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Pan HT, Xi ZQ, Wei XQ, Wang K. A network pharmacology approach to predict potential targets and mechanisms of " Ramulus Cinnamomi (cassiae) - Paeonia lactiflora" herb pair in the treatment of chronic pain with comorbid anxiety and depression. Ann Med 2022; 54:413-425. [PMID: 35098831 PMCID: PMC8812742 DOI: 10.1080/07853890.2022.2031268] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) prescriptions have multiple bioactive properties. "Gui Zhi-Shao Yao" herb pair is widely used to treat chronic pain (CP), as well as anxiety and depression. However, its related targets and underlying mechanisms have not been deciphered. METHODS In this study, the network pharmacology method was used to explore the bioactive components and targets of "Gui Zhi-Shao Yao" herb pair and further elucidate its potential biological mechanisms of action in the treatment of CP with comorbid anxiety disorder (AD) and mental depression (MD). RESULTS Following a series of analyses, we identified 15 active compounds, hitting 130 potential targets. After the intersections the targets of this herb pair and CP, AD and MD - sorted by the value of degree - nine targets were identified as the vital ones: Akt1, IL6, TNF, PTGS2, JUN, CASP3, MAPK8, PPARγ and NOS3. Gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analysis results demonstrated 11 pathways, such as AGE-RAGE signalling pathway, IL-17 signalling pathway, TNF signalling pathway, which primarily participate in the pathological processes. CONCLUSIONS This study preliminarily predicted and verified the pharmacological and molecular mechanisms of "Gui Zhi-Shao Yao" herb pair for treating CP with comorbid AD and MD from a holistic perspective. In vivo and in vitro experiments will be required to further investigate the mechanisms.KEY MESSAGEA network pharmacology approach was applied to identify key targets and molecular mechanisms.Nine targets were regarded as the vital targets for chronic pain with comorbid anxiety and depression.Predicted 11 pathways were the potential therapy targets and pharmacological mechanism of "Gui Zhi-Shao Yao" herb pair.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hao-Tian Pan
- Acupuncture Anesthesia Clinical Research Institute, Yueyang Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Zi-Qi Xi
- Acupuncture Anesthesia Clinical Research Institute, Yueyang Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Xu-Qiang Wei
- Acupuncture Anesthesia Clinical Research Institute, Yueyang Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Ke Wang
- Acupuncture Anesthesia Clinical Research Institute, Yueyang Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
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Identification of the Mechanism of Matrine Combined with Glycyrrhizin for Hepatocellular Carcinoma Treatment through Network Pharmacology and Bioinformatics Analysis. OXIDATIVE MEDICINE AND CELLULAR LONGEVITY 2022; 2022:2663758. [PMID: 36193082 PMCID: PMC9526635 DOI: 10.1155/2022/2663758] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2022] [Revised: 08/18/2022] [Accepted: 08/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Matrine and glycyrrhizin are representative active ingredients of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) used in clinical practice. Studies have demonstrated that matrine has antitumor pharmacological effects and that glycyrrhizin protects liver function. However, the potential bioactive compounds and mechanisms remain unknown, as well as whether they have synergistic effects in killing cancer cells and protecting liver cells. To investigate the synergistic effects and mechanism of matrine combined with glycyrrhizin in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) treatment, we used both network pharmacology and bioinformatics analyses. First, the chemical gene interaction information of matrine and glycyrrhizin was obtained from the PubChem database. The pathogenic genes of HCC were accessed from five public databases. The RNA sequencing data and clinical information of HCC patients were downloaded from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). Next, the overlapping genes among the potential targets of matrine and glycyrrhizin and HCC-related targets were determined using bioinformatics analysis. We constructed the drug-target interaction network. Prognosis-associated genes were acquired through the univariate Cox regression model and Lasso-Cox regression model. The results were verified by the International Cancer Genome Consortium (ICGC) database. Finally, we predicted the immune function of the samples. The drug-target interaction network consisted of 10 matrine and glycyrrhizin targets. We selected a Lasso-Cox regression model consisting of 3 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) to predict the efficacy of the combination in HCC. Subsequently, we successfully predicted the overall survival of HCC patients using the constructed prognostic model and investigated the correlation of the immune response. Matrine and glycyrrhizin have synergistic effects on HCC. The model we obtained consisted of three drug-target genes by Lasso-Cox regression analysis. The model independently predicted the combined effect of matrine and glycyrrhizin in HCC treatment and OS, which will be helpful for guiding clinical treatment. The prognostic model was correlated with the immune cells and immune checkpoints of patients, which had an adjuvant effect on HCC immunotherapy. Matrine and glycyrrhizin can have therapeutic effects on HCC by promoting the production or enhancing the core gene activity in the drug network and improving the immune system function of patients.
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Network Pharmacology-Based Investigation on Therapeutic Mechanisms of the Angelica dahurica Radix and Ligusticum chuanxiong Rhizoma Herb Pair for Anti-Migraine Effect. PLANTS 2022; 11:plants11172196. [PMID: 36079577 PMCID: PMC9460128 DOI: 10.3390/plants11172196] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2022] [Revised: 08/16/2022] [Accepted: 08/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Migraines are a common neurological disorder characterized by desperate throbbing unilateral headaches and are related to phonophobia, photophobia, nausea, and vomiting. The Angelica dahurica Radix and Ligusticum chuanxiong Rhizoma herb pair (ALHP) has been used to treat migraines for centuries in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). However, the physiological mechanisms of migraine treatment have not yet been elucidated. In this study, a total of 50 hub targets related to the effect of 28 bioactive compounds in ALHP on anti-migraine were obtained through network pharmacology analysis. GO and KEGG analyses of the hub targets demonstrated that ALHP treatment of migraines significantly involved the G-protein-coupled receptor signaling pathway, chemical synaptic transmission, inflammatory response, and other biological processes. According to the degree of gene targets in the network, ACE, SLC3A6, NR3CI, MAPK1, PTGS2, PIK3CA, RELA, GRIN1, GRM5, IL1B, and DRD2 were found to be the core gene targets. The docking results showed a high affinity for docked conformations between compounds and predicted targets. The results of this study suggest that ALHP could treat migraines by regulating immunological functions, diminishing inflammation, and improving immunity through different physiological pathways, which contributes to the scientific base for more in-depth research as well as for a more widespread clinical application of ALHP.
