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Feng SH, Zhao B, Zhan X, Li RH, Yang Q, Wang SM, Li A. Quercetin-induced pyroptosis in colon cancer through NEK7-mediated NLRP3 inflammasome-GSDMD signaling pathway activation. Am J Cancer Res 2024; 14:934-958. [PMID: 38590424 PMCID: PMC10998754 DOI: 10.62347/mkan3550] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2023] [Accepted: 02/27/2024] [Indexed: 04/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Pyroptosis, a gasdermin-mediated lytic cell death, is a new hotspot topic in cancer research, and induction of tumor pyroptosis has emerged as a new target in cancer management. Quercetin (Que), a natural substance, demonstrates promising anticancer action. However, further information is required to fully comprehend the function and mechanism of Que in pyroptosis in colon cancer. This study revealed the underlying mechanism of Que-induced pyroptosis in colon cancer in vitro and in vivo. Que inhibited colon cancer cell growth through gasdermin D (GSDMD)-mediated pyroptosis. Depletion of GSDMD, rather than gasdermin E (GSDME), reversed the cytotoxic effects of Que on colon cancer cells. Que treatment upregulated NIMA-related kinase 7 (NEK7) protein expression, thus facilitating the assembly of the NLRP3 inflammasome and cleavage of GSDMD. NEK7 silencing resulted in colon cancer cell growth in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, NEK7 depression restrained the activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome-GSDMD pathway, thus attenuating pyroptosis triggered by Que in colon cancer cells. Furthermore, lower NEK7 and NLRP3 expression levels indicated colon cancer progression. Our results unveiled a novel pattern of anti-colon cancer activity of Que, and activation of NEK7-mediated pyroptosis is potentially a promising therapeutic target for colon cancer, which provides novel experimental proof for the clinical application of Que.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shi-Han Feng
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Yong Chuan Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing Medical UniversityChongqing 402160, P. R. China
| | - Bin Zhao
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Yong Chuan Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing Medical UniversityChongqing 402160, P. R. China
| | - Xue Zhan
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine for Prevention and Cure of Metabolic Diseases, College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chongqing Medical UniversityChongqing 400016, P. R. China
| | - Rong-Heng Li
- Department of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing Medical UniversityChongqing 400042, P. R. China
| | - Qian Yang
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine for Prevention and Cure of Metabolic Diseases, College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chongqing Medical UniversityChongqing 400016, P. R. China
| | - Shu-Mei Wang
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine for Prevention and Cure of Metabolic Diseases, College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chongqing Medical UniversityChongqing 400016, P. R. China
| | - Ao Li
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Yong Chuan Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing Medical UniversityChongqing 402160, P. R. China
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Sohel M, Zahra Shova FT, shuvo S, Mahjabin T, Mojnu Mia M, Halder D, Islam H, Roman Mogal M, Biswas P, Saha HR, Sarkar BC, Mamun AA. Unveiling the potential anti-cancer activity of calycosin against multivarious cancers with molecular insights: A promising frontier in cancer research. Cancer Med 2024; 13:e6924. [PMID: 38230908 PMCID: PMC10905684 DOI: 10.1002/cam4.6924] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2023] [Revised: 12/11/2023] [Accepted: 12/30/2023] [Indexed: 01/18/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Calycosin may be a potential candidate regarding chemotherapeutic agent, because already some studies against multivarious cancer have been made with this natural compound. AIM This review elucidated a brief overview of previous studies on calycosin potential effects on various cancers and its potential mechanism of action. METHODOLOGY Data retrieved by systematic searches of Google Scholar, PubMed, Science Direct, Web of Science, and Scopus by using keywords including calycosin, cancer types, anti-cancer mechanism, synergistic, and pharmacokinetic and commonly used tools are BioRender, ChemDraw Professional 16.0, and ADMETlab 2.0. RESULTS Based on our review, calycosin is available in nature and effective against around 15 different types of cancer. Generally, the anti-cancer mechanism of this compound is mediated through a variety of processes, including regulation of apoptotic pathways, cell cycle, angiogenesis and metastasis, oncogenes, enzymatic pathways, and signal transduction process. These study conducted in various study models, including in silico, in vitro, preclinical and clinical models. The molecular framework behind the anti-cancer effect is targeting some oncogenic and therapeutic proteins and multiple signaling cascades. Therapies based on nano-formulated calycosin may make excellent nanocarriers for the delivery of this compound to targeted tissue as well as particular organ. This natural compound becomes very effective when combined with other natural compounds and some standard drugs. Moreover, proper use of this compound can reverse resistance to existing anti-cancer drugs through a variety of strategies. Calycosin showed better pharmacokinetic properties with less toxicity in human bodies. CONCLUSION Calycosin exhibits excellent potential as a therapeutic drug against several cancer types and should be consumed until standard chemotherapeutics are available in pharma markets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Md Sohel
- Biochemistry and Molecular BiologyPrimeasia UniversityDhakaBangladesh
- Biochemistry and Molecular BiologyMawlana Bhashani Science and Technology UniversityTangailBangladesh
| | - Fatema Tuj Zahra Shova
- Biotechnology and Genetic EngineeringMawlana Bhashani Science and Technology UniversityTangailBangladesh
| | - Shahporan shuvo
- Biochemistry and Molecular BiologyMawlana Bhashani Science and Technology UniversityTangailBangladesh
| | - Taiyara Mahjabin
- Biochemistry and Molecular BiologyMawlana Bhashani Science and Technology UniversityTangailBangladesh
| | - Md. Mojnu Mia
- Biotechnology and Genetic EngineeringMawlana Bhashani Science and Technology UniversityTangailBangladesh
| | - Dibyendu Halder
