Alleviating effects of si-ni-san, a traditional Chinese prescription, on experimental liver injury and its mechanisms

A comprehensive review of bupleuri radix and its bioactive components： with a major focus on treating chronic liver diseases

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Bupleuri Radix (BR) has been recognized as an essential herbal medicine for relieving liver depression for thousands of years. Contemporary research has provided compelling evidence of its pharmacological effects, including anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, metabolic regulation, and anticancer properties, positioning it as a promising treatment option for various liver diseases. Hepatitis, steatohepatitis, cirrhosis, and liver cancer are among the prevalent and impactful liver diseases worldwide. However, there remains a lack of comprehensive systematic reviews that explore the prescription, bio-active components, and underlying mechanisms of BR in treating liver diseases.

AIM OF THE REVIEW

To summarize the BR classical Chinese medical prescription and ingredients in treating liver diseases and their mechanisms to inform reference for further development and research.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Literature in the last three decades of BR and its classical Chinese medical prescription and ingredients were collated and summarized by searching PubMed, Wiley, Springer, Google Scholar, Web of Science, CNKI, etc. RESULTS: BR and its classical prescriptions, such as Xiao Chai Hu decoction, Da Chai Hu decoction, Si Ni San, and Chai Hu Shu Gan San, have been utilized for centuries as effective therapies for liver diseases, including hepatitis, steatohepatitis, cirrhosis, and liver cancer. BR is a rich source of active ingredients, such as saikosaponins, polysaccharides, flavonoids, sterols, organic acids, and so on. These bioactive compounds exhibit a wide range of beneficial effects, including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, immunomodulatory, and lipid metabolism regulation. However, it is important to acknowledge that BR and its constituents can also possess hepatotoxicity, which is associated with cytochrome P450 (CYP450) enzymes and oxidative stress. Therefore, caution should be exercised when using BR in therapeutic applications to ensure the safe and appropriate utilization of its potential benefits while minimizing any potential risks.

CONCLUSIONS

To sum up, BR, its compounds, and its based traditional Chinese medicine are effective in liver diseases through multiple targets, multiple pathways, and multiple effects. Advances in pharmacological and toxicological investigations of BR and its bio-active components in the future will provide further contributions to the discovery of novel therapeutics for liver diseases.

Si-Ni-San promotes liver regeneration by maintaining hepatic oxidative equilibrium and glucose/lipid metabolism homeostasis

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

The efficacy of clinical treatments for various liver diseases is intricately tied to the liver's regenerative capacity. Insufficient or failed liver regeneration is a direct cause of mortality following fulminant hepatic failure and extensive hepatectomy. Si-Ni-San (SNS), a renowned traditional Chinese medicine prescription for harmonizing liver and spleen functions, has shown clinical efficacy in the alleviation of liver injury for thousands of years. However, the precise molecular pharmacological mechanisms underlying its effects remain unclear.

AIMS OF THE STUDY

This study aimed to investigate the effects of SNS on liver regeneration and elucidate the underlying mechanisms.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A mouse model of 70% partial hepatectomy (PHx) was used to analyze the effects of SNS on liver regeneration. Aquaporin-9 knockout mice (AQP9-/-) were used to demonstrate that SNS-mediated enhancement of liver regeneration was AQP9-targeted. A tandem dimer-Tomato-tagged AQP9 transgenic mouse line (AQP9-RFP) was utilized to determine the expression pattern of AQP9 protein in hepatocytes. Immunoblotting, quantitative real-time PCR, staining techniques, and biochemical assays were used to further explore the underlying mechanisms of SNS.

RESULTS

SNS treatment significantly enhanced liver regeneration and increased AQP9 protein expression in hepatocytes of wild-type mice (AQP9+/+) post 70% PHx, but had no significant effects on AQP9-/- mice. Following 70% PHx, SNS helped maintain hepatic oxidative equilibrium by increasing the levels of reactive oxygen species scavengers glutathione and superoxide dismutase and reducing the levels of oxidative stress molecules H2O2 and malondialdehyde in liver tissues, thereby preserving this crucial process for hepatocyte proliferation. Simultaneously, SNS augmented glycerol uptake by hepatocytes, stimulated gluconeogenesis, and maintained glucose/lipid metabolism homeostasis, ensuring the energy supply required for liver regeneration.

CONCLUSIONS

This study provides the first evidence that SNS maintains liver oxidative equilibrium and glucose/lipid metabolism homeostasis by upregulating AQP9 expression in hepatocytes, thereby promoting liver regeneration. These findings offer novel insights into the molecular pharmacological mechanisms of SNS in promoting liver regeneration and provide guidance for its clinical application and optimization in liver disease treatment.