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Network Pharmacology and Bioinformatics Methods Reveal the Mechanism of Berberine in the Treatment of Ischaemic Stroke. EVIDENCE-BASED COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE 2022; 2022:5160329. [PMID: 35815278 PMCID: PMC9259241 DOI: 10.1155/2022/5160329] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2022] [Accepted: 06/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Aim To elucidate the mechanism of action of berberine on ischaemic stroke based on network pharmacology, bioinformatics, and experimental verification. Methods Berberine-related long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) were screened from public databases. Differentially expressed lncRNAs in ischaemic stroke were retrieved from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. GSE102541 was comprehensively analysed using GEO2R. The correlation between lncRNAs and ischaemic stroke was evaluated by the mammalian noncoding RNA-disease repository (MNDR) database. The component-target-disease network and protein-protein interaction (PPI) network of berberine in the treatment of ischaemic stroke were constructed by using network pharmacology. We then performed gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopaedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analyses. Finally, according to the molecular docking analysis and the binding probability between the lncRNA and key proteins, the effectiveness of the results was further verified by in vitro experiments. Results After matching stroke-related lncRNAs with berberine-related lncRNAs, four genes were selected as potential targets of berberine in the treatment of ischaemic stroke. Subsequently, lncRNA H19 was identified as the potential crucial regulatory lncRNA of berberine. Here, 52 target proteins of berberine in the treatment of ischaemic stroke were identified through database mining. Through topological analysis, 20 key targets were identified which were enriched in inflammation, apoptosis, and immunity. Molecular docking results showed that MAPK8, JUN, and EGFR were central genes. Finally, in vitro experiments demonstrated that lncRNA H19, p-JNK1/JNK1, p-c-Jun/c-Jun, and EGFR expressions were significantly increased in hypoxia-treated SH-SY5Y cells and were restored by berberine treatment. Conclusion The potential targets and biological effects of berberine in the treatment of ischaemic stroke were predicted in this study. The lncRNA H19/EGFR/JNK1/c-Jun signalling pathway may be a key mechanism of berberine-induced neuroprotection in ischaemic stroke.
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Ng CX, Affendi MM, Chong PP, Lee SH. The Potential of Plant-Derived Extracts and Compounds to Augment Anticancer Effects of Chemotherapeutic Drugs. Nutr Cancer 2022; 74:3058-3076. [PMID: 35675271 DOI: 10.1080/01635581.2022.2069274] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
Plant extracts comprise a complex mixture of natural compounds with diverse biological activities including anticancer activities. This has made the use of plant extracts a trending strategy in cancer treatment. In addition, plants' active constituents such as polyphenols could confer protective effects on normal cells against damage by free radicals as well as lessen the toxicity of chemotherapeutic drugs. Recently, many emerging studies revealed the combinatory uses of plant extracts and individual therapeutic compounds that could be a promising panacea in hampering multiple signaling pathways involved in cancer development and progression. Besides enhancing the therapeutic efficacy, this has also been proven to reduce the dosage of chemotherapeutic drugs used, and hence overcome multiple drug resistance and minimize treatment side effects. Notably, combined use of plant extracts with chemotherapeutics drugs was shown to enhance anticancer effects through modulating various signaling pathways, such as P13K/AKT, NF-κB, JNK, ERK, WNT/β-catenin, and many more. Hence, this review aims to comprehensively summarize both In Vitro and In Vivo mechanisms of actions of well-studied plant extracts, such as Ganoderma Lucidum, Korean red ginseng, Garcinia sp., curcumin, and luteolin extracts in augmenting anticancer properties of the conventional chemotherapeutic drugs from an extensive literature search of recent publications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chu Xin Ng
- School of Biosciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, Taylor's University, Subang Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Muzaira Mazrul Affendi
- School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, International Medical University, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Pei Pei Chong
- School of Biosciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, Taylor's University, Subang Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Sau Har Lee
- School of Biosciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, Taylor's University, Subang Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia.,Centre for Drug Discovery and Molecular Pharmacology (CDDMP), Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, Taylor's University, Selangor, Malaysia
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The Mechanism of Dendrobium officinale as a Treatment for Hyperlipidemia Based on Network Pharmacology and Experimental Validation. EVIDENCE-BASED COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE 2022; 2022:5821829. [PMID: 35502176 PMCID: PMC9056230 DOI: 10.1155/2022/5821829] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2021] [Revised: 12/19/2021] [Accepted: 02/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Aim and Objective. Hyperlipidemia is a public health matter of global scale, contributing to a wide range of diseases that can result in severe complications and significant annual mortality. Dendrobium officinale (DO) is an edible plant with a long medicinal history in China. Our previous studies revealed that DO may have therapeutic benefits in lipid disorders. However, the mechanism of its active compounds is still unclear. This research aimed at uncovering the hidden anti-hyperlipidemia mechanisms of DO through network pharmacology and experimental validation. Materials and Methods. The active compounds in DO, their targets, and targets associated with hyperlipidemia were screened across various databases, and the hidden targets of DO in treating hyperlipidemia were forecast. The compound-target (C-T), protein-protein interaction (PPI), and compound-target-pathway (C-T-P) networks of DO were set up with Cytoscape software. The hub genes and core clusters of DO predicted to be active against hyperlipidemia were calculated by Cytoscape. The DAVID database was adopted for Gene Ontology (GO) analysis and KEGG pathway enrichment analysis. Next, we used the high-sucrose-fat diet and alcohol (HFDA)-induced hyperlipidemia rats to evaluate the hypolipidemic effect of DO. Results. In this study, we obtained 264 compounds from DO, revealed 11 bioactive compounds, and predicted 89 potential targets of DO. The network analysis uncovered that naringenin, isorhamnetin, and taxifolin might be the compounds in DO that are mainly in charge of its roles in hyperlipidemia and might play a role by modulating the targets (including PPARG, ADIPOQ, AKT1, TNF, and APOB). The pathway analysis showed that DO might affect diverse signaling pathways related to the pathogenesis of hyperlipidemia, including PPAR signaling pathway, insulin resistance, AMPK signaling pathway, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease simultaneously. Meanwhile, in the HFDA-induced hyperlipidemia rat model, DO could significantly decrease the level of TC, TG, LDL-c, and ALT in serum, and increase HDL-c as well. The liver pathological section indicated that DO could ease liver damage and lipid cumulation. Conclusion. In summary, the biological targets of the main bioactive compounds in DO were found to distribute across multiple metabolic pathways. These findings suggest that a mutual regulatory system consisting of multiple components, targets, and pathways is a likely mechanism through which DO may improve hyperlipidemia. Validation experiments indicated that DO may treat hyperlipidemia by affecting NAFLD-related signaling pathways.
