might act on signaling pathways associated with elevated HDL-c. Validation experiments found that AMO substantially and dose-dependently increased HDL-c levels, upregulated the expression of Apo-A1, SR-BI, and LCAT, improved the pathological changes in the kidney and liver, and significantly reduced the serum creatinine levels in rats with hyperlipidemia. Conclusion The main anti-hyperlipidemia active components of AM are its volatile and liposoluble components, which may enhance serum HDL-c by increasing the expression of the RCT-related proteins Apo-A1, LCAT, and SR-BI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bo Li
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Yangtze River Delta Region Green Pharmaceuticals, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310014, PR China
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of TCM for Innovative R & D and Digital Intelligent Manufacturing of TCM Great Health Products, Huzhou, Zhejiang Province, 313200, PR China
- Zhejiang Synergetic Traditional Chinese Medicine Research and Development Co., Ltd, Huzhou, Zhejiang, 313200, PR China
| | - Xian-fang Chen
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Yangtze River Delta Region Green Pharmaceuticals, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310014, PR China
| | - Han-song Wu
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Yangtze River Delta Region Green Pharmaceuticals, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310014, PR China
| | - Jie Su
- College of Pharmaceutical Science, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310053, PR China
| | - Yan-yan Ding
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Yangtze River Delta Region Green Pharmaceuticals, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310014, PR China
| | - Ze-hua Zhang
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Yangtze River Delta Region Green Pharmaceuticals, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310014, PR China
| | - Mei Rong
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Yangtze River Delta Region Green Pharmaceuticals, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310014, PR China
| | - Ying-jie Dong
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Yangtze River Delta Region Green Pharmaceuticals, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310014, PR China
| | - Xinglishang He
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Yangtze River Delta Region Green Pharmaceuticals, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310014, PR China
| | - Lin-zi Li
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Yangtze River Delta Region Green Pharmaceuticals, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310014, PR China
| | - Gui-yuan Lv
- College of Pharmaceutical Science, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310053, PR China
| | - Su-hong Chen
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Yangtze River Delta Region Green Pharmaceuticals, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310014, PR China
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of TCM for Innovative R & D and Digital Intelligent Manufacturing of TCM Great Health Products, Huzhou, Zhejiang Province, 313200, PR China
- Zhejiang Synergetic Traditional Chinese Medicine Research and Development Co., Ltd, Huzhou, Zhejiang, 313200, PR China
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18
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Lin S, Zhang S, Zhan A, Feng J, Yang Q, Li T, Liu Z, Mo Q, Fan H, Wang K, Wang L. Palmatine alleviates cardiac fibrosis by inhibiting fibroblast activation through the STAT3 pathway. Eur J Pharmacol 2024; 967:176395. [PMID: 38350592 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2024.176395] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2023] [Revised: 02/04/2024] [Accepted: 02/05/2024] [Indexed: 02/15/2024]
Abstract
Cardiac fibrosis, the hallmark of cardiovascular disease, is characterized by excessive deposition of extracellular matrix in the heart. Emerging evidence indicates that cardiac fibroblasts (CFs) play pivotal roles in driving cardiac fibrosis. However, due to incomplete insights into CFs, there are limited effective approaches to prevent or reverse cardiac fibrosis currently. Palmatine, a protoberberine alkaloid extracted from traditional Chinese botanical remedies, possesses diverse biological effects. This study investigated the potential therapeutic value and mechanism of palmatine against cardiac fibrosis. Adult male C57BL/6 mice were treated with vehicle, isoproterenol (ISO), or ISO plus palmatine for one week. After echocardiography assessment, mice hearts were collected for histopathology, real-time polymerase chain reaction, and Western blot analyses. Primary rat CFs were utilized in vitro. Compared to control, ISO-treated mice exhibited cardiac hypertrophy and structural abnormalities; however, treatment with palmatine ameliorated these effects of ISO. Moreover, palmatine treatment mitigated ISO-induced cardiac fibrosis. Network pharmacology and molecular docking analysis showed that palmatine strongly binds the regulators of cardiac fibrosis including signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) and mammalian target of rapamycin. Furthermore, palmatine reduced the elevated fibrotic factor expressions and overactivated STAT3 induced by ISO, Transformed growth factor β1 (TGF-β1), or interleukin-6 both in vivo and in vitro. Additionally, blocking STAT3 suppressed the TGF-β1-induced CF activation. Collectively, these data demonstrated that palmatine attenuated cardiac fibrosis partly by inhibiting fibroblast activation through the STAT3 pathway. This provides an experimental basis for the clinical treatment of cardiac fibrosis with palmatine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shaoling Lin
- Guangdong Metabolic Diseases Research Center of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine, Key Laboratory of Glycolipid Metabolic Disorder, Ministry of Education of China, Guangdong TCM Key Laboratory for Metabolic Diseases, Key Unit of Modulating Liver to Treat Hyperlipemia, State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medicine, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, 510006, China
| | - Shengxi Zhang
- Guangdong Metabolic Diseases Research Center of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine, Key Laboratory of Glycolipid Metabolic Disorder, Ministry of Education of China, Guangdong TCM Key Laboratory for Metabolic Diseases, Key Unit of Modulating Liver to Treat Hyperlipemia, State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medicine, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, 510006, China; Guangdong Hydropower Group Hospital, Guangzhou, 511340, China
| | - Angyu Zhan
- Guangdong Metabolic Diseases Research Center of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine, Key Laboratory of Glycolipid Metabolic Disorder, Ministry of Education of China, Guangdong TCM Key Laboratory for Metabolic Diseases, Key Unit of Modulating Liver to Treat Hyperlipemia, State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medicine, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, 510006, China
| | - Jiaojiao Feng
- Guangdong Metabolic Diseases Research Center of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine, Key Laboratory of Glycolipid Metabolic Disorder, Ministry of Education of China, Guangdong TCM Key Laboratory for Metabolic Diseases, Key Unit of Modulating Liver to Treat Hyperlipemia, State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medicine, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, 510006, China
| | - Qianqian Yang
- Guangdong Metabolic Diseases Research Center of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine, Key Laboratory of Glycolipid Metabolic Disorder, Ministry of Education of China, Guangdong TCM Key Laboratory for Metabolic Diseases, Key Unit of Modulating Liver to Treat Hyperlipemia, State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medicine, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, 510006, China
| | - Tongjun Li
- Guangdong Metabolic Diseases Research Center of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine, Key Laboratory of Glycolipid Metabolic Disorder, Ministry of Education of China, Guangdong TCM Key Laboratory for Metabolic Diseases, Key Unit of Modulating Liver to Treat Hyperlipemia, State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medicine, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, 510006, China
| | - Zijian Liu
- Department of Emergency, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China; NHC Key Laboratory of Assisted Circulation and Vascular Diseases (Sun Yat-sen University), Guangzhou, 510080, China
| | - Quqian Mo
- Guangdong Metabolic Diseases Research Center of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine, Key Laboratory of Glycolipid Metabolic Disorder, Ministry of Education of China, Guangdong TCM Key Laboratory for Metabolic Diseases, Key Unit of Modulating Liver to Treat Hyperlipemia, State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medicine, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, 510006, China
| | - Hui Fan
- Guangdong Metabolic Diseases Research Center of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine, Key Laboratory of Glycolipid Metabolic Disorder, Ministry of Education of China, Guangdong TCM Key Laboratory for Metabolic Diseases, Key Unit of Modulating Liver to Treat Hyperlipemia, State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medicine, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, 510006, China
| | - Keke Wang
- Department of Emergency, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China; NHC Key Laboratory of Assisted Circulation and Vascular Diseases (Sun Yat-sen University), Guangzhou, 510080, China.
| | - Lexun Wang
- Guangdong Metabolic Diseases Research Center of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine, Key Laboratory of Glycolipid Metabolic Disorder, Ministry of Education of China, Guangdong TCM Key Laboratory for Metabolic Diseases, Key Unit of Modulating Liver to Treat Hyperlipemia, State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medicine, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, 510006, China.
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19
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Pan F, Shu Q, Xie H, Zhao L, Wu P, Du Y, Lu J, He Y, Wang X, Peng H. Protective effects of triptolide against oxidative stress in retinal pigment epithelium cells via the PI3K/AKT/Nrf2 pathway: a network pharmacological method and experimental validation. Aging (Albany NY) 2024; 16:3955-3972. [PMID: 38393691 PMCID: PMC10929812 DOI: 10.18632/aging.205570] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2023] [Accepted: 01/11/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE Among aging adults, age-related macular degeneration (AMD), is a prevalent cause of blindness. Nevertheless, its progression may be halted by antioxidation in retinal pigment epithelium (RPE). The primary effective constituent of Tripterygium wilfordii Hook. F., triptolide (TP), has demonstrated anti-inflammatory, antiproliferative, and antioxidant properties. The mechanics of the protective effect of triptolide against the oxidative damage in retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) were assessed in this study. METHODS ARPE-19 cells were pretreated with TP, and then exposed to sodium iodate (SI). First, cell viability was assessed using CCK-8. Subsequently, we measured indicators for cell oxidation including reactive oxygen species (ROS), catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and malondialdehyde (MDA). Then, we used network pharmacological analysis and molecular docking to explore the signaling pathway of TP. Last, we used western blot, ELISA, and immunofluorescence assays to clarify the potential mechanistic pathways. RESULTS The network pharmacology data suggested that TP may inhibit AMD by regulating the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway. Experimental results showed that the potential mechanism is that it regulates the PI3K/Akt pathway and promotes Nrf2 phosphorylation and activation, thereby raising the level of antioxidant factors (HO-1, NQO1) and reducing the generation of ROS, which inhibit oxidative damage. CONCLUSION Our findings suggested that the effect of TP on SI-exposed RPE cells principally relies on the regulation of oxidative stress through the PI3K/Akt/Nrf2 signaling pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fuying Pan
- Department of Ophthalmology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Chongqing Eye Institute, Chongqing 400016, China
| | - Qinxin Shu
- Department of Ophthalmology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Chongqing Eye Institute, Chongqing 400016, China
| | - Hao Xie
- Department of Ophthalmology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Chongqing Eye Institute, Chongqing 400016, China
| | - Long Zhao
- Department of Ophthalmology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Chongqing Eye Institute, Chongqing 400016, China
| | - Ping Wu
- Department of Ophthalmology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Chongqing Eye Institute, Chongqing 400016, China
| | - Yong Du
- Department of Ophthalmology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Chongqing Eye Institute, Chongqing 400016, China
| | - Jing Lu
- Department of Ophthalmology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Chongqing Eye Institute, Chongqing 400016, China
| | - Yuxia He
- Department of Ophthalmology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Chongqing Eye Institute, Chongqing 400016, China
| | - Xing Wang
- Department of Ophthalmology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Chongqing Eye Institute, Chongqing 400016, China
| | - Hui Peng
- Department of Ophthalmology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Chongqing Eye Institute, Chongqing 400016, China
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20
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Sun N, Haseeb A, Sun P, Zhang H, Zhong J, Yin W, Fan K, Yang H, Zhang Z, Sun Y, Hu P, Li H. Scutellarin targets Wnt5a against zearalenone-induced apoptosis in mouse granulosa cells in vitro and in vivo. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2024; 464:132917. [PMID: 37979429 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.132917] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2023] [Revised: 10/20/2023] [Accepted: 11/01/2023] [Indexed: 11/20/2023]
Abstract
Zearalenone (ZEA) poses severe reproductive toxicity to both humans and animals. Scutellarin has been demonstrated to rescue ZEA-induced apoptosis in mouse ovarian granulosa cells (GCs), but its specific targets remain unclear. In the present study, the potential targets of scutellarin were determined to clarify the mechanisms of scutellarin against ZEA-induced ovarian damage. 287 targets of scutellarin in mouse ovarian GCs were obtained by magnetic nano-probe-based fishing assay and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Wnt5a had the lowest binding free energy with scutellarin at - 8.3 kcal/mol. QRT-PCR and western blot showed that scutellarin significantly increased the Wnt5a and β-catenin expression compared with the ZEA-treated group, and cleaved-caspase-3 expression was significantly increased in the scutellarin-treated group after interfering with the expression of Wnt5a. The affinity constant (KD) of Wnt5a and scutellarin was 1.7 × 10-5 M. The pull-down assay also demonstrated that scutellarin could specifically bind to Wnt5a protein. Molecular docking results showed that scutellarin could form hydrogen bonds with TRY52, GLN56, and SER90 on Wnt5a protein, and western blot assay confirmed SER90 was an important site for the binding. Scutellarin significantly increased Wnt5a and β-catenin expression and decreased cleaved-caspase-3 expression in ovarian tissues of mice. In conclusion, scutellarin exerted anti-apoptotic effects on ZEA-induced mouse ovarian GCs by targeting Wnt5a.