Dual-channel hypergraph convolutional network for predicting herb-disease associations

Herbs applicability in disease treatment has been verified through experiences over thousands of years. The understanding of herb-disease associations (HDAs) is yet far from complete due to the complicated mechanism inherent in multi-target and multi-component (MTMC) botanical therapeutics. Most of the existing prediction models fail to incorporate the MTMC mechanism. To overcome this problem, we propose a novel dual-channel hypergraph convolutional network, namely HGHDA, for HDA prediction. Technically, HGHDA first adopts an autoencoder to project components and target protein onto a low-dimensional latent space so as to obtain their embeddings by preserving similarity characteristics in their original feature spaces. To model the high-order relations between herbs and their components, we design a channel in HGHDA to encode a hypergraph that describes the high-order patterns of herb-component relations via hypergraph convolution. The other channel in HGHDA is also established in the same way to model the high-order relations between diseases and target proteins. The embeddings of drugs and diseases are then aggregated through our dual-channel network to obtain the prediction results with a scoring function. To evaluate the performance of HGHDA, a series of extensive experiments have been conducted on two benchmark datasets, and the results demonstrate the superiority of HGHDA over the state-of-the-art algorithms proposed for HDA prediction. Besides, our case study on Chuan Xiong and Astragalus membranaceus is a strong indicator to verify the effectiveness of HGHDA, as seven and eight out of the top 10 diseases predicted by HGHDA for Chuan-Xiong and Astragalus-membranaceus, respectively, have been reported in literature.

SiNiSan alleviates liver injury by promoting hepatic stem cell differentiation via Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway

BACKGROUND

SiNiSan, a Traditional Chinese Medicine containing Radix Bupleuri, Radix Paeoniae Alba, Fructus Aurantii Immaturus, and Radix Glycyrrhizae, has been shown to be clinically effective in treating liver damage, its underlying molecular mechanisms however remains unclear.

PURPOSE

The aim of the current study was to understand the molecular mechanisms of SiNiSan in the treatment of liver damage utilizing mice and cell culture models.

METHODS

Here, mice were gavaged with 0.2% CCl4 to obtain acute liver injury model and with alcohol to obtain chronic liver injury model. H&E staining was performed to detect liver histomorphology. HPLC-MS was performed to analyze the composition of SiNiSan decoction and SiNiSan-medicated serum (SMS). In addition, western blots were done to analyze the representative protein expression in Wnt/β-catenin signaling. Immunofluorescence staining was done to analyze the protein levels in WB-F344 cells. Finally, in an attempt to measure the influence of SiNiSan on liver regeneration in rats, we constructed a rats partial hepatectomy models.

RESULTS

We demonstrated that SiNiSan treatment mitigated liver damage in mice, as evidenced by the decrease in serum AST and ALT levels, as well as improved liver tissue morphology. HPLC-MS results showed that SMS contained a variety of components from the SiNiSan decoction. Next, our results showed that SMS reduced the expression of α-fetoprotein (AFP) and enhanced the expression of albumin (ALB) and cytokeratin 19 (CK19) in WB-F344 cells. Further, SMS treatment induced the accumulation of β-catenin. After 14 days of SMS treatment, β-catenin protein underwent nuclear translocation and bound to the LEF1 receptor in the nucleus, which regulated c-Myc and Cyclin D1 factors to activate Wnt/β-catenin signaling and promoted differentiation of WB-F344 cells. In addition, we demonstrated that SiNiSan increased liver regeneration in rat hepatectomy.

CONCLUSION

Collectively, the current study revealed that SiNiSan alleviated the acute liver injury induced by CCl4 as well as the chronic liver damage triggered by alcohol and sucrose in vitro. Concurrently, SMS treatment induced hepatic stem cell differentiation by activating Wnt/β-catenin signaling in vivo. Further study showed that SiNiSan promoted the regeneration of rats liver. The current study provides a theoretical basis for the clinical treatment of liver-related diseases with SiNiSan.

Saikosaponins and the deglycosylated metabolites exert liver meridian guiding effect through PXR/CYP3A4 inhibition

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Radix Bupleuri (RB), traditionally used to treat inflammatory disorders and infectious diseases, represents one of the most successful and widely used herbal drugs in Asia over the past 2000 years. Being realized the role in regulating metabolism and controlling Yin/Yang, RB is not only chosen specifically for treating liver meridian and the corresponding organs, but also believed to have liver meridian guiding property and help potentiate the therapeutic effects of liver. However, the ingredients in RB with liver meridian guiding property and the underly mechanism have not been comprehensively investigated.

AIM OF STUDY

Considering the important role of CYP3A4 in first-pass metabolism and the liver exposure of drugs, the present study aimed to determine whether saikosaponins (SSs) and the corresponding saikogenins (SGs) have a role in inhibiting the catalytic activity of CYP3A4 in human liver microsomes and HepG2 hepatoma cells and whether they could suppress CYP3A4 expression by PXR-mediated pathways in HepG2 hepatoma cells.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The effect of SSs and SGs on CYP3A4-mediated midazolam1'-hydroxylation activities in pooled human liver microsomes (HLMs) was first studied. Dose-dependent experiments were performed to obtain the half inhibit concentration (IC₅₀) values. HepG2 cells were used to assay catalytic activity of CYP3A4, reporter function, mRNA levels, and protein expression. The inhibitory effects of SSa and SSd on CYP3A4 activity are negligible, while the corresponding SGs (SGF and SGG) have obvious inhibitory effects on CYP3A4 activity, with IC₅₀ values of 0.45 and 1.30 μM. The similar results were obtained from testing CYP3A4 catalytic activity in HepG2 cells, which correlated well with the suppression of the mRNA and protein levels of CYP3A4. Time-dependent testing of CYP3A4 mRNA and protein levels, as well as co-transfection experiments using the CYP3A4 promoter luciferase plasmid, further confirmed that SSs and SGs could inhibit the expression of CYP3A4 at the transcription level. Furthermore, PXR protein expression decreased in a concentration- and time-dependent manner after cells were exposed to SSs and SGs. PXR overexpression and RNA interference experiments further showed that SSs and SGs down-regulate the catalytic activity and expression of CYP3A4 in HepG2 may be mainly through PXR-dependent manner.

