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Wu W, Song W, Zhao J, Guo S, Hong M, Zheng J, Hua Y, Cao P, Liu R, Duan JA. Saiga antelope horn suppresses febrile seizures in rats by regulating neurotransmitters and the arachidonic acid pathway. Chin Med 2024; 19:78. [PMID: 38831318 PMCID: PMC11149251 DOI: 10.1186/s13020-024-00949-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2024] [Accepted: 05/21/2024] [Indexed: 06/05/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Saiga antelope horn (SAH) is a traditional Chinese medicine for treating febrile seizure (FS) with precise efficacy, but its mechanism of action and functional substances are still unclear. Given the need for further research on SAH, our group conducted studies to elucidate its mechanisms and active substances. METHODS An FS rat pup model was constructed through intraperitoneal injection of LPS and hyperthermia induction. Behavioural indicators of seizures, hippocampal histopathological alterations, serum levels of inflammatory cytokines and hippocampal levels of neurotransmitters were observed and measured to investigate the effects of SAH on FS model rats. Hippocampal metabolomics and network pharmacology analyses were conducted to reveal the differential metabolites, key peptides and pathways involved in the suppression of FS by SAH. RESULTS SAH suppressed FS, decreased the inflammatory response and regulated the Glu-GABA balance. Metabolomic analysis revealed 13 biomarkers of FS, of which SAH improved the levels of 8 differential metabolites. Combined with network pharmacology, a "biomarker-core target-key peptide" network was constructed. The peptides of SAH, such as YGQL and LTGGF, could exert therapeutic effects via the arachidonic acid pathway. Molecular docking and ELISA results indicated that functional peptides of SAH could bind to PTGS2 target, inhibiting the generation of AA and its metabolites in hippocampal samples. CONCLUSION In summary, the functional peptides contained in SAH are the main material basis for the treatment of FS, potentially acting through neurotransmitter regulation and the arachidonic acid pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenxing Wu
- National and Local Collaborative Engineering Center of Chinese Medicinal Resources Industrialization and Formulae Innovative Medicine, Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Chinese Medicinal Resources Industrialization, and Jiangsu Key Laboratory for High Technology Research of Traditional Chinese Medicine Formulae, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, No 138 Xianlin Road, Nanjing, 210023, China
- School of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210023, China
- Animal-Derived Chinese Medicine and Functional Peptides International Collaboration Joint Laboratory, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Wencong Song
- National and Local Collaborative Engineering Center of Chinese Medicinal Resources Industrialization and Formulae Innovative Medicine, Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Chinese Medicinal Resources Industrialization, and Jiangsu Key Laboratory for High Technology Research of Traditional Chinese Medicine Formulae, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, No 138 Xianlin Road, Nanjing, 210023, China
- School of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Jingjing Zhao
- National and Local Collaborative Engineering Center of Chinese Medicinal Resources Industrialization and Formulae Innovative Medicine, Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Chinese Medicinal Resources Industrialization, and Jiangsu Key Laboratory for High Technology Research of Traditional Chinese Medicine Formulae, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, No 138 Xianlin Road, Nanjing, 210023, China
- School of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Sheng Guo
- National and Local Collaborative Engineering Center of Chinese Medicinal Resources Industrialization and Formulae Innovative Medicine, Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Chinese Medicinal Resources Industrialization, and Jiangsu Key Laboratory for High Technology Research of Traditional Chinese Medicine Formulae, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, No 138 Xianlin Road, Nanjing, 210023, China
- School of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Min Hong
- School of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Jie Zheng
- School of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Yongqing Hua
- School of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Peng Cao
- National and Local Collaborative Engineering Center of Chinese Medicinal Resources Industrialization and Formulae Innovative Medicine, Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Chinese Medicinal Resources Industrialization, and Jiangsu Key Laboratory for High Technology Research of Traditional Chinese Medicine Formulae, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, No 138 Xianlin Road, Nanjing, 210023, China
- Animal-Derived Chinese Medicine and Functional Peptides International Collaboration Joint Laboratory, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Rui Liu
- National and Local Collaborative Engineering Center of Chinese Medicinal Resources Industrialization and Formulae Innovative Medicine, Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Chinese Medicinal Resources Industrialization, and Jiangsu Key Laboratory for High Technology Research of Traditional Chinese Medicine Formulae, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, No 138 Xianlin Road, Nanjing, 210023, China.
- School of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210023, China.
