Multicomponent, multitarget integrated adjustment - Metabolomics study of Qizhiweitong particles curing gastrointestinal motility disorders in mice induced by atropine

Chemometric-based analysis and bioassay guided identification of potent compounds with intestinal motility promoting effects from Dalitong Granules

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Dalitong Granules (DLT), a potent Traditional Chinese Medicine known for its ability to promote gastrointestinal motility, is widely used in clinical practice for the treatment of Functional Dyspepsia (FD). Despite the remarkable clinical efficacy of DLT, the specific components responsible for its effectiveness remains unclear.

AIM OF THE STUDY

The study aimed to identify potential active ingredients of DLT for treating FD through spectrum-effect relationship analysis, multivariate statistical analysis and network pharmacology analysis. The efficacy of these identified compounds was subsequently validated using the zebrafish intestinal peristalsis model.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The fingerprints of various solvent-extracted DLT were analyzed using high performance liquid chromatography coupled with tandem high-resolution mass spectrometry. The intestinal motility-promoting activities of DLT extracted by different solvents were evaluated through an intestinal propulsion test in mice. Potential therapeutic substances in DLT for treating FD were screened via chemometric analysis based on spectrum-effect relationship analysis. The correlation between the intensity of common peaks in the total ion chromatogram and the pharmacodynamic indices was assessed using multivariate statistical analysis. Additionally, given the complexity of Traditional Chinese Medicine, which comprises multiple components and targets, a network pharmacology analysis was performed to investigate the potential active ingredients in DLT. Finally, the pharmacological effects of these compounds in DLT were validated using a zebrafish intestinal motility model.

RESULTS

Through spectral-effect relationships analysis and network pharmacology analysis, it was determined that ten ingredients in DLT contribute to the promotion of intestinal motility. In a zebrafish intestinal motility model, it was observed that eight chemicals (excluding tetrahydropalmatine) demonstrate favorable activity of promoting gastrointestinal motility. These findings suggest that these ingredients may serve as potential therapeutic agents for improving gastric motility disorders.

CONCLUSIONS

This study employed spectral-effect relationship and network pharmacology analysis to identify the active ingredients in DLT. The findings were then validated using a zebrafish intestinal peristalsis model. These results provide a scientific foundation for the clinical application of DLT as a key traditional herbal formula for managing FD.

UHPLC-Q/Orbitrap HRMS combined with spectrum-effect relationship and network pharmacology to discovery the gastrointestinal motility-promoting material basis in Citri Sarcodactylis Fructus

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

The prevalence of gastrointestinal motility disorders (GMD) is increasing and is characterized by long-term recurrence. Citri Sarcodactylis Fructus (CSF), as a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) known in "regulating qi and harmonizing the stomach", has therapeutic effects on GMD. However, the material basis of its efficacy is not clear.

AIM OF THE STUDY

The aim of this study was to evaluate the gastrointestinal motility-promoting activity of CSF extracts and to screen their active ingredients and to perform a preliminary validation.

METHODS

The chemical composition spectrum of different extracts of CSF were established by ultra high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole orbitrap high-resolution mass spectrometry (UHPLC-Q/Orbitrap HRMS). The gastrointestinal motility-promoting activities of CSF were investigated by determining the intestinal propulsion rate, gastric emptying rate, acetylcholinesterase activity, and motilin content in L-arginine-induced GMD mice. Spectrum-effect relationship and network pharmacology analysis were used for the screening of potential active ingredients. A zebrafish gastrointestinal motility model traced with Nile Red was established to validate the active ingredients. Molecular docking prediction was used to explore the mechanism of action of the active ingredient. Finally, Western blotting and TUNEL staining were performed to validate the molecular docking predictions.

RESULTS

In total, 42 shared components were identified. The main active fraction of CSF to promote gastrointestinal motility was 70% ethanol elution fraction. Eleven potential active ingredients were screened by grey correlation analysis, orthogonal partial least squares analysis, and "active ingredient-target" network. Six compounds were confirmed as the pharmacodynamic substances of CSF by zebrafish gastrointestinal motility model, namely, quercetin, kaempferol, isorhamnetin, diosmetin, hesperetin, and 5,7,3'-trihydroxy-6,4',5'-trimethoxyflavone. Molecular docking predictions and Western blotting assays indicated that CSF may act on AKT and MMP9 targets to exert gastrointestinal motility-promoting activity.

CONCLUSION

This study provided a foundation for elucidating the gastrointestinal motility-promoting activity of CSF and its material basis by integrating spectrum-effect relationship and network pharmacology. It also provided a theoretical basis for quality control of CSF and a new idea for the discovery and validation of pharmacodynamic substances in TCM.