CONCLUSION

SSs and SGs inhibit the catalytic activity and expression of CYP3A4 in a PXR-dependent manner, which may be highly related to the liver meridian guiding property of RB.

Network Pharmacological Analysis and Experimental Validation of the Mechanisms of Action of Si-Ni-San Against Liver Fibrosis

Background: Si-Ni-San (SNS), a commonly used traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) formula, has potency against liver diseases, such as hepatitis and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). However, the therapeutic efficacy and pharmacological mechanisms of action of SNS against liver fibrosis remain largely unclear. Methods: A carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced liver fibrosis mouse model was adopted for the first time to investigate the beneficial effects of SNS on liver fibrosis. The potential mechanisms of action of SNS were explored using the network pharmacology-based strategy and validated with the aid of diverse assays. Results: SNS treatment reduced collagen and ECM deposition, downregulated fibrosis-related factor (hyaluronic acid and laminin) contents in serum, maintained the morphological structure of liver tissue, and improved liver function in the liver fibrosis model. Based on network pharmacology results, apoptosis, inflammation and angiogenesis, together with the associated pathways (including VEGF, TNF, caspase, PPAR-γ and NF-κB), were identified as the mechanisms underlying the effects of SNS on liver fibrosis. Further in vivo experiments validated the significant mitigatory effects of SNS on inflammatory infiltration and pro-inflammatory cytokine contents (IFNγ, IL-1β and TGF-β1) in liver tissues of mice with liver fibrosis. SNS suppressed pathologic neovascularization as well as levels of VEGFR1, VEGF and VEGFR2 in liver tissues. SNS treatment additionally inhibited hepatic parenchyma cell apoptosis in liver tissues of mice with liver fibrosis and regulated apoptin expression while protecting L02 cells against apoptosis induced by TNF-α and Act D in vitro. Activation of hepatic stellate cells was suppressed and the balance between MMP13 and TIMP1 maintained in vitro by SNS. These activities may be associated with SNS-induced NF-κB suppression and PPAR-γ activation. Conclusion: SNS effectively impedes liver fibrosis progression through alleviating inflammation, ECM accumulation, aberrant angiogenesis and apoptosis of hepatic parenchymal cells along with inhibiting activation of hepatic stellate cells through effects on multiple targets and may thus serve as a novel therapeutic regimen for this condition.

Determining novel candidate anti-hepatocellular carcinoma drugs using interaction networks and molecular docking between drug targets and natural compounds of SiNiSan

BACKGROUND

SiNiSan (SNS) is an ancient traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) used to treat liver and spleen deficiencies. We studied the unique advantages of using SNS to treat hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with multiple components and targets to determine its potential mechanism of action.

METHODS

The active compounds from the individual herbs in the SNS formula and their targets were mined from Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database (TCMSP). HCC-associated targets were collected from the TCGA and GEO databases and samples were collected from patients with stage III hepatocellular carcinoma. A compound-disease target network was constructed, visualized, and analyzed using Cytoscape software. We built a protein-protein interaction (PPI) network using the String database. We enriched and analyzed key targets using GSEA, GO, and KEGG in order to explore their functions. Autodock software was used to simulate the process of SNS molecules acting on HCC targets.

RESULTS

A total of 113 candidate compounds were taken from SNS, and 64 of the same targets were chosen from HCC and SNS. The predominant targets genes were PTGS2, ESR1, CHEK1, CCNA2, NOS2 and AR; kaempferol and quercetin from SNS were the principal ingredients in HCC treatment. The compounds may work against HCC due to a cellular response to steroid hormones and histone phosphorylation. The P53 signaling pathway was significantly enriched in the gene set GSEA enrichment analysis and differential gene KEGG enrichment analysis.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results showed that the SNS component has a large number of stage III HCC targets. Among the targets, the sex hormone receptors, the AR and ESR1 genes, are the core targets of SNS component and the most active proteins in the PPI network. In addition, quercetin, which has the most targets, can act on the main targets (BAX, CDK1, CCNB1, SERPINE1, CHEK2, and IGFBP3) of the P53 pathway to treat HCC.

