An Integrated Analysis of Network Pharmacology, Molecular Docking, and Experiment Validation to Explore the New Candidate Active Component and Mechanism of Cuscutae Semen-Mori Fructus Coupled-Herbs in Treating Oligoasthenozoospermia

Thiolutin, a selective NLRP3 inflammasome inhibitor, attenuates cyclophosphamide-induced impairment of sperm and fertility in mice

OBJECTIVE

The activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome has been implicated in male infertility. Our study aimed to investigate the therapeutic role of Thiolutin (THL), an inhibitor of the NLRP3 inflammasome, on oligoasthenospermia (OA) and to elucidate its mechanisms.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Semen from 50 OA and 20 healthy males were analyzed to assess the sperm quality and levels of inflammatory markers. Their correlation was determined using Pearson's correlation coefficient. The BALB/c mice were intraperitoneal injected by cyclophosphamide at 60 mg/kg/day for five days to induce OA, followed by a two-week treatment with THL or L-carnitine. Reproductive organ size and H&E staining were determined to observe the organ and seminiferous tubule morphology. ELISA and western blotting were utilized to measure sex hormone levels, inflammatory markers, and NLRP3 inflammasome levels. Furthermore, male and female mice were co-housed to observe pregnancy success rates.

RESULTS

OA patients exhibited a decrease in sperm density and motility compared to healthy individuals, along with elevated levels of IL-1β, IL-18 and NLRP3 inflammasome. In vivo, THL ameliorated OA-induced atrophy of reproductive organs, hormonal imbalance, and improved sperm density, motility, spermatogenesis and pregnancy success rates with negligible adverse effects on weight or liver-kidney function. THL also demonstrated to be able to inhibit the activation of NLRP3 inflammasome and associated proteins in OA mice.

DISCUSSION

THL can improve sperm quality and hormonal balance in OA mice through the inhibition of NLRP3 inflammasome activation. Thus, THL holds promising potential as a therapeutic agent for OA.

Elucidating the anti-hypertensive mechanisms of Uncaria rhynchophylla-Alisma plantago-aquatica L: an integrated network pharmacology, cluster analysis, and molecular docking approach

Background: With the increasing global prevalence of hypertension, a condition that can severely affect multiple organs, there is a growing need for effective treatment options. Uncaria rhynchophylla-Alisma plantago-aquatica L. (UR-AP) is a traditional drug pair used for treating hypertension based on the liver-kidney synergy concept. However, the detailed molecular mechanisms underlying its efficacy remain unclear. Methods: This study utilized an integrative approach combining network pharmacology, cluster analysis, and molecular docking to uncover the bioactive components and targets of UR-AP in the treatment of hypertension. Initially, we extracted data from public databases to identify these components and targets. A Protein-Protein Interaction (PPI) network was constructed, followed by enrichment analysis to pinpoint the bioactive components, core targets, and pivotal pathways. Cluster analysis helped in identifying key sub-networks and hypothesizing primary targets. Furthermore, molecular docking was conducted to validate the interaction between the core targets and major bioactive components, thus confirming their potential efficacy in hypertension treatment. Results: Network pharmacological analysis identified 58 bioactive compounds in UR-AP, notably quercetin, kaempferol, beta-sitosterol (from Uncaria rhynchophylla), and Alisol B, alisol B 23-acetate (from Alisma plantago-aquatica L.), as pivotal bioactives. We pinpointed 143 targets common to both UR-AP and hypertension, highlighting MAPK1, IL6, AKT1, VEGFA, EGFR, and TP53 as central targets involved in key pathways like diastolic and endothelial function, anti-atherosclerosis, AGE-RAGE signaling, and calcium signaling. Cluster analysis emphasized IL6, TNF, AKT1, and VEGFA's roles in atherosclerosis and inflammation. Molecular docking confirmed strong interactions between these targets and UR-AP's main bioactives, underscoring their therapeutic potential. Conclusion: This research delineates UR-AP's pharmacological profile in hypertension treatment, linking traditional medicine with modern pharmacology. It highlights key bioactive components and their interactions with principal targets, suggesting UR-AP's potential as a novel therapeutic option for hypertension. The evidence from molecular docking studies supports these interactions, indicating the relevance of these components in affecting hypertension pathways. However, the study acknowledges its limitations, including the reliance on in silico analyses and the need for in vivo validation. These findings pave the way for future clinical research, aiming to integrate traditional medicine insights with contemporary scientific approaches for developing innovative hypertension therapies.

Network pharmacology: a bright guiding light on the way to explore the personalized precise medication of traditional Chinese medicine

Network pharmacology can ascertain the therapeutic mechanism of drugs for treating diseases at the level of biological targets and pathways. The effective mechanism study of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) characterized by multi-component, multi-targeted, and integrative efficacy, perfectly corresponds to the application of network pharmacology. Currently, network pharmacology has been widely utilized to clarify the mechanism of the physiological activity of TCM. In this review, we comprehensively summarize the application of network pharmacology in TCM to reveal its potential of verifying the phenotype and underlying causes of diseases, realizing the personalized and accurate application of TCM. We searched the literature using "TCM network pharmacology" and "network pharmacology" as keywords from Web of Science, PubMed, Google Scholar, as well as Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure in the last decade. The origins, development, and application of network pharmacology are closely correlated with the study of TCM which has been applied in China for thousands of years. Network pharmacology and TCM have the same core idea and promote each other. A well-defined research strategy for network pharmacology has been utilized in several aspects of TCM research, including the elucidation of the biological basis of diseases and syndromes, the prediction of TCM targets, the screening of TCM active compounds, and the decipherment of mechanisms of TCM in treating diseases. However, several factors limit its application, such as the selection of databases and algorithms, the unstable quality of the research results, and the lack of standardization. This review aims to provide references and ideas for the research of TCM and to encourage the personalized and precise use of Chinese medicine.