- Biochemistry and Molecular BiologyMawlana Bhashani Science and Technology UniversityTangailBangladesh
| | - Hafizul Islam
- Biochemistry and Molecular BiologyMawlana Bhashani Science and Technology UniversityTangailBangladesh
| | - Md Roman Mogal
- Biochemistry and Molecular BiologyMawlana Bhashani Science and Technology UniversityTangailBangladesh
| | - Partha Biswas
- Department of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Faculty of Biological Science and TechnologyJashore University of Science and Technology (JUST)JashoreBangladesh
| | - Hasi Rani Saha
- Biochemistry and Molecular BiologyPrimeasia UniversityDhakaBangladesh
| | | | - Abdullah Al Mamun
- Biochemistry and Molecular BiologyMawlana Bhashani Science and Technology UniversityTangailBangladesh
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Mu BX, Li Y, Ye N, Liu S, Zou X, Qian J, Wu C, Zhuang Y, Chen M, Zhou JY. Understanding apoptotic induction by Sargentodoxa cuneata-Patrinia villosa herb pair via PI3K/AKT/mTOR signalling in colorectal cancer cells using network pharmacology and cellular studies. JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY 2024; 319:117342. [PMID: 37879505 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2023.117342] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2023] [Revised: 10/10/2023] [Accepted: 10/22/2023] [Indexed: 10/27/2023]
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE Sargentodoxa cuneata (Sargentodoxa cuneata (Oliv.) Rehder & E.H.Wilson, DXT)-Patrinia villosa(Patrinia villosa (Thunb.) Dufr, BJC) constitutes a commonly employed herb pair in Chinese medicine for colorectal cancer (CRC) treatment. Modern pharmacological investigations have revealed the anticancer activities of both Sargentodoxa cuneata and Patrinia villosa. Nevertheless, comprehensive studies are required to discern the specific antitumor active ingredients and mechanism of action when these two herbs are used in combination. AIM OF THE STUDY Through the integration of network pharmacology, molecular docking techniques, experimental assays, and bioinformatics analysis, our study aims to forecast the active ingredients, potential targets, and molecular mechanisms underlying the therapeutic efficacy of this herb pair against CRC. MATERIALS AND METHODS Plant names (1, Sargentodoxa cuneata (Oliv.) Rehder & E.H.Wilson; 2, Patrinia villosa (Thunb.) Dufr.) have been verified through WorldFloraOnline (www.worldFloraonline.org) and MPNs (http://mpns.kew.org). The Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform (TCMSP) were utilized for screening the active ingredients of the herb pair. The PharmMapper database was employed to predict the target proteins for each active ingredient. CRC-related targets were obtained from the Genecards database, Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man (OMIM) database, Disease Gene Network (DisGeNET) database, and Therapeutic Target Database (TTD). Common targets were identified by intersecting the target proteins of all active ingredients with CRC-related targets. Protein-protein interactions (PPI) for the common target proteins were constructed using the String database and Cytoscape 3.9.1 software. Network topology analysis facilitated the identification of core targets. These core targets were subjected to enrichment analysis of Gene Ontology (GO) and the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) using the Metascape database. Molecular docking was performed using Discovery Studio 2019 to investigate the interactions between the active ingredients and core target proteins. The core targets were validated through bioinformatics analysis using GEPIA, HPA, and the cBioPortal database. Finally, a series of experiments were conducted to further validate the results in vitro. RESULT A total of 15 active ingredients and 255 herb targets were identified, resulting in 66 common targets in conjunction with 6113 disease targets. The PPI analysis highlighted AKT1, EGFR, CASP3, SRC, and ESR1 as core targets. KEGG enrichment analysis indicated significant enrichment in the PI3K-AKT signaling pathway, a pathway associated with cancer. Molecular docking experiments confirmed favorable interactions between dihydroguaiaretic acid and the core target proteins (AKT1, EGFR, CASP3, and ESR1). Bioinformatics analysis revealed differential expression of EGFR and CASP3 in normal and CRC tissues. Cellular experiments further verified that dihydroguaiaretic acid induces apoptosis in colorectal cancer cells through the PI3K-AKT signaling pathway. CONCLUSION Our network pharmacology study has elucidated that the Sargentodoxa cuneata-Patrinia villosa herb pair exerts the negative regulation of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway, ultimately leading to the induction of apoptosis in colorectal cancer cells. This research has predicted and validated the active ingredients, potential targets, and molecular mechanisms of Sargentodoxa cuneata-Patrinia villosa in the treatment of CRC, providing scientific evidence for the use of traditional Chinese medicine in managing CRC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bai-Xiang Mu
- Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Jiangsu Province Hospital of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210029, China.
| | - Yuanxiang Li
- Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Jiangsu Province Hospital of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210029, China.
| | - Ningyuan Ye
- Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Jiangsu Province Hospital of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210029, China.
| | - Shenlin Liu
- Jiangsu Province Hospital of Chinese Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210029, China.
| | - Xi Zou
- Jiangsu Province Hospital of Chinese Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210029, China.
| | - Jun Qian
- Jiangsu Province Hospital of Chinese Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210029, China.
| | - Cunen Wu
- Jiangsu Province Hospital of Chinese Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210029, China; Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Traditional Chinese Medicine Prevention and Treatment of Tumor, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210046, China.
| | - Yuwen Zhuang
- Jiangsu Province Hospital of Chinese Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210029, China.
| | - Min Chen
- Jiangsu Province Hospital of Chinese Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210029, China.
| | - Jin-Yong Zhou
- Jiangsu Province Hospital of Chinese Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210029, China.