The permeability characteristics and interaction of main components from Si-Ni-San in a MDCK epithelial cell monolayer model

1. Si-Ni-San (SNS) possesses extensive therapeutic effects, however, the extent to which main components are absorbed and the mechanisms involved are controversial. 2. In this study, MDCK cell model was used to determine the permeability characteristics and interaction between the major components of Si-Ni-San, including saikosaponin a, paeoniflorin, naringin and glycyrrhizic acid. 3. The transport of the major components was concentration-dependent in both directions. Moreover, the transport of paeoniflorin, naringin and glycyrrhizic acid was significantly reduced at 4 °C or in the presence of NaN3. Additionally, the efflux of paeoniflorin and naringin were apparently reduced in the presence of P-gp inhibitor verapamil. The transport of glycyrrhizic acid was clearly inhibited by the inhibitors of MRP2, indicating that MRP2 may be involved in the transport of glycyrrhizic acid. However, the results indicated that saikosaponin a was absorbed mainly by passive diffusion. Furthermore, the combined incubation of four major components had a powerful sorbefacient effect than a single drug used alone which may be regulated by tight junctions. 4. Taken together, our study provides useful information for pharmacological applications of Si-Ni-San and offers new insights into this ancient decoction for further researches, especially in drug synergism.

Literature Review of Traditional Chinese Medicine Herbs-Induced Liver Injury From an Oncological Perspective With RUCAM

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) herbs are commonly regarded to be safe with minimal toxicities in Chinese communities. Cancer patients who are receiving Western oncology therapy often concurrently take TCM herbs for anticancer and symptom relief purposes. We performed a literature review for current evidence on TCM herb–induced liver injury from an oncological perspective. A literature search on PubMed was performed to identify publications regarding TCM herbs and concoctions with hepatoprotective or hepatotoxic properties. Lists of commonly used herbs and their causality levels were compiled. In view of the wide range of evidence available, cases assessed by the well-established RUCAM (Roussel Uclaf Causality Assessment Method) algorithm were categorized as the highest level of evidence. More than one case of TCM herb–induced liver injury was confirmed by RUCAM in the following herbs and concoctions: Lu Cha (Camellia sinensis), Bai Xian Pi (Dictamnus dasycarpus), Tu San Qi (Gynura segetum), Jin Bu Huan (Lycopodium serratum), He Shou Wu (Polygoni multiflora), Ge Gen (Pueraria lobata), Dan Lu Tong Du tablet, Shou Wu Pian, Xiao Chai Hu Tang, Xiao Yin pill, and Yang Xue Sheng Fa capsule. Finally, TCM with anticancer or symptom relief uses were discussed in detail with regard to their hepatotoxic or hepatoprotective properties.

Deciphering the multicomponent synergy mechanisms of SiNiSan prescription on irritable bowel syndrome using a bioinformatics/network topology based strategy

BACKGROUND

SiNiSan (SNS) is a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) prescription that has been widely used in the clinical treatment of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). However, the underlying active substances and molecular mechanisms remain obscure.

PURPOSE

A bioinformatics/topology based strategy was proposed for identification of the drug targets, therapeutic agents and molecular mechanisms of SiNiSan against irritable bowel syndrome.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In this work, a bioinformatics/network topology based strategy was employed by integrating ADME filtering, text mining, bioinformatics, network topology, Venn analysis and molecular docking to uncover systematically the multicomponent synergy mechanisms. In vivo experimental validation was executed in a Visceral Hypersensitivity (VHS) rat model.

RESULTS

76 protein targets and 109 active components of SNS were identified. Bioinformatics analysis revealed that 116 disease pathways associated with IBS therapy could be classified into the 19 statistically enriched functional sub-groups. The multi-functional co-synergism of SNS against IBS were predicted, including inflammatory reaction regulation, oxidative-stress depression regulation and hormone and immune regulation. The multi-component synergetic effects were also revealed on the herbal combination of SNS. The hub-bottleneck genes of the protein networks including PTGS2, CALM2, NOS2, SLC6A3 and MAOB, MAOA, CREB1 could become potential drug targets and Paeoniflorin, Naringin, Glycyrrhizic acid may be candidate agents. Experimental results showed that the potential mechanisms of SiNiSan treatment involved in the suppression of activation of Dopaminergic synapse and Amphetamine addiction signaling pathways, which are congruent with the prediction by the systematic approach.

CONCLUSION

The integrative investigation based on bioinformatics/network topology strategy may elaborate the multicomponent synergy mechanisms of SNS against IBS and provide the way out to develop new combination medicines for IBS.

Anti-inflammatory and immune response regulation of Si-Ni-San in 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene-induced atopic dermatitis-like skin dysfunction

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Si-Ni-San (SNS) is a well-known decoction in traditional Chinese medicine. Although studies have indicated that the anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic properties of SNS and its components can account for their therapeutic effects, the role and mechanism of SNS in treating skin dysfunction remain unclear.

AIM OF THE STUDY

Atopic dermatitis (AD), a disorder known for its prevalence in infants and adults, severely influences the quality of life of affected patients. In this study, we aimed to investigate the anti-inflammatory and immune response modulations of SNS in 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB)-induced AD-like skin dysfunction.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Dermatitis was induced in Kunming mice by the topical application of DNCB. SNS or dexamethasone (positive control) was topically applied every day over the course of the 21-day study. The following were assessed: dermatitis severity scores; ear and dorsal skin haematoxylin and eosin staining; interleukin (IL)- 1α, IL-1β, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, and tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α cytokine levels in the serum; spleen index; spleen CD4 + /CD8 + T lymphocyte ratio; and phosphorylation levels of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs- p38, extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK)), IκB-α, and nuclear factor (NF)-κB (p65) in skin lesions.

