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Zhang S, Wang J, Zhang H. Integrated bioinformatics and network pharmacology to explore the therapeutic target and molecular mechanisms of Taxus chinensis against non-small cell lung cancer. Medicine (Baltimore) 2023; 102:e35826. [PMID: 37933017 PMCID: PMC10627628 DOI: 10.1097/md.0000000000035826] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2023] [Accepted: 10/06/2023] [Indexed: 11/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Taxus chinensis (TC) has tremendous therapeutic potential in alleviating non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), but the mechanism of action of TC remains unclear. Integrated bioinformatics and network pharmacology were employed in this study to explore the potential targets and molecular mechanism of TC against NSCLC. Data obtained from public databases were combined with appropriate bioinformatics tools to identify the common targets for TC and NSCLC. Common targets were uploaded to the Metascape database for gene ontology terms and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway analyses. A protein-protein interaction network was established, and topological analysis was performed to obtain hub genes. The expression of the hub genes in NSCLC tissues and their consequent effects on the prognosis of patients with NSCLC were confirmed using the Human Protein Atlas database and appropriate bioinformatics tools. Molecular docking was used to verify the binding affinity between the active ingredients and hub targets. We found 401 common targets that were significantly enriched in the cancer, MAPK signaling, and PI3K/Akt signaling pathways. Proto-oncogene tyrosine-protein kinase Src (SRC), mitogen-activated protein kinase 1, phosphoinositide-3-kinase, regulatory subunit 1 (PIK3R1), AKT serine/threonine kinase 1 (AKT1), phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate 3-kinase catalytic subunit alpha (PIK3CA), and lymphocyte-specific protein tyrosine kinase were identified as the hub genes. Immunohistochemical results confirmed that the expression of SRC, mitogen-activated protein kinase 1, PIK3R1, AKT1, and phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate 3-kinase catalytic subunit alpha was upregulated in the NSCLC tissues, while survival analysis revealed the expression of SRC, AKT1, PIK3R1, and lymphocyte-specific protein tyrosine kinase was closely related to the prognosis of patients with NSCLC. Molecular docking results confirmed all bioactive ingredients present in TC strongly bound to hub targets. We concluded that TC exhibits an anti-NSCLC role through multi-target combination and multi-pathway cooperation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shujuan Zhang
- Co-construction Collaborative Innovation Center for Chinese Medicine and Respiratory Diseases by Henan & Education Ministry of P.R. China, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Jun Wang
- Co-construction Collaborative Innovation Center for Chinese Medicine and Respiratory Diseases by Henan & Education Ministry of P.R. China, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Hailong Zhang
- Co-construction Collaborative Innovation Center for Chinese Medicine and Respiratory Diseases by Henan & Education Ministry of P.R. China, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou, China
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou, China
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Liu Y, Rao K, Li Z, Huang C. Improvement of neurological recovery in the insomnia rats by Warming Yang Strategy through targeting SIRT4 by inhibiting inflammation and apoptosis. Immun Inflamm Dis 2023; 11:e964. [PMID: 37647454 PMCID: PMC10408374 DOI: 10.1002/iid3.964] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2022] [Revised: 03/24/2023] [Accepted: 07/17/2023] [Indexed: 09/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The incidence rate of insomnia is increasing, but the mechanism of it remains unclear. Warming Yang Strategy (WY) is a kind of Traditional Chinese Medicine, and it is proved to be effective in treating insomnia patients. The insomnia animal was established with chlorophenylalanine (PCPA). Morris water maze and open field test were performed to evaluate the influence of WY on the neurological recovery of insomnia rats. TUNEL staining and flow cytometry were used to measure apoptosis level. WY promoted the neurological recovery in the insomnia rats through Morris water maze and open field test evaluation. The increase of γ-aminobutyric acid, dopamine, 5-hydroxytryptamine, and norepinephrine caused by WY was suppressed by siSIRT4. The decrease of apoptosis and inflammation factors expression induced by WY was promoted by siRNA-SIRT4 (siSIRT4). WY improve neurological recovery in the insomnia rats through SIRT4 by inhibiting inflammation and apoptosis. This research might provide a novel insight for the prevention and treatment of insomnia through targeting SIRT4.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuanyuan Liu