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Herbal Formula Modified Bu-Shen-Huo-Xue Decoction Attenuates Intervertebral Disc Degeneration via Regulating Inflammation and Oxidative Stress. EVIDENCE-BASED COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE 2022; 2022:4284893. [PMID: 35154344 PMCID: PMC8828322 DOI: 10.1155/2022/4284893] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2021] [Revised: 11/15/2021] [Accepted: 12/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Objective This study aims to clarify the potential mechanism of modified Bu-Shen-Huo-Xue decoction (MBSHXD) in treating intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD) with methods of network pharmacology and molecular docking. Methods An MBSHXD and IDD-related common target gene set was established through TCMSP, UniProt, and two disease gene databases. GO and KEGG enrichment analysis and protein-protein interaction (PPI) networks were performed through the R platform and STRING to discover the potential mechanism. Molecular docking between the active ingredients and the core genes is used to calculate the binding energy. Results A total of 147 active ingredients and 79 common genes (including 10 core genes, TNF, VEGFA, IL6, MAPK3, AKT1, MAPK8, TP53, JUN, MMP9, and CXCL8) were identified. The results of GO and KEGG enrichment analysis showed that MBSHXD plays an essential role in regulating inflammation and oxidative stress. The meaningful pathways are the AGE-RAGE signaling pathway in diabetic complications, the IL-17 signaling pathway, the TNF signaling pathway, the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway, the MAPK signaling pathway, and apoptosis. In addition, the PPI network and molecular docking further demonstrated the roles that nine bioactive ingredients of MBSHXD play in IDD treatment through their interference with core target proteins. Conclusion This study reveals that MBSHXD has the characteristics of a “multi-component, multi-target, and multi-pathway” in the treatment of IDD by regulating inflammation and oxidative stress, and network pharmacology may provide a feasible method to verify the molecular mechanism of MBSHXD for IDD by combining with molecular docking.
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Revealing the Mechanism of Friedelin in the Treatment of Ulcerative Colitis Based on Network Pharmacology and Experimental Verification. EVIDENCE-BASED COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE 2021; 2021:4451779. [PMID: 34765000 PMCID: PMC8577922 DOI: 10.1155/2021/4451779] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2021] [Accepted: 10/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Objectives Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic inflammatory disease affecting the colon, and its incidence is rising worldwide. This study was designed to uncover the healing effect of friedelin, a bioactive compound against UC through bioinformatics of network pharmacology and experimental verification of UC model mice. Materials and Methods Targets of friedelin and potential mechanism of friedelin on UC were predicted through target searching, PPI network establishing, and enrichment analyzing. We explored effects of friedelin on dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis. Severity of UC was investigated by body weight, disease activity index (DAI), and length of the colon. Inflammation severity was examined by determination of proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines. The numbers of autophagosome around the epithelial cells were observed by autophagy inhibition via a transmission electron microscope. The expressions of autophagy-related ATG5 protein and AMPK-mTOR signaling pathway were determined by immunofluorescence staining. Results In this study, 17 potential targets of friedelin and 1111 UC-related targets were identified. 10 therapeutic targets of friedelin against UC were acquired from overlapped targets of UC and friedelin. PPI network construction filtered 14 core targets through target amplification and confidence enhancement. The results of molecular docking showed that the docking scores of the top 5 active targets were higher than the threshold values. Gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analyses were carried out, showing friedelin alleviates UC through anti-inflammatory pathways and molecular function of autophagy. Subsequently, animal-based experiments revealed the intraperitoneal injection of friedelin ameliorated DSS-induced body weight loss, DAI decrease, colon length shortening and colonic pathological damage with lower myeloperoxidase and proinflammatory cytokines (IL-1β and IL-6) and higher IL-10 levels, and more autophagosomes in transmission electron microscope results. The AMPK-mTOR signaling pathway plays important role in the friedelin's effect in autophagy as KEGG pathway result and experiment verification. Furthermore, the 3 ma validated the role of autophagy as an improvement in the friedelin's pharmacologic effect to UC model mice. Conclusions Friedelin ameliorated DSS-induced colitis in mice through of inflammatory inhibition and regulation of autophagy.
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Zhang Y, Shi G, Luo Z, Wang J, Wu S, Zhang X, Zhao Y. Activity Components from Gynostemma pentaphyllum for Preventing Hepatic Fibrosis and of Its Molecular Targets by Network Pharmacology Approach. Molecules 2021; 26:molecules26103006. [PMID: 34070150 PMCID: PMC8158484 DOI: 10.3390/molecules26103006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2021] [Revised: 05/04/2021] [Accepted: 05/10/2021] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatic fibrosis would develop into cirrhosis or cancer without treating. Hence, it is necessary to study the mechanism and prevention methods for hepatic fibrosis. Gynostemma pentaphyllum is a traditional medicinal material with a high medicinal and health value. In this study, nineteen compounds obtained from G. pentaphyllum were qualitative and quantitative by HPLC-FT-ICR MS and HPLC-UV, respectively. Among them, the total content of 19 gypenosides accurately quantified reaches 72.21 mg/g and their anti-proliferation against t-HSC/Cl-6 cells indicated compound 19 performed better activity (IC50: 28.1 ± 2.0 μM) than the other compounds. Further network pharmacology study demonstrated that compound 19 mainly plays an anti-fibrosis role by regulating the EGFR signaling pathway, and the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway. Overall, the verification result indicated that compound 19 appeared to be nontoxic to LO2, was able to modulate the PI3K/Akt signal, led to subG1 cells cycle arrest and the activation of mitochondrial-mediated apoptosis of t-HSC/Cl-6 cells for anti-hepatic fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yumeng Zhang
- School of Functional Food and Wine, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang 110016, China; (Y.Z.); (G.S.); (Z.L.); (J.W.); (S.W.)
| | - Guohui Shi
- School of Functional Food and Wine, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang 110016, China; (Y.Z.); (G.S.); (Z.L.); (J.W.); (S.W.)
| | - Zhonghua Luo
- School of Functional Food and Wine, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang 110016, China; (Y.Z.); (G.S.); (Z.L.); (J.W.); (S.W.)
| | - Jiewen Wang
- School of Functional Food and Wine, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang 110016, China; (Y.Z.); (G.S.); (Z.L.); (J.W.); (S.W.)
| | - Shao Wu
- School of Functional Food and Wine, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang 110016, China; (Y.Z.); (G.S.); (Z.L.); (J.W.); (S.W.)
| | - Xiaoshu Zhang
- School of Functional Food and Wine, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang 110016, China; (Y.Z.); (G.S.); (Z.L.); (J.W.); (S.W.)
