Experimental Study of Antiatherosclerosis Effects with Hederagenin in Rats

Mechanism of Danggui Buxue decoction in the treatment of myocardial infarction based on network pharmacology and experimental identification

Background

Myocardial infarction (MI) remains one of the major causes of high morbidity and mortality worldwide. Danggui Buxue Decoction (DBD)-an ancient Chinese herbal decoction-has been used to prevent coronary heart disease, which was called "chest palsy" in ancient clinics. However, the mechanism of DBD in the treatment of MI remains unclear. The aim of this study was to explore the effect and mechanism of DBD on MI by combining network pharmacology with in vivo experiments.

Materials and methods

First, public databases were used to identify the key active chemicals and possible targets of DBD. The MI targets were obtained from the Therapeutic Target Database, and the function of the target genes in relation to linked pathways was investigated. Subsequently, Cytoscape software was used to build a target-signaling pathway network. Finally, the efficacy of DBD therapy on MI was validated using in vivo investigations combined with molecular docking.

Results

In traditional Chinese medicine systems pharmacology database and analysis platform (TCMSP), 27 bioactive compounds were screened from DBD. A total of 213 common targets were obtained, including 507 DBD targets and 2566 MI targets. Enrichment analysis suggests that PI3K/AKT is a potential signaling pathway for DBD-based protection. Immunofluorescence and protein blotting confirmed PI3K/AKT1, ERK2, and CASPASE-9 as the target proteins. Molecular docking analysis showed that quercetin, kaempferol, isoflavanones, isorhamnetin, hederagenin, and formononetin had high binding affinity to AKT1, ERK2, and CASPASE-9.

Conclusions

This study demonstrated that the therapeutic benefit of DBD on MI may be mediated via target proteins in the PI3K/AKT pathway, such as AKT1, ERK2, and CASPASE-9. Our study data can help to provide ideas and identify new treatment targets for MI.

Mechanism analysis of Buyang Huanwu decoction in treating atherosclerosis based on network pharmacology and in vitro experiments

Atherosclerosis (AS) is one of the main risk factors of ischemic cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. Buyang Huanwu decoction (BYHWT) is a classic Chinese medicine prescription that is used for treating AS. However, the underlying pharmacological mechanism remains unclear. This study aims to clarify the molecular mechanism of BYHWT in treatment of AS through network pharmacology and in vitro experiments. Molecular structure information and targets of core components of BYHWT were obtained from PubChem and UniProtKB databases. Genes involved in AS were obtained from DisGeNet, GeneCards and OMIM databases. The core targets of BYHWT in AS treatment were identified by protein-protein interaction (PPI) network analysis with STRING platform, and analyzed by gene ontology (GO) analysis and the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomics (KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis. Molecular docking was used to verify the binding affinity between the core targets and the bioactive ingredients. HUVEC viability, inflammatory response and mRNA expression levels of core target genes were evaluated by cell counting kit 8 assay, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and qRT-PCR. A total of 60 candidate compounds and 325 predicted target genes were screened. PPI network analysis suggested that TP53, SRC, STAT3, and AKT1 may be the core targets. BYHWT in AS treatment was associated with 46 signaling pathways. GA120, baicalein, and 3,9-di-o-methylnissolin had good binding affinity with core target proteins. Baicalein treatment could significantly promoted the viability and repress the inflammatory response of HUVEC cells stimulated by ox-LDL. In addition, Baicalein can regulate the expression of core targets including AKT1, MAPK1, PIK3CA, JUN, TP53, SRC, EGFR, and ESR1. In conclusion, BYHWT and its main bioactive component baicalein, inhibit inflammatory response and modulate multiple downstream genes of endothelial cells, and show good potential to block the progression of AS and cardiovascular/cerebrovascular diseases.

Network pharmacology prediction and experimental verification of Rhubarb-Peach Kernel promoting apoptosis in endometriosis

BACKGROUND

"Rhubarb-Peach Kernel" herb pair (RP) one of the most frequently used drug pairs, has been used in traditional medicine in China to treat inflammation and diseases associated with pain. Although it is widely used clinically and has a remarkable curative effect, the mechanism of RP treatment for endometriosis (EMs) remains unclear due to its complicated components. The aim of this study was to investigate the anti-endometriosis effect of RP, with emphasis on apoptosis via network pharmacology prediction, molecular docking and experimental verification.