- Department of Cardiology, Jiangxi Provincial People's HospitalThe First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang Medical CollegeNanchangChina
| | - Kaihua Rao
- Department of NeurologyAffiliated Hospital of Jiangxi University of Traditional Chinese MedicineNanchangChina
| | - Zhengfeng Li
- Department of EndocrinologyAffiliated Hospital of Jiangxi University of Traditional Chinese MedicineNanchangChina
| | - Chunhua Huang
- Department of NeurologyAffiliated Hospital of Jiangxi University of Traditional Chinese MedicineNanchangChina
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Liu Y, Chang D, Zhou X. Development of Novel Herbal Compound Formulations Targeting Neuroinflammation: Network Pharmacology, Molecular Docking, and Experimental Verification. EVIDENCE-BASED COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE : ECAM 2023; 2023:2558415. [PMID: 37266321 PMCID: PMC10232107 DOI: 10.1155/2023/2558415] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2022] [Revised: 02/05/2023] [Accepted: 04/20/2023] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
Neuroinflammation plays an important role in the onset and progression of neurodegenerative diseases. The multicomponent and multitarget approach may provide a practical strategy to address the complex pathological mechanisms of neuroinflammation. This study aimed to develop synergistic herbal compound formulas to attenuate neuroinflammation using integrated network pharmacology, molecular docking, and experimental bioassays. Eight phytochemicals with anti-neuroinflammatory potential were selected in the present study. A compound-gene target-signaling pathway network was constructed to illustrate the mechanisms of action of each phytochemical and the interactions among them at the molecular level. Molecular docking was performed to verify the binding affinity of each phytochemical and its key gene targets. An experimental study was conducted to identify synergistic interactions among the eight phytochemicals, and the associated molecular mechanisms were examined by immunoblotting based on the findings from the network pharmacology analysis. Two paired combinations, andrographolide and 6-shogaol (AN-SG) (IC50 = 2.85 μg/mL), and baicalein-6-shogaol (BA-SG) (IC50 = 3.28 μg/mL), were found to synergistically (combination index <1) inhibit the lipopolysaccharides (LPS)-induced nitric oxide production in microglia N11 cells. Network pharmacology analysis suggested that MAPK14, MAPK8, and NOS3 were the top three relevant gene targets for the three phytochemicals, and molecular docking demonstrated strong binding affinities of the phytochemicals to their coded proteins. Immunoblotting suggested that the AN-SG and BA-SG both showed prominent effects in inhibiting inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) (p < 0.01 and p < 0.05, respectively) and MAPKp-p38 (both p < 0.05) compared with those induced by the LPS stimulation only. The AN-SG combination exhibited greater inhibitions of the protein expressions of iNOS (p < 0.05 vs. individual components), which may partly explain the mechanisms of the synergy observed. This study established a practical approach to developing novel herbal-compound formulations using integrated network pharmacology analysis, molecular docking, and experimental bioassays. The study provides a scientific basis and new insight into the two synergistic combinations against neuroinflammation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Liu
- NICM Health Research Institute, Western Sydney University, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia
| | - Dennis Chang
- NICM Health Research Institute, Western Sydney University, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia
| | - Xian Zhou
- NICM Health Research Institute, Western Sydney University, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia
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Study on the potential mechanism, therapeutic drugs and prescriptions of insomnia based on bioinformatics and molecular docking. Comput Biol Med 2022; 149:106001. [DOI: 10.1016/j.compbiomed.2022.106001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2022] [Revised: 06/30/2022] [Accepted: 08/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
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Luo K, Wang M, Pan X, Xing Y. Comparative Pharmacokinetic Study of Three Major Bioactive Components in the Normal and Different Courses of Liver-Stagnation and Spleen-Deficiency Syndrome Depressive Rats after Intragastric Administration of Zhi-Zi-Hou-Po Decoction. JOURNAL OF ANALYTICAL METHODS IN CHEMISTRY 2022; 2022:8657616. [PMID: 35371581 PMCID: PMC8970962 DOI: 10.1155/2022/8657616] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2021] [Accepted: 02/25/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
