Paeoniflorin in experimental BALB/c mansoniasis: A novel anti-angiogenic therapy

Network pharmacology and in vitro experiments to investigate the anti-gastric cancer effects of paeoniflorin through the RAS/MAPK signaling pathway

The aim of this study was to investigate the key targets and signaling pathways of paeoniflorin (PF) for the treatment of gastric cancer (GC). First, the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) of gastric cancer were obtained by analyzing GSE118916 Gene Chip, and then the active components of paeoniflorin and their targets of action were found. And the intersection genes of the two were analyzed for target and pathway analysis. In addition, cell viability after PF intervention was detected by CCK-8. Clone formation assay, wound scratch assay, transwell assay were used to detect cell migration and invasion. The qRT-PCR and Western blot methods were used to verify the mechanism of action. The results showed that a total of 286 paeoniflorin targets and 1799 DEGs were obtained. Secondly, we found that PF could treat gastric cancer through RAS/MAPK signaling pathway. In addition, through in vitro cellular experiments, we also found that PF had a significant therapeutic effect on gastric cancer. Therefore, we believe that PF inhibits the proliferation and metastasis of gastric cancer, and its effect may be exerted by regulating the RAS/MAPK signaling pathway. PF is a promising drug for the treatment of gastric cancer. Combined with the in vitro experiments, we found that the therapeutic effect of PF is related to the regulation of the RAS/MAPK signaling pathway, and the results of the present study preliminarily revealed its complex mechanism, which will lay the foundation for future clinical treatment.

Paeoniflorin Inhibits EMT and Angiogenesis in Human Glioblastoma via K63-Linked C-Met Polyubiquitination-Dependent Autophagic Degradation

Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and angiogenesis have emerged as two pivotal events in cancer progression. Paeoniflorin has been widely studied in experimental models and clinical trials for cancer treatment because of its anti-cancer property. However, the underlying mechanisms of paeoniflorin in EMT and angiogenesis in glioblastoma was not fully elucidated. The present study aimed to investigate whether paeoniflorin inhibits EMT and angiogenesis, which involving c-Met suppression, while exploring the potential ways of c-Met degradation. In our study, we found that paeoniflorin inhibited EMT via downregulating c-Met signaling in glioblastoma cells. Furthermore, overexpressing c-Met in glioblastoma cells abolished the effects of paeoniflorin on EMT. Moreover, paeoniflorin showed anti-angiogenic effects by suppressing cell proliferation, migration, invasion and tube formation through downregulating c-Met in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). And c-Met overexpression in HUVECs offset the effects of paeoniflorin on angiogenesis. Additionally, paeoniflorin induced autophagy activation involving mTOR/P70S6K/S6 signaling and promoted c-Met autophagic degradation, a process dependent on K63-linked c-Met polyubiquitination. Finally, paeoniflorin suppressed mesenchymal makers (snail, vimentin, N-cadherin) and inhibited angiogenesis via the identical mechanism in an orthotopic xenograft mouse model. The in vitro and in vivo experiments showed that paeoniflorin treatment inhibited EMT, angiogenesis and activated autophagy. What’s more, for the first time, we identified c-Met may be a potential target of paeoniflorin and demonstrated paeoniflorin downregulated c-Met via K63-linked c-Met polyubiquitination-dependent autophagic degradation. Collectively, these findings indicated that paeoniflorin inhibits EMT and angiogenesis via K63-linked c-Met polyubiquitination-dependent autophagic degradation in human glioblastoma.

Anti-Lung Cancer Targets of Radix Paeoniae Rubra and Biological Molecular Mechanism: Network Pharmacological Analyses and Experimental Validation

Objective

To systematically explore the pharmacological mechanism of Radix Paeoniae Rubra (RPR) against lung cancer (LC).

Methods

A network pharmacology approach, which involves active ingredients and target forecast, network construction, gene ontology and pathway enrichment, was employed in this research. In addition, the effect of Baicalein (BAI) in RPR on A549 cells was researched in vitro and in vivo.

Results

A total of 159 targets of the 29 active components in RPR were procured by pharmacokinetic parameters. The network analysis showed that β-sitosterol, baicalein, (+)-catechin, ellagic acid, stigmasterol, (2R, 3R)-4-methoxyl-distylin were the main ingredients and JUN, VEGFA, BCL2 were the hub targets of RPR in the treatment of LC. The functional enrichment analysis showed that RPR likely was useful to LC by regulating numerous pathways including Pathways in cancer, MAPK signaling pathway and so on. MTT results showed that 100μM, 200μM, 400μM of BAI had a time and dose-dependent inhibitory effect on A549 cells proliferation; Wound healing and transwell assays showed that 100μM, 200μM, 400μM of BAI could significantly restrain the migration and invasion of A549 cells; Flow cytometry assay results showed that 100μM, 200μM, 400μM of BAI could induce apoptosis of A549 cells. In vivo, BAI (50, 100 mg/kg) significantly inhibited tumor growth and promoted apoptosis of tumor cells compared with the control group.