- Animal-Derived Chinese Medicine and Functional Peptides International Collaboration Joint Laboratory, Nanjing, 210023, China.
| | - Jin-Ao Duan
- National and Local Collaborative Engineering Center of Chinese Medicinal Resources Industrialization and Formulae Innovative Medicine, Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Chinese Medicinal Resources Industrialization, and Jiangsu Key Laboratory for High Technology Research of Traditional Chinese Medicine Formulae, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, No 138 Xianlin Road, Nanjing, 210023, China.
- School of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210023, China.
- Animal-Derived Chinese Medicine and Functional Peptides International Collaboration Joint Laboratory, Nanjing, 210023, China.
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Wu YH, Zhang QL, Mai SY, Ming GX, Zheng CF, Liang CF, Xue FM, He XN, Li YH. Strictosamide alleviates acute lung injury via regulating T helper 17 cells, regulatory T cells, and gut microbiota. PHYTOMEDICINE : INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHYTOTHERAPY AND PHYTOPHARMACOLOGY 2024; 128:155490. [PMID: 38460358 DOI: 10.1016/j.phymed.2024.155490] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2023] [Revised: 02/23/2024] [Accepted: 02/26/2024] [Indexed: 03/11/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Nauclea officinalis (Pierre ex Pit.) Merr. & Chun (Rubiaceae) is widely used to treat respiratory diseases in China. Strictosamide is its main active component and has significant anti-inflammatory activity. However, the effects and molecular mechanisms of strictosamide in the treatment of acute lung injury (ALI) remain largely unknown. PURPOSE This study aimed to examine the regulatory effects of strictosamide on T helper 17 cells (Th17 cells)/Regulatory T cells (Treg cells) and gut microbiota in ALI-affected mice. MATERIALS AND METHODS The ALI model was induced using lipopolysaccharide (LPS) intraperitoneal injection. Hematoxylin-eosin (H&E) staining, the number of inflammatory cells in broncho-alveolar lavage fluid (BALF), the Wet/Dry (W/D) ratio, and myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity were utilized as evaluation indices for the therapeutic efficacy of strictosamide on ALI. Flow cytometry (FCM), enzyme-linked immune sorbent assay (ELISA), quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), and western blotting were used to determine the regulation of strictosamide on the Th17/Treg cells and the STAT3/STAT5 signaling pathway. The analysis of gut microbiota was conducted using 16S rDNA sequencing. The verification of the relationship between the gut microbiome and immune function was conducted using Spearman analysis. RESULTS Strictosamide attenuated inflammation on ALI induced by LPS, which reduced the levels of Th17-related factors interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-17 and increased Treg-related factors IL-10 and transforming growth factor (TGF)-β. In the spleens and whole blood, strictosamide reduced the proportion of Th17 cells and increased the proportion of Treg cells. Furthermore, strictosamide increased Forkhead/winged helix transcription factor 3 (Foxp3) and p-STAT5 protein expression while inhibiting Retinoid-related orphan nuclear receptors-γt (RORγt) and p-STAT3 expression. Moreover, strictosamide reshaped the diversity and structure of the gut microbiota, and influence the associations between immune parameters and gut microbiota in ALI mice. CONCLUSIONS In summary, the results of the current investigation showed that strictosamide has a therapeutic impact on LPS-induced ALI. The mechanism of action of this effect may be associated with the modulation of Th17 and Treg cells differentiation via the SATA signaling pathway, as well as the impact of the gut microbiota.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu-Huang Wu
- Hainan Provincial Key Laboratory of R&D on Tropical Herbs, Department of Pharmacy, The First Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University, School of Pharmacy, Hainan Medical University, Haikou 571199, China
| | - Qiao-Ling Zhang
- Hainan Provincial Key Laboratory of R&D on Tropical Herbs, Department of Pharmacy, The First Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University, School of Pharmacy, Hainan Medical University, Haikou 571199, China
| | - Shi-Ying Mai
- Hainan Provincial Key Laboratory of R&D on Tropical Herbs, Department of Pharmacy, The First Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University, School of Pharmacy, Hainan Medical University, Haikou 571199, China
| | - Gu-Xu Ming
- Hainan Provincial Key Laboratory of R&D on Tropical Herbs, Department of Pharmacy, The First Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University, School of Pharmacy, Hainan Medical University, Haikou 571199, China
| | - Cheng-Feng Zheng
- The Second Affiliated Hospital, Hainan Medical University, Haikou 570216, China
| | - Chang-Fu Liang
- The Second Affiliated Hospital, Hainan Medical University, Haikou 570216, China
| | - Feng-Ming Xue
- The Second Affiliated Hospital, Hainan Medical University, Haikou 570216, China
| | - Xiao-Ning He
- The Second Affiliated Hospital, Hainan Medical University, Haikou 570216, China.
| | - Yong-Hui Li
- Hainan Provincial Key Laboratory of R&D on Tropical Herbs, Department of Pharmacy, The First Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University, School of Pharmacy, Hainan Medical University, Haikou 571199, China; The Second Affiliated Hospital, Hainan Medical University, Haikou 570216, China.