The effects of Fraxini cortex and Andrographis herba on Escherichia coli-induced diarrhea in chicken

Escherichia coli (E. coli) is a type of pathogenic bacteria that often causes diarrhea in poultry. While antibiotics can control E. coli-induced diarrhea in chickens, it can lead the ongoing proliferation of antibiotic resistance. Traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs) that effectively protect against and treat chicken diarrhea caused by E. coli are an encouraging alternative. That enhance poultry immunity, curtail antibiotic resistance, and provide a secure, eco-friendly, and efficacious option for the livestock and poultry industry. In this study, the model of chicken diarrhea induced by E. coli was established, and different TCM formulas were used for treatment, and finally the formula with the best effect was screened out. The research also investigated the impact of these formulas on gut microbiota and serum metabolites in chickens, using 16S rRNA sequencing technology and metabolomics. Mass spectrometry technology and network pharmacology were used to analyze the optimal TCM formula corroborated by molecular docking and qPCR for further explore mechanism exploration. The findings indicated that Fraxini cortex and Andrographis herba dramatically lowered mortality rates and alleviated pathologic changes in cases of avian E. coli diarrhea (P < 0.05). Fraxini cortex and Andrographis herba significantly boosted the abundance of Bacteroidetes (P < 0.05) and mainly enhanced cysteine and methionine metabolic pathways. Moreover, 97 active ingredients in Fraxini cortex and Andrographis herba were identified, along with 1425 diarrhea-related targets, primarily enriched in the MAPK signaling pathway. Molecular docking and qPCR revealed that the crucial active ingredients in Fraxini cortex and Andrographis herba bonded effectively with disease targets and treated diarrhea by regulating the MAPK signaling pathway. This suggests that Fraxini cortex and Andrographis herba exerts an optimal effect on diarrhea by multi-target and multi-pathway regulation of metabolic pathways and gut microbiota.

Acetylcholine Analog-Modified Albumin Nanoparticles for the Enhanced and Synchronous Brain Delivery of Saponin Components of Panax Notoginseng

BACKGROUND

Panax notoginseng saponins (PNS) are commonly used first-line drugs for treating cerebral thrombosis and stroke in China. However, the synchronized and targeted delivery of active ingredients in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) poses a significant challenge for modern TCM formulations.

METHODS

Bovine serum albumin (BSA) was modified using 2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine (MPC), an analog of acetylcholine, and subsequently adsorbed the major PNS onto the modified albumin to produce MPC-BSA@PNS nanoparticles (NPs). This novel delivery system facilitated efficient and synchronized transport of PNS across the blood-brain barrier (BBB) through active transport mediated by nicotinic acetylcholine receptors.

RESULTS

In vitro experiments demonstrated that the transport rates of R1, Rg1, Rb1, and Rd across the BBB were relatively synchronous in MPC-BSA@PNS NPs compared to those in the PNS solution. Additionally, animal experiments revealed that the brain-targeting efficiencies of R1 + Rg1 + Rb1 in MPC-BSA@PNS NPs were 2.02 and 7.73 times higher than those in BSA@PNS NPs and the free PNS group, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

This study presents a simple and feasible approach for achieving the targeted delivery of complex active ingredient clusters in TCM.

Qi-Zhi-Wei-Tong granules alleviates chronic non-atrophic gastritis in mice by altering the gut microbiota and bile acid metabolism

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

In traditional Chinese medicine, Qi-zhi-wei-tong granule (QZWT) significantly reduced the major gastrointestinal and psychological symptoms of functional dyspepsia.

AIM OF THE STUDY

We aimed to explore the therapeutic effect of QZWT treated chronic non-atrophic gastritis (CNAG) and to elucidate its potential mechanism.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The composition of QZWT was analysed by UPLC-Q/TOF-MS. The CNAG mice model was established by chronic restraint stress (CRS) in combination with iodoacetamide (IAA). Morphological staining was utilized to reveal the impact of QZWT on stomach and gut integrity. RT‒qPCR and ELISA were used to measure proinflammatory cytokines in the stomach, colon tissues and serum of CNAG mice. Next-generation sequencing of 16 S rDNA was applied to analyse the gut microbiota community of faecal samples. Finally, we investigated the faecal bile acid composition using GC‒MS.

RESULTS

Twenty-one of the compounds from QZWT were successfully identified by UPLC-Q/TOF-MS analysis. QZWT enhanced gastric and intestinal integrity and suppressed inflammatory responses in CNAG mice. Moreover, QZWT treatment reshaped the gut microbiota structure by increasing the levels of the Akkermansia genus and decreasing the populations of the Desulfovibrio genus in CNAG mice. The alteration of gut microbiota was associated with gut bacteria BA metabolism. In addition, QZWT reduced BAs and especially decreased conjugated BAs in CNAG mice. Spearman's correlation analysis further confirmed the links between the changes in the gut microbiota and CNAG indices.

CONCLUSIONS

QZWT can effectively inhibited gastrointestinal inflammatory responses of CNAG symptoms in mice; these effects may be closely related to restoring the balance of the gut microbiota and regulating BA metabolism to protect the gastric mucosa. This study provides a scientific reference for the pathogenesis of CNAG and the mechanism of QZWT treatment.

Experimental validation for mechanisms of Qizhiweitong particles against Chronic Non-atrophic gastritis based on metabolomics and network pharmacology

