Pharmacodynamic substances in Salvia miltiorrhiza for prevention and treatment of hyperlipidemia and coronary heart disease based on lipidomics technology and network pharmacology analysis

Effects of herbal dregs supplementation of Salvia miltiorrhiza and Isatidis Radix residues improved production performance and gut microbiota abundance in late-phase laying hens

The present study was designed to evaluate the effect of a mixture of Chinese medicinal residues (CMRs) consisting of Salvia miltiorrhiza residues (SMR) and Isatidis Radix residues (IRR) on productive performance, egg quality, serum lipid and hormone levels, liver and blood antioxidant capacity, oviduct inflammation levels, and gut microbiota in the late-laying stage. A total of 288 fifty-four-week-old BaShang long-tailed hens were divided into four groups. The feed trial period was 8 weeks. The control group was fed the basic diet as a CCMR group, supplemented with 3, 4, and 6% for the experimental groups LCMR, MCMR, and HCMR. The egg production rate of the MCMR group was 8.1% higher than that of the CCMR group (p < 0.05). Serum triglyceride (TG) levels of hens of the CMR-supplemented group were significantly decreased than those of the CCMR group (p < 0.05). The group supplemented with different levels of CMR had significantly higher serum HDL-C levels compared with the control group (p < 0.05). Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) levels were remarkably increased for the LCMR and MCMR groups and significantly decreased for the HCMR group compared to CCMR (p < 0.05). Serum and liver glutathione peroxidase (GSH-PX) activities were significantly increased, and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were significantly decreased in the MCMR group compared to the CCMR group (p < 0.05). The expression levels of tubal inflammatory factor markers (IL-4, IL-1β, TNF-α) in the MCMR and HCMR groups were consistent with the pathological findings of the sections. As for cecal microbiota, supplementation with CMR affected the alpha diversity of the cecum microbiome at the genus level. The Shannon index was significantly higher in the MCMR group than in the CCMR and HCMR groups (p < 0.05). Supplementation with different levels of CMR mainly regulated the ratio of intestinal Firmicutes to Bacteroidetes and the abundance of phyla such as Proteobacteria. In addition, CMR supplementation at different levels in the diet enriched lipid-metabolizing bacteria, such as Bacteroides and Ruminococcus_gnavus_group. Furthermore, according to linear discriminant analysis (LDA) effect size (LEfSe) analysis, the MCMR group showed an increase in the number of short-chain fatty acid-producing bacteria Romboutsia and fiber-degrading specialized bacteria Monoglobus. Therefore, supplementation of appropriate amounts of CMR to the diet of laying hens enhanced reproductive hormone levels, hepatic antioxidant capacity, and lipid metabolism, alleviated the levels of oviductal inflammatory factors, and modulated the abundance structure of bacterial flora to improve the late-laying performance and egg quality. The results of the current study showed that CMR is a beneficial feed supplement for chickens when added in moderation.

Integrated metabolomics and network pharmacology to reveal the lipid-lowering mechanisms of Qizha Shuangye granules in hyperlipidemic rats

BACKGROUND

Qizha Shuangye granules (QSG) comprise six traditional Chinese herbal medicines (TCHMs), which have a long history of treating hyperlipidemia (HLP) in China. This study aimed to evaluate the potential lipid-lowering effects of QSG in an HLP rat model and investigate possible mechanisms. The HLP rat model was induced by a high-fat diet. Lipid-related indicators in serum were detected. Serum and liver metabolites were investigated using a liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry-based metabolomics approach. A herb-compound-target-metabolite (H-C-T-M) network was further constructed to reveal the possible molecular mechanism of QSG to alleviate HLP.

RESULTS

The administration of QSG inhibited the HLP-induced changes in total cholesterol, triglyceride, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and non-esterified fatty acid (NEFA) levels. Additionally, QSG significantly attenuated the liver histopathological changes induced by HLP. Metabolomic analysis showed the serum and liver metabolic disorders presented in HLP rats. QSG can reverse the abnormal metabolism caused by HLP. Through network pharmacology analysis, key proteins such as androgen receptor, 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase, and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-α were screened out, and they were speculated to be possible therapeutic targets for QSG to treat HLP.

