Uncovering the Pharmacology of Xiaochaihu Decoction in the Treatment of Acute Pancreatitis Based on the Network Pharmacology

Mechanistic exploration and experimental validation of the Xiaochaihu decoction for the treatment of breast cancer by network pharmacology

BACKGROUND

Xiaochaihu (XCH) decoction is a traditional Chinese prescription that has been recorded in the pharmacopeia of the People's Republic of China. In China, the XCH decoction is used clinically to treat a variety of tumors, including breast cancer. However, its potential mechanism of action is still undefined.

METHODS

The chemical compounds in the XCH decoction were identified via Q Exactive Orbitrap LC-MS/MS. Then, we screened the active ingredients and targets in the XCH decoction from the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform (TCMSP). Next, Cytoscape and Metascape were used to construct an active ingredient-target-disease network, which included a protein-protein interaction (PPI) network, GO enrichment analysis, and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis. Finally, we used molecular docking and in vitro experiments to verify the results of network pharmacology analysis.

RESULTS

More than 70 major compounds were identified by Q Exactive Orbitrap LC-MS/MS analysis from the XCH decoction. A total of 162 active ingredients and 153 targets related to the XCH decoction and breast cancer were identified, and a compound-target-disease network was constructed. GO and KEGG analyses revealed that the XCH decoction regulated the drug response, apoptosis process, cancer pathway, and PI3K/Akt signaling pathway. Molecular docking and experimental validation indicated that the XCH decoction suppressed proliferation and induced apoptosis in breast cancer cells by regulating the expression of apoptosis-related proteins and inhibiting the PI3K/Akt pathway.

CONCLUSIONS

This study suggested that the XCH decoction can be used to treat breast cancer by inhibiting cell proliferation, inducing apoptosis and downregulating the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway.

Study on the mechanism of Shugan Lidan Xiaoshi granule in preventing acute pancreatitis based on network pharmacology and molecular docking

Background

Shugan Lidan Xiaoshi granules (SLXG) is a herbal granule formulation developed by extensively modifying multiple traditional Chinese medicine compound prescriptions known for their ability to dissolve stones. It is primarily used for the prevention and treatment of cholelithiasis and possesses significant therapeutic potential in both preventing and treating acute pancreatitis. However, the preventive effects of SLXG on cholelithiasis-related complications, such as acute pancreatitis (AP), have been inadequately researched.

Methods

TCMSP database was searched to identify the active components and targets of SLXG's action. The disease gene databases (GeneCards, OMMI, PharmGKB, DrugBank) were used to retrieve the targets associated with AP. A TCM ingredient target network was then constructed by using the intersection of these two datasets. The overlapping targets underwent network analyses, including Gene Ontology (GO), Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG)and Protein-Protein Interaction (PPI) analyses. Molecular docking was performed to examine the interaction patterns between the active ingredients and central targets.

Results

A "Traditional Chinese Medicine-Component-Target" complex network consisting of 10 traditional Chinese medicines, 114 compounds, and 164 targets was constructed. GO and KEGG analysis showed that SLXG has the potential to regulate the response of oxygen-containing compounds, apoptosis, and inflammatory factors. Nine central genes were identified by the PPI network and subnetwork. IL6 was chosen as the most significant gene for molecular docking. The three active compounds of SLXG: quercetin, luteolin, and paeoniflorin, along with the active site of IL6 have a good binding ability and thus play a preventive role in AP.

Conclusion

This study provides evidence of the effective preventive role of SLXG against AP, as indicated by bioinformatics analysis. The preventive effect of SLXG is attributed to its multi-component, multi-target, and multi-pathway mechanisms. This finding provides a solid foundation for future research on the clinical application and mechanism of action of drugs.

Exploring the Effect of Xiao-Chai-Hu Decoction on Treating Psoriasis Based on Network Pharmacology and Experiment Validation

BACKGROUND

Psoriasis is a chronic, inflammatory and recurrent skin disease. Xiao-Chai-Hu Decoction (XCHD) has shown good effects against some inflammatory diseases and cancers. However, the pharmacological effect and mechanisms of XCHD on psoriasis are not yet clear.

OBJECTIVE

To uncover the effect and mechanisms of XCHD on psoriasis by integrating network pharmacology, molecular docking, and in vivo experiments.