METHODS

The related ingredients and targets of RP in treating EMs were screened out using Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology (TCMSP), Tool for Molecular mechanism of Traditional Chinese Medicine (BATMAN-TCM), and GeneCards database. The data of the protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was obtained by the Search Tool for the Retrieval of Interaction Gene/Proteins (STRING) Database. The Metascape database was adopt for Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes (KEGG) enrichment analysis. After that, the molecular docking of the main active ingredients and apoptosis targets was performed. Finally, the pro-apoptotic effect of RP was verified in hEM15a cells.

RESULTS

A total of 32 RP compounds were collected. Forty-two matching targets were picked out as the correlative targets of RP in treating EMs. Among these, 18 hub targets including P53, CASP3 were recognized by the PPI network. KEGG enrichment analysis discovered that the regulation of apoptosis was one of the potential mechanisms of RP against EMs. Anthraquinone compounds, flavonoids, and triterpenes in RP were identified as crucial active ingredients, involved in the pro-apoptotic effect, which were confirmed subsequently by molecular docking. Additionally, it was verified that RP treatment promoted apoptosis and inhibited the proliferation of EMs cells (assessed by MTT and Flow cytometry). Moreover, the induction of apoptosis in treated EMs cells may be due to the regulation of apoptosis-related protein expression, including P53, BAX, and CASP3.

CONCLUSIONS

The results of our study demonstrated that RP may exert its therapeutic effects on EMs through the potential mechanism of promoting apoptosis. Anthraquinones, flavonoids and triterpenoids are the possible pro-apoptotic components in RP.

Integrated computational and experimental approach for novel anti-leishmanial molecules by targeting Dephospho-coenzyme A kinase

Coenzyme A acts as a necessary cofactor for many enzymes and is a part of many biochemical processes. One of the critical enzymes involved in Coenzyme A synthesis is Dephospho-coenzyme A-kinase (DPCK). In this study, we have used integrated computational and experimental approaches for promising inhibitors of DPCK using the natural products available in the ZINC database for anti-leishmanial drug development. The top hit compounds chosen after molecular docking were Veratramine, Azulene, Hupehenine, and Hederagenin. The free binding energy of Veratramine, Azulene, Hupehenine, and Hederagenin was estimated. Besides the favourable binding point, the ligands also showed good hydrogen bonding and other interactions with key residues of the enzyme's active site. The natural compounds were also experimentally investigated for their effect on the L. donovani promastigotes and murine macrophage (J774A.1). A good antileishmanial activity by the compounds on the promastigotes was observed as estimated by the MTT assay. The in-vitro experiments revealed that Hupehenine (IC₅₀ = 7.34 ± 0.37 μM) and Veratramine (IC₅₀ = 12.46 ± 2.28 μM) exhibited better inhibition than Hederagenin (IC₅₀ = 23.36 ± 0.54 μM) and Azulene (IC₅₀ = 24.42 ± 3.28 μM). This work has identified novel anti-leishmanial molecules possibly acting through the inhibition of DPCK.

Hederagenin ameliorates cisplatin-induced acute kidney injury via inhibiting long non-coding RNA A330074k22Rik/Axin2/β-catenin signalling pathway

BACKGROUND

Acute kidney injury (AKI), a kidney disease with high morbidity and mortality, is characterized by a dramatic decline in renal function. Hederagenin (HDG), a pentacyclic triterpenoid saponin isolated from astragalus membranaceus, has been shown to have significant anti-inflammatory effects on various diseases. However, the effects of HDG on renal injury and inflammation in AKI has not been elucidated.

