Combination of Ligusticum Chuanxiong and Radix Paeonia Promotes Angiogenesis in Ischemic Myocardium through Notch Signalling and Mobilization of Stem Cells

Mechanisms underlying the synergistic effects of chuanxiong combined with Chishao on treating acute lung injury based on network pharmacology and molecular docking combined with preclinical evaluation

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

The herb pair of Chuanxiong Rhizome (Ligusticum chuanxiong Hort., Chuanxiong in Chinese, CX) and Paeoniae Radix Rubra (Paeonia lactiflora Pall. Or Paeonia veitchii Lynch, Chishao in Chinese, CS) is a famous blood activating and stasis resolving pair that is often found in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) formulas for the treatment of acute lung injury (ALI). However, the relationship of CX-CS herb pair to ALI and its underlying mechanisms are unclear.

AIM OF THE STUDY

The study explored the effect and mechanisms of CX-CS herb pair in LPS induced ALI by network pharmacology and molecular docking combined with preclinical evaluation.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The related targets of the active compounds of CX-CS herb pair in regulating ALI were screened by network pharmacology. PPI was constructed and the potential pathways were investigated by GO and KEGG. The contribution of each active ingredient of CX-CS herb pair to ALI were calculated by network-based efficacy. The interactions between potential targets and active ingredients were evaluated by molecular docking. LPS stimulated RAW264.7 cells and mice model experiments were adopted to verify the effect of CX-CS herb pair on ALI.

RESULTS

A total of 25 compounds and 193 targets were identified in the CX-CS herb pair, of which 19 compounds and 64 targets were associated with ALI, and six compounds including baicalin, ellagic acid, baicalein, beta-sitosterol, paeoniflorin and ferulic acid accounted for 93.12% of the total combination index for ALI prevention. The CX-CS herbal pair against ALI was associated with PI3K/AKT and MAPK signaling pathways by GO and KEGG analysis. The screened active compounds showed good affinity for TNF, MAPK, and AKT by molecular docking. In vitro and in vivo tests showed that CX combined with CS synergistically inhibited LPS-induced ALI at 1:3, suppressed the release of TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6, inhibited the accumulation of ROS, as well as regulated the content of SOD, MDA and GSH. Meanwhile, the herb pair was effective in inhibiting the expression of p38, ERK, IκBα, p65, caspase 3, PARP, and up-regulating the levels of AKT and Bcl-2/Bax.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study confirmed the synergistic effect of CX-CS herb pair on the prevention of ALI by inhibiting inflammation, oxidative stress, and apoptosis through MAPK/NF-κB and PI3K/AKT signaling pathways.

Pioneering therapies for post-infarction angiogenesis: Insight into molecular mechanisms and preclinical studies

Acute myocardial infarction (MI), despite significant progress in its treatment, remains a leading cause of chronic heart failure and cardiovascular events such as cardiac arrest. Promoting angiogenesis in the myocardial tissue after MI to restore blood flow in the ischemic and hypoxic tissue is considered an effective treatment strategy. The repair of the myocardial tissue post-MI involves a robust angiogenic response, with mechanisms involved including endothelial cell proliferation and migration, capillary growth, changes in the extracellular matrix, and stabilization of pericytes for neovascularization. In this review, we provide a detailed overview of six key pathways in angiogenesis post-MI: the PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway, the Notch signaling pathway, the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, the Hippo signaling pathway, the Sonic Hedgehog signaling pathway, and the JAK/STAT signaling pathway. We also discuss novel therapeutic approaches targeting these pathways, including drug therapy, gene therapy, protein therapy, cell therapy, and extracellular vesicle therapy. A comprehensive understanding of these key pathways and their targeted therapies will aid in our understanding of the pathological and physiological mechanisms of angiogenesis after MI and the development and application of new treatment strategies.

Chuanxiong improves angiogenesis via the PI3K/AKT/Ras/MAPK pathway based on network pharmacology and DESI-MSI metabolomics

Introduction: Chuanxiong, a traditional Chinese medicine, has been proved to treat a variety of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases by promoting angiogenesis. However, the mechanisms of Chuanxiong's pro-angiogenesis is currently unknown. This study aimed to uncover the effect and mechanisms of Chuanxiong promoting angiogenesis in vivo and in vitro. Methods: First, potential targets were predicted by network pharmacology analysis, and PPI network was established and the pathways were enriched. Then, the chorioallantoic membrane test on quails was applied to assess the proangiogenic effects in vivo. As well, to evaluate the effects in vitro, real-time PCR, western blot analysis, the scratch test, and the tube formation experiment were used. Subsequently, the major metabolic pathways were analyzed using non-targeted metabolomics. Results: As a result of network pharmacological analysis, 51 collective targets of Chuanxiong and angiogenesis were identified, which are mainly associated with PI3K/AKT/Ras/MAPK pathway. And the biological verification results showed that Chuanxiong could increase the vessel numbers and vessel area in qCAM models. Meanwhile, Chuanxiong contributed to HUVEC proliferation, tube formation, migration, by encouraging scratch healing rates and boosting tube branch points. In addition, the levels of VEGFR2, MAPK and PI3K were elevated compared to the control group. The western blot analysis also confirmed Chuanxiong could promote an increase in AKT, FOXO1 and Ras. Furtheremore, metabolomic results showed that the proangiogenic effect of Chuanxiong is associated with glycine, serine and threonine metabolism. Discussion: In conclusion, this study clarified that Chuanxiong could promote angiogenesis in vivo and in vitro via regulating PI3K/AKT/Ras/MAPK pathway.