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Chen Z, Zhang S, Sun X, Meng D, Lai C, Zhang M, Wang P, Huang X, Gao X. Analysis of the Protective Effects of Rosa roxburghii-Fermented Juice on Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Acute Lung Injury in Mice through Network Pharmacology and Metabolomics. Nutrients 2024; 16:1376. [PMID: 38732622 PMCID: PMC11085916 DOI: 10.3390/nu16091376] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2024] [Revised: 04/26/2024] [Accepted: 04/29/2024] [Indexed: 05/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Acute lung injury, a fatal condition characterized by a high mortality rate, necessitates urgent exploration of treatment modalities. Utilizing UHPLS-Q-Exactive Orbitrap/MS, our study scrutinized the active constituents present in Rosa roxburghii-fermented juice (RRFJ) while also assessing its protective efficacy against LPS-induced ALI in mice through lung histopathological analysis, cytokine profiling, and oxidative stress assessment. The protective mechanism of RRFJ against ALI in mice was elucidated utilizing metabolomics, network pharmacology, and molecular docking methodologies. Our experimental findings demonstrate that RRFJ markedly ameliorates pathological injuries in ALI-afflicted mice, mitigates systemic inflammation and oxidative stress, enhances energy metabolism, and restores dysregulated amino acid and arachidonic acid metabolic pathways. This study indicates that RRFJ can serve as a functional food for adjuvant treatment of ALI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhiyu Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Functions and Applications of Medicinal Plants, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang 550025, China; (Z.C.); (S.Z.); (X.S.); (D.M.); (C.L.); (M.Z.); (P.W.); (X.H.)
- Center of Microbiology and Biochemical Pharmaceutical Engineering, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang 550025, China
| | - Shuo Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Functions and Applications of Medicinal Plants, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang 550025, China; (Z.C.); (S.Z.); (X.S.); (D.M.); (C.L.); (M.Z.); (P.W.); (X.H.)
- Experimental Animal Center of Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang 550025, China
| | - Xiaodong Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Functions and Applications of Medicinal Plants, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang 550025, China; (Z.C.); (S.Z.); (X.S.); (D.M.); (C.L.); (M.Z.); (P.W.); (X.H.)
- Center of Microbiology and Biochemical Pharmaceutical Engineering, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang 550025, China
| | - Duo Meng
- State Key Laboratory of Functions and Applications of Medicinal Plants, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang 550025, China; (Z.C.); (S.Z.); (X.S.); (D.M.); (C.L.); (M.Z.); (P.W.); (X.H.)
- Center of Microbiology and Biochemical Pharmaceutical Engineering, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang 550025, China
| | - Chencen Lai
- State Key Laboratory of Functions and Applications of Medicinal Plants, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang 550025, China; (Z.C.); (S.Z.); (X.S.); (D.M.); (C.L.); (M.Z.); (P.W.); (X.H.)
- Center of Microbiology and Biochemical Pharmaceutical Engineering, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang 550025, China
| | - Min Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Functions and Applications of Medicinal Plants, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang 550025, China; (Z.C.); (S.Z.); (X.S.); (D.M.); (C.L.); (M.Z.); (P.W.); (X.H.)
- Center of Microbiology and Biochemical Pharmaceutical Engineering, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang 550025, China
| | - Pengjiao Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Functions and Applications of Medicinal Plants, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang 550025, China; (Z.C.); (S.Z.); (X.S.); (D.M.); (C.L.); (M.Z.); (P.W.); (X.H.)
- Center of Microbiology and Biochemical Pharmaceutical Engineering, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang 550025, China
| | - Xuncai Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Functions and Applications of Medicinal Plants, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang 550025, China; (Z.C.); (S.Z.); (X.S.); (D.M.); (C.L.); (M.Z.); (P.W.); (X.H.)