METHODS

In this research, mice model of AKI was established by intraperitoneal injection of cisplatin in vivo, the inflammatory model of renal tubular epithelial cells was established by LPS stimulation in vitro, and HDG was used to intervene in vitro and in vivo models. Transcriptome sequencing was used to analyze the alterations of LncRNA and mRNA expression in AKI model and LncRNA-A330074k22Rik (A33) knockdown cells, respectively. Renal in situ electrotransfer knockdown plasmid was used to establish mice model of AKI with low expression of A33 in kidney.

RESULTS

The results showed that HDG effectively alleviate cisplatin-induced kidney injury and inflammation in mice. Transcriptome sequencing results showed that multiple LncRNAs in kidney of AKI model exhibited significant changes, among which LncRNA-A33 had the most obvious change trend. Subsequent results showed that A33 was highly expressed in kidney of AKI mice and LPS-induced renal tubular cells. After in situ renal electroporation knockdown plasmid down-regulated A33 in kidney of AKI mice, it was found that inhibition of A33 could significantly relieve cisplatin-induced kidney injury and inflammation of AKI, while HDG could effectively suppress the expression of A33 in vitro and in vivo, respectively. Subsequently, transcriptome sequencing was again used to analyze the changes in mRNA expression of renal tubular cells after A33 knockdown by siRNA. The results showed that a large number of inflammation-related signaling pathways were down-regulated, Axin2 and its downstream β-catenin signal were significantly inhibited. Cell recovery test showed that HDG inhibited Axin2/β-catenin signal by down-regulating A33, and improved kidney injury and inflammation of AKI.

CONCLUSION

Taken together, HDG significantly ameliorated cisplatin-induced kidney injury through LncRNA-A330074k22Rik/Axin2/β-catenin signal axis, which providing a potential therapeutic approach for the treatment of AKI.

Pharmacological therapy to cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury: Focus on saponins

Secondary insult from cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury (CIRI) is a major risk factor for poor prognosis of cerebral ischemia. Saponins are steroid or triterpenoid glycosides with various pharmacological activities that are effective in treating CIRI. By browsing the literature from 2001 to 2021, 55 references involving 24 kinds of saponins were included. Saponins were shown to relieve CIRI by inhibiting oxidation stress, neuroinflammation, and apoptosis, restoring BBB integrity, and promoting neurogenesis and angiogenesis. This review summarizes and classifies several common saponins and their mechanisms in relieving CIRI. Information provided in this review will benefit researchers to design, research and develop new medicines to treat CIRI-related conditions with saponins.

Basic Traditional Chinese Medicinal Compound for Adjuvant Treatment of Helicobacter pylori-Related Gastritis: Implication for Anti-H. pylori-Related Gastritis Drug Discovery

This study was aimed at evaluating the efficacy of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) in the adjuvant treatment of Helicobacter pylori-associated gastritis (HPAG) and exploring the molecular mechanism underlying the action of the basic TCM compounds against HPAG. Eight representative Chinese and British databases were combed for pertinent literature. In light of the basic principle of evidence-based medicine, this work rigorously stuck to the inclusion and exclusion of criteria so as to plump for qualified articles. Also, the data mining method was adopted to help determine the basic TCM compound for HPAG treatment. Furthermore, a network pharmacology-based strategy was used to uncover the underlying mechanisms of the basic TCM compound against HPAG. Ultimately, molecular docking was used for preliminary verification. TCM combined with triple or quadruple therapy against HPAG possessed more advantages in improving the total effective rate and H. pylori eradication rate than triple or quadruple therapy alone. The basic TCM plant materials against HPAG consisted of Citrus reticulata Blanco, Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch, Pinellia ternata (Thunb.) Breit, Coptis chinensis Franch, and Poria cocos (Schw.) Wolf. Quercetin, kaempferol, naringenin, baicalein, nobiletin, and hederagenin were determined as the key active ingredients of the basic TCM preparation against HPAG. Moreover, these ingredients played a therapeutic role by acting on AKT1, TP53, interleukin (IL)-6, VEGFA, CASP3, MAPK3, JUN, TNF, and MAPK8 via Pathways in cancer, PI3K-Akt signaling pathway, TNF signaling pathway, and MAPK signaling pathway. The results of molecular docking indicated that the key ingredients could bind stably with the core targets. The efficacy of the TCM in the adjuvant treatment of HPAG is worthy of affirmation. Compatible use of the key ingredients of the basic TCM compound is a novel idea of drug research with profound clinical significance and research value in the development of anti- H. pylori drugs.