Protein-protein networks analysis of differentially expressed genes unveils the key phenomenon of biological process with respect to reproduction in endangered catfish, C. Magur

Clarias magur (magur) is an important freshwater catfish with high potential in the aquaculture sector in its geographical ranges of distribution. One of the impediments to realise its full aquaculture potential is the lack of understanding key genes involved in its reproduction pathways. Nonetheless, very limited information is available on brain and gonads, with respect to reproduction related issues of magur at molecular level. The present study was aimed at understanding the interaction of the brain-gonad system by analysing differentially expressed genes (DEG) in brains and gonads of male and female magur using a protein-protein network interaction study. In brief, 641, 541, 225 and 245 DEGs, respectively, in ovary, testis and female brain and male-brain of magur were used as input in String database 11.0 and Cytoscape v 3.8.0 plug-in Network Analyzer for PPI network construction followed by network superimposition, network merging and analysis. A total of 13 key genes in female brain & ovary and 12 key genes in male brain & testis were obtained based on the network topological parameter betweenness centrality and nodes degree. Among them, cyp19a1b and amh genes in male brain-testis and Tp53 and exo1 genes in female brain-ovary were identified as hub genes having a high level of interaction and expression with other key genes in the network. Further, functional annotation study of these genes revealed their active involvement in important pathways related to reproduction. This is the first report exploring the interaction of brain and gonads in the regulation of magur reproduction through a protein-protein interaction network. The 25 key genes identified in the combined network are involved in various pathways, like neuropeptide signalling pathway, oxytocin receptor-mediated signalling pathway, corticotrophin-releasing factor receptor signalling pathway and reproduction process, which could lead to a better understanding of the magur reproductive system.

Treatment progress of cryptozoospermia with Western Medicine and traditional Chinese medicine: A literature review

Background and Aims

Cryptozoospermia is an extreme oligozoospermia with an unsatisfactory treatment effect, with an incidence rate of approximately 8.73% in male infertility, whose effective solution has become the call of the times. Western Medicine has achieved certain effects through drugs, surgery, and assisted reproductive therapy, but this is still not ideal. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has made many achievements in other disciplines; however, there is still a lack of evidence-based medical evidence to improve sperm production.

Methods

The relevant literatures from the China National Knowledge Internet (CNKI) and PubMed in the past 10 years were collected in this article, of which the mechanisms, advantages, or current controversies of various treatment methods of Western Medicine and TCM were analyzed, to find new treatment methods and research directions.

Results

With the development of modern science and technology, medical treatments for cryptozoospermia have become increasingly abundant; however, there is still no universally recognized unified and effective guiding plan. Although TCM has not been fully verified by evidence-based medicine, most TCM combined with Western Medicine can achieve unexpected results.

Conclusion

The combination of TCM and Western Medicine may become a bane for cryptozoospermia and bring good news to infertile men worldwide.

Experimental validation and molecular docking to explore the active components of cannabis in testicular function and sperm quality modulations in rats

Background

Data available support that ninety percent of male infertility cases are due to low sperm counts. There is a scarcity of data on the medicinal effects of cannabis on fertility. This study evaluated testicular function and sperm quality modulation with cannabis in rats.

Methodology

Twenty-five male Wistar rats were randomly grouped into five: A, B, C, and D, each group have 5 rats. A (control): 0.2 ml 2% DMSO, B (vitamin C): 90 mg/kg body weight, C, D, and E were administered: 5 mg/kg, 10 mg/kg and 20 mg/kg body weight of ethanolic leaf extract of cannabis (ELEC) respectively. The rats were sacrificed 24 h after the last day of the 60 day oral administrations. Flavonoids were the predominant phytochemical present in the extract while quercetin, kemferol, silyman and gallic acid were identified.

Results

The results showed a significant improvement (p < 0.05) in sperm quality and a significant increase in the concentrations of follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, triglycerides, cholesterol, and total protein determination compared to the normal control. Similarly, there was a significant increase (p < 0.05) in the activities of acid phosphatase, alkaline phosphatase, and superoxide dismutase compared to the normal control. RAC-alpha serine/threonine-protein kinase (AKT1)-silymarin complexes (-8.30 kcal/mol) and androgen receptor (AR)-quercetin complexes (9.20 kcal/mol) had the highest affinity.

Conclusion

The antioxidant effects of the flavonoids in the ethanolic extract of cannabis may have protected testicular and sperm cells from oxidative damage. Biochemical processes and histopathological morphology were preserved by cannabis. The docking prediction suggests that the bioactive principle of cannabis may activate the androgenic receptors. The androgenic receptor modulation may be attributed to silymarin and quercetin.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12906-022-03704-z.