Analgesic Effects of Danggui-Shaoyao-San on Various "Phenotypes" of Nociception and Inflammation in a Formalin Pain Model

A multi-dimensional validation strategy of pharmacological effects of Radix Isatidis Mixtures against the co-infection of Mycoplasma gallisepticum and Escherichia coli in poultry

Natural drugs possess exceptional pharmacological properties, yet their development is often hindered by a lack of clarity regarding the mechanisms of their pharmacological actions. Building on our previous research, we employed a co-infection model with Mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG) and Escherichia coli (E. coli) to investigate the pharmacological action of Radix Isatidis Mixtures (RIM). To further demonstrate the various mechanisms underlying the pharmacological effects of RIM, we conducted a validation study focusing on gene expression, protein interactions, metabolic pathways, and molecular docking. Through a multi-omics joint analysis network, we identified key targets and metabolites associated with co-infection and conducted targeted verification experiments with RIM aqueous extracts. The experimental results indicated that, compared to the co-infection group, the RIM treatment group significantly modulated the expression of select genes and proteins, particularly MMP2 and TLR4, with a high level of statistical significance (p < 0.01). At the metabolic level, the treatment group exhibited significantly reduced expression levels of Dopamine and γ-Aminobutyric acid. Notably, the molecular docking results highlighted compounds with the most favorable binding affinities: Salvianolic acid A (-10.1 kcal/mol), Licorice (-9.3 kcal/mol), and Isoglycyrrhiza (-8.7 kcal/mol). In conclusion, our multi-level experiments demonstrated that RIM possesses the characteristics of multi-pathway and multi-target treatment for co-infection.

Danggui Shaoyao San and disassembled prescription: neuroprotective effects via AMPK/mTOR-mediated autophagy in mice

BACKGROUND

Danggui Shaoyao San (DSS), a frequently prescribed Chinese medicine formula, has demonstrated clinical efficacy in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease (AD). This study aims to explore the differences in therapeutic effects of DSS and its disassembled prescriptions, Suangan (SG) and Xingan (XG), in treating Alzheimer's Disease and the mechanism of DSS recovering autophagy in AD.

METHODS

A network pharmacology strategy was employed to delineate the bioactive constituents, associated targets, and regulatory mechanisms of DSS in AD, encompassing in silico target forecasting, the generation and scrutiny of PPI networks, alongside GO and KEGG-based pathway elucidation. An AD mouse model, induced by intracerebroventricular injection of Aβ1-42, was used to evaluate the therapeutic effects of DSS and its disassembled prescriptions on AD. Cognitive function was evaluated using the Morris water maze. Expression levels of inflammatory cytokines were quantified via RT-qPCR and ELISA. Western blotting was used to detect the expression of proteins related to AD pathological markers and the AMPK/mTOR signaling pathway.

RESULTS

50 active compounds and 718 HUB genes were screened from relevant databases and literature. KEGG and GO analyses indicated that DSS's potential mechanisms against AD involved the AMPK/mTOR signaling pathway and mitophagy. In vivo animal model, the results demonstrated that DSS, SG, and XG treatments improved cognitive function and ameliorated neuroinflammation in mice. Additionally, they alleviated the pathological changes of neuronal cells. These treatments also increased the protein level of PSD-95, and decreased levels of APP and p-Tau. Among them, DSS exhibited the best efficacy. Furthermore, DSS, SG, and XG upregulated the expression of LC3, Beclin1, and p-AMPK, while decreasing the expression of P62 and p-mTOR.

CONCLUSIONS

DSS, SG, and XG were found to ameliorate AD-related pathological symptoms in Aβ1-42-injected mice, likely through the AMPK/mTOR autophagy signaling pathway.

Correlative increasing expressions of KIF5b and Nav1.7 in DRG neurons of rats under neuropathic pain conditions