Conclusion

BAI in RPR may exert anti-tumor effects by inhibiting the proliferation, migration and invasion of LC cells, and inducing the apoptosis of LC cells.

Uncovering the protective mechanism of Taohong Siwu decoction against diabetic retinopathy via HIF-1 signaling pathway based on network analysis and experimental validation

Background

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a common and serious microvascular complication of diabetes. Taohong Siwu decoction (THSWD), a famous traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) prescription, has been proved to have a good clinical effect on DR, whereas its molecular mechanism remains unclear. Our study aimed to uncover the core targets and signaling pathways of THSWD against DR.

Methods

First, the active ingredients of THSWD were searched from Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology (TCMSP) Database. Second, the targets of active ingredients were identified from ChemMapper and PharmMapper databases. Third, DR associated targets were searched from DisGeNET, DrugBank and Therapeutic Target Database (TTD). Subsequently, the common targets of active ingredients and DR were found and analyzed in STRING database. DAVID database and ClueGo plug-in software were used to carry out the gene ontology (GO) and KEGG enrichment analysis. The core signaling pathway network of “herb-ingredient-target” was constructed by the Cytoscape software. Finally, the key genes of THSWD against DR were validated by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR).

Results

A total of 2340 targets of 61 active ingredients in THSWD were obtained. Simultaneously, a total of 263 DR-associated targets were also obtained. Then, 67 common targets were found by overlapping them, and 23 core targets were identified from protein-protein interaction (PPI) network. Response to hypoxia was found as the top GO term of biological process, and HIF-1 signaling pathway was found as the top KEGG pathway. Among the key genes in HIF-1 pathway, the mRNA expression levels of VEGFA, SERPINE1 and NOS2 were significantly down-regulated by THSWD (P < 0.05), and NOS3 and HMOX1 were significantly up-regulated (P < 0.05).

Conclusion

THSWD had a protective effect on DR via regulating HIF-1 signaling pathway and other important pathways. This study might provide a theoretical basis for the application of THSWD and the development of new drugs for the treatment of DR.

Anti-Schistosoma mansoni effects of essential oils and their components

Schistosoma mansoni is endemic in 55 countries around the world. S. mansoni is a water-borne parasite of humans belonging to the group of blood flukes. Generally, schistosomiasis is treated with praziquantel, which results in frequent treatment failures and reinfections. Essential oils have diverse biological effects, including antimicrobial, antiprotozoal and antiparasitic. This review aimed at summarizing available in vitro, in vivo and clinical trials showing evidence and mechanisms of actions of essential oils and their derivatives acting against S. mansoni. The findings suggest that a number of essential oils and/or their components act against S. mansoni. Essential oils and/or their derivatives may be one of the potential sources of antischistosomal drugs.

Effect of paeoniflorin on cardiac remodeling in chronic heart failure rats through the transforming growth factor β1/Smad signaling pathway

Background

Cardiac remodeling is an important mechanism for the occurrence and development of chronic heart failure (CHF). Paeoniflorin (Pae) is the main active ingredient of Chinese herbaceous peony and has novel anti-inflammatory effect. This study was conducted to assess the effects and mechanisms of Pae on cardiac remodeling in CHF rats.

Methods

A cardiac remodeling rat model was induced by isoprenaline (Iso). Pae (20 µg/kg/d) was administrated to CHF rats for six weeks. Cardiac ultrasound was used to assess the structure and function of CHF rats. Collagen volume fraction (CVF) and perivascular collagen volume area of myocardial tissues were calculated. With real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blot, the protein and mRNA levels of transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1) and Smad3 were detected.

Results

Compared to Iso group, Pae can alleviate cardiac remodeling and improve cardiac function in CHF rats. The levels of CVF and perivascular collagen volume area reduced in Pae group (P<0.05). The expression of TGF-β1 and Smad3 protein decreased in Pae and Cap group (P<0.05). Further, the expression of TGF-β1 and Smad3 mRNA also decreased markedly in the Pae group (P<0.05).

Conclusions

Pae could attenuate cardiac remodeling and improve cardiac function in CHF rats. The potential mechanism for the cardioprotective effect of Pae may be highly associated with the down-regulating of TGF-β1/Smad signaling pathway.