- Key Laboratory of Structure-Based Drug Design & Discovery, Ministry of Education, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang 110016, China
- Correspondence: (X.Z.); (Y.Z.); Tel.: +86-24-4352-0303 (X.Z.); +86-24-4352-0309 (Y.Z.); Fax: +86-24-4352-0300 (X.Z. & Y.Z.)
| | - Yuqing Zhao
- School of Functional Food and Wine, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang 110016, China; (Y.Z.); (G.S.); (Z.L.); (J.W.); (S.W.)
- Key Laboratory of Structure-Based Drug Design & Discovery, Ministry of Education, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang 110016, China
- Correspondence: (X.Z.); (Y.Z.); Tel.: +86-24-4352-0303 (X.Z.); +86-24-4352-0309 (Y.Z.); Fax: +86-24-4352-0300 (X.Z. & Y.Z.)
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Yi J, Tian M, Hu L, Kang N, Ma W, Zhi J, Zheng X, Ruan X, Gao M. The mechanisms of celastrol in treating papillary thyroid carcinoma based on network pharmacology and experiment verification. ANNALS OF TRANSLATIONAL MEDICINE 2021; 9:866. [PMID: 34164500 PMCID: PMC8184492 DOI: 10.21037/atm-21-1854] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Background Celastrol, a triterpene present in the traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) Triptergium wilfordii, has been demonstrated to have remarkable anticancer activity. However, its specific mechanism on papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) remains to be elucidated. Methods Potential targets of celastrol were screened from public databases. Through the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) online database, we obtained the bioinformatics analysis profile of PTC, GSE33630, and analyzed the differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Then, a protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was constructed by utilizing the STRING database. Furthermore, Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analysis were conducted. Finally, drug interactions between hub genes and celastrol were verified by molecular docking. Results Four core nodes (MMP9, JUN, ICAM1, and VCAM1) were discerned via constructing a PPI network of 47 common targets. Through functional enrichment analysis, it was confirmed that the above target genes were basically enriched in the interleukin-17 (IL-17), nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB), and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) signaling pathways, which are involved in the inflammatory microenvironment to inhibit the development and progression of tumors. Molecular docking results demonstrated that celastrol has a strong binding efficiency with the 4 key proteins. Conclusions In this research, it was demonstrated that celastrol can regulate a variety of proteins and signaling pathways against PTC, providing a theoretical basis for future clinical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiaoyu Yi
- Department of Thyroid and Neck Tumor, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin's Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin, China
| | - Mengran Tian
- Department of Thyroid and Neck Tumor, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin's Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin, China
| | - Linfei Hu
- Department of Thyroid and Neck Tumor, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin's Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin, China
| | - Ning Kang
- Department of Thyroid and Neck Tumor, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin's Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin, China
| | - Weike Ma
- Department of Thyroid and Neck Tumor, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin's Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin, China
| | - Jingtai Zhi
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Tianjin First Center Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Xiangqian Zheng
- Department of Thyroid and Neck Tumor, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin's Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin, China
| | - Xianhui Ruan
- Department of Thyroid and Neck Tumor, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin's Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin, China
| | - Ming Gao
- Department of Thyroid and Neck Tumor, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin's Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin, China.,Department of Thyroid and Breast Surgery, Tianjin Union Medical Center, Tianjin, China
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Que W, Chen M, Yang L, Zhang B, Zhao Z, Liu M, Cheng Y, Qiu H. A network pharmacology-based investigation on the bioactive ingredients and molecular mechanisms of Gelsemium elegans Benth against colorectal cancer. BMC Complement Med Ther 2021; 21:99. [PMID: 33743701 PMCID: PMC7981997 DOI: 10.1186/s12906-021-03273-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2020] [Accepted: 03/11/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Colorectal cancer (CRC) remains one of the leading causes of cancer-related death worldwide. Gelsemium elegans Benth (GEB) is a traditional Chinese medicine commonly used for treatment for gastrointestinal cancer, including CRC. However, the underlying active ingredients and mechanism remain unknown. This study aims to explore the active components and the functional mechanisms of GEB in treating CRC by network pharmacology-based approaches. METHODS Candidate compounds of GEB were collected from the Traditional Chinese Medicine@Taiwan, Traditional Chinese Medicines Integrated Database, Bioinformatics Analysis Tool for Molecular mechanism of Traditional Chinese Medicine, and published literature. Potentially active targets of compounds in GEB were retrieved from SwissTargetPrediction databases. Keywords "colorectal cancer", "rectal cancer" and "colon cancer" were used as keywords to search for related targets of CRC from the GeneCards database, then the overlapped targets of compounds and CRC were further intersected with CRC related genes from the TCGA database. The Cytoscape was applied to construct a graph of visualized compound-target and pathway networks. Protein-protein interaction networks were constructed by using STRING database. The DAVID tool was applied to carry out Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genome pathway enrichment analysis of final targets. Molecular docking was employed to validate the interaction between compounds and targets. AutoDockTools was used to construct docking grid box for each target. Docking and molecular dynamics simulation were performed by Autodock Vina and Gromacs software, respectively. RESULTS Fifty-three bioactive compounds were successfully identified, corresponding to 136 targets that were screened out for the treatment of CRC. Functional enrichment analysis suggested that GEB exerted its pharmacological effects against CRC via modulating multiple pathways, such as pathways in cancer, cell cycle, and colorectal cancer. Molecular docking analysis showed that the representative compounds had good affinity with the key targets. Molecular dynamics simulation indicated that the best hit molecules formed a stable protein-ligand complex. CONCLUSION This network pharmacology study revealed the multiple ingredients, targets, and pathways synergistically involved in the anti-CRC effect of GEB, which will enhance our understanding of the potential molecular mechanism of GEB in treatment for CRC and lay a foundation for further experimental research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wancai Que
- Department of Pharmacy, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, 29 Xin Quan Rd, Gulou, Fuzhou, 350001, Fujian, People's Republic of China
| | - Maohua Chen
- Department of Pharmacy, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, 29 Xin Quan Rd, Gulou, Fuzhou, 350001, Fujian, People's Republic of China
| | - Ling Yang
- Department of Pharmacy, Fujian Cancer Hospital & Fujian Medical University Cancer Hospital, Fuzhou, China
| | - Bingqing Zhang
- College of Pharmacy, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350004, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhichang Zhao
- Department of Pharmacy, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, 29 Xin Quan Rd, Gulou, Fuzhou, 350001, Fujian, People's Republic of China
| | - Maobai Liu
- Department of Pharmacy, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, 29 Xin Quan Rd, Gulou, Fuzhou, 350001, Fujian, People's Republic of China
| | - Yu Cheng
- Department of Pharmacy, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, 29 Xin Quan Rd, Gulou, Fuzhou, 350001, Fujian, People's Republic of China.
| | - Hongqiang Qiu
- Department of Pharmacy, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, 29 Xin Quan Rd, Gulou, Fuzhou, 350001, Fujian, People's Republic of China. .,College of Pharmacy, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350004, People's Republic of China.