METHODS

The active ingredients and corresponding targets of XCHD were screened through Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database and Analysis (TCMSP) and Traditional Chinese Medicine Integrated Database (TCMID). Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) of psoriasis were obtained from the gene expression omnibus (GEO) database. The XCHD-psoriasis intersection targets were obtained by intersecting XCHD targets, and DEGs were used to establish the "herb-active ingredient-target" network and Protein-Protein Interaction (PPI) Network. The hub targets were identified based on the PPI network by Cytoscape software. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analysis were performed next. Molecular docking was executed via AutoDockTools-1.5.6. Finally, in vivo experiments were carried out further to validate the therapeutic effects of XCHD on psoriasis.

RESULTS

58 active components and 219 targets of XCHD were screened. 4 top-active components (quercetin, baicalein, wogonin and kaempferol) and 7 hub targets (IL1B, CXCL8, CCND1, FOS, MMP9, STAT1 and CCL2) were identified. GO and KEGG pathway enrichment analyses indicated that the TNF signaling pathway, IL-17 signaling pathway and several pathways were involved. Molecular docking results indicated that hub genes had a good affinity to the corresponding key compounds. In imiquimod (IMQ)-induced psoriasis mouse models, XCHD could significantly improve psoriasis-like skin lesions, downregulate KRT17 and Ki67, and inhibit inflammation cytokines and VEGF.

CONCLUSION

XCHD showed the therapeutic effect on psoriasis by regulating keratinocyte differentiation, and suppressing inflammation and angiogenesis, which provided a theoretical basis for further experiments and clinical research.

Multitargeted Herbal Prescription So Shiho Tang: A Scoping Review on Biomarkers for the Evaluation of Therapeutic Effects

Alternative medicines, especially herbal remedies, have been employed to treat infections and metabolism-related chronic inflammation because their safety and multidimensional therapeutic potential outweigh those of synthetic drugs. So Shiho Tang (SSHT), a well-known Oriental prescription (Xiao Chai Hu Tang in Chinese) composed of seven herbs, is traditionally prescribed to treat various viral infections and chronic metabolic disorders in Asia with or without the support of other natural medicines. To provide a general background on how SSHT is used as a medicinal alternative, we conducted a scoping review using the PubMed database system. Among the 453 articles, 76 studies used aqueous extracts of SSHT alone. This result included seven clinical studies and 69 basic studies: cell-based, animal-based, and ex vivo studies. The in vitro and clinical reports mainly focus on hepatic infection and hepatocarcinoma, and the documentation of in vivo tests of SSHT presents a wide range of effects on cancer, fibrosis, inflammation, and several metabolic disorder symptoms. Additionally, among the seven clinical records, two reverse-effect case studies were reported in middle-aged patients. In brief, this systematic review provides general knowledge on the natural remedy SSHT and its potential in phytotherapeutic primary health care.

Mechanism of Magnolia Volatile Oil in the Treatment of Acute Pancreatitis Based on GC-MS, Network Pharmacology, and Molecular Docking

Objective

Magnoliae officinalis cortex (MOC) is one of the most frequently used traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) for the treatment of acute pancreatitis (AP). Magnolia volatile oil (MVO) is considered to be one of the main active ingredients in MOC for AP treatment. However, the underlying mechanism of MVO in AP therapy is unknown.

Methods

An integrated strategy of gas chromatography-mass spectrum (GC-MS), network pharmacology, and molecular docking simulation was employed to predict underlying mechanism of MVO in AP treatment. First, the compounds of MVO were identified by GC-MS, and the targets of the identified characteristic compounds were collected from several databases, as well as AP-related targets. Next, Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analysis were carried out to obtain the mechanism. Moreover, the binding activity between core therapeutic targets and their corresponding compounds was evaluated by molecular docking simulation.

Results

GC-MS results showed a total of 35 compounds that appeared in at least 18 out of 20 chromatograms were considered as characteristic compounds of MVO, and 33 compounds of those were identified. Network analysis demonstrated that 33 compounds regulated 142 AP-related targets. Of those, 8 compounds (α-eudesmol, γ-eudesmol, (-)-terpinen-4-ol, terpineol, hinesol, linalool, borneol, and β-eudesmol) and 8 targets (TNF, IL-1β, PPARγ, PPARα, PTGS2, NCOA1, CNR1, and ESR1) have a close relationship with AP treatment and were recognized as the key active compounds and the core therapeutic targets, respectively. The 142 targets were involved in both inflammation and calcium overload-related biological pathways, such as neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction, estrogen, MAPK, and calcium signaling pathway. Moreover, molecular docking simulation indicated that the 8 core therapeutic targets strongly interacted with their corresponding compounds.