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Du J. Study of Therapeutic Mechanisms of Bupi Yichang Formula against Colon Cancer Based on Network Pharmacology, Machine Learning, and Experimental Verification. Crit Rev Immunol 2024; 44:67-87. [PMID: 38421706 DOI: 10.1615/critrevimmunol.2023051509] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/02/2024]
Abstract
Bupi Yichang formula (BPYCF) has shown the anti-cancer potential; however, its effects on colon cancer and the mechanisms remain unknown. This study intended to explore the effects of BPYC on colon cancer and its underlying mechanisms. BPYCF-related and colon cancer-related targets were acquired from public databases, followed by differentially expressed genes (DEG) identification. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analyses were performed using clusterProfiler. A protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was constructed using STRING database. CytoHubba and MCODE to screen the hub targets. A diagnostic model was built using random forest algorithm. Molecular docking was conducted using PyMOL and AutoDock. High-performance liquid chromatograph-mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS) analysis and in vitro validation were performed. Forty-six overlapping targets of BPYCF-related, colon cancer-related targets, and DEGs were obtained. GO and KEGG analyses showed that the targets were mainly enriched in response to lipopolysaccharide, neuronal cell body, protein serine/threonine/tyrosine, as well as C-type lectin receptor, NOD-like receptor, and TNF signaling pathways. Five targets were identified as the pivotal targets, among which, NOS3, CASP8, RIPK3, and TNFRSF10B were stably docked with the core active component, naringenin. Naringenin was also identified from the BPYCF sample through HPLC-MS analysis. In vitro experiments showed that BPYCF inhibited cell viability, reduced NOS3 expression, and elevated CASP8, RIPK3, and TNFRSF10B expression in colon cancer cells. BPYCF might treat colon cancer mainly by regulating NOS3, CASP8, RIPK3, and TN-FRSF10B. This study first revealed the therapeutic effects and mechanisms of BPYCF against colon cancer, paving the path for the development of targeted therapeutic strategies for this cancer in the clinic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan Du
- Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University
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Wen Y, Wang X, Si K, Xu L, Huang S, Zhan Y. Exploring the Mechanisms of Self-made Kuiyu Pingchang Recipe for the Treatment of Ulcerative Colitis and Irritable Bowel Syndrome using a Network Pharmacology-based Approach and Molecular Docking. Curr Comput Aided Drug Des 2024; 20:534-550. [PMID: 37190808 DOI: 10.2174/1573409919666230515103224] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2022] [Revised: 03/24/2023] [Accepted: 04/12/2023] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Ulcerative colitis (UC) and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) are common intestinal diseases. According to the clinical experience and curative effect, the authors formulated Kuiyu Pingchang Decoction (KYPCD) comprised of Paeoniae radix alba, Aurantii Fructus, Herba euphorbiae humifusae, Lasiosphaera seu Calvatia, Angelicae sinensis radix, Panax ginseng C.A. Mey., Platycodon grandiforus and Allium azureum Ledeb. OBJECTIVE The aim of the present study was to explore the mechanisms of KYPCD in the treatment of UC and IBS following the Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) theory of "Treating different diseases with the same treatment". METHODS The chemical ingredients and targets of KYPCD were obtained using the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology database and analysis platform (TCMSP). The targets of UC and IBS were extracted using the DisGeNET, GeneCards, DrugBANK, OMIM and TTD databases. The "TCM-component-target" network and the "TCM-shared target-disease" network were imaged using Cytoscape software. The protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was built using the STRING database. The DAVID platform was used to analyze the Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathways. Using Autodock Tools software, the main active components of KYPCD were molecularly docked with their targets and visualized using PyMOL. RESULTS A total of 46 active ingredients of KYPCD corresponding to 243 potential targets, 1,565 targets of UC and 1,062 targets of IBS, and 70 targets among active ingredients and two diseases were screened. Core targets in the PPI network included IL6, TNF, AKT1, IL1B, TP53, EGFR and VEGFA. GO and KEGG enrichment analysis demonstrated 563 biological processes, 48 cellular components, 82 molecular functions and 144 signaling pathways. KEGG enrichment results revealed that the regulated pathways were mainly related to the PI3K-AKT, MAPK, HIF-1 and IL-17 pathways. The results of molecular docking analysis indicated that the core active ingredients of KYPCD had optimal binding activity to their corresponding targets. CONCLUSION KYPCD may use IL6, TNF, AKT1, IL1B, TP53, EGFR and VEGFA as the key targets to achieve the treatment of UC and IBS through the PI3K-AKT, MAPK, HIF-1 and IL-17 pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yong Wen
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, 646000, China
- Department of Anorectal Integration of Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, The Affiliated Hospital of North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong, 637000, China
| | - Xiaoxiang Wang
- Gastroenterology Department, Chengdu First People's Hospital, Chengdu, 610000, China
| | - Ke Si
- Gastroenterology Department, Chengdu First People's Hospital, Chengdu, 610000, China
| | - Ling Xu
- Anorectal Department, Luzhou Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Luzhou, 646000, China
| | - Shuoyang Huang
- Gastrointestinal Surgery Department, Chengdu Second People's Hospital, Chengdu, 610017, China
| | - Yu Zhan
- Gastroenterology Department, Chengdu First People's Hospital, Chengdu, 610000, China
- Anorectal Department, Chengdu First People's Hospital, Chengdu, 610000, China
- Anorectal Department, Affiliated Hospital of Integrative Chinese Medicine and Western Medicine of Chengdu University of TCM, Chengdu 610041, China