Qizhiweitong particles (QZWT), a classic Chinese herbal prescription derived from the Sinisan decoction in Shang Han Za Bing Lun, has definitive clinical efficacy in treating Chronic Non-atrophic Gastritis (CNG) in China. However, its mechanism of action at the metabolic level remains unclear. The aim of this study was to explore the mechanisms of QZWT against CNG based on non-targeted metabolomics combined with network pharmacology and experimentally validated by enzyme linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA). First, CNG model rats were established by free drinking ammonia water combined with starvation and satiety disorder for 12 weeks. Taking gastric tissue as the object, ultra-high performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry based metabolomics and network pharmacology were conducted to identify the key compounds, core targets and pathways that mediate the effects of QZWT against CNG. Furthermore, the targets from network pharmacology and the metabolites from metabolomics were jointly analyzed to select crucial metabolism pathways by MetaScape. Finally, the key metabolic enzymes and metabolites were experimentally validated by ELISA. The results indicated that there were 29 differential metabolites were identified and considered to be metabolic biomarkers of QZWT in the treatment of CNG. Among them, 8 of the differential metabolites showed a significant reduction in the content of QZWT groups. Arachidonic acid (AA) metabolic and glycerophospholipid (GP) metabolic are the most crucial metabolic pathways for QZWT to treat CNG. QZWT regulated AA and GP metabolism by synergetic reducing the level of AA, Phospholipid acid and Lysophosphatidic acid and inhibiting the enzyme activity of prostaglandin endoperoxide synthase 1 and prostaglandin endoperoxide synthase 2. And a compound-reaction-enzyme-gene network of mechanism for QZWT against CNG was established. In conclusion, this study reveals the complicated mechanisms of QZWT against CNG. Our work presents a novel strategy to identify the potential mechanisms of pharmacological effects derived from a compound prescription of TCM.

Effect of Electroacupuncture with Different Current Intensities on the Serum Metabolomics of Functional Constipation

Objective

The aim of the study is to investigate the serum metabolomics of electroacupuncture (EA) with different current intensities in the treatment of functional constipation (FC).

Methods

The total number of FC patients was 19, (7, 6, 6, in the low current intensity group (LCI), high current intensity group (HCI), and mosapride citrate tablet control group (MC), respectively). Patients in the EA groups received 16 sessions of acupuncture treatments. Patients in the MC group were orally administered 5 mg mosapride citrate tablets 3 times daily, and serum samples were collected from the patients before and after treatment. Orthogonal partial least square-discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) was used to assess the metabolic data. The significant differences before and after FC treatment are shown in the OPLS-DA score plot. Variable importance plots (VIPs) and T tests were used to identify significant metabolites.

Results

Among the three groups, the number of metabolites with VIP > 1 was 11, 7, and 21 (in LCI, HCI and MC groups, respectively). Compared with those before treatment, the serum metabolites of patients were characterized by increased levels of L-ornithine (p < 0.05) and glyceric acid in the LCI group (p < 0.05), increased levels of vanillic acid in the MC group (p < 0.05), and decreased levels of arabinonic acid in the MC group (p < 0.05).

Conclusions

The effects of EA treatment on the serum metabolomics of FC may involve fatty acid and amino acid metabolism.

Exploring the potential targets of Biling Weitong Granules on visceral hypersensitivity through integration of network pharmacology and in vivo analysis

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Biling Weitong Granules(BLWTG) are a newly developed traditional Chinese medicine prescription based on the ancient prescription Jinlingzi San and Zuojin Wan. It is used for the treatment of functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs) featured as visceral hypersensitivity(VH). However, its active ingredients and protein targets involved still remain unknown.

AIM OF THE STUDY

To explore the potential targets of BLWTG for the treatment of visceral hypersensitivity.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Active components and their protein targets of BLWTG were screened from TCMSP database and the component-target network were constructed with Cytoscape software. Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) was the representative disease in this study and information on its linked pathways was obtained from NCBI, Drugbank and Genecard. Target pathways of BLWTG were analyzed through KEGG to verify the correlation with IBS related pathways.Then, the VH mouse models was induced by maternal separation(MS), randomly divided into normal saline(NS),BLWTG1(low-dosage) and BLWTG2(high-dosage) group. After intervention, threshold intensity of colorectal distension (CRD) and body weight were measured to evaluate relief of IBS symptoms. Elisa was performed to evaluate 5-HT concentration changes of colon tissues. Flow cytometry was performed to assess changes of colon eosinophils and mast cells proportion. Transcriptome sequencing was employed to analyze changes of pathways and differential genes.

RESULTS

199 protein targets and 132 active components of BLWTG were identified. KEGG analysis revealed the overlap between BLWTG target pathways and IBS related pathways such as neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction, tryptophan metabolism and inflammatory reaction. 34 genes were not only BLWTG target proteins but also recognized targets for treating IBS. After maternal separation(MS), the mice showed a significant decrease in threshold intensity of CRD, a progressive decrease in body weight and an increase of 5-HT concentration of colon tissue. The proportion of mast cells and eosinophils in the colon increased. Differential genes including Hp,Ido1 and Aqp7 were significantly increased in MS mice group and IBS-related pathways were upregulated. After treatment of BLWTG, threshold intensity of CRD and body weight were significantly improved and IBS related pathways were downregulated. In addition, among BLWTG protein targets, Il1b,Tnf,Adrb1 and Nos2 were found upregulated in MS + NS mice and downregulated after BLWTG intervention through combination of transcriptome sequencing.

CONCLUSIONS

In maternal separation-induced mouse models, BLWTG could alleviate visceral hypersensitivity, possibly through downregulation of 5-HT concentration and eosinophils and mast cells proportion in colon and critical pathways such as neuroactive ligand-receptor pathway. Potential targets of BLWTG including Il1b,Tnf,Adrb1 and Nos2 were found through integration of network pharmacology database and transcriptome sequencing, providing evidence for further study on mechanisms underlying visceral hypersensitivity.