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Affiliation(s)
- Na Sun
- Shanxi Key Laboratory for Modernization of TCVM, College of Veterinary Medicine, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu 030801, Shanxi, China
| | - Abdul Haseeb
- Shanxi Key Laboratory for Modernization of TCVM, College of Veterinary Medicine, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu 030801, Shanxi, China
| | - Panpan Sun
- Shanxi Key Laboratory for Modernization of TCVM, College of Veterinary Medicine, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu 030801, Shanxi, China
| | - Hua Zhang
- Shanxi Key Laboratory for Modernization of TCVM, College of Veterinary Medicine, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu 030801, Shanxi, China
| | - Jia Zhong
- Shanxi Key Laboratory for Modernization of TCVM, College of Veterinary Medicine, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu 030801, Shanxi, China
| | - Wei Yin
- Shanxi Key Laboratory for Modernization of TCVM, College of Veterinary Medicine, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu 030801, Shanxi, China
| | - Kuohai Fan
- Laboratory Animal Center, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu 030801, Shanxi, China
| | - Huizhen Yang
- Shanxi Key Laboratory for Modernization of TCVM, College of Veterinary Medicine, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu 030801, Shanxi, China
| | - Zhenbiao Zhang
- Shanxi Key Laboratory for Modernization of TCVM, College of Veterinary Medicine, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu 030801, Shanxi, China
| | - Yaogui Sun
- Shanxi Key Laboratory for Modernization of TCVM, College of Veterinary Medicine, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu 030801, Shanxi, China
| | - Panpan Hu
- Shanxi Key Laboratory for Modernization of TCVM, College of Veterinary Medicine, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu 030801, Shanxi, China
| | - Hongquan Li
- Shanxi Key Laboratory for Modernization of TCVM, College of Veterinary Medicine, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu 030801, Shanxi, China.
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Cao S, Wei Y, Yue Y, Chen Y, Liao S, Li A, Liu P, Xiong A, Zeng H. Targeting ferroptosis unveils a new era for traditional Chinese medicine: a scientific metrology study. Front Pharmacol 2024; 15:1366852. [PMID: 38464725 PMCID: PMC10921231 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2024.1366852] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2024] [Accepted: 02/02/2024] [Indexed: 03/12/2024] Open
Abstract
In the past 11 years, there has been a surge in studies exploring the regulatory effect of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) on ferroptosis. However, a significant gap persists in comprehensive scientometric analysis and scientific mapping research, especially in tracking the evolution, primary contributors, and emerging research focal points. This study aims to comprehensively update the advancements in targeting ferroptosis with various TCMs during the previous 11 years. The data, covering the period from 1 January 2012, to 30 November 2023, were retrieved from the Web of Science database. For in-depth scientometric and visualized analyses, a series of advanced analytical instruments were employed. The findings highlight China's predominant role, accounting for 71.99% of total publications and significantly shaping research in this domain. Noteworthy productivity was observed at various institutions, including Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, and Zhejiang University. Thomas Efferth emerged as the foremost author within this field, while Frontiers in Pharmacology boasted the highest publication count. This study pinpointed hepatocellular carcinoma, chemical and drug-induced liver injury, mitochondrial diseases, acute kidney injury, and liver failure as the most critical disorders addressed in this research realm. The research offers a comprehensive bibliometric evaluation, enhancing our understanding of the present status of TCM therapy in managing ferroptosis-related diseases. Consequently, it aids both seasoned researchers and newcomers by accelerating access to vital information and fostering innovative concept extraction within this specialized field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siyang Cao
- National and Local Joint Engineering Research Centre of Orthopaedic Biomaterials, Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Orthopaedic Diseases and Biomaterials Research, Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
- Department of Bone and Joint Surgery, Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Yihao Wei
- National and Local Joint Engineering Research Centre of Orthopaedic Biomaterials, Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Orthopaedic Diseases and Biomaterials Research, Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
- Department of Bone and Joint Surgery, Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Yaohang Yue
- National and Local Joint Engineering Research Centre of Orthopaedic Biomaterials, Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Orthopaedic Diseases and Biomaterials Research, Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
- Department of Bone and Joint Surgery, Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Yingqi Chen
- National and Local Joint Engineering Research Centre of Orthopaedic Biomaterials, Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Orthopaedic Diseases and Biomaterials Research, Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
- Department of Bone and Joint Surgery, Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Shuai Liao
- National and Local Joint Engineering Research Centre of Orthopaedic Biomaterials, Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Orthopaedic Diseases and Biomaterials Research, Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
- Department of Bone and Joint Surgery, Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Aikang Li
- National and Local Joint Engineering Research Centre of Orthopaedic Biomaterials, Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Orthopaedic Diseases and Biomaterials Research, Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
- Department of Bone and Joint Surgery, Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Peng Liu
- National and Local Joint Engineering Research Centre of Orthopaedic Biomaterials, Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Orthopaedic Diseases and Biomaterials Research, Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
- Department of Bone and Joint Surgery, Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Ao Xiong
- National and Local Joint Engineering Research Centre of Orthopaedic Biomaterials, Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Orthopaedic Diseases and Biomaterials Research, Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
- Department of Bone and Joint Surgery, Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Hui Zeng
- National and Local Joint Engineering Research Centre of Orthopaedic Biomaterials, Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Orthopaedic Diseases and Biomaterials Research, Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
- Shenzhen Second People’s Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
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22
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Chen X, Wei M, Li GD, Sun QL, Fan JQ, Li JY, Yun CM, Liu DM, Shi H, Qu YQ. YuPingFeng (YPF) upregulates caveolin-1 (CAV1) to alleviate pulmonary fibrosis through the TGF-β1/Smad2 pathway. JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY 2024; 319:117357. [PMID: 37898439 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2023.117357] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2023] [Revised: 10/17/2023] [Accepted: 10/24/2023] [Indexed: 10/30/2023]
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is considered a valuable asset in China's medical tradition. YPF is a classic prescription that has been derived from the "Jiu Yuan Fang" formula and consists of three herbs: Huangqi (Astragalus membranaceus Bunge), Baizhu (Atractylodes rubra Dekker), and Fangfeng (Saposhnikovia divaricata (Turcz.) Schischk). This prescription is widely acclaimed for its exceptional pharmacological properties, including potent antioxidant effects, hormone regulation, and immune modulation effects. AIM OF THE STUDY Previous research provides evidence suggesting that YPF may have therapeutic effects on pulmonary fibrosis. Further exploration is essential to confirm its effectiveness and elucidate the fundamental processes. MATERIALS AND METHODS First, the active components and target genes of YPF were extracted from the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology (TCMSP) database. Next, the GSE53845 dataset, which contains information on pulmonary fibrosis, was downloaded from the GEO database. Network informatics methods was then be utilized to identify target genes associated with pulmonary fibrosis. A YPF-based network of protein-protein interactions was constructed to pinpoint possible target genes for pulmonary fibrosis treatment. Additionally, an in vitro model of pulmonary fibrosis induced by bleomycin (BLM) was established to further investigate and validate the possible mechanisms underlying the effectiveness of YPF. RESULTS In this study, a total of 24 active ingredients of YPF, along with 178 target genes associated with the treatment, were identified. Additionally, 615 target genes related to pulmonary fibrosis were identified. Functional enrichment analysis revealed that 18 candidate genes (CGs) exhibited significant responses to tumor necrosis factor, NF-kB survival signaling, and positive regulation of apoptosis processes. Among these CGs, CAV1, VCAM1, and TP63 were identified as key target genes. Furthermore, cell experiments confirmed that the expression of CAV1 protein and RNA expression was increased in pulmonary fibrosis, but significantly decreased after treatment with YPF. Additionally, the expression of pSmad2, α-SMA, TGF-β1, and TNF-α was also decreased following YPF treatment. CONCLUSIONS Network pharmacology analysis revealed that YPF exhibits significant potential as a therapeutic intervention for pulmonary fibrosis by targeting various compounds and pathways. This study emphasizes that the efficacy of YPF in treating pulmonary fibrosis may be attributed to its ability to up-regulate CAV1 expression and inhibiting pulmonary fibrosis via modulation of the TGF-β1/Smad2 signaling pathway. These findings underscore the promising role of YPF and its ability to potentially alleviate pulmonary fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao Chen
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, China; Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Tai'an City Central Hospital, Tai'an, China
| | - Min Wei
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Tai'an City Central Hospital, Tai'an, China
| | - Guo-Dong Li
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Tai'an City Central Hospital, Tai'an, China
| | - Qi-Liang Sun
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Tai'an City Central Hospital, Tai'an, China
| | - Jia-Qi Fan
- Jining Medical University, 133 Hehua Rd, Jining, China
| | - Jun-Yi Li
- The Second Clinical Medical College of Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
| | - Chun-Mei Yun
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Tai'an City Central Hospital, Tai'an, China
| | - Dao-Ming Liu
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Tai'an City Central Hospital, Tai'an, China
| | - Hong Shi
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Tai'an City Central Hospital, Tai'an, China
| | - Yi-Qing Qu
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, China.
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Ma G, Dong Q, Li F, Jin Z, Pi J, Wu W, Li J. Network pharmacology and in vivo evidence of the pharmacological mechanism of geniposide in the treatment of atherosclerosis. BMC Complement Med Ther 2024; 24:53. [PMID: 38267978 PMCID: PMC10807192 DOI: 10.1186/s12906-024-04356-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2023] [Accepted: 01/14/2024] [Indexed: 01/26/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Atherosclerosis (AS) is a fundamental pathological state in various cardiovascular diseases. Geniposide, which is the main active component of Gardenia jasminides, is effective against AS. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms remain unclear. Here, we sought to elucidate them. METHODS The targets of AS and geniposide were collected from online public databases. The potential mechanism of Geniposide in treating AS was predicted by constructing a protein-protein interaction (PPI) network and conducting Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopaedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analyses. Hub proteins and core pathways were verified by molecular docking and in vivo experiments. Moreover, the effect of geniposide on AS was assessed by measuring the atherosclerotic plaque area in the thoracic aorta of mice. ApoE-/- mice were used to establish AS models and randomly divided into different groups. Two different doses of geniposide were administered to the mice. Hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining was performed to evaluate the effects of geniposide on AS. Oil Red O and Sirius Red staining were used to evaluate plaque stability. The protein expression of key markers involved in the signalling pathways was examined using western blotting and immunofluorescence. RESULTS A total of 239 active targets, 3418 AS-related disease targets, and 129 overlapping targets were identified. Hub genes were detected, and molecular docking revealed that geniposide strongly interacted with hub proteins (AKT1, VEGFA, CTNNB1, MMP9, and EGFR). Moreover, 109 signalling pathways, including the Rap1 signalling pathway, were identified using enrichment analysis. The results of in vivo experiments demonstrated that geniposide reduced body weight and blood lipid levels, alleviated the formation of atherosclerotic plaques, enhanced plaque stability, and inhibited inflammation, at least partially, by activating the Rap1/PI3K/Akt signalling pathway in ApoE-/- mice. CONCLUSION Geniposide can alleviate AS and enhance the stability of atherosclerotic plaques by regulating the Rap1/PI3K/Akt signalling pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guiping Ma
- Beijing University of Chinese Medicine Affiliated Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - Qinqin Dong
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, 510405, China
| | - Feng Li
- Beijing University of Chinese Medicine Affiliated Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - Zheng Jin
- ZhuJiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jianbin Pi
- Foshan Hospital Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Foshan, China
| | - Wei Wu
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, 510405, China.
| | - Junlong Li
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, 510405, China.