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Duan B, Hu Q, Ding F, Huang F, Wang W, Yin N, Liu Z, Zhang S, He D, Lu Q. The effect and mechanism of Huangqin-Baishao herb pair in the treatment of dextran sulfate sodium-induced ulcerative colitis. Heliyon 2023; 9:e23082. [PMID: 38144295 PMCID: PMC10746484 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e23082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2023] [Revised: 10/03/2023] [Accepted: 11/27/2023] [Indexed: 12/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The haungqing (Scutellariae Radix) and baishao (Paeoniae Radix Alba) herb pair (HBHP) is a common prescribed herbal formula or is added to other traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) prescriptions to treat ulcerative colitis (UC). However, the underlying mechanism is unclear. Purpose Elucidate the efficacy and potential mechanism of HBHP against UC. Methods First, The UC model of mice induced by dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) was established. The mice were randomly divided into Control group, DSS group, SASP group (390 mg/kg), and HPHP group (1.95 g/kg), with 8 mice per group. Drugs were administrated via oral gavage for 7 days. Then, Disease activity index (DAI), length of the colon, histopathology, and changes in inflammatory cytokines in colonic tissues were analyzed to assess the effect of HBHP on UC. Besides, Network pharmacology was applied to identify the active compounds, core targets of HBHP in the treatment of UC, and the corresponding signaling pathways to explore the underlying mechanisms. Finally, Western blot (WB), immunohistochemistry (IHC) and molecular docking were performed to validate the results. Results HBHP significantly reduced DAI score and decreased colon length shortening in DSS-induced UC mice. The administration of HBHP was able to effectively alleviated mucosal ulceration and epithelial destruction. In addition, HBHP treatment obviously - reduced the expressions of TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β in colon tissues (p < 0.05 or p < 0.01). 35 bioactive compounds and 290 HBHP targets related to UC were obtained. Among them 3 key active compounds (baicalein, panicolin, and norwogonin) with higher degree values in the drug-compound-target network and 21 hub genes (STAT3, JAK2, SRC, AKT1, PIK3CA, and VEGFA, etc.) were identified. KEGG enrichment analysis suggested that HBHP's mechanisms mainly involve the JAK-STAT pathway. Abnormal activation of JAK/STAT signaling is believed to be involved in the pathogeneses of UC. Notably, WB and IHC showed that HBHP significantly down-regulated the protein expression levels of p-JAK2 (p < 0.05) and p-STAT3 (p < 0.05 or p < 0.01). JAK2 and STAT3 might be core targets for the action of HBHP; this possibility was also supported by molecular docking. Conclusions HBHP could alleviate DSS-induced UC, reduce tissue inflammation, and its mechanism might primarily be achieved by inhibiting JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway. Meanwhile, our work revealed that network pharmacology combined with experimental verification is a cogent means of studying the mechanism of TCM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bailu Duan
- Postdoctoral Research Station, General Hospital of Central Theater Command of PLA, Wuhan, 430070, China
- College of Basic Medicine, Hubei University of Chinese Medicine, Wuhan, 430065, China
| | - Qiong Hu
- First People's Hospital of Jiangxia District, Wuhan City & Union Jiangnan Hospital, HUST, Wuhan, 430200, China
| | - Fengmin Ding
- College of Basic Medicine, Hubei University of Chinese Medicine, Wuhan, 430065, China
| | - Fang Huang
- College of Basic Medicine, Hubei University of Chinese Medicine, Wuhan, 430065, China
| | - Wei Wang
- Postdoctoral Research Station, General Hospital of Central Theater Command of PLA, Wuhan, 430070, China
- Department of Orthopedics, Hubei Provincial Hospital of TCM Affiliated to Hubei University of Chinese Medicine, Wuhan, 430061, China
| | - Nina Yin
- College of Basic Medicine, Hubei University of Chinese Medicine, Wuhan, 430065, China
| | - Zhe Liu
- Postdoctoral Research Station, General Hospital of Central Theater Command of PLA, Wuhan, 430070, China
- College of Basic Medicine, Hubei University of Chinese Medicine, Wuhan, 430065, China
| | - Song Zhang
- Postdoctoral Research Station, General Hospital of Central Theater Command of PLA, Wuhan, 430070, China
| | - Dongchu He
- Postdoctoral Research Station, General Hospital of Central Theater Command of PLA, Wuhan, 430070, China
| | - Qiping Lu
- Postdoctoral Research Station, General Hospital of Central Theater Command of PLA, Wuhan, 430070, China
- Department of General Surgery, General Hospital of Central Theater Command of PLA, Wuhan, 430070, China
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Song JB, Zhao LQ, Wen HP, Li YP. Herbal combinations against COVID-19: A network pharmacology, molecular docking and dynamics study. JOURNAL OF INTEGRATIVE MEDICINE 2023; 21:593-604. [PMID: 37805293 DOI: 10.1016/j.joim.2023.09.001] [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: 07/05/2022] [Accepted: 05/13/2023] [Indexed: 10/09/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The aim of this study is to identify molecules from traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) with potential activity against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and its variants. METHODS We applied the Apriori algorithm to identify important combinations of herbs in the TCM prescriptions for the treatment of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Then, we explored the active components and core targets using network pharmacology. In addition, the molecular docking approach was performed to investigate the interaction of these components with the main structural and non-structural proteins, as well as the mutants. Furthermore, their stability in the binding pockets was further evaluated with the molecular dynamics approach. RESULTS A combination of Amygdalus Communis Vas., Ephedra Herba and Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi was selected as the important herbal combination, and 11 main components and 20 core targets against COVID-19 were obtained. These components, including luteolin, naringenin, stigmasterol, baicalein, and so on, were the potentially active compounds against COVID-19. The binding affinity of these compounds with the potential targets was as high as the positive controls. Among them, baicalein could interfere with multiple targets simultaneously, and it also interfered with the interaction between spike protein and angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 receptor. Additionally, almost all the systems reached stability during dynamics simulation. CONCLUSION The combination of A. communis, Ephedra Herba and S. baicalensis was the most important herbal combination for the treatment of COVID-19. Baicalein may be a potential candidate against SARS-CoV-2 and its variants. Please cite this article as: Song JB, Zhao LQ, Wen HP, Li YP. Herbal combinations against COVID-19: A network pharmacology, molecular docking and dynamics study. J Integr Med. 2023;21(6):593-604.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jian-Bo Song
- Department of Pharmacy, the Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Shanxi Medical University (Shanxi Provincial People's Hospital), Taiyuan 030012, Shanxi Province, China
| | - Li-Qin Zhao
- Department of Infectious Disease, the First Affiliated Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan 030012, Shanxi Province, China
| | - Hong-Ping Wen
- Department of Pharmacy, the Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Shanxi Medical University (Shanxi Provincial People's Hospital), Taiyuan 030012, Shanxi Province, China
| | - Yuan-Ping Li
- Department of Pharmacy, the Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Shanxi Medical University (Shanxi Provincial People's Hospital), Taiyuan 030012, Shanxi Province, China.