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Zhang Q, Feng Z, Gao M, Guo L. Determining novel candidate anti-hepatocellular carcinoma drugs using interaction networks and molecular docking between drug targets and natural compounds of SiNiSan. PeerJ 2021; 9:e10745. [PMID: 33628636 PMCID: PMC7894118 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.10745] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2020] [Accepted: 12/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND SiNiSan (SNS) is an ancient traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) used to treat liver and spleen deficiencies. We studied the unique advantages of using SNS to treat hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with multiple components and targets to determine its potential mechanism of action. METHODS The active compounds from the individual herbs in the SNS formula and their targets were mined from Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database (TCMSP). HCC-associated targets were collected from the TCGA and GEO databases and samples were collected from patients with stage III hepatocellular carcinoma. A compound-disease target network was constructed, visualized, and analyzed using Cytoscape software. We built a protein-protein interaction (PPI) network using the String database. We enriched and analyzed key targets using GSEA, GO, and KEGG in order to explore their functions. Autodock software was used to simulate the process of SNS molecules acting on HCC targets. RESULTS A total of 113 candidate compounds were taken from SNS, and 64 of the same targets were chosen from HCC and SNS. The predominant targets genes were PTGS2, ESR1, CHEK1, CCNA2, NOS2 and AR; kaempferol and quercetin from SNS were the principal ingredients in HCC treatment. The compounds may work against HCC due to a cellular response to steroid hormones and histone phosphorylation. The P53 signaling pathway was significantly enriched in the gene set GSEA enrichment analysis and differential gene KEGG enrichment analysis. CONCLUSIONS Our results showed that the SNS component has a large number of stage III HCC targets. Among the targets, the sex hormone receptors, the AR and ESR1 genes, are the core targets of SNS component and the most active proteins in the PPI network. In addition, quercetin, which has the most targets, can act on the main targets (BAX, CDK1, CCNB1, SERPINE1, CHEK2, and IGFBP3) of the P53 pathway to treat HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qin Zhang
- The Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Department of General Medicine, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China
| | - Zhangying Feng
- The Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China
| | - Mengxi Gao
- The Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Department of General Medicine, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China
| | - Liru Guo
- The Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Department of General Medicine, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China
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Zhang D, Dong Y, Lv J, Zhang B, Zhang X, Lin Z. Network pharmacology modeling identifies synergistic interaction of therapeutic and toxicological mechanisms for Tripterygium hypoglaucum Hutch. BMC Complement Med Ther 2021; 21:38. [PMID: 33446184 PMCID: PMC7809745 DOI: 10.1186/s12906-021-03210-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2020] [Accepted: 01/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Tripterygium hypoglaucum Hutch (THH) both has prominent efficacy and unwarranted toxicity in the treatment of autoimmune diseases. Nevertheless, its pharmacological and toxicological profiles still remain to be elucidated. In the current study, the network pharmacology approach was applied to identify synergistic interaction and mechanism of efficacy and toxicity for THH from a holistic perspective. Methods The compounds from THH were collected using literature retrieval and relevant databases. After the production of putative therapeutic targets for dominant diseases and harmful targets of adverse reactions (ADRs) induced by THH, the protein-protein interactions (PPIs), topological analysis and pathway enrichment were established to distinguish the hub targets and pathways. Additionally, the binding activity of candidate ingredients with core targets were revealed by molecular docking simulation. Results A total of eight bioactive components in THH were enrolled, and 633 targets were responsible for rheumatoid arthritis (RA), 1067 targets were corresponding to systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), 1318 targets of ADRs were obtained. The results of enrichment analysis among THH-RA, THH-SLE and THH-ADR networks indicated that pathway in cancer, hepatitis B, rheumatoid arthritis, and PI3K-Akt signaling pathway might participate in THH for treating RA and SLE. Besides, the mechanism of ADRs that induced by THH were associated with viral carcinogenesis, p53 signaling pathway, PI3K-Akt signaling pathway, and so on. Whereas, these active ingredients of THH exerted the superior binding activities with crucial targets including STAT3, VEGFA, TP53 and MMP9 that functioned synergistically efficacy and toxicity as observed via molecular docking simulation. Conclusion The present research preliminarily interpreted the synergistic interaction of therapeutic and toxicological mechanisms for THH through the comprehensive analysis of relationship and binding activity between primary components and core targets, providing a feasible and promising approach to facilitate the development of toxic and irreplaceable herbs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dan Zhang
- Department of Clinical Chinese Pharmacy, School of Chinese Materia Medica, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, No. 11 North Three-ring East Road, Chao Yang District, Beijing, 100102, China
| | - Yizhu Dong
- Department of Clinical Chinese Pharmacy, School of Chinese Materia Medica, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, No. 11 North Three-ring East Road, Chao Yang District, Beijing, 100102, China
| | - Jintao Lv
- Department of Clinical Chinese Pharmacy, School of Chinese Materia Medica, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, No. 11 North Three-ring East Road, Chao Yang District, Beijing, 100102, China
| | - Bing Zhang
- Department of Clinical Chinese Pharmacy, School of Chinese Materia Medica, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, No. 11 North Three-ring East Road, Chao Yang District, Beijing, 100102, China. .,Center for Pharmacovigilance and Rational Use of Chinese Medicine, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, 102488, China.