Nav1.7, one of tetrodotoxin-sensitive voltage-gated sodium channels, mainly expressed in the small diameter dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons. The expression and accumulation on neuronal membrane of Nav1.7 increased following peripheral tissue inflammation or nerve injury. However, the mechanisms for membrane accumulation of Nav1.7 remained unclear. We report that KIF5b, a highly expressed member of the kinesin-1 family in DRGs, promoted the translocation of Nav1.7 to the plasma membrane in DRG neurons of the rat. Following nociceptive behaviors in rats induced by peripheral spared nerve injury (SNI), synchronously increased KIF5b and Nav1.7 expressions were observed in DRGs. Immunohistochemistry staining demonstrated the co-expressions of KIF5b and Nav1.7 in the same DRG neurons. Immunoprecipitation experiments further confirmed the interactions between KIF5b and Nav1.7. Moreover, intrathecal injections of KIF5b shRNA moderated the SNI-induced both mechanical and thermal hyperalgesia. The rescued analgesic effects also alleviated SNI-induced anxiety-like behaviors. In sum, KIF5b was required for the membrane localizations of Nav1.7, which suggests a novel mechanism for the trafficking of Nav1.7 involved in neuropathic pain.

Network Pharmacology Approach to Investigate the Mechanism of Danggui-Shaoyao-San against Diabetic Kidney Disease

Background

Danggui-Shaoyao-San (DSS) is a traditional Chinese medicine formula that has been widely used to treat a variety of disorders, including renal diseases. Despite being well-established in clinical practice, the mechanisms behind the therapeutic effects of DSS on diabetic nephropathy (DN) remain elusive.

Methods

To explore the therapeutic mechanism, we explored the action mechanism of DSS on DN using network pharmacology strategies. All ingredients were selected from the relevant databases, and active ingredients were chosen on the basis of their oral bioavailability prediction and drug-likeness evaluation. The putative proteins of DSS were obtained from the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology (TCMSP) database, whereas the potential genes of DN were obtained from the GeneCards and OMIM databases. Enrichment analysis using gene ontology (GO) and the Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes (KEGG) was performed to discover possible hub targets and gene-related pathways. Afterwards, the underlying molecular mechanisms of DSS against DN were validated experimentally in vivo against db/db mice.

Results

We identified 91 phytochemicals using the comprehensive network pharmacology technique, 51 of which were chosen as bioactive components. There were 40 proteins and 20 pathways in the target-pathway network. The experimental validation results demonstrated that DSS may reduce the expression of TNF-α, IL-6, and ICAM-1, as well as extracellular matrix deposition, by blocking the JNK pathway activation, which protects against kidney injury.

Conclusion

This study discovered the putative molecular mechanisms of action of DSS against diabetic kidney damage through a network pharmacology approach and experimental validation.

Polypharmacology-based approach for screening TCM against coinfection of Mycoplasma gallisepticum and Escherichia coli

Natural products and their unique polypharmacology offer significant advantages for finding novel therapeutics particularly for the treatment of complex diseases. Meanwhile, Traditional Chinese Medicine exerts overall clinical benefits through a multi-component and multi-target approach. In this study, we used the previously established co-infection model of Mycoplasma gallisepticum and Escherichia coli as a representative of complex diseases. A new combination consisting of 6 herbs were obtained by using network pharmacology combined with transcriptomic analysis to reverse screen TCMs from the Chinese medicine database, containing Isatdis Radix, Forsythia Fructus, Ginkgo Folium, Mori Cortex, Licorice, and Radix Salviae. The results of therapeutic trials showed that the Chinese herbal compounds screened by the target network played a good therapeutic effect in the case of co-infection. In summary, these data suggested a new method to validate target combinations of natural products that can be used to optimize their multiple structure-activity relationships to obtain drug-like natural product derivatives.

Uncovering the effects and mechanism of Danggui Shaoyao San intervention on primary dysmenorrhea by serum metabolomics approach

Danggui Shaoyao San (DSS) is a well-known prescription for relieving primary dysmenorrhea (PD) of women in China. However, its pharmacological mechanism has not been thoroughly uncovered. Here, an integrative UPLC-Q-TOF-MS-based serum metabolomics approach coupled with multivariate data analysis has been proposed to investigate the effects and mechanism of DSS on estradiol benzoate and oxytocin-induced PD rats. 31 potential biomarkers of PD were screened and identified, mainly involving phenylalanine, tyrosine and tryptophan biosynthesis, glycerophospholipid metabolism, primary bile acid biosynthesis, and the occurrence of PD could destroy biological homeostasis in vivo by monitoring these pathways. After DSS treatment, 18 identified different metabolites were restored to the nomal state in varying degrees and could be potential biomarkers contributing to the treatment of DSS. These findings implyed that DSS exhibited a therapeutic effect on PD rats through regulating multiple abnormal pathways. Of note, this study discovered some potential biomarkers related to PD for the first time, such as L-tyrosine, glycocholic acid, citric acid, palmitoylcarnitine, cholesterol. It preliminarily proved the pathophysiology of PD and action mechanisms of DSS on PD, and provided a novel insight into the effectiveness of DSS on PD.

