Comprehensive chemical profiling of volatile constituents of Angong Niuhuang Pill in vitro and in vivo based on gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry

A newly discovered bioactive equivalence of combinatorial components of Angong Niuhuang pill improves ischemic stroke via the PI3K/AKT axis

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Angong Niuhuang pill (ANP) is effective in preventing and treating ischemic stroke, however, the pharmacodynamic substances and mechanism of ANP have not been scientifically clarified.

AIM OF THE STUDY

This study aims to identify the bioactive equivalence of combinatorial components (BECCs) of ANP for treating ischemic stroke and discuss the underlying mechanisms.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Network pharmacology was performed to screen key compounds and predict potential pathways. The effect of BECCs on ischemic stroke was screened and verified in ponatinib-induced zebrafish model and mice middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) model. Finally, the mechanism of BECCs was preliminarily investigated.

RESULTS

Through network pharmacology, the degree values of each component in ANP were determined, and five candidate BECCs were obtained by combining the content of the components in the original prescription. The BECCs V has the same efficacy as the original formula in reducing the movement disorder and neuronal injury of zebrafish cerebral ischemia models and lowering the neurologic deficits and cerebral infarction volume of mouse MCAO models. Mechanistically, BECCs V and ANP blocked neuronal autophagy through the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (AKT)/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) axis, inhibited microglial inflammatory activation through the PI3K/AKT/hypoxia inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) axis, protected microvascular endothelial function through the PI3K/AKT/forkhead box O3 (FoxO3a) axis, thereby improving ischemic cerebral injury.

CONCLUSIONS

The newly discovered BECCs V is equivalent to ANP in regulating the motor function recovery rate and neuroprotective rate of zebrafish and the neurological deficit scores and the average infarct volume of MCAO mice. This study suggests that the PI3K/AKT signaling axis plays a key role in neuronal autophagy, microglial inflammatory activation and microvascular endothelial dysfunction induced by cerebral ischemic injury, suggesting that the regulation of PI3K/AKT may be a potential therapeutic strategy for neuroprotection and ischemic stroke injury.

The arousal effect of An-Gong-Niu-Huang-Wan on alcoholic-induced coma rats: A research based on EEG

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Acute alcohol intoxication is one of the leading causes of coma. A well-regarded Chinese herbal formula, known as An-Gong-Niu-Huang-Wan (AGNHW), has garnered recognition for its efficacy in treating various brain disorders associated with impaired consciousness, including acute alcohol-induced coma. Despite its clinical effectiveness, the scientific community lacks comprehensive research on the mechanistic aspects of AGNHW's impact on the electroencephalogram (EEG) patterns observed during alcohol-induced coma. Gaining a deeper understanding of AGNHW's mechanism of action in relation to EEG characteristics would hold immense importance, serving as a solid foundation for further advancing its clinical therapeutic application.

AIM OF THE STUDY

The study sought to investigate the impact of AGNHW on EEG activity and sleep EEG patterns in rats with alcoholic-induced coma.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A rat model of alcohol-induced coma was used to examine the effects of AGNHW on EEG patterns. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were intraperitoneally injected with 32% ethanol to induce a coma, followed by treatment with AGNHW. Wireless electrodes were implanted in the cortex of the rats to obtain EEG signals. Our analysis focused on evaluating alterations in the Rat Coma Scale (RCS), as well as assessing changes in the frequency and distribution of EEG patterns, sleep rhythms, and body temperature subsequent to AGNHW treatment.

RESULTS

The study found a significant increase in the δ-band power ratio, as well as a decrease in RCS scores and β-band power ratio after modeling. AGNHW treatment significantly reduced the δ-band power ratio and increased the β-band power ratio compared to naloxone, suggesting its superior arousal effects. The results also revealed a decrease in the time proportion of WAKE and REM EEG patterns after modeling, accompanied by a significant increase in the time proportion of NREM EEG patterns. Both naloxone and AGNHW effectively counteracted the disordered sleep EEG patterns. Additionally, AGNHW was more effective than naloxone in improving hypothermia caused by acute alcohol poisoning in rats.

CONCLUSION

Our study provides evidence for the arousal effects of AGNHW in alcohol-induced coma rats. It also suggests a potential role for AGNHW in regulating post-comatose sleep rhythm disorders.

Multimodal investigation reveals the neuroprotective mechanism of Angong Niuhuang pill for intracerebral hemorrhage: Converging bioinformatics, network pharmacology, and experimental validation

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Angong Niuhuang Pill (ANP) is a traditional Chinese medicine formula that has been used clinically for many years in the treatment of cerebral hemorrhage. It is composed of ingredients such as calculus bovis, moschus, and others. Ancient texts have documented that ANP's multiple components possess properties such as heat-clearing, detoxification, and sedation, which can be effective in treating conditions such as coma and stroke. However, the underlying mechanisms of ANP's potential actions are still under investigation.

AIM OF THE STUDY

ANP is a Chinese medicine widely utilized for the treatment of intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). However, the precise mechanism underlying the therapeutic effects remains largely elusive. The present study aims to unravel the effects and pharmacological molecular mechanisms of ANP in combatting ICH, employing a comprehensive network pharmacology approach and experimental validation.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The molecular targets of ANP and ICH were obtained from various databases, followed by the construction of protein-protein interaction (PPI) networks using the STRING database. Further, gene ontology (GO) enrichment and Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes (KEGG) analyses were conducted using the Metascape database and Cytoscape, respectively. Finally, molecular docking was performed. We performed a series of behavioral tests, immunohistochemical staining, TUNEL staining, and Western Blot to verify the effects of ANP.