CONCLUSION

The present study integrated metabolomics and network pharmacology analysis to reveal the efficacy and possible mechanism of QSG in treating HLP, which provides a new reference for the research and development of QSG as a functional food. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.

Untargeted metabolomics reveals the regulatory effect of geniposidic acid on lipid accumulation in HepG2 cells and Caenorhabditis elegans and validation in hyperlipidemic hamsters

BACKGROUND

Geniposidic acid (GPA) alleviates oxidative stress and inflammation in mice However, whether it can effectively regulate lipid accumulation and prevent hyperlipidemia requires further investigation.

PURPOSE

This study combined the untargeted metabolomics of cells and a Caenorhabditis elegans model to evaluate the anti-hyperlipidemic potential of GPA by modulating oxidative stress and regulating lipid metabolism. A golden hamster model of hyperlipidemia was used to further validate the lipid-lowering effect and mechanism of action of GPA.

METHODS

Chemical staining, immunofluorescence, and flow cytometry were performed to examine the effects of GPA on lipid accumulation and oxidative stress. Untargeted metabolomic analysis of cells and C. elegans was performed using ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole electrostatic field Orbitrap high-resolution mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-Orbitrap MS) to identify biomarkers altered by GPA action, analyze the affected metabolic pathways, and validate the mechanisms by which GPA regulates lipid metabolism and oxidative stress. A golden hamster model of hyperlipidemia was established to test the lipid-lowering effects of GPA. Body weight, biochemical markers, rate-limiting enzymes, and key proteins were assessed. Hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) and Oil Red O staining were performed.

RESULTS

Phenotypic data showed that GPA decreased free fatty acid (FFA)-induced lipid buildup and high reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, reversed the decrease in mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), and increased the cellular reduced glutathione/oxidized glutathione disulfide (GSH/GSSG) ratio. GPA also reduces high glucose-induced lipid build-up and ROS production in C. elegans. Metabolomic analysis showed that GPA affected purine, lipid, and amino acid metabolism. Moreover, GPA inhibited xanthine oxidase (XOD), glutamate dehydrogenase (GLDH), fatty acid synthase (FAS), phosphorylation of P38 MAPK, and upregulated the expression of SIRT3 and CPT1A protein production to control lipid metabolism and produce antioxidant benefits in cells and golden hamsters.

CONCLUSION

Current evidence suggests that GPA can effectively regulate lipid metabolism and the oxidative stress response, and has the potential to prevent hyperlipidemia. This study also provided an effective method for evaluating the mechanism of action of GPA.

Elucidating the distinctive regulatory effects and mechanisms of active compounds in Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge via network pharmacology: Unveiling their roles in the modulation of platelet activation and thrombus formation

Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge. (DS), as an important traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), has a long history of usage for promoting blood circulation and removing blood stasis. Modern studies have shown that the chemical components of DS have many biological activities such as cardiovascular protection, anti-arrhythmia, anti-atherosclerosis, improvement of microcirculation, protection of myocardium, inhibition and removal of platelet aggregation. Nevertheless, the action mechanism of DS as well its active compounds on platelet activation has not been fully uncovered. This study aimed to find out the potential targets and mechanisms of DS in the modulation of platelet activation and thrombosis, using network pharmacology and biological experimental. These compounds with anti-thrombotic activity in DS, cryptotanshinone (CPT), isoeugenol (ISO) and tanshinone IIA (TSA), together with the corresponding targets being Src, Akt and RhoA are screened by network pharmacology. We confirmed that ISO, CPT and TSA dose-dependently inhibited platelet activation in vitro, mainly by inhibiting agonist-induced clot retraction, aggregation and P-selectin and ATP release. The western blot findings indicated that ISO, CPT, and TSA led to reduced levels of p-Akt and p-ERK in activated platelets. Additionally, ISO and TSA were observed to decrease p-cSrc expression while increasing RhoA expression. ISO, CPT, and TSA demonstrated a potential to restrict the advancement of carotid arterial thrombosis in vivo. We confirm that ISO, CPT and TSA are the key anti-thrombotic active compounds in DS. These active compounds exhibit unique inhibitory effects on platelet activation and thrombus formation by modulating the Akt/ERK and cSrc/RhoA signaling pathways.