Q-marker identification of Paris polyphylla var. yunnanensis (Franch.) Hand.-Mazz. in pulmonary metastasis of liver cancer mice

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Rhizoma Paridis saponins (RPS) as the mainly active components of Paris polyphylla var. yunnanensis (Franch.) Hand.-Mazz., possess tumor therapeutic potential. However, the anti-tumor material basis of RPS in liver cancer pulmonary metastasis remains poorly understood. The objective of this study was to identify the distribution and anti-cancer effects of RPS in liver cancer pulmonary metastatic model.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In this study, a mouse liver cancer pulmonary metastasis model was established to determine the distribution of different saponins in the tissues by UPLC-MS and plasma protein binding rate.

RESULTS

As a result, RPS prolonged the survival time and inhibited the pulmonary metastasis in H22 injected mice through its underlying mechanism. UPLC-MS identified saponins from RPS such as PVII, PH, PVI, PII, gracillin and PI in tissues, which may be regarded as the Q-markers in RPS. Surprisingly, the concentration of PI, PII and gracillin as diosgenyl saponins was higher than that of pennogenyl saponins in the liver and lung. Besides, plasma protein binding rate of PII was higher than that of PVII.

CONCLUSION

These findings suggested that PVII, PH, PVI, PI, PII and gracillin are regarded as the Q-markers of RPS in liver cancer pulmonary metastasis. The concentration of PI, PII and gracillin as diosgenyl saponins was higher than that of pennogenyl saponins in the liver and lung. It would be helpful for understanding the importance of RPS with anticancer activities in the future.

Signaling repurposable drug combinations against COVID-19 by developing the heterogeneous deep herb-graph method

BACKGROUND

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has spurred a boom in uncovering repurposable existing drugs. Drug repurposing is a strategy for identifying new uses for approved or investigational drugs that are outside the scope of the original medical indication.

MOTIVATION

Current works of drug repurposing for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) are mostly limited to only focusing on chemical medicines, analysis of single drug targeting single SARS-CoV-2 protein, one-size-fits-all strategy using the same treatment (same drug) for different infected stages of SARS-CoV-2. To dilute these issues, we initially set the research focusing on herbal medicines. We then proposed a heterogeneous graph embedding method to signaled candidate repurposing herbs for each SARS-CoV-2 protein, and employed the variational graph convolutional network approach to recommend the precision herb combinations as the potential candidate treatments against the specific infected stage.

METHOD

We initially employed the virtual screening method to construct the 'Herb-Compound' and 'Compound-Protein' docking graph based on 480 herbal medicines, 12,735 associated chemical compounds and 24 SARS-CoV-2 proteins. Sequentially, the 'Herb-Compound-Protein' heterogeneous network was constructed by means of the metapath-based embedding approach. We then proposed the heterogeneous-information-network-based graph embedding method to generate the candidate ranking lists of herbs that target structural, nonstructural and accessory SARS-CoV-2 proteins, individually. To obtain precision synthetic effective treatments forvarious COVID-19 infected stages, we employed the variational graph convolutional network method to generate candidate herb combinations as the recommended therapeutic therapies.

RESULTS

There were 24 ranking lists, each containing top-10 herbs, targeting 24 SARS-CoV-2 proteins correspondingly, and 20 herb combinations were generated as the candidate-specific treatment to target the four infected stages. The code and supplementary materials are freely available at https://github.com/fanyang-AI/TCM-COVID19.

Therapeutic effect of Moringa oleifera leaves on constipation mice based on pharmacodynamics and serum metabonomics

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Moringa oleifera is native to India, and has been introduced to China in recent years. Moringa oleifera leaves (MOL), as Ayurvedic medicine, has efficacy of Pachana karma (digestive) and Virechana karma (purgative). Folium Sennae (FS), Rhubarb (RB), Aloe vera (AV), Hemp seed (HS) are commonly used as laxatives in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), which have different characteristics. However, the intensity of the diarrheal effect of MOL and its mechanism of action are unclear.

AIM OF THE STUDY

The methods of pharmacology and omics were used to compare the purgative effects of MOL and FS, RB, AV, HS, and their effects on metabolomics, to analyze the purgative characteristics and related mechanisms of MOL.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

C57BL/6J mouse model of constipation was established by feeding low-fiber food. Feces parameters and colon pathology were used to evaluate the effect of FS, RB, AV, HS and MOL. And mass spectrometry-based serum metabolomics was performed. The differential metabolites of these herbs in the treatment of constipation were obtained by OPLS-DA analysis. Furthermore, pathway analysis was conducted based on different metabolites.

RESULTS

Moringa leaves can adjust the stool number, wet fecal weight and fecal water content to varying degrees to achieve laxative effects, and recover colon muscle thickness and mucus. Analysis of metabolomics results showed that 71 metabolites from LC-MS datasets between model group and control group were obtained. 29, 12, 44, 29 and 20 metabolites were significantly reversed by FS, RB, AV, HS, MOL compared with model group respectively. According to the metabolic pathways, RB and AV may be clustered into a similar category, and MOL, FS and HS showed similarity of metabolic characteristics.

CONCLUSION

The purgative effect of MOL is inferior to that of FS, and stronger than that of AV, RB and HS. The metabolic pathway for constipation is more similar to that of FS. MOL has a long-lasting and mild effect of laxative, increasing defecation volume and water content of feces, and may become a fewer side effects medicine to treat constipation.

