A Network Pharmacology Technique to Investigate the Synergistic Mechanisms of Salvia miltiorrhiza and Radix puerariae in Treatment of Cardio-Cerebral Vascular Diseases

Puerarin-Tanshinone IIA Suppresses atherosclerosis inflammatory plaque via targeting succinate/HIF-1α/IL-1β axis

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Inflammatory injury is an important pathological factor for the formation of atherosclerotic plaque. It is well known that Puerarin and Tanshinone IIA (Pue-Tan) can significantly reduce interleukin-1β (IL-1β) levels and delay the atherosclerosis (AS) process clinically in China. Previous evidence has shown that the Succinate/HIF-1α/IL-1β inflammatory signaling axis (Succinate axis) promotes the progression of atherosclerotic inflammatory plaques. It is not clear whether Pue-Tan inhibits inflammatory plaques by reducing the level of IL-1β through the succinate signaling axis.

AIM OF STUDY

Find out the interaction between Pue-Tan targets and the succinate axis by means of network pharmacology and bioinformatics analysis and to further confirm whether Pue-Tan can inhibit vascular inflammation and delay the formation of atherosclerotic inflammatory plaques by targeting the succinate signaling axis.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Firstly, animal experiments were conducted to verify the changing relationship between Succinate and IL-1β under Pue-Tan intervention. Secondly, network pharmacology approach was employed to uncover the specific targets of Pue-Tan in the intervention of AS from multiple levels of components, proteins, and pathways, and at the same time, the target must be a key factor of the succinate signaling axis. Autodock vina1.5.6 was applied to molecular docking for Pue-Tan and target protein. Subsequently, cells experiment and animal experiment were performed to verify Pue-Tan inhibiting the inflammatory progression of atherosclerosis by targeting succinate signaling axis.

RESULTS

Firstly, we first found that the reduction of IL-1β was positively correlated with succinate in the serum of Pue-Tan-treated mice. Secondly, network pharmacology compared with molecular docking showed that hypoxia-induced factor-1α (HIF-1α) was the key target of Pue-Tan and the key node of succinate singling axis. Finally, in vitro study, Pue-Tan significantly reduced the factors of succinate axis just as HIF-1α siRNA; in vivo study, we confirmed a decreased expression of succinate axis and ICAM-1 in the aorta of ApoE-/- mice under Pue-Tan intervention, which was consistent with the in vitro results.

CONCLUSION

This study confirmed that Pue-Tan blocked the succinate axis by targeting HIF-1α to prevent the formation of atherosclerotic inflammatory plaques and delay the pathological process of AS. Network Pharmacology, Bioinformatics of Molecular Docking, and Molecular Biology Validation can be used as a effective way to discover and verify the pharmacological mechanism of TCM.

Protective Effect of Bojungikki-Tang against Radiation-Induced Intestinal Injury in Mice: Experimental Verification and Compound-Target Prediction

Bojungikki-tang (BJIT) is a traditional herbal medicine used in Korea, Japan, and China to treat gastrointestinal disorders. In this study, we aimed to investigate whether BJIT has protective effects against radiation-induced intestinal injury and to predict the underlying therapeutic mechanisms and related pathways via network pharmacological analyses. BJIT was injected intraperitoneally (50 mg/kg body weight) to C₃H/HeN mice at 36 and 12 h before exposure to partial abdominal irradiation (5 Gy and 13 Gy) to evaluate the apoptotic changes and the histological changes and variations in inflammatory cytokine mRNA levels in the jejunum, respectively. Through in silico network analysis, we predicted the mechanisms underlying BJIT-mediated regulation of radiation-induced intestinal injury. BJIT reduced the level of apoptosis in the jejunal crypts 12 h post 5-Gy irradiation. Histological assessment revealed intestinal morphological changes in irradiated mice 3.5 days post 13-Gy irradiation. Furthermore, BJIT decreased inflammatory cytokine levels following radiation exposure. Apoptosis, TNF, p53, VEGF, toll-like receptor, PPAR, PI3K-Akt, and MAPK signaling pathways, as well as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), were found to be linked to the radioprotective effects of BJIT against intestinal injury. According to our results, BJIT exerted its potential protective effects by attenuating histopathological changes in jejunal crypts and suppressing inflammatory mediator levels. Therefore, BJIT is a potential therapeutic agent that can treat radiation-induced intestinal injury and its associated symptoms.

Recent Advances in Chinese Herbal Medicine for Cerebral Ischemic Reperfusion Injury

Cerebral ischemic reperfusion injury (CI/RI) is a critical factor that leads to a poor prognosis in patients with ischemic stroke. It is an extremely complicated pathological process that is clinically characterized by high rates of disability and mortality. Current available treatments for CI/RI, including mechanical and drug therapies, are often accompanied by significant side effects. Therefore, it is necessary to discovery new strategies for treating CI/RI. Many studies confirm that Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) was used as a potential drug for treatment of CI/RI with the advantages of abundant resources, good efficacy, and few side effects. In this paper, we investigate the latest drug discoveries and advancements on CI/RI, make an overview of relevant CHM, and systematically summarize the pathophysiology of CI/RI. In addition, the protective effect and mechanism of related CHM, which includes extraction of single CHM and CHM formulation and preparation, are discussed. Moreover, an outline of the limitations of CHM and the challenges we faced are also presented. This review will be helpful for researchers further propelling the advancement of drugs and supplying more knowledge to support the application of previous discoveries in clinical drug applications against CI/RI.