Dihydrotanshinone I-Induced CYP1 Enzyme Inhibition and Alteration of Estradiol Metabolism

Dihydrotanshinone I (DHTI) is a pharmacologically active component occurring in the roots of the herbal medicine Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge. This study investigated DHTI-induced inhibition of CYP1A1, CYP1A2, and CYP1B1 with the aim to determine the potential effects of DHTI on the bioactivation of estradiol (E2), possibly related to preventive/therapeutic strategy for E2-associated breast cancer. Ethoxyresorufin as a specific substrate for CYP1s was incubated with human recombinant CYP1A1, CYP1A2, or CYP1B1 in the presence of DHTI at various concentrations. Enzymatic inhibition and kinetic behaviors were examined by monitoring the formation of the corresponding product. Molecular docking was further conducted to define the interactions between DHTI and the three CYP1s. The same method and procedure were employed to examine the DHTI-induced alteration of E2 metabolism. DHTI showed significant inhibition of ethoxyresorufin O-deethylation activity catalyzed by CYP1A1, CYP1A2 and CYP1B1 in a concentration-dependent manner (IC50 = 0.56, 0.44, and 0.11 μM, respectively). Kinetic analysis showed that DHTI acted as a competitive type of inhibitor of CYP1A1 and CYP1B1, whereas it noncompetitively inhibited CYP1A2. The observed enzyme inhibition was independent of NADPH and time. Molecular docking analysis revealed hydrogen bonding interactions between DHTI and Asp-326 of CYP1B1. Moreover, DHTI displayed preferential activity to inhibit 4-hydroxylation of E2 (a genotoxic pathway) mediated by CYP1B1. Exposure to DHTI could reduce the risk of genotoxicity induced by E2. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: CYP1A1, CYP1A2, and CYP1B1 enzymes are involved in the conversion of estradiol (E2) into 2-hydroxyestradiol (2-OHE2) and 4-hydroxyestradiol (4-OHE2) through oxidation. 2-OHE2 is negatively correlated with breast cancer risk, and 4-OHE2 may be a significant initiator and promoter of breast cancer. The present study revealed that dihydrotanshinone I (DHTI) competitively inhibits CYP1A1/CYP1B1 and noncompetitively inhibits CYP1A2. DHTI exhibits a preference for inhibiting the genotoxicity associated with E2 4-hydroxylation pathway mediated by CYP1B1, potentially reducing the risk of 4-OHE2-induced genotoxicity.

Comparison of the efficacy and safety of Shanhuang Jiangzhi tablets and atorvastatin in the treatment of patients with hyperlipidaemia

OBJECTIVES

To compare the efficacy and safety of Shanhuang Jiangzhi tablets and atorvastatin in reducing blood lipid levels.

METHODS

Patients with hyperlipidaemia admitted to the cardiac centre between January 2019 and December 2020 were included in the study. A total of 1063 patients with hyperlipidaemia took either Shanhuang Jiangzhi tablets (n = 372) or atorvastatin (n = 691) and met the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Clinical data, including total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, were retrospectively evaluated after propensity score matching (PSM) analysis. The adverse events were also recorded during the therapy process.

RESULTS

Following PSM analysis, both groups were well matched across all parameters. Compared with the baseline, Shanhuang Jiangzhi tablets had greater effects on TC, TG and LDL-C, and the difference was statistically significant (p < 0.001). Furthermore, the results showed that Shanhuang Jiangzhi tablets are similar to atorvastatin in reducing TC and LDL-C, and all p-values were > 0.05. However, the decrease of TG was greater in the Shanhuang Jiangzhi group (p < 0.001). Clinical adverse reactions of Shanhuang Jiangzhi tablets are rare and have no statistical significance compared with atorvastatin (p = 0.682).

CONCLUSIONS

Shanhuang Jiangzhi tablets have a higher hypotriglyceridaemic performance than atorvastatin and an equivalent ability to lower TC and LDL-C. In addition, Shanhuang Jiangzhi tablets are a low-risk option for lowering blood lipids.