To reveal the pharmacokinetic process of narirutin, naringin, and honokiol in normal and different courses of liver-stagnation and spleen-deficiency syndrome depressive rats after intragastric administration of Zhi-Zi-Hou-Po decoction (ZZHPD), a rapid ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS) method was proposed in this study. Chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) rat was employed as the depression model. Acetonitrile solution containing 0.1% acetic acid and methyl alcohol-water (50 : 50, v/v) was chosen as the protein precipitant and redissolve solution severally; a Shim-pack GISS C18 column coupled with 0.1% aqueous acetic acid-acetonitrile in gradient elution was employed to separate the mixed constituents in plasma. The WinNonLin software (version 6.1) was chosen as the analytical tool for the pharmacokinetic parameters. The results indicated that compared with rats in the control group, the sucrose preference, scores in the open-field test, and the concentration of 5-HT in plasma of rats in CUMS and CUMS + ZZHPD treatment groups were lower, while the immobility time in the forced swimming test of rats in these two groups was longer, which implied that the depression model was successful. These behavioral and biochemical indexes of rats above in the CUMS + ZZHPD treatment group were improved after oral administration of ZZHPD, which indicated that the antidepressant effect of ZZHPD was definite. The UHPLC-MS/MS method was stabilized, sensitive, and exclusive, and the extraction recovery and matrix effect of three analytes were all above 89%. The T max, AUC, and Cmax of three ingredients in CUMS-induced depression rats were significantly larger than control rats, while these pharmacokinetic parameters in CUMS + ZZHPD treatment rats were decreased significantly compared with CUMS-induced depression rats, which may relate with the changes in physiological function of the gastrointestinal tract and liver in CUMS-induced liver-stagnation and spleen-deficiency syndrome depressive rats. This study provided important information for the clinical rational use of ZZHPD in antidepressant treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaiwen Luo
- School of Pharmacy, Bengbu Medical University, Bengbu 233030, China
| | - Mengdie Wang
- School of Pharmacy, Bengbu Medical University, Bengbu 233030, China
| | - Xiangxiang Pan
- School of Pharmacy, Bengbu Medical University, Bengbu 233030, China
| | - Yadong Xing
- School of Pharmacy, Bengbu Medical University, Bengbu 233030, China
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Feng X, Bi Y, Wang J, Li T, Yu G, Zhang T, Xu H, Zhang C, Sun Y. Discovery of the Potential Novel Pharmacodynamic Substances From Zhi-Zi-Hou-Po Decoction Based on the Concept of Co-Decoction Reaction and Analysis Strategy. Front Pharmacol 2022; 12:830558. [PMID: 35095537 PMCID: PMC8793358 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2021.830558] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2021] [Accepted: 12/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Zhi-Zi-Hou-Po Decoction (ZZHPD), a classic traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) formula, is clinically used to treat insomnia and depression. The analysis strategy based on the concept of co-decoction of TCM is helpful to analyse the effective substances of TCM formula in depth. Aim of the study: This manuscript intends to take ZZHPD as a model sample to explore the phenomenon of co-decoction of complex formula in the combination of liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) technology, data analysis, and molecular docking. Materials and methods: In the current research, an innovative LC-MS method has been established to study the active ingredients in ZZHPD, and to identify the ingredients absorbed into the blood and brain tissues of mice. And molecular docking was used to study the binding pattern and affinities of known compounds of the brain tissue toward insomnia related proteins. Results: Based on new processing methods and analysis strategies, 106 chemical components were identified in ZZHPD, including 28 blood components and 18 brain components. Then, by comparing the different compounds in the co-decoction and single decoction, it was surprisingly found that 125 new ingredients were produced during the co-decoction, 2 of which were absorbed into the blood and 1 of which was absorbed into brain tissue. Ultimately, molecular docking studies showed that 18 brain components of ZZHPD had favourable binding conformation and affinity with GABA, serotonin and melatonin receptors. The docking results of GABRA1 with naringenin and hesperidin, HCRTR1 with naringenin-7-O-glucoside, poncirenin and genipin 1-gentiobioside, and luteolin with SLC6A4, GLO1, MAOB and MTNR1A may clarify the mechanism of action of ZZHPD in treating insomnia and depression. Conclusion: Our study may provide new ideas for further exploring the effective substances in ZZHPD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin Feng
