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Sheng MY, Peng DW, Peng HM, Zhang YL, Xiao L, Zhang MR, Wang SY, Zhao CP, Zhu SY, Lu JK, Lin L, Huang R, Nie J, Fang JB. Effective substances and molecular mechanisms guided by network pharmacology: An example study of Scrophulariae Radix treatment of hyperthyroidism and thyroid hormone-induced liver and kidney injuries. JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY 2024; 326:117965. [PMID: 38423410 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2024.117965] [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: 10/16/2023] [Revised: 02/19/2024] [Accepted: 02/20/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024]
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE Scrophulariae Radix (Xuanshen [XS]) has been used for several years to treat hyperthyroidism. However, its effective substances and pharmacological mechanisms in the treatment of hyperthyroidism and thyroid hormone-induced liver and kidney injuries have not yet been elucidated. AIM OF THE STUDY This study aimed to explore the pharmacological material basis and potential mechanism of XS therapy for hyperthyroidism and thyroid hormone-induced liver and kidney injuries based on network pharmacology prediction and experimental validation. MATERIALS AND METHODS Based on 31 in vivo XS compounds identified using ultra-performance liquid chromatography tandem quadruple exactive orbitrap high-resolution accurate-mass spectrometry (UPLC-QE-HRMS), a network pharmacology approach was used for mechanism prediction. Systematic networks were constructed to identify the potential molecular targets, biological processes (BP), and signaling pathways. A component-target-pathway network was established. Mice were administered levothyroxine sodium through gavage for 30 d and then treated with different doses of XS extract with or without propylthiouracil (PTU) for 30 d. Blood, liver, and kidney samples were analyzed using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and western blotting. RESULTS A total of 31 prototypes, 60 Phase I metabolites, and 23 Phase II metabolites were tentatively identified in the plasma of rats following the oral administration of XS extract. Ninety-six potential common targets between the 31 in vivo compounds and the diseases were identified. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analysis revealed that Bcl-2, BAD, JNK, p38, and ERK1/2 were the top targets. XS extract with or without PTU had the following effects: inhibition of T3/T4/fT3/fT4 caused by levothyroxine; increase of TSH levels in serum; restoration of thyroid structure; improvement of liver and kidney structure and function by elevating the activities of anti-oxidant enzymes catalase (CAT),superoxide dismutase (SOD), and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px); activation anti-apoptotic proteins Bcl-2; inhibition the apoptotic protein p-BAD; downregulation inflammation-related proteins p-ERK1/2, p-JNK, and p-p38; and inhibition of the aggregation of pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6, as well as immune cells in the liver. CONCLUSION XS can be used to treat hyperthyroidism and liver and kidney injuries caused by thyroid hormones through its anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-apoptotic properties. In addition, serum pharmacochemical analysis revealed that five active compounds, namely 4-methylcatechol, sugiol, eugenol, acetovanillone, and oleic acid, have diverse metabolic pathways in vivo and exhibit potential as effective therapeutic agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meng-Yuan Sheng
- School of Pharmacy, Hubei University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Wuhan, 430065, China; School of Pharmacy, Hubei Key Laboratory of Natural Medicinal Chemistry and Resource Evaluation, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China; Hubei Institute for Drug Control, Wuhan, 430064, China; Department of Anatomy, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China.
| | - De-Wei Peng
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China.
| | - Hui-Ming Peng
- Department of Anatomy, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China.
| | - Ya-Li Zhang
- School of Pharmacy, Hubei University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Wuhan, 430065, China.
| | - Ling Xiao
- Hubei Institute for Drug Control, Wuhan, 430064, China.
| | - Meng-Ru Zhang
- School of Pharmacy, Hubei Key Laboratory of Natural Medicinal Chemistry and Resource Evaluation, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China.
| | - Si-Yu Wang
- School of Pharmacy, Hubei Key Laboratory of Natural Medicinal Chemistry and Resource Evaluation, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China.
| | - Chuan-Peng Zhao
- School of Pharmacy, Hubei Key Laboratory of Natural Medicinal Chemistry and Resource Evaluation, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China.
| | - Si-Ying Zhu
- School of Pharmacy, Hubei Key Laboratory of Natural Medicinal Chemistry and Resource Evaluation, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China.
| | - Jian-Kang Lu
- School of Pharmacy, Hubei Key Laboratory of Natural Medicinal Chemistry and Resource Evaluation, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China.
| | - Li Lin
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China.
| | - Rong Huang
- Department of Ophthalmology, Hubei Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Wuhan, 430061, Hubei, China; Hubei Key Laboratory of Theory and Application Research of Liver and Kidney in Traditional Chinese Medicine, China.
| | - Jing Nie
- School of Pharmacy, Hubei University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Wuhan, 430065, China; Hubei Institute for Drug Control, Wuhan, 430064, China.
| | - Jin-Bo Fang
- School of Pharmacy, Hubei Key Laboratory of Natural Medicinal Chemistry and Resource Evaluation, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China.