Suppression of NOD-like receptor protein 3 inflammasome activation and macrophage M1 polarization by hederagenin contributes to attenuation of sepsis-induced acute lung injury in rats

Acute lung injury (ALI) is a major leading cause of death in sepsis patients. Hederagenin (HG), derived from Hedera helix Linné, has anti-inflammatory effects, while its role in sepsis-induced ALI has not been elucidated. In vivo, rats were subjected to cecal ligation and puncture to induce ALI and then treated with HG (12.5, 25, or 50 mg/kg) by gavage. Administration of HG raised survival rate, ameliorated lung injury, and decreased lung wet/dry ratio and inflammatory cell accumulation in bronchoalveloar lavage fluid (BALF) of ALI rats. HG inhibited macrophage polarization toward the M1 phenotype as evidenced by decreased CD86 expression in rat lung tissues. Moreover, HG decreased the secretion of TNF-α, IL-6 and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) in BALF and the levels of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) in lung tissues. In vitro, phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate (PMA)-differentiated THP-1 macrophages were stimulated with 100 ng/mL lipopolysaccharide. HG treatment inhibited M1 macrophage polarization and the production of M1-related pro-inflammatory mediators (IL-6, MCP-1, iNOS, and COX-2). Mechanistically, HG inhibited NLRP3 inflammasome activation and subsequent release of IL-18 and IL-1β, and suppressed NF-κB signaling pathway both in vivo and in vitro. Notably, HG treatment further emphasized the inhibitory effect of NF-κB inhibitor BAY11-7082 on NLRP3 inflammasome activation and macrophage M1 polarization. Taken together, HG exerts a protective effect against sepsis-induced ALI by reducing the inflammatory response and macrophage M1 polarization, which may involve NF-κB pathway-modulated NLRP3 inflammasome activation.

Extracellular Vesicle Delivery of Neferine for the Attenuation of Neurodegenerative Disease Proteins and Motor Deficit in an Alzheimer’s Disease Mouse Model

Exosomes are nano-extracellular vesicles with diameters ranging from 30 to 150 nm, which are secreted by the cell. With their role in drug cargo loading, exosomes have been applied to carry compounds across the blood–brain barrier in order to target the central nervous system (CNS). In this study, high-purity exosomes isolated by the ultra-high-speed separation method were applied as the natural compound carrier, with the loading efficiency confirmed by UHPLC-MS analysis. Through the optimization of various cargo loading methods using exosomes, this study compared the efficiency of different ways for the separation of exosomes and the exosome encapsulation of natural compounds with increasing molecular weights via extensive in vitro and in vivo efficacy studies. In a pharmacokinetic study, our data suggested that the efficiency of compound’s loading into exosomes is positively correlated to its molecular weight. However, with a molecular weight of greater than 1109 Da, the exosome-encapsulated natural compounds were not able to pass through the blood–brain barrier (BBB). In vitro cellular models confirmed that three of the selected exosome-encapsulated natural compounds—baicalin, hederagenin and neferine—could reduce the level of neurodegenerative disease mutant proteins—including huntingtin 74 (HTT74), P301L tau and A53T α-synuclein (A53T α-syn)—more effectively than the compounds alone. With the traditional pharmacological role of the herbal plant Nelumbo nucifera in mitigating anxiety, exosome-encapsulated-neferine was, for the first time, reported to improve the motor deficits of APP/PS1 (amyloid precursor protein/ presenilin1) double transgenic mice, and to reduce the level of β-amyloid (Aβ) in the brain when compared with the same concentration of neferine alone. With the current trend in advocating medicine–food homology and green healthcare, this study has provided a rationale from in vitro to in vivo for the encapsulation of natural compounds using exosomes for the targeting of BBB permeability and neurodegenerative diseases in the future.

