Evidence for the absorption of heparin by rat stomach

Mechanisms of action of Zishen Yutai pills in treating premature ovarian failure determined by integrating UHPLC-Q-TOF-MS and network pharmacology analysis

Background

Zishen Yutai (ZSYT) pill, a patent Chinese medicine, has been widely used in the treatment of infertility, abortion, and adjunctive treatment of in vitro fertilization (IVF) for decades. Recently, the results of clinical observations showed that premature ovarian failure (POF) patients exhibited improved expression of steroids and clinical symptoms associated with hormone disorders after treatment with Zishen Yutai pills. However, the pharmacological mechanism of action of these pills remains unclear.

Methods

The compounds of Zishen Yutai pills found in blood circulation were identified via ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UHPLC-Q-TOF-MS) technique in the serum of POF mice after oral administration of Zishen Yutai pills. The potential targets of compounds were screened using Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database, Traditional Chinese Medicine Database@Taiwan, Drugbank Database, PubChem, HIT, Pharmapper, and Swiss Target Prediction. The target genes associated with POF were collected from Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man Database, PharmGkb, Genecards, Therapeutic Target Database, and Genetic Association Database. The overlapping genes between the potential targets of Zishen Yutai pills’ compounds and the target genes associated with POF were clarified via protein-protein interaction (PPI), pathway, and network analysis.

Results

Nineteen compounds in Zishen Yutai pills were detected in the serum of POF mice after oral administration. A total of 695 Zishen Yutai (ZSYT) pill-related targets were screened, and 344 POF-related targets were collected. From the results of Zishen Yutai (ZSYT) pill-POF PPI analysis, CYP19A1, AKR1C3, ESR1, AR, and SRD5A2 were identified as key targets via network analysis, indicating their core role in the treatment of POF with Zishen Yutai pills. Moreover, the pathway enrichment results suggested that Zishen Yutai pills treated POF primarily by regulating neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction, steroid hormone biosynthesis, and ovarian steroidogenesis.

Conclusions

Via virtual screening, we found that regulation of neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction, steroid hormone biosynthesis, and ovarian steroidogenesis was the potential therapeutic mechanism of Zishen Yutai pills in treating POF. Our study suggested that combining the analysis of Zishen Yutai pills’ compounds in blood in vivo in the POF model and network pharmacology prediction might offer a tool to characterize the mechanism of Zishen Yutai pills in the POF.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12906-022-03763-2.

Exploring the potential pharmacodynamic material basis and pharmacologic mechanism of the Fufang-Xialian-Capsule in chronic atrophic gastritis by network pharmacology approach based on the components absorbed into the blood

In this study, a new network pharmacology approach based on the components absorbed into the blood was used to investigate the pharmacodynamic material basis and the pharmacologic mechanism of the Fufang-Xialian-Capsule (FXL) in treating chronic atrophic gastritis (CAG). Initially, we confirmed the components absorbed into the blood by ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry. Then, the network approach, which was based on the results of components absorbed into the blood, was used to analyse the pharmacodynamic material basis and the pharmacologic mechanism of FXL on treating CAG. As a result, 22 absorbed components were found in rat plasma. Given the results of the absorption analysis of the components, eight pathways associated with CAG development were found. The targets linked to these pathways are the drug targets of FXL in CAG treatment. The components associated with these targets are the potential pharmacodynamic material basis and exert synergy in regulating pathways during CAG treatment.

An in Vitro Study with an Ussing Chamber Showing That Unfractionated Heparin Crosses Rat Gastric Mucosa

Heparin, traditionally given parenterally, is used to treat and prevent thrombosis. Our previous results suggest that orally administered unfractionated heparin (UFH) is absorbed and has antithrombotic effects. However, there is little evidence indicating the site and mechanism of heparin absorption. Our aim was to determine whether the stomach is an absorption site. Rat gastric mucosa was mounted in an Ussing chamber, and UFH was added to the mucosal buffer at pH 7.4. Potential difference (PD), resistance (R), and short circuit current (I(sc)) across the mucosa were determined comparing the mucosal to the serosal side. Mucosal and serosal buffers and tissue were analyzed for chemical heparin and anticoagulant activity, antifactor Xa (anti-Xa) and antifactor IIa (anti-IIa) activity. The PD became more negative on UFH addition. Following a lag period, PD returned to the resting level. Changes in R followed those in PD, whereas I(sc) did not change. Heparin was found in the serosal and mucosal buffer and tissue. Heparin in the serosal buffer had anti-Xa and anti-IIa activity. Decreasing the pH of the mucosal buffer to 4.0, decreased the lag period for PD. Decreasing the concentration of UFH resulted in less pronounced changes in PD and less heparin in the serosal buffer. Changes in PD suggest that heparin moves across the mucosa. Presence of heparin in the serosal buffer and mucosal tissue, indicate that heparin crosses rat gastric mucosa. A stable I(sc) indicates passive diffusion contributes to heparin movement. The stomach could be a site for oral heparin absorption.