Spectrum-effect relationship between UHPLC-Q-TOF/MS fingerprint and promoting gastrointestinal motility activity of Fructus aurantii based on multivariate statistical analysis

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Nowadays, gastrointestinal motility disorders (GMD) have reduced the quality of people's daily life worldwide, but there is still a lack of effective western medicine treatment. Fructus aurantii (FA), a representative regulating-qi herbal medicine, has been widely used to treat GMD in China for thousands of years, but it is not clear that which specific components contribute to the efficacy.

AIM OF THE STUDY

The efficacy differences of various fractions of FA on normal mice and GMD rats were compared, so as to find out the main effective fraction of FA, and to screen the main regulating-qi components based on spectrum-effect relationship and multivariate statistical analysis.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The fingerprints of different fractions of FA were established and main compounds were identified with UHPLC-Q-TOF/MS technique. The promoting gastrointestinal motility activities of FA were evaluated by defecation test, gastric emptying and intestinal propulsion test in mice, and further investigated according to the biochemical analysis of 5-HT, SP, MLT, GAS and VIP in GMD rats' plasma. One-way ANOVA was used to find out the difference of efficacy. The active components were screened through spectrum-effect relationship with PCA-X, Pearson bivariate correlation analysis and OPLS analysis.

CONCLUSIONS

Ethyl acetate fraction is the main active fraction, and nine compounds are the major regulating-qi components. The developed spectrum-effect analysis can be used for the screening of bioactive components in natural products with high accuracy and reliability.

The Key Ingredient Acacetin in Weishu Decoction Alleviates Gastrointestinal Motility Disorder Based on Network Pharmacology Analysis

Background

Gastrointestinal motility disorder is a common gastrointestinal disease, which seriously affects life quality. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has been widely used as an alternative therapy for gastrointestinal motility disorder. Acacetin is a natural flavonoid compound that has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory, antidepressant, and anticancer properties. However, the efficacy of Acacetin in the treatment of gastrointestinal motility disorders has not been studied. Our aim was to investigate the mechanism of Acacetin-alleviated gastrointestinal motility disorder and its efficacy based on network pharmacology.

Methods

We performed network pharmacology to predict the active components, match Weishu decoction (WSD) targets in gastrointestinal motility disorders, and investigate its potential pharmacological mechanisms. We performed the GO and KEGG enrichment analysis. In vivo, we investigated the effects of Acacetin in the gastrointestinal motility disorder model.

Results

Based on network pharmacological method, the key active ingredient of WSD was identified as Acacetin, and the enrichment signaling pathway was the PI3K-AKT signaling pathway. Acacetin and Mosapride accelerated gastric emptying time, reduced gastric remnant rate, and increased small intestinal propulsion rate. The levels of GAS and MTL were increased after using Acacetin. These results indicated that Acacetin could improve gastrointestinal motility disorders. Among them, high-dose Acacetin showed a better effect. Acacetin could regulate protein and lipid metabolism in mice with gastrointestinal motility disorder. Furthermore, Acacetin could modulate gastrointestinal inflammation and apoptosis. The detection of the PI3K-AKT signaling pathway-related proteins showed that Acacetin improved gastrointestinal motility disorder by inhibiting the activation of the PI3K-AKT signaling pathway.

Conclusion

The key ingredient Acacetin in WSD could alleviate gastrointestinal motility disorder by inhibiting the activation of the PI3K-AKT signaling pathway based on network pharmacology analysis. The efficacy and safety of Acacetin treatment provide strong experimental support for the clinical treatment of gastrointestinal motility disorder.

Deciphering the synergistic network regulation of active components from SiNiSan against irritable bowel syndrome via a comprehensive strategy: Combined effects of synephrine, paeoniflorin and naringin

BACKGROUND

SiNiSan (SNS) is an ancient Chinese herbal prescription, and the current clinical treatment of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is effective. In the previous study of the research team, the multi-functional co-synergism of SNS against IBS was presented. Some potential drug targets and candidate ligands were predicted.

PURPOSE

This study attempts to explore the crucial ingredient combinations from SNS formula and reveal their synergistic mechanism for IBS therapy.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In present study, a comprehensive strategy was performed to reveal IBS related pathways and biological modules, and explore synergistic effects of the ingredients, including ADME (absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion) screening, Text mining, Venn analysis, Gene ontology (GO) analysis, Pathway cluster analysis, Molecular docking, Network construction and Experimental verification in visceral hypersensitivity (VHS) rats.

RESULTS

Three compressed IBS signal pathways were derived from ClueGO KEGG analysis of 63 IBS genes, including Neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction, Inflammatory mediator regulation of TRP (transient receptor potential) channels and Serotonergic synapse. A multi-module network, composed of four IBS therapeutic modules (psychological, inflammation, neuroendocrine and cross-talk modules), was revealed by Target-Pathway network. Nine kernel targets were considered closely associated with the IBS pathways, including ADRA2A, HTR2A, F2RL1, F2RL3, TRPV1, PKC, PKA, IL-1Β and NGF. In silico analysis revealed that three crucial ingredients (synephrine, paeoniflorin and naringin) were assumed to coordinate the network of those IBS therapeutic modules by acting on these kernel targets in the important pathways. In vivo experimental results showed that the crucial ingredient combinations synergistically affected the expressions of the kernel biological molecules, and improved the minimum capacity threshold of AWR in VHS rats.

CONCLUSION

The study proposes the important IBS associated pathways and the network regulation mechanisms of the crucial ingredients. It reveals the multi-target synergistic effect of the crucial ingredient combinations for the novel therapy on IBS.