Hepatic Lipid Metabolism Disorder and Atherosclerosis

Lipid metabolism disorder plays a fundamental role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. As the largest metabolic organ of the human body, liver has a key role in lipid metabolism by influencing fat production, fat decomposition, and the intake and secretion of serum lipoproteins. Numerous clinical and experimental studies have indicated that the dysfunction of hepatic lipid metabolism is closely tied to the onset of atherosclerosis. However, the identity and functional role of hepatic lipid metabolism responsible for these associations remain unknown. This review presented that cholesterol synthesis, cholesterol transport, and the metabolism of triglyceride, lipoproteins, and fatty acids are all associated with hepatic lipid metabolism and atherosclerosis. Moreover, we also discussed the roles of gut microbiota, inflammatory response, and oxidative stress in the pathological association between hepatic lipid metabolism and atherosclerosis. These significant evidences support strongly that hepatic lipid metabolism disorders may increase the risk of atherosclerosis.

The Identification of Candidate Biomarkers and Pathways in Atherosclerosis by Integrated Bioinformatics Analysis

BACKGROUND

Atherosclerosis (AS) is a type of yellow substance containing cholesterol in the intima of large and middle arteries, which is mostly caused by fat metabolism disorders and neurovascular dysfunction.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The GSE100927 data got analyzed to find out the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) using the limma package in R software. Gene Ontology (GO) and the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analyses of the DEGs were assessed by the Database for Annotation, Visualization, and Integrated Discovery (DAVID). The Search Tool for the Retrieval of Interacting Genes (STRING) visualized the Protein-Protein Interaction (PPI) network of the aggregated DEGs. GSEA software was used to verify the biological process.

RESULT

We screened 1574 DEGs from 69 groups of atherosclerotic carotid artery and 35 groups of control carotid artery, including 1033 upregulated DEGs and 541 downregulated DEGs. DEGs of AS were chiefly related to immune response, Epstein-Barr virus infection, vascular smooth muscle contraction, and cGMP-PKG signaling pathway. Through PPI networks, we found that the hub genes of AS were PTAFR, VAMP8, RNF19A, VPRBP, RNF217, KLHL42, NEDD4, SH3RF1, UBE2N, PJA2, RNF115, ITCH, SKP1, FBXW4, and UBE2H. GSEA analysis showed that GSE100927 was concentrated in RIPK1-mediated regulated necrosis, FC epsilon receptor fceri signaling, Fceri-mediated NF KB activation, TBC rabgaps, TRAF6-mediated induction of TAK1 complex within TLR4 complex, and RAB regulation of trafficking.

CONCLUSION

Our analysis reveals that immune response, Epstein-Barr virus infection, and so on were major signatures of AS. PTAFR, VAMP8, VPRBP, RNF217, KLHL42, and NEDD4 might facilitate the AS tumorigenesis, which could be new biomarkers for diagnosis and therapy of AS.

Anti-Obesity Effects of Matoa (Pometia pinnata) Fruit Peel Powder in High-Fat Diet-Fed Rats

Fruit peels, pericarps, or rinds are rich in phenolic/polyphenolic compounds with antioxidant properties and potentially beneficial effects against obesity and obesity-related non-communicable diseases. This study investigated the anti-obesity effects of matoa (Pometia pinnata) and salak (Salacca zalacca) fruit peel. Neither matoa peel powder (MPP) nor salak peel powder (SPP) affected the body weight, visceral fat weight, or serum glucose or lipid levels of Sprague-Dawley rats when included as 1% (w/w) of a high-fat diet (HFD). However, MPP significantly decreased the hepatic lipid level. MPP at a dose of 3% (w/w) of the HFD decreased body weight, visceral fat, and serum triglyceride levels as well as the hepatic lipid content. The inhibitory effect of MPP on hepatic lipid accumulation was not enhanced when its concentration was increased from 1% to 3% of the HFD. The anti-obesity effect of matoa was partly explained by the inhibitory effect of the matoa peel extract on fatty acid-induced secretion of ApoB-48 protein, a marker of intestinal chylomicrons, in differentiated Caco-2 cell monolayers. We identified hederagenin saponins that are abundant in MPP as potential anti-obesity substances. These results will contribute towards the development of functional foods with anti-obesity effects using the matoa fruit peel.