Network pharmacology: a bright guiding light on the way to explore the personalized precise medication of traditional Chinese medicine

Network pharmacology can ascertain the therapeutic mechanism of drugs for treating diseases at the level of biological targets and pathways. The effective mechanism study of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) characterized by multi-component, multi-targeted, and integrative efficacy, perfectly corresponds to the application of network pharmacology. Currently, network pharmacology has been widely utilized to clarify the mechanism of the physiological activity of TCM. In this review, we comprehensively summarize the application of network pharmacology in TCM to reveal its potential of verifying the phenotype and underlying causes of diseases, realizing the personalized and accurate application of TCM. We searched the literature using "TCM network pharmacology" and "network pharmacology" as keywords from Web of Science, PubMed, Google Scholar, as well as Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure in the last decade. The origins, development, and application of network pharmacology are closely correlated with the study of TCM which has been applied in China for thousands of years. Network pharmacology and TCM have the same core idea and promote each other. A well-defined research strategy for network pharmacology has been utilized in several aspects of TCM research, including the elucidation of the biological basis of diseases and syndromes, the prediction of TCM targets, the screening of TCM active compounds, and the decipherment of mechanisms of TCM in treating diseases. However, several factors limit its application, such as the selection of databases and algorithms, the unstable quality of the research results, and the lack of standardization. This review aims to provide references and ideas for the research of TCM and to encourage the personalized and precise use of Chinese medicine.

Pharmacological effects and mechanisms of YiYiFuZi powder in chronic heart disease revealed by metabolomics and network pharmacology

Introduction: YiYiFuZi powder (YYFZ) is a classical formula in Chinese medicine, which is commonly used clinically for the treatment of Chronic Heart Disease (CHD), but it's pharmacological effects and mechanism of action are currently unclear. Methods: An adriamycin-induced CHD model rat was established to evaluate the pharmacological effects of YYFZ on CHD by the results of inflammatory factor level, histopathology and echocardiography. Metabolomic studies were performed on rat plasma using UPLC-Q-TOF/MS to screen biomarkers and enrich metabolic pathways; network pharmacology analysis was also performed to obtain the potential targets and pathways of YYFZ for the treatment of CHD. Results: The results showed that YYFZ significantly reduced the levels of TNF-α and BNP in the serum of rats, alleviated the disorder of cardiomyocyte arrangement and inflammatory cell infiltration, and improved the cardiac function of rats with CHD. The metabolomic analysis identified a total of 19 metabolites, related to amino acid metabolism, fatty acid metabolism, and other metabolic pathways. Network pharmacology showed that YYFZ acts through PI3K/Akt signaling pathway, MAPK signaling pathway and Ras signaling pathway. Discussion: YYFZ treatment of CHD modulates blood metabolic pattern and several protein phosphorylation cascades but importance specific changes for therapeutic effect require further studies.

Salviae miltiorrhiza against human lung cancer: A review of its mechanism (Review)

Lung cancer is one of the commonest malignant tumors in the world today, causing millions of mortalities every year. New methods to treat lung cancer are urgently needed. Salviae miltiorrhiza Bunge is a common Chinese medicine, often used for promoting blood circulation. In the past 20 years, Salviae miltiorrhiza has made significant progress in the treatment of lung cancer and is considered to be one of the most promising methods to fight against the disease. A great amount of research has shown that the mechanism of Salviae miltiorrhiza against human lung cancer mainly includes inhibiting the proliferation of lung cancer cells, promoting lung cancer cell apoptosis, inducing cell autophagy, regulating immunity and resisting angiogenesis. Research has shown that Salviae miltiorrhiza has certain effects on the resistance to chemotherapy drugs. The present review discussed the status and prospects of Salviae miltiorrhiza against human lung cancer.