| | - Xiaomeng Zhang
- Department of Clinical Chinese Pharmacy, School of Chinese Materia Medica, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, No. 11 North Three-ring East Road, Chao Yang District, Beijing, 100102, China
| | - Zhijian Lin
- Department of Clinical Chinese Pharmacy, School of Chinese Materia Medica, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, No. 11 North Three-ring East Road, Chao Yang District, Beijing, 100102, China
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Mechanism of Action of Bu-Fei-Yi-Shen Formula in Treating Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Based on Network Pharmacology Analysis and Molecular Docking Validation. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2020; 2020:9105972. [PMID: 33313323 PMCID: PMC7718855 DOI: 10.1155/2020/9105972] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2020] [Revised: 11/13/2020] [Accepted: 11/19/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Objective To explore the mechanism of action of Bu-Fei-Yi-Shen formula (BFYSF) in treating chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) based on network pharmacology analysis and molecular docking validation. Methods First of all, the pharmacologically active ingredients and corresponding targets in BFYSF were mined by the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology (TCMSP) database, the analysis platform, and literature review. Subsequently, the COPD-related targets (including the pathogenic targets and known therapeutic targets) were identified through the TTD, CTD, DisGeNet, and GeneCards databases. Thereafter, Cytoscape was employed to construct the candidate component-target network of BFYSF in the treatment of COPD. Moreover, the cytoHubba plug-in was utilized to calculate the topological parameters of nodes in the network; then, the core components and core targets of BFYSF in the treatment of COPD were extracted according to the degree value (greater than or equal to the median degree values for all nodes in the network) to construct the core network. Further, the Autodock vina software was adopted for molecular docking study on the core active ingredients and core targets, so as to verify the above-mentioned network pharmacology analysis results. Finally, the Omicshare database was applied in enrichment analysis of the biological functions of core targets and the involved signaling pathways. Results In the core component-target network of BFYSF in treating COPD, there were 30 active ingredients and 37 core targets. Enrichment analysis suggested that these 37 core targets were mainly involved in the regulation of biological functions, such as response to biological and chemical stimuli, multiple cellular life processes, immunity, and metabolism. Besides, multiple pathways, including IL-17, Toll-like receptor (TLR), TNF, and HIF-1, played certain roles in the effect of BFYSF on treating COPD. Conclusion BFYSF can treat COPD through the multicomponent, multitarget, and multipathway synergistic network, which provides basic data for intensively exploring the mechanism of action of BFYSF in treating COPD.
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Investigation of the Mechanism of Shengmai Injection on Sepsis by Network Pharmacology Approaches. EVIDENCE-BASED COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE 2020; 2020:4956329. [PMID: 32831866 PMCID: PMC7422069 DOI: 10.1155/2020/4956329] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2020] [Accepted: 06/18/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Shengmai injection (SMI) contains Ginsen Radix et Rhizoma Rubra, Ophiopogon japonicus, and Schisandrae Chinensis Fructus. It is used as a supportive herbal medicine in the management of sepsis, systemic inflammatory response syndrome, and septic or hemorrhagic shock. An UPLC method was established to identify and evaluate SMI fingerprints. Fingerprint similarities of 9 batches of SMI were compared. The network platform, “TCM-components-core targets-key pathways,” was established, and the mechanism of SMI in the treatment of sepsis was investigated. The similarity of 9 batches of SMI fingerprints was greater than 0.91. 44 peaks were selected as the common peaks, of which 11 peaks were identified. KEGG functional pathway analysis showed SMI was mainly involved in the pathways of cancer, cell cycle, and p53 signaling, suggesting SMI protects multiple organs via regulating immunity, inflammation, apoptosis, and energy metabolism. GO enrichment analysis showed active SMI components regulated various biological processes and altered the pathophysiology of sepsis. The interplays between SMI and multiple energy metabolism signaling cascades confer protection from life-threatening multiple organ failure in sepsis.
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Zhou Z, Chen B, Chen S, Lin M, Chen Y, Jin S, Chen W, Zhang Y. Applications of Network Pharmacology in Traditional Chinese Medicine Research. EVIDENCE-BASED COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE : ECAM 2020; 2020:1646905. [PMID: 32148533 PMCID: PMC7042531 DOI: 10.1155/2020/1646905] [Citation(s) in RCA: 180] [Impact Index Per Article: 45.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2019] [Revised: 01/08/2020] [Accepted: 01/20/2020] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Human diseases, especially infectious ones, have been evolving constantly. However, their treatment strategies are not developing quickly. Some diseases are caused by a variety of factors with very complex pathologies, and the use of a single drug cannot solve these problems. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) medication is a unique treatment method in China. TCM formulae contain multiple herbs with multitarget, multichannel, and multilink characteristics. In recent years, with the flourishing development of network pharmacology, a new method for searching therapeutic drugs has emerged. The multitarget action in network pharmacology is consistent with the complex mechanisms of disease and drug action. Using network pharmacology to understand TCM is an emerging trend.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhuchen Zhou
- School of Life Science, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310053, China
| | - Bing Chen
- School of Life Science, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310053, China
| | - Simiao Chen
- School of Life Science, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310053, China
| | - Minqiu Lin
- School of Life Science, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310053, China
| | - Ying Chen
- School of Life Science, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310053, China
| | - Shan Jin
- School of Life Science, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310053, China
| | - Weiyan Chen
- School of Basic Medicine, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310053, China
| | - Yuyan Zhang
- School of Life Science, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310053, China
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Curcumin Inhibits ERK/c-Jun Expressions and Phosphorylation against Endometrial Carcinoma. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2019; 2019:8912961. [PMID: 32083122 PMCID: PMC7012278 DOI: 10.1155/2019/8912961] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2019] [Accepted: 09/16/2019] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
Curcumin has been shown to have anticancer effects in a variety of tumors. However, there are fewer studies on the role of curcumin in endometrial carcinoma (EC). The purpose of this experiment was to examine the inhibitory effect of curcumin on endometrial carcinoma cells and ERK/c-Jun signaling pathway. We first predicted the mechanism of action of curcumin on endometrial carcinoma by network pharmacology. Then, we found that curcumin can decrease the cell viability of Ishikawa cells, inhibit the migration of cancer cells, induce apoptosis, and cause cell cycle arrest in the S phase. For molecular mechanism, curcumin reduced the mRNA expression levels of ERK2 and JUN genes and inhibited the phosphorylation of ERK and c-Jun. This suggests that curcumin inhibits the proliferation of endometrial carcinoma cells by downregulating ERK/c-Jun signaling pathway activity.