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Huang Y, Fang Y, Jie H, Yang H, Zhou W, Chen Y, Zhong B. Network pharmacology and molecular docking to scientifically validate the potential mechanism of Lonicerae japonicae flos in the clinical treatment of COVID-19. Nat Prod Res 2023:1-8. [PMID: 37732603 DOI: 10.1080/14786419.2023.2260070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2023] [Accepted: 09/10/2023] [Indexed: 09/22/2023]
Abstract
Using network pharmacology and molecular docking, we predicted the potential mechanisms of Lonicerae japonicae flos (LJF) therapy for COVID-19. A total of 493 component-related targets and 6,233 COVID-19-related genes were identified, and 267 core genes with overlapping of the two types of genes were identified. The target AKT1, CASP3, IL1B, IL6, PTGS2, TNF and JUN were the hub genes in PPI network according to MCODE score. Component-Target analysis showed the close relationship between targets and components. The results of functional enrichment analyses revealed that LJF exerted pharmacological effects on COVID-19 by regulating IL-17 signalling pathway, TNF signalling pathway, AGE-RAGE signalling pathway in diabetic complications, and Toll-like receptor signalling pathway. Finally, molecular docking confirmed a strong binding affinity between the 7 main active components with the hub genes. The findings suggested that beta-sitosterol, kaempferol and luteolin might be the promising leading components due to their good molecular docking scores.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yisheng Huang
- Department of Anesthesiology, Ganzhou People's Hospital, Ganzhou, P.R. China
- Department of Anesthesiology, Nanfang Hospital Affiliated to Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, P.R. China
| | - Yan Fang
- Department of Anesthesiology, Ganzhou People's Hospital, Ganzhou, P.R. China
| | - Huanhuan Jie
- Department of Anesthesiology, Ganzhou People's Hospital, Ganzhou, P.R. China
| | - Hongbiao Yang
- Department of Anesthesiology, Ganzhou People's Hospital, Ganzhou, P.R. China
| | - Wen Zhou
- Department of Anesthesiology, Ganzhou People's Hospital, Ganzhou, P.R. China
| | - Yijian Chen
- Department of Anesthesiology, Ganzhou People's Hospital, Ganzhou, P.R. China
| | - Baolin Zhong
- Department of Anesthesiology, Ganzhou People's Hospital, Ganzhou, P.R. China
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Hu J, Li P, Han H, Ji P, Zhao X, Li Z. Integrated analysis of metabolomic and transcriptomic profiling reveals the effect of Buyang Huanwu decoction on Parkinson's disease in mice. PHYTOMEDICINE : INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHYTOTHERAPY AND PHYTOPHARMACOLOGY 2023; 114:154755. [PMID: 36948142 DOI: 10.1016/j.phymed.2023.154755] [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: 10/18/2022] [Revised: 02/28/2023] [Accepted: 03/08/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Parkinson's disease (PD) is a common, complex, and chronic neurodegenerative disorder involved in multi-system. At present, medicine for PD has many limitations. Buyang Huanwu decoction (BHD), a famous traditional Chinese medicinal (TCM) formulae, is used in the treatment of PD clinically in China. However, the therapeutic mechanism is still unknown. PURPOSE We aimed to explore the pharmacological mechanism of BHD alleviating PD through an integrated liver metabolome and brain transcriptome analysis. METHODS The mice with PD were induced by 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP). Behavioral tests and immunohistochemistry were used to evaluate the neuroprotective effects of BHD. The non-targeted metabolomics analysis was conducted to profile differentially accumulated metabolites (DAMs) in the liver using a UHPLC-Q-Exactive MS/MS method. The differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the brain were investigated by transcriptomic analysis on an Illumina sequencing platform. The correlations of DAMs and DEGs were investigated using an integrated metabolomic and transcriptomic approach. RESULTS The results of behavioral tests and immunohistochemistry proved the alleviated effects of BHD on PD symptoms. A total of 14 and 36 DAMs were detected in the groups treated with low- (L group) and high-dose (H group) BHD respectively under the positive ion mode. Compared with the PD model group (M group), three enriched pathways including metabolic pathways, ABC transporters, and biosynthesis of amino acids were common in the L and H group. Transcriptomic analysis proved that BHD could regulate the expression of numerous genes, some of which were targeted by Ben-Ldopa such as Creb5, Gm45623, Ccer2, Cd180, Fosl2, Crip3, and Noxred1. Based on the integrated metabolomic and transcriptomic analysis, 7 metabolite-gene pairs were found in four comparisons, including C vs M, M vs P, M vs L, and M vs H, and 6 enriched pathways containing purine metabolism, glycine/serine/threonine metabolism, phenylalanine metabolism, carbon fixation in photosynthetic organisms, thiamine metabolism, and ABC transporters were overlapped. CONCLUSIONS Though the underlying pharmacological mechanism of BHD is still lacking, we provided evidence that BHD could improve dopaminergic neurons in MPTP-induced PD mice by regulating liver metabolism and brain transcriptome. The correlation between the liver and the brain was preliminarily revealed in this study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianran Hu
- Institute of Biotechnology, The Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Molecular Engineering of Ministry of Education, Shanxi University, Taiyuan 030006, China; Department of Biological Science and Technology, Jinzhong University, Jinzhong 030619, China
| | - Ping Li
- Department of Biological Science and Technology, Jinzhong University, Jinzhong 030619, China
| | - Hongyan Han
- Department of Biological Science and Technology, Jinzhong University, Jinzhong 030619, China
| | - Pengyu Ji
- Institute of Biotechnology, The Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Molecular Engineering of Ministry of Education, Shanxi University, Taiyuan 030006, China; Department of Biological Science and Technology, Jinzhong University, Jinzhong 030619, China
| | - Xin Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Cellular Physiology (Shanxi Medical University), Ministry of Education, and the Department of Physiology, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan 030001, China
| | - Zhuoyu Li
- Institute of Biotechnology, The Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Molecular Engineering of Ministry of Education, Shanxi University, Taiyuan 030006, China.
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Exploring the mechanism of Cassiae semen in regulating lipid metabolism through network pharmacology and experimental validation. Biosci Rep 2023; 43:232453. [PMID: 36645186 PMCID: PMC9905789 DOI: 10.1042/bsr20221375] [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: 06/24/2022] [Revised: 01/10/2023] [Accepted: 01/13/2023] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Multiple studies have assessed the role of Cassiae semen (CS) in regulating lipid metabolism. However, the mechanism of action of CS on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has seen rare scrutiny. OBJECTIVE The objective of this study was to explore the regulatory mechanism of CS on lipid metabolism in NAFLD. METHODS Components of CS ethanol extract (CSEE) were analyzed and identified using UPLC-Q-Orbirap HRMS. The candidate compounds of CS and its relative targets were extracted from the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology, Swiss-Target-Prediction, and TargetNet web server. The Therapeutic Target Database, Genecards, Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man, and DisGeNET were searched for NAFLD targets. Binding affinity between potential core components and key targets was established employing molecular docking simulations. After that, free fatty acid (FFA)-induced HepG2 cells were used to further validate part of the network pharmacology results. RESULTS Six genes, including Caspase 3 (CASP3), phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate 3-kinase, catalytic subunit α (PIK3CA), epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), and amyloid β (A4) precursor protein (APP) were identified as key targets. The mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway was found to associate closely with CS's effect on NAFLD. Per molecular docking findings, toralactone and quinizarin formed the most stable combinations with hub genes. About 0.1 (vs. FFA, P<0.01) and 0.2 (vs. FFA, P<0.05) mg/ml CSEE decreased lipid accumulation in vitro by reversing the up-regulation of CASP3, EGFR, and APP and the down-regulation of PIK3CA. CONCLUSION CSEE can significantly reduce intracellular lipid accumulation by modulating the MAPK signaling pathway to decrease CASP3 and EGFR expression.