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Shawky E, Nassra RA, El-Alkamy AMT, Sallam SM, El Sohafy SM. Unraveling the mechanisms of Fenugreek seed for managing different gynecological disorders: steroidal saponins and isoflavones revealed as key bioactive metabolites. J Pharm Biomed Anal 2024; 238:115865. [PMID: 38000191 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpba.2023.115865] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2023] [Revised: 11/05/2023] [Accepted: 11/16/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023]
Abstract
This study employed network pharmacology-based analysis and reverse molecular docking to investigate the molecular targets and pathways associated with gynecological disorders, particularly those related to steroidal hormones and their receptors, and the potential therapeutic effects of fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.) constituents. The STITCH 5.0 database was utilized to identify potential molecular targets, and a compound-target network was constructed. The main targets associated with gynecological disorders included estrogen receptor beta (ESR2), estrogen-related receptor gamma (GPER1), oxytocin receptor (OXTR), progesterone receptor (PGR), prolactin receptor (PRLR), and several enzymes involved in sex hormone biosynthesis. Additionally, network topological analysis revealed that specific compounds, such as quercetin, luteolin, genistein, and vitexin, had significant interactions with the identified targets. Reverse molecular docking analysis confirmed the interactions between the identified compounds and target proteins where quercetin, luteolin, genistein, 4'-methylgenistein, trigoneoside IIB, diosgenin, and vitexin possessed the highest combined docking scores, indicating their multi-target nature. The results highlighted the potential of steroidal saponins, isoflavones, and flavones as active constituents of fenugreek with implications for lactation, reproductive processes, and estrogenic activity. The chemical profiling of saponin-enriched and flavonoid-enriched fractions using UPLC/MS/MS further supported the presence of these bioactive compounds. In an animal model study, the steroidal saponins-enriched fraction of fenugreek seed exhibited a significant increase in the body weight of lactating female rats and serum prolactin levels while the flavonoids-enriched fraction showed an increase in serum estradiol levels and improved the histological structure of ovaries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eman Shawky
- Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Alexandria University, Egypt.
| | - Rasha A Nassra
- Medical Biochemistry department, faculty of medicine, Alexandria University, Egypt
| | - Aliaa M T El-Alkamy
- Human Anatomy and Embryology Department, faculty of medicine, Alexandria University, Egypt
| | - Shaimaa M Sallam
- Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Alexandria University, Egypt
| | - Samah M El Sohafy
- Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Alexandria University, Egypt
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Fan YM, Zhao QY, Wei YY, Wang HR, Ga Y, Zhang YN, Hao ZH. Qingjie decoction attenuated E.coli-induced diarrhea by regulating energy metabolism and alleviating inflammation based on network analysis and metabolomics. JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY 2024; 318:116806. [PMID: 37460028 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2023.116806] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2023] [Revised: 06/08/2023] [Accepted: 06/15/2023] [Indexed: 08/02/2023]
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE Diarrhea is a frequently encountered gastrointestinal complication in clinical practice, and E. coli is one of the main causative agents. Although Qingjie decoction (QJD) has been shown to be highly effective in treating diarrhea by eliminating heat-toxin, the underlying molecular mechanisms and pathways of QJD remain unclear. AIM OF REVIEW The aim of this research was to explore the effects and fundamental mechanism of QJD on diarrhea induced by E.coli in rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS Initially, we used UHPLC-MS/MS analysis to identify the chemical composition of QJD. Then, we constructed a visualization network using network pharmacology. Next, we utilized metabolomics to identify differentially expressed metabolites of QJD that are effective in treating diarrhea. RESULTS The chemical composition of QJD was analyzed using UHPLC-MS/MS, which identified a total of 292 components. Using a network pharmacology approach, 127 bioactive compounds of QJD were screened, targeting 171 potential diarrhea treatment targets. TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1β, and CAT were identified as important targets through visualizing the PPI network. Enrichment analysis demonstrated significant enrichment in the TNF signaling pathway, IL-17 signaling pathway, and PI3K-Akt signaling pathway. QJD showed beneficial effects, such as increased body weight, decreased fecal water content, and reduced inflammatory cell infiltration in the duodenum and colon, as well as maintaining the structure of the duodenum and colon. Metabolomic analysis revealed 32 differentially expressed metabolites in the control, model and QJD-H groups, including glucose, valine, and cysteine. Functional analysis indicated that differential metabolites were related to energy metabolism, including glucose metabolism, TCA cycle, and amino acid metabolism. CONCLUSION QJD significantly increased body weight, decreased water content in feces, relieved inflammatory cell infiltration, maintained the structure of duodenum and colon. Combining network analysis and metabolomics, QJD exerted therapeutic effects by inhibiting inflammation and oxidative stress, regulating glucose metabolism, tricarboxylic acid metabolism, and amino acid metabolism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi-Meng Fan
- Key Biology Laboratory of Chinese Veterinary Medicine, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Beijing 100193, PR China; National Center of Technology Innovation for Medicinal Function of Food, National Food and Strategic Reserves Administration, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Qing-Yu Zhao
- Key Biology Laboratory of Chinese Veterinary Medicine, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Beijing 100193, PR China; National Center of Technology Innovation for Medicinal Function of Food, National Food and Strategic Reserves Administration, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Yuan-Yuan Wei
- Key Biology Laboratory of Chinese Veterinary Medicine, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Beijing 100193, PR China; National Center of Technology Innovation for Medicinal Function of Food, National Food and Strategic Reserves Administration, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Hui-Ru Wang
- Key Biology Laboratory of Chinese Veterinary Medicine, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Beijing 100193, PR China; National Center of Technology Innovation for Medicinal Function of Food, National Food and Strategic Reserves Administration, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Yu Ga
- Key Biology Laboratory of Chinese Veterinary Medicine, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Beijing 100193, PR China; National Center of Technology Innovation for Medicinal Function of Food, National Food and Strategic Reserves Administration, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Yan-Nan Zhang
- Key Biology Laboratory of Chinese Veterinary Medicine, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Beijing 100193, PR China; National Center of Technology Innovation for Medicinal Function of Food, National Food and Strategic Reserves Administration, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Zhi-Hui Hao
- Key Biology Laboratory of Chinese Veterinary Medicine, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Beijing 100193, PR China; National Center of Technology Innovation for Medicinal Function of Food, National Food and Strategic Reserves Administration, Beijing 100193, China.
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Weng J, Wu XF, Shao P, Liu XP, Wang CX. Medicine for chronic atrophic gastritis: a systematic review, meta- and network pharmacology analysis. Ann Med 2024; 55:2299352. [PMID: 38170849 PMCID: PMC10769149 DOI: 10.1080/07853890.2023.2299352] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2023] [Accepted: 12/21/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE The aim of this study is to determine the effectiveness and reliability of adding traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) in the clinical intervention and explore mechanisms of action for chronic atrophic gastritis (CAG) through meta- and network pharmacology analysis (NPAs). METHODS A predefined search strategy was used to retrieve literature from PubMed, Embase database, Cochrane Library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Chinese BioMedical Literature Database (CBM), Wan Fang Data and China Science and Technology Journal Database (VIP). After applying inclusion and exclusion criteria, a total of 12 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were included for meta-analysis to provide clinical evidence of the intervention effects. A network meta-analysis using Bayesian networks was conducted to observe the relative effects of different intervention measures and possible ranking of effects. The composition of the TCM formulation in the experimental group was analysed, and association rule mining was performed to identify hub herbal medicines. Target genes for CAG were searched in GeneCards, Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man, PharmGKB, Therapeutic Target Database and DrugBank. A regulatory network was constructed to connect the target genes with active ingredients of the hub herbal medicines. Enrichment analyses were performed using the Gene Ontology (GO) and the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) to examine the central targets from a comprehensive viewpoint. Protein-protein interaction networks (PPINs) were constructed to identify hub genes and conduct molecular docking with differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and corresponding active molecules. RESULTS A total of 1140 participants from 12 RCTs were included in the statistical analysis, confirming that the experimental group receiving the addition of TCM intervention had better clinical efficacy. Seven hub TCMs (Paeonia lactiflora, Atractylodes macrocephala, Pinellia ternata, Citrus reticulata, Codonopsis pilosula, Salvia miltiorrhiza and Coptis chinensis) were identified through association rule analysis of all included TCMs. Thirteen hub genes (CDKN1A, CASP3, STAT1, TP53, JUN, MAPK1, STAT3, MAPK3, MYC, HIF1A, FOS, MAPK14 and AKT1) were obtained from 90 gene PPINs. Differential gene expression analysis between the disease and normal gastric tissue identified MAPK1 and MAPK3 as the significant genes. Molecular docking analysis revealed that naringenin, luteolin and quercetin were the main active compounds with good binding activities to the two hub targets. GO analysis demonstrated the function of the targets in protein binding, while KEGG analysis indicated their involvement in important pathways related to cancer. CONCLUSIONS The results of a meta-analysis of 12 RCTs indicate that TCM intervention can improve the clinical treatment efficacy of CAG. NPAs identified seven hub TCM and 13 target genes associated with their actions, while bioinformatics analysis identified two DEGs between normal and CAG gastric tissues. Finally, molecular docking was employed to reveal the mechanism of action of the active molecules in TCM on the DEGs. These findings not only reveal the mechanisms of action of the active components of the TCMs, but also provide support for the development of new drugs, ultimately blocking the progression from chronic gastritis to gastric cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiao Weng
- Liaoning University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shenyang, China
| | - Xiu-fang Wu
- The Second Hospital Affiliated with Shenyang Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Peng Shao
- The Second Hospital Affiliated with Shenyang Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Xing-pu Liu
- The Second Hospital Affiliated with Shenyang Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Cai-xia Wang
- Liaoning University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shenyang, China
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27
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Chen X, Hu L, Wang R, Luo M, Wei C, Li P, Yu H. Uncovering the mechanism of Naoxintong capsule against hypertension based on network analysis and in vitro experiments. Chem Biol Drug Des 2024; 103:e14440. [PMID: 38230784 DOI: 10.1111/cbdd.14440] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2023] [Revised: 10/02/2023] [Accepted: 12/19/2023] [Indexed: 01/18/2024]
Abstract
Naoxintong capsule (NXT) is a clinical drug for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases, but its pharmacological mechanism against hypertension remains unclear. Data concerning the compounds and targets of NXT were obtained from the TCMSP and DrugBank, whereas data concerning hypertension-related genes were obtained from DisGeNET. The network was analyzed and established by STRING and Cytoscape, and function enrichment was analyzed by GO and KEGG analysis. Molecular docking was performed to analyze the interaction between ingredients and targets, cellular activity was evaluated by MTT assay, and RT-qPCR and western blot were used to evaluate the expressions of related genes. The results showed that 146 active therapeutic components can target hypertension-related genes, and we found that core genes were mainly involved in the metabolism of lipids, lipopolysaccharides, the inflammatory signaling pathway, and the oxidative stress pathway. In addition, there was high affinity between the components of NXT and targets of hypertension, where the former can increase cell viability and reduce the expressions of NOX4, MCP-1, BAX, TNF-α and IL-1β. Moreover, NXT inhibited the expressions of IL-6 and Fis1, as well as increased the expression of MCL-1. These results revealed the active compounds, hypertension targets, signaling pathways, and molecular mechanisms of NXT for treating hypertension, offering references for the clinical application of NXT and the treatment of hypertension.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiatian Chen
- Institute of Translational Medicine, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Longgang Hu
- The Affiliated Cardiovascular Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Ruoying Wang
- Lai Xi Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Qingdao, China
| | - Min Luo
- Institute of Translational Medicine, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Chuang Wei
- Institute of Translational Medicine, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Peifeng Li
- Institute of Translational Medicine, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Hua Yu
- The Affiliated Cardiovascular Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
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28
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Li L, Ran Y, Wen J, Lu Y, Liu S, Li H, Cheng M. Traditional Chinese Medicine-based Treatment in Cardiovascular Disease: Potential Mechanisms of Action. Curr Pharm Biotechnol 2024; 25:2186-2199. [PMID: 38347793 DOI: 10.2174/0113892010279151240116103917] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2023] [Revised: 12/22/2023] [Accepted: 12/28/2023] [Indexed: 09/26/2024]
Abstract
Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) is the leading cause of morbidity and death worldwide and has become a global public health problem. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has been used in China to treat CVD and achieved promising results. Therefore, TCM has aroused significant interest among pharmacologists and medical practitioners. Previous research showed that TCM can regulate the occurrence and development of atherosclerosis (AS), ischemic heart disease, heart failure, myocardial injury, and myocardial fibrosis by inhibiting vascular endothelial injury, inflammation, oxidant stress, ischemia-reperfusion injury, and myocardial remodeling. It is well-known that TCM has the characteristics of multi-component, multi-pathway, and multitarget. Here, we systematically review the bioactive components, pharmacological effects, and clinical application of TCM in preventing and treating CVD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lanlan Li
- School of Basic Medicine Sciences, Weifang Medical University, Weifang, Shandong, 261053, P.R. China
| | - Yutong Ran
- School of Basic Medicine Sciences, Weifang Medical University, Weifang, Shandong, 261053, P.R. China
| | - Jiao Wen
- School of Basic Medicine Sciences, Weifang Medical University, Weifang, Shandong, 261053, P.R. China
| | - Yirui Lu
- School of Basic Medicine Sciences, Weifang Medical University, Weifang, Shandong, 261053, P.R. China
| | - Shunmei Liu
- School of Basic Medicine Sciences, Weifang Medical University, Weifang, Shandong, 261053, P.R. China
| | - Hong Li
- School of Basic Medicine Sciences, Weifang Medical University, Weifang, Shandong, 261053, P.R. China
| | - Min Cheng
- School of Basic Medicine Sciences, Weifang Medical University, Weifang, Shandong, 261053, P.R. China
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29
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Amoroso N, Gambacorta N, Mastrolorito F, Togo MV, Trisciuzzi D, Monaco A, Pantaleo E, Altomare CD, Ciriaco F, Nicolotti O. Making sense of chemical space network shows signs of criticality. Sci Rep 2023; 13:21335. [PMID: 38049451 PMCID: PMC10696027 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-48107-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2023] [Accepted: 11/22/2023] [Indexed: 12/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Chemical space modelling has great importance in unveiling and visualising latent information, which is critical in predictive toxicology related to drug discovery process. While the use of traditional molecular descriptors and fingerprints may suffer from the so-called curse of dimensionality, complex networks are devoid of the typical drawbacks of coordinate-based representations. Herein, we use chemical space networks (CSNs) to analyse the case of the developmental toxicity (Dev Tox), which remains a challenging endpoint for the difficulty of gathering enough reliable data despite very important for the protection of the maternal and child health. Our study proved that the Dev Tox CSN has a complex non-random organisation and can thus provide a wealth of meaningful information also for predictive purposes. At a phase transition, chemical similarities highlight well-established toxicophores, such as aryl derivatives, mostly neurotoxic hydantoins, barbiturates and amino alcohols, steroids, and volatile organic compounds ether-like chemicals, which are strongly suspected of the Dev Tox onset and can thus be employed as effective alerts for prioritising chemicals before testing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicola Amoroso
- Dipartimento di Farmacia - Scienze del Farmaco, Università degli studi di Bari Aldo Moro, via E. Orabona, 4, 70125, Bari, Italy.
- Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Sezione di Bari, via E. Orabona, 4, 70125, Bari, Italy.
| | - Nicola Gambacorta
- Dipartimento di Farmacia - Scienze del Farmaco, Università degli studi di Bari Aldo Moro, via E. Orabona, 4, 70125, Bari, Italy
- Division of Medical Genetics, Fondazione IRCCS-Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza, San Giovanni Rotondo (Foggia), Italy
| | - Fabrizio Mastrolorito
- Dipartimento di Farmacia - Scienze del Farmaco, Università degli studi di Bari Aldo Moro, via E. Orabona, 4, 70125, Bari, Italy
| | - Maria Vittoria Togo
- Dipartimento di Farmacia - Scienze del Farmaco, Università degli studi di Bari Aldo Moro, via E. Orabona, 4, 70125, Bari, Italy
| | - Daniela Trisciuzzi
- Dipartimento di Farmacia - Scienze del Farmaco, Università degli studi di Bari Aldo Moro, via E. Orabona, 4, 70125, Bari, Italy
| | - Alfonso Monaco
- Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Sezione di Bari, via E. Orabona, 4, 70125, Bari, Italy
- Dipartimento Interateneo di Fisica "M. Merlin", Università degli studi di Bari Aldo Moro, Via Giovanni Amendola, 173, 70125, Bari, Italy
| | - Ester Pantaleo
- Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Sezione di Bari, via E. Orabona, 4, 70125, Bari, Italy
- Dipartimento Interateneo di Fisica "M. Merlin", Università degli studi di Bari Aldo Moro, Via Giovanni Amendola, 173, 70125, Bari, Italy
| | - Cosimo Damiano Altomare
- Dipartimento di Farmacia - Scienze del Farmaco, Università degli studi di Bari Aldo Moro, via E. Orabona, 4, 70125, Bari, Italy
| | - Fulvio Ciriaco
- Dipartimento di Chimica, Università degli studi di Bari Aldo Moro, via E. Orabona, 4, 70125, Bari, Italy.
| | - Orazio Nicolotti
- Dipartimento di Farmacia - Scienze del Farmaco, Università degli studi di Bari Aldo Moro, via E. Orabona, 4, 70125, Bari, Italy
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Li J, Li Y, Yuan X, Yao D, Gao Z, Niu Z, Wang Z, Zhang Y. The effective constituent puerarin, from Pueraria lobata, inhibits the proliferation and inflammation of vascular smooth muscle in atherosclerosis through the miR-29b-3p/IGF1 pathway. PHARMACEUTICAL BIOLOGY 2023; 61:1-11. [PMID: 36537316 PMCID: PMC9788726 DOI: 10.1080/13880209.2022.2099430] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
CONTEXT Atherosclerosis (AS) is the main cause of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. Pueraria lobata (Willd.) Ohwi (Fabaceae) has a positive effect on improving these diseases. OBJECTIVE The P. lobata effect on the proliferation and inflammation of vascular smooth muscle in AS and the potential mechanism were investigated. MATERIALS AND METHODS By feeding a high-fat diet to 8-week-old apolipoprotein E knockout mice, an atherosclerosis model was created. H&E and IHC staining were used to analyse the histopathology of mice. CCK-8, TUNEL, and scratch tests were used to detect cell proliferation, apoptosis, and migration after 24 h treatment, respectively. ELISA was performed to evaluate the level of IL-6 and IL-8. The target miRNA and its downstream target gene were screened by the bioinformatics method; RT-qPCR has conducted to analyse the expression of these genes. RESULTS In the aortic tissue and serum of AS mice, puerarin can lower the expression of α-SMA and the inflammatory proteins IL-6 and IL-8. Puerarin (200 M) decreased hVSMC proliferation, migration, and IL-6 and IL-8 secretion by more than half. The inhibitory impact of puerarin on hVSMC was decreased by overexpression of miR-29b-3p. IGF1 was miR-29b-3p's downstream target gene. IGF1 expression increased almost 3-fold in AS mice and hVSMC, but miR-29b-3p mimic inhibited it. The effect of miR-29b-3p on hVSMC was reversed when IGF1 was overexpressed. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS Puerarin inhibits the proliferation and inflammation of vascular smooth muscle in AS through the miR-29b-3p/IGF1 pathway. Puerarin may have a beneficial effect in the treatment of atherosclerosis and offer a novel therapy option.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianpeng Li
- The First Clinical Medical College, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan City, Shandong Province, China
- Department of Peripheral Vascular, Henan Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine (The Second Affiliated Hospital of Henan University of Traditional Chinese Medicine), Zhengzhou City, Henan Province, China
| | - Yanan Li
- Department of Peripheral Vascular, Henan Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine (The Second Affiliated Hospital of Henan University of Traditional Chinese Medicine), Zhengzhou City, Henan Province, China
| | - Xiangke Yuan
- Department of Peripheral Vascular, Henan Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine (The Second Affiliated Hospital of Henan University of Traditional Chinese Medicine), Zhengzhou City, Henan Province, China
| | - Dengfeng Yao
- Department of Peripheral Vascular, Henan Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine (The Second Affiliated Hospital of Henan University of Traditional Chinese Medicine), Zhengzhou City, Henan Province, China
| | - Zongyue Gao
- Department of Peripheral Vascular, Henan Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine (The Second Affiliated Hospital of Henan University of Traditional Chinese Medicine), Zhengzhou City, Henan Province, China
| | - Zhaoyang Niu
- Department of Peripheral Vascular, Henan Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine (The Second Affiliated Hospital of Henan University of Traditional Chinese Medicine), Zhengzhou City, Henan Province, China
| | - Zheng Wang
- Department of Nephrology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Henan University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou City, Henan Province, China
- Zheng Wang Department of Nephrology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Henan University of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Renmin Road, Zhengzhou City, Henan Province, China, 450000
| | - Yue Zhang
- Department of Peripheral Vascular, Affiliated Hospital of Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine (Shandong Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine), Jinan City, Shandong Province, China
- CONTACT Yue Zhang Department of Peripheral Vascular, Affiliated Hospital of Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine (Shandong Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine), 16369 Jingshi Road, Jinan City, Shandong Province250014, China
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31
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Chen W, Xu Y, Li ZH, Si YC, Wang HY, Bian XL, Li L, Guo ZY, Lai XL. Serum metabolic alterations in peritoneal dialysis patients with excessive daytime sleepiness. Ren Fail 2023; 45:2190815. [PMID: 37051665 PMCID: PMC10116928 DOI: 10.1080/0886022x.2023.2190815] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) is associated with quality of life and all-cause mortality in the end-stage renal disease population. This study aims to identify biomarkers and reveal the underlying mechanisms of EDS in peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients. A total of 48 nondiabetic continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis patients were assigned to the EDS group and the non-EDS group according to the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS). Ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole-time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UHPLC-Q-TOF/MS) was used to identify the differential metabolites. Twenty-seven (male/female, 15/12; age, 60.1 ± 16.2 years) PD patients with ESS ≥ 10 were assigned to the EDS group, while twenty-one (male/female, 13/8; age, 57.9 ± 10.1 years) PD patients with ESS < 10 were defined as the non-EDS group. With UHPLC-Q-TOF/MS, 39 metabolites with significant differences between the two groups were found, 9 of which had good correlations with disease severity and were further classified into amino acid, lipid and organic acid metabolism. A total of 103 overlapping target proteins of the differential metabolites and EDS were found. Then, the EDS-metabolite-target network and the protein-protein interaction network were constructed. The metabolomics approach integrated with network pharmacology provides new insights into the early diagnosis and mechanisms of EDS in PD patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Chen
- Department of Nephrology, Shanghai Changhai Hospital, Shanghai, P.R. China
| | - Ying Xu
- Department of Nephrology, Shanghai Changhai Hospital, Shanghai, P.R. China
| | - Zheng-Hao Li
- Institute of Neuroscience and Key Laboratory of Molecular Neurobiology of Military of Education, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, P.R. China
| | - Ya-Chen Si
- Department of Nephrology, Shanghai Changhai Hospital, Shanghai, P.R. China
| | - Hai-Yan Wang
- Department of Nephrology, Shanghai Changhai Hospital, Shanghai, P.R. China
| | - Xiao-Lu Bian
- Department of Nephrology, Shanghai Changhai Hospital, Shanghai, P.R. China
| | - Lu Li
- Department of Nephrology, Shanghai Changhai Hospital, Shanghai, P.R. China
| | - Zhi-Yong Guo
- Department of Nephrology, Shanghai Changhai Hospital, Shanghai, P.R. China
| | - Xue-Li Lai
- Department of Nephrology, Shanghai Changhai Hospital, Shanghai, P.R. China
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Liao W, Wang M, Wu Y, Du J, Li Y, Su A, Zhong L, Xie Z, Gong M, Liang J, Wang P, Liu Z, Wang L. The mechanisms of Huangqi Guizhi Wuwu decoction in treating ischaemic stroke based on network pharmacology and experiment verification. PHARMACEUTICAL BIOLOGY 2023; 61:1014-1029. [PMID: 37410583 DOI: 10.1080/13880209.2023.2230477] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2022] [Revised: 05/31/2023] [Accepted: 06/22/2023] [Indexed: 07/08/2023]
Abstract
CONTEXT Huangqi Guizhi Wuwu Decoction (HGWD) is effective in treating ischaemic stroke (IS). However, its mechanism of action is still unclear. OBJECTIVE Network pharmacology integrated with in vivo experiments were used to clarify the underlying mechanisms of HGWD for treating IS. MATERIALS AND METHODS TCMSP, GeneCards, OMIM and STRING were used to retrieve and construct visual protein interaction networks for the key targets. The AutoDock tool was used for molecular docking between key targets and active compounds. The neuroprotective effect of HGWD were verified in a middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) model rat. The Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were divided into sham, model, low-dose (5 g/kg, i.g.), high-dose (20 g/kg, i.g.), and nimodipine (20 mg/kg, i.g.) groups once daily for 7 days. The neurological scores, brain infarct volumes, lipid peroxidation, inflammatory cytokines, Nissl bodies, apoptotic neurons, and signalling pathways were all investigated and evaluated in vivo. RESULTS Network pharmacology identified 117 HGWD targets related to IS and 36 candidate compounds. GO and KEGG analyses showed that HGWD anti-IS effects were mainly associated with PI3K-Akt and HIF-1 signalling pathways. HGWD effectively reduced the cerebral infarct volumes (19.19%), the number of apoptotic neurons (16.78%), and the release of inflammatory cytokines, etc. in MCAO rats. Furthermore, HGWD decreased the levels of HIF-1A, VEGFA, Bax, cleaved caspase-3, p-MAPK1, and p-c-Jun while increasing the expression of p-PI3K, p-AKT1, and Bcl-2. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION This study initially elucidated the mechanism of HGWD anti-IS, which contributed to the further promotion and secondary development of HGWD in clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weiguo Liao