Various BDNF administrations attenuate SPS-induced anxiety-like behaviors

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has become epidemic following severely stressful incidents. Previous studies have shown that brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) has anxiolytic effects on various anxiety or depression disorders including PTSD. However, the detailed mechanisms of BDNF for treating PTSD were rarely investigated. In the current study, single-prolonged stress (SPS) was used as an animal model recapitulating specific aspects for a PTSD-like phenotype. The effects of BDNF on SPS-induced anxiety-like behaviors were investigated. We showed that the levels of BDNF in the cerebro-spinal fluid (CSF) were significantly reduced after the rats experienced SPS. The SPS-induced reductions of percentages of time spent in the central area to total time in the open field test, were dose-dependently mitigated after BDNF intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) injections. BDNF i.c.v. administration also dose-dependently increased the preference of the light box in the light-dark box test. Both expressions of tyrosine kinase receptor B (TrkB) protein and mRNA in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) and amygdala were significantly increased after SPS challenges. BDNF i.c.v. administration attenuated these compensatory increases of TrkB. At last, the anxiolytic effects of BDNF on SPS model were also observed by using other two injection methods. These results inspired us to study that different administrations of BDNF were used in patients with PTSD in the future, in-depthly.

Integrated Serum Pharmacochemistry, Metabolomics, and Network Pharmacology to Reveal the Material Basis and Mechanism of Danggui Shaoyao San in the Treatment of Primary Dysmenorrhea

Danggui Shaoyao San (DSS), a well-known formula, has been successfully applied in treating primary dysmenorrhea (PD) in China. However, its material basis and mechanism are still unrevealed. This current research aims to reveal the material basis and mechanism of DSS in treating PD by an integrative approach of serum pharmacochemistry, metabolomics, and network pharmacology. The results showed that DSS markedly relieved the physiological and pathological symptoms of PD as confirmed by the improvement of writhing behavior, inhibition of uterine edema, callback of clinical biochemical indexes, and metabolic profiles. Furthermore, a metabolomic analysis demonstrated that the therapeutic effect of DSS was attributed to the modulation of arachidonic acid metabolism, pentose and glucuronate interconversions, and phenylalanine metabolism. Meanwhile, 23 blood ingredients were identified after the oral administration of DSS. By analyzing the correlation coefficient of the identified biomarkers and blood components, active compounds closely associated with core metabolic pathways were extracted. Taking these active compounds as a basis, network pharmacology prediction was executed. It was found that active components of DSS including alisol B,23-acetate, chlorogenic acid, levistilide A, cianidanol, senkyunolide A, atractylenolide II, and sedanolide, were germane to steroid hormone biosynthesis, arachidonic acid metabolism, sphingolipid signaling pathway, etc. Interestingly, PTGS2 and PTGS1 related to the arachidonic acid metabolism may be pivotal targets of DSS. The current study proved that the integration of serum pharmacochemistry, metabolomics, and network pharmacology, was a powerful approach to investigate the material basis and the molecular mechanisms of DSS, and provided a solid basis for DSS application.

Effects of Danggui-Shaoyao-San on depression- and anxiety-like behaviors of rats induced by experimental tooth movement

PURPOSE

To investigate the effects of Danggui-Shaoyao-San (DSS) on depression- and anxiety-like behavior induced by experimental tooth movement (ETM) in rats.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Thirty-six rats were randomly divided into a sham group (n = 12; rats underwent all operation procedures, except placement of orthodontic forces, and received saline treatment), ETM group (n = 12; rats received saline treatment and ETM), and DETM group (n = 12; rats received DSS [dose: 150 mg/kg twice daily from preoperative day 5 to postoperative day 7] treatment and ETM). The vacuous chewing movement (VCM) test, open-field test, and elevated plus maze test were performed to assess the depression- and anxiety-like behaviors of the rats.

RESULTS

DSS pretreatment significantly decreased the ETM-induced VCM time (P < 0.05, DETM vs. ETM), increased the ETM-induced time to the central area of experimental device during the 5 min open-field test (P < 0.05, DETM vs. ETM), and increased the ratio of time spent in the open arms of the 5 min elevated plus maze test induced by ETM (P < 0.01, DETM vs. ETM).