- School of Chinese Materia Medica, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Yuelin Bi
- School of Chinese Materia Medica, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Jiaqi Wang
- School of Chinese Materia Medica, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Tianyi Li
- School of Chinese Materia Medica, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Gengyuan Yu
- School of Chinese Materia Medica, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Tonghua Zhang
- School of Chinese Materia Medica, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Haoran Xu
- School of Chinese Materia Medica, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Chenning Zhang
- School of Chinese Materia Medica, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China.,Department of Pharmacy, Zigong First People's Hospital, Zigong, China
| | - Yikun Sun
- School of Chinese Materia Medica, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
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Bai Y, Zhang Y, Li S, Zhang W, Wang X, He B, Ju W. Integrated Network Pharmacology Analysis and Experimental Validation to Investigate the Mechanism of Zhi-Zi-Hou-Po Decoction in Depression. Front Pharmacol 2021; 12:711303. [PMID: 34690756 PMCID: PMC8531485 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2021.711303] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2021] [Accepted: 09/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Zhi-Zi-Hou-Po Decoction (ZZHPD) is a well-known traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) that has been widely used in depression. However, the antidepressant mechanism of ZZHPD has not yet been fully elucidated. The purpose of this study was to explore the pharmacological mechanisms of ZZHPD acting on depression by combining ultra flow liquid chromatography with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UFLC-Q-TOF/MS) and network pharmacology strategy. The chemical components of ZZHPD were identified using UFLC-Q-TOF/MS, while the potential drug targets and depression-related targets were collected from databases on the basis of the identified compounds of ZZHPD. Protein-protein interaction (PPI) network, gene ontology (GO), and Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analyses were used to unravel potential antidepressant mechanisms. The predicted antidepressant targets from the pharmacology-based analysis were further verified in vivo. As a result, a total of 31 chemical compounds were identified by UFLC-Q-TOF/MS; 514 promising drug targets were mined by using the Swiss Target Prediction; and 527 depression-related target genes were pinpointed by the GeneCards and OMIM databases. STRING database and Cytoscape's topological analysis revealed 80 potential targets related to the antidepressant mechanism of ZZHPD. The KEGG pathway analysis revealed that the antidepressant targets of ZZHPD were mainly involved in dopaminergic synapse, serotonin synapse, cAMP, and mTOR signaling pathways. Furthermore, based on the animal model of depression induced by chronic corticosterone, the regulatory effects of ZZHPD on the expression of MAOA, MAOB, DRD2, CREBBP, AKT1, MAPK1, HTR1A, and GRIN2B mRNA levels as well as the cAMP signaling pathway and monoaminergic metabolism were experimentally verified in rats. Our study revealed that ZZHPD is expounded to target various genes and pathways to perform its antidepressant effect.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yongtao Bai
- Department of Pharmacy, Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Henan Cancer Hospital, Zhengzhou, China.,Phase I Clinical Research Center, Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Henan Cancer Hospital, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Yingchun Zhang
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Chinese Medicine, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Shuolei Li
- Phase I Clinical Research Center, Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Henan Cancer Hospital, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Wenzhou Zhang
- Department of Pharmacy, Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Henan Cancer Hospital, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Xinhui Wang
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Chinese Medicine, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Baoxia He
- Department of Pharmacy, Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Henan Cancer Hospital, Zhengzhou, China.,Phase I Clinical Research Center, Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Henan Cancer Hospital, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Wenzheng Ju
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China
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