Exploring the Potential Mechanism of Danshen in the Treatment of Concurrent Ischemic Heart Disease and Depression Using Network Pharmacology, Molecular Docking, and Molecular Dynamics Simulation

Objective: This study aimed to explore the potential targets and mechanism of action of Danshen in treating concurrent ischemic heart disease (IHD) and depression using network pharmacology, molecular docking, and molecular dynamics simulation (MDS). Methods: The Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology (TCMSP) database was used to obtain active ingredients and targets of Danshen. Candidate targets for IHD and depression were obtained from the Genecards and DisGeNet databases. The protein–protein interaction (PPI) network was constructed using the STRING database and the Cytoscape 3.8.2 software. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analyses were performed using the Metascape database and the GlueGO package of the Cytoscape 3.8.2 software. Molecular docking was performed using Autodock 1.5.6 and Vina, and the MDS was completed using GROMACS 5.1.2. Results: We obtained 65 active ingredients of Danshen with 131 candidate targets and 39 intersection targets of the active ingredients and diseases. Luteolin, tanshinone IIA, and salviolone were the core active ingredients, and AKT1, TNF, IL-6, MMP9, CASP3, IL-10, PTGS2, STAT3, PPARG, IL-4, EGFR, MAPK14, NOS3, and EDN1 were the core targets. The GO and KEGG pathway enrichment analyses revealed that the intersection targets were mainly enriched in positive regulation of protein phosphorylation, blood circulation, IL-17 signaling pathway, VEGF signaling pathway, and JAK/STAT signaling pathway. The molecular docking revealed that the core active ingredients had a good affinity for the core targets. The results of MDS revealed that the protein-ligand complexes were stable. Conclusions: This study used network pharmacology to analyze the potential mechanism of action of Danshen in the treatment of concurrent IHD and depression. Additionally, the study provided a theoretical basis for further studying the pharmacological mechanisms and targets of Danshen.

Ultrasonic-assisted extraction of swertisin from sour Jujube seed and comprehensive revelation of its antioxidant activity

As a typical flavonoid glycoside, swertisin mainly exists in sour Jujube seed. In this study, swertisin was extracted by ultrasound-assisted extraction method optimized with Box-Behnken design and response surface methodology. The antioxidant effect of swertisin was determined in vitro and in Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans). Furthermore, the potential mechanisms of its antioxidant stress were comprehensively evaluated and explored with network pharmacology and molecular docking technology. The results showed obvious scavenging ability of swertisin on free radical and swertisin (50, 250, and 500 μmol/L) significantly enhanced antioxidative enzymes activity (GST-4, SOD-3, and GSH-P_X ) and reduced the reactive oxygen species and malondialdehyde accumulation in C. elegans, thereby protecting them from oxidative stress (heat stress and hydrogen peroxide). A total of 139 antioxidant targets of swertisin were screened and 70 signal pathways were enriched, including cancer-related pathways, lipid metabolism, liver injury-related pathways, acute lung injury, nervous system diseases, etc. This study provides the basis for further investigation on the antioxidant stress mechanism and contributes to the development of relevant drugs from natural products. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: The imbalance between the antioxidant defense system and reactive oxygen species is one of the main causes of neurodegenerative diseases, cardiovascular diseases, cancer, and aging. Therefore, alleviating oxidative stress injury has become a common strategy, which is helpful for the multi-target treatment of related diseases. The flavonoid of sour Jujube seed possesses potential antioxidant activity with multiple food health effects. From this study results, we optimized ultrasound-assisted extraction method for extracting the swertisin from sour Jujube seed and supported the use of C. elegans as an in vivo experimental model. We can recommend that the swertisin as a natural ingredient has a positive effect on antioxidation, which provided a scientific basis for treating related diseases through relevant pharmacological mechanisms and making antiaging functional food formula.

Network pharmacology provides a systematic approach to understanding the treatment of ischemic heart diseases with traditional Chinese medicine

BACKGROUND

The field of network pharmacology showed significant development. The concept of network pharmacology has many similarities to the philosophy of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), making it suitable to understand the action mechanisms of TCM in treating complex diseases, such as ischemic heart diseases (IHDs).

PURPOSE

This review summarizes the representative applications of network pharmacology in deciphering the mechanism underlying the treatment of IHDs with TCM.

METHODS

In this report, we used "ischemic heart disease" OR "coronary heart disease" OR "coronary artery disease" OR "myocardial ischemia" AND ("network pharmacology" OR "systematic pharmacology") as keywords to search for publications from PubMed, the Web of Science, and Google Scholar databases and then analyzed the representative research reports that summarized and validated the active components and targets network of TCM in improving IHDs to show the advantages and deficiencies of network pharmacology applied in TCM research.