Conclusions

In summary, the present study elucidated that the efficacy of MVO in AP treatment might be attributed to anti-inflammation and inhibition of calcium overload through multicomponents and multitargets.

Gou Qi Zi inhibits proliferation and induces apoptosis through the PI3K/AKT1 signaling pathway in non-small cell lung cancer

Background

Gou Qi Zi (Lycium barbarum) is a traditional herbal medicine with antioxidative effects. Although Gou Qi Zi has been used to prevent premature aging and in the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), its mechanism of action in NSCLC remains unclear. The present study utilized network pharmacology to assess the potential mechanism of action of Gou Qi Zi in the treatment of NSCLC.

Methods

The TCMSP, TCMID, SwissTargetPrediction, DrugBank, DisGeNET, GeneCards, OMIM and TTD databases were searched for the active components of Gou Qi Zi and their potential therapeutic targets in NSCLC. Protein-protein interaction networks were identified and the interactions of target proteins were analyzed. Involved pathways were determined by GO enrichment and KEGG pathway analyses using the Metascape database, and molecular docking technology was used to study the interactions between active compounds and potential targets. These results were verified by cell counting kit-8 assays, BrdU labeling, flow cytometry, immunohistochemistry, western blotting, and qRT-PCR.

Results

Database searches identified 33 active components in Gou Qi Zi, 199 predicted biological targets and 113 NSCLC-related targets. A network of targets of traditional Chinese medicine compounds and potential targets of Gou Qi Zi in NSCLC was constructed. GO enrichment analysis showed that Gou Qi Zi targeting of NSCLC was mainly due to the effect of its associated lipopolysaccharide. KEGG pathway analysis showed that Gou Qi Zi acted mainly through the PI3K/AKT1 signaling pathway in the treatment of NSCLC. Molecular docking experiments showed that the bioactive compounds of Gou Qi Zi could bind to AKT1, C-MYC and TP53. These results were verified by experimental assays.

Conclusion

Gou Qi Zi induces apoptosis and inhibits proliferation of NSCLC in vitro and in vivo by inhibiting the PI3K/AKT1 signaling pathway.

The network pharmacology integrated with pharmacokinetics to clarify the pharmacological mechanism of absorbed components from Viticis fructus extract

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Viticis fructus (VF) has been widely used in alleviating the swelling and pain, owning to its pharmacologically active components including agnuside, 10-O-vanilloylaucubin, luteolin and casticin.

AIM OF THE STUDY

The pharmacokinetic profiles of the absorbed components from aqueous and ethanolic extracts of VF in rat plasma were performed, and explored the molecular mechanisms of absorbed components via network pharmacology.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectroscopy (UHPLC-MS/MS) was employed to identify the absorbed components from rat plasma. Liquid-liquid extraction with ethyl acetate was used to purify the plasma samples. Plasma pharmacokinetics parameters of the components absorbed were analyzed after oral administration of both extracts. Network pharmacology was used to predict the biological functions and potential signaling pathways of VF. The anti-cancer effects of VF extract and absorbed components have been confirmed by in vitro experiments.

RESULTS

The method was very sensitive with lower limit of quantification (LLOQ) of 1.0, 2.5, 0.2 and 0.5 ng/mL for agnuside, 10-O-vanilloylaucubin, luteolin and casticin, respectively. With the exception of 10-O-vanilloylaucubin which was not detected in the ethanolic extract of VF, all other components were detected in both extracts in plasma. The pharmacokinetic parameters of the four components from rat plasma were significantly different between the two extracts. According to the results of network pharmacology, the absorption components of VF are enriched in 32 key pathways, and 15 pathways are related to cancer. Ultimately, the anti-cancer effects, as well as the signaling pathways of VF ethanolic extract and absorbed components were verified by in vitro experiments.

CONCLUSION

The optimized, sensitive and validated UHPLC-MS/MS method was successfully applied for the plasma pharmacokinetics comparison analysis of the two VF extracts. The combination of network pharmacology and pharmacokinetics provides a useful method to elucidate the biological effects and molecular mechanism of the absorbed components of VF.