- College of Chinese Materia Medica, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Minchun Wang
- College of Chinese Materia Medica, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Ying Wu
- College of Chinese Materia Medica, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Jinyan Du
- College of Chinese Materia Medica, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Yaxin Li
- College of Chinese Materia Medica, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Anyu Su
- College of Chinese Materia Medica, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Lanying Zhong
- College of Chinese Materia Medica, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Zi Xie
- College of Chinese Materia Medica, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Mingyu Gong
- College of Chinese Materia Medica, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Junhui Liang
- College of Chinese Materia Medica, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Pengcheng Wang
- College of Chinese Materia Medica, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Zai Liu
- Pharmacy Department, Dongguan Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Dongguan, Guangdong, China
| | - Lisheng Wang
- College of Chinese Materia Medica, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
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Wang L, Zhang C, Pang L, Wang Y. Integrated network pharmacology and experimental validation to explore the potential pharmacological mechanism of Qihuang Granule and its main ingredients in regulating ferroptosis in AMD. BMC Complement Med Ther 2023; 23:420. [PMID: 37990310 PMCID: PMC10664676 DOI: 10.1186/s12906-023-04205-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2023] [Accepted: 10/07/2023] [Indexed: 11/23/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Qihuang Granule (QHG) is a traditional prescription that has exhibited potential in safeguarding against age-related maculopathy (AMD). Salvia miltiorrhiza (SM) and Fructus lycii (FL) are the main components of QHG. Ferroptosis, a newly discovered, iron-dependent, regulated cell death pathway, have been implicated in the pathogenesis of AMD. This study delves into the intricate mechanism by which SM/FL and QHG confer protection against AMD by modulating the ferroptosis pathway, employing a combination of network pharmacology and experimental validation. METHODS Bioactive compounds and potential targets of SM and FL were gathered from databases such as TCMSP, GeneCard, OMIM, and FerrDb, along with AMD-related genes and key genes responsible for ferroptosis regulation. Gene ontology (GO), Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analysis and protein-protein interaction (PPI) network were performed to discover the potential mechanism. The construction of an interaction network involving AMD, ferroptosis, SM/FL potential target genes was facilitated by the STRING database and realized using Cytoscape software. Subsequent validation was accomplished through molecular docking and in vitro cell experiments. RESULTS Noteworthy active compounds including quercetin, tanshinone IIA, luteolin, cryptotanshinone, and hub targets such as HIF-1α, EGFR, IL6, and VEGFA were identified. KEGG enrichment unveiled the HIF-1 signalling pathway as profoundly enriched, and IL6 and VEGF were involved. The molecular docking revealed the significant active compounds with hub genes and quercetin showed good binding to HIF-1α, which is involved in inflammation and angiogenesis. Experimental results verified that both herbs and QHG could regulate key ferroptosis-related targets in the retinal pigment epithelium and inhibit the expression of HIF-1α, VEGFA, and IL-6, subsequently increase cell viability and decrease the ROS content induced by H2O2. CONCLUSION This study demonstrates the molecular mechanism through which SM/FL and QHG protect against AMD and emerges as a plausible mechanism underlying this protection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lu Wang
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, 111DaDe Road, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510120, China
| | - Canyang Zhang
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Second Clinical College of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, 510006, China
| | - Long Pang
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, 111DaDe Road, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510120, China.
| | - Yan Wang
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, 111DaDe Road, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510120, China.
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Guo Y, Wang J, Hua Y, Jiang M, Xu W, Shi Y, Yang J, Wan H, Yang R. Network pharmacology and in vitro experimental verification to reveal the mechanism of Astragaloside IV against kidney ischemia-reperfusion injury. Heliyon 2023; 9:e21711. [PMID: 38027853 PMCID: PMC10660051 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e21711] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2023] [Revised: 10/26/2023] [Accepted: 10/26/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Ischemic acute kidney injury (AKI) is a prevalent disorder among hospitalized patients worldwide. Astragaloside IV (AS-IV) has been shown to protect against ischemic AKI. However, the specific effects and mechanisms of AS-IV on alleviating kidney ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury remain unclear. The objective of this research was to elucidate the regulatory targets and mechanisms through which AS-IV protects kidney I/R injury. A combination of network pharmacology, molecular docking, molecular dynamics (MD) simulation, pharmacodynamic study and Western blot were employed to explore the underlying mechanisms. Network pharmacology revealed that ferroptosis was a potential mechanism of AS-IV against kidney I/R injury. Molecular docking and MD simulations demonstrated strong binding affinity between the GPX4/SLC7A11 and AS-IV. The experimental verification demonstrated that AS-IV improved cell proliferation, decreased the level of ROS and Fe2+, and increased the expressions of GPX4 and SLC7A11 as same as Ferrostatin-1 in OGD/R-injured HUVECs. In conclusion, AS-IV had a significant inhibition on ferroptosis in kidney I/R injury, providing a new perspective for drug development on kidney I/R injury. Definitely, further exploration in vivo is necessary to fully understand whether AS-IV alleviates kidney I/R injury through inhibiting endothelial ferroptosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Guo
- Hangzhou TCM Hospital Affiliated to Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310053, China
- Key Laboratory of Kidney Disease Prevention and Control Technology, Zhejiang Province, 310053, China
| | - Jinfu Wang
- Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310053, China
| | - Yanjie Hua
- Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310053, China
| | - Mengya Jiang
- Hangzhou TCM Hospital Affiliated to Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310053, China
- Key Laboratory of Kidney Disease Prevention and Control Technology, Zhejiang Province, 310053, China
| | - Wanyue Xu
- Hangzhou TCM Hospital Affiliated to Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310053, China
- Key Laboratory of Kidney Disease Prevention and Control Technology, Zhejiang Province, 310053, China
| | - Yanpeng Shi
- Linping Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310053, China
| | - Jiehong Yang
- Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310053, China
| | - Haitong Wan
- Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310053, China
| | - Ruchun Yang
- Hangzhou TCM Hospital Affiliated to Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310053, China
- Key Laboratory of Kidney Disease Prevention and Control Technology, Zhejiang Province, 310053, China
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Liu Y, Tan D, Cui H, Wang J. Ganoderic acid C2 exerts the pharmacological effects against cyclophosphamide-induced immunosuppression: a study involving molecular docking and experimental validation. Sci Rep 2023; 13:17745. [PMID: 37853057 PMCID: PMC10584852 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-44394-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2023] [Accepted: 10/07/2023] [Indexed: 10/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Triterpenoids, as the main active ingredient of Ganoderma lucidum fermented extract, exert multiple pharmacological activities, including immunomodulatory properties. Our study aimed to reveal the pharmacological effects and potential mechanisms of Ganoderic acid C2 (GAC) against cyclophosphamide (CY)-associated immunosuppression. Target genes were collected from several public databases, including the DisGeNET, Comparative Toxicogenomics Database, GeneCards, and PharmMapper. STRING database was used to construct the protein-protein interaction of network. Subsequently, molecular docking was carried out to visualize the protein-GAC interactions. Experimental validations, including ELISA and qRT-PCR were performed to confirm the pharmacological activities of GAC on CY-induced immunosuppression model. A total of 56 GAC-related targets were identified to be closely associated with CY-induced immunosuppression. Enrichment analyses results revealed that these targets were mainly involved in immune and inflammatory response-related pathways. STAT3 and TNF were identified as the core targets of GAC. Molecular docking indicated that GAC combined well with STAT3 and TNF protein. In addition, animal experiments indicated that GAC improved immunity as well as STAT3 and TNF genes expression in CY-induced immunosuppression, which further verified the prediction through bioinformatics analysis and molecular docking. We successfully revealed the potential therapeutics mechanisms underlying the effect of GAC against CY-induced immunosuppression based on the combination of bioinformatics analysis, molecular docking, and animal experiments. Our findings lay a theoretical foundation for the in-depth development and utilization of Ganoderma lucidum fermentation product in the future, and also provide theoretical guidance for the development of innovative drugs that assist in improving immunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuchen Liu
- School of Life Science and Technology, Harbin Normal University (Songbei Campus), No. 1, Shida Road, Hulan District, Harbin, 150025, Heilongjiang Province, China
| | - Dongsheng Tan
- College of Life Science, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, 150040, China
| | - Hong Cui
- School of Life Science and Technology, Harbin Normal University (Songbei Campus), No. 1, Shida Road, Hulan District, Harbin, 150025, Heilongjiang Province, China
| | - Jihua Wang
- School of Life Science and Technology, Harbin Normal University (Songbei Campus), No. 1, Shida Road, Hulan District, Harbin, 150025, Heilongjiang Province, China.