Intervention effects of traditional Chinese medicine on stem cell therapy of myocardial infarction

Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of global mortality, in which myocardial infarction accounts for 46% of total deaths. Although good progress has been achieved in medication and interventional techniques, a proven method to repair the damaged myocardium has not yet been determined. Stem cell therapy for damaged myocardial repair has evolved into a promising treatment for ischemic heart disease. However, low retention and poor survival of the injected stem cells are the major obstacles to achieving the intended therapeutic effects. Chinese botanical and other natural drug substances are a rich source of effective treatment for various diseases. As such, numerous studies have revealed the role of Chinese medicine in stem cell therapy for myocardial infarction treatment, including promoting proliferation, survival, migration, angiogenesis, and differentiation of stem cells. Here, we discuss the potential and limitations of stem cell therapy, as well as the regulatory mechanism of Chinese medicines underlying stem cell therapy. We focus on the evidence from pre-clinical trials and clinical practices, and based on traditional Chinese medicine theories, we further summarize the mechanisms of Chinese medicine treatment in stem cell therapy by the commonly used prescriptions. Despite the pre-clinical evidence showing that traditional Chinese medicine is helpful in stem cell therapy, there are still some limitations of traditional Chinese medicine therapy. We also systematically assess the detailed experimental design and reliability of included pharmacological research in our review. Strictly controlled animal models with multi-perspective pharmacokinetic profiles and high-grade clinical evidence with multi-disciplinary efforts are highly demanded in the future.

Traditional Chinese herbal medicine Astragalus Radix and its effects on intestinal absorption of aconite alkaloids in rats

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Evaluations of the Chuanqi Ophthalmic Microemulsion In Situ Gel on Dry Age-Related Macular Degeneration Treatment

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the third largest eye disease. However, the eye has a variety of drug delivery barriers, which prevent the drug from reaching the lesions in the posterior segment of the eye, coupled with the pathogenesis of dry-AMD; these lead to the lack of effective treatment drugs for dry-AMD. Therefore, the developments of a suitable therapeutic drug and a novel ophthalmic preparation are of great significance for the treatment of dry-AMD. The purposes of this study were to construct a novel traditional Chinese medicine (Chuanqi Fang) anti-AMD microemulsion in situ gel for treating dry-AMD and investigate its characteristic, efficiency, irritation, and tissue distribution. In this study, the characteristic of the Chuanqi microemulsion in situ gel was measured by dynamic light scattering. The electroretinogram (ERG) indicators and the number of retinal pigment epithelial cells were measured to evaluate the therapeutic effect of the novel ophthalmic nanopreparations. Irritation was evaluated according to Technical Guideline Principles (ZGPT4-1). The analysis of tissue distribution was carried out with LC-MS. The research showed that the particle size of microemulsion was 38.56 ± 0.21 nm. The Chuanqi microemulsion in situ gel had certain roles in repairing retina damage of the dry-AMD animal model and showed no irritation. The tissue distribution study found that the microemulsion in situ gel could effectively deliver the drug to the posterior eye of the AMD model rat through the route of cornea-vitreous body-retina. In conclusion, this study provided a meaningful research strategy and research basis for the development of new dry-AMD therapeutic drugs.

Untargeted Safety Pharmacology Screen of Blood-Activating and Stasis-Removing Patent Chinese Herbal Medicines Identified Nonherbal Ingredients as a Cause of Organ Damage in Experimental Models

Blood activation and stasis removal from circulation is a central principle for treatment of syndromes related to cerebral and cardiovascular diseases in Chinese herbal medicine. However, blood-activating and stasis-removing patent Chinese herbal medicine (BASR-pCHM) widely used with or without prescription in China and elsewhere are highly variable in composition and manufacture standard, making their safety assessment a challenging task. We proposed that an integrated evaluation of multiple toxicity parameters of BASR-pCHM would provide critical reference and guidelines for their safe clinical application. Examination of standardized extracts from 58 compound BASR-pCHM in vivo in VEGFR2-luc mice and in vitro in cardiac, renal, and hepatic cells identified Naoluotong capsule (NLTC) as a potent organ/cell damage inducer. Composition analysis revealed that NLTC was the one that contained nonherbal ingredients among the BASR-pCHM collection. In vivo and in vitro experiments confirmed that NLTC, as well as its chemical supplement tolperisone hydrochloride, caused organ and cell damage by reducing cell viability, mitochondrial mass/activity, while the NLTC herbal components did not. Taken together, our study showed that safety evaluation of patent herbal medicines already on market is still necessary and urgently needed. In addition, chemical/herbal interactions should be considered as an important contributor of potential toxicity when evaluating the safety of herbal medicine.