- Center of Microbiology and Biochemical Pharmaceutical Engineering, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang 550025, China
| | - Xiuli Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Functions and Applications of Medicinal Plants, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang 550025, China; (Z.C.); (S.Z.); (X.S.); (D.M.); (C.L.); (M.Z.); (P.W.); (X.H.)
- Center of Microbiology and Biochemical Pharmaceutical Engineering, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang 550025, China
- Guizhou Provincial Engineering Research Center of Food Nutrition and Health, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang 550025, China
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Xu H, Xu SC, Li LY, Wu YH, Tan YF, Chen L, Liu P, Liang CF, He XN, Li YH. Protective Effects of Danmu Extract Syrup on Acute Lung Injury Induced by Lipopolysaccharide in Mice through Endothelial Barrier Repair. Chin J Integr Med 2024; 30:243-250. [PMID: 37987961 DOI: 10.1007/s11655-023-3604-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/07/2023] [Indexed: 11/22/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To investigate the effects of Danmu Extract Syrup (DMS) on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced acute lung injury (ALI) in mice and explore the mechanism. METHODS Seventy-two male Balb/C mice were randomly divided into 6 groups according to a random number table (n=12), including control (normal saline), LPS (5 mg/kg), LPS+DMS 2.5 mL/kg, LPS+DMS 5 mL/kg, LPS+DMS 10 mL/kg, and LPS+Dexamethasone (DXM, 5 mg/kg) groups. After pretreatment with DMS and DXM, the ALI mice model was induced by LPS, and the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were collected to determine protein concentration, cell counts and inflammatory cytokines. The lung tissues of mice were stained with hematoxylin-eosin, and the wet/dry weight ratio (W/D) of lung tissue was calculated. The levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-1 β in BALF of mice were detected by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. The expression levels of Claudin-5, vascular endothelial (VE)-cadherin, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), phospho-protein kinase B (p-Akt) and Akt were detected by Western blot analysis. RESULTS DMS pre-treatment significantly ameliorated lung histopathological changes. Compared with the LPS group, the W/D ratio and protein contents in BALF were obviously reduced after DMS pretreatment (P<0.05 or P<0.01). The number of cells in BALF and myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity decreased significantly after DMS pretreatment (P<0.05 or P<0.01). DMS pre-treatment decreased the levels of TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-1 β (P<0.01). Meanwhile, DMS activated the phosphoinositide 3-kinase/protein kinase B (PI3K/Akt) pathway and reversed the expressions of Claudin-5, VE-cadherin and VEGF (P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS DMS attenuated LPS-induced ALI in mice through repairing endothelial barrier. It might be a potential therapeutic drug for LPS-induced lung injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Han Xu
- Hainan Provincial Key Lab of Research & Development on Tropic Herbs, Hainan Medical University, Haikou, 571199, China
| | - Si-Cong Xu
- Hainan Provincial Key Lab of Research & Development on Tropic Herbs, Hainan Medical University, Haikou, 571199, China
| | - Li-Yan Li
- Hainan Provincial Key Lab of Research & Development on Tropic Herbs, Hainan Medical University, Haikou, 571199, China
| | - Yu-Huang Wu
- Hainan Provincial Key Lab of Research & Development on Tropic Herbs, Hainan Medical University, Haikou, 571199, China
| | - Yin-Feng Tan
- Hainan Provincial Key Lab of Research & Development on Tropic Herbs, Hainan Medical University, Haikou, 571199, China
| | - Long Chen
- Department of Stomatology, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University, Haikou, 571199, China
| | - Pei Liu
- Department of Stomatology, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University, Haikou, 571199, China
| | - Chang-Fu Liang
- Department of Stomatology, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University, Haikou, 571199, China
| | - Xiao-Ning He
- Department of Stomatology, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University, Haikou, 571199, China
| | - Yong-Hui Li
- Hainan Provincial Key Lab of Research & Development on Tropic Herbs, Hainan Medical University, Haikou, 571199, China.
- Department of Stomatology, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University, Haikou, 571199, China.