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Feng L, Zhu S, Ma J, Hong Y, Wan M, Qiu Q, Li H, Li J. Integrated bioinformatics analysis and network pharmacology to explore the potential mechanism of Patrinia heterophylla Bunge against acute promyelocytic leukemia. Medicine (Baltimore) 2023; 102:e35151. [PMID: 37800842 PMCID: PMC10553026 DOI: 10.1097/md.0000000000035151] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2023] [Accepted: 08/18/2023] [Indexed: 10/07/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Current treatment with arsenic trioxide and all-trans retinoic acid has greatly improved the therapeutic efficacy and prognosis of acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL), but may cause numerous adverse effects. Patrinia heterophylla Bunge (PHEB), commonly known as "Mu-Tou-Hui" in China, is effective in treating leukemia. However, no studies have reported the use of PHEB for APL treatment. In this study, we aimed to investigate the potential anticancer mechanism of PHEB against APL. METHODS Public databases were used to search for bioactive compounds in PHEB, their potential targets, differentially expressed genes associated with APL, and therapeutic targets for APL. The core targets and signaling pathways of PHEB against APL were identified by the protein-protein interaction network, Kaplan-Meier curves, Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway enrichment, and compound-target-pathway network analysis. Molecular docking was performed to predict the binding activity between the most active compounds and the key targets. RESULTS Quercetin and 2 other active components of PHEB may exert anti-APL effects through proteoglycans in cancer, estrogen signaling, and acute myeloid leukemia pathways. We also identified 6 core targets of the bioactive compounds of PHEB, including protein tyrosine phosphatase receptor type C, proto-oncogene tyrosine-protein kinase Src, mitogen-activated protein kinase phosphatase 3 (MAPK3), matrix metalloproteinase-9, vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2, and myeloperoxidase, most of which were validated to improve the 5-year survival of patients. Molecular docking results showed that the active compound bound well to key targets. CONCLUSION The results not only predict the active ingredients and potential molecular mechanisms of PHEB against APL, but also help to guide further investigation into the anti-APL application of PHEB.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liya Feng
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, Longdong University, Qingyang, Gansu, P. R. China
| | - Sha Zhu
- Gansu Province Medical Genetics Center, Gansu Provincial Maternity and Child-Care Hospital, Lanzhou, Gansu, P. R. China
| | - Jian Ma
- Key Lab of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu, P. R. China
| | - Yali Hong
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, Longdong University, Qingyang, Gansu, P. R. China
| | - Meixia Wan
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, Longdong University, Qingyang, Gansu, P. R. China
| | - Qian Qiu
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, Longdong University, Qingyang, Gansu, P. R. China
| | - Hongjing Li
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, Longdong University, Qingyang, Gansu, P. R. China
| | - Juan Li
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, Longdong University, Qingyang, Gansu, P. R. China
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Yang X, Wang L, Cui X, Zhang J, Liang Y, Luo Z, Zhou B, Jiang Z, Yang RYH, Wu Y, Wei K, Du M, Qin S, Dai C, Zhao G. Proteomics and network pharmacology of Ganshu Nuodan capsules in the prevention of alcoholic liver disease. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2023; 14:1229777. [PMID: 37795374 PMCID: PMC10547213 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2023.1229777] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2023] [Accepted: 07/25/2023] [Indexed: 10/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Ganshu Nuodan is a liver-protecting dietary supplement composed of Ganoderma lucidum (G. lucidum) spore powder, Pueraria montana (Lour.) Merr. (P. montana), Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge (S. miltiorrhiza) and Astragalus membranaceus (Fisch.) Bunge. (A. membranaceus). However, its pharmacodynamic material basis and mechanism of action remain unknown. Methods A mouse model of acute alcohol liver disease (ALD) induced by intragastric administration of 50% alcohol was used to evaluate the hepatoprotective effect of Ganshu Nuodan. The chemical constituents of Ganshu Nuodan were comprehensively identified by UPLC-QTOF/MS, and then its pharmacodynamic material basis and potential mechanism of action were explored by proteomics and network pharmacology. Results Ganshu Nuodan could ameliorate acute ALD, which is mainly manifested in the significant reduction of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) in serum and malondialdehyde (MDA) content in liver and the remarkably increase of glutathione (GSH) content and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity in liver. Totally 76 chemical constituents were identified from Ganshu Nuodan by UPLC-QTOF/MS, including 21 quinones, 18 flavonoids, 11 organic acids, 7 terpenoids, 5 ketones, 4 sterols, 3 coumarins and 7 others. Three key signaling pathways were identified via proteomics studies, namely Arachidonic acid metabolism, Retinol metabolism, and HIF-1 signaling pathway respectively. Combined with network pharmacology and molecular docking, six key targets were subsequently obtained, including Ephx2, Lta4h, Map2k1, Stat3, Mtor and Dgat1. Finally, these six key targets and their related components were verified by molecular docking, which could explain the material basis of the hepatoprotective effect of Ganshu Nuodan. Conclusion Ganshu Nuodan can protect acute alcohol-induced liver injury in mice by inhibiting oxidative stress, lipid accumulation and apoptosis. Our study provides a scientific basis for the hepatoprotective effect of Ganshu Nuodan in acute ALD mice and supports its traditional application.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaonan Yang
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Medicinal Resources Protection and Genetic Improvement, National Engineering Research Center for Southwest Endangered Medicinal Resources Development, National Center for TCM Inheritance and Innovation, Guangxi Botanical Garden of Medicinal Plants, Nanning, China
| | - Lei Wang
- Department of Ultrasound, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated To Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, China
| | - Xuejie Cui
- Ministry of Education (MOE) Joint International Research Laboratory of Animal Health and Food Safety, College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
- College of Pharmacy, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, China
| | - Jing Zhang
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shandong Mental Health Center, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Ying Liang
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Medicinal Resources Protection and Genetic Improvement, National Engineering Research Center for Southwest Endangered Medicinal Resources Development, National Center for TCM Inheritance and Innovation, Guangxi Botanical Garden of Medicinal Plants, Nanning, China
| | - Zhaojing Luo
- Ministry of Education (MOE) Joint International Research Laboratory of Animal Health and Food Safety, College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
| | - Bingxue Zhou
- Ministry of Education (MOE) Joint International Research Laboratory of Animal Health and Food Safety, College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
| | - Zheng Jiang
- Ministry of Education (MOE) Joint International Research Laboratory of Animal Health and Food Safety, College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
| | - Rachel Y. H. Yang
- Upper School, La Jolla Country Day School, La Jolla, CA, United States
| | - Yi Wu
- Department of Ultrasound, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated To Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, China
| | - Kunhua Wei
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Medicinal Resources Protection and Genetic Improvement, National Engineering Research Center for Southwest Endangered Medicinal Resources Development, National Center for TCM Inheritance and Innovation, Guangxi Botanical Garden of Medicinal Plants, Nanning, China
| | - Maobo Du
- Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Shuangshuang Qin
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Medicinal Resources Protection and Genetic Improvement, National Engineering Research Center for Southwest Endangered Medicinal Resources Development, National Center for TCM Inheritance and Innovation, Guangxi Botanical Garden of Medicinal Plants, Nanning, China
| | - Chen Dai
- College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
| | - Guoliang Zhao
- Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Provincial Qianfoshan Hospital, Jinan, China
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Zhang X, Wang B, Chen S, Fu Y. Protective effects of Typhonii Rhizoma in rheumatoid arthritis rats revealed by integrated metabolomics and network pharmacology. Biomed Chromatogr 2023; 37:e5683. [PMID: 37161606 DOI: 10.1002/bmc.5683] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2023] [Revised: 04/14/2023] [Accepted: 05/06/2023] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease with a 0.5% prevalence worldwide. Inflammation, periosteal proliferation and joint destruction are the main clinical symptoms of RA. Typhonii Rhizoma (TR) is the dry tuber of the Araceae plant Typhonium giganteum Engl, and possesses many uses such as dispelling obstructive wind-phlegm and relieving pain. It is used for the clinical treatment of arthromyodynia and RA. However, the mechanism of action remains unclear. In this study, we first evaluated the effects of TR in type II collagen-induced RA model rats. Secondly, in serum metabolomics, TR could ameliorate 11 potential metabolites in RA model rats and reversed RA through pentose and glucuronate interconversions, sphingolipid metabolism, glycerophospholipid metabolism and tryptophan metabolism. To further explore the mechanisms of TR, 40 chemical constituents were used to establish a component-target interaction network. Some key genes were verified by in vitro pharmacological tests by integrating the results from the network pharmacology and metabolomics. The verification results showed that the mechanisms of TR against RA may be related to the inhibition of the production of inflammatory cytokines and the expression and function of HIF1-α. This study serves as a theoretical basis for the treatment of RA with TR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinya Zhang
- School of Pharmacy, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Biying Wang
- School of Pharmacy, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Suiqing Chen
- School of Pharmacy, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
- Collaborative Innovation Center for Respiratory Disease Diagnosis and Treatment and Chinese Medicine Development of Henan Province, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Yu Fu
- School of Pharmacy, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
- Henan Lingrui Pharmaceutical Company, Xinyang, Henan, China
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Chen H, Zhang X, Li J, Xu Z, Luo Y, Chai R, Luo R, Bian Y, Liu Y. Discovering Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Formulas for Complex Diseases Based on a Combination of Reverse Systematic Pharmacology and TCM Meridian Tropism Theory: Taking COVID-19 as an Example. ACS OMEGA 2023; 8:26871-26881. [PMID: 37546617 PMCID: PMC10398703 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.3c01489] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2023] [Accepted: 07/06/2023] [Indexed: 08/08/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Infections and death have been a part of our daily lives since the COVID-2019 pandemic outbreak in 2019, and the societal and economic consequences have lingered for an unanticipated duration. Novel and effective treatments are still desperately needed around the world to combat the infection. Here, we discovered a novel traditional Chinese medicine formula (TCMF) to potentially combat COVID-19 through reverse systematic pharmacology (disease → targets → TCMF → disease). METHODS Combining Integrative network pharmacology and the traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) theory, a TCMF for COVID-19 was identified. In silico physiological interactions between herbs and disease hub targets were validated by molecular docking and dynamics simulation. RESULTS Based on disease-related gene/pathway targets and a combination of reverse pharmacology and TCM meridian tropism theory, a COVID-19-associated herb database was constructed. A new TCMF, including Gancao, Baitouweng, Congbai, and Diyu (GBCD), was discovered for anti-COVID-19 therapy. The KEGG and GO analyses of 49 intersecting genes suggested that GBCD could combat COVID-19 through antiviral, antiinflammation, immunoregulation, and cytoprotection activities. Moreover, these possible effects were validated through docking and MD simulation. CONCLUSIONS To the best of our knowledge, this study is the first to combine reverse pharmacology and meridian tropism theories for TCMF development, and a novel herbal combination, GBCD, was discovered for anti-COVID-19 therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongbo Chen
- School
of Nursing, Tianjin University of Traditional
Chinese Medicine, 10 Poyanghu Road, West Area, Tuanbo New Town, Jinghai
District, Tianjin 301617, P. R. China
| | - Xiaohong Zhang
- School
of Nursing, Tianjin University of Traditional
Chinese Medicine, 10 Poyanghu Road, West Area, Tuanbo New Town, Jinghai
District, Tianjin 301617, P. R. China
| | - Jiaying Li
- School
of Integrative Medicine, Tianjin University
of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 10 Poyanghu Road, West Area, Tuanbo New Town, Jinghai
District, Tianjin 301617, P. R. China
| | - Zhe Xu
- School
of Integrative Medicine, Tianjin University
of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 10 Poyanghu Road, West Area, Tuanbo New Town, Jinghai
District, Tianjin 301617, P. R. China
| | - Yiwei Luo
- School
of Nursing, Tianjin University of Traditional
Chinese Medicine, 10 Poyanghu Road, West Area, Tuanbo New Town, Jinghai
District, Tianjin 301617, P. R. China
| | - Rundong Chai
- School
of Integrative Medicine, Tianjin University
of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 10 Poyanghu Road, West Area, Tuanbo New Town, Jinghai
District, Tianjin 301617, P. R. China
| | - Ruzhen Luo
- School
of Nursing, Tianjin University of Traditional
Chinese Medicine, 10 Poyanghu Road, West Area, Tuanbo New Town, Jinghai
District, Tianjin 301617, P. R. China
| | - Yuhong Bian
- School
of Integrative Medicine, Tianjin University
of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 10 Poyanghu Road, West Area, Tuanbo New Town, Jinghai
District, Tianjin 301617, P. R. China
| | - Yanhui Liu
- School
of Nursing, Tianjin University of Traditional
Chinese Medicine, 10 Poyanghu Road, West Area, Tuanbo New Town, Jinghai
District, Tianjin 301617, P. R. China
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40
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Guo R, Shang JH, Ye RH, Zhao YL, Luo XD. Pharmacological investigation of indole alkaloids from Alstonia scholaris against chronic glomerulonephritis. PHYTOMEDICINE : INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHYTOTHERAPY AND PHYTOPHARMACOLOGY 2023; 118:154958. [PMID: 37453192 DOI: 10.1016/j.phymed.2023.154958] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2023] [Revised: 06/05/2023] [Accepted: 07/07/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND As one of the most commonly used folk medicines in "Dai" ethno-medicine system, Alstonia scholaris (l.) R. Br. has also been used for treat "water related diseases", such as chronic kidney disease. However, few study was reported for it on the intervention of chronic glomerulonephritis (CGN). PURPOSE To investigate the effect and potential mechanism of indole alkaloids from A. scholaris leaves in ICR mice with adriamycin nephropathy, as well as providing experimental evidence for the further application. METHODS ICR Mice were selected for injections of adriamycin (ADR) to induce the CGN model and administered total alkaloids (TA) and four main alkaloids continuously for 42 and 28 days, respectively. The pharmacological effects were indicated by serum, urine, and renal pathological observations. The targets and pathways of indole alkaloids on CGN intervention were predicted using the network pharmacology approach, and the immortalized mice glomerular podocyte (MPC5) cells model stimulated by ADR was subsequently selected to further verify this by western blotting and RT-qPCR methods. RESULTS TA and four major compounds dramatically reduced the levels of urinary protein, serum urea nitrogen (BUN), and creatinine (CRE) in ADR - induced CGN mice, while increasing serum albumin (ALB) and total protein (TP) levels as well as ameliorating kidney damage. Moreover, four alkaloids effected on 33 major target proteins and 153 pathways in the CGN, among which, PI3K-Akt as the main pathway, an important pathway for kidney protection by network pharmacology prediction, and then the four target proteins - HRAS, CDK2, HSP90AA1, and KDR were screened. As a result, Val-and Epi can exert a protective effect on ADR-stimulated MPC5 cells injury at a concentration of 50 μM. Furthermore, the proteins and RNA expression of HRAS, HSP90AA1, and KDR were down-regulated, and CDK2 was up-regulated after the intervention of Val-and Epi, which were supported by Western blotting and RT-qPCR. Additionally, Val-and Epi inhibited ROS production in the MPC5 cells model. CONCLUSION This study is the first to confirm the potential therapeutic effect of alkaloids from A. scholaris on CGN. TA with major bioactive components (vallesamine and 19‑epi-scholaricine) could exert protective effects against the ADR-induced CGN by regulating four key proteins: HRAS, CDK2, HSP90AA1, and KDR of the PI3K-Akt pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rui Guo
- Yunnan Characteristic Plant Extraction Laboratory, Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemistry for Natural Resource, Ministry of Education and Yunnan Province, School of Chemical Science and Technology, Yunnan University, Kunming 650500, PR China; Chinese Materia Medica, Yunnan University of Chinese Medicine, Kunming 650500, PR China
| | - Jian-Hua Shang
- State Key Laboratory of Phytochemistry and Plant Resources in West China, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences Kunming 650201, PR China
| | - Rui-Han Ye
- Chinese Materia Medica, Yunnan University of Chinese Medicine, Kunming 650500, PR China
| | - Yun-Li Zhao
- Yunnan Characteristic Plant Extraction Laboratory, Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemistry for Natural Resource, Ministry of Education and Yunnan Province, School of Chemical Science and Technology, Yunnan University, Kunming 650500, PR China.
| | - Xiao-Dong Luo
- Yunnan Characteristic Plant Extraction Laboratory, Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemistry for Natural Resource, Ministry of Education and Yunnan Province, School of Chemical Science and Technology, Yunnan University, Kunming 650500, PR China; State Key Laboratory of Phytochemistry and Plant Resources in West China, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences Kunming 650201, PR China.