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Xu S, Tan Y, Xia Y, Tang H, Li J, Tan N. Targeted characterization and guided isolation of chemical components in Scrophulariae Radix based on LC-MS. J Pharm Biomed Anal 2023; 235:115569. [PMID: 37557064 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpba.2023.115569] [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: 04/17/2023] [Revised: 07/07/2023] [Accepted: 07/09/2023] [Indexed: 08/11/2023]
Abstract
How to achieve rapid characterization and efficient isolation of chemical components from traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs) is what the researchers have been exploring. Herein, a strategy integrated diagnostic ion filtering (DIF) and selected ion recording (SIR)-based screen was firstly proposed and successfully applied for targeted characterization and guided isolation of the chemical components from Scrophulariae Radix, one of TCMs. After acquiring the Q-TOF-MS/MS untargeted data, 128 compounds were characterized based on DIF, a self-built database and comparison of the related literatures, in which 38 compounds were reported for the first time. Subsequently, the SIR method of UPLC-QqQ-MS/MS was adopted to guide the isolation of potential new compounds. Finally, three new compounds together with one known compound with the same skeleton were isolated, and unambiguously elucidated by NMR and acid hydrolysis. These results indicated that this integrated analytical approach is effective and reliable in targeted characterizing chemical components and isolating new compounds from the extract of Scrophulariae Radix.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siyi Xu
- Department of TCMs Pharmaceuticals, School of Traditional Chinese Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 211198, PR China
| | - Yajie Tan
- Department of TCMs Pharmaceuticals, School of Traditional Chinese Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 211198, PR China
| | - Yun Xia
- Jinling Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Nanjing 210009, PR China
| | - Haojun Tang
- Department of TCMs Pharmaceuticals, School of Traditional Chinese Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 211198, PR China
| | - Jian Li
- Jinling Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Nanjing 210009, PR China.
| | - Ninghua Tan
- Department of TCMs Pharmaceuticals, School of Traditional Chinese Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 211198, PR China.
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Ren D, Shen ZY, Qin LP, Zhu B. Pharmacology, phytochemistry, and traditional uses of Scrophularia ningpoensis Hemsl. JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY 2021; 269:113688. [PMID: 33338592 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2020.113688] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2020] [Revised: 11/25/2020] [Accepted: 12/08/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE Scrophularia ningpoensis Hemsl. (known as Xuanshen) has been used in China for centuries as a traditional medicinal plant to treat numerous diseases including inflammation, hypertension, cancer, and diabetes. AIM OF REVIEW In this review, we provide an update on the botany, pharmacology, phytochemistry, pharmacokinetics, traditional uses, and safety of S. ningpoensis to highlight future research needs and potential uses of this plant. MATERIALS AND METHODS All information on S. ningpoensis was obtained from scientific databases including ScienceDirect, Springer, PubMed, Sci Finder, China Knowledge Resource Integrated Database from the China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Google Scholar, and Baidu Scholar. Additional information was collected from Chinese herbal medicine books, Ph.D. dissertations, and M.Sc. Theses. Plant taxonomy was verified by "The Plant List" database (http://www.theplantlist.org). RESULTS S. ningpoensis displays fever reducing, detoxifying, and nourishing 'Yin' effects in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). More than 162 compounds have been identified and isolated from S. ningpoensis, including iridoids and iridoid glycosides, phenylpropanoid glycosides, organic acids, volatile oils, terpenoids, saccharides, flavonoids, sterols, and saponins. These compounds possess a diverse variety of pharmacological properties that affect the cardiovascular, hepatic, and nervous systems, and protect the body against inflammation, oxidation, and carcinogenesis. CONCLUSIONS Modern pharmacological studies have confirmed that S. ningpoensis is a valuable Chinese medicinal herb with many pharmacological uses in the treatment of cardiovascular, diabetic, and liver diseases. Most of the S. ningpoensis activity may be attributed to iridoid glycosides and phenylpropanoid glycosides; however, detailed information on the molecular mechanisms, metabolic activity, toxicology, and structure-function relationships of active components is limited. Further comprehensive research to evaluate the medicinal properties of S. ningpoensis is needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dan Ren
- College of Pharmacy, Shaanxi University of Chinese Medicine, Xianyang, 712046, China; School of Pharmacy, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, 310053, China
| | - Zhan-Yun Shen
- School of Pharmacy, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, 310053, China
| | - Lu-Ping Qin
- College of Pharmacy, Shaanxi University of Chinese Medicine, Xianyang, 712046, China; School of Pharmacy, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, 310053, China.
| | - Bo Zhu
- School of Pharmacy, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, 310053, China.
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Zhang Q, Liu A, Wang Y. Scrophularia ningpoensis Hemsl: a review of its phytochemistry, pharmacology, quality control and pharmacokinetics. J Pharm Pharmacol 2021; 73:573-600. [PMID: 33772290 DOI: 10.1093/jpp/rgaa036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2020] [Accepted: 10/23/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Scrophularia ningpoensis Hemsl (SNH) is a commonly used medicinal plant in East Asia. Scrophulariae Radix (SR) is the dried roots of SNH, and is one of the most commonly used medicinal parts of SNH, and is an essential traditional medicine and widely used in East Asia for more than 2000 years. SR is used for clearing away heat and cooling blood, nourishing Yin and reducing fire, detoxicating and resolving a mass. The purpose of this paper is to systematically review the phytochemistry, pharmacology, quality control and pharmacokinetics of SNH based on the surveyed and summarized literature. KEY FINDINGS Up to now, iridoids, phenolic glycosides, phenolic acids, alkaloids, flavonoids, triterpenes and other compounds have been isolated and identified from SNH. The extract and chemical components of SNH exerts multiple pharmacological effects, such as hepatoprotective effect, anti-inflammatory effect, neuroprotective effect, anti-ventricular remodeling effect and other activities. Various methods have been developed for the quality control of SNH, mainly for SR. Some bioactive compounds in SNH exhibited different pharmacokinetic behaviours and individual metabolic transformation profiles. SUMMARY This review will contribute to understanding the correlation between the pharmacological activities and the traditional usage of SNH, and useful to rational use and drug development in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qing Zhang
- Department of Pharmacognosy, School of Pharmacy, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou, China.,Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Chemistry and Quality Evaluation of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - An Liu
- Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Chemistry and Quality Evaluation of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yuesheng Wang
- Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Chemistry and Quality Evaluation of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
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