Hederagenin Protects PC12 Cells Against Corticosterone-Induced Injury by the Activation of the PI3K/AKT Pathway

Depression is a prevalent psychiatric disorder and a leading cause of disability worldwide. Despite a variety of available treatments currently being used in the clinic, a substantial proportion of patients is unresponsive to these treatments, urging the development of more effective therapeutic approaches. Hederagenin (Hed), a triterpenoid saponin extracted from Fructus Akebiae, has several biological activities including anti-apoptosis, anti-hyperlipidemic and anti-inflammatory properties. Over the years, its potential therapeutic effect in depression has also been proposed, but the information is limited and the mechanisms underlying its antidepressant-like effects are unclear. The present study explored the neuroprotective effects and the potential molecular mechanisms of Hederagenin action in corticosterone (CORT)-injured PC12 cells. Obtained results show that Hederagenin protected PC12 cells against CORT-induced damage in a concentration dependent manner. In adittion, Hederagenin prevented the decline of mitochondrial membrane potential, reduced the production of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) and decreased the apoptosis induced by CORT. The protective effect of Hederagenin was reversed by a specific phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K) inhibitor LY294002 and AKT (also known as protein kinase B) inhibitor MK2206, suggesting that the effect of Hederagenin is mediated by the PI3K/AKT pathway. In line with this, western blot analysis results showed that Hederagenin stimulated the phosphorylation of AKT and its downstream target Forkhead box class O 3a (FoxO3a) and Glycogen synthase kinase-3-beta (GSK3β) in a concentration dependent manner. Taken together, these results indicate that the neuroprotective effect of Hederagenin is likely to occur via stimulation of the PI3K/AKT pathway.

Exploring the mechanism of Danggui Buxue Decoction in regulating atherosclerotic disease network based on integrated pharmacological methods

OBJECTIVE

To explore the mechanism of Danggui Buxue Decoction (DGBXD) in regulating Atherosclerosis (AS) network based on integrated pharmacological methods.

METHODS

The active ingredients and targets of DGBXD are obtained from TCMSP database and ETCM. AS-related targets were collected from the Genecards and OMIM databases. The drug-disease protein interaction (PPI) networks were constructed by Cytoscape. Meanwhile, it was used to screen out densely interacting regions, namely clusters. Finally, Gene Ontology (GO) annotations are performed on the targets and genes in the cluster to obtain biological processes, and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) annotations are performed on the targets of the PPI network to obtain signaling pathways.

RESULTS

A total of 212 known targets, 265 potential targets and 229 AS genes were obtained. The 'DGBXD known-AS PPI network' and 'DGBXD-AS PPI Network' were constructed and analyzed. DGBXD can regulate inflammation, platelet activation, endothelial cell apoptosis, oxidative stress, lipid metabolism, vascular smooth muscle proliferation, angiogenesis, TNF, HIF-1, FoxO signaling pathway, etc. The experimental data showed that compared with the model group, the expressions of ICAM-1, VCAM-1, and interleukin (IL)-1β protein and mRNA in the DGBXD group decreased (P<0.05). However, plasma IL-1β, TNF-α, and MCP-1 in the DGBXD group were not significantly different from the model group (P>0.05).

CONCLUSION

The mechanism of DGBXD in the treatment of AS may be related to the improvement of extracellular matrix (ECM) deposition in the blood vessel wall and the anti-vascular local inflammatory response, which may provide a reference for the study of the mechanism of DGBXD.

Utilizing network pharmacology and molecular docking to explore the underlying mechanism of Guizhi Fuling Wan in treating endometriosis

Background

Guizhi Fuling Wan (GZFLW) is a widely used classical Chinese herbal formulae prescribed for the treatment of endometriosis (EMs). This study aimed to predict the key targets and mechanisms of GZFLW in the treatment of EMs by network pharmacology and molecular docking.