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Cai B, Lu H, Ye Q, Xiao Q, Wu X, Xu H. Identification of potent target and its mechanism of action of Tripterygium wilfordii Hook F in the treatment of lupus nephritis. Int J Rheum Dis 2023. [PMID: 37317623 DOI: 10.1111/1756-185x.14780] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2023] [Revised: 04/11/2023] [Accepted: 05/28/2023] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
AIM The Chinese anti-rheumatic herbal remedy Tripterygium wilfordii Hook F (TWHF) has been widely shown to be effective in treating lupus nephritis (LN), but the therapeutic targets and mechanisms of action are still unclear. In this study, we aimed to combine mRNA expression profile analysis and network pharmacology analysis to screen the pathogenic genes and pathways involved in LN and to explore the potential targets of TWHF in the treatment of LN. METHODS The mRNA expression profiles of LN patients were used to screen differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and to predict associated pathogenic pathways and networks via the Ingenuity Pathway Analysis database. Through molecular docking, we predicted the mechanism by which TWHF interacts with candidate targets. RESULTS A total of 351 DEGs were screened from the glomeruli of LN patients and were mainly concentrated in the role of pattern recognition receptors in the recognition of bacteria and viruses and interferon signaling pathways. A total of 130 DEGs were screened from the tubulointerstitium of LN patients, which were concentrated in the interferon signaling pathway. TWHF might be effective in treating LN by hydrogen bonding to regulate the functions of 24 DEGs (including HMOX1, ALB, and CASP1), which are mainly concentrated in the B-cell signaling pathway. CONCLUSION The mRNA expression profile of renal tissue from LN patients revealed a large number of DEGs. TWHF has been shown to interact with the DEGs (including HMOX1, ALB and CASP1) through hydrogen bonding to treat LN.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bin Cai
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Shanghai Changzheng Hospital, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Hongjuan Lu
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Shanghai Changzheng Hospital, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Qianyi Ye
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Shanghai Changzheng Hospital, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Qingqing Xiao
- Department of Cardiology, Shanghai Chest Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Xin Wu
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Shanghai Changzheng Hospital, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Huji Xu
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Shanghai Changzheng Hospital, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, China
- School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
- Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
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Zhao L, Zhang H, Li N, Chen J, Xu H, Wang Y, Liang Q. Network pharmacology, a promising approach to reveal the pharmacology mechanism of Chinese medicine formula. JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY 2023; 309:116306. [PMID: 36858276 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2023.116306] [Citation(s) in RCA: 138] [Impact Index Per Article: 138.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2022] [Revised: 02/06/2023] [Accepted: 02/19/2023] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE Network pharmacology is a new discipline based on systems biology theory, biological system network analysis, and multi-target drug molecule design specific signal node selection. The mechanism of action of TCM formula has the characteristics of multiple targets and levels. The mechanism is similar to the integrity, systematization and comprehensiveness of network pharmacology, so network pharmacology is suitable for the study of the pharmacological mechanism of Chinese medicine compounds. AIM OF THE STUDY The paper summarizes the present application status and existing problems of network pharmacology in the field of Chinese medicine formula, and formulates the research ideas, up-to-date key technology and application method and strategy of network pharmacology. Its purpose is to provide guidance and reference for using network pharmacology to reveal the modern scientific connotation of Chinese medicine. MATERIALS AND METHODS Literatures in this review were searched in PubMed, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Web of Science, ScienceDirect and Google Scholar using the keywords "traditional Chinese medicine", "Chinese herb medicine" and "network pharmacology". The literature cited in this review dates from 2002 to 2022. RESULTS Using network pharmacology methods to predict the basis and mechanism of pharmacodynamic substances of traditional Chinese medicines has become a trend. CONCLUSION Network pharmacology is a promising approach to reveal the pharmacology mechanism of Chinese medicine formula.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li Zhao
- Longhua Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 200032, China; Spine Institute, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 201203, China; Key Laboratory of Ministry of Education of Theory and Therapy of Muscles and Bones, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Hong Zhang
- Longhua Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 200032, China; Spine Institute, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 201203, China; Key Laboratory of Ministry of Education of Theory and Therapy of Muscles and Bones, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Ning Li
- Longhua Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 200032, China; Spine Institute, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 201203, China; Key Laboratory of Ministry of Education of Theory and Therapy of Muscles and Bones, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Jinman Chen
- Longhua Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 200032, China; Spine Institute, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 201203, China; Key Laboratory of Ministry of Education of Theory and Therapy of Muscles and Bones, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Hao Xu
- Longhua Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 200032, China; Spine Institute, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 201203, China; Key Laboratory of Ministry of Education of Theory and Therapy of Muscles and Bones, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Yongjun Wang
- Longhua Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 200032, China; Spine Institute, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 201203, China; Key Laboratory of Ministry of Education of Theory and Therapy of Muscles and Bones, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 200032, China.
| | - Qianqian Liang
- Longhua Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 200032, China; Spine Institute, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 201203, China; Key Laboratory of Ministry of Education of Theory and Therapy of Muscles and Bones, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 200032, China.
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Panossian A. Challenges in phytotherapy research. Front Pharmacol 2023; 14:1199516. [PMID: 37324491 PMCID: PMC10264668 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2023.1199516] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2023] [Accepted: 05/18/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Alexander Panossian
- Phytomed AB, Västervik, Sweden
- EuroPharma USA Inc., Green Bay, WI, United States
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Zhou HF, Yang C, Li JY, He YY, Huang Y, Qin RJ, Zhou QL, Sun F, Hu DS, Yang J. Quercetin serves as the major component of Xiang-lian Pill to ameliorate ulcerative colitis via tipping the balance of STAT1/PPARγ and dictating the alternative activation of macrophage. JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY 2023; 313:116557. [PMID: 37142141 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2023.116557] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2022] [Revised: 04/21/2023] [Accepted: 04/24/2023] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE The traditional Chinese herbal formula, Xiang-lian Pill (XLP), is commonly prescribed for ulcerative colitis (UC) patients to relieve their clinical symptom. Nonetheless, the underlying cellular and molecular mechanisms of XLP's anti-UC effect remain incompletely understood. AIM OF THE STUDY To evaluate the therapeutic effect and elucidate the possible working mechanisms of XLP in UC treatment. The major active component of XLP was also characterized. MATERIALS AND METHODS Colitis was induced in C57BL/6 mice with 3% dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) dissolved in drinking water for 7 consecutive days. The UC mice were grouped and treated with XLP (3640 mg/kg) or vehicle orally during the procedure of DSS induction. Mouse body weight, disease activity index (DAI) score and colon length were recorded. Histopathological changes and inflammatory cell infiltration were evaluated by pathological staining and flow cytometric analysis (FACS). Network pharmacology, bioinformatic analysis, widely targeted and targeted metabolomics analysis were performed to screen the potential effective ingredients and key targets. Bone marrow derived macrophages (BMDMs), peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), RAW264.7 and THP-1 cells were used to dissect the anti-inflammatory effect of XLP. RESULTS Oral administration of XLP ameliorated DSS induced mouse colitis, as evidenced by reduced DAI and colonic inflammatory destruction. FACS results demonstrated that XLP treatment effectively restored immune tolerance in colon, inhibited the generation of monocyte derived macrophages and skewed macrophage polarization into M2 phenotype. Network pharmacology analysis suggested that innate effector modules related to macrophage activation comprise the major targets of XLP, and the counter-regulatory STAT1/PPARγ signaling possibly serves as the critical downstream pathway. Subsequent experiments unveiled an imbalance of STAT1/PPARγ signaling in monocytes derived from UC patients, and validated that XLP suppressed LPS/IFN-γ induced macrophage activation (STAT1 mediated) but facilitated IL-4 induced macrophage M2 polarization (PPARγ dependent). Meanwhile, our data showed that quercetin served as the major component of XLP to recapitulate the regulatory effect on macrophages. CONCLUSION Our findings revealed that quercetin serves as the major component of XLP that regulates macrophage alternative activation via tipping the balance of STAT1/PPARγ, which provides a mechanistic explanation for the therapeutic effect of XLP in UC treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hai-Feng Zhou
- Department of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430022, China.
| | - Chao Yang
- Department of Geratology, Hubei Provincial Hospital of Integrated Chinese & Western Medicine, Wuhan, 430015, China.
| | - Jun-Yi Li
- Department of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430022, China.
| | - Yu-Yao He
- Department of Anesthesiology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430022, China.
| | - Yun Huang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450000, China.
| | - Ren-Jie Qin
- Department of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430022, China.
| | - Qiao-Li Zhou
- Department of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430022, China.
| | - Fei Sun
- The Center for Biomedical Research, Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Key Laboratory of Pulmonary Diseases of Health Ministry, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Sciences and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China.
| | - De-Sheng Hu
- Department of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430022, China.
| | - Jia Yang
- Department of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430022, China.