RESULTS

SNS significantly alleviated the symptoms of AD-like lesions induced by DNCB, decreased the infiltration of inflammatory cells in the ear and dorsal tissues, suppressed the increased cytokine levels in the serum, reduced the CD4 + /CD8 +T lymphocyte ratio in the spleen, and downregulated the activation of MAPKs, IκB-α, and NF-κB (p65) in the dorsal skin. The effects were similar to those of dexamethasone.

CONCLUSIONS

SNS alleviated the DNCB-induced AD-like skin dysfunction in mice through anti-inflammatory and immune system modulation, indicating that SNS shows potential for AD treatment in clinical settings.

Clarifying of the potential mechanism of Sinisan formula for treatment of chronic hepatitis by systems pharmacology method

Chronic hepatitis is a general designation class of diseases, which results in different degrees of liver necrosis and inflammatory reaction, followed by liver fibrosis, may eventually develop into cirrhosis. However, the molecular pathogenesis of chronic hepatitis is too complex to elucidate. Herbal medicines, featured with multiple targets and compounds, have long displayed therapeutic effect in treating chronic hepatitis, though their molecular mechanisms of contribution remain indistinct. This research utilized the network pharmacology to confirm the molecular pathogenesis of chronic hepatitis through providing a comprehensive analysis of active chemicals, drug targets and pathways' interaction of Sinisan formula for treating chronic hepatitis. The outcomes showed that 80 active ingredients of Sinisan formula interacting with 91 therapeutic proteins were authenticated. Sinisan formula potentially participates in immune modulation, anti-inflammatory and antiviral activities, even has regulating effects on lipid metabolism. These mechanisms directly or indirectly are involved in curing chronic hepatitis by an interaction way. The network pharmacology based analysis demonstrated that Sinisan has multi-scale curative activity in regulating chronic hepatitis related biological processes, which provides a new potential way for modern medicine in the treatment of chronic diseases.

Effect of traditional Chinese medicine formula Sinisan on chronic restraint stress-induced nonalcoholic fatty liver disease: a rat study

Background

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) represents one of the most common forms of liver disease worldwide, and it is always regarded as a consequence of a sedentary, food-abundant lifestyle, sitting for an extended time, and a low physical activity level, which often coincide with chronic and long-lasting psychological stress. A Chinese medicine Sinisan (SNS) may be a potential formula for treating this kind of disease.

Methods

In this study, a long-term chronic restraint stress protocol was used to investigate the mechanism underlying stress-induced NALFD. To investigate the effect of SNS treatment on stress-induced NAFLD, we measured the liver and serum values of total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), liver free fatty acids (FFA), low-density lipoprotein, superoxide dismutase, tumor necrosis factor-α, malondialdehyde, interleukin (IL)-6, and serum values of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and alkaline phosphatase. Results are shown as a mean ± standard deviation. Significant differences between the groups were evaluated using the Student t-test. For multiple comparisons, one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used. If the results of ANOVA indicated significant differences, post hoc analysis was performed with the Tukey test or Dunnett test, and p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results

Long-term chronic stress led to steatosis and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis. Additionally, SNS treatment significantly increased body weight gain (p < 0.01) and sucrose preference (p < 0.001), and it reduced the liver values of TC, TG, and FFA (p < 0.05). SNS also reduced the serum values of AST and ALT (p < 0.001), and the liver value of IL-6 (p < 0.01).

Conclusions

This study’s results demonstrate that psychological stress may be a significant risk factor of NAFLD. Furthermore, the traditional Chinese medicine formula SNS may have some beneficial effect in antagonizing psychological stress and stress-related NAFLD.

Systems Pharmacology Based Study of the Molecular Mechanism of SiNiSan Formula for Application in Nervous and Mental Diseases

Background. Mental disorder is a group of systemic diseases characterized by a variety of physical and mental discomfort, which has become the rising threat to human life. Herbal medicines were used to treat mental disorders for thousand years in China in which the molecular mechanism is not yet clear. Objective. To systematically explain the mechanisms of SiNiSan (SNS) formula on the treatment of mental disorders. Method. A systems pharmacology method, with ADME screening, targets prediction, and DAVID enrichment analysis, was employed as the principal approach in our study. Results. 60 active ingredients of SNS formula and 187 mental disorders related targets were discovered to have interactions with them. Furthermore, the enrichment analysis of drug-target network showed that SNS probably acts through “multi-ingredient, multitarget, and multisystems” holistic coordination in different organs pattern by indirectly regulating the nutritional and metabolic pathway even their serial complications. Conclusions. Our research provides a reference for the molecular mechanism of medicinal herbs in the treatment of mental disease on a systematic level. Hopefully, it will also provide a theoretical basis for the discovery of lead compounds of natural medicines for other diseases based on traditional medicine.