RESULTS

The network pharmacology research indicated that HGF, PGF, MMP3, INSR, PI3K, MAPK1, SRC, VEGF, VEGFR-1, NO, eNOS, NO3, IL-6, TNF-α, and more are the main targets of TCM. Apigenin, 25S-macrostemonoside P, ginsenosides Re, Rb3, Rg3, SheXiang XinTongNing, colchicine, dried ginger-aconite decoction, Suxiao Xintong dropping pills, Ginseng-Danshen drug pair and Shenlian and more are the active ingredients, extracts, and formulations of TCM to ameliorate IHDs. These active compounds, extract, and formulations of TCM treat IHDs by delaying ventricular remodeling, reducing myocardial fibrosis, decreasing reactive oxygen species, regulating myocardial energy metabolism, ameliorating inflammation, mitigating apoptosis, and many other aspects.

CONCLUSIONS

The network pharmacology supplies a novel research exemplification for understanding the treatment of IHDs with TCM. However, the application of network pharmacology in TCM studies is still at a superficial level. By rational combining artificial intelligence technology and network pharmacology, molecular biology, metabolomics, and other advanced theories and technologies, and systematically studying the metabolic process and the network among products, targets, and pathways of TCM from the clinical perspective may be a potential development trend in network pharmacology.

Therapeutic mechanism of Curcuma aromatica Salisb. rhizome against coronary heart disease based on integrated network pharmacology, pharmacological evaluation and lipidomics

Curcuma aromatica Salisb. rhizome (CASR) has multifunctional characteristics worldwide and a long history of use as a botanical drug with. Currently, it is often used clinically to treat coronary heart disease (CHD) caused by blood stasis syndrome. However, the therapeutic mechanism of CASR in the treatment of CHD remains poorly understood. In study, the main chemical constituents of CASR were analyzed using UPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS. Then, its potential therapeutic mechanism against CHD was predicted. Subsequently, pharmacological evaluation was performed using CHD rat model. Finally, a lipidomics approach was applied to explore the different lipid metabolites to verify the regulation of CASR on lipid metabolism disorders in CHD. A total of 35 compounds was identified from CASR. Seventeen active components and 51 potential targets related to CHD were screened by network pharmacology, involving 13 key pathways. In vivo experiments showed that CASR could significantly improve myocardial infarction, blood stasis, and blood lipid levels and regulate the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway in CHD rats. Lipidomics further showed that CASR could regulate abnormal sphingolipid, glycerophospholipid, and glycerolipid metabolism in CHD rats. The therapeutic mechanism of CASR against CHD was initially elucidated and included the regulation of lipid metabolism. Its effects may be attributed to active ingredients, such as curzerene, isoprocurcumenol, and (+)-curcumenol. This study reveals the characteristics of multi-component and multi-pathway of CASR in the treatment of CHD, which provides a basis for the follow-up development and utilization of CASR.

Mathematical Analysis of the Healthcare Treatment of 215 Patients with Coronary Heart Disease

The main risk factors for CHD and the comorbidity include hyperlipidemia (HL), hypertension, smoking, dietary factors, and genetic factors. In this work, 215 patients with coronary heart disease, including 128 males and 87 females, were analyzed for a better understanding of the related clinical pharmacology. Nonparametric test, analysis of variance, chi-square test, correlation analysis, and other methods were used to sort out the data. From the analysis, there are significant differences in age among different gender samples. The incidence of coronary heart disease in men is five years younger than that in women. The sample pairs from different regions showed differences in the presence of family history of diabetes, indicating that a series of patients in some regions concentrated on the disease status of family history of diabetes. Age has a significant positive effect on cardiac functional classification. The older you are, the larger the cardiac functional classification is and the worse the cardiac function is. Age was negatively correlated with VTE score, diastolic blood pressure, CAR, TG, neutrophil, and TC. The older you are, the lower these six values are. Samples of different types of CHD showed significant differences in the presence of comorbidity and family history of CHD. The most significant are unstable angina pectoris and ischemic cardiomyopathy. Samples of different CHD types showed significant effects on VTE score, creatine kinase, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL⁃C), and lactate dehydrogenase. The highest lactate dehydrogenase is ischemic cardiomyopathy. The highest LDL cholesterol is ST-segment elevation angina. The highest creatine kinase is ischemic cardiomyopathy. The VTE score was the highest for ischemic cardiomyopathy, followed by non-ST-segment elevation angina. Samples taken with or without lipid-lowering drugs showed significant differences in lactate dehydrogenase, creatinine, and TC. There was a significant positive correlation between VTE scores and lactate dehydrogenase, myoglobin, and creatine kinase. High VTE score indicates high lactate dehydrogenase, myoglobin, and creatine kinase. TC has a significant positive correlation with HDL⁃C and TG, respectively. Higher TC values indicate higher HDL⁃C and TG values.