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Zhou J, Li L, Pan X, Wang J, Qi Q, Sun H, Li C, Wang L. The effect of a traditional Chinese quadri-combination therapy and its component quercetin on recurrent spontaneous abortion: A clinical trial, network pharmacology and experiments-based study. Front Pharmacol 2022; 13:965694. [PMID: 36339549 PMCID: PMC9626984 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.965694] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2022] [Accepted: 09/28/2022] [Indexed: 08/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Objective: To explore the effect and mechanisms of a traditional Chinese quadri-combination therapy [Bushen, Yiqi, Lixue and Yangtai (BYLY)] in treating recurrent spontaneous abortion (RSA). Methods: A clinical trial was conducted to study the effect of BYLY on RSA. Pharmacological network analysis and UPLC-Q/TOF-mass spectrometry (MS) were applied to investigate the key active component in BYLY and potential targets. Cellular experiments based on former results were performed to examine the mechanism of BYLY in the treatment of RSA. Results: Four hundred and eighty participants enrolled in the clinical trial. The results showed that, compared with the use of BYLY or duphaston alone, a combination of duphaston and BYLY could decrease the early abortion rate in RSA (p < 0.001). Network pharmacological analysis indicated that BYLY contained 132 active components and 146 core targets, and the quercetin maybe the key effective component. In vitro experiments found that pretreatment of quercetin at the correct concentration (2 μM) prevented hypoxia-induced viability and proliferation reduction, and apoptosis and mitochondrial dysfunction. Furthermore, quercetin could modulate mitochondrial fission/fusion balance in trophoblasts, and specifically decrease the expression of Drp1 by regulating miR-34a-5p. Conclusion: BYLY could improve pregnancy outcomes of RSA, based on multi-components and multi-targets. The protective effect of quercetin on trophoblasts, through decreasing Drp1 expression via regulating miR-34a-5p, might be one possible effective mechanism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Zhou
- Laboratory for Reproductive Immunology, Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- The Academy of Integrative Medicine of Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Female Reproductive Endocrine-Related Diseases, Shanghai, China
| | - Lisha Li
- Laboratory for Reproductive Immunology, Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- The Academy of Integrative Medicine of Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Female Reproductive Endocrine-Related Diseases, Shanghai, China
| | - Xinyao Pan
- Laboratory for Reproductive Immunology, Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- The Academy of Integrative Medicine of Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Female Reproductive Endocrine-Related Diseases, Shanghai, China
| | - Jing Wang
- Laboratory for Reproductive Immunology, Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- The Academy of Integrative Medicine of Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Female Reproductive Endocrine-Related Diseases, Shanghai, China
| | - Qing Qi
- Laboratory for Reproductive Immunology, Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- The Academy of Integrative Medicine of Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Female Reproductive Endocrine-Related Diseases, Shanghai, China
| | - Hongmei Sun
- Laboratory for Reproductive Immunology, Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- The Academy of Integrative Medicine of Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Female Reproductive Endocrine-Related Diseases, Shanghai, China
| | - Chuyu Li
- Laboratory for Reproductive Immunology, Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- The Academy of Integrative Medicine of Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Female Reproductive Endocrine-Related Diseases, Shanghai, China
| | - Ling Wang
- Laboratory for Reproductive Immunology, Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- The Academy of Integrative Medicine of Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Female Reproductive Endocrine-Related Diseases, Shanghai, China
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Xiang T, Jin W. Mechanism of Glycitein in the Treatment of Colon Cancer Based on Network Pharmacology and Molecular Docking. Lifestyle Genom 2022; 16:1-10. [PMID: 36183698 DOI: 10.1159/000527124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2022] [Accepted: 09/12/2022] [Indexed: 12/22/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The prevalence of colon cancer remains high across the world. The early diagnosis of colon cancer is challenging. Moreover, patients with colon cancer frequently suffer from poor prognoses. METHODS Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in colon cancer were acquired based on TCGA-COAD dataset screening. DEGs were input into the Connectivity Map (CMap) database to screen small molecule compounds with the potential to reverse colon cancer pathological function. Glycitein ranked first among the screened small-molecule compounds. We downloaded the main targets of glycitein from the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform (TCMSP) database and constructed protein-protein interaction (PPI) networks of those which were closely related to targets by the Search Tool for the Retrieval of Interaction Gene/Proteins (STRING). Five potential targets of glycitein for treating colon cancer were identified (CCNA2, ESR1, ESR2, MAPK14, and PTGS2). These targets were used as seeds for random walk with restart (RWR) analysis of PPI networks. Then, the interaction network of glycitein-colon cancer-related genes was constructed based on the top 50 genes in affinity coefficients. Gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analyses were conducted on the potential genes targeted by glycitein in colon cancer treatment and those that were closely bound up with targets. RESULTS GO analysis demonstrated that the enrichment of these genes was primarily discovered in biological functions including regulation of fibroblast proliferation, response to oxygen levels, and epithelial cell proliferation. The KEGG analysis results illustrated that the signaling pathways where these genes were mostly involved consisted of the mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathway, the phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase-Akt signaling pathway, and the p53 signaling pathway. Finally, stable binding of glycitein to five potential targets in colon cancer was verified by molecular docking. CONCLUSION This study elucidated the key targets and main pathways of glycitein on the basis of network pharmacology and preliminarily analyzed molecular mechanisms in the treatment of colon cancer. A scientific basis is provided for glycitein application in treating colon cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tao Xiang
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Weibiao Jin
- Department of Tumor Thoracic Surgery, Pujiang Branch of the First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Jinhua, China