The Chinese medicine Sini-San inhibits HBx-induced migration and invasiveness of human hepatocellular carcinoma cells

Background

Sini-San (SNS) is a formulation of four Traditional Chinese Drugs that exhibits beneficial therapeutic effects in liver injury and hepatitis. However, there are no reports describing its effects on the hepatitis B X-protein (HBx)-induced invasion and metastasis in hepatoma cells, and the detailed molecular mechanisms of its actions are still unclear.

Methods

In this study, we investigated the mechanisms underlying SNS-mediated inhibition of HBx-induced cell invasion and the inhibition of secreted and cytosolic MMP-9 production, using gelatin zymography and Western blot analysis in a human hepatoma cell line (HepG2). Relative luciferase activity was assessed for MMP-9, NF-κB, or AP-1 reporter plasmid-transfected cells.

Results

SNS suppressed MMP-9 transcription by inhibiting activator protein (AP)-1 and nuclear factor-κ B (NF-κB) activity. SNS suppressed HBx-induced AP-1 activity through inhibition of phosphorylation in the extracellular signal-related kinase (ERK) and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) signaling pathways. SNS also suppressed HBx-induced inhibition of NF-κB nuclear translocation through IκB and suppressed HBx-induced activation of ERK/phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/Akt upstream of NF-κB and AP-1.

Conclusions

SNS suppresses the invasiveness and metastatic potential of hepatocellular carcinoma cells by inhibiting multiple signal transduction pathways.

mTOR limits the recruitment of CD11b+Gr1+Ly6Chigh myeloid-derived suppressor cells in protecting against murine immunological hepatic injury

The mTOR pathway integrates diverse environmental inputs, including immune signals and metabolic cues, to direct the innate and adaptive immune responses. MDSCs are a heterogeneous cell population that plays a crucial regulatory effect in immune-related diseases. However, whether mTOR signaling affects the functions of MDSCs remains largely unknown. Here, we show that mTOR signaling is a pivotal negative determinant of MDSC recruitment in IMH disease. In the context of IMH, inhibition of mTOR with rapamycin in CD11b⁺Gr1⁺ MDSCs mediates protection against IMH and serves as a functional, suppressive immune modulator that results in increased CD11b⁺Gr1⁺Ly6C(high) MDSC recruitment to inflammatory sites. In agreement with this, mTOR down-regulation promotes CD11b⁺Gr1⁺Ly6C(high) MDSC migration in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, mTOR activity down-regulation in MDSCs induced iNOS expression and NO production. Pharmacologic inhibition of iNOS completely eliminated MDSC recruitment. This study identifies MDSCs as an essential component for protection against IMH following rapamycin treatment. Rapamycin treatment or mTOR inhibition promotes CD11b⁺Gr1⁺Ly6C(high) MDSC recruitment and is critically required for protection against hepatic injury. This study further validates the targeting of mTOR signaling as a potential therapeutic approach to IMH-related diseases.

Targeting S1P1 receptor protects against murine immunological hepatic injury through myeloid-derived suppressor cells

Although FTY720 may alter migration and homing of lymphocytes via sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) receptors, our recent studies indicated that FTY720 directly controls the differentiation of Th1 cells to regulatory T cells (Tregs) by targeting S1P1. However, the pharmacological function of FTY720 in immunological hepatic injury remains unknown. In this study, the role and regulatory signaling pathway of S1P receptor were investigated using a pharmacological approach in immune-mediated hepatic injury (IMH). In the context of IMH, FTY720 significantly ameliorated mortality and hepatic pathology. In FTY720-treated mice, recruited CD11b(+)Gr1(+) myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) mediate protection against IMH and are functional suppressive immune modulators that result in fewer IFN-γ-producing Th1 cells and more Foxp3(+) Tregs. In agreement, FTY720-treated MDSCs promote the reciprocal differentiation between Th1 cells and Tregs in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, FTY720 treatment induced inducible NO synthase expression and NO production in MDSCs. Pharmacologic inhibition of inducible NO synthase completely eliminates MDSC suppressive function and eradicates their inducible effects on T cell differentiation. Finally, the mTOR inhibitor, rapamycin, photocopies the effects of FTY720 on MDSCs, implicating mTOR as a downstream effector of S1P1 signaling. This study identifies MDSCs as an essential component that provides protection against IMH following FTY720 or rapamycin treatment, validating the S1P1-mTOR signaling axis as a potential therapeutic target in hepatic injury.

UPLC-MS/MS determination of paeoniflorin, naringin, naringenin and glycyrrhetinic acid in rat plasma and its application to a pharmacokinetic study after oral administration of Si-Ni-San decoction

A UPLC-MS/MS method was developed for the simultaneous determination of paeoniflorin, naringin, naringenin and glycyrrhetinic acid in rat plasma. A Waters BEH C(18) column was used with a gradient mobile phase system of methanol-water containing 2 mM ammonium acetate. The analysis was performed on a positive ionization electrospray mass spectrometer via multiple reaction monitoring (MRM). One-step protein precipitation with acetonitrile was used to extract the analytes from plasma. The limits of quantification were 9.800 ng/ml for paeoniflorin, 5.100 ng/ml for naringin, 5.200 ng/ml for naringenin and 10.60 ng/ml for glycyrrhetinic acid, respectively. The intra- and inter-day precision (relative standard deviation, RSD) ranged 4.9-12% and 2.8-13%, respectively. The accuracy (relative error, RE) was from -7.3% to 7.5% at all quality control (QC) levels. The validated method was applied to a pharmacokinetic study in rats after oral administration of Si-Ni-San decoction.