Exploring the protective effects of PNS on acute myocardial ischaemia-induced heart failure by Transcriptome analysis

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Panax notoginseng saponins (PNS) were extracted from Panax notoginseng (Burkill) F.H. Chen, a natural product often used as a therapeutic agent in China. PNS has showed obvious therapeutic effect in heart failure (HF) treatment. However, its targets and pharmacological mechanisms remain elusive.

AIM OF THE STUDY

This research attempted to determine both the effects and mechanisms of PNS involved in AMI treatment, namely, acute myocardial infarction-induced HF.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

An AMI-induced HF model was generated by left anterior descending (LAD) ligation in rats. Transcriptome analyses were performed to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and pathway enrichment. Real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) verified the HF-related genes differentially expressed after PNS treatment. Finally, a model of H9C2 cells subjected to OGD/R, which is equivalent to oxygen-glucose deprivation/reperfusion, was established to identify the potential mechanism of PNS in the treatment of HF.

RESULTS

PNS ameliorated cardiac function and protected against structural alterations of the myocardium in HF rats. Transcriptome analysis showed that PNS upregulated 1749 genes and downregulated 1069 genes in the heart. Functional enrichment analysis demonstrated that the metabolic process was enriched among the DEGs. KEGG pathway analysis revealed that the PPAR signalling pathway was particularly involved in the protective function of PNS. The effects of PNS on the PPAR pathway were validated in vivo; PNS treatment effectively increased the expression of PPARα, RXRα, and PGC1α in rats with AMI-induced HF. In addition, PNS was shown to regulate the expression of downstream energy metabolism-related proteins. Interestingly, the addition of the PPARα inhibitor GW6471 abolished the beneficial effects of PNS.

CONCLUSIONS

PNS exerts a cardioprotective function in a multicomponent and multitarget manner. The PPAR signalling pathway is one of the key pathways by which PNS protects against HF, and PPARα is a possible target for HF treatment.

LC-MS-based plasma metabolomics study of the intervention effect of different polar parts of hawthorn on gastrointestinal motility disorder rats

Dyspepsia, one of the most prevalent diseases of the digestive tract that impacts the quality of patient life, is mainly caused by gastrointestinal motility disorder. Hawthorn is a commonly used traditional Chinese medicine for treating dyspepsia, and has been proven to improve gastrointestinal motility. Herein, a rat model of gastrointestinal motility disorder was established by subcutaneous injection with atropine. The modeled rats were treated with four polar parts (T1-4 in descending polarity, corresponding to water, n-butanol, ethyl acetate and petroleum ether extracts, respectively) of hawthorn. Through metabolomics analysis, a total of 20 significantly metabolites were identified with significant changes in their abundance levels and these metabolites were related to many metabolic pathways such as amino acid metabolism and primary bile acid biosynthesis. The results showed that T3 had the best therapeutic effect of promoting gastrointestinal motility. Other parts showed no obvious therapeutic effect, demonstrating that the effective components of hawthorn may be compounds of medium polarity. T3 might achieve good therapeutic effects owing to the gastrointestinal motility promotion activity, and by rectifying the disturbed metabolic pathways in the gastrointestinal motility disorder model.

Clinical study on post evaluation after listing of Qizhi Weitong granules: Study protocol clinical trial (SPIRIT compliant)

BACKGROUND

Functional dyspepsia (FD) is a highly prevalent functional gastrointestinal disorder which brings a significant impact on patients' quality of life. Although there are many available treatments to alleviate dyspepsia symptoms, most of them are far from satisfactory. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has shown good potential in the treatment of FD, especially in terms of improving symptoms and adverse effects of Western medicine. Qizhi Weitong granule (QZWTG), a TCM preparation, has been utilized in treating FD for a long time and has achieved good clinical results. However, the existing evidence of its efficacy and mechanism of action is insufficient. Hence, the purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of QZWTG in the treatment of FD.

METHODS

This study is a multicenter, randomized, double-blinded, double-placebo, positive drug parallel controlled clinical study. The experiment will be carried out in 8 hospitals at the same time, and a total of 384 cases of participants will be randomly assigned to the experimental group and the control group (n = 192). The experimental group will be given QZWTG and Mosapride citrate tablet placebo, and the control group will be given QZWTG placebo and Mosapride citrate tablet. After 4 weeks of intervention and 2 weeks of follow-up, the efficacy and safety of QZWTG in patients with FD will be observed. The primary outcomes are the change in the main symptom score. The secondary outcomes include TCM syndrome evaluation, the change of the Hamilton anxiety scale and the Hamilton depression scale, and advanced events. This study will explore the biological mechanism of QZWTG in the treatment of FD through the results of blood and urine metabolomics.

DISCUSSION

This trial will provide first-hand evidence on whether QZWTG is noninferior to Mosapride citrate tablet. There will be a new option for the treatment of FD if noninferiority is set up. In addition, the efficacy and safety of QZWTG in the treatment of FD will be evaluated, and the mechanism of QZWTG in the treatment of FD will be explored through the metabolomics of blood and urine. On the other hand, as far as we know, this study may be the largest trial of efficacy and safety of QZWTG in the treatment of FD, which has important application value.

Efficacy of Chinese Herbal Formula Sini Zuojin Decoction in Treating Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease: Clinical Evidence and Potential Mechanisms

Background

Based on 122 cases reported in China, data mining indicated that Sini Powder (SNP) and the Zuojin Pill (ZJP) are both widely used as the basic recipe for treating Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD).