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Chi MH, Chao J, Ko CY, Huang SS. An Ethnopharmaceutical Study on the Hypolipidemic Formulae in Taiwan Issued by Traditional Chinese Medicine Pharmacies. Front Pharmacol 2022; 13:900693. [PMID: 36188612 PMCID: PMC9520573 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.900693] [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: 03/21/2022] [Accepted: 06/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Globally, approximately one-third of ischemic heart diseases are due to hyperlipidemia, which has been shown to cause various metabolic disorders. This study was aimed to disassemble and analyze hypolipidemic formulae sold by traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) pharmacies. Using commonly used statistical parameters in ethnopharmacology, we identified the core drug combination of the hypolipidemic formulae, thereby exploring the strategy by which the Taiwanese people select hypolipidemic drugs. Most important of all, we preserved the inherited knowledge of TCM. We visited 116 TCM pharmacies in Taiwan and collected 91 TCM formulae. The formulae were mainly disassembled by macroscopical identification, and the medicinal materials with a relative frequency of citation (RFC) >0.2 were defined as commonly used medicinal materials. Subsequently, we sorted the information of medicinal materials recorded in the Pharmacopeia, searched for modern pharmacological research on commonly used medicinal materials using PubMed database, and visualized data based on the statistical results. Finally, the core hypolipidemic medicinal materials used in folk medicine were obtained. Of the 91 TCM formulae collected in this study, 80 traditional Chinese medicinal materials were used, belonging to 43 families, predominantly Lamiaceae. Roots were the most commonly used part as a medicinal material. There were 17 commonly used medicinal materials. Based on medicinal records in Pharmacopeia, most flavors and properties were warm and pungent, the majority traditional effects were “tonifying and replenishing” and “blood-regulating.” Besides, the targeted diseases searching from modern pharmacological studies were diabetes mellitus and dyslipidemia. The core medicinal materials consisted of Astragalus mongholicus Bunge and Crataegus pinnatifida Bunge, and the core formulae were Bu-Yang-Huan-Wu-Tang and Xie-Fu-Zhu-Yu-Tang. In addition, 7 groups of folk misused medicinal materials were found. Although these TCMs have been used for a long period of time, their hypolipidemic mechanisms remain unclear, and further studies are needed to validate their safety and efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Min-Han Chi
- School of Pharmacy, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Jung Chao
- Master Program for Food and Drug Safety, Chinese Medicine Research Center, Department of Chinese Pharmaceutical Sciences and Chinese Medicine Resources, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Chien-Yu Ko
- School of Pharmacy, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Shyh-Shyun Huang
- School of Pharmacy, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
- Department of Food Nutrition and Health Biotechnology, Asia University, Taichung, Taiwan
- *Correspondence: Shyh-Shyun Huang,
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Sun X, Huang Y, Zhu S, Yan J, Gan K, Xu Z, Wang S, Kang X, Zhang J, Sun W. Yishen Qingli Heluo Granule in the Treatment of Chronic Kidney Disease: Network Pharmacology Analysis and Experimental Validation. Drug Des Devel Ther 2022; 16:769-787. [PMID: 35355655 PMCID: PMC8959874 DOI: 10.2147/dddt.s348335] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2021] [Accepted: 03/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is considered a global public health problem with high morbidity and mortality. Yishen Qingli Heluo granule (YQHG) is representative traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) remedy for clinical treatment of CKD. This study aims to explore the mechanism of YQHG on CKD through network pharmacology and experimental validation. Methods Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology (TCMSP) database and wide-scale literature mining were applied to screen active compounds of YQHG. Multiple bioinformatic tools and online databases were applied by us to obtain relevant targets of YQHG and CKD. The intersection targets between YQHG and CKD were considered as candidate targets. The compound-target, herb-candidate target and protein–protein interaction networks were constructed and visualized for topological analyses. GO and KEGG enrichment analyses were conducted to determine the biological processes and signaling pathways. Molecular docking was used to verify the reliability of network pharmacology. Finally, pharmacological evaluation was performed to explore the mechanism of YQHG against CKD on a 5/6 nephrectomy model. Results Seventy-nine candidate targets, ten core biological processes and one key signaling pathway (p53) were screened. PTGS2 was identified as a key target based on H-CT network. The molecular docking showed that Quercetin, Kaempferol, Luteolin were three key compounds with the best binding activity. In addition, IL6 and Quercetin could form a stable complex with high binding affinity (−7.29 kcal/mol). In vivo experiment revealed that YQHG improved kidney function and fibrosis in 5/6 nephrectomized rats. Moreover, the decreased expression of PTGS2, IL6, and the increased expression of p53 were observed in kidney tissue. Notably, the gut microbiota of rats treated with YQHG was reshaped, which was characterized by a reduced ratio of Firmicutes/Bacteroidota. Conclusion Our results predicted and verified the potential targets of YQHG on CKD from a holistic perspective, and provided valuable direction for the further research of YQHG. ![]()
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Affiliation(s)
- Xian Sun
- The First Clinical Medical College, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210023, People's Republic of China
| | - Yiting Huang
- The First Clinical Medical College, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210023, People's Republic of China
| | - Sha Zhu
- The First Clinical Medical College, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210023, People's Republic of China
| | - Jin Yan
- Department of Nephrology, Jiangsu Province Hospital of Chinese Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210029, People's Republic of China
| | - Ke Gan
- Department of Rheumatology, Jiangsu Province Hospital of Chinese Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210029, People's Republic of China
| | - Zijing Xu
- School of Medicine & Holistic Integrative Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210023, People's Republic of China
| | - Shuaishuai Wang
- School of Medicine & Holistic Integrative Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210023, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaoyu Kang
- School of Medicine & Holistic Integrative Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210023, People's Republic of China
| | - Junfeng Zhang
- School of Medicine & Holistic Integrative Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210023, People's Republic of China
| | - Wei Sun
- Department of Nephrology, Jiangsu Province Hospital of Chinese Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210029, People's Republic of China
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Utilizing Bioinformatics Technology to Explore the Potential Mechanism of Danggui Buxue Decoction against NSCLC. DISEASE MARKERS 2022; 2022:5296830. [PMID: 35256890 PMCID: PMC8898125 DOI: 10.1155/2022/5296830] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2021] [Accepted: 02/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
While lung cancer poses a serious threat to human health, non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the most common type of lung cancer. Danggui Buxue Decoction (DBD) is a classical traditional antitumor medicine commonly used in China. However, the potential mechanism of DBD against NSCLC has not yet been expounded. Therefore, this study clarified the potential molecular mechanism and key targets of DBD in NSCLC treatment through several technological advances, such as network pharmacology, molecular docking, and bioinformatics. Firstly, the relative active ingredients and key DBD targets were analyzed, and subsequently, a drug-ingredient-target-disease network diagram was constructed for NSCLC treatment with DBD, resulting in the identification of five main active ingredients and ten core targets according to the enrichment degree. The enrichment analysis revealed that DBD can achieve the purpose of treating NSCLC through the AGE-RAGE signaling pathway in diabetic complications. Secondly, the molecular docking approach predicted that quercetin and hederagenin have the best working mechanisms with PDE3A and PTGS1, while the survival analysis results depicted that high PDE3A gene expression has a relatively poor prognosis for NSCLC patients (p < 0.05). Additionally, PDE3A is mainly distributed in the LU65 cell line that originated from Asian population. In summary, our study results showed that DBD can treat NSCLC through the synergistic correlation between multiple ingredients, multiple targets, and multiple pathways, thus effectively improving NSCLC prognosis. This study not only reflected the medicinal value of DBD but also provided a solid structural basis for future new drug developments and targeted therapies.
