Use of a Systematic Pharmacological Methodology to Explore the Mechanism of Shengmai Powder in Treating Diabetic Cardiomyopathy

The Protective Effect of Sheng Mai Yin on Diabetic Cardiomyopathy via NLRP3/Caspase-1 Pathway

Sheng Mai Yin (SMY) has therapeutic effects on myocardial infarction (MI), heart failure (HF), diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM), and myocarditis. To study whether SMY can relieve pyroptosis and play a protective role in diabetic cardiomyopathy, a molecular docking technique was used to predict the possible mechanism of SMY against DCM. Then, a DCM rat model was induced by intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (STZ), divided into 5 groups: the DM group (model), SMY-L group (2.7 mL/kg SMY), SMY-M group (5.4 mL/kg SMY), SMY-H group (10.8 mL/kg SMY), and Met group (120 mg/kg metformin). Rats in the CTL group (control) and DM group were given normal saline. After 8 weeks, the levels of blood glucose, lipids, and myocardial enzymes were detected according to the kit instructions. Cardiac function was detected by echocardiography. HE and Masson were used to observing the pathological changes, collagen deposition, and collagen volume fraction (CVF). The apoptosis rate of cardiomyocytes was determined by Tunel. The IL-1β level was determined by ELISA and RT-PCR. The expressions of NLRP3, caspase-1, and GSDMD were measured using RT-PCR and Western blotting. The docking results suggested that SMY may act on NLRP3 and its downstream signal pathway. The in vivo results showed that SMY could reduce blood glucose and lipid levels, improve heart function, improve histopathological changes and myocardial enzymes, and alleviate cardiomyocyte apoptosis and myocardial fibrosis. SMY inhibited the mRNA and protein expressions of NLRP3, ASC, Caspase-1, and GSDMD and IL-1β production. SMY can reduce DCM by regulating the NLRP3/caspase-1 signaling pathway, providing a new research direction for the treatment of DCM.

Exploring the Mechanism of Zhibai Dihuang Decoction in the Treatment of Ureaplasma Urealyticum-Induced Orchitis Based on Integrated Pharmacology

Background: Ureaplasma urealyticum (UU) infection is the most common cause of male infertility. Zhibai Dihuang Decoction (ZBDHD) can improve the rate of forwarding motility sperm, sperm deformity rate, seminal plasma zinc and refined berry sugar levels.

Methods: The potential targets of ZBDHD are obtained from The Encyclopedia of Traditional Chinese Medicine (ETCM). Orchitis-related targets were collected from the Genecards and OMIM databases. The Cytoscape and the Database for Annotation, Visualization and Integrated Discovery (DAVID) were utilized to construct and analyzed the networks. Finally, a rat model of orchitis caused by UU infection was used to detect related indicators of mitochondrial energy metabolism using TUNEL apoptosis detection technology, loss cytometry, Real-Time Quantitative Reverse Transcription PCR (qRT-PCR) and Western Blot.

Results: A total of 795 ZBDHD targets and 242 orchitis-related targets were obtained. The “ZBDHD- orchitis PPI network” was constructed and analyzed. ZBDHD can regulate signaling pathways and biological processes related to mitochondrial energy metabolism. The results of experimental studies have shown that ZBDHD maintains the integrity of sperm mitochondrial respiratory chain function by enhancing mitochondrial Na⁺-K⁺-ATPase and Ca2⁺-Mg²⁺-ATPase activities, promotes the synthesis of mitochondrial ATP, and improves sperm energy supply, thereby improving the motility, vitality and survival rate of sperm, and effectively improving the quality of semen in UU-infected rats (p < 0.05).

Conclusion:This study discovered the multi-pathway mechanism of ZBDHD intervention in UU-induced orchitis through integrated pharmacological strategies, which provides a reference for further research on the mechanism of ZBDHD intervention in orchitis in the direction of mitochondrial energy metabolism.

ShengMai-San Attenuates Cardiac Remodeling in Diabetic Rats by Inhibiting NOX-Mediated Oxidative Stress

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

ShengMai-San (SMS) is traditionally used to treat ischemic cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. Recently, several studies have reported the cardioprotective effects of SMS in diabetic animals. However, the potential mechanisms have not yet been fully elucidated. In this study, we investigated whether SMS exerts a beneficial effect in diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM) by alleviating NADPH oxidase (NOX)-mediated oxidative stress.

METHODS

SD rats were randomly divided into a negative control group (NC), diabetes mellitus group (DM) and SMS-treated group (SMS). The myocardial structure alterations, apoptosis and biomarkers of oxidative stress were observed. Moreover, to explore the protective mechanism of SMS, the activation of AMPKα, expression and translocation of NOX-related proteins were assessed.

RESULTS

Diabetes led to excessive collagen content, fibrosis, and apoptosis in the myocardium. Oxidative stress in diabetic hearts was indicated by low levels of T-AOC, high levels of 8-iso-PGF2α and 8-OHdG, inactivation of AMPKα, elevated expression of NOX2 and NOX4 and translocation of NOX isoforms p47phox and p67phox. Treatment with SMS for 10 weeks resulted in the alleviation of diabetes-associated myocardial structure abnormalities and apoptosis. Additionally, SMS attenuated the accumulation of oxidative stress markers in myocardial tissue. Further investigation showed that SMS was able to reverse the levels of oxidative stress-associated proteins NOX2 and NOX4 in the DM rats. Moreover, SMS treatment blunted the translocation of NADPH oxidase isoforms p47phox and p67phox as well. Furthermore, SMS promoted the activation of AMPK in the cardiac tissue of diabetic rats.

CONCLUSION

These findings indicate that SMS exhibits therapeutic properties against diabetic cardiomyopathy by attenuating myocardial oxidative damage via activation of AMPKα and inhibition of NOX signaling.