CONCLUSIONS

DSS pretreatment can restore the impaired abilities of rats caused by ETM-induced depression- and anxiety-like behavior.

Ulinastatin Exhibits Antinociception in Rat Models of Acute Somatic and Visceral Pain Through Inhibiting the Local and Central Inflammation

Introduction

Ulinastatin, a broad-spectrum serine protease inhibitor, has been widely used to treat various diseases clinically. However, so far, the antinociceptive effect of ulinastatin remains less studied experimentally and the underlying mechanisms of ulinastatin for pain relief remain unclear. This study aimed to find evidence of the analgesic effect of ulinastatin on acute somatic and visceral pain.

Methods

The analgesic effect of ulinastatin on acute somatic and visceral pain was evaluated by using formalin and acetic acid-induced writhing test. The analgesic mechanism of ulinastatin was verified by detecting the peripheral inflammatory cell infiltration and spinal glial activation with hematoxylin-eosin (H&E) and immunohistochemistry staining.

Results

We found that both of intraperitoneal (i.p.) pre-administration and post-administration of ulinastatin could reduce the total number of flinching and the licking duration following intraplantar formalin injection in a dose-related manner. However, the inhibitory effect of ulinastatin existed only in the second phase (Phase 2) of formalin-induced spontaneous pain response, with no effect in the first phase (Phase 1). The formalin-induced edema and ulcer were also improved by i.p. administration of ulinastatin. Moreover, i.p. administration of ulinastatin was also able to delay the occurrence of acetic acid-induced writhing and reduced the total number of writhes dose-dependently. We further demonstrated that ulinastatin significantly decreased the local inflammatory cell infiltration in injured paw and peritoneum tissue under formalin and acetic acid test separately. The microglial and astrocytic activation in the spinal dorsal horn induced by intraplantar formalin and i.p. acetic acid injection were also dramatically inhibited by i.p. administration of ulinastatin.

Conclusion

Our results for the first time provided a new line of evidence showing that ulinastatin could attenuate acute somatic and visceral pain by inhibiting the peripheral and spinal inflammatory reaction.

dmPFC-vlPAG projection neurons contribute to pain threshold maintenance and antianxiety behaviors

The dorsal medial prefrontal cortex (dmPFC) has been recognized as a key cortical area for nociceptive modulation. However, the underlying neural pathway and the function of specific cell types remain largely unclear. Here, we show that lesions in the dmPFC induced an algesic and anxious state. Using multiple tracing methods including a rabies-based transsynaptic tracing method, we outlined an excitatory descending neural pathway from the dmPFC to the ventrolateral periaqueductal gray (vlPAG). Specific activation of the dmPFC/vlPAG neural pathway by optogenetic manipulation produced analgesic and antianxiety effects in a mouse model of chronic pain. Inhibitory neurons in the dmPFC were specifically activated using a chemogenetic approach, which logically produced an algesic and anxious state under both normal and chronic pain conditions. Antagonists of the GABAA receptor (GABAAR) or mGluR1 were applied to the dmPFC, which produced analgesic and antianxiety effects. In summary, the results of our study suggest that the dmPFC/vlPAG neural pathway might participate in the maintenance of pain thresholds and antianxiety behaviors under normal conditions, while silencing or suppressing the dmPFC/vlPAG pathway might be involved in the initial stages and maintenance of chronic pain and the emergence of anxiety-like behaviors.

Compounds of traditional Chinese medicine and neuropathic pain

Neuropathic pain (NP) has become a serious global health issue and a huge clinical challenge without available effective treatment. P2 receptors family is involved in pain transmission and represents a promising target for pharmacological intervention. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) contains multiple components which are effective in targeting different pathological mechanisms involved in NP. Different from traditional analgesics, which target a single pathway, TCMs take the advantage of multiple components and multiple targets, and can significantly improve the efficacy of treatment and contribute to the prediction of the risks of NP. Compounds of TCM acting at nucleotide P2 receptors in neurons and glial cells could be considered as a potential research direction for moderating neuropathic pain. This review summarized the recently published data and highlighted several TCMs that relieved NP by acting at P2 receptors.