Objectives

To evaluate the intervention effects of Sini Zuojin Decoction (SNZJD) in patients with GERD.

Methods

A comprehensive collection of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) using SNZJD in patients with GERD that were published in domestic and foreign journals was made by computer retrieval. RevMan 5.3 software was used for meta-analysis and bias risk assessment, Stata 14.0 software was used for sensitivity analysis, GRADE profiler 3.6 was used to evaluate the level of evidence, and trial sequential analysis (TSA), employed to control for random errors, was performed to assess the main outcomes. Network pharmacology analysis was applied to preliminarily study the mechanisms of action of SNZJD on GERD.

Results

Thirteen articles were eventually included, covering a total of 966 patients. Meta-analysis indicated that: ① the SNZJD plus traditional stomach medicines (SPTSM) group was more effective than the traditional stomach medicines (TSM) group (RR = 1.16, 95% CI [1.04, 1.29], P = 0.009); ② the experimental group with SNZJD was significantly better than TSM controls in improving heartburn, substernal chest pain, acid regurgitation, and food regurgitation symptoms (P < 0.0001); ③ SPTSM could significantly decrease total symptom scores with substantial effectiveness (P < 0.00001). The recurrence rate and adverse effects of SNZJD treatment were significantly reduced (P < 0.05). TSA showed that the effective rate of meta-analysis might be reliable, but the recurrence and safety results were still uncertain. According to the evaluation by the GRADE method, the quality of evidence was low. Besides, SNZJD might treat GERD by acting on related targets and pathways such as inflammation, hormone regulation, and so on.

Conclusions

SNZJD might be useful in the treatment of GERD, but its long-term effects and specific clinical mechanisms are unclear. Due to the poor quality of the evidence, more samples and high-quality clinical studies should be tested and verified in the future.

Aerial parts of maca (Lepidium meyenii Walp.) as functional vegetables with gastrointestinal prokinetic efficacy in vivo

Lepidium meyenii Walp. (maca) has been utilized in the Andean region because of its edibleness and medicinal value. The aerial parts of maca (APM) were analyzed for protein, total sugar, vitamins, amino acids, and minerals and its characteristic active ingredients at five different growth stages. The results showed the high protein, total sugar, vitamin C, niacin, potassium, and calcium contents of APM. All 17 amino acids and the characteristic active ingredients, namely, macamide, glucosinolates, adenosine, and total saponins, were detected. We examined the effects of maca plant powders on gastric emptying and intestinal propulsion and the levels of serum motilin and gastrin in atropine-treated mice. Benzyl isothiocyanate (BITC) was investigated to identify the potential active material in APM. The results revealed that both maca plant powders and BITC can promote the gastrointestinal prokinetic efficacy. Thus, APM feature potential as new functional vegetable sources.

A Randomized, Double-Blind, Multicenter, Placebo-Controlled Trial of Qi-Zhi-Wei-Tong Granules on Postprandial Distress Syndrome-Predominant Functional Dyspepsia

Background:

Functional dyspepsia (FD) is a common upper gastrointestinal disorder worldwide, but the current treatments for FD are still unsatisfactory. The aims of this study were to investigate the efficacy and safety of Qi-Zhi-Wei-Tong granules in patients with postprandial distress syndrome (PDS)-predominant FD.

Methods:

The study was conducted as a randomized, double-blinded, multicenter, placebo-controlled design in 197 patients with PDS. All participants received placebo treatment for 1 week. Patients whose total symptom score decreased by <50% after the placebo treatment were recruited into the 4-week treatment period, in which they were randomly assigned to be treated with either Qi-Zhi-Wei-Tong granules or placebo. The patients were then followed for 2 weeks without any treatment. Dyspeptic symptoms were scored at weeks 2 and 4 during the random treatment period and 2 weeks after the treatment. Anxiety and depression symptoms were also scored and compared.

Results:

(1) The total effective rates in the Qi-Zhi-Wei-Tong granules group at weeks 2 and 4 during the random treatment period and 2 weeks after treatment were all significantly higher than those in the placebo group (38.82% vs. 8.75%, P < 0.001; 69.14% vs. 16.25%, P < 0.001; 77.65% vs. 21.25%, P < 0.001). (2) The total dyspeptic symptoms scores in the Qi-Zhi-Wei-Tong granules group at weeks 2 and 4 and 2 weeks after treatment were significantly lower than those in the placebo group. (3) The severity and frequency of each dyspeptic symptom at weeks 2 and 4 and the follow-up period were all significantly lower than those in the placebo group. (4) The anxiety scores in the Qi-Zhi-Wei-Tong granules group were significantly lower than those in the placebo group. (5) Qi-Zhi-Wei-Tong granules did not have more adverse effects than the placebo.

Conclusion:

Qi-Zhi-Wei-Tong granules offer significant symptomatic improvement in PDS with no more adverse effects than placebo.

Trial Registration:

https://clinicaltrials.gov/, NCT02460601.

Research on Q-markers of Qiliqiangxin capsule for chronic heart failure treatment based on pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics association

BACKGROUND

Qiliqiangxin capsule (QLQX), composed of 11 herbs, is an effective traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) that has been widely used for treatment of chronic heart failure (CHF) in China. In the Chinese pharmacopoeia (Ch.P.) only astragaloside was described as the marker component to control the quality of QLQX, which could not reflect the overall effectiveness.