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Huang Q, Le Y, Li S, Bian Y. Signaling pathways and potential therapeutic targets in acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Respir Res 2024; 25:30. [PMID: 38218783 PMCID: PMC10788036 DOI: 10.1186/s12931-024-02678-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2023] [Accepted: 01/03/2024] [Indexed: 01/15/2024] Open
Abstract
Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a common condition associated with critically ill patients, characterized by bilateral chest radiographical opacities with refractory hypoxemia due to noncardiogenic pulmonary edema. Despite significant advances, the mortality of ARDS remains unacceptably high, and there are still no effective targeted pharmacotherapeutic agents. With the outbreak of coronavirus disease 19 worldwide, the mortality of ARDS has increased correspondingly. Comprehending the pathophysiology and the underlying molecular mechanisms of ARDS may thus be essential to developing effective therapeutic strategies and reducing mortality. To facilitate further understanding of its pathogenesis and exploring novel therapeutics, this review provides comprehensive information of ARDS from pathophysiology to molecular mechanisms and presents targeted therapeutics. We first describe the pathogenesis and pathophysiology of ARDS that involve dysregulated inflammation, alveolar-capillary barrier dysfunction, impaired alveolar fluid clearance and oxidative stress. Next, we summarize the molecular mechanisms and signaling pathways related to the above four aspects of ARDS pathophysiology, along with the latest research progress. Finally, we discuss the emerging therapeutic strategies that show exciting promise in ARDS, including several pharmacologic therapies, microRNA-based therapies and mesenchymal stromal cell therapies, highlighting the pathophysiological basis and the influences on signal transduction pathways for their use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qianrui Huang
- Department of Critical Care Medicine, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, No.1095, Jie Fang Avenue, Wuhan, 430030, China
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, No. 1095, Jie Fang Avenue, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Yue Le
- Department of Critical Care Medicine, Zhongda Hospital, School of Medicine, Southeast University, 87 Dingjia Bridge, Hunan Road, Gu Lou District, Nanjing, 210009, China
| | - Shusheng Li
- Department of Critical Care Medicine, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, No.1095, Jie Fang Avenue, Wuhan, 430030, China.
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, No. 1095, Jie Fang Avenue, Wuhan, 430030, China.
| | - Yi Bian
- Department of Critical Care Medicine, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, No.1095, Jie Fang Avenue, Wuhan, 430030, China.
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, No. 1095, Jie Fang Avenue, Wuhan, 430030, China.
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Li L, Yang L, Yang L, He C, He Y, Chen L, Dong Q, Zhang H, Chen S, Li P. Network pharmacology: a bright guiding light on the way to explore the personalized precise medication of traditional Chinese medicine. Chin Med 2023; 18:146. [PMID: 37941061 PMCID: PMC10631104 DOI: 10.1186/s13020-023-00853-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2023] [Accepted: 10/22/2023] [Indexed: 11/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Network pharmacology can ascertain the therapeutic mechanism of drugs for treating diseases at the level of biological targets and pathways. The effective mechanism study of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) characterized by multi-component, multi-targeted, and integrative efficacy, perfectly corresponds to the application of network pharmacology. Currently, network pharmacology has been widely utilized to clarify the mechanism of the physiological activity of TCM. In this review, we comprehensively summarize the application of network pharmacology in TCM to reveal its potential of verifying the phenotype and underlying causes of diseases, realizing the personalized and accurate application of TCM. We searched the literature using "TCM network pharmacology" and "network pharmacology" as keywords from Web of Science, PubMed, Google Scholar, as well as Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure in the last decade. The origins, development, and application of network pharmacology are closely correlated with the study of TCM which has been applied in China for thousands of years. Network pharmacology and TCM have the same core idea and promote each other. A well-defined research strategy for network pharmacology has been utilized in several aspects of TCM research, including the elucidation of the biological basis of diseases and syndromes, the prediction of TCM targets, the screening of TCM active compounds, and the decipherment of mechanisms of TCM in treating diseases. However, several factors limit its application, such as the selection of databases and algorithms, the unstable quality of the research results, and the lack of standardization. This review aims to provide references and ideas for the research of TCM and to encourage the personalized and precise use of Chinese medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ling Li
- School of Comprehensive Health Management, Xihua University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
- Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
| | - Lele Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau, Macau, China
- Zhuhai UM Science and Technology Research Institute, Zhuhai, Guangdong, China
| | - Liuqing Yang
- School of Food and Bioengineering, Xihua University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Chunrong He
- School of Food and Bioengineering, Xihua University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Yuxin He
- School of Food and Bioengineering, Xihua University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Liping Chen
- School of Comprehensive Health Management, Xihua University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
- Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Qin Dong
- School of Food and Bioengineering, Xihua University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Huaiying Zhang
- School of Comprehensive Health Management, Xihua University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Shiyun Chen
- School of Food and Bioengineering, Xihua University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Peng Li
- State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau, Macau, China.
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