Identification of metabolites of Si-Ni-San, a traditional Chinese medicine formula, in rat plasma and urine using liquid chromatography/diode array detection/triple-quadrupole spectrometry

Si-Ni-San (SNS) is a widely used traditional Chinese medicine formula (TCMF) in treating various diseases. However, the in vivo integrated metabolism of its multiple components remains unknown. In this paper, a liquid chromatography coupled with diode array detection and triple-quadrupole spectrometry (LC-DAD-MS/MS) method was developed for detection and identification of SNS metabolites in rat plasma and urine at a normal clinical dosage. Accurate structural elucidation was performed using MS/MS, UV data and n-octanol/water partition coefficient. Based on the proposed strategy, 36 absorbed compounds and 29 metabolites in plasma and 33 metabolites in urine were detected by a highly sensitive MRM method. Our results indicated that phase II reactions (e.g., methylation, glucuronidation and sulfation) were the main metabolic pathways of gallic acid and flavanones, while phase I reactions (e.g., hydroxylation) were the major metabolic reaction for triterpenoid saponins. The metabolite profile analysis of SNS provided a comprehensive understanding of the in vivo metabolic fates of constituents in SNS. Moreover, the results in this work demonstrated the present strategy based on the combination of chromatographic, spectrophotometric, mass-spectrometric, and software prediction to detect and identify metabolites was effective and reliable. And such a strategy may also be extended to investigate the metabolism of other TCMF.

Sinisan, a traditional Chinese medicine, attenuates experimental chronic pancreatitis induced by trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid in rats

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE

Sinisan, a traditional Chinese medicine, is effective for the treatment of gastrointestinal disorders. In this study, we investigated the potential protective role of Sinisan against chronic pancreatitis (CP) in rats.

METHODS

CP was induced in rats by intrapancreatic injection of trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS). Rats were randomly divided into a sham group, a TNBS-induced CP group and a Sinisan-treated group. Serum amylase and histological score were used to evaluate the severity of disease. The levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), interleukin-10 (IL-10) and α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) were also measured in the three groups. Mechanical allodynia was measured with von Frey filaments. In addition, the protein levels of nerve growth factor (NGF) were measured in pancreatic tissues.

RESULTS

Administration of Sinisan significantly decreased the severity of CP. In the Sinisan-treated group, serum amylase, TNF-α, IL-1β, COX-2 and α-SMA levels were lower and the level of IL-10 was upregulated compared with the TNBS-induced CP group. Furthermore, treatment with Sinisan significantly, though not completely, attenuated the allodynia. Simultaneously NGF expression was also significantly downregulated in the Sinisan-treated group compared with the TNBS-induced CP group.

CONCLUSIONS

Sinisan could be an effective treatment modality for CP via its anti-inflammatory, anti-fibrotic and analgesic properties. It may be a promising drug candidate for the treatment of patients with CP.

Si-Ni-San, a traditional Chinese prescription, and its active ingredient glycyrrhizin ameliorate experimental colitis through regulating cytokine balance

Si-Ni-San, a traditional Chinese medicinal formula, exerts an important function in the treatment of inflammatory bowel diseases based upon thousands of years of clinical practice, but the underlying mechanism is still unclear. In this study, we investigated the therapeutic potential of Si-Ni-San and its ingredient glycyrrhizin in trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS)-induced experimental colitis in mice, a well-characterized murine model for Crohn's disease. Si-Ni-San and glycyrrhizin significantly ameliorated TNBS-induced colitis with reduced mortality and recovery of body weights. In addition, Si-Ni-San and glycyrrhizin dose-dependently decreased macroscopic inflammation scores, microscopic histological scores, and myeloperoxidase activity. Furthermore, Si-Ni-San and glycyrrhizin caused a decrease in pro-inflammatory cytokines including IFN-gamma, IL-12, TNF-alpha and IL-17 and an increase in regulatory cytokine IL-10 in colon of the mice. It should be noticed the therapeutic effect of Si-Ni-San at 450 mg/kg was much better than that of its contained content of glycyrrhizin at 10 mg/kg. In conclusion, Si-Ni-San and glycyrrhizin significantly ameliorated TNBS-induced colitis in mice through regulating pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokine production.

Possible therapeutic effect of a Traditional Chinese Medicine, Sinisan, on chronic restraint stress related disorders

According to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), the liver is the origin or most associated with stress related disorders such as depression. Sinisan, a TCM prescription, has been used as a hepatic protectant. We examined whether Sinisan exerts therapeutic effects in an experimental animal model: the chronic restraint stress (CRS) model. Sinisan was administered in the animal's drinking water at a concentration of 100mg/kg for 21 days (7 days pre-CRS and 14 days during the CRS). Spatial learning and memory were measured 24h after the CRS procedures using the Morris Water Maze (MWM). Aggressive behavior and body weight were determined as well. The Sinisan treatment decreased aggressive behaviors and reversed CRS-induced impairment of spatial learning and memory as well as decreased rate of growth. In conclusion, our results suggest that Sinisan does exert measurable therapeutic effects in an experimental chronic stress model.