RESULTS

IL-6, JUN, MMP9, IL-1β, VEGFA were the main candidate targets and were associated with fluid shear stress and atherosclerosis, TNF signaling pathway, etc. It is suggested that the potential mechanism of ANP against ICH may be mainly related to pyroptosis, inflammation. In vivo validation showed that ANP treatment significantly reduced the number of TUNEL-positive cells and ANP inhibited the activation of Iba-1 positive neurons, and suppressed the expression of inflammatory factors and pyroptosis indicators. In addition, ANP improved the cognitive level and motor ability of ICH mice.

CONCLUSION

The results of the study combined with virtual screening and experimental validation showed that ANP has an important contribution in protecting the brain from neuronal damage by regulating the pathways of inflammation and pyroptosis, laying the foundation and innovative ideas for future studies.

Combination of Atractylenolide I, Atractylenolide III, and Paeoniflorin promotes angiogenesis and improves neurological recovery in a mouse model of ischemic Stroke

BACKGROUND

Prognosis is critically important in stroke cases, with angiogenesis playing a key role in determining outcomes. This study aimed to investigate the potential protective effects of Atractylenolide I (Atr I), Atractylenolide III (Atr III), and Paeoniflorin (Pae) in promoting angiogenesis following cerebral ischemia.

METHODS

The bEnd.3 cell line was used to evaluate the effects of these three compounds on vascular endothelial cell proliferation, migration, and tube formation. Male C57BL/6 mice underwent transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO), followed by daily intragastric administration of the Chinese medicine compounds to assess their impact on brain protection and angiogenesis. In vivo experiments included measuring infarct size and assessing neurological function. Immunofluorescence staining and an angiogenesis antibody array were used to evaluate angiogenesis in ischemic brain tissue. Functional enrichment analysis was performed to further investigate the pathways involved in the protective effects of the compounds. Molecular docking analysis explored the potential binding affinity of the compounds to insulin-like growth factor 2 (IGF-2), and Western blotting was used to measure levels of angiogenesis-related proteins.

RESULTS

In vitro, the combination of Atr I, Atr III, and Pae enhanced cell proliferation, promoted migration, and stimulated tube formation. In vivo, the combined treatment significantly facilitated neurological function recovery and angiogenesis by day 14. The treatment also increased levels of angiogenesis-related proteins, including IGF-2. Pearson correlation analysis revealed a strong positive association between IGF-2 levels in ischemic brain tissue and angiogenesis, suggesting a good affinity of the compounds for the IGF-2 binding site, as supported by molecular docking analysis.

CONCLUSION

The administration of Atr I, Atr III, and Pae has shown significant enhancements in long-term stroke recovery in mice, likely due to the promotion of angiogenesis via increased activation of the IGF-2 pathway in ischemic brain tissue.

Chemical composition and absorption characteristics of Angong Niuhuang Pill based on two-dimensional ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole Orbitrap high-resolution mass spectrometry

Angong Niuhuang Pill (ANP) is a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) formula with significant clinical efficacy in the treatment of stroke. Due to its complex composition, little attention has been directed toward the analysis of chemical composition and absorption characteristics of ANP. In this study, a reliable two-dimensional ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography (2D-UHPLC) coupled with quadrupole-Orbitrap high-resolution mass spectrometry (Q-Orbitrap HRMS) method was established to characterize the chemical constituents in ANP as well as the prototype components and metabolites absorbed in plasma, urine, feces, and brain tissues after oral administration. The prototype components were identified by a high mass accuracy (within 5 ppm) and MS/MS data based on online, local, and ANP self-built databases. The metabolites were predicted and identified using Compound Discoverer metabolic platform. A total of 154 compounds mainly including 37 flavonoids, 35 alkaioids, 19 organic acid, 19 bile acid, 32 terpenoids and 12 others were identified in this way. In addition, 60 prototype components mainly including flavonoids, alkaioids, organic acid, terpenoids and 164 metabolites were confirmed or preliminarily identified in rats. The metabolic pathways phase I reaction (hydration, reduction, oxidation, demethylation, and hydroxylation) and phase II reaction (acetylation, stearyl conjugation, and methylation) for the absorbed constituents were explored and summarized. This is the first systematic and comprehensive chemical characterization in ANP and its metabolism in vivo by 2D-UHPLC-Q-Orbitrap HRMS. This approach provides an effective strategy for the characterization of compounds and metabolites in traditional Chinese medicine formulas.

Characterization and quantification of chemical constituents in Angong Niuhuang Pill using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry

Material basis researches and quality evaluation of traditional Chinese medicine preparations (TCMPs) face great challenges due to the complex composition and abundant unexpected interference. Angong Niuhuang Pill (ANP), one of the most famous TCMPs in China, containing 11 crude drugs has been commonly used for the treatment of febrile diseases. However, previous literatures of comprehensive chemical constituents in ANP were still limited. Herein, Ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-ion mobility-quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UHPLC-IM-QTOF MS) method was established to effectively recognize the chemicals in Angong Niuhuang Pill (ANP). A total of 205 compounds, containing 72 confirmed with reference standards, were characterized from ANP with the application of a systematic strategy integrated polygonal mass defect filtering (MDF) and diagnostic fragment ion filtering (DFIF)/neutral loss filtering (NLF). Additionally, 68 major constituents in 8 batches of ANP samples were simultaneously determined by ultra-performance liquid chromatography-triple quadrupole tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-QQQ MS/MS) within 40 min. The quantitative method was validated regarding linearity, precision, repeatability, stability, and accuracy. These findings proved the established liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) method was efficient and dependable for qualitative and quantitative chemical profiling of ANP. Besides, this research could provide the material basis for further pharmacological researches and quality control of ANP.