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Zhang Q, Huang X. The modulatory properties of Astragalus membranaceus treatment on endometrial cancer: an integrated pharmacological method. PeerJ 2021; 9:e11995. [PMID: 34513331 PMCID: PMC8395571 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.11995] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2021] [Accepted: 07/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Astragalus membranaceus is a traditional Chinese medicine and has been used for adjuvant clinical therapy for a variety of cancers. However, the mechanism of its action on endometrial carcinoma is unclear. Based on the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database, the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database, and the Traditional Chinese Medicine System Pharmacology Database (TCMSP™), the drug and target compounds were initially screened to construct a common network module. Twenty active compounds in Astragalus membranaceus were successfully identified, which hit by 463 potential targets related to endometrial cancer. Eight of the more highly predictive compounds (such as Jaranol, Bifendate, Isorhamnetin, Calycosin, 7-O-methylisomucronulatol, Formononetin, Kaempferol, Quercetin) were involved in DNA integrity checkpoint, cyclin-dependent protein kinase holoenzyme complex, and histone kinase activity. Additionally, Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway confirmed that Astragalus membranaceus might play a role in the treatment of endometrial cancer through p53 signalling pathway, transcriptional misregulation in cancer, and endometrial cancer signalling pathway. Drug-target-pathway networks were constructed using Cytoscape to provide a visual perspective. In addition, we verified that formononetin inhibited the proliferation of endometrial cancer cells through cell viability tests and clone formation tests. And qPCR and western blot found that formononetin exerts anti-cancer effects by promoting the expression of estrogen receptor beta (ERβ) and p53. Based on a systematic network pharmacology approach, our works successfully predict the active ingredients and potential targets of Astragalus membranaceus for application to endometrial cancer and helps to illustrate mechanism of action on a comprehensive level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qianqian Zhang
- Department of Gynecology, Hebei Medical University Second Affiliated Hospital, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Xianghua Huang
- Department of Gynecology, Hebei Medical University Second Affiliated Hospital, Shijiazhuang, China
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Zhang S, Lu Y, Chen W, Shi W, Zhao Q, Zhao J, Li L. Network Pharmacology and Experimental Evidence: PI3K/AKT Signaling Pathway is Involved in the Antidepressive Roles of Chaihu Shugan San. DRUG DESIGN DEVELOPMENT AND THERAPY 2021; 15:3425-3441. [PMID: 34385814 PMCID: PMC8353879 DOI: 10.2147/dddt.s315060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2021] [Accepted: 07/21/2021] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Objective Chaihu Shugan San (CSS) is a common antidepressant prescription in traditional Chinese medicines. However, its active ingredients and mechanisms are unknown. The aim of this study was to explore the potential active ingredients and pharmacological mechanisms of CSS for the treatment of major depressive disorder (MDD). Methods Active compounds in CSS were screened using the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology database. Compound-related targets were retrieved using the SwissTargetPrediction database. MDD-related targets were determined using DisGeNET, Therapeutic Target Database and DrugBank databases. The common targets of active compounds in CSS and MDD were retained to construct a compound-MDD target network. Then, functional enrichment analysis and protein–protein interaction analysis were performed to identify hub targets and explore the underlying molecular mechanisms. Finally, hub-targeted genes and pathways were validated by Western blotting and immunofluorescence using chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) mice with or without CSS treatment. The affinities between the active compounds in CSS and hub-targeted genes were evaluated by molecular docking. Results Network pharmacology analysis revealed 24 potential targets for treatment of MDD by CSS. Functional enrichment analysis showed that PI3K/AKT signaling pathway was likely to be evidently affected by CSS in the treatment of MDD. In vivo experiments showed that CSS could improve depressive-like behaviors and promote neurogenesis in CUMS mice. Furthermore, CSS could increase phosphorylated (p) PI3K/PI3K and pAKT/AKT levels and decrease the pGSK3β/GSK3β level in the hippocampus of CUMS mice. The active compounds mainly included quercetin and luteolin, which showed good docking scores targeting the PI3K protein. Conclusion This network pharmacological and experimental study highlights that the PI3K/AKT pathway is the potential mechanism by which CSS is involved in MDD treatment. Quercetin, luteolin, and kaempferol are probable active compounds in CSS, and these results might provide valuable guidance for further studies of MDD treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shan Zhang
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100050, People's Republic of China
| | - Yujia Lu
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100050, People's Republic of China
| | - Wei Chen
- Experimental and Translational Research Center, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100050, People's Republic of China
| | - Wei Shi
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100050, People's Republic of China
| | - Qian Zhao
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100050, People's Republic of China
| | - Jingjie Zhao
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100050, People's Republic of China.,Department of Integrated Traditional and Western Medicine, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100050, People's Republic of China
| | - Li Li
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100050, People's Republic of China.,Department of Integrated Traditional and Western Medicine, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100050, People's Republic of China
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