Synergistic anti-cancer action of salicylic acid and cisplatin on HeLa cells elucidated by network pharmacology and in vitro analysis

AIM

To investigate the anti-cancer potential of salicylic acid and cisplatin combination in HeLa cells and the underlying mechanism.

MAIN METHODS

Drugs and disease targets were extracted from DrugBank, BATMAN-TCM, STITCH, PharmMapper and Comparative Toxigenomics Database. Cytoscape 3.8.2 was used to merge the protein-protein interaction networks and select core targets. GO and KEGG analysis was done using Metascape and WebGestalt. Effect of salicylic acid and cisplatin alone and in combination on cells viability was studied by MTT assay. The type of interaction between salicylic acid and cisplatin was determined by CompuSyn. Apoptosis was evaluated by molecular docking, Rhodamine-123, DAPI, AO/EtBr staining, flow cytometry, qRT-PCR and western blotting. Metastasis was studied using scratch assay and western blotting. UHRF1 transient silencing was performed by siRNA.

KEY FINDINGS

Out of 420, 1863 and 1362 respective targets of salicylic acid, cisplatin and cervical cancer, 18 core proteins were enriched in apoptosis and cell migration related pathways. IC50 value of cisplatin was reduced by 14 fold in combination with salicylic acid at IC20 (4 μM). There was loss of mitochondrial membrane potential and downregulation of UHRF1, pAkt, full length PARP and pro-caspase 3 expression. Transient silencing of UHRF1 also induced mitochondrial depolarization and apoptosis. The combination also exhibited anti-metastasis effect as it suppressed migration, upregulated PAX1 and downregulated MMP-2.

SIGNIFICANCE

Reduction in cisplatin concentration, enhanced anti-cancer effects and UHRF1 downregulation due to synergistic interaction between salicylic acid and cisplatin underscores the therapeutic importance of the combination to overcome chemo-resistance and side effects of cisplatin.

Classification-based strategies to simplify complex traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) researches through liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry in the last decade (2011-2020): Theory, technical route and difficulty

The difficulty of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) researches lies in the complexity of components, metabolites, and bioactivities. For a long time, there has been a lack of connections among the three parts, which is not conducive to the systematic elucidation of TCM effectiveness. To overcome this problem, a classification-based methodology for simplifying TCM researches was refined from literature in the past 10 years (2011-2020). The theoretical basis of this methodology is set theory, and its core concept is classification. Its starting point is that "although TCM may contain hundreds of compounds, the vast majority of these compounds are structurally similar". The methodology is composed by research strategies for components, metabolites and bioactivities of TCM, which are the three main parts of the review. Technical route, key steps and difficulty are introduced in each part. Two perspectives are highlighted in this review: set theory is a theoretical basis for all strategies from a conceptual perspective, and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) is a common tool for all strategies from a technical perspective. The significance of these strategies is to simplify complex TCM researches, integrate isolated TCM researches, and build a bridge between traditional medicines and modern medicines. Potential research hotspots in the future, such as discovery of bioactive ingredients from TCM metabolites, are also discussed. The classification-based methodology is a summary of research experience in the past 10 years. We believe it will definitely provide support and reference for the following TCM researches.

Mechanism of Radix Astragali and Radix Salviae Miltiorrhizae Ameliorates Hypertensive Renal Damage

Hypertensive-induced renal damage (HRD) is an important public health and socioeconomic problem worldwide. The herb pair Radix Astragali- (RA-) Radix Salviae Miltiorrhizae (RS) is a common prescribed herbal formula for the treatment of HRD. However, the underlying mechanisms are unclear. The purpose of our study is to explore the mechanism of combination of Radix Astragali (RA) and Radix Salviae Miltiorrhizae (RS) ameliorating HRD by regulation of the renal sympathetic nerve. Thirty 24-week-old spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs) as the experimental group were randomly divided into the RA group, the RS group, the RA+RS group, the valsartan group, and the SHR group and six age-matched Wistar Kyoto rats (WKY) as the control group. After 4 weeks of corresponding drug administration, venipuncture was done to collect blood and prepare serum for analysis. A color Doppler ultrasound diagnostic instrument was used to observe renal hemodynamics. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to detect norepinephrine (NE), epinephrine (E), angiotensin II (Ang II), and B-type brain natriuretic peptide (BNP). Simultaneously, the kidneys were removed immediately and observed under a transmission electron microscope to observe the ultrastructural changes. And the concentration of transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1), angiotensin type 1 receptor (AT1), and nitric oxide (NO) was detected by immunohistochemistry. Our results showed that renal ultrasonography of rats showed no significant difference in renal size among groups. The RA+RS group had obviously decreased vascular resistance index. The levels of NE, E, BNP, Ang II, AT1, and TGF-β1 were decreased (P < 0.05), and the density of NO was increased. Pathological damage of the kidney was alleviated. In conclusion, the results of the present study suggested sympathetic overexpression in the pathogenesis of HRD. The combination of RA and RS may inhibit the hyperexcitability of sympathetic nerves and maintain the normal physiological structure and function of kidney tissue and has a protective effect on the cardiovascular system.