Network pharmacology combined with metabolomics and lipidomics to reveal the hypolipidemic mechanism of Alismatis rhizoma in hyperlipidemic mice

Alismatis rhizoma (AR), the dried rhizome of Alisma orientale (Sam) Juzep, is effective in treating hyperlipidemia, but the mechanisms involved require further exploration. This study evaluated the hypolipidemic properties of AR using an integrated strategy combining network pharmacology with metabolomics and lipidomics. Firstly, a hyperlipidemia mouse model induced by a high-fat diet was established to evaluate the therapeutic effects of AR. Secondly, plasma metabolomics and lipidomics were used to identify differential metabolites and lipids, and metabolic pathway analysis was performed using MetaboAnalyst. Thirdly, network pharmacology, based on the metabolic profile of AR in vivo, was used to discover potential therapeutic targets. Finally, key targets were obtained through a compound-target-metabolite network, which was verified by molecular docking and quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR). Biochemistry analysis and histological examinations showed that AR exerted hypolipidemic effects on hyperlipidemic mice. Seventy potential biomarkers for the AR treatment of hyperlipidemia were identified by metabolomics and lipidomics, which were mainly involved in lipid metabolism, energy metabolism and amino acid metabolism. Eighteen potentially active compounds were identified in the plasma of mice after oral administration of AR, which were associated with 83 potential therapeutic targets. The PPAR signaling pathway was considered a crucial signaling pathway of AR against hyperlipidemia by KEGG analysis. The joint analysis showed that 6 upstream key targets were regulated by AR, including ALB, TNF, IL1B, MMP9, PPARA and PPARG. Molecular docking showed that active compounds of AR had high binding affinity with these key targets. qPCR further demonstrated that AR could reverse the mRNA expression of these key targets in hyperlipidemic mice. This study integrates network pharmacology with metabolomics and lipidomics to reveal the regulatory effects of AR on endogenous metabolites and validates key therapeutic targets, and represents the most systematic and in-depth study on the hypolipidemic activity of AR.

1H NMR serum metabolomics and its endogenous network pharmacological analysis of gushudan on kidney-yang-deficiency-syndrome rats

The pharmacodynamics, ¹H NMR metabolomics and endogenous network pharmacology strategy approaches were integrated to investigate the preventive mechanism of Gushudan (GSD) on kidney-yang-deficiency-syndrome (KYDS) rats in this study. Firstly, the KYDS rat model was achieved by hydrocortisone induction, and the efficacy of GSD on KYDS model rats was assessed by the pharmacodynamic indicators. Next, the comprehensive untargeted serum metabolic profile of rats was obtained in ¹H NMR metabolomics study, 29 potential biomarkers closely associated with KYDS were identified, which were mainly involved in carbohydrate metabolism, amino acid metabolism and intestinal flora metabolism. In addition, the potential biomarkers-targets-pathways-disease metabolic network was further investigated for deeper understanding the preventive effects of GSD on KYDS rats and its mechanism, which was further obtained for the important targets related to biomarkers and diseases such as NOS3, PTGS2 and CXCL8, and important metabolic pathways such as glyoxylate and dicarboxylate metabolism, arginine and proline metabolism, and microbial metabolism in diverse environments. Finally, compared with our previous anti-osteoporosis study of GSD, it suggested that some similar metabolic pathways, which would provide some scientific reference of the existence of the kidney-bone axis under the traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) theory of "kidney dominates bone".