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Dai Y, Liu P, Wen W, Li P, Yang C, Wang P, Xu S. Sarsasapogenin, a principal active component absorbed into blood of total saponins of Anemarrhena, attenuates proliferation and invasion in rheumatoid arthritis fibroblast-like synoviocytes through downregulating PKM2 inhibited pathological glycolysis. Phytother Res 2023; 37:1951-1967. [PMID: 36631974 DOI: 10.1002/ptr.7712] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2022] [Revised: 12/12/2022] [Accepted: 12/12/2022] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
Increased glycolytic in fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLS) of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) not only contributes to early-stage disease pathogenesis but leads to sustained proliferation of FLS. Given the importance of PKM2 in glycolysis and apoptosis, PKM2 is considered a potential therapeutic and drug discovery target in RA. Total saponins of anemarrhena (TSA), a class of steroid saponins, originated from Anemarrhena asphodeloides Bge. In this study, we verified that 200 mg/kg TSA could significantly alleviate inflammation and the pathological characteristics of RA and inhibit synovial hyperplasia in AA rats. We confirmed that sarsasapogenin (SA) was the principal active ingredient absorbed into the blood of TSA by the UPLC/Q Exactive MS test. Then we used TNF-α-induced MH7A to get the conclusion that 20 μM SA could effectively inhibit the glycolysis by inhibiting the activity of PKM2 tetramer and glucose uptake. Moreover, 20 μM SA could suppress proliferation, migration, invasion, and cytokine release of FLS, interfere with the growth cycle of FLS, and induce FLS apoptosis by depressing the phosphorylation of PKM2. At last, In-1, a potent inhibitor of the PKM2 was used to reverse verify the above results. Taken together, the key mechanisms of SA on RA treatment through downregulating the activity of PKM2 tetramer and phosphorylation of PKM2 inhibited pathological glycolysis and induced apoptosis to exert inhibition on the proliferation and invasion of RA FLS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuan Dai
- School of Health Preservation and Rehabilitation, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
- Institute of Meterial Medica Integration and Transformation for Brain Disorders, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Panwang Liu
- Institute of Meterial Medica Integration and Transformation for Brain Disorders, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
- School of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Wen Wen
- Institute of Meterial Medica Integration and Transformation for Brain Disorders, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
- School of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Ping Li
- Institute of Meterial Medica Integration and Transformation for Brain Disorders, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
- School of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Chen Yang
- Antibiotics Research and Re-evaluation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Industrial Institute of Antibiotics, Chengdu University, Chengdu, China
| | - Ping Wang
- Institute of Meterial Medica Integration and Transformation for Brain Disorders, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
- School of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Shijun Xu
- Institute of Meterial Medica Integration and Transformation for Brain Disorders, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
- School of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
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Chen Y, Zhang C, Wang N, Feng Y. Deciphering suppressive effects of Lianhua Qingwen Capsule on COVID-19 and synergistic effects of its major botanical drug pairs. Chin J Nat Med 2023; 21:383-400. [PMID: 37245876 DOI: 10.1016/s1875-5364(23)60455-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2022] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in excess deaths worldwide. Conventional antiviral medicines have been used to relieve the symptoms, with limited therapeutic effect. In contrast, Lianhua Qingwen Capsule is reported to exert remarkable anti-COVID-19 effect. The current review aims to: 1) uncover the main pharmacological actions of Lianhua Qingwen Capsule for managing COVID-19; 2) verify the bioactive ingredients and pharmacological actions of Lianhua Qingwen Capsule by network analysis; 3) investigate the compatibility effect of major botanical drug pairs in Lianhua Qingwen Capsule; and 4) clarify the clinical evidence and safety of the combined therapy of Lianhua Qingwen Capsule and conventional drugs. Numerous bioactive ingredients in Lianhu Qingwen, such as quercetin, naringenin, β-sitosterol, luteolin, and stigmasterol, were identified to target host cytokines, and to regulate the immune defence in response to COVID-19. Genes including androgen receptor (AR), myeloperoxidase (MPO), epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), insulin (INS), and aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) were found to be significantly involved in the pharmacological actions of Lianhua Qingwen Capsule against COVID-19. Four botanical drug pairs in Lianhua Qingwen Capsule were shown to have synergistic effect for the treatment of COVID-19. Clinical studies demonstrated the medicinal effect of the combined use of Lianhua Qingwen Capsule and conventional drugs against COVID-19. In conclusion, the four main pharmacological mechanisms of Lianhua Qingwen Capsule for managing COVID-19 are revealed. Therapeutic effect has been noted against COVID-19 in Lianhua Qingwen Capsule.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuanyuan Chen
- School of Chinese Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong 999077, China
| | - Cheng Zhang
- School of Chinese Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong 999077, China
| | - Ning Wang
- School of Chinese Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong 999077, China.
| | - Yibin Feng
- School of Chinese Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong 999077, China.
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Li J, Chang RY, Chen LF, Qian SH, Wang RY, Lan JL, Huang L, Ding XH. Potential Targets and Mechanisms of Jiedu Quyu Ziyin Decoction for Treating SLE-GIOP: Based on Network Pharmacology and Molecular Docking. J Immunol Res 2023; 2023:8942415. [PMID: 37026113 PMCID: PMC10072964 DOI: 10.1155/2023/8942415] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2022] [Revised: 02/23/2023] [Accepted: 03/02/2023] [Indexed: 03/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is characterized by poor regulation of the immune response leading to chronic inflammation and multiple organ dysfunction. Glucocorticoid (GC) is currently one of the main treatments. However, a high dose or prolonged use of GC may result in glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis (GIOP). Jiedu Quyu Ziyin decoction (JP) is effective in treating SLE and previous clinical studies have proved that JP can prevent and treat SLE steroid osteoporosis (SLE-GIOP). We aim to examine JPs main mechanism on SLE-GIOP through network pharmacology and molecular docking. Methods TCMSP and TCMID databases were used to screen potential active compounds and targets of JP. The SLE-GIOP targets are collected from GeneCards, OMIM, PharmGkb, TTD, and DrugBank databases. R software was used to obtain the cross-targets of JP and SLE-GIOP and to perform GO and KEGG enrichment analysis. Cytoscape software was used to make the Chinese Medicines-Active Ingredient-Intersection Targets network diagram. STRING database construct protein-protein interaction network and obtain the core targets. Auto Dock Tools and Pymol software were used for docking. Results Fifty eight targets overlapped between JP and SLE-GIOP were suggested as potential targets of JP in the treatment of SLE-GIOP. Network topology analysis identified five core targets. GO enrichment analysis was obtained 1,968 items, and the top 10 biological process, closeness centrality, and molecular function were displayed. A total of 154 signaling pathways were obtained by KEGG enrichment analysis, and the top 30 signaling pathways were displayed. JP was well bound by MAPK1, TP53, and MYC according to the molecular docking results. Conclusion We investigated the potential targets and signaling pathways of JP against SLE-GIOP in this study. It shows that JP is most likely to achieve the purpose of treating SLE-GIOP by promoting the proliferation and differentiation of osteoblasts. A solid theoretical foundation will be provided for the future study of clinical and experimental topics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Li
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Run-yu Chang
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Lin-feng Chen
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Su-hai Qian
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Rong-yun Wang
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Ji-le Lan
- College of Pharmaceutical Science, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Lin Huang
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Xing-hong Ding
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China
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Mechanism Repositioning Based on Integrative Pharmacology: Anti-Inflammatory Effect of Safflower in Myocardial Ischemia–Reperfusion Injury. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24065313. [PMID: 36982389 PMCID: PMC10048972 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24065313] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2023] [Revised: 02/21/2023] [Accepted: 02/28/2023] [Indexed: 03/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius. L) possesses anti-tumor, anti-thrombotic, anti-oxidative, immunoregulatory, and cardio-cerebral protective effects. It is used clinically for the treatment of cardio-cerebrovascular disease in China. This study aimed to investigate the effects and mechanisms of action of safflower extract on myocardial ischemia–reperfusion (MIR) injury in a left anterior descending (LAD)-ligated model based on integrative pharmacology study and ultra-performance liquid chromatography–quadrupole time-of-flight-tandem mass spectrometer (UPLC-QTOF-MS/MS). Safflower (62.5, 125, 250 mg/kg) was administered immediately before reperfusion. Triphenyl tetrazolium chloride (TTC)/Evans blue, echocardiography, terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL) assay, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) ability, and superoxide dismutase (SOD) levels were determined after 24 h of reperfusion. Chemical components were obtained using UPLC-QTOF-MS/MS. Gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analyses were performed. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and Western blotting were used to analyze mRNA and protein levels, respectively. Safflower dose-dependently reduced myocardial infarct size, improved cardiac function, decreased LDH levels, and increased SOD levels in C57/BL6 mice. A total of 11 key components and 31 hub targets were filtered based on the network analysis. Comprehensive analysis indicated that safflower alleviated inflammatory effects by downregulating the expression of NFκB1, IL-6, IL-1β, IL-18, TNFα, and MCP-1 and upregulating NFκBia, and markedly increased the expression of phosphorylated PI3K, AKT, PKC, and ERK/2, HIF1α, VEGFA, and BCL2, and decreased the level of BAX and phosphorylated p65. Safflower shows a significant cardioprotective effect by activating multiple inflammation-related signaling pathways, including the NFκB, HIF-1α, MAPK, TNF, and PI3K/AKT signaling pathways. These findings provide valuable insights into the clinical applications of safflower.
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Wang YC, Hui JR, Xiao G, Ma QL. Mechanism of Key Ingredient of Astragalus membranaceus on Lung Adenocarcinoma via PI3K/AKT Signaling Clarified by Utilizing Network Pharmacology Approach and Experimental Validation. Chin J Integr Med 2023; 29:244-252. [PMID: 36044117 DOI: 10.1007/s11655-022-3681-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To investigate the mechanism of the effect of Astragalus membranaceus (A. membranaceus) on lung adenocarcinoma at the molecular level to elucidate the specific targets according to the network pharmacology approach. METHODS The active components of A. membranaceus and their potential targets were collected from the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database. Lung adenocarcinoma-associated genes were acquired based on GeneCards, Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man (OMIM), PharmGKB, and Therapeutic Targets databases. The PI3K/AKT signaling pathway-related genes were obtained using Reactome portal. Networks of "ingredient-target" and "ingredient-target-pathway-disease" were constructed using the Cytoscape3.6.0 software. The relationships among targets were analyzed according protein-protein interaction (PPI) network. Finally, molecular docking was applied to construct the binding conformation between active ingredients and core targets. Cell counting kit 8 (CCK8) and Western blot assays were performed to determine the mechanism of the key ingredient of A. membranaceus. RESULTS A total of 20 active components and their 329 targets, and 7,501 lung adenocarcinoma-related genes and 130 PI3K/AKT signaling pathway-related genes were obtained. According to Venn diagram and PPI network analysis, 2 mainly active ingredients, including kaempferol and quercetin, and 6 core targets, including TP53, MAPK1, EGF, AKT1, ERBB2, and EGFR, were identified. The two important active ingredients of A. membranaceus, kaempferol and quercetin, exert the therapeutic effect in lung adenocarcinoma partly by acting on the 6 core targets (TP53, MAPK1, EGF, AKT1, ERBB2, and EGFR) of PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. Expressions of potential targets in lung adenocarcinoma and normal samples were analyzed by using UALCAN portal and found that ERBB2 was overexpressed in lung adenocarcinoma tissues and upregulation of it correlated with clinicopathological characteristics. Finally, quercetin repressed viabilities of lung adenocarcinoma cells by targeting ERBB2 on PI3K/AKT signaling confirmed by CCK8 and Western blot. CONCLUSION Our finding unraveled that an active ingredient of A. membranaceus, quercetin, significantly inhibited the lung adenocarcinoma cells proliferation by repressing ERBB2 level and inactivating the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuan-Chun Wang
- The First Clinical Medical College, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210023, China. .,Affiliated Hospital of Shaanxi University of Chinese Medicine, Xianyang, Shaanxi Province, 712000, China.
| | - Jian-Rong Hui
- College of Acupuncture-Moxibustion and Tuina, Shaanxi University of Chinese Medicine, Xianyang, Shaanxi Province, 712046, China
| | - Gang Xiao
- First Department of General Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Shaanxi University of Chinese Medicine, Xianyang, Shaanxi Province, 712000, China
| | - Qiao-Lin Ma
- College of Acupuncture-Moxibustion and Tuina, Shaanxi University of Chinese Medicine, Xianyang, Shaanxi Province, 712046, China
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GONG W, XU S, SONG Y, ZHOU Y, QIN X. Hepatic metabolomics combined with network pharmacology to reveal the correlation between the anti-depression effect and nourishing blood effect of Angelicae Sinensis Radix. Chin J Nat Med 2023; 21:197-213. [PMID: 37003642 DOI: 10.1016/s1875-5364(23)60421-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2022] [Indexed: 04/01/2023]
Abstract
Angelicae Sinensis Radix (AS) is reproted to exert anti-depression effect (ADE) and nourishing blood effect (NBE) in a rat model of depression. The correlation between the two therapeutic effects and its underlying mechanisms deserves further study. The current study is designed to explore the underlying mechanisms of correlation between the ADE and NBE of AS based on hepatic metabonomics, network pharmacology and molecular docking. According to metabolomics analysis, 30 metabolites involved in 11 metabolic pathways were identified as the potential metabolites for depression. Furthermore, principal component analysis and correlation analysis showed that glutathione, sphinganine, and ornithine were related to pharmacodynamics indicators including behavioral indicators and hematological indicators, indicating that metabolic pathways such as sphingolipid metabolism were involved in the ADE and NBE of AS. Then, a target-pathway network of depression and blood deficiency syndrome was constructed by network pharmacology analysis, where a total of 107 pathways were collected. Moreover, 37 active components obtained from Ultra Performance Liquid Chromatography-Triple-Time of Flight Mass Spectrometer (UPLC-Triple-TOF/MS) in AS extract that passed the filtering criteria were used for network pharmacology, where 46 targets were associated with the ADE and NBE of AS. Pathway enrichment analysis further indicated the involvement of sphingolipid metabolism in the ADE and NBE of AS. Molecular docking analysis indciated that E-ligustilide in AS extract exhibited strong binding activity with target proteins (PIK3CA and PIK3CD) in sphingolipid metabolism. Further analysis by Western blot verified that AS regulated the expression of PIK3CA and PIK3CD on sphingolipid metabolism. Our results demonstrated that sphingolipid metabolic pathway was the core mechanism of the correlation between the ADE and NBE of AS.
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