Methods

Firstly, related compounds and targets of GZFLW were identified through the TCMSP, BATMAN-TCM and CASC database. Then, the EMs target database was built by GeneCards. The overlapping targets between GZFLW and EMs were screened out, and then data of the PPI network was obtained by the STRING Database to analyze the interrelationship of these targets. Furthermore, a topological analysis was performed to screen the hub targets. After that, molecular docking technology was used to confirm the binding degree of the main active compounds and hub targets. Finally, the DAVID database and Metascape database were used for GO and KEGG enrichment analysis.

Results

A total of 89 GZFLW compounds and 284 targets were collected. One hundred one matching targets were picked out as the correlative targets of GZFLW in treating EMs. Among these, 25 significant hub targets were recognized by the PPI network. Coincidently, molecular docking simulation indicated that the hub targets had a good bonding activity with most active compounds (69.71%). Furthermore, 116 items, including the inflammatory reaction, RNA polymerase, DNA transcription, growth factor activity, and steroid-binding, were selected by GO enrichment analysis. Moreover, the KEGG enrichment analysis results included 100 pathways focused on the AGE-RAGE pathway, HIF pathway, PI3K Akt pathway, MAPK pathway, and TP53 pathway, which exposed the potential mechanisms of GZFLW in treating EMs. Also, the MTT colorimetric assay indicated that the cell proliferation could be inhibited by GZFLW. Compared with the control group, the protein levels of P53, BAX, and caspase3 in the drug groups were all increased in Western blotting results. The results of flow cytometry showed that the percentage of apoptotic cells in the GZFLW group was significantly higher than that in the control group.

Conclusion

Through the exploration of network pharmacology and molecular docking technology, GZFLW has a therapeutic effect on EMs through multi-target mechanism. This study provided a good foundation for further experimental research.

Hederagenin Attenuates Cerebral Ischaemia/Reperfusion Injury by Regulating MLK3 Signalling

Cerebral ischaemia/reperfusion (CI/R) injury is a major challenge due to the lack of effective neuroprotective drugs. Hederagenin (HE) is the aglycone part of saponins extracted from Hedera helix Linné that has exhibited anti-apoptotic and anti-inflammatory effects; however, the role of HE in CI/R has not been elucidated. In this study, mice were intraperitoneally (i.p.) injected with HE (26.5, 53, or 106 μmol/kg body weight) for 3 days after middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO). Neural function and brain infarct volume were evaluated. HE treatment attenuated CI/R-induced apoptosis and inflammatory cytokine expression within the infarcted areas. HE treatment also decreased the activation of the MLK3 signalling pathway, which potentiates CI/R damage via the MAPK and NFκB pathways. Due to HE's safety profile, it has potential to be used for the clinical treatment of ischaemic stroke.

The protective effect of Hederagenin on pulmonary fibrosis by regulating the Ras/JNK/NFAT4 axis in rats

As a respiratory disease with high morbidity and mortality, pulmonary fibrosis (PF) has been a serious threat to people's health. Hederagenin (HDG) is a pentacyclic triterpenoid saponin widely distributed in various plants. This study explored the role of HDG in Bleomycin (BLM)-induced PF and the molecular mechanism. The results showed that HDG reduced BLM-induced pulmonary dysfunction, pathological damage in a dose-dependent manner. Besides, HDG reduced BLM-induced collagen deposition by decreasing the levels of α-SMA, Collagen I and hydroxproline. Furthermore, HDG reduced the levels of inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α and IL-6), TGF-β1 and connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) or serum. Further mechanism analysis indicated that HDG inhibited the expression of Ras and phosphorylation of JNK and NFAT4 in a dose-dependent manner. However, the JNK pathway activator Anisomycin reversed this inhibitory effect. In conclusion, these findings suggest that HDG may be a potential target drug for PF therapy.