Role of four major components in the effect of Si-Ni-San, a traditional Chinese prescription, against contact sensitivity in mice

Previously, we demonstrated the inhibitory effects of Si-Ni-San, a traditional Chinese prescription, on picryl chloride-induced ear contact sensitivity (PCl-CS). This study aimed to evaluate the role of the four major constituents contained in the prescription (saikosaponins, paeoniflorin, naringin and glycyrrhizin) in the inhibitory effect. When administered during the induction phase, saikosaponin a and glycyrrhizin showed significant inhibitory effects, while paeoniflorin and naringin did not. These components in Si-Ni-San also inhibited the activation and proliferation of T lymphocytes as well as the production of cytokines such as tumour necrosis factor-alpha and interferon-gamma to different extents. Saikosaponin a and paeoniflorin dose-dependently reduced the splenocyte adhesion to type I collagen, while glycyrrhizin only showed a slight tendency. Furthermore, treatment with glycyrrhizin or saikosaponin a, rather than paeoniflorin or naringin, moderately inhibited the matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 activity of the splenocytes from PCl-CS mice, and the combination of all four components showed a strong inhibition against MMP-2. Moreover, the components markedly decreased the serum level of nitric oxide in PCl-sensitized mice. The results indicated that saikosaponin a and glycyrrhizin may be the major contributors in the alleviation effect of Si-Ni-San on contact sensitivity, and paeoniflorin and naringin may exhibit a co-operative effect.

Melatonin-selenium nanoparticles inhibit oxidative stress and protect against hepatic injury induced by Bacillus Calmette-Guérin/lipopolysaccharide in mice

Melatonin-selenium nanoparticles (MT-Se), a novel complex, were synthesized by preparing selenium nanoparticles in melatonin medium. The present investigation was designed to determine the protective effects of MT-Se against Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG)/lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced hepatic injury in mice. In BCG/LPS-induced hepatic injury model, MT-Se administered (i.g.) at doses of 5, 10, or 20 mg/kg to BCG/LPS-treated mice for 10 days, significantly reduced the increase in plasma aminotransferase, reduced the severe extent of hepatic cell damage and the immigration of inflammatory cells. The MT-Se particles also attenuated the increase in the content of thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances and enhanced the decrease in reduced activities of superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase (GPx). However, treatment with MT-Se suppressed the increase in nitric oxide levels both in plasma and liver tissue. Furthermore, supplementation with MT-Se at the dose of 10 mg/kg (composed of 9.9 mg/kg melatonin and 0.1 mg/kg selenium) had great capability to protect against hepatocellular damage than a similar dose of melatonin (10 mg/kg) or selenium (0.1 mg/kg) alone. This effect may relate to its higher antioxidant efficacy in decreasing lipid peroxidation and increasing GPx activity. These results suggest that the mode of MT-Se hepatic protective action is, at least in part, related to its antioxidant properties.

Selective depletion of glycyrrhizin from Si-Ni-San, a traditional Chinese prescription, blocks its effect on contact sensitivity in mice and recovers adhesion and metalloproteinases production of T lymphocytes

In the present study, we performed to selectively deplete glycyrrhizin from Si-Ni-San, a traditional Chinese prescription that consists of 4 Chinese herbs including Radix Glycyrrhizae Uralensis, and examined its influence on the suppressing activity of Si-Ni-San against contact sensitivity in mice. An immunoaffinity column was made by covalently coupling the polyclonal antibody, obtained by the immunization with glycyrrhizin–BSA conjugate, to CNBr-activated Sepharose 4B. By using this column, glycyrrhizin in Si-Ni-San was selectively and almost completely depleted from the whole extract, which was confirmed by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Both 200 mg/kg of Si-Ni-San and 10 mg/kg of glycyrrhizin, the dose corresponding to its proportion contained in Si-Ni-San, significantly reduced the ear swelling of picryl chloride (PCl)-induced ear contact sensitivity in mice and the inhibition by Si-Ni-San was stronger than that by glycyrrhizin. The adhesion activity to type IV collagen of the isolated spleen cells from PCl-sensitized mice was significantly decreased by both Si-Ni-San and glycyrrhizin. However, the glycyrrhizin-depleted sample of Si-Ni-San (Si-Ni-San^GL−) only showed a slight inhibition on the cell adhesion. Furthermore, the spleen cells from PCl-sensitized mice produced more matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 and -9 than naive spleen cells did, and both Si-Ni-San and glycyrrhizin remarkably reduced MMP-2 and MMP-9 production. In contrast, Si-Ni-San^GL− only showed a slight inhibition. These results suggest that glycyrrhizin may act as one of the active constituents of Si-Ni-San in inhibiting delayed-type hypersensitivity reaction via down-regulating the MMP production and the cell adhesion to extracellular matrix. The present study also provides a new approach to recognize and validate an active constituent in traditional prescription through a selective depletion.