PURPOSE

The aim of this work was to investigate the quality markers (Q-markers) of QLQX based on the association of the pharmacodynamics (PD) of inhibitory effect on activated renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) and the pharmacokinetics (PK) of bioactive compounds according to the Q-marker theory.

METHODS

The contents of astragaloside, calycosin-7-glucoside, sinapine, ginsenoside Rb1, ginsenoside Rb2, ginsenoside Rg1, salvianolic acid A, salvianolic acid B, danshensu, rosmarinic acid, formononetin, aconitine, mesaconitine, hypaconitine, benzoylaconine, benzoylmesaconine and benzoylhypacoitine were determined by an HPLC-MS/MS method both in QLQX preparation and in the plasma of CHF rats administered intragastrically with QLQX. The effect of lowering angiotensin II (Ang II) production by QLQX was assayed by ELISA. The association between PK and PD was explored and the bioactive compounds with higher content in vitro and better exposure in vivo, which were closely related to the inhibitory effect on the activated RAAS, were identified as Q-markers of QLQX for CHF treatment.

RESULTS

The contents of 17 constituents were in the order of salvianolic acid B > danshensu > ginsenoside Rb1 > sinapine > benzoylmesaconine > astragaloside > benzoylhypacoitine > ginsenoside Rb2 > salvianolic acid A > ginsenoside Rg1 > calycosin-7-glucoside > rosmarinic acid > formononetin > benzoylaconine > hypaconitine > aconitine > mesaconitine in QLQX preparation. PK and PD association study of 14 bioactive compounds of QLQX showed the maximum effect (E_max) of astragaloside, calycosin-7-glucoside, sinapine and ginsenoside Rg1 and their peak concentration (C_max) appeared at the same time; while the time of E_max of ginsenoside Rb1, ginsenoside Rb2, salvianolic acid A, salvianolic acid B, danshensu, rosmarinic acid, formononetin, benzoylaconine, benzoylmesaconine and benzoylhypacoitine was delayed from the time of their C_max.

CONCLUSIONS

Astragaloside, calycosin-7-glucoside, sinapine and ginsenoside Rg1 are suitable as the Q-markers of QLQX for CHF treatment, which have higher content in vitro, finer exposure in vivo and a direct correlation with the inhibitory effect on activated RAAS.

Comparative pharmacokinetics of (S)-MP3950, a novel 5-HT4 receptor agonist, in normal and atropine-induced gastrointestinal motility disorders rats

1. (S)-MP3950 is the (S)-enantiomer of active metabolite of mosapride, which exhibits higher 5-HT₄ receptor agonistic effect than mosapride. It shows promise to become a novel drug candidate for the treatment of gastrointestinal motility disorders (GMDs). However, the pharmacokinetic behavior of (S)-MP3950 in the pathological state of GMDs remains unclear. Herein, we investigated the comparative pharmacokinetics of (S)-MP3950 in normal and GMDs rats. 2. The comparative pharmacokinetics of (S)-MP3950 in normal and atropine-induced GMD rats were studied by ultra performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS). The validated UPLC-MS/MS method was successfully applied to investigate the pharmacokinetic profiles of (S)-MP3950 in normal and atropine-induced GMDs rats. Results showed that comparing to normal rats, C_max reduced by 73.8%, AUC_0-t decreased by 57.6% and AUC_0-∞ declined by 56.8% in model rats. Additionally, the elimination half-life (t_1/2) and T_max were prolonged slightly. 3. The pharmacokinetic results demonstrated that the atropine-induced GMDs reduced the absorption of (S)-MP3950. The pharmacokinetics research in the pathological state might provide more useful information for further study of novel gastric motility candidates.

Anti-ulcer effect and potential mechanism of licoflavone by regulating inflammation mediators and amino acid metabolism

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Glycyrrhiza is the dry root and rhizome of the leguminous plant, Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch., Glycyrrhiza inflata Bat. or Glycyrrhiza glabra L., which was firstly cited in Shennong's Herbal Classic in Han dynasty and was officially listed in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia, has been widely used in China during the past millennia. Licoflavone is the major component of Glycyrrhiza with anti-ulcer activity. The present study is based on clarifying the anti-ulcer effect of licoflavone, aiming at elucidating the possible molecule mechanisms of its action for treating gastric ulcer rats induced by acetic acid.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Rats were divided into 7 groups, and drugs were administered from on the day after the onset of gastric ulcer (day 3) until day 11 of the experiment once daily continuously. The plasma were analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography combined with time-of-flight mass spectrometry (HPLC/ESI-TOF-MS), significant different metabolites were investigated to explain its therapeutic mechanism. Furthermore, quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis was performed to detect the expression of RNA in stomach tissue for verifying the above results.

RESULTS

Licoflavone can effectively cure the gastric ulcer, particularly the middle dose group. According to the statistical analysis of the plasma different metabolites from each groups and the expression of genes in tissues, sixteen significant different metabolites, including histamine, tryptophan, arachidonic acid, phingosine-1-phosphate etc., contributing to the treatment of gastric ulcer were discovered and identified. In RT-PCR analysis, the results of the expression of RNA were corresponded with what we discovered.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study indicated licoflavone plays the role of treating gastric ulcer by regulating inflammation mediators and amino acid metabolism. We demonstrated that metabolomics technology combined with gene technology is a useful tool to search different metabolites and to dissect the potential mechanisms of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) in treating gastric ulcer.