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Zheng W, Cao L, Xu Z, Ma Y, Liang X. Anti-Angiogenic Alternative and Complementary Medicines for the Treatment of Endometriosis: A Review of Potential Molecular Mechanisms. EVIDENCE-BASED COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE : ECAM 2018; 2018:4128984. [PMID: 30402122 PMCID: PMC6191968 DOI: 10.1155/2018/4128984] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2018] [Revised: 08/15/2018] [Accepted: 08/29/2018] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Endometriosis is caused by the growth or infiltration of endometrial tissues outside of the endometrium and myometrium. Symptoms include pain and infertility. Surgery and hormonal therapy are widely used in Western medicine for the treatment of endometriosis; however, the side effects associated with this practice include disease recurrence and menopause, which can severely influence quality of life. Angiogenesis is the main biological mechanism underlying the development of endometriosis. Numerous natural products and Chinese medicines with potent anti-angiogenic effects have been investigated, and the molecular basis underlying their therapeutic effects in endometriosis has been explored. This review aims to describe natural products and compounds that suppress angiogenesis associated with endometriosis and to assess their diverse molecular mechanisms of action. Furthermore, this review provides a source of information relating to alternative and complementary therapeutic products that mediate anti-angiogenesis. An extensive review of the literature and electronic databases, such as the China National Knowledge Infrastructure, PubMed, and Embase, was conducted using the keywords 'endometriosis,' 'traditional Chinese medicine,' 'Chinese herbal medicine,' 'natural compounds,' and 'anti-angiogenic' therapy. Anti-angiogenic therapy is an emerging strategy for the treatment of endometriosis. Natural anti-angiogenic products and Chinese medicines provide several beneficial clinical effects, including pain relief. In this review, we summarize clinical trials and experimental studies of endometriosis using natural products and Chinese medicines. In particular, we focus on anti-angiogenic products and alternative and complementary medicines for the treatment of endometriosis and additionally examine their therapeutic efficacy and mechanisms of action. Anti-angiogenic natural products and/or compounds provide a new approach for the treatment of endometriosis. Future work will require randomized trials with larger numbers of subjects, as well as long-term follow-up to confirm the findings described here.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Lixing Cao
- Team of Application of Chinese Medicine in Perioperative Period, Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine, China
| | - Zheng Xu
- Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, China
| | - Yuanyuan Ma
- Department of Gynecology, Anyang Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, China
| | - Xuefang Liang
- Department of Gynecology, Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine, China
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Liu X, Shi Y, Hu Y, Luo K, Guo Y, Meng W, Deng Y, Dai R. Bupleurum marginatum Wall.ex DC in Liver Fibrosis: Pharmacological Evaluation, Differential Proteomics, and Network Pharmacology. Front Pharmacol 2018; 9:524. [PMID: 29867514 PMCID: PMC5968385 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2018.00524] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2018] [Accepted: 05/01/2018] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Liver fibrosis is a common pathological feature of many chronic liver diseases. Bupleurum marginatum Wall.ex DC (ZYCH) is a promising therapeutic for liver fibrosis. In this study, 25 compounds were isolated from ZYCH, and the effects of ZYCH on DMN-induced liver fibrosis in rats were evaluated. The optimal effect group (H-ZYCH group) was selected for further proteomic analysis, and 282 proteins were altered in comparison to the DMN model group (FC > 1.2 or < 0.83, p < 0.05). Based on GO annotation analysis, clusters of drug metabolism, oxidative stress, biomolecular synthesis and metabolism, positive regulation of cell growth, extracellular matrix deposition, and focal adhesion were significantly regulated. Then networks of the altered proteins and compounds was generated by Cytoscape. Importantly, triterpenoid saponins and lignans had possessed high libdock scores, numerous targets, important network positions, and strong inhibitory activity. These findings may suggest that triterpenoid saponins and lignans are important active compounds of ZYCH in liver fibrosis and targeted by proteins involved in liver fibrosis. The combination of network pharmacology with proteomic analysis may provide a forceful tool for exploring the effect mechanism of TCM and identifying bioactive ingredients and their targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiujie Liu
- School of Life Science, Institute of Space Biology and Medical Engineering, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing, China
| | - Yu Shi
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, China
| | - Yinghui Hu
- School of Life Science, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing, China
| | - Ke Luo
- School of Life Science, Institute of Space Biology and Medical Engineering, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing, China
| | - Ying Guo
- School of Life Science, Institute of Space Biology and Medical Engineering, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing, China
| | - Weiwei Meng
- School of Life Science, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing, China
| | - Yulin Deng
- School of Life Science, Institute of Space Biology and Medical Engineering, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing, China
| | - Rongji Dai
- School of Life Science, Institute of Space Biology and Medical Engineering, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing, China
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Huang T, Zhong LLD, Lin CY, Zhao L, Ning ZW, Hu DD, Zhang M, Tian K, Cheng CW, Bian ZX. Approaches in studying the pharmacology of Chinese Medicine formulas: bottom-up, top-down-and meeting in the middle. Chin Med 2018; 13:15. [PMID: 29588653 PMCID: PMC5863461 DOI: 10.1186/s13020-018-0170-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2017] [Accepted: 02/23/2018] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Investigating the pharmacology is key to the modernization of Chinese Medicine (CM) formulas. However, identifying which are the active compound(s) of CM formulas, which biological entities they target, and through which signaling pathway(s) they act to modify disease symptoms, are still difficult tasks for researchers, even when equipped with an arsenal of advanced modern technologies. Multiple approaches, including network pharmacology, pharmaco-genomics, -proteomics, and -metabolomics, have been developed to study the pharmacology of CM formulas. They fall into two general categories in terms of how they tackle a problem: bottom-up and top-down. In this article, we compared these two different approaches in several dimensions by using the case of MaZiRenWan (MZRW, also known as Hemp Seed Pill), a CM herbal formula for functional constipation. Multiple hypotheses are easy to be proposed in the bottom-up approach (e.g. network pharmacology); but these hypotheses are usually false positives and hard to be tested. In contrast, it is hard to suggest hypotheses in the top-down approach (e.g. pharmacometabolomics); however, once a hypothesis is proposed, it is much easier to be tested. Merging of these two approaches could results in a powerful approach, which could be the new paradigm for the pharmacological study of CM formulas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tao Huang
- 1Institute of Brain and Gut Research, School of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist University, Room 307, Jockey Club School of Chinese Medicine, 7 Baptist University Road, Kowloon, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR China
| | - Linda L D Zhong
- 1Institute of Brain and Gut Research, School of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist University, Room 307, Jockey Club School of Chinese Medicine, 7 Baptist University Road, Kowloon, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR China.,2Hong Kong Chinese Medicine Clinical Study Centre, Hong Kong Baptist University, Room 307, Jockey Club School of Chinese Medicine, 7 Baptist University Road, Kowloon, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR China