Resveratrol alleviates diabetic mechanical allodynia in rats by downregulating P2X3R

Mechanical allodynia, which develops in patients of diabetes mellitus as a neuropathic manifestation, remains without an effective treatment. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects and potential mechanisms underlying resveratrol (RES) in a rat model of streptozocin (STZ)‑induced diabetic mechanical allodynia (DMA). The rat model of DMA was established by the administration of an intraperitoneal injection of STZ. From day 8 post‑STZ injection, rats were administered with an intragastric injection of various doses of RES for 14 consecutive days. The von Frey filaments were applied to detect the paw withdrawal threshold and evaluate the analgesic effects of RES. Based on the dose‑effect curve, the ED50 of RES was calculated. Immunofluorescence staining and western blotting were performed to detect the expression of purinergic receptor P2X3 (P2X3R) in the dorsal root ganglion (DRG) and spinal dorsal horn (SDH) following RESED50 treatment. The results indicated that RES significantly alleviated mechanical allodynia in DMA model rats in a dose‑dependent manner. Compared with the control group, the expression of P2X3R in DRG neurons and SDH terminals was markedly decreased following the administration of RESED50 (P<0.05). Collectively, the results indicated that RES displayed a dose‑dependent analgesic effect on DMA model rats. Furthermore, P2X3R expression downregulation in the DRG and SDH may be a mechanism underlying the analgesic effects of RES on DMA‑related behaviors.

Analgesic Effects of Duloxetine on Formalin-Induced Hyperalgesia and Its Underlying Mechanisms in the CeA

In rodents, the amygdala has been proposed to serve as a key center for the nociceptive perception. Previous studies have shown that extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) signaling cascade in the central nucleus of amygdala (CeA) played a functional role in inflammation-induced peripheral hypersensitivity. Duloxetine (DUL), a serotonin and noradrenaline reuptake inhibitor, produced analgesia on formalin-induced spontaneous pain behaviors. However, it is still unclear whether single DUL pretreatment influences formalin-induced hypersensitivity and what is the underlying mechanism. In the current study, we revealed that systemic pretreatment with DUL not only dose-dependently suppressed the spontaneous pain behaviors, but also relieved mechanical and thermal hypersensitivity induced by formalin hindpaw injection. Consistent with the analgesic effects of DUL on the pain behaviors, the expressions of Fos and pERK that were used to check the neuronal activities in the spinal cord and CeA were also dose-dependently reduced following DUL pretreatment. Meanwhile, no emotional aversive behaviors were observed at 24 h after formalin injection. The concentration of 5-HT in the CeA was correlated with the dose of DUL in a positive manner at 24 h after formalin injection. Direct injecting 5-HT into the CeA suppressed both the spontaneous pain behaviors and hyperalgesia induced by formalin injection. However, DUL did not have protective effects on the formalin-induced edema of hindpaw. In sum, the activation of CeA neurons may account for the transition from acute pain to long-term hyperalgesia after formalin injection. DUL may produce potent analgesic effects on the hyperalgesia and decrease the expressions of p-ERK through increasing the concentration of serotonin in the CeA.

Analgesic effects of Marasmius androsaceus mycelia ethanol extract and possible mechanisms in mice

Marasmius androsaceus is a medicinal fungus mainly used to treat various forms of pain in China. This study investigated the analgesic effects of an ethanol extract of M. androsaceus (MAE) and its potential molecular mechanisms. Oral administration of MAE (50, 200, and 1000 mg/kg) had significant analgesic effects in an acid-induced writhing test, a formalin test, and a hot-plate test, with effectiveness similar to tramadol (the positive control drug). The autonomic activity test showed that MAE had no harmful effects on the central nervous system in mice. MAE resulted in significantly enhanced levels of noradrenalin and 5-hydroxytryptamine in serum but suppressed both of these neurotransmitters in the hypothalamus after 30 s of hot-plate stimulation. Co-administration with nimodipine (10 mg/kg; a Ca²⁺ channel blocker) strongly enhanced the analgesic effect in the hot-plate test compared to MAE alone. Moreover, MAE down-regulated the expression of calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII) in the hypothalamus after a 30-s thermal stimulus. These results suggested that the analgesic ability of MAE is related to the regulation of metabolism by monoamine neurotransmitters and Ca²⁺/CaMKII-mediated signaling, which can potentially aid the development of peripheral neuropathic pain treatments obtained from M. androsaceus.