Anti-inflammatory effects of hederagenin on diabetic cardiomyopathy via inhibiting NF-κB and Smads signaling pathways in a type-2 diabetic mice model

Hederagenin (HED) is a bioactive natural compound of pentacyclic triterpenes extracted from many medicinal plants. It has a wide range of antitumor cytotoxic effects and significant anti-inflammation effects. However, at present, it is unclear whether HED can inhibit cardiac remodelling caused by diabetic cardiomyopathy. In this study, we evaluated the effects of HED on pathological abnormalities in cardiac structures and cardiac insufficiency caused by diabetic cardiomyopathy and focused on the inflammatory signalling pathways of the diabetic heart. Treatment with HED reduced pro-inflammatory cytokines, the heart and body mass of diabetic db/db mice but had no effect on fasting plasma glucose (FPG). Moreover, after HED treatment, the cardiac dysfunction of diabetic mice was relieved, and myocardial hypertrophy and fibrosis decreased. Furthermore, HED inhibited the nuclear translocation of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) and Smads and decreased the transcriptional activity of NF-κB and Smads. Additionally, the expression levels of transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1 and collagen I, which are target downstream molecules of the NF-κB and Smads signalling pathways, were also decreased in diabetic hearts. Taken together, our findings suggest that the cardioprotective effect of HED may be achieved by reducing the activation of inflammation-associated NF-κB and Smads signalling. We suggest that the protective effect of HED on the diabetic heart, as revealed in this study, should be further explored in-depth to elucidate its cell biology and molecular mechanisms.

Hederagenin (HED) is a bioactive natural compound of pentacyclic triterpenes extracted from many medicinal plants.

Design, Synthesis, and Cytotoxic Analysis of Novel Hederagenin⁻Pyrazine Derivatives Based on Partial Least Squares Discriminant Analysis

Hederagenin (He) is a novel triterpene template for the development of new antitumor compounds. In this study, 26 new He–pyrazine derivatives were synthetized in an attempt to develop potent antitumor agents; they were screened for in vitro cytotoxicity against tumor and non-tumor cell lines. The majority of these derivatives showed much stronger cytotoxic activity than He. Remarkably, the most potent was compound 9 (half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC₅₀) was 3.45 ± 0.59 μM), which exhibited similar antitumor activities against A549 (human non-small-cell lung cancer) as the positive drug cisplatin (DDP; IC₅₀ was 3.85 ± 0.63 μM), while it showed lower cytotoxicity on H9c2 (murine heart myoblast; IC₅₀ was 16.69 ± 0.12 μM) cell lines. Compound 9 could induce the early apoptosis and evoke cell-cycle arrest at the synthesis (S) phase of A549 cells. Impressively, we innovatively introduced the method of cluster analysis modeled as partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) into the structure–activity relationship (SAR) evaluation, and SAR confirmed that pyrazine had a profound effect on the antitumor activity of He. The present studies highlight the importance of pyrazine derivatives of He in the discovery and development of novel antitumor agents.

Hederagenin Supplementation Alleviates the Pro-Inflammatory and Apoptotic Response to Alcohol in Rats

In this study, we determined the effects of hederagenin isolated from Akebia quinata fruit on alcohol-induced hepatotoxicity in rats. Specifically, we investigated the hepatoprotective, anti-inflammatory, and anti-apoptotic effects of hederagenin, as well as the role of AKT and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathways in ethanol-induced liver injury. Experimental animals were randomly divided into three groups: normal (sham), 25% ethanol, and 25% ethanol + hederagenin (50 mg/kg/day). Each group was orally administered the respective treatments once per day for 21 days. Acetaldehyde dehydrogenase-2 mRNA expression was higher and alcohol dehydrogenase mRNA expression was lower in the ethanol + hederagenin group than those in the ethanol group. Pro-inflammatory cytokines, including TNF-α, IL-6, and cyclooxygenase-2, significantly increased in the ethanol group, but these increases were attenuated by hederagenin. Moreover, Western blot analysis showed increased expression of the apoptosis-associated protein, Bcl-2, and decreased expression of Bax and p53 after treatment with hederagenin. Hederagenin treatment attenuated ethanol-induced increases in activated p38 MAPK and increased the levels of phosphorylated AKT and ERK. Hederagenin alleviated ethanol-induced liver damage through anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic activities. These results suggest that hederagenin is a potential candidate for preventing alcoholic liver injury.