| | - Chen-Yuan Lin
- 1Institute of Brain and Gut Research, School of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist University, Room 307, Jockey Club School of Chinese Medicine, 7 Baptist University Road, Kowloon, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR China.,3YMU-HKBU Joint Laboratory of Traditional Natural Medicine, Yunnan Minzu University, Kunming, 650500 China
| | - Ling Zhao
- 1Institute of Brain and Gut Research, School of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist University, Room 307, Jockey Club School of Chinese Medicine, 7 Baptist University Road, Kowloon, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR China
| | - Zi-Wan Ning
- 1Institute of Brain and Gut Research, School of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist University, Room 307, Jockey Club School of Chinese Medicine, 7 Baptist University Road, Kowloon, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR China
| | - Dong-Dong Hu
- 1Institute of Brain and Gut Research, School of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist University, Room 307, Jockey Club School of Chinese Medicine, 7 Baptist University Road, Kowloon, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR China
| | - Man Zhang
- 1Institute of Brain and Gut Research, School of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist University, Room 307, Jockey Club School of Chinese Medicine, 7 Baptist University Road, Kowloon, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR China.,4Guangzhou Research Institute of Snake Venom, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 510000 China
| | - Ke Tian
- 1Institute of Brain and Gut Research, School of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist University, Room 307, Jockey Club School of Chinese Medicine, 7 Baptist University Road, Kowloon, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR China
| | - Chung-Wah Cheng
- 2Hong Kong Chinese Medicine Clinical Study Centre, Hong Kong Baptist University, Room 307, Jockey Club School of Chinese Medicine, 7 Baptist University Road, Kowloon, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR China
| | - Zhao-Xiang Bian
- 1Institute of Brain and Gut Research, School of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist University, Room 307, Jockey Club School of Chinese Medicine, 7 Baptist University Road, Kowloon, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR China.,2Hong Kong Chinese Medicine Clinical Study Centre, Hong Kong Baptist University, Room 307, Jockey Club School of Chinese Medicine, 7 Baptist University Road, Kowloon, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR China
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Antitumor Mechanisms of Curcumae Rhizoma Based on Network Pharmacology. EVIDENCE-BASED COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE 2018; 2018:4509892. [PMID: 29636777 PMCID: PMC5832109 DOI: 10.1155/2018/4509892] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2017] [Accepted: 11/27/2017] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
Curcumae Rhizoma, a traditional Chinese medication, is commonly used in both traditional treatment and modern clinical care. Its anticancer effects have attracted a great deal of attention, but the mechanisms of action remain obscure. In this study, we screened for the active compounds of Curcumae Rhizoma using a drug-likeness approach. Candidate protein targets with functions related to cancer were predicted by reverse docking and then checked by manual search of the PubMed database. Potential target genes were uploaded to the GeneMANIA server and DAVID 6.8 database for analysis. Finally, compound-target, target-pathway, and compound-target-pathway networks were constructed using Cytoscape 3.3. The results revealed that the anticancer activity of Curcumae Rhizoma potentially involves 13 active compounds, 33 potential targets, and 31 signaling pathways, thus constituting a “multiple compounds, multiple targets, and multiple pathways” network corresponding to the concept of systematic actions in TCM. These findings provide an overview of the anticancer action of Curcumae Rhizoma from a network perspective, as well as setting an example for future studies of other materials used in TCM.
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Hu XQ, Sun Y, Lau E, Zhao M, Su SB. Advances in Synergistic Combinations of Chinese Herbal Medicine for the Treatment of Cancer. Curr Cancer Drug Targets 2016; 16:346-56. [PMID: 26638885 PMCID: PMC5425653 DOI: 10.2174/1568009616666151207105851] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2015] [Revised: 09/15/2015] [Accepted: 12/04/2015] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The complex pathology of cancer development requires correspondingly complex treatments. The traditional application of individual single-target drugs fails to sufficiently treat cancer with durable therapeutic effects and tolerable adverse events. Therefore, synergistic combinations of drugs represent a promising way to enhance efficacy, overcome toxicity and optimize safety. Chinese Herbal Medicines (CHMs) have long been used as such synergistic combinations. Therefore, we summarized the synergistic combinations of CHMs used in the treatment of cancer and their roles in chemotherapy in terms of enhancing efficacy, reducing side effects, immune modulation, as well as abrogating drug resistance. Our conclusions support the development of further science-based holistic modalities for cancer care.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Shi-Bing Su
- Department of Research Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine Complexity System, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China.
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Qi Q, Li R, Li HY, Cao YB, Bai M, Fan XJ, Wang SY, Zhang B, Li S. Identification of the anti-tumor activity and mechanisms of nuciferine through a network pharmacology approach. Acta Pharmacol Sin 2016; 37:963-72. [PMID: 27180984 DOI: 10.1038/aps.2016.53] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2015] [Accepted: 01/19/2016] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
AIM Nuciferine is an aporphine alkaloid extracted from lotus leaves, which is a raw material in Chinese medicinal herb for weight loss. In this study we used a network pharmacology approach to identify the anti-tumor activity of nuciferine and the underlying mechanisms. METHODS The pharmacological activities and mechanisms of nuciferine were identified through target profile prediction, clustering analysis and functional enrichment analysis using our traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) network pharmacology platform. The anti-tumor activity of nuciferine was validated by in vitro and in vivo experiments. The anti-tumor mechanisms of nuciferine were predicted through network target analysis and verified by in vitro experiments. RESULTS The nuciferine target profile was enriched with signaling pathways and biological functions, including "regulation of lipase activity", "response to nicotine" and "regulation of cell proliferation". Target profile clustering results suggested that nuciferine to exert anti-tumor effect. In experimental validation, nuciferine (0.8 mg/mL) markedly inhibited the viability of human neuroblastoma SY5Y cells and mouse colorectal cancer CT26 cells in vitro, and nuciferine (0.05 mg/mL) significantly suppressed the invasion of 6 cancer cell lines in vitro. Intraperitoneal injection of nuciferine (9.5 mg/mL, ip, 3 times a week for 3 weeks) significantly decreased the weight of SY5Y and CT26 tumor xenografts in nude mice. Network target analysis and experimental validation in SY5Y and CT26 cells showed that the anti-tumor effect of nuciferine was mediated through inhibiting the PI3K-AKT signaling pathway and IL-1 levels in SY5Y and CT26 cells. CONCLUSION By using a TCM network pharmacology method, nuciferine is identified as an anti-tumor agent against human neuroblastoma and mouse colorectal cancer in vitro and in vivo, through inhibiting the PI3K-AKT signaling pathways and IL-1 levels.
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Du GH, Yuan TY, Du LD, Zhang YX. The Potential of Traditional Chinese Medicine in the Treatment and Modulation of Pain. PHARMACOLOGICAL MECHANISMS AND THE MODULATION OF PAIN 2016; 75:325-61. [DOI: 10.1016/bs.apha.2016.01.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
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