Synthesis, biological evaluation, pharmacokinetic studies and molecular docking of 4'''-acetyl-delicaflavone as antitumor agents

Structural modification of natural products is the effective option to improve their pharmacological effects and drug properties. DLF is a lead compound of antitumor drug, which is a broad-spectrum, low toxic and high-efficient component isolated from Selaginella doederleinii Hieron by our research group. Here, we report the structural modification method of this component, and find that the acetylated product of C4'''- OH (C4'''-acetyl-delicaflavone, 4'''ADLF) has better inhibitory effect on the selected cancer cell lines, including, lung, liver, colon and cervical cancer cell lines. Since the increased water solubility of 4'''ADLF may lead to higher absorption rate and activity, we evaluate the pharmacodynamics in vitro and in vivo, and the pharmacokinetic of 4'''ADLF. It shows that 4'''ADLF inhibit the proliferation and induce cycle arrest in tumor cells, and had better anticancer activity and bioavailability than DLF.

Elevated serum phosphatidylcholine (16:1/22:6) levels promoted by fish oil and vitamin D3 are highly correlated with biomarkers of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in Chinese subjects

Phosphatidylcholine (16:1/22:6) was associated with improving inflammation and lipid metabolism.

A New Strategy for the Rapid Identification and Validation of the Direct Targets of Aconitine-Induced Cardiotoxicity

Background

The interaction of small molecules with direct targets constitutes the molecular initiation events of drug efficacy and toxicity. Aconitine, an active compound of the Aconitum species, has various pharmacological effects but is strongly toxic to the heart. The direct targets of aconitine-induced cardiotoxicity remain unclear.

Methods

We predicted the toxic targets of aconitine based on network pharmacology and followed a novel proteomic approach based on the "drug affinity responsive target stability" technology combined with LC-MS/MS to identify the direct targets of aconitine. The identified targets were analysed from the perspective of multilevel and multidimensional bioinformatics through a network integration method. The binding sites were investigated via molecular docking to explore the toxicity mechanism and predict the direct targets of aconitine. Finally, atomic force microscopy (AFM) imaging was performed to verify the affinity of aconitine to the direct targets.

Results

PTGS2, predicted by network pharmacology as a toxic target, encodes cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2), which is closely related to myocardial injury. Furthermore, cytosolic phospholipase A2 (cPLA2) is the upstream signal protein of PTGS2, and it is a key enzyme in the metabolism of arachidonic acid during an inflammatory response. We determined cPLA2 as a direct target, and AFM imaging verified that aconitine could bind to cPLA2 well; thus, aconitine may cause the expression of PTGS2/COX-2 and release inflammatory factors, thereby promoting myocardial injury and dysfunction.

Conclusion

We developed a complete set of methods to predict and verify the direct targets of aconitine, and cPLA2 was identified as one. Overall, the novel strategy provides new insights into the discovery of direct targets and the molecular mechanism of toxic components that are found in traditional Chinese medicine.

Shaping the gut microbiota by bioactive phytochemicals: An emerging approach for the prevention and treatment of human diseases

The human digestive tract is the cottage to trillions of live microorganisms, which regulate health and illness. A healthy Gut Microbiota (GM) is necessary for preventing microbial growth, body growth, obesity, cancer, diabetes, and enhancing immunity. The equilibrium in GM's composition and the presence/absence of critical species enable specific responses to be essential for the host's better health condition. Research evidences revealed that the dietary plants and their bioactive phytochemicals (BPs) play an extensive and critical role in shaping the GM to get beneficial health effects. BPs are also known to improve gastrointestinal health and reduce the risk of several diseases by modulating GM-mediated cellular and molecular processes. Regular intake of BPs-rich vegetables, fruits, and herbal preparations promotes probiotic bacteria, including Bifidobacteria and Lactobacillus species, while inhibiting unwanted gut residents' development Escherichia coli, and Salmonella typhimurium etc. Upon consumption, BPs contact the GM that gets transformed before being absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract. Biotransformation of BPs by GM is linked with the enhancement of bioactivity/toxicity diminishment of the BPs compared to parental phytochemicals. Therefore, the current review focuses on the role of BPs in shaping GM for the prevention and treatment of human diseases.