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Zheng S, Xue C, Li S, Zao X, Li X, Liu Q, Cao X, Wang W, Qi W, Zhang P, Ye Y. Chinese medicine in the treatment of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease based on network pharmacology: a review. Front Pharmacol 2024; 15:1381712. [PMID: 38694920 PMCID: PMC11061375 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2024.1381712] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2024] [Accepted: 03/29/2024] [Indexed: 05/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a clinicopathological syndrome characterized by abnormalities in hepatic fat deposition, the incidence of which has been increasing year by year in recent years. It has become the largest chronic liver disease globally and one of the important causes of cirrhosis and even primary liver cancer formation. The pathogenesis of NAFLD has not yet been fully clarified. Modern medicine lacks targeted clinical treatment protocols for NAFLD, and most drugs lack efficacy and have high side effects. In contrast, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has significant advantages in the treatment and prevention of NAFLD, which have been widely recognized by scholars around the world. In recent years, through the establishment of a "medicine-disease-target-pathway" network relationship, network pharmacology can explore the molecular basis of the role of medicines in disease prevention and treatment from various perspectives, predicting the pharmacological mechanism of the corresponding medicines. This approach is compatible with the holistic view and treatment based on pattern differentiation of TCM and has been widely used in TCM research. In this paper, by searching relevant databases such as PubMed, Web of Science, and Embase, we reviewed and analyzed the relevant signaling pathways and specific mechanisms of action of single Chinese medicine, Chinese medicine combinations, and Chinese patent medicine for the treatment of NAFLD in recent years. These related studies fully demonstrated the therapeutic characteristics of TCM with multi-components, multi-targets, and multi-pathways, which provided strong support for the exact efficacy of TCM exerted in the clinic. In conclusion, we believe that network pharmacology is more in line with the TCM mindset of treating diseases, but with some limitations. In the future, we should eliminate the potential risks of false positives and false negatives, clarify the interconnectivity between components, targets, and diseases, and conduct deeper clinical or experimental studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shihao Zheng
- Dongzhimen Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
- Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Chengyuan Xue
- Dongzhimen Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
- Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Size Li
- Dongzhimen Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
- Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaobin Zao
- Dongzhimen Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory of Chinese Internal Medicine of Ministry of Education and Beijing, Dongzhimen Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaoke Li
- Dongzhimen Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
- Liver Diseases Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Qiyao Liu
- Dongzhimen Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
- Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Xu Cao
- Dongzhimen Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
- Liver Diseases Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Wei Wang
- Dongzhimen Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
- Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Wenying Qi
- Dongzhimen Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
- Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Peng Zhang
- Dongfang Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Yongan Ye
- Dongzhimen Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
- Liver Diseases Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
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Zhang Y, Li WW, Wang Y, Fan YW, Wang QY, Liu C, Jiang S, Shang EX, Duan JA. Investigation of the material basis and mechanism of Lizhong decoction in ameliorating ulcerative colitis based on spectrum-effect relationship and network pharmacology. JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY 2024; 323:117666. [PMID: 38159822 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2023.117666] [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: 10/13/2023] [Revised: 12/11/2023] [Accepted: 12/25/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024]
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE Lizhong decoction (LZD), a classical herbal prescription recorded by Zhang Zhongjing in Treatise on Febrile and Miscellaneous Diseases, has been extensively used to treat ulcerative colitis (UC) in clinical practice for thousands of years. However, its material basis and underlying mechanism are not yet clear. AIM OF THE STUDY This study aims to explore the material basis and potential mechanism of LZD against UC based on the spectrum-effect relationship and network pharmacology. MATERIALS AND METHODS First, LZD was extracted by a systematic solvent extraction method into four parts. Ultra-high performance liquid chromatography tandem quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS) technique was used to identify the compounds from different polar parts, and dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis model was used to evaluate the efficacy of each fraction. Then, the spectrum-effect analyses of compounds and efficacy indicators were established via grey relational analysis (GRA), bivariate correlation analysis (BCA) and partial least squares regression (PLSR). Finally, the potential mechanism of LZD for UC therapy was explored by network pharmacology, and the results were further verified by molecular docking and reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). RESULTS 66 chemical components of LZD were identified by UPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS technology. The pharmacodynamic results showed that extraction parts of LZD had different therapeutic effects on UC, among which ethyl acetate and n-butanol extracts had significant anti-colitis effects, which might be the main effective fractions of LZD. Furthermore, the spectrum-effect analyses indicated that 21 active ingredients such as liquiritin apioside, neolicuroside, formononetin, ginsenoside Rg1, 6-gingesulfonic acid, licoricesaponin A3, liquiritin, glycyrrhizic acid were the main material basis for LZD improving UC. Based on the above results, network pharmacology suggested that the amelioration of LZD on UC might be closely related to the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway. Additionally, molecular docking technology and RT-qPCR further verified that LZD could markedly inhibit the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway. CONCLUSION Overall, our study first identified the chemical compositions of LZD by using UPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS. Furthermore, the material basis and potential mechanism of LZD in improving UC were comprehensively elucidated via spectrum-effect relationships, network pharmacology, molecular docking and experimental verification. The proposed strategy provided a systematic approach for exploring how herbal medicines worked. More importantly, it laid the solid foundation for further clinical application and rational development of LZD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yun Zhang
- Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Chinese Medicinal Resources Industrialization, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, 138 Xianlin Road, Nanjing, 210023, PR China
| | - Wen-Wen Li
- Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Chinese Medicinal Resources Industrialization, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, 138 Xianlin Road, Nanjing, 210023, PR China
| | - Yu Wang
- Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Chinese Medicinal Resources Industrialization, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, 138 Xianlin Road, Nanjing, 210023, PR China
| | - Yu-Wen Fan
- Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Chinese Medicinal Resources Industrialization, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, 138 Xianlin Road, Nanjing, 210023, PR China
| | - Qu-Yi Wang
- Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Chinese Medicinal Resources Industrialization, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, 138 Xianlin Road, Nanjing, 210023, PR China
| | - Chen Liu
- Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Chinese Medicinal Resources Industrialization, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, 138 Xianlin Road, Nanjing, 210023, PR China
| | - Shu Jiang
- Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Chinese Medicinal Resources Industrialization, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, 138 Xianlin Road, Nanjing, 210023, PR China.
| | - Er-Xin Shang
- Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Chinese Medicinal Resources Industrialization, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, 138 Xianlin Road, Nanjing, 210023, PR China
| | - Jin-Ao Duan
- Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Chinese Medicinal Resources Industrialization, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, 138 Xianlin Road, Nanjing, 210023, PR China.
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3
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Li H, Huang C, Li Y, Wang P, Sun J, Bi Z, Xia S, Xiong Y, Bai X, Huang X. Ethnobotanical study of medicinal plants used by the Yi people in Mile, Yunnan, China. JOURNAL OF ETHNOBIOLOGY AND ETHNOMEDICINE 2024; 20:22. [PMID: 38395900 PMCID: PMC10893717 DOI: 10.1186/s13002-024-00656-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2023] [Accepted: 02/05/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The Yi people are a sociolinguistic group living in Mile City, which is their typical settlement in southeastern Yunnan, China. Over the long history of using medicinal plants, the Yi people have accumulated and developed a wealth of traditional medicinal knowledge, which has played a vital role in their health care. However, only a few studies have been performed to systematically document the medicinal plants commonly used by the Yi people. This study provides fundamental data for the development and application of ethnomedicine as well as supports the conservation of the traditional medical knowledge of the Yi people. METHODS This study was conducted from May 2020 to August 2022 and involved five townships in Mile. Information regarding medicinal plants was obtained through semistructured interviews, key informant interviews, and participatory observation. The collected voucher specimens were identified using the botanical taxonomy method and deposited in the herbarium. Ethnobotanical data were analyzed using informant consensus factor, relative frequency of citation, and fidelity level. RESULTS In total, 114 informants distributed in five townships of Mile were interviewed. The Yi people used 267 medicinal plant species belonging to 232 genera and 104 families to treat various diseases. Asteraceae, Lamiaceae, and Fabaceae were the most commonly used plant families by the Yi people. In addition, herbs were most commonly used by the Yi people. Whole plants and roots were the preferred medicinal parts. Decoctions were the most common method of herbal medicine preparation. There are 49 different recorded diseases treated by Yi medicinal plants, and among them, respiratory diseases, rheumatism, traumatic injury, fractures, and digestive system diseases have the largest number of species used. A quantitative analysis demonstrated that plants such as Zingiber officinale, Lycopodium japonicum, Aconitum carmichaelii, Panax notoginseng, Cyathula officinalis, and Leonurus japonicus played crucial roles in disease prevention and treatment. CONCLUSION Traditional knowledge of medicinal plants is closely associated with the social culture of the local Yi people. The medicinal plants used for health care in the study area were diverse. Local healers were skilled at using medicinal plants to treat various diseases. Their treatment methods were convenient and unique, exhibiting distinctive regional characteristics. However, the inheritance of their traditional medicinal knowledge and protection of wild medicinal plant resources are facing serious challenges, including the decreasing number of local healers, aging of healers, lack of successors, and excessive harvesting of medicinal plant resources. This ethnobotanical survey provides a useful reference for the sustainable utilization and protection of medicinal plant resources in Mile and the inheritance of traditional medicinal knowledge of the Yi people.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongrui Li
- School of Ethnology and History, Yunnan Minzu University, Kunming, 650504, China
| | - Caiwen Huang
- School of Ethnology and History, Yunnan Minzu University, Kunming, 650504, China
| | - Yanhong Li
- Key Laboratory of Chemistry in Ethnic Medicinal Resources, State Ethnic Affairs Commission & Ministry of Education, Yunnan Minzu University, Kunming, 650504, China
| | - Pujing Wang
- Key Laboratory of Chemistry in Ethnic Medicinal Resources, State Ethnic Affairs Commission & Ministry of Education, Yunnan Minzu University, Kunming, 650504, China
| | - Jingxian Sun
- Key Laboratory of Chemistry in Ethnic Medicinal Resources, State Ethnic Affairs Commission & Ministry of Education, Yunnan Minzu University, Kunming, 650504, China
| | - Zizhen Bi
- Key Laboratory of Chemistry in Ethnic Medicinal Resources, State Ethnic Affairs Commission & Ministry of Education, Yunnan Minzu University, Kunming, 650504, China
| | - Shisheng Xia
- Key Laboratory of Chemistry in Ethnic Medicinal Resources, State Ethnic Affairs Commission & Ministry of Education, Yunnan Minzu University, Kunming, 650504, China
| | - Yong Xiong
- Key Laboratory of Chemistry in Ethnic Medicinal Resources, State Ethnic Affairs Commission & Ministry of Education, Yunnan Minzu University, Kunming, 650504, China.
| | - Xishan Bai
- Key Laboratory of Chemistry in Ethnic Medicinal Resources, State Ethnic Affairs Commission & Ministry of Education, Yunnan Minzu University, Kunming, 650504, China.
| | - Xiangzhong Huang
- Key Laboratory of Chemistry in Ethnic Medicinal Resources, State Ethnic Affairs Commission & Ministry of Education, Yunnan Minzu University, Kunming, 650504, China.
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4
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Boopathi S, Haridevamuthu B, Mendonca E, Gandhi A, Priya PS, Alkahtani S, Al-Johani NS, Arokiyaraj S, Guru A, Arockiaraj J, Malafaia G. Combined effects of a high-fat diet and polyethylene microplastic exposure induce impaired lipid metabolism and locomotor behavior in larvae and adult zebrafish. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 902:165988. [PMID: 37549705 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.165988] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2023] [Revised: 07/29/2023] [Accepted: 07/31/2023] [Indexed: 08/09/2023]
Abstract
Microplastics (MP), tiny plastic particles, can be ingested by fish through their habitat or contaminated food sources. When combined with a high-fat diet (HFD), MP exposure may lead to increased MP accumulation in fish and negative impacts on their health. However, the underlying mechanisms of how MP and HFD interact to promote fat accumulation in fish remain poorly understood. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the combined effect of HFD and polyethylene MP (PE-MP) in the zebrafish model (Danio rerio) and decipher its molecular mechanisms. Adult zebrafish exposed to the combined HFD and PE-MP showed elevated lipid accumulation, total cholesterol, triglycerides, and abnormal swimming behavior compared to HFD-fed fish. Histological and gene expression analysis revealed severe hepatic inflammation and injury, resembling nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in the HFD + PE-MP exposed zebrafish. Moreover, HFD and PE-MP exposure upregulated genes related to lipogenesis (SREBP1, FAS, and C/EBPα) and inflammation (tnfα, il1β, and il-6) in the liver. These findings underscore the interactive effect of environmental pollutants and fish diet, emphasizing the importance of improving fish culture practices to safeguard fish health and human consumers from microplastic contamination through the food chain. This research sheds light on the complex interactions between microplastics and diet, providing valuable insights into the potential risks of microplastic pollution in aquatic ecosystems and the implications for human health. Understanding the underlying molecular mechanisms will contribute to international research efforts to mitigate the adverse effects of microplastics on both environmental and public health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seenivasan Boopathi
- Toxicology and Pharmacology Laboratory, Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Science and Humanities, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Kattankulathur 603203, Chengalpattu District, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - B Haridevamuthu
- Toxicology and Pharmacology Laboratory, Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Science and Humanities, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Kattankulathur 603203, Chengalpattu District, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Edrea Mendonca
- Toxicology and Pharmacology Laboratory, Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Science and Humanities, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Kattankulathur 603203, Chengalpattu District, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Akash Gandhi
- Toxicology and Pharmacology Laboratory, Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Science and Humanities, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Kattankulathur 603203, Chengalpattu District, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - P Snega Priya
- Toxicology and Pharmacology Laboratory, Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Science and Humanities, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Kattankulathur 603203, Chengalpattu District, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Saad Alkahtani
- Department of Zoology, College of Science, King Saud University, P. O. Box 2455, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
| | - Norah S Al-Johani
- Department of Zoology, College of Science, King Saud University, P. O. Box 2455, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
| | - Selvaraj Arokiyaraj
- Department of Food Science & Biotechnology, Sejong University, Seoul 05006, Republic of Korea
| | - Ajay Guru
- Department of Cariology, Saveetha Dental College and Hospitals, SIMATS, Chennai 600 077, Tamil Nadu, India.
| | - Jesu Arockiaraj
- Toxicology and Pharmacology Laboratory, Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Science and Humanities, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Kattankulathur 603203, Chengalpattu District, Tamil Nadu, India.
| | - Guilherme Malafaia
- Post-Graduation Program in Conservation of Cerrado Natural Resources, Goiano Federal Institute, Urutaí, GO, Brazil; Post-Graduation Program in Ecology, Conservation, and Biodiversity, Federal University of Uberlândia, Uberlândia, MG, Brazil; Post-Graduation Program in Biotechnology and Biodiversity, Federal University of Goiás, Goiânia, GO, Brazil.
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5
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Wang M, Hu WJ, Zhou X, Yu K, Wang Y, Yang BY, Kuang HX. Ethnopharmacological use, pharmacology, toxicology, phytochemistry, and progress in Chinese crude drug processing of the lateral root of Aconitum carmichaelii Debeaux. (Fuzi): A review. JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY 2023; 301:115838. [PMID: 36257343 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2022.115838] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2022] [Revised: 10/01/2022] [Accepted: 10/11/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE The lateral root of Aconitum carmichaelii Debeaux. (also known as Fuzi in Chinese) is a toxic Chinese medicine but widely used in clinical practice with remarkable effects. It is specifically used to treat cardiovascular diseases, rheumatoid arthritis, and other diseases, in Korea, Japan, and India. AIM OF THIS REVIEW This study aimed to summarize and discuss the effects of drug processing on toxicity, chemical composition, and pharmacology of the lateral root of Aconitum carmichaelii Debeaux. This review could provide feasible insights for further studies. MATERIALS AND METHODS Relevant information on phytochemistry, pharmacology, and toxicology of Fuzi was collected through published materials and electronic databases, including the Chinese Pharmacopoeia, Flora of China, Web of Science, PubMed, Baidu Scholar, Google Scholar, and CNKI. RESULTS More than 100 chemical compounds, including alkaloids, flavonoids, and polysaccharides were revealed. Modern pharmacological studies show that these chemical components have good effects on anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, anti-aging, treatment of cardiovascular diseases, and improving immunity. Di-ester alkaloids are the main source of Fuzi toxicity. Increasing studies have shown that Fuzi can induce multiple organ damage, especially cardiotoxicity and neurotoxicity. At present, most of the Fuzi used in clinical practice are processed. The processing affects the chemical structure, pharmacology, and toxicology of Fuzi. Moreover, different processing methods have different effects on Fuzi. CONCLUSIONS This review analyzed the effects of Fuzi processing methods on its toxicity and efficiency. The lateral roots of aconite are the known medicinal part of Fuzi; however, the aerial parts of aconite are understudied and require further research to expand its medicinal potential. Processing and compatibility are the primary means to reduce Fuzi toxicity. Nevertheless, establishing a reasonable unified safe dose range requires further discussion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meng Wang
- Key Laboratory of Basic and Application Research of Beiyao (Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine), Ministry of Education, Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine, Harbin, 150000, China.
| | - Wen-Jing Hu
- Key Laboratory of Basic and Application Research of Beiyao (Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine), Ministry of Education, Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine, Harbin, 150000, China
| | - Xiao Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Basic and Application Research of Beiyao (Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine), Ministry of Education, Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine, Harbin, 150000, China
| | - Kuo Yu
- Beidahuang Industry Group General Hospital, Harbin, 150000, China
| | - Yan Wang
- Beidahuang Industry Group General Hospital, Harbin, 150000, China
| | - Bing-You Yang
- Key Laboratory of Basic and Application Research of Beiyao (Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine), Ministry of Education, Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine, Harbin, 150000, China
| | - Hai-Xue Kuang
- Key Laboratory of Basic and Application Research of Beiyao (Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine), Ministry of Education, Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine, Harbin, 150000, China.
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6
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Wang M, Li J, Yin Y, Liu L, Wang Y, Qu Y, Hong Y, Ji S, Zhang T, Wang N, Liu J, Cao X, Zao X, Zhang S. Network pharmacology and in vivo experiment-based strategy to investigate mechanisms of JingFangFuZiLiZhong formula for ulcerative colitis. Ann Med 2022; 54:3219-3233. [PMID: 36382627 PMCID: PMC9673803 DOI: 10.1080/07853890.2022.2095665] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Ulcerative colitis (UC), a chronic inflammatory disease, often cause carcinogenesis, disability, and intestinal perforation. The JingFangFuZiLiZhong formula (JFFZLZ) shows a good effect against UC in the clinic. Hence, we aim to investigate the mechanisms between JFFZLZ and UC via network pharmacology data mining and in vivo experiments. METHODS We obtained active constituents and related targets from public databases. The overlapped genes between JFFZLZ and UC targets were further analysed by enrichment analysis. The active constituents and hub targets were used to construct molecule docking analysis. We finally screened out nine hub targets and their expressions were verified in the Gene Expression Omnibus database and UC rats' colon tissues after JFFZLZ treatment. RESULTS The results implied that JFFZLZ mainly regulated signal transduction, metabolites production, and inflammation pathways. The expression of STAT3, CXCL8, IL6, CXCL12, TNF, TP53, and PTPN11 were both upregulated in colon tissues of UC patients and UC rats. While RELA, EGFR, and TP53 were downregulated in UC patients, but upregulated in UC rats. Furthermore, JFFZLZ could repair UC rats' colon mucosal damage and promote the healing of ulcers via regulating the hub targets. CONCLUSION These results elucidated that the anti-UC effect of JFFZLZ was closely related to the inhibition of inflammatory response, inhibition of oxidative stress, and repairing colon mucosal damage through different signal pathways. The findings could contribute to a better understanding of the regulation mechanisms in JFFZLZ against UC.Key messagesJFFZLZ could reduce the inflammatory infiltration and repair UC rats' colon mucosal damage.Through the network pharmacology-based strategy and public database mining, we obtained the hub targets and key pathways between JFFZLF and UC.The mechanism of JFFZLZ against UC was inhibition of inflammatory response and oxidative stress by regulating the expression of the hub targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengyuan Wang
- Dongzhimen Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China.,Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Jianan Li
- Dongzhimen Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China.,Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China.,CHINA-JAPAN friendship Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Yuzhang Yin
- Dongzhimen Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China.,Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Liying Liu
- Dongzhimen Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China.,Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Yifei Wang
- Dongzhimen Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China.,Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Ying Qu
- Dongzhimen Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China.,Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Yanqiu Hong
- Dongzhimen Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China.,Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Shuangshuang Ji
- Dongzhimen Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China.,Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Tao Zhang
- Dongzhimen Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China.,Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Nan Wang
- Dongzhimen Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China.,Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Jinlong Liu
- Dongzhimen Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China.,Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Xu Cao
- Dongzhimen Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China.,Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaobin Zao
- Dongzhimen Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China.,Key Laboratory of Chinese Internal Medicine of Ministry of Education and Beijing, Dongzhimen Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Shuxin Zhang
- Dongzhimen Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China.,Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
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7
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Tang D, Wang RY, Sun KW, Wu Y, Ding L, Mo Y. Network pharmacology-based prediction of active compounds in the Wenyang Jiedu Huayu formula acting on acute-on-chronic liver failure with experimental support in vitro and in vivo. Front Pharmacol 2022; 13:1003479. [PMID: 36339606 PMCID: PMC9631206 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.1003479] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2022] [Accepted: 09/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) is characterized by undermined liver function, massive necrosis/apoptosis of hepatocytes, and hepatic inflammatory cell recruitment, leading to multiorgan failure. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has been widely applied in clinical and experimental studies of ACLF. In this study, 23 compounds with 6,386 drug targets were obtained from Wenyang Jiedu Huayu (WYJDHY), and 8,096 genes were identified as ACLF disease targets, among which 3,132 were overlapping co-targets. Expression profile analysis identified 105 DEGs among the co-targets, which were associated with biological activities such as lymphocyte activation, immune response regulation, and pathways such as Th17 cell differentiation and NF-κB signaling. After PPI analysis and network construction, atractylenolide I (AT-1) has been identified as the hub active ingredient of the WYJDHY formula. LPS stimulation inhibited rat hepatocytes’ BRL 3A cell viability, promoted cell apoptosis, increased the levels of ALT, AST, IL-6, and VCAM-1 within the culture medium, and activated NF-κB signaling, whereas AT-1 treatment significantly attenuated LPS-induced toxicity on BRL 3A cells. Furthermore, the NF-κB signaling inhibitor PDTC exerted effects on LPS-stimulated BRL 3A cells similar to those of AT-1, and the combination of PDTC and AT-1 further attenuated LPS-induced toxicity on BRL 3A cells. In vivo, AT-1 alone or with PDTC improved the symptoms and local inflammation in ACLF model rats. In conclusion, 23 active ingredients of six herbs in the WYJDHY formula were retrieved, and 105 co-targets were differentially expressed in ACLF. AT-1 exerts protective effects on LPS-stimulated hepatocytes and ACLF rats, possibly by inhibiting the NF-κB pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dan Tang
- Department of Hepatology, The First Hospital of Hunan University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Changsha, China
| | - Ruo-Yu Wang
- Department of Hepatology, The First Hospital of Hunan University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Changsha, China
| | - Ke-Wei Sun
- Department of Hepatology, The First Hospital of Hunan University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Changsha, China
- *Correspondence: Ke-Wei Sun,
| | - Yunan Wu
- Department of Hepatology, The First Hospital of Hunan University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Changsha, China
| | - Lin Ding
- Department of Hepatology, The First Hospital of Hunan University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Changsha, China
| | - Yang Mo
- Academic Affairs Office, Hunan University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Changsha, China
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8
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Liu T, Xu G, Liang L, Xiao X, Zhao Y, Bai Z. Pharmacological effects of Chinese medicine modulating NLRP3 inflammasomes in fatty liver treatment. Front Pharmacol 2022; 13:967594. [PMID: 36160411 PMCID: PMC9492967 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.967594] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2022] [Accepted: 08/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Inflammation is a key contributing factor in the pathogenesis of fatty liver diseases (FLD), such as nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and alcohol-associated liver diseases (ALDs). The NLRP3 inflammasome is widely present in the hepatic parenchymal and non-parenchymal cells, which are assembled and activated by sensing intracellular and extracellular danger signals resulting in the matures of IL-1β/IL-18 and pyroptosis. Moreover, the aberrant activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome is considered the main factor to drives immune outbreaks in relation to hepatic injury, inflammation, steatosis, and fibrosis. Therefore, inhibition of NLRP3 inflammasome may be a promising therapeutic target for FLD. Currently, accumulating evidence has revealed that a number of traditional Chinese medicines (TCM) exert beneficial effects on liver injury via inhibiting the NLRP3 inflammasome activation. Here, we summarized the mechanism of NLRP3 inflammasomes in the progression of FLD, and TCM exerts beneficial effects on FLD via positive modulation of inflammation. We describe that TCM is a promising valuable resource for the prevention and treatment agents against FLD and has the potential to be developed into clinical drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tingting Liu
- Senior Department of Hepatology, Fifth Medical Center of PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
- Military Institute of Chinese Materia, Fifth Medical Center of PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
- School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
- The Third Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University (The First People’s Hospital of Zunyi), Guizhou, China
| | - Guang Xu
- Military Institute of Chinese Materia, Fifth Medical Center of PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
- *Correspondence: Zhaofang Bai, ; Guang Xu, ; Yanling Zhao,
| | - Longxin Liang
- Senior Department of Hepatology, Fifth Medical Center of PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaohe Xiao
- Senior Department of Hepatology, Fifth Medical Center of PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Yanling Zhao
- Department of Pharmacy, The Fifth Medical Center of PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
- *Correspondence: Zhaofang Bai, ; Guang Xu, ; Yanling Zhao,
| | - Zhaofang Bai
- Senior Department of Hepatology, Fifth Medical Center of PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
- Military Institute of Chinese Materia, Fifth Medical Center of PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
- *Correspondence: Zhaofang Bai, ; Guang Xu, ; Yanling Zhao,
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An J, Fan H, Han M, Peng C, Xie J, Peng F. Exploring the mechanisms of neurotoxicity caused by fuzi using network pharmacology and molecular docking. Front Pharmacol 2022; 13:961012. [PMID: 36110545 PMCID: PMC9468872 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.961012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2022] [Accepted: 08/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Safety has always been an important issue affecting the development of traditional Chinese medicine industry, especially for toxic medicinal materials, the establishment of risk prevention and control measures for toxic herbs is of great significance to improving the use of traditional Chinese medicine in clinical. Fuzi is a kind of traditional Chinese medicine and its toxicity has become the most important obstacle of limit in clinical using. In this paper, network pharmacology and molecular docking technology were used to analyze the main toxic components of Fuzi, the key targets and the mechanism of neurotoxicity. We carried out CCK-8 and WB assays, and detected LDH release and SDH activity. It was verified that aconitine caused neurotoxicity through a variety of pathways, including MAPK signaling pathway, pathways related to Akt protein, destruction of cell membrane integrity, damage of mitochondrial function affecting energy metabolism and apoptosis. What’s more, this study confirmed that aconitine could produce neurotoxicity by promoting apoptosis of hippocampus neuron and decreasing its quantity through Nissl Staining and TUNEL assay. This paper found and confirmed multiple targets and various pathways causing neurotoxicity of Fuzi, in order to provide reference for clinical application and related research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junsha An
- Key Laboratory of Drug-Targeting and Drug Delivery System of the Education Ministry and Sichuan Province, Sichuan Engineering Laboratory for Plant-Sourced Drug and Sichuan Research Center for Drug Precision Industrial Technology, West China School of Pharmacy, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Huali Fan
- Key Laboratory of Drug-Targeting and Drug Delivery System of the Education Ministry and Sichuan Province, Sichuan Engineering Laboratory for Plant-Sourced Drug and Sichuan Research Center for Drug Precision Industrial Technology, West China School of Pharmacy, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Mingyu Han
- Key Laboratory of Drug-Targeting and Drug Delivery System of the Education Ministry and Sichuan Province, Sichuan Engineering Laboratory for Plant-Sourced Drug and Sichuan Research Center for Drug Precision Industrial Technology, West China School of Pharmacy, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Cheng Peng
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
- *Correspondence: Fu Peng, ; Cheng Peng, ; Jie Xie,
| | - Jie Xie
- College of Life Science, Sichuan Normal University, Chengdu, China
- *Correspondence: Fu Peng, ; Cheng Peng, ; Jie Xie,
| | - Fu Peng
- Key Laboratory of Drug-Targeting and Drug Delivery System of the Education Ministry and Sichuan Province, Sichuan Engineering Laboratory for Plant-Sourced Drug and Sichuan Research Center for Drug Precision Industrial Technology, West China School of Pharmacy, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
- *Correspondence: Fu Peng, ; Cheng Peng, ; Jie Xie,
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10
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Fuzi-Lizhong Decoction Alleviates Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease by Blocking TLR4/MyD88/TRAF6 Signaling. EVIDENCE-BASED COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE 2022; 2022:1637701. [PMID: 36065267 PMCID: PMC9440633 DOI: 10.1155/2022/1637701] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2022] [Revised: 07/15/2022] [Accepted: 07/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Background Fuzi-Lizhong decoction (FLD) derives from the ancient Chinese Pharmacopoeia and has been clinically used for years. The present study aimed to investigate the activities and underlying mechanisms of FLD against nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Methods In vivo studies were conducted by inducing NAFLD in rats with a high-fat diet, and in vitro studies were performed on HL-7702 cells treated with oleic and linoleic acids. Total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), and blood glucose (Glu) levels were detected using an automatic biochemical analyzer. The expression of IL-2, IL-6, and TNF-α in sera and cell culture supernatants was measured by ELISA. The mRNA and protein levels of TLR4, MyD88, and TRAF6 were measured in liver tissue and HL-7702 cells using reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction and western blot. Results FLD significantly reduced the TC, TG, Glu, FFA, IL-2, IL-6, and TNF-α levels in NAFLD rats and HL-7702 cells. Analysis of liver lipid content by Oil Red O staining revealed a significant increase in hepatic lipid accumulation in rats with NAFLD, but this lipid accumulation was reversed by FLD treatment. In addition, the mRNA expression levels of TLR4, MyD88, TRAF6, and NF-κB p65 as well as the protein levels of TLR4, MyD88, TRAF6, and NF-κB p65 were decreased after FLD treatment. FLD significantly reduced inflammation and improved collagen accumulation in vivo and in vitro by inhibiting the activation of the TLR4/MyD88/TRAF6 signaling pathway. Conclusions FLD exerted potent protective effects against NAFLD via TLR4/MyD88/TRAF6 signaling. These findings provide novel insights into the mechanisms whereby this compound acts as an anti-inflammatory agent and highlight the potential application of FLD in the treatment of acute liver failure (ALF).
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Ji L, Li Q, He Y, Zhang X, Zhou Z, Gao Y, Fang M, Yu Z, Rodrigues RM, Gao Y, Li M. Therapeutic potential of traditional Chinese medicine for the treatment of NAFLD: a promising drug Potentilla discolor Bunge. Acta Pharm Sin B 2022; 12:3529-3547. [PMID: 36176915 PMCID: PMC9513494 DOI: 10.1016/j.apsb.2022.05.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2021] [Revised: 02/09/2022] [Accepted: 03/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is characterized by excessive accumulation of hepatic lipids and metabolic stress-induced liver injury. There are currently no approved effective pharmacological treatments for NAFLD. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has been used for centuries to treat patients with chronic liver diseases without clear disease types and mechanisms. More recently, TCM has been shown to have unique advantages in the treatment of NAFLD. We performed a systematic review of the medical literature published over the last two decades and found that many TCM formulas have been reported to be beneficial for the treatment of metabolic dysfunctions, including Potentilla discolor Bunge (PDB). PDB has a variety of active compounds, including flavonoids, terpenoids, organic acids, steroids and tannins. Many compounds have been shown to exhibit a series of beneficial effects for the treatment of NAFLD, including anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory functions, improvement of lipid metabolism and reversal of insulin resistance. In this review, we summarize potential therapeutic effects of TCM formulas for the treatment of NAFLD, focusing on the medicinal properties of natural active compounds from PDB and their underlying mechanisms. We point out that PDB can be classified as a novel candidate for the treatment and prevention of NAFLD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Longshan Ji
- Laboratory of Cellular Immunity, Institute of Clinical Immunology, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shuguang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Key Laboratory of Liver and Kidney Diseases (Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine), Ministry of Education, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Qian Li
- Laboratory of Cellular Immunity, Institute of Clinical Immunology, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shuguang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Key Laboratory of Liver and Kidney Diseases (Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine), Ministry of Education, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Yong He
- Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Xin Zhang
- Laboratory of Cellular Immunity, Institute of Clinical Immunology, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shuguang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Key Laboratory of Liver and Kidney Diseases (Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine), Ministry of Education, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Zhenhua Zhou
- Department of Hepatopathy, Shuguang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Yating Gao
- Laboratory of Cellular Immunity, Institute of Clinical Immunology, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shuguang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Key Laboratory of Liver and Kidney Diseases (Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine), Ministry of Education, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Miao Fang
- Laboratory of Cellular Immunity, Institute of Clinical Immunology, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shuguang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Key Laboratory of Liver and Kidney Diseases (Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine), Ministry of Education, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Zhuo Yu
- Department of Hepatopathy, Shuguang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Robim M. Rodrigues
- Department of in Vitro Toxicology and Dermato-Cosmetology, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels 1000, Belgium
- Corresponding authors.
| | - Yueqiu Gao
- Laboratory of Cellular Immunity, Institute of Clinical Immunology, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shuguang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Key Laboratory of Liver and Kidney Diseases (Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine), Ministry of Education, Shanghai 201203, China
- Corresponding authors.
| | - Man Li
- Laboratory of Cellular Immunity, Institute of Clinical Immunology, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shuguang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Key Laboratory of Liver and Kidney Diseases (Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine), Ministry of Education, Shanghai